INTERSTATE JOHNSON LANE INC
DEF 14A, 1996-12-20
SECURITY BROKERS, DEALERS & FLOTATION COMPANIES
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                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

          Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
                     Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.  )

Filed by the Registrant (X)
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ( )

Check the appropriate box:


( )  Preliminary Proxy Statement           (  )  Confidential, for Use of the
                                                 Commission Only (as permitted
                                                 by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
(X)  Definitive Proxy Statement
( )  Definitive Additional Materials
( )  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12


                            INTERSTATE/JOHNSON LANE
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


      (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

(X)  No fee required

( )  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

     1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

     2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

     3)  Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
         pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
         filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

     4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

     5)  Total fee paid:

( )  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

( )  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
     Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
     paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
     number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

     1)  Amount Previously Paid:

     2)  Form, Schedule, or Registration Statement No.:

     3)  Filing Party:

     4)  Date Filed:

<PAGE>

                (INTERSTATE/JOHNSON LANE, INC. LOGO APPEARS HERE)

                          Interstate/Johnson Lane, Inc.
                    Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders
                           To be held January 21, 1997
             ------------------------------------------------------

To The Shareholders of
Interstate/Johnson Lane, Inc.

         The annual meeting of the shareholders of Interstate/Johnson Lane, Inc.
(the "Company")  will be held on Tuesday,  January 21, 1997, at 3:00 P.M. at the
Radisson Plaza Hotel, 101 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina, for the
following purposes:

              (1) To  consider  and act upon a proposal  to amend the  Company's
         Certificate   of   Incorporation   and   By-Laws  to  provide  for  the
         classification of the Company's Board of Directors into three classes.

              (2) To elect nine persons to serve as Directors for staggered one,
         two and three-year terms.

              (3) To ratify the  appointment of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.  as the
         Company's  independent certified public accountants for the fiscal year
         ending September 30, 1997.

              (4) To  amend  the  Company's  Restated  Stock  Award  Plan  as of
         10/21/96 to increase the shares  available for issuance under that Plan
         by 1,000,000 shares to a total of 2,800,000 shares.

              (5) To transact  such other  business as may properly  come before
         the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

         The Board of Directors has fixed  November 29, 1996, as the record date
for the  determination of shareholders  entitled to notice of and to vote at the
meeting.



                                                     Michael D. Hearn, Secretary

Dated: December 17, 1996


AFTER VOTING THE  ENCLOSED  PROXY,  PLEASE  SIGN,  DATE AND MAIL IN THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE SO AS TO ENSURE A QUORUM AT THE MEETING.  THIS IS IMPORTANT WHETHER YOU
OWN FEW OR MANY SHARES. DELAY IN RETURNING YOUR PROXY MAY SUBJECT THE COMPANY TO
ADDITIONAL EXPENSE.



<PAGE>



                          Interstate/Johnson Lane, Inc.
                                Interstate Tower
                              Post Office Box 1012
                      Charlotte, North Carolina 28201-1012

                            -------------------------
                                 Proxy Statement
                            -------------------------



         This proxy statement is furnished in connection  with the  solicitation
of proxies by the Board of  Directors  of  Interstate/Johnson  Lane,  Inc.  (the
"Company")  for use at the annual meeting of  shareholders  of the Company to be
held on Tuesday,  January 21, 1997, and at any adjournment  thereof.  Unless the
context  requires  otherwise,  all  references  in this proxy  statement  to the
Company refer to Interstate/Johnson Lane, Inc. and its subsidiaries.  This proxy
statement and the accompanying proxy card are first being mailed to shareholders
on or about December 17, 1996.

         Only  shareholders  of record at the close of business on November  29,
1996,  are  entitled to vote at the  meeting.  As of such date,  the Company had
outstanding  and entitled to vote  6,016,468  shares of common stock,  par value
$.20 per share (the "Common  Stock"),  and  approximately  986  shareholders  of
record. Each outstanding share entitles the shareholder of record to one vote.

         All proxies  which are  properly  executed  and  received  prior to the
meeting will be voted at the meeting.  If a shareholder  specifies how the proxy
is to be voted on any of the business to come before the meeting, the proxy will
be voted in accordance with such specification. If no specification is made, the
proxy  will  be  voted  for  the  amendment  of  the  Company's  Certificate  of
Incorporation and By-Laws,  for the election of directors,  for the amendment of
the Company's  Stock Award Plan and for the  ratification  of the appointment of
Coopers  &  Lybrand  L.L.P.  as  the  Company's   independent  certified  public
accountants  for the fiscal  year  ending  September  30,  1997.  A proxy may be
revoked,  to the  extent  it has not been  exercised,  at any time  prior to its
exercise,  by written  notice to the Secretary of the Company,  by executing and
delivering a proxy with a later date or by voting in person at the meeting.
                                       2


<PAGE>


                                   Proposal 1

            AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
           AND BY-LAWS TO PROVIDE FOR A CLASSIFIED BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Note that the Amendment and  Restatement  of Certificate  of  Incorporation  and
By-Laws to provide for a classified  Board of Directors has been approved by the
Board of  Directors  and will be voted  upon by the  stockholders  at the Annual
Meeting. The Amendment and Restatement is wholly contingent upon its approval by
the stockholders.

         The Board of Directors believes that it is in the best interests of the
Company to amend the current Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws to provide
for a classified  Board of Directors.  In this regard,  the  Company's  Board of
Directors has unanimously  adopted,  subject to the approval of the stockholders
at the Annual  Meeting,  an Amended and Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation,
which  would  amend  Article  VI  of  the  Company's   present   Certificate  of
Incorporation  and Amended and Restated  By-Laws,  which would amend Articles II
and III of the Company's  present  By-Laws,  to provide that directors  shall be
classified,  with respect to the time for which they severally hold office, into
three classes.

         Delaware law permits provisions in the Certificate of Incorporation and
By-Laws  approved  by  stockholders  that  provide  for a  classified  board  of
directors.  The classified  Board of Directors will serve staggered one, two and
three-year  terms with one class holding office initially for a term expiring at
the 1998 annual meeting of stockholders,  another class holding office initially
for a term expiring at the 1999 annual  meeting and another class holding office
initially  for a term expiring at the 2000 annual  meeting,  with the members of
each class  holding  office  until their  successors  have been duly elected and
qualified.  At each annual  meeting  following this initial  classification  and
election,  the  successors to the class of directors  whose terms expire at that
meeting would be elected for a term of office to expire at the third  succeeding
annual  meeting after their election and until their  successors  have been duly
elected and qualified.

         The Board  believes that this will allow the  Nominating  Committee and
the  Board to  focus  more  effectively  on Board  composition  and  continuity.
However,  the classification of the Board will have the effect of making it more
difficult to change the  composition  of the entire  Board.  At least two annual
stockholders'  meetings,   instead  of  one,  will  generally  be  required  for
stockholders  to effect a change in control of the Board.  Although  the Company
has not encountered any lack of continuity or stability, the Board believes that
requiring a longer period of time to elect a majority of directors  will help to
assure  continuity  and stability of the  Company's  affairs and policies in the
future  since a  majority  of  directors  at any  given  time  will  have  prior
experience  as  directors  of the  Company.  It  should  also be noted  that the
classification  provision will apply to every election of directors,  whether or
not a  change  in the  Board  would be  desirable  in the  opinion  of some or a
majority of the stockholders.

         The full text of the  proposed  Amended  and  Restated  Certificate  of
Incorporation  and  By-Laws  is  attached  as  Exhibits  A and B to  this  Proxy
Statement.  Stockholders should read Exhibits A and B carefully before voting on
this Proposal.  THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR 
THIS
PROPOSAL.

                                       3

<PAGE>


                                   Proposal 2

                              ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Note that the  classification of the Board of Directors has been approved by the
Board of  Directors  and will be voted  upon by the  stockholders  at the Annual
Meeting.  The classification of the Board of Directors is wholly contingent upon
approval by the stockholders.

         If Proposal 1 is approved by the  shareholders,  it is the intention of
the persons  named in this Proxy  Statement  to divide the  nominees  identified
below into three classes and elect them to serve as directors of the Company for
the terms set forth below and until their  successors are elected and qualified.
Nominations  are made in order to provide that  Directors are divided into three
classes, as nearly equal in number as possible. The Board unanimously recommends
that stockholders vote FOR this Proposal.

         Class I Directors - Term Expiring 1998
         Parks H. Dalton
         Claude S. Abernethy, Jr.
         Peter R. Kellogg

         Class II Directors - Term Expiring 1999
         Dudley G. Pearson
         Edward C. Ruff
         Grady G. Thomas, Jr.

         Class III Directors - Term Expiring 2000
         John B. Ellis
         J. Alex McMillan, III
         James H. Morgan

         If the proposal to amend the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and
By-Laws to provide for a classified  Board of Directors is not  approved,  it is
the  intention  of the  persons  named in this Proxy  Statement  to vote for the
election of the  nominees  identified  below to serve for a term of one year and
until their successors are elected and qualified.

         Should any nominee be unable to serve (which is not  anticipated),  the
Proxy will be voted for the election of such other person as shall be designated
by the Board of Directors. Information with respect to each current director and
nominee,  including  biographical  data for at least the last five years, is set
forth below:

Claude S. Abernethy, Jr.
         Mr.  Abernethy,  age 69, was elected a director of the Company in June,
1985. He was a director of  Interstate/Johnson  Lane Corporation,  the Company's
wholly owned subsidiary, ("IJL Corporation") from 1953 to 1987 and a Senior Vice
President  from  1963 to the  present  date.  He has  been  affiliated  with IJL
Corporation  since 1951. Mr. Abernethy is also a director of Air  Transportation
Holding Company, an air freight company, and Ridgeview,  Inc., a manufacturer of
sports socks and hosiery.

Parks H. Dalton
         Mr.  Dalton,  age 67, served as Chairman of the Company from 1985 until
his retirement in 1988, and as Chief Executive Officer from 1985 to 1986. He was
re-elected as a director of the Company in July,  1990 and as Chairman and Chief
Executive  Officer  of the  Company  in  September,  1990.  He  served  as Chief
Executive Officer from September, 1990, until October, 1994, and still serves as

                                       4
<PAGE>

Chairman.  He also  was a  director  of IJL  Corporation  from  1985  until  his
retirement in 1988,  and served as Chief  Executive  Officer of IJL  Corporation
from 1968 to 1988,  President from 1968 to 1983, and Chairman from 1983 to 1988.
In November, 1990, he was re-elected Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IJL
Corporation  until  October 1994 when he was elected  Chairman,  the position in
which  he  currently  serves.  Mr.  Dalton  is  also a  director  of ISC  Realty
Corporation,  which is managing  general  partner of The  Carolinas  Real Estate
Fund,   Marketplace  Income  Properties,   Atlantic  Income  Properties  Limited
Partnership,  Interstate  Land Investors I Limited  Partnership,  and Interstate
Land Investors II Limited Partnership;  all publicly held real estate investment
partnerships.

John B. Ellis
         Mr.  Ellis,  age 72, was  elected a director  of the  Company in April,
1992. He retired in 1986 as Senior Vice  President-Finance  and  Treasurer  from
Genuine Parts Company, a national  distributor of automotive  replacement parts,
and is presently director emeritus of that firm. Mr. Ellis is also a director of
Hughes Supply Inc.,  Integrity Music, Inc.,  Intermet Corp.,  Oxford Industries,
Inc. and UAP, Inc.

Peter R. Kellogg
         Mr. Kellogg,  age 54, was elected a director of the Company in October,
1989. Mr. Kellogg is Senior Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the
investment firm of Spear,  Leeds & Kellogg ("SLK"),  having joined them in 1967.
Mr. Kellogg is also the Chairman of IAT  Reinsurance  Syndicate Ltd. The Troster
Singer  Division of SLK  provides  execution  services to the Company on certain
transactions in over-the-counter  securities.  Mr. Kellogg is also a director of
The Ziegler Companies, Inc., an investment firm.

J. Alex McMillan, III
         Mr.  McMillan,  age 64, was  elected a director of the Company in July,
1996. Mr. McMillan retired from the U.S. House of  Representatives in 1994 after
a decade of public service.  He is currently  President of the McMillan Group, a
merchant banking and public affairs consulting firm specializing in health care,
energy, telecommunications, environment and financial services.

James H. Morgan
         Mr. Morgan,  age 49, was elected  President and Chief Operating Officer
of both the Company and IJL Corporation in September, 1990, and as a director of
both in October, 1990. He served as Chief Operating Officer from September, 1990
until October,  1994, when he was elected President and Chief Executive Officer,
positions in which he currently  serves.  From July 1989 to September  1990, Mr.
Morgan was President of Morgan Investments, Inc., a privately owned and operated
investment advisory business. Mr. Morgan served as Vice President of the Company
from  1987  to  1989,  and was a  director  and  Senior  Vice  President  of IJL
Corporation in various  research,  equity marketing and investment  policy roles
from 1986 to 1989.

Dudley G. Pearson
         Mr. Pearson,  age 53, was elected a director of the Company in January,
1991. Mr. Pearson is Senior Vice President and Regional  Manager,  having joined
IJL  Corporation  in January,  1987. Mr. Pearson served as Branch Manager of the
Atlanta Monarch office from October, 1988, through April, 1995.

Edward C. Ruff
         Mr. Ruff, age 57, was elected a director of the Company in 1988 and has
served as its Chief Financial Officer since 1985. He has been a director, Senior
Vice President and Chief Financial  Officer of IJL  Corporation  since he joined
that  firm  in  1976,   and  in  April  1996  was  elected  a  Senior   Managing
Director/Chief  Financial  Officer.  Mr.  Ruff is also a director  of ISC Realty
Corporation,  which  is the  managing  general  partner  of  Marketplace  Income
Properties,  Atlantic Income  Properties  Limited  Partnership,  Interstate Land
Investors  I Limited  Partnership  and  Interstate  Land  Investors  II  Limited
Partnership, all publicly held real estate investment partnerships.

                                         5
<PAGE>

Grady G. Thomas, Jr.
         Mr. Thomas,  age 53, was elected a director of the Company in November,
1988. He joined IJL  Corporation  in 1977,  was elected Senior Vice President in
1978 and  served  as a  director  from  1987 to 1991.  Mr.  Thomas  directs  the
activities  of The  Interstate  Group,  a  division  of IJL  Corporation,  which
provides institutional trading and independent research products and services to
money managers and plan sponsors.


                                   Proposal 3

               RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

         The  Board of  Directors  has  selected  Coopers &  Lybrand  L.L.P.  as
independent  certified  public  accountants  to examine the Company's  financial
statements for the fiscal year ending  September 30, 1997. A  representative  of
such firm is expected to attend the meeting, to respond to appropriate questions
from shareholders present at the meeting and, if such representative desires, to
make a statement.  THE BOARD  UNANIMOUSLY  RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR
THIS PROPOSAL.


                                   Proposal 4

                AMENDMENT OF THE COMPANY'S 1987 STOCK AWARD PLAN


The  Amendment of the  Company's  1987 Stock Award Plan has been approved by the
Board of  Directors  and will be voted  upon by the  stockholders  at the Annual
Meeting.

         The Board of Directors of the Company, subject to shareholder approval,
has approved certain  amendments to the  Interstate/Johnson  Lane, Inc. Restated
Stock Award Plan,  as adopted on October 19, 1987,  and  thereafter  amended and
restated (the "Restated Plan"),  to, among other things,  increase the number of
shares  of  Common  Stock  that may be  issued  under  the  Restated  Plan by an
additional 1,000,000, from 1,800,000 to 2,800,000 (the "Amendment").

         The purpose of the Restated Plan generally is to secure for the Company
and its  shareholders  the  benefits of the  incentive  inherent in Common Stock
ownership by the employees of the Company and Outside  Directors who are largely
responsible for the Company's future growth and financial success, and to afford
such persons the opportunity to obtain or increase a proprietary interest in the
Company on a favorable basis and,  thereby,  have an opportunity to share in its
success.  A copy of the  Restated  Plan is attached to this proxy  statement  as
Exhibit  C, and the  following  description  is  qualified  in its  entirety  by
reference thereto.

         The  Restated  Plan will be  administered,  with  respect to grants and
awards to employees  hereunder,  by a committee  of the Board of Directors  (the
"Compensation  &  Stock  Plans  Committee").  The  Compensation  &  Stock  Plans
Committee  will consist of not less than two persons who shall be members of the
Board and who shall be "non-employee directors" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act").

         The  Compensation & Stock Plans  Committee  shall select from among the
approximately  1,300 officers and employees of the Company those persons to whom
awards shall be made. In making its selections,  the  Compensation & Stock Plans
Committee  shall take into  account  the  nature of  services  rendered  by such
persons,  commissions or other compensation earned, the capacity of such persons
to

                                           6
<PAGE>

contribute to the success of the Company and other factors in the  discretion
of the  Compensation  & Stock Plans  Committee.  The maximum number of shares of
Common Stock that may be issued under the Restated Plan and the number of shares
reserved for issuance  thereunder is 2,800,000 (subject to adjustment in certain
events,  including changes in capitalization).  The shares may be authorized and
unissued shares or treasury shares.

         Four  types of  benefits  may be granted  under the plan:  nonstatutory
stock options ("SAP Options"),  stock appreciation  rights ("SARs"),  restricted
shares ("Restricted  Shares") and unrestricted shares  ("Unrestricted  Shares").
The  Compensation  & Stock Plans  Committee,  subject to the  provisions  of the
Restated  Plan,  determines  which  employees  will receive SAP  Options,  SARs,
Restricted  Shares and Unrestricted  Shares and the terms and conditions of such
awards.

Nonstatutory Stock Options

         A  nonstatutory  stock option  granted under the Restated Plan entitles
the  participant  to  purchase  shares  of  Common  Stock at an  exercise  price
determined by the Compensation & Stock Plans Committee. As of November 29, 1996,
the closing price for the Company's  Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange
was $13.125 per share.

         Each SAP Option will be evidenced by an SAP Option agreement containing
such terms and conditions  consistent  with the Restated Plan as are approved by
the Compensation & Stock Plans Committee.  SAP Option agreements may provide for
the  exercise  of SAP  Options in whole or in part from time to time  during the
term of the  SAP  Option  or in  such  installments  and at  such  times  as the
Compensation  & Stock Plans  Committee  may  determine.  The SAP Options are not
designed or intended to be "incentive  stock  options"  under Section 422 of the
Code.  The  maximum  term of each SAP  Option  will not exceed ten years and one
month from the date of grant.

         An  SAP  Option  shall  terminate  and  may  not  be  exercised  if the
participant  to whom it is granted  ceases to be  employed by the Company or its
subsidiary,  except that the SAP Option  agreement may, at the discretion of the
Compensation & Stock Plans Committee,  provide for  exercisability for up to one
year following  termination in certain cases,  such as disability or death. Each
SAP Option agreement may also provide for acceleration of  exercisability in the
event of  retirement,  death or disability  or in the event of an  extraordinary
corporate event,  such as a change in control of the Company or the commencement
of a tender  offer to acquire all or part of the  Company's  outstanding  Common
Stock.

         Any SAP Options granted under the Restated Plan are nontransferable and
nonassignable  by the  optionee  other than by will or the laws of  descent  and
distribution and are exercisable during his/her lifetime only by him/her. No SAP
Option  may be  exercised  after  the  expiration  of its term.  The SAP  Option
exercise price is payable in full upon exercise of an SAP Option and, subject to
the  terms  of the SAP  Option  agreement,  may be paid in cash or by  tendering
shares of the Company's Common Stock already owned by the optionee. Any proceeds
received by the  Company  from the sale of Common  Stock on the  exercise of SAP
Options shall be used for general corporate purposes.

         The number of shares of Common Stock  covered by each  outstanding  SAP
Option, the number of shares of Common Stock to which each SAR relates,  and the
per share  exercise  price under each  outstanding  SAP Option shall be adjusted
upon  the  occurrence  of  certain  events  involving  a   recapitalization   or
reorganization of the Company.

Stock Appreciation Rights

         The  Compensation  &  Stock  Plans  Committee  may  grant  SARs  to any
participant  granted  SAP  Options  under the  Restated  Plan.  Each SAR will be
evidenced by an SAR agreement  containing  such terms and conditions  consistent
with  the  Restated  Plan as are  approved  by the  Compensation  & Stock  Plans
Committee.  The  Compensation  & Stock Plans  Committee will grant SARs based on
consideration 

                                        7
<PAGE>

of the  circumstances of the participant and generally will grant
SARs  only  in  those  instances  where  failure  to do so  might,  in the  sole
discretion of the Compensation & Stock Plans Committee,  make exercise of an SAP
Option significantly  burdensome to the participant.  An SAR may be satisfied in
cash or in shares of Common  Stock as  determined  by the  Compensation  & Stock
Plans Committee.  The SAR agreement may limit the maximum amount of appreciation
taken into account under an SAR. An SAR may be exercised only to the extent that
a related SAP Option is exercisable.  The exercise of an SAR shall result in the
termination  of the  related  SAP  Option  with  respect to the number of shares
covered by the exercise.  If an SAR is exercised,  the number of shares that may
be  issued  under the  Restated  Plan will be  reduced  by the  number of shares
covered by the related SAP Option or portion  thereof that is  terminated by the
exercise of the SAR.

         The SAR agreement shall also provide,  among other things,  that no SAR
shall be  exercisable  during the first six  months  after the date of grant and
that no SAR may be  exercised  on a date on which the fair  market  value of the
Common  Stock is less  than or  equal to the  exercise  price  per  share of the
related SAP Option.

Restricted Shares

         The  Compensation  & Stock Plans  Committee  may also award  Restricted
Shares of Common Stock to any employee  participant in the Restated  Plan.  Each
employee awarded  Restricted Shares must enter into a restricted stock agreement
containing  such terms and  conditions as are permitted by the Restated Plan and
as may be approved by the Compensation & Stock Plans Committee.  Such conditions
may  include  the  deferral  of a  percentage  of  the  employee's  annual  cash
compensation,  not including  dividends payable on Restricted Shares, if any, to
be  applied  toward  the  purchase  of  Restricted  Shares  upon such  terms and
conditions,  including  discounts,  as may be set forth in the restricted  stock
agreement. Restricted Shares received by a participant may not be transferred or
encumbered  during a restriction  period  beginning on the date of the award and
ending on such later date as may be designated by the Compensation & Stock Plans
Committee at the time of the award.

         Each  employee who is awarded  Restricted  Shares may, but need not, be
issued a stock  certificate  for the  Restricted  Shares upon  expiration of the
restriction  period.  In no event will the  restriction  period end prior to the
payment by the  employee to the Company of the amount of any  federal,  state or
local income or employment tax withholding  that may be required with respect to
the Restricted  Shares.  During the restriction  period,  the  participant  will
otherwise  have all the rights and  privileges of a  shareholder,  including the
right to receive dividends and the right to vote the Restricted Shares.

         Upon termination of a participant's  employment with the Company or its
subsidiary  before  the end of the  applicable  restriction  period,  all of the
Restricted Shares will be forfeited and all of the  participant's  rights to the
Restricted Shares will terminate except that the restricted stock agreement may,
at the discretion of the Compensation & Stock Plans Committee,  provide that the
participant's  Restricted  Shares will not be forfeited in whole or in part: (i)
if such participant's employment is terminated for any reason other than conduct
that  involves  dishonesty  or action  detrimental  to the Company;  (ii) if the
participant's  employment  is  terminated  by  reason  of  total  and  permanent
disability; or (iii) if the participant dies while employed by the Company. Upon
the  forfeiture  (in whole or in part) of Restricted  Shares,  provided that the
forfeiting  employee  shall have  received  no  dividends  or other  benefits of
ownership from the forfeited shares,  the shares of Common Stock forfeited shall
be  available  again for grant under the plan.  For  purposes  of the  preceding
sentence, voting rights shall not be deemed a benefit of ownership.

         If any  change is made in the  Common  Stock by  reason of any  merger,
consolidation,  reorganization,  recapitalization,  stock  dividend,  split  up,
combination of shares,  exchange of shares,  change in corporate  structure,  or
otherwise,  any shares  received by a  participant  with  respect to  Restricted
Shares shall be subject to the same  restrictions  applicable to such Restricted
Shares and the

                                           8
<PAGE>

certificates representing such shares shall be deposited with the Company until
the end of the restriction period.

Restricted Shares in Lieu of Directors' Annual Retainer

         Directors of the Company who are not  employees  ("Outside  Directors")
shall  receive  Restricted  Shares under the Restated Plan in lieu of the annual
cash  retainer  that would  otherwise  be payable to such  Outside  Directors in
consideration of the services  rendered in his capacity as a member of the Board
of  Directors of the Company.  On the date on which such annual  retainer  would
have been payable, the Outside Director shall receive Restricted Shares equal in
number to the amount of such annual retainer divided by the closing price of the
Common  Stock  on  such  date.  Such  Restricted   Shares  shall  not  be  sold,
transferred,  pledged,  assigned or in any manner  disposed of for or during the
six month period  following the date such Restricted  Shares are awarded and any
director who is awarded  Restricted  Shares shall not be entitled to delivery of
stock  certificates  representing such Restricted Shares until the expiration of
such  restriction  period.  Such Restricted  Shares shall also be subject to the
terms and  conditions  generally  applicable  to  Restricted  Shares as outlined
above,  except  that  there  shall be no  forfeiture  of  shares in the event of
termination of an Outside Director's service as a member of the Board. Currently
there are three Outside Directors eligible to receive Restricted Shares.

Unrestricted Shares

         The  Compensation & Stock Plans  Committee may also award  Unrestricted
Shares of Common Stock to any employee  participant in the Restated  Plan.  Each
employee  awarded  Unrestricted  Shares  must enter into an  unrestricted  stock
agreement  containing such terms and conditions as are permitted by the Restated
Plan and as may be approved by the  Compensation & Stock Plans  Committee.  Such
conditions  may include the deferral of a percentage  of the  employee's  annual
cash  compensation not including  dividends  payable on Unrestricted  Shares, if
any, to be applied  toward the purchase of  Unrestricted  Shares upon such terms
and conditions, including discounts, as may be set forth in the restricted stock
agreement.

Amendment; Termination

         The Board of Directors  of the Company may amend the  Restated  Plan at
any time,  except that the Board may not, to the extent necessary to comply with
the rules and  regulations  of any stock exchange upon which the common Stock is
listed,  increase  the maximum  number of shares  which may be issued  under the
Restated  Plan,  and the  Board may not amend  more than once  every six  months
(other than to comply with changes in certain regulations) any of the provisions
of the Restated  Plan relating to the  automatic  grant of Restricted  Shares to
Outside Directors in lieu of their annual retainer.  In addition,  the Board may
not alter or impair any  benefit  previously  granted  under the  Restated  Plan
without the consent of the person to whom the benefit was granted.

         The Board of Directors  may  terminate or suspend the Restated  Plan at
any time.

         As of September  30, 1996,  158,592 SAP Options and 883,812  Restricted
Shares  had been  granted  over the life of the  Restated  Plan,  of which 0 and
225,316,  respectively,  are  currently  outstanding.   Without  regard  to  the
Amendment,  but  taking  into  account  prior  exercises,  deliveries  and other
dispositions,  1,914,755  shares are available for future  awards.  No SARs have
been granted  under the  Restated  Plan.  Set forth  below,  except as otherwise
indicated,  is information with respect to Restricted  Shares granted during the
fiscal year ending  September 30, 1996, to the executive  officers  named in the
Summary  Compensation  Table and other specified groups under the Restated Plan.
No SARs have been granted.

                                     9

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                New Plan Benefits
             Interstate/Johnson Lane, Inc. Restated Stock Award Plan
         <S>                                                      <C>
         Name and Position                                        Dollar Value ($)              No. of Units

         James H. Morgan                                                   --*                       --*
                  President & Chief Executive Officer

         Edward C. Ruff                                                    --*                       --*
                  Sr. Managing Director/Chief Financial Officer-IJL Corporation

         Edwin A. Dalrymple, Jr.                                           --*                       --*
                  Sr. Managing Director-IJL Corporation

         Harvey D. Harrelson                                               --*                       --*
                  Sr. Managing Director-IJL Corporation

         Lewis F. Semones, Jr.                                             --*                       --*
                  Sr. Managing Director-IJL Corporation

         All current executive officers as a group                         --*                       --*
         All current non-officer directors as a group                      --*                       --*
         All current non-executive officer employees
                  as a group                                               --*                       --*
</TABLE>

*The proposed  increase in the number of shares available for issuance under the
Plan has no effect  on the  number of  shares  or other  benefits  allocated  or
granted  to any  officer,  executive  officer,  or  director  during the past or
current fiscal year. Therefore,  the amounts or benefits to these individuals or
to these groups cannot be determined.

Federal Income Tax Consequences

         SAP  Options.  No federal  taxable  income  will be  recognized  by the
employee upon the grant of an SAP Option. The employee will, however,  recognize
ordinary  income in the year in which the SAP Option is  exercised in the amount
by which the fair market value of the  purchased  shares on the date of exercise
exceeds the SAP Option exercise price. Employees who are officers,  directors or
otherwise  deemed to be  affiliates  of the Company  and are thereby  subject to
liability  under the insider  trading  rules of Section 16(b) of the Act ("16(b)
Optionees"),  are not deemed to realize  the  ordinary  income  attributable  to
exercise  until the  occurrence  of both an exercise and the  expiration  of six
months after the date of grant of the SAP Option (the "Realization  Date").  The
amount of ordinary  income to be  recognized by 16(b)  Optionees  will equal the
excess of the fair market value at the Realization  Date of the Company's shares
so purchased over the SAP Option exercise price, unless the 16(b) Optionee files
a written election with the IRS and the Company pursuant to Section 83(b) of the
Code within thirty days after exercise to have the ordinary income  attributable
to exercise realized as of the exercise date.

         The  greater  of the fair  market  value of the  shares  on the date of
exercise (or, in the case of 16(b)  Optionees who do not make an 83(b) election,
on the  Realization  Date) and the SAP Option exercise price will constitute the
tax basis thereof for computing gain or loss on any subsequent sale. The Company
will be entitled to a business expense  deduction for the Company's taxable year
during which the SAP Option is exercised  equal to the amount of ordinary income
recognized by the  participant.  In the case of 16(b)  Optionees,  the Company's
deduction  will be for the Company's  taxable year that includes the last day of
the employee's taxable year in which the employee  recognizes income as a result
of the exercise of the SAP Option. The income recognized by the optionee will be
treated as  compensation
                                10
<PAGE>

income and will be subject to federal and state income and employment tax
withholding by the Company.  Treasury  regulations  condition the Company's
deduction on the Company's  fulfilling the applicable Form W-2 or 1099 reporting
requirements with respect to the compensation payment (in Common Stock) made to
the employee.  The optionee must recognize ordinary income at the time of
exercise  (or, in the case of 16(b)  Optionees  who do not make an 83(b)
election,  on the Realization  Date), even if the optionee continues to hold the
shares until a later date.  Additional  gain or loss shall be  recognized by the
optionee upon the subsequent disposition of the shares.

         If the SAP  Option  price  under any SAP  Option is paid in the form of
shares of Common  Stock  previously  acquired  either  upon the  exercise of SAP
Options or through open-market  purchases,  then the optionee will not recognize
any taxable  income to the extent that the shares of Common Stock  received upon
the  exercise  of the SAP  Option  equal the  number  of shares of Common  Stock
delivered in payment of the SAP Option price.  For federal  income tax purposes,
these  newly-acquired  shares will have the same basis and holding period as the
delivered  shares.  Any  additional  shares of Common  Stock  received  upon the
exercise of the SAP Option  will,  in  general,  have to be reported as ordinary
income for the year of exercise in an amount  equal to the fair market  value of
such shares at the date of  exercise.  These  additional  shares will have a tax
basis  equal to such fair  market  value,  and their  holding  period  will,  in
general, be measured from their date of transfer to the optionee.

         Stock  Appreciation  Rights.  An employee will not recognize income for
federal  income  tax  purposes  at the  time  of  the  grant  to him of a  stock
appreciation right. Upon exercise of a stock appreciation right, an amount equal
to the cash  received  by the  employee  is taxable to the  employee as ordinary
income in the year of receipt.  If an employee receives property other than cash
upon the exercise of a stock appreciation right, an amount equal to the value of
the property is taxable to him at the time that the property is not subject to a
substantial risk of forfeiture, or is transferable. The Company is entitled to a
deduction  for federal  income tax  purposes in the amount of the income is that
includible  in the gross income of the  employee.  In most cases,  the Company's
deduction  will be for its taxable year that  includes the date the  participant
recognizes income.  The Company shall withhold federal,  state, and local income
and employment taxes from amounts paid upon the exercise of a stock appreciation
right.  Treasury regulations  condition the Company's deduction on the Company's
fulfilling the applicable reporting requirements with respect to the recognition
of income by the employee.

         Restricted  Shares. An employee  generally will recognize no income for
federal income tax purposes at the time the employee receives  Restricted Shares
and will not recognize income during the restriction period except to the extent
the employee receives dividends with respect to the Restricted Shares. An amount
equal  to  the  fair  market  value  of  Restricted  Shares,  at  the  time  the
restrictions  lapse, (i.e. when the Restricted Shares are either transferable or
no longer  subject to a substantial  risk of  forfeiture),  less any amounts the
employee has paid for the  Restricted  Shares  other than  through  compensation
deferrals,  generally is  includible in gross income of the employee for federal
and  state  income  and  employment  tax  purposes  for the  year in  which  the
restrictions  lapse.  Gain  or  loss  will  be  realized  by the  employee  upon
disposition of Restricted  Shares after the  restrictions  lapse. The employee's
holding period for the  Restricted  Shares will begin at the time just after the
restrictions  lapse,  or just after the stock is  transferred  to the  employee,
whichever  event  results in inclusion of income.  The  employee's  basis in the
Restricted  Shares  is equal to the sum of the  amount  includible  in the gross
income of the employee  and the amount paid by the employee for such  Restricted
Shares other than through compensation deferrals.

         If the employee  makes a special  election  under  Section 83(b) of the
Code,  the receipt of  Restricted  Shares  will result in taxable  income to the
employee upon the employee's receipt of the Restricted Shares. Specifically,  an
employee may elect within  thirty days after receipt of  Restricted  Shares,  by
filing a statement with the IRS and the Company,  to include in gross income the
fair market value of the Restricted Shares on the date of the receipt.  The fair
market value for this purpose is determined  without regard to the  restrictions
that will lapse after the end of any restriction  period. If such

                                        11
<PAGE>

an election is made and the employee  subsequently forfeits the Restricted
Shares, no loss will be  recognized by the employee on account of the forfeiture
of the  Restricted Shares.

         The Company is entitled to a deduction in an amount equal to the income
included in the gross income of the  employee.  The deduction is allowed for the
taxable year of the Company that includes the last day of the employee's taxable
year in which the employee  recognizes income. The deduction is conditioned upon
the Company's fulfilling its reporting responsibilities.

         Dividends  received by the employee on the  Restricted  Shares prior to
the lapse of the  restrictions are taxed to the employee as compensation and are
deductible by the Company.  If, however,  by virtue of the special Section 83(b)
election the value of the Restricted Shares is includible in the gross income of
the employee before the restrictions  lapse,  dividends on such shares after the
taxable event will be dividend income to the employee and will not be deductible
by the Company.  If an employee forfeits previously taxed Restricted Shares, the
Company is required  to include in income any  deductions  that it claimed  with
respect to the forfeited Restricted Shares.

         An  Outside  Director  who  receives  Restricted  Shares in lieu of the
annual retainer generally will have income tax consequences  comparable to those
discussed  above with respect to  employees,  except that  withholding  does not
apply to such income.  The Company's  tax  treatment  also is comparable to that
discussed  above with respect to  employees,  except that  withholding  does not
apply to such income.

         Unrestricted Shares - Federal Income Tax Consequences. An employee will
recognize  ordinary  income for federal  income tax purposes upon the receipt of
Unrestricted Shares to the extent that the fair market value of the Unrestricted
Shares on the date it is received exceeds the amount paid for such  Unrestricted
Shares by the  employee.  Employees  who are  officers,  directors  or otherwise
deemed to be  affiliates  of the Company and are  thereby  subject to  liability
under the insider  trading  rules of Section  16(b) of the  Exchange Act ("16(b)
Employees"),  are not deemed to realize the ordinary income  attributable to the
receipt of  Unrestricted  Shares until the  expiration  of six months after such
receipt.  The amount of ordinary income to be recognized by 16(b) Employees will
equal the excess of the fair market value at the end of the six-month  period of
the shares of  Unrestricted  Shares so  purchased  over the amount paid for such
Shares,  unless the 16(b) Employee files a written election with the IRS and the
Company  pursuant to Section  83(b) of the Code within thirty days after receipt
of the  Unrestricted  Shares to have the  ordinary  income  attributable  to the
receipt of Unrestricted  Shares realized as of the date such Unrestricted Shares
is  received.  Regardless  of whether or not the  employee is a 16(b)  employee,
additional  gain or loss shall be recognized by the employee upon the subsequent
disposition of the Unrestricted  Shares.  The employee's  holding period for the
Unrestricted  Shares for purposes of gain or loss will begin  immediately  after
the  expiration of the six-month  period,  or  immediately  after the shares are
transferred to the employee, whichever event results in inclusion of income. The
Employee's  basis in the  Unrestricted  Shares is equal to the sum of the amount
includible  in the  gross  income of the  employee  and the  amount  paid by the
employee for such Unrestricted Shares.

         Income and payroll  taxes are  required to be withheld on the amount of
taxable compensation resulting from Unrestricted Shares. The Company is entitled
to a deduction in an amount equal to the income  included in the gross income of
the employee.  The deduction is allowed for the taxable year of the Company that
includes  the last day of the  employee's  taxable  year in which  the  employee
recognizes income.  The deduction is conditioned upon the Company's  fulfillment
of applicable reporting requirements.

         Dividends received by a 16(b) Employee with respect to the Unrestricted
Shares  prior  to the  end of the  six-month  period  following  receipt  of the
Unrestricted  Shares are taxed to the 16(b)  Employee  as  compensation  and are
deductible  by the  Company.  In the case of a 16(b)  Employee  who has made the
special  Section 83(b) election  discussed  above,  or an employee that is not a
16(b) Employee,  dividends received with respect to Unrestricted  Shares will be
dividend income to the employee and will not be deductible by the Company.

                                        12
<PAGE>

Miscellaneous

         Except as stated  above,  the  Restated  Plan does not  provide for any
maximum  number  of  shares  which  may  be  granted  or  optioned  to  any  one
participant. In view of the discretionary authority vested in the Compensation &
Stock Plans  Committee  and the fact that there is no  termination  date for the
plan,  it is impossible to estimate the number of shares that will be granted or
optioned to any individual or group of individuals over the life of the Restated
Plan.

Approval by Shareholders

         Approval of the  Amendment  to the  Restated  Plan by the  shareholders
requires the affirmative  vote of a majority of the outstanding  shares entitled
to vote.  The Board of Directors  believes that the  Amendment  will enhance the
overall  performance  of  the  Company's  employees  and  directors.  THE  BOARD
UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THIS PROPOSAL.


                                  OTHER MATTERS

         The Board of Directors of the Company knows of no matters which will be
presented  for  consideration  at the meeting other than those set forth in this
Proxy  Statement.  However,  if any other  matters are  properly  presented  for
action, it is the intention of the persons named in the Proxy to vote on them in
accordance with their best judgment.

         Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

         The following table sets forth, as of November 29, 1996, the number and
percentage of outstanding shares  beneficially owned by each person known by the
Company to own more than 5% of the  Company's  Common Stock,  by each  director,
nominee  for  director  and  named  executive  officer  of the  Company,  and by
directors and  executive  officers of the Company as a group.  Unless  otherwise
indicated,  each  shareholder  named has sole voting and dispositive  power with
respect to such shareholder's shares.

                                        13
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                    Number of Shares        Percent
                           Name                                     Beneficially Owned(1)   of Class
        <S>                                                        <C>             <C>      <C>
        Claude S. Abernethy, Jr.                                   286,070         (2)      4.75%
        Edwin A. Dalrymple, Jr.                                    25,526          (3)      *
        Parks H. Dalton                                            82,371          (4)      1.36%
        John B. Ellis                                              4,692           (5)      *
        Harvey D. Harrelson                                        21,988          (6)      *
        Peter R. Kellogg                                           1,052,741       (7)      17.49%
        J. Alex McMillan, III                                      741             (8)      *
        James H. Morgan                                            66,813          (9)      *
        NationsBank of North Carolina, Trustee of
           Interstate/ Johnson Lane Corporation Employee
           Stock Ownership and PAYSOP Plan and Trust               404,272         (10)     6.71%
        Dudley G. Pearson                                          11,513          (11)     *
        Edward C. Ruff                                             117,020         (12)     1.94%
        Lewis F. Semones, Jr.                                      23,909          (13)     *
        Grady G. Thomas, Jr.                                       100,434         (14)     1.66%
        All directors and executive officers
          as a group (14 persons)                                  2,198,090       (15)     36.53%
                       *Less than 1%

</TABLE>

(1) Does not include shares that might be deemed to be  beneficially  owned by a
director,  nominee or executive  officer serving on a committee which may direct
the  investment  of Common  Stock in the  Company's  Profit  Sharing and Capital
Accumulation  Plan and Trust  ("PSP/CAP") or Employee Stock Ownership and PAYSOP
Plan and Trust ("ESOP/ PAYSOP").

(2) Mr.  Abernethy's  shares  include  21,400  shares owned by his wife;  32,800
shares owned by his children;  4,329 shares of restricted  stock;  43,268 shares
issuable  upon  conversion  of the  Company's  7 3/4%  Convertible  Subordinated
Debentures due March 31, 2011 (the "Debentures"), which consist of 22,592 shares
owned by his wife and  children;  and 20,676 shares held by a trust of which Mr.
Abernethy is the Trustee;  and 13,474 shares held in the ESOP/PAYSOP and PSP/CAP
plans.

(3) Mr.  Dalrymple's shares include 1,328 shares of restricted stock; 356 shares
held in the Dividend  Reinvestment  Plan ("DRIP");  and 1,630 shares held in the
ESOP/PAYSOP and PSP/CAP plans.

(4)    Mr. Dalton's shares include 7,371 shares held in the ESOP/PAYSOP and 
PSP/CAP plans.

(5) Mr. Ellis' shares  include 741 shares of restricted  stock obtained from the
Company in lieu of his annual director retainer fee.

(6) Mr.  Harrelson's  shares  include  3,000  shares  issuable  under  currently
exercisable  stock options and 2,117 shares held in the  ESOP/PAYSOP and PSP/CAP
plans.

(7) Mr. Kellogg's shares include 100,000 shares held by his wife; 100,000 shares
held  by a  Trust,  of  which  he is a  trustee;  499,500  shares  held  by  IAT
Reinsurance  Syndicate,  Ltd.,  a Bermuda  corporation,  of which he is the sole
holder of the voting stock; and 741 shares of restricted stock obtained from the
Company in lieu of the annual director retainer fee.

(8) Mr.  McMillan's  shares include 741 shares of restricted stock obtained from
the Company in lieu of his annual director retainer fee.

(9) Mr. Morgan's shares include 86 shares owned by his wife; 274 shares owned by
his  children;  747  shares of  restricted  stock;  and 218  shares  held in the
ESOP/PAYSOP and PSP/CAP plans.

                                        14
<PAGE>

(10) This  shareholder has dispositive  power with respect to these shares,  and
voting power only as to shares not  allocated  to  participants'  accounts.  The
address of this holder is: One  NationsBank  Plaza,  Charlotte,  North  Carolina
28255-0001.

(11) Mr. Pearson's  shares include 1,491 shares of restricted  stock; 120 shares
held in the DRIP plan; and 160 shares held in the ESOP/PAYSOP and PSP/CAP plans.

(12)  Mr.  Ruff's  shares  include  12,500  shares   issuable  under   currently
exercisable stock options;  112 shares issuable upon conversion of the Company's
Debentures; and 6,257 shares held in the ESOP/PAYSOP and PSP/CAP plans.

(13) Mr.  Semones' shares include 2,210 shares of restricted  stock;  789 shares
issuable upon conversion of the Company's Debentures; 98 shares held in the DRIP
plan; and 213 shares held in the ESOP/PAYSOP and PSP/CAP plans.

(14)  Mr.  Thomas'  shares  include  9,000  shares   issuable  under   currently
exercisable stock options;  and 3,987 shares held in the ESOP/PAYSOP and PSP/CAP
plans.

(15) Shares of all directors,  nominees for director and executive officers as a
group include 42,500 shares issuable under currently  exercisable stock options;
16,663 shares of restricted stock; 50,169 shares issuable upon conversion of the
Company's  Debentures;  662 shares held in the DRIP plan; and 31,024 shares held
in the ESOP/PAYSOP and PSP/CAP plans.

                             Meetings and Committees

Board of Directors

     During the fiscal year ended  September 30, 1996,  there were four meetings
of the Company's Board of Directors.

Audit Committee

     Messrs.  Hamner,  Kellogg  and  Pechter  served as the members of the Audit
Committee  during the fiscal year ended  September 30, 1996. The current members
of the Audit Committee are Mr. Kellogg and Mr. McMillan. The principal functions
of this Committee are to review the Company's  internal controls and confer with
the Company's independent public accountants concerning the scope and results of
their audit and any  recommendations  they may have,  and to consider such other
matters   relating  to  auditing  and  accounting  as  the  Committee  may  deem
appropriate.  During  the  fiscal  year  ended  September  30,  1996,  the Audit
Committee held three meetings.

Compensation & Stock Plans Committee

     Messrs.   Ellis,   Kellogg  and  Pechter  served  as  the  members  of  the
Compensation & Stock Plans Committee  during the fiscal year ended September 30,
1996. The current  members of the  Compensation & Stock Plans  Committee are Mr.
Ellis, Mr. McMillan and Mr. Kellogg. The principal function of this Committee is
to review and approve the compensation of the executive officers of the Company,
to determine who will receive options and/or stock appreciation rights under the
Company's  1985  Non-Qualified  Stock  Option Plan,  and to  determine  who will
receive options, restricted stock, unrestricted stock, and/or stock appreciation
rights under the Company's  1987 Stock Award Plan.  During the fiscal year ended
September 30, 1996, the Compensation & Stock Plans Committee held four meetings.

                                        15

<PAGE>

Nominating Committee

     Messrs.  Dalton,  Kellogg and Ellis served as the members of the Nominating
Committee during the fiscal year ended September 30, 1996, and are continuing in
that  capacity.  The  principal  function of this  Committee  is to seek out and
nominate qualified candidates for the Board of Directors of the Company.  During
the fiscal year ended  September 30, 1996,  the  Nominating  Committee held four
meetings.

                             Executive Compensation

     The following  table sets forth  information  concerning  the  compensation
during the last three fiscal years of the Company's Chief Executive  Officer and
each of its four other most highly  compensated  executive  officers (the "named
executive officers") during the 1996 fiscal year:

   Summary Compensation Table (6)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                        Annual Compensation
                                 Yr.End
Executive Officer                9/30     Salary                    Bonus                  Other Annual  All Other
                                                                                           Compensation  Compensation
                                                        Cash        Stock       Total      (4)           (5)
                                                                   (2) (3)
<S>                              <C>      <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>           <C>
James H. Morgan                  1996     225,000      675,000     0           675,000     3,053         3,020
   President and                 1995     200,000      248,750     26,258      275,008     0             3,018
   Chief Executive Officer       1994     200,000      297,500     52,500      350,000     0             3,528

Edward C. Ruff                   1996     160,000      400,000     0           400,000     0             3,020
   Chief Financial Officer       1995     150,000      140,000     10,003      150,003     0             3,018
                                 1994     150,000      157,500     17,505      175,005     0             3,528

Edwin A. Dalrymple, Jr.          1996     150,000      525,000     0           525,000     5,428         3,020
   Sr. Managing Director -       1995     140,000      167,000     13,005      180,005     0             3,018
   IJL Corporation               1994     135,000      180,000     20,003      200,003     0             3,528

Harvey D. Harrelson              1996     130,000      230,000     0           230,000     0             3,020
   Sr. Managing Director -       1995     120,000      76,000      4,009       80,009      0             3,018
   IJL Corporation               1994     120,000      72,000      8,003       80,003      0             3,518

Lewis F. Semones, Jr. (1)        1996     125,000      300,000     0           300,000     4,528         3,020
   Sr. Managing Director -       1995     110,000      105,000     24,257      129,257     2,642         3,018
   IJL Corporation               1994     --           --          --          --          --            --

</TABLE>

(1)  Mr. Semones became an executive officer on October 26, 1994.

(2)  In  fiscal  1995 and 1994,  the named  executive  officers  (who  served as
     executive  officers in those  years) were  awarded  7,902 shares and 13,068
     shares, respectively,  of Company stock restricted for one year and bearing
     the rights to dividends, if any.

(3)  Aggregate restricted shareholdings and their respective values at 
     September 30, 1996, for each of the named executive officers were as 
     follows:  Mr. Morgan, 747 shares, $9,151; Mr. Dalrymple, 1,328 shares, 
     $16,268; and Mr. Semones, 2,210 shares, $27,073.

(4)  Amounts  reported  herein  reflect  the  price  discount  on  stock  deemed
     purchased as of September 30 of that year by the named  executive  officers
     under the Company's Employee Deferred Stock Purchase Program,  which shares
     were issued subsequent to the close of the respective fiscal year.

(5)  Amounts reported herein reflect allocations of contributions by the Company
     to the  defined  contribution  plans  enumerated  on page 17 of this  proxy
     statement.

                                        16

<PAGE>

(6)  There were no awards or payoffs of long-term compensation as defined in 
     Item 402(b)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 
     1934.


Stock Options

Option/SAR Grants in The Last Fiscal Year

         No  options or stock  appreciation  rights  were  granted to any of the
named executive officers during the fiscal year ended September 30, 1996.


Aggregate Option/SAR Exercises During Fiscal Year 1996
and September 30, 1996 Options/SAR Values

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                           Number of Unexercised         *Value of Unexercised
                            Option                         Options/SARs at               In-The-Money Options/
                            Exercises                            Fiscal Year-End         SARs at Fiscal Year-End
                            Shares         Value
                            Acquired     Realized        Exercisable    Unexercisable  Exercisable     Unexercisable
Executive Officer             (#)            ($)              (#)            (#)            ($)             ($)

<S>                         <C>            <C>             <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>
Edward C. Ruff              0              0               12,500         0              $62,375         0
Harvey D. Harrelson         0              0                 3,000        0                18,750        0

</TABLE>
                  *Based on the  difference  between the  exercise  price of the
                     options and the closing price of the Company's common stock
                     on The New York Stock Exchange at September 30, 1996.

Long-Term Incentive Plans - Awards in Last Fiscal Year

     No long-term  incentive  awards were granted to any of the named  executive
officers  with respect to the fiscal year ended  September  30,  1996.  However,
during  the year the  Board of  Directors  approved  an  equity-based  Long-Term
Incentive Program (LTIP) for executive officers and other senior executives. The
LTIP provides for future awards of company stock ranging from 100,000 to 650,000
shares,  depending on the level of aggregate  earnings per share (before charges
for the LTIP) attained during the three-year period commencing  October 1, 1995,
and  ending  September  30,  1998.  No awards  are  payable  for less than $3.51
aggregate earnings per share (as defined) during that period. Should the Company
replicate its 1996  performance  in 1997 and 1998, it is estimated  that 300,000
shares of Company stock would be awarded to the group in October, 1998.

Compensation of Directors

     The Company has adopted a policy of paying  directors who are not employees
of the Company an annual  retainer of $10,000 in restricted  stock,  plus $1,000
and reimbursement of reasonable  expenses for each directors'  meeting attended,
and $1,000,  plus expenses,  for each committee  meeting not held in conjunction
with a directors'  meeting.  Non-salaried  employees receive $1,000 per meeting,
plus expenses. The Company anticipates that the Board of Directors will continue
to meet quarterly.

Profit Sharing and Capital Accumulation Plan and Trust

     The  Company   maintains  the  PSP/CAP,   which  provides  for  participant
contributions on a pretax compensation  reduction basis (a 401(k)  arrangement).
To  participate,  an employee  must have at least one full  calendar  quarter of
service,  and  complete  1,000 hours of service for that Plan year.  An employee
meeting  the  standards  of service  required  under the plan may elect to defer
receipt of a percentage of his annual compensation and contribute that amount to
the Capital  Accumulation Plan. That amount was limited by federal regulation to
$9,500 in 1996. The employee's deferrals are fully vested at all times.

                                        17
<PAGE>

     The Company  discretionarily  matches  employee  contributions  up to three
percent of covered compensation.  Additional discretionary  contributions may be
made by the Company and are allocated among  participating  employees at the end
of each  fiscal  year on the  basis of  their  relative  eligible  compensation.
Company contributions, if any, are allocated to eligible participating employees
who are employed on the last day of the fiscal year. A participant's interest in
the Company's matching  contributions  vests over five years. This interest also
becomes fully vested upon  retirement at age 65, early  retirement  (age 62 with
ten years of service), death or total disability.

Employee Stock Ownership (ESOP) and PAYSOP Plan and Trust

     The  Company  maintains  an  ESOP/PAYSOP,  to  which  it  may  make  annual
contributions  of cash,  securities  of the  Company or other  property  for the
benefit of participating  employees.  The eligibility and vesting provisions and
administration  responsibilities  of the ESOP/PAYSOP are the same as those which
apply to the Profit  Sharing  and  Capital  Accumulation  Plan and  Trust.  Cash
contributions to the ESOP/PAYSOP  have been primarily  invested in the Company's
Common Stock and are allocated among participating  employees at the end of each
fiscal year on the basis of their relative eligible compensation.

Related Transactions

     From time to time,  directors  and  executive  officers  of the Company may
borrow money from IJL Corporation through margin accounts.  These loans are made
in the normal course of IJL Corporation's business as a broker-dealer,  are made
on  substantially  the same terms and conditions,  including  interest rates and
collateral,  as those  prevailing at the time for comparable  transactions  with
other  persons,  and do not  involve  more  than the  normal  risks of credit or
present other unfavorable features.

Compensation & Stock Plans Committee Report

     The Compensation & Stock Plans Committee  establishes base salaries for the
Company's  executive  officers  at the  beginning  of the  fiscal  year upon the
subjective  recommendation  of the Chief  Executive  Officer.  Salary levels are
intended to reflect  responsibilities  in one or more of the Company's operating
units and to be competitive  with positions of similar  responsibility  in other
comparable  investment and financial  services  organizations,  whether publicly
owned or privately  held, some of which may be included in the Peer Group Index.
Compensation surveys by independent third parties,  industry associations and ad
hoc conference  groups,  as well as published proxy data for firms of comparable
size and scope,  all serve as  resources to the Chief  Executive  Officer and to
this Committee in its deliberations.

     Annual bonuses for executive officers are  discretionary,  not contractual.
Messrs. Dalrymple and Harrelson are compensated primarily from the contributions
of the  respective  business  units  that they  direct.  They,  the other  named
executive officers,  and certain additional  executive officers also participate
in a corporate bonus pool which is based in part on the Company's  annual return
on average beginning equity (ROBE),  after giving effect to such bonuses, and in
part  on  discretionary  adjustments  by the  Committee.  The  specifics  of the
formularized  portion of the  corporate  bonus pool vary from year to year.  For
fiscal  1996 it  provided  for a bonus  pool in an amount  equal to 7% of pretax
profits  (before  giving  effect to such bonuses) at a 10% ROBE, up to a maximum
12% of pretax  profits when a 24% or greater ROBE was  achieved.  In fiscal 1996
the ROBE was 14.2%,  and total  funds  available  from the  corporate  pool were
$1,640,000, of which $1,375,000 was allocated among the named executive officers
on the  basis  of  subjective  recommendations  to the  Committee  by the  Chief
Executive Officer.

     In  assessing  total 1996  compensation  for the named  executive  officers
relative to the Company's  performance,  the Committee  considered the following
factors:

                                            18
<PAGE>

o    Compensation  paid to  senior  executives  of other  regional  full-service
     securities firms (including but not limited to some firms in the Peer Group
     Index),  as disclosed in proxy  statements,  relative to various  financial
     characteristics of those firms such as revenues,  net income, and return on
     equity.

o    Operating  results in all major business  units improved  markedly from
     fiscal 1995.

     Prior to the 1996 fiscal year,  Mr.  Morgan's  base salary had remained the
same for three years.  In light of his successful  assumption of Chief Executive
Officer  responsibilities  from Mr.  Dalton  during the 1995  fiscal  year,  the
Committee  increased his salary effective October 1, 1995 to a level competitive
with chief  executives  of comparable  securities  firms.  The  Committee  still
anticipates that a significant  portion of Mr. Morgan's total  compensation will
be performance oriented. Mr. Morgan's proportionate share of the corporate bonus
pool in 1996 was based upon a subjective  assessment of his  contribution to the
Company's performance during that year.

     In regard  to the $1  million  limit on tax  deductible  compensation,  the
Committee  believes it is  important to balance the  effectiveness  of executive
compensation  plans with the materiality of potentially  reduced tax deductions.
Accordingly,  the Committee  may from time to time  recommend  modifications  to
corporate compensation plans to be responsive to both factors.

                  Compensation & Stock Plans Committee:
                                             John B. Ellis
                                             Peter R. Kellogg
                                             Richard S. Pechter

     On October 21, 1996, Mr. Pechter was succeeded by Mr. McMillan as a member
of the Compensation and Stock Plans Committee.

Compensation & Stock Plans Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

     Mr.  Kellogg,  a member of the  Compensation  & Stock Plans  Committee,  is
Senior Partner and Chief Executive  Officer of SLK,  which,  through its Troster
Singer  Division,   provides  execution  services  to  the  Company  on  certain
transactions in over-the-counter securities.



                            Stock Performance Graphs

     The  following  graph  compares the  five-year  cumulative  total return on
shares of the Company's Common Stock with the cumulative total return of the S&P
500  Index and a Peer  Group  Index  comprised  of  eleven  comparable  regional
securities  firms.  The graph  assumes that $100 was  invested on September  30,
1991, in the Company's common stock and each of the other indexes,  and that all
dividends were reinvested.

  The Peer Group Index, which is weighted by market values, includes the 
following firms:
    Advest Group, Inc.                      Piper Jaffray Companies, Inc.
    First Albany Companies, Inc.            Rodman & Renshaw Capital Group, Inc.
    Inter-Regional Financial Group, Inc.    Scott & Stringfellow Financial, Inc.
    Legg Mason, Inc.                        Southwest Securities Group, Inc.
    McDonald & Company Investments, Inc.    Stifel Financial Corp.
    Morgan Keegan, Inc.

                                        19
<PAGE>

             (COMPARATIVE FIVE-YEAR TOTAL RETURNS GRAPH APPEARS HERE)
                         (PLOT POINTS ARE LISTED BELOW)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                        1991            1992            1993            1994            1995           1996
<S>                   <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>            <C>
IJL (box symbol)      $100.00         $158.07         $258.07         $205.25         $264.14        $327.16
S&P 500 (triangle)    $100.00         $111.29         $125.77         $129.73         $168.32        $202.54
Peer Group (star)     $100.00         $114.12         $180.95         $142.25         $204.49        $236.76
</TABLE>

Shareholder Proposals

     Shareholder  proposals  relating to the  Company's  1998 annual  meeting of
shareholders  must be received by the Company no later than Tuesday,  August 19,
1997. Shareholders should send their proposals to the attention of the Company's
Secretary at its principal offices, P. O. Box 1012, Interstate Tower, Charlotte,
North Carolina 28201-1012.

Solicitation

         The expense of preparing,  printing and mailing the proxy  statement to
shareholders will be borne by the Company.  In addition to soliciting proxies by
mail,  the Company may make  requests  for proxies by  telephone  or by personal
solicitation  by employees of the Company at nominal cost to the Company.  W. F.
Doring & Co.  has  been  retained  by the  Company  on  behalf  of the  Board of
Directors to assist in the solicitation of proxies from brokers and nominees for
a fee of approximately  $3,500 plus  reimbursement  of reasonable  out-of-pocket
expenses.  The Company also will  reimburse  brokers,  dealers,  banks and other
custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable expenses in forwarding
proxy solicitation materials to beneficial owners of the Company's Common Stock.

                                               The Board of Directors



                                               INTERSTATE/JOHNSON LANE, INC.
December 17, 1996


                                        20
<PAGE>

                                    PROPOSED

                AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                          INTERSTATE/JOHNSON LANE, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                   ARTICLE VI

         The  business  of the  corporation  shall  be  managed  by a  Board  of
Directors,  and the number of Directors  comprising  the Board shall be fixed by
the By-Laws and such number may from time to time be  increased  or decreased in
such manner as provided by the By-Laws of the  corporation.  Each Director shall
be  classified  as Class I,  Class II,  and Class III  Directors  and will serve
staggered one, two- and three-year terms,  holding office until their successors
have been duly elected and qualified.

                                                                      EXHIBIT A

<PAGE>

                                                                  
                                    PROPOSED

                          AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS
                                       OF
                          INTERSTATE/JOHNSON LANE, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                   ARTICLE II

         Section 2. Annual Meeting.  The annual meeting of stockholders shall be
held within one hundred twenty (120) days of the fiscal year of the  corporation
at such time and place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall
be  specified in the notice of meeting at which they shall elect by plurality of
vote a CLASSIFIED board of directors SERVING STAGGERED ONE-, TWO- AND THREE-YEAR
TERMS. AT EACH ANNUAL MEETING FOLLOWING THE INITIAL CLASSIFICATION AND ELECTION,
THE  SUCCESSORS  TO THE CLASS OF  DIRECTORS  WHOSE TERMS  EXPIRE AT THAT MEETING
WOULD BE ELECTED FOR A TERM OF OFFICE TO EXPIRE AT THE THIRD  SUCCEEDING  ANNUAL
MEETING AFTER THEIR ELECTION AND UNTIL THEIR  SUCCESSORS  HAVE BEEN DULY ELECTED
AND QUALIFIED.  The annual meeting of stockholders  shall also serve to transact
such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

                                   ARTICLE III

         Section 1. Number.  The number of directors which shall  constitute the
whole board shall be no less than three (3) and such number may be  increased by
the  vote  of a  majority  of the  directors  then  constituting  the  board  of
directors.  The  directors  shall  be  elected  at  the  annual  meeting  of the
stockholders,  except as provided in Section 2 of this  Article.  THE  DIRECTORS
SHALL BE CLASSIFIED  SERVING  STAGGERED ONE-, TWO- AND THREE-YEAR TERMS WITH ONE
CLASS HOLDING OFFICE INITIALLY FOR A TERM EXPIRING AT THE 1998 ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS,  ANOTHER CLASS HOLDING OFFICE INITIALLY FOR A TERM EXPIRING AT THE
1999 ANNUAL  MEETING AND  ANOTHER  CLASS  HOLDING  OFFICE  INITIALLY  FOR A TERM
EXPIRING AT THE 2000  ANNUAL  MEETING,  WITH THE  MEMBERS OF EACH CLASS  HOLDING
OFFICE  UNTIL THEIR  SUCCESSORS  HAVE BEEN DULY ELECTED AND  QUALIFIED.  AT EACH
ANNUAL MEETING FOLLOWING THE INITIAL CLASSIFICATION AND ELECTION, THE SUCCESSORS
TO THE CLASS OF DIRECTORS  WHOSE TERMS  EXPIRE AT THAT MEETING  WOULD BE ELECTED
FOR A TERM OF OFFICE TO EXPIRE AT THE  THIRD  SUCCEEDING  ANNUAL  MEETING  AFTER
THEIR ELECTION AND UNTIL THEIR  SUCCESSORS HAVE BEEN DULY ELECTED AND QUALIFIED.
Directors need not be stockholders.


                                                                      EXHIBIT B


<PAGE>
                                                                   
                          INTERSTATE/JOHNSON LANE, INC.
                            RESTATED STOCK AWARD PLAN
                                OCTOBER 21, 1996


                                    ARTICLE I
                      PURPOSE; EFFECTIVE DATE; DEFINITIONS

         1.1 Purpose.  The  Interstate/Johnson  Lane, Inc.  Restated Stock Award
Plan ("Restated Plan"), is intended to secure for Interstate/Johnson  lane, Inc.
and its  shareholders  the  benefits of the  incentive  inherent in common stock
ownership by the employees and outside  directors of the Company who are largely
responsible for the Company's future growth and continued  financial success and
to afford such  persons  the  opportunity  to obtain or  increase a  proprietary
interest  in  the  Company  on a  favorable  basis  and,  thereby,  to  have  an
opportunity to share in its success.

         1.2  Effective  Date.  Subject to the  approval of the Board and of the
Company's  shareholders if required pursuant to Section 7.9 below, this Restated
Plan shall be effective as of October 21, 1996.  The original  effective date of
this  Restated  Plan was October 19,  1987;  it was first  amended on October 1,
1991; and it was subsequently restated as of October 27, 1992 and again restated
as of October 25, 1994.

         1.3      Definitions.  Throughout this Restated Plan, the following
terms shall have the meanings respectively indicated:

                         (a)     "Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act
                        of 1934, as amended;

                  (b)  "Benefits"  shall  mean any one or more of the  following
three  awards  that may be  offered by the  Committee  to  Employees  under this
Restated Plan:

                           (i)      Options,
                           (ii)     Stock Appreciation Rights,
                           (iii)    Restricted Stock, or
                           (iv)     Unrestricted Stock;

                  (c)      "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of
Interstate/Johnson Lane, Inc.;

                  (d)      "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended, and any successor revenue laws of the United States;

                  (e)      "Committee" shall mean any committee of directors of
the Company designated by the Board to administer this Restated Plan;

                                                                      EXHIBIT C
<PAGE>

                  (f)      "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock of
Interstate/Johnson Lane, Inc. par value $.20 per share;

                  (g)      "Company" shall mean Interstate/Johnson Lane,
Inc. and any of its Subsidiaries;

                  (h)      "Employee" shall mean any person engaged or
proposed to be engaged as an officer or employee of the Company;

                  (i)      "Option" shall mean an option to purchase shares
of common Stock granted by the Committee to an Employee pursuant to this
Restated Plan;

                  (j)      "Option Agreement" shall mean an agreement between
the Company and an Employee whereby an Option is granted;

                  (k)      "Option Shares" shall mean the shares of Common
Stock purchased upon the exercise of an Option;

                  (l)      "Restated Plan" shall mean this Interstate/Johnson
Lane, Inc. Restated Stock Award Plan, and any amendments hereto;

                  (m) "Restricted  Stock" shall mean Common Stock (i) granted to
Employees under Section 6.1 of this Restated Plan,  subject to such restrictions
as the  Committee  may  determine,  and (ii) issued to Outside  Directors  under
Section 6.2 of this  Restated  Plan in each case as  evidenced  in a  Restricted
Stock Agreement;

                  (n)  "Restricted  Stock  Agreement"  shall  mean an  agreement
between  the  Company  and an  Employee  or Outside  Director  pursuant to which
Restricted Stock is issued to the Employee or Outside Director  pursuant to this
Restated Plan;

                  (o)      "Restriction Period" shall mean the time period
during which the Restricted Stock is subject to the restrictions set forth in
the Restricted Stock Agreement;

                  (p)  "SAR  Agreement"  shall  mean an  agreement  between  the
Company and an Employee pursuant to which a Stock  Appreciation  Right is issued
to the Employee pursuant to this Restated Plan;

                  (q)  "Stock  Appreciation  Rights"  shall  mean  the  right to
receive cash or Common  Stock,  granted  pursuant to Article V of this  Restated
Plan and a SAR Agreement;

                  (r)      "Subsidiary" shall mean a subsidiary corporation of
Interstate/Johnson Lane, Inc., as defined in Sections 424(f) and 424(g) of the
Code;

<PAGE>


                  (s)      "Unrestricted Stock" shall mean Common Stock granted
under Article VI of this Plan that is not Restricted Stock; and

                  (t)  "Unrestricted  Stock  Agreement"  shall mean an agreement
between  the Company and an  Employee  pursuant to which  Unrestricted  Stock is
issued to the Employee pursuant to this Plan.

                                   ARTICLE II
                                 ADMINISTRATION

         2.1      Committee Administration.  This Restated Plan, with respect to
grants and awards to Employees hereunder, shall be administered by the
Committee, which shall be appointed by the Board from time to time.

         2.2 Committee  Composition  and Powers.  The Committee shall consist of
not less than two persons who shall be members of the Board and shall be subject
to such terms and conditions as the Board shall prescribe. Each Committee member
shall be a "non-employee  director" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 promulgated
under the Act.  Once  designated,  the Committee  shall  continue to serve until
otherwise  directed by the Board.  From time to time, the Board may increase the
size of the Committee and appoint  additional  members  thereof,  remove members
(with or without cause) and appoint new members in substitution  therefor,  fill
vacancies however caused, and remove all members of the Committee.

         A majority of the entire  Committee  shall  constitute a quorum and the
action of a majority of the members  present at any meeting at which a quorum is
present shall be deemed the action of the Committee.  In addition,  any decision
or  determination  reduced  to writing  and signed by all of the  members of the
Committee  shall be fully as effective as if it had been made by a majority vote
at a meeting duly called and held.  Subject to the  provisions  of this Restated
Plan,  to the  provisions  of the  Company's  by-laws,  and  to  any  terms  and
conditions  prescribed  by the  Board,  the  Committee  may make such  rules and
regulations  for the  conduct of its  business as it shall deem  advisable.  The
Committee shall hold meetings at such times and places as it may determine.

         The  interpretation and construction by the Committee of any provisions
of this Restated Plan, with respect to grants and awards to Employees hereunder,
or of any Benefit granted under it shall be final unless otherwise determined by
the Board.

         2.3 Limitation on Receipt of Benefits by Committee  Members.  No person
while a member of the Committee shall be eligible to receive Benefits under this
Restated Plan, provided, however, that (i) to the extent applicable, a Committee
member  may  receive  shares of  Restricted  Stock in lieu of cash  compensation
pursuant to the formula  provisions of Section 6.2 hereof;  and (ii) a member of
the Committee may exercise Options (but not Stock  Appreciation  Rights) granted
prior to his becoming a member of the Committee.

<PAGE>

         2.4 Good Faith  Determinations.  No member of the  Board,  the board of
directors of any  subsidiary or the Committee  shall be liable for any action or
determination  made in good faith  with  respect  to this  Restated  Plan or any
Benefit granted under it.

                                   ARTICLE III
          ELIGIBILITY; TYPES OF BENEFITS; SHARES SUBJECT TO RESTATED PLAN

         3.1  Eligibility.  The Committee  shall from time to time determine and
designate the Employees of the Company to receive  Benefits  under this Restated
Plan and the  number  of  Options,  Stock  Appreciation  Rights  and  shares  of
Restricted  Stock to be awarded to each such  Employee,  or the formula or other
basis on which such Benefits  shall be awarded to Employees.  In making any such
award, the Committee may take into account the nature of services rendered by an
Employee, commissions or other compensation earned by the Employee, the capacity
of the Employee to contribute  to the success of the Company,  and other factors
that the Committee may consider relevant.

         3.2 Types of Benefits. Benefits under this Restated Plan may be granted
in any one or any combination of (a) Options; (b) Stock Appreciation Rights; (c)
Restricted  Stock;  and (d)  Unrestricted  Stock,  as described in this Restated
Plan.

         The Committee  may: (a) give Employees a choice between two Benefits or
combinations  of  Benefits;  (b)  award  Benefits  in the  alternative  so  that
acceptance  of or exercise  of one  Benefit  cancels the right of an Employee to
another;  and (c) award Benefits in any combination or combinations  and subject
to any condition or conditions  consistent  with the terms of this Restated Plan
that the Committee in its sole discretion may determine.

         3.3 Shares Subject to this Restated Plan.  Subject to the provisions of
Section 4.1(e) (relating to adjustment for changes in Common Stock), the maximum
number of shares that may be issued under this Restated Plan shall not exceed in
the aggregate  2,800,000  shares of Common Stock.  Such shares may be authorized
and unissued  shares,  or authorized and issued shares that have been reacquired
by the Company as treasury  stock.  If any Options  granted  under this Restated
Plan shall for any reason  terminate or expire or be surrendered  without having
been  exercised in full,  the shares not  purchased  under such Options shall be
available  again for grant under this Restated  Plan.  Upon the  forfeiture  (in
whole or in part) of  Restricted  Stock,  the shares of Common  Stock  forfeited
shall be available again for grant under this Restated Plan.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                           NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTIONS

         4.1 Grant;  Terms and  Conditions.  The Committee from time to time may
grant  nonstatutory  stock options  under this  Restated Plan to the  Employees,
which grant shall be evidenced  by Option  Agreements,  which Option  Agreements
shall be in such form and

<PAGE>

contain such  provisions as the  Committee  shall from time to time approve
consistent with this Restated Plan. The Option  Agreements need not be
identical,  but each Option Agreement by appropriate  language shall include the
substance of all of the following terms and conditions:

                  (a)      Number of Shares.  Each Option Agreement shall state
the number of shares to which it pertains.

                  (b)      Option Price.  Each Option Agreement shall state the
Option exercise price, which shall be determined by the Committee in its sole
discretion.

                  (c) Medium and Time of Payment.  The Option shall be exercised
by the optionee by delivering  to the Secretary of the Company,  on any business
day during the term of the Option (the  "Exercise  Date"),  (i) a written notice
specifying  the number of Option  Shares the  optionee  then desires to purchase
(the "Notice"), and (ii) payment in full in an aggregate amount in United States
dollars  equal to the  Option  exercise  price for the  number of Option  Shares
specified  in the Notice (the "Total  Option  Price").  The payment of the Total
Option  Price may be made (1) in cash or by check  made  payable to the order of
the  Company,  (2) with  shares of Common  Stock owned by the  optionee,  (3) by
permitting the Company to retain Option Shares  otherwise  issuable  pursuant to
the Option,  or (4) by any  combination of the foregoing.  In the case of clause
(2) or (3), the Common Stock or the Option Shares,  as the case may be, shall be
valued at fair market value on the Exercise  Date.  In addition,  in the case of
clause (3), the  Corporation  may retain that number of Option Shares  otherwise
issuable  pursuant to the Option  having a fair market value equal to the amount
of any federal,  state or local income,  employment or other  withholding  taxes
applicable to the income  recognized by such  optionee and  attributable  to the
exercise of the Option (the "Withholding Taxes"). In all cases, the Notice shall
state that the optionee  acknowledges that payment of the Total Option Price and
any Withholding Taxes is his or her absolute and personal liability  enforceable
by the Corporation against him or her or his or her estate.

                  (d) Term and  Exercise  of  Options.  The term of each  Option
shall be determined by the Committee.  The Committee in its sole  discretion may
impose a minimum on the  number of shares  which  must be  purchased  at any one
time, which minimum (if any) shall be stated in the Option Agreement. During the
lifetime of the optionee,  the Option shall be exercisable only by him and shall
not be assignable or  transferable by him and no person shall acquire any rights
therein.   An  Option  may  be  transferred   (unless  the  Committee  otherwise
prescribes) by will or the laws of descent or distribution.

                  (e) Recapitalization;  Reorganization. Subject to any required
action by the  shareholders  of the  Company,  the  maximum  number of shares of
Common Stock that may be issued under this Restated Plan pursuant to Section 3.3
above, the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each outstanding  Option,
the  number of shares of Common  Stock to which each  Stock  Appreciation  Right
relates,  and the per share

<PAGE>

exercise price under each outstanding Option,  shall be proportionately adjusted
for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock
resulting from a subdivision or  consolidation  of shares or the payment of a
stock  dividend  (but only on the Common Stock) or any other increase or
decrease in the number of such shares  effected  without  receipt of
consideration by the Company.

                  Subject to any  required  action by the  shareholders,  if the
Company is the surviving  corporation  in any merger,  each  outstanding  Option
shall  pertain  to and apply to the  securities  or other  consideration  that a
holder of the number of shares of Common Stock  subject to the Option would have
been  entitled  to  receive  in  the  merger.  A  dissolution,   liquidation  or
consolidation  of the  Company  or a merger  in  which  the  Company  is not the
surviving corporation,  other than a merger effected for the purpose of changing
the  Company's  domicile,  shall  cause each  outstanding  Option to  terminate,
provided that each optionee  shall,  in such event,  have the right  immediately
prior to such dissolution, liquidation, merger or consolidation, to exercise his
Option in whole or in part without regard to any installment provision contained
in his Option Agreement but subject, however, to the restriction that if a Stock
Appreciation  Right has been granted in  connection  with an option  neither the
Option nor the Stock  Appreciation  Right  shall be  exercisable  within six (6)
months  after  their  grant  except in the event of death or  disability  of the
optionee.  In the case of a merger  effected  for the  purpose of  changing  the
Company's  domicile,  each  outstanding  Option  shall  continue  in  effect  in
accordance with its terms and shall apply to the same number of shares of common
stock of such  surviving  corporation as the number of shares of Common Stock to
which it applied immediately prior to such merger,  adjusted for any increase or
decrease in the number of  outstanding  shares of common stock of the  surviving
corporation effected without receipt of consideration.

                  In the  event of a change  in the  Common  Stock as  presently
constituted, which change is limited to a change of all of the authorized shares
with par value  into the same  number of shares  with a  different  par value or
without par value,  the shares resulting from any such change shall be deemed to
be the Common Stock within the meaning of this Restated Plan.

                  The  foregoing  adjustments  shall  be made by the  Committee,
whose determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.

                  Except as expressly provided in this subsection,  the optionee
shall have no rights by reason of (i) any subdivision or consolidation of shares
of any class,  (ii) any stock dividend,  (iii) any other increase or decrease in
the number of shares of stock of any class,  (iv) any dissolution,  liquidation,
merger,  or  consolidation  or spin-off,  split-off or split-up of assets of the
Company or stock of another  corporation,  or (v) any issuance by the Company of
shares of stock of any class, or securities  convertible into shares of stock of
any class.  Moreover,  except as  expressly  provided  in this  subsection,  the
occurrence of one or more of the  above-listed  events shall not affect,  and no
adjustment by reason  thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price
of shares of Common  Stock

<PAGE>

 subject to the option (or the number of shares  with respect to a related Stock
Appreciation Right).

                  The grant of an Option  pursuant to this  Restated  Plan shall
not  affect in any way the right or power of the  Company  to make  adjustments,
reclassifications,  reorganizations  or  changes  of  its  capital  or  business
structure or to merge or to  consolidate  or to dissolve,  liquidate or sell, or
transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

                   (f) Rights as a  Shareholder.  Subject to Section 7.10 of
this Restated  Plan, an optionee or a transferee of an Option shall have no
rights as a shareholder with respect to any shares covered by his Option until
the date of the issuance of a stock  certificate to him for those shares upon
payment of the exercise  price.  No  adjustments  shall  be made  for  dividends
(ordinary  or extraordinary,  whether in cash,  securities or other property) or
distributions or other  rights  for which  the  record  date is prior to the
date  such  stock certificate is issued, except as provided in subsection
4.1(e).

                  (g) Modification, Extension and Renewal of Options. Subject to
the terms and conditions  and within the  limitations of this Restated Plan, the
Committee may modify,  extend or renew  outstanding  Options  granted under this
Restated Plan, or accept the surrender of outstanding Options (to the extent not
theretofore exercised) and authorize the granting of new Options in substitution
therefor (to the extent not theretofore exercised). No modification of an Option
shall,  without  the  consent  of the  optionee,  alter or impair  any rights or
obligations under any Option theretofore granted under this Restated Plan.

                  (h)  Exercisability  and  Term  of  Options.  Options  granted
pursuant to this Restated Plan are not intended to constitute  "incentive  stock
options"  under Section 422 of the Code.  Every Option  Agreement  shall provide
that unless an Option has earlier  terminated,  Options granted pursuant to this
Restated Plan shall be  exercisable at any time on or after the date of exercise
set forth in the Option Agreement and before the date that is ten (10) years and
one (1) month  after  the date of  grant;  provided,  however,  an Option  shall
terminate and may not be exercised if the Employee to whom it is granted  ceases
to be  employed  by the Company  except  that the Option  Agreement  may, at the
discretion of the Committee,  provide:  (1) that if such  Employee's  employment
terminates  for any  reason  other  than  conduct  that in the  judgment  of the
Committee  involves  dishonesty or action by the Employee that is detrimental to
the best  interest of the  Company,  the  Employee  may at any time within three
months after  termination of his employment  exercise his Option but only to the
extent the  Option  was  exercisable  by him on the date of  termination  of his
employment;  (2) that if such  Employee's  employment  terminates  on account of
total and  permanent  disability,  the  Employee may at any time within one year
after  termination of his employment  exercise his Option but only to the extent
the Option was exercisable on the date of his termination of employment;  or (3)
that if such  Employee  dies while in the employ of the  Company,  or within the
three  or  twelve  month  period  following  termination  of his  employment  as
described  in (1) or (2) above,  his Option may

<PAGE>

be  exercised at any time within twelve  months  following  his death by the
person or persons to whom his rights under the Option shall pass by will or by
the laws of descent and  distribution, but only to the extent  that such Option
was  exercisable  by him on the date of his   termination  of  employment. Each
Option   Agreement  may  provide  for acceleration of exercisability in the
event of retirement,  death or disability. Notwithstanding  anything to the
contrary in this subsection,  an Option may not be exercised by anyone after the
expiration of its term.

         4.2 Other  Provisions.  The  Option  Agreements  authorized  under this
Restated  Plan  shall  contain  such  other   provisions,   including,   without
limitation,  restrictions  upon the exercise of the Option and the consideration
to be received by the Company as payment for the Common Stock,  as the Committee
shall deem advisable. (For example, the Committee could provide as to any Option
for a vesting  schedule  whereunder  the optionee  would be able to exercise his
Option as to (for example) one-third of his Option Shares after a period of (for
example) one year from the date of grant of the Option,  another one-third after
two years, and so on.)

                                    ARTICLE V
                            STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

         5.1 Grant of Stock  Appreciation  Rights.  The  Committee  may,  in its
discretion,  from time to time grant Stock Appreciation  Rights to Employees who
are granted  Options under this Restated Plan.  Such Stock  Appreciation  Rights
shall relate to and be granted only in conjunction with specific Options and, if
granted,  shall be granted at the time of the grant of the related Option. Stock
Appreciation Rights may be granted with respect to all or a specified portion of
the shares covered by the related Option. It is contemplated that the Committee,
in determining  whether or not to grant Stock Appreciation Rights relating to an
Option,  will  give  consideration  to the  circumstances  of the  Employee  and
generally will grant Stock  Appreciation  Rights in connection with Options only
in those  instances where the failure to grant Stock  Appreciation  Rights might
make exercise of an Option significantly burdensome to the Employee.

         5.2 Exercise. Stock Appreciation Rights shall entitle the holder of the
related  Option,  upon  exercise  in whole or in part of the Stock  Appreciation
Rights,  to  receive  payment  in the amount  and form  determined  pursuant  to
subsection 5.3(d).  Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised only at times and
to the extent the  related  Option is then  exercisable.  The  exercise of Stock
Appreciation  Rights shall  result in a  termination  of the Stock  Appreciation
Rights with  respect to the number of shares  covered by the  exercise and shall
further result in a termination of the related Option with respect to the number
of shares covered by the exercise.

         5.3 Terms and  Conditions.  The  Committee  may from time to time grant
Stock Appreciation Rights under this Restated Plan to the Employees which grants
shall be evidenced by SAR Agreements, which SAR Agreements shall be in such form
and contain such  provisions  as the  Committee  shall from time to time approve
consistent  with this


Restated Plan.  The SAR Agreements  need not be identical, but each SAR
Agreement by  appropriate  language  shall include the substance of all of the
following additional terms and conditions:

                  (a)      No Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable
                  before September 30, 1988.

                  (b) Stock  Appreciation  Rights shall be  exercisable  at such
time or times and to the  extent,  but only to the  extent,  that the  Option to
which they relate is then exercisable.

                  (c) Stock Appreciation  Rights shall not be exercisable during
the  first six  months  after  their  date of grant.  Such  rights  shall not be
transferable  other than by will or by the laws of descent and  distribution and
shall be exercisable during the optionee's lifetime only by the optionee.

                  (d) Upon exercise of Stock  Appreciation  Rights, the optionee
shall be entitled to receive  therefor  payment,  in the sole  discretion of the
Committee, in the form of shares of Common Stock (rounded down to the next whole
number  so  that no  fractional  shares  are  issued),  cash or any  combination
thereof.  The amount of such payment  shall be equal in value to the  difference
between the Option  exercise  price per share of the related Option and the fair
market  value  per share of the  shares  of  Common  Stock on the date the Stock
Appreciation Right is exercised  multiplied by the number of shares with respect
to which the Stock Appreciation Right shall have been exercised.

                  (e) No Stock  Appreciation Right may be exercised on a date on
which the fair market  value (as  determined  above) of the Common Stock is less
than or equal to the exercise price per share of the related Option.

                  (f) Stock Appreciation Rights granted under this Restated Plan
will expire or terminate no later than the expiration or termination date of the
related Option.

                  (g) Any exercise by an officer or director of the Company of a
Stock Appreciation Right may be made only during the ten-day period beginning on
the third business day following the release for publication of any quarterly or
annual  statement  of sales and  earnings  by the Company and ending on the 12th
business day following the date of such release, or such other period of time as
may be provided under Rule 16b-3 of the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission or
successor  rule or  regulation.  "Officer"  for the purposes of this  subsection
shall mean only officers who are subject to the Act.

         5.4 Effect on Related Stock  Option.  The number of shares with respect
to which Stock  Appreciation  Rights are  exercised  (rather  than the number of
shares issued by the Company upon such exercise) shall be deemed for the purpose
of Section  3.3 to have been  issued  under an Option  granted  pursuant to this
Restated Plan and shall not  thereafter be available for the granting of further
Options under this Restated Plan.

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE VI
                        RESTRICTED AND UNRESTRICTED STOCK

         6.1 Grants of Restricted Stock to Employees. The Committee from time to
time may award  Restricted  Stock to any Employee  eligible to receive  Benefits
under this Restated Plan.  Each Employee who is awarded  Restricted  Stock shall
enter into a Restricted  Stock Agreement with the Company in a form specified by
the Committee  agreeing to the terms and  conditions of the award and such other
matters  consistent  with  this  Restated  Plan  as the  Committee  in its  sole
discretion  shall  determine.  Such  conditions  may  include,  but shall not be
limited  to,  the  deferral  of a  percentage  of  the  Employee's  annual  cash
compensation,  not including  dividends paid on Restricted  Stock, if any, to be
applied toward the purchase of Restricted  Stock upon such terms and conditions,
including such discounts or forfeitures of compensation deferrals, as may be set
forth in the Restricted Stock Agreement.

         Restricted  Stock  awarded to Employees  may not be sold,  transferred,
pledged or otherwise  encumbered  during a Restriction  Period commencing on the
date of the award and ending at such later  date or dates as the  Committee  may
designate  at the  time  of the  award.  The  Employee  shall  have  the  entire
beneficial ownership and most of the rights and privileges of a shareholder with
respect  to  Restricted  Stock  awarded to him,  including  the right to receive
dividends and the right to vote such Restricted Stock.

         If an  Employee  ceases  to be  employed  by the  Company  prior to the
expiration of the  Restriction  Period,  he shall forfeit all of his  Restricted
Stock  with  respect  to  which  the  Restriction  Period  has not yet  expired;
provided,  however,  the Restricted Stock  Agreements,  at the discretion of the
Committee  and  pursuant  to such terms and  conditions  as it may  impose,  may
provide: (1) that if such Employee's  employment terminates for any reason other
than conduct that in the judgment of the Committee involves dishonesty or action
by the Employee that is detrimental  to the best  interests of the Company,  the
Restricted Stock shall not be forfeited;  (2) that if such Employee's employment
terminates on account of total and permanent disability,  the Employee shall not
forfeit his Restricted  Stock;  or (3) that if such Employee dies while employed
by the Company, his Restricted Stock is not forfeited.

         Subject to Section 7.10 of this  Restated  Plan,  each  Employee who is
awarded  Restricted  Stock may, but need not, be issued a stock  certificate  in
respect of such shares of Restricted Stock.  Each certificate  registered in the
name of an Employee,  if any, shall bear an appropriate  legend referring to the
terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such award as specifically set
forth in the Restricted Stock Agreement.

         The Committee  shall require that any stock  certificate  issued in the
name of an Employee evidencing shares of Restricted Stock be held in the custody
of the Company until the expiration of the Restriction Period applicable to such
Restricted  Stock and that, as a condition of such issuance of a certificate for
Restricted  Stock, the Employee shall

<PAGE>

have delivered a stock power,  endorsed in blank, relating to the shares covered
by such certificate. In no event shall the Restriction  Period end prior to the
payment by the  Employee to the Company of the amount of any federal,  state or
local income or employment tax  withholding that may be required with respect to
the Restricted Stock.

         If any  change is made in the  Common  Stock by  reason of any  merger,
consolidation,  reorganization,  recapitalization,  stock  dividend,  split  up,
combination of shares,  exchange of shares,  change in corporate  structure,  or
otherwise,  any shares received by an Employee with respect to Restricted  Stock
shall be subject to the same  restrictions  applicable to such Restricted  Stock
and the  certificates  representing  such  shares  shall be  deposited  with the
Company.

         6.2 Issuance of Restricted Stock to Outside Directors.  During the term
of the Restated Plan, and subject to the  availability of shares of Common Stock
pursuant  to  Section  3.3  hereof,  each  member of the Board of  Directors  of
Interstate/Johnson Lane, Inc. who is not an employee of the Company (an "Outside
Director")  shall receive shares of Restricted  Stock under the Restated Plan in
lieu of the annual cash retainer that would otherwise be payable to such Outside
Director in  consideration  of his  service as a director of  Interstate/Johnson
Lane,  Inc. On the date on which any such retainer would have been payable,  the
director shall receive shares of Restricted  Stock equal in number to the amount
of such retainer  divided by the closing price of the Common Stock on such date.
Such  shares  of  Restricted  Stock  shall  not be sold,  transferred,  pledged,
assigned  or in any  manner  disposed  of for or  during  the six  month  period
following the date such shares of  Restricted  Stock are issued and any director
who is issued  shares of  Restricted  Stock shall not be entitled to delivery of
stock  certificates  representing  such shares until the  expiration of such six
month Restriction  Period. Such shares of Restricted Stock shall also be subject
to the terms and conditions generally applicable to Restricted Stock as outlined
in Section 6.1 above,  except that there shall be no forfeiture of shares in the
event of termination of an Outside  Director's service as a member of the Board.
Each Outside  Director who is issued  Restricted  Stock pursuant to this Section
6.2 shall enter into a Restricted  Stock  Agreement with the Company  confirming
the terms and conditions of such issuance as stated herein.

         6.3 Grants of Unrestricted Stock to Employees.  The Committee from time
to time  may  award  Unrestricted  Stock to any  Employee  eligible  to  receive
Benefits  under this Restated  Plan.  Each Employee who is awarded  Unrestricted
Stock shall enter into an  Unrestricted  Stock  Agreement  with the Company in a
form  specified by the  Committee  agreeing to the terms and  conditions  of the
award and such other matters consistent with this Restated Plan as the Committee
in its sole discretion shall determine.  Such conditions may include,  but shall
not be limited to, the deferral of a percentage  of the  Employee's  annual cash
compensation, not including dividends paid on the Unrestricted Stock, if any, to
be  applied  toward  the  purchase  of  Unrestricted  Stock  upon such terms and
conditions,  including such discounts or forfeitures of compensation  deferrals,
as may be set forth in the Unrestricted Stock Agreement.

<PAGE>

         Upon the issuance of Unrestricted Stock to an Employee  hereunder,  the
Employee  shall  have the  entire  beneficial  ownership  and all the rights and
privileges of a shareholder  with respect to the  Unrestricted  Stock awarded to
him or her,  including the right to receive dividends and the right to vote such
Unrestricted Stock.

         Subject to Section 7.10 of this  Restated  Plan,  each  Employee who is
awarded  Unrestricted  Stock may, but need not, be issued a stock certificate in
respect of such shares of Unrestricted Stock.

                                   ARTICLE VII
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         7.1 Withholding Taxes. An Employee granted an Option, Restricted Stock,
Unrestricted Stock or Stock  Appreciation  Rights under this Restated Plan shall
be  conclusively  deemed to have  authorized  the Company to  withhold  from the
salary,  commissions  or other  compensation  of such Employee  funds in amounts
equal to the federal,  state and local income,  employment or other  withholding
taxes  applicable to the income  recognized by such Employee and attributable to
the  Options,  Option  Shares,  Restricted  Stock,  Unrestricted  Stock or Stock
Appreciation  Rights acquired  pursuant to this Restated Plan at the time as may
be  required  by law;  provided,  however,  that in lieu of the  withholding  of
federal,  state and local taxes as herein provided, the Company may require that
the  Employee  (or other  person  exercising  such Option or Stock  Appreciation
Rights, or holding such Restricted Stock or Unrestricted  Stock) pay the Company
an amount equal to the federal, state and local withholding taxes on such income
at the  time  such  withholding  is  required  or such  other  time as  shall be
satisfactory to the Company.

         7.2 Amendment,  Modification,  Suspension or Discontinuance of Restated
Plan. The Board may from time to time alter, amend,  suspend or discontinue this
Restated  Plan  or  revise  it in any  respect  whatsoever  for the  purpose  of
maintaining or improving the effectiveness of this Restated Plan as an incentive
device, or conforming this Restated Plan to applicable governmental  regulations
or to any change in  applicable  law or  regulations,  or for any other  purpose
permitted  by law;  provided,  however  that no such  action by the Board  shall
adversely  affect any  Benefit  theretofore  granted  under this  Restated  Plan
without the consent of the holder so affected; and provided further that, to the
extent  necessary to comply with the rules and regulations of any stock exchange
upon which the Common Stock is listed,  the Board may not increase the number of
shares of Common  Stock  authorized  under  Section  3.3 of this  Restated  Plan
without the  approval  of the  shareholders  of  Interstate/Johnson  Lane,  Inc.
Anything herein to the contrary  notwithstanding,  the provisions or Section 6.2
hereof  shall not,  directly or  indirectly,  be amended more than once ever six
months other than to comport with changes in the Code,  the Employee  Retirement
Income  Security  Act of  1974,  as  amended  from  time to time,  or the  rules
thereunder.

<PAGE>

         7.3      Governing Law.  This Restated Plan and all rights and
obligations hereunder shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the
laws of the State of North Carolina.

         7.4      Designation.  This Restated Plan may be referred to in other
documents and instruments as the "Interstate/Johnson Lane, Inc. Restated Stock
Award Plan."

         7.5  Indemnification of Committee.  In addition to such other rights of
indemnification  as they may have as directors  or as members of the  Committee,
the members of the Committee  shall be  indemnified  by the Company  against the
reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees actually and necessarily incurred
in  connection  with  the  defense  of any  action,  suit or  proceeding,  or in
connection with any appeal therein,  to which they or any of them may be a party
by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with this
Restated Plan or any Benefit granted thereunder, and against all amounts paid by
them in settlement  thereof (provided such settlement is approved by independent
legal  counsel  selected by the  Company) or paid by them in  satisfaction  of a
judgment in any such action,  suit or proceeding,  except in relation to matters
as to which it shall be adjudged in such action,  suit or  proceeding  that such
Committee  member is liable for  negligence or misconduct in the  performance of
his duties,  provided that within 60 days after  institution of any such action,
suit or  proceeding,  a Committee  member shall in writing offer the Company the
opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same.

         7.6 Reservation of Shares. The Company during the term of this Restated
Plan,  shall at all times  reserve and keep  available,  and will seek or obtain
from any regulatory body having jurisdiction any requisite authority in order to
issue  such  number of  shares of its  Common  Stock as shall be  sufficient  to
satisfy the  requirements  of this  Restated  Plan.  Inability of the Company to
obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, the authority deemed by the
Company's  counsel to be necessary  to the lawful  issuance of any shares of its
Common Stock  hereunder shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of
the nonissuance or sale of such stock as to which such requisite authority shall
not have been obtained.

         7.7 Application of Funds. The proceeds received by the Company from the
sale of Common  Stock  pursuant to Options  will be used for  general  corporate
purposes.

         7.8      No Obligation to Exercise.  The granting of an Option shall
impose no obligation upon the optionee to exercise that Option.

         7.9 Approval of  Shareholders.  No Benefit shall be granted pursuant to
this Restated Plan unless and until this Restated Plan has been approved, to the
extent such approval is required by law or by any self-regulatory  organization,
by the shareholders of the Company.

<PAGE>

         7.10  Uncertificated  Shares.  Each Employee who exercises an Option to
acquire Common Stock or any person who is awarded Restricted Stock may, but need
not, be issued a stock certificate in respect of the Common Stock so acquired. A
"book entry" (I.E., a computerized or manual entry) shall be made in the records
of the  Company to  evidence  the  issuance  of shares of Common  Stock where no
physical  certificate is issued.  Such Company  records,  absent manifest error,
shall be binding on all parties.  In all instances where the date of issuance of
shares may be deemed significant but no certificate is issued in accordance with
this Section  7.10,  the date of the book entry shall be the  relevant  date for
such purposes.

<PAGE>



********************************************************************************


                                    APPENDIX



THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED,  WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN
BY THE  UNDERSIGNED  SHAREHOLDER.  IF NO DIRECTION  IS MADE,  THIS PROXY WILL BE
VOTED "FOR"  PROPOSAL 1, "FOR" THE  NOMINEES FOR  DIRECTOR  (PROPOSAL  2), "FOR"
PROPOSAL 3 AND "FOR" PROPOSAL 4.



                                Dated___________________________________________

                                     -------------------------------------------

                                     -------------------------------------------
                                                       Signature


                                     Please sign exactly as your name appears
                                     hereon. If holder is a corporation,
                                     partnership or other association, please
                                     sign its name and add your name and title.
                                     When signing as attorney, executor,
                                     administrator, trustee or guardian, please
                                     also give your full title. If shares are
                                     held jointly, EACH holder should sign.



PLEASE  MARK,  DATE AND SIGN THIS PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY TO INSURE A
QUORUM AT THE  MEETING.  THIS IS  IMPORTANT WHETHER YOU OWN FEW OR MANY SHARES.
DELAY IN RETURNING YOUR PROXY MAY SUBJECT THE COMPANY TO ADDITIONAL EXPENSE.


PROXY                                 INTERSTATE/JOHNSON LANE, INC.
                   THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned hereby appoints Parks H. Dalton,  James H. Morgan and Michael D.
Hearn, and each of them, with full power of substitution,  attorneys and proxies
to appear and vote,  as  indicated  below,  all of the shares of Common Stock of
Interstate/Johnson  Lane, Inc. that the undersigned would be entitled to vote at
the annual meeting of shareholders of  Interstate/Johnson  Lane, Inc. to be held
on  January  21,  1997 and at any and all  adjournments  thereof.  The  Board of
Directors recommends a vote FOR the following items:

1.  AMENDMENT OF THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS TO ALLOW
FOR CLASSIFICATION OF

    BOARD OF DIRECTORS

    [ ]  FOR    [ ]   AGAINST    [ ] ABSTAIN

2.  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    <S>                                                     <C>
    [ ]  FOR all nominees except as marked to the contrary  [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees

NOMINEES:   CLASS I DIRECTORS:  Parks H. Dalton; Claude S. Abernethy, Jr.; Peter R. Kellogg;
            CLASS II DIRECTORS:  Dudley G. Pearson; Edward C. Ruff; Grady G. Thomas, Jr.
            CLASS III DIRECTORS:  John B. Ellis; J. Alex McMillan, III; James H. Morgan
</TABLE>

(INSTRUCTION:  To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee,
write that nominee's name in the space below.)

      ---------------------------------------------------------------------

3.  RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF COOPERS & LYBRAND AS THE COMPANY'S
INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING 
SEPTEMBER 30, 1997.

    [ ]  FOR   [ ] AGAINST   [ ]  ABSTAIN

4.   AMENDMENT  OF THE  COMPANY'S  STOCK  AWARD  PLAN  TO  INCREASE  THE
SHARES AVAILABLE FOR ISSUANCE BY 1,000,000 SHARES TO A TOTAL OF 2,800,000.

    [ ]  FOR    [ ] AGAINST   [ ]  ABSTAIN

In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business
as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.


<PAGE>


THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED,  WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN
BY THE  UNDERSIGNED  SHAREHOLDER.  IF NO DIRECTION  IS MADE,  THIS PROXY WILL BE
VOTED "FOR"  PROPOSAL 1, "FOR" THE  NOMINEES FOR  DIRECTOR  (PROPOSAL  2), "FOR"
PROPOSAL 3 AND "FOR" PROPOSAL 4.


                                Dated______________________________________
                                -------------------------------------------
                                -------------------------------------------
                                                       Signature
                                Please sign exactly as your name appears hereon.


PLEASE MARK,  DATE AND SIGN THIS  DIRECTION TO TRUSTEE AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY TO
INSURE A QUORUM AT THE MEETING.

           ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF INTERSTATE/JOHNSON LANE, INC.
        Voting Direction to NationsBank of North Carolina as Trustee for the
                        Interstate/Johnson Lane Corporation
        Employee Stock Ownership and PAYSOP Plan and Trust ("ESOP/PAYSOP"), and
           Profit Sharing and Capital Accumulation Plan and Trust ("PSP/CAP")

The undersigned hereby appoints NationsBank (the "Trustee") to vote as indicated
below,  the  shares  of  Common  Stock of  Interstate/Johnson  Lane,  Inc.  (the
"Company")  allocated to the account of the  undersigned in the  ESOP/PAYSOP and
PSP/CAP Plans of  Interstate/Johnson  Lane  Corporation at the annual meeting of
shareholders  of the  Company to be held on January  21, 1997 and at any and all
adjournments thereof. The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the following
items:

1. AMENDMENT OF THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS TO
ALLOW FOR CLASSIFICATION OF

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

[ ]  FOR        [ ] AGAINST     [ ] ABSTAIN

2.  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

    [ ]   FOR all nominees except as marked to the contrary
    [ ]   WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    <S>         <C>                 <C>
    NOMINEES:   CLASS I DIRECTORS:  Parks H. Dalton; Claude S. Abernethy, Jr.; Peter R. Kellogg;
                CLASS II DIRECTORS:  Dudley G. Pearson; Edward C. Ruff; Grady G. Thomas, Jr.
                CLASS III DIRECTORS:  John B. Ellis; J. Alex McMillan, III; James H. Morgan
</TABLE>

      (INSTRUCTION:  To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee,
write that nominee's name in the space below.)

  ---------------------------------------------------------------------

3.  RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF COOPERS & LYBRAND AS THE COMPANY'S
    INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING
    SEPTEMBER 30, 1997.

    [ ]  FOR     [ ]    AGAINST     [ ]   ABSTAIN

4.   AMENDMENT  OF THE  COMPANY'S  STOCK  AWARD  PLAN  TO  INCREASE  THE  SHARES
     AVAILABLE FOR ISSUANCE BY 1,000,000 SHARES TO A TOTAL OF 2,800,000.

    [ ]  FOR     [ ]    AGAINST     [ ]   ABSTAIN



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