PRICE T ROWE ASSOCIATES INC /MD/
S-8, 1997-01-24
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    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 24, 1997
                                           Registration No. 33-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


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


                         T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                              100 East Pratt Street
                            Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Maryland                     (Address of principal             52-0556948
(State or other                executive offices)              (I.R.S.
jurisdiction of                                                Employer
incorporation or                                               Identification
 organization)                                                 No.)
                          T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES INC.
                            1996 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

        GEORGE A. ROCHE                                  Copy to:
        T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.              HENRY D. KAHN
        100 East Pratt Street                       Piper & Marbury L.L.P.
        Baltimore, Maryland  21202                  36 South Charles Street
        (410) 345-2099                              Baltimore, Maryland  21201
                                                    (410) 576-1686

                      (Name, address and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)


                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title of            Amount       Proposed maxi-   Proposed maxi-   Amount of
securities to       to be        mum offering     mum aggregate    registration
be registered       registered   price per share  offering price   fee
- -------------       ----------   ---------------  --------------   ---

Common Stock        8,000,000    $43.125*        $345,000,000     $104,546
(par value
$.20 per share)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Computed in accordance  with Rule  457(h)(1) and (c) based on the closing price
of the registrant's common stock on January 22, 1997.



<PAGE>

                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

     The information  required by Part I, to the extent applicable,  is included
in documents sent or given to the  participants in the 1996 Stock Incentive Plan
of T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (the "Company") pursuant to Rule 428.

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.
         ----------------------------------------

     The following  documents have been filed by the Company with the Securities
and Exchange Commission and are incorporated herein by reference:

     (a) The Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December
31, 1995;

     (b) All other  reports  filed  pursuant  to  Section  13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934  since  December  31,  1995,  the  end of the
Company's fiscal year covered by the report referred to in (a) above; and

     (c) the  description  of the Company's  common  stock,  par value $0.20 per
share contained in its Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-3398), as
amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form 8-A/A (File No. 0-14282).

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

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.
         -------------------------

     Not applicable  because the class of securities to be offered is registered
under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.


<PAGE>

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.
         --------------------------------------

     Certain legal  matters in connection  with the issuance of the Common Stock
offered by this Registration  Statement are being passed upon for the Company by
Piper & Marbury L.L.P. of Baltimore, Maryland.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
         -----------------------------------------

     Directors  and officers of the Company are  indemnified  to the full extent
provided by Section 2-418 of the Corporations  and  Associations  Article of the
Annotated  Code  of  Maryland,  and  under  Article  EIGHTH,  Section  7 of  the
Registrant's charter.

     As permitted under  Subsection (k) of Section 2-418 of the Corporations and
Associations  Article  of the  Annotated  Code  of  Maryland,  the  Company  has
purchased  and  maintains  insurance  on behalf of its  directors  and  officers
against any  liability  asserted  against such  directors  and officers in their
capacities  as such whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify
such persons under the provisions of the Maryland law governing indemnification.

     Section 2 of the 1996 Stock Incentive Plan, "Administration," provides that
no member of the Board of Directors or of the committee designated to administer
the Plan  "shall be liable for any action or  determination  made in good faith,
nor for any matter as to which the  Company's  charter  limits the  liability of
directors."  Such  committee  members  are  entitled  to   indemnification   and
reimbursement  in the manner  provided in the  Company's  charter and by-laws in
addition to coverage under any directors' and officers'  liability  insurance in
effect from time to time.

     As permitted by Maryland Law,  Article  Eighth,  Section 8 of the Company's
Charter limits the monetary liability of the Company's directors and officers to
the Company and its stockholders to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law
in effect from time to time. Section 8 of Article Eighth provides as follows:

     Section  8. To the  fullest  extent  permitted  by  Maryland  statutory  or
decisional  law,  as  amended or  interpreted,  no  director  or officer of this
Corporation  shall be personally  liable to the Corporation or its  stockholders
for money damages.  No amendment or repeal of any of its provisions  shall limit
or  eliminate  the  benefits  provided  to  directors  and  officers  under this
provision  with  respect to any act or  omission  which  occurred  prior to such
amendment or repeal.

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.
         -----------------------------------

         Not applicable.

<PAGE>

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.
         --------

Exhibit
Number            Description
- ------            -----------

         4.1      1996 Stock  Incentive  Plan of the Company  (incorporated  by
                  reference from the registrant's definitive proxy statement for
                  the annual meeting of stockholders held on April 12, 1996).

         4.2      Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement.

         4.3      Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement.

         5.1      Opinion of Piper & Marbury  L.L.P., as to the legality of the
                  securities being offered (includes Consent of Counsel).

         23.1     Consent  of Piper & Marbury L.L.P. (included  in the  opinion
                  filed as Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement).

         23.2     Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP.

         24       Power of Attorney.

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.
         ------------

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

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

        (i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of Securities
Act of 1933;

        (ii) To reflect in the  prospectus any facts or events arising after the
effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective
amendment  thereof)  which,   individually   or  in  the  aggregate,  represent
fundamental  change in the information set  forth in the registration statement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase  or decrease in volume of securities
offered (if the total dollar value of  securities  offered would not exceed that
which was registered)  and  any  deviation  from  the  low  or  high  and of the
estimated maximum  offering  range  may  be  reflected in the form of prospectus
filed with the  Commission  pursuant  to Rule 424(b) if, in the  aggregate,  the
changes in volume and price  represent  no more than a 20 percent  change in the
maximum  aggregate  offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration
Fee" table in the effective registration statement;


<PAGE>

         (iii) To include any material  information with respect to the plan of
distribution  not  previously  disclosed  in the registration  statement or any
material change to such information in the registration statement.

Provided,  however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
registration  statement  is on  Form  S-3,  Form  S-8,  or  Form  F-3,  and  the
information  required  to be  included in a  post-effective  amendment  by those
paragraphs  is  contained  in periodic  reports  filed with or  furnished to the
Commission by the  registrant  pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 that are  incorporated  by  reference  in the  registration
statement.


     (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933,  each  such  post-effective  amendment  shall be deemed to be a new
registration  statement  relating to the  securities  offered  therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

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

     The  undersigned   registrant  hereby  undertakes  that,  for  purposes  of
determining  any liability  under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to section  13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934  (and,  where  applicable,  each  filing of an
employee  benefit  plan's  annual  report  pursuant  to  section  15(d)  of  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934)  that is  incorporated  by  reference  in the
registration  statement  shall  be  deemed  to be a new  registration  statement
relating to the securities offered therein,  and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and controlling  persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,  the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities  and Exchange  Commission
such  indemnification  is against  public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore,  unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities  (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director,  officer or  controlling  person of the registrant in the
successful  defense of any  action,  suit or  proceeding)  is  asserted  by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies  that it has  reasonable  grounds to believe  that it meets all of the
requirements  for  filing  on Form S-8 and has  duly  caused  this  Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the City of Baltimore, and the State of Maryland on this 28th day
of January, 1997.

                                       T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC.


                                       By:  /s/ George J. Collins
                                            --------------------------
                                            George J. Collins
                                            President, Chief Executive
                                            Officer and Managing Director


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


Principal Executive Officer:

/s/ George J. Collins                                  Date:  January 24, 1997
- ---------------------
  George J. Collins              President, Chief
                                 Executive Officer
                                 and Managing
                                 Director


Principal Financial Officer:

/s/ George A. Roche                                    Date:  January 24, 1997
- -------------------
  George A. Roche                Managing
                                 Director and
                                 Chief Financial Officer


Principal Accounting Officer:

/s/ Alvin M. Younger, Jr.                              Date:  January 24, 1997
- -------------------------
  Alvin M. Younger, Jr.          Managing Director
                                 Treasurer and
                                 Secretary




<PAGE>

A Majority of the Board of Directors:

George J. Collins,  Henry H. Hopkins, James A.C. Kennedy, John H. Laporte, James
S. Riepe, William T. Reynolds, George A. Roche, and M. David Testa.


By:  /s/ George A. Roche        For himself      Date:  January 24, 1997
     -------------------        and as
     George A. Roche            Attorney-in-Fact
                                            
<PAGE>

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number      Description                                            Page Number
- ------      -----------                                            -----------

4.1       1996 Stock Incentive Plan of the Company
          incorporated  by reference from the registrant's
          definitive proxy statement for the annual meeting of
          stockholders held on April 12, 1996).                            

4.2       Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement.                        9 

4.3       Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement.                   18

5.1       Opinion of Piper & Marbury L.L.P., as to the legality
          of the securities being offered (includes Consent of Counsel).  27

23.1      Consent of Piper & Marbury L.L.P. (included in the opinion      27
          filed as Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement).

23.2      Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP.                                28

24        Power of Attorney.                                              29





                        INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
                        --------------------------------

                                 pursuant to the

                         T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC.

                            1996 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
                            -------------------------


     AGREEMENT, dated as of this __th day of ___________, _____, between T. ROWE
PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC. (the "Company"), and 1~ (the "Optionee").

     WHEREAS,  the  Optionee is now in the employ of the Company or a Subsidiary
(as  hereinafter  defined) in a key capacity and the Company desires to have the
Optionee  remain in such employ and to afford the  Optionee the  opportunity  to
acquire,  or enlarge,  the Optionee's stock ownership in the Company so that the
Optionee may have a direct proprietary interest in the Company's success; and

     WHEREAS,  the Company has and its  stockholders  have  approved the T. Rowe
Price Associates, Inc. 1996 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), pursuant to which
the Company  may,  from time to time,  enter into stock option  agreements  with
certain of its eligible employees as therein defined;

     NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants
and  agreements  hereinafter  set forth,  the  parties  hereto  hereby  mutually
covenant and agree as follows:

     1. Employee's Agreement. 
        --------------------- 

     The Optionee agrees to remain in the employ of the Company and to render it
the Optionee's  exclusive  services at such compensation as shall be determined,
from time to time, by the Company for a period of one year from the date hereof,
but this  Agreement  shall not be deemed to limit or  restrict  the right of the
Company to terminate  Optionee's  employment at any time, for any reason, for or
without cause;  provided,  that the Company's sole remedy hereunder for a breach
of the  employee's  agreement  shall be the  termination  of the option  granted
hereunder in accordance with Section 6 hereof.

      2. Grant of Option.
         ---------------

     Subject to the terms and  conditions  set forth herein,  the Company hereby
grants to the Optionee  during the period  commencing one year after the date of

<PAGE>

this Agreement and ending ten years from the date hereof (the "Option  Period"),
the option to purchase from the Company at a price of $_____ per share up to but
not exceeding in the aggregate 2~ shares of the Company's Common Stock.

     3. Exercise of Option.
        ------------------

     The option  granted in paragraph 2 hereof may be exercised,  in whole or in
part, at any time and from time to time as follows:

     (a) The aggregate number of shares of stock covered by this agreement shall
be divided into five equal  installments.  The first installment of 20% shall be
exercisable,  in  whole or in  part,  commencing  __________,  ___;  the  second
installment  of 20%  shall be  exercisable,  in  whole  or in  part,  commencing
__________, ____; the third installment of 20% shall be exercisable, in whole or
in part, commencing  ___________,  _____; the fourth installment of 20% shall be
exercisable,  in whole or in part, commencing ___________,  _____; and the final
installment  of 20%  shall be  exercisable,  in  whole  or in part,  commencing,
_______________, ______.

     (b) The Executive  Compensation  Committee of the Board of Directors of the
Company (the  "Committee") may in its discretion place limitations on the extent
to which  shares of Common  Stock of the Company may be tendered by the Optionee
as payment upon exercise of an option pursuant to paragraph 4(a) hereof.

     (c) In the case of an  option  not  immediately  exercisable  in full,  the
Committee may in its discretion  accelerate the time at which such option may be
exercised.

     (d) To the extent  not  exercised,  installments  shall  accumulate  and be
exercisable  by the  Optionee,  in  whole  or in part,  in any  subsequent  year
included in the Option  Period but not later than the  expiration  of the Option
Period.

     (e) No less than 50 shares of Common  Stock may be  purchased  upon any one
exercise of the option granted  hereby unless the number of shares  purchased at
such time is the total  number of shares in respect of which the option  granted
hereby is then exercisable.

     (f) In no event  shall  any  option  granted  hereby be  exercisable  for a
fractional share.

     4. Method of Exercising Option and Payment of Option Price.
        -------------------------------------------------------

     (a) The option granted hereby shall be exercised by the Optionee delivering
to the  Secretary  of the Company,  from time to time,  on any business day (the
"Exercise  Date"),  written notice  specifying the number of shares the Optionee
then desires to purchase (the "Notice"),  and either (i) cash,  certified check,

<PAGE>

bank draft or postal or express  money  order to the order of the Company for an
amount in United  States  dollars  equal to the  option  price for the number of
shares  specified in the Notice (the "Total Option  Price"),  such payment to be
delivered  with the Notice,  (ii) shares of Common  Stock of the Company  with a
value  (determined in accordance  with paragraph 4(c)) equal to or less than the
Total Option Price plus cash,  certified check,  bank draft or postal or express
money order to the order of the Company for an amount in United  States  dollars
equal to the amount,  if any, by which the Total Option Price  exceeds the value
of such shares of the Company's  stock  (determined in accordance with paragraph
4(c)),  or (iii)  through such other means,  acceptable  to the Committee in its
sole discretion,  as may be provided by an independent third party to facilitate
exercise or payment.  Such  Company's  stock and cash shall be  delivered to the
Secretary of the Company not later than the end of the first  business day after
the Exercise Date. In the case of payment in shares,  such payment shall be made
by delivery of the necessary  share  certificates,  with  executed  stock powers
attached, to the Secretary of the Company.

     (b) Within five business days after the Exercise  Date,  the Company shall,
subject to the receipt of  withholding  tax, if any,  issue to the  Optionee the
number of shares with  respect to which such option shall be so  exercised,  and
shall deliver to the Optionee a certificate or certificates therefor.

     (c) For  purposes of  paragraph  4(a),  the value of shares of Common Stock
tendered to exercise an option  shall be the last  reported  sales price of such
shares on the Nasdaq  National  Market System on the Exercise  Date,  or, if the
Common  Stock is not  quoted on the  Nasdaq  National  Market  System,  the mean
between the closing bid and asked prices of such shares on the Nasdaq  System on
the  Exercise  Date,  or,  if  the  foregoing  are  inapplicable,  as  otherwise
determined by the Committee.

     (d) In the sole  discretion  of the  Committee,  the Company may in lieu of
requiring  the exercise of an option and the payment of the Total Option  Price,
authorize  the payment of cash to the  Optionee in an amount equal to the market
value of shares of Common  Stock  subject to an option less the option  price in
exchange for the cancellation of the option.

     5. Exercisability Upon the Occurrence of Certain Events.
        ----------------------------------------------------

     (a) Notwithstanding  any provisions limiting  exercisability in whole or in
part,  and unless the  Committee  shall have  otherwise  determined  (within the
limits  specified in the last sentence of this paragraph) to revoke or to limit,
in its sole and conclusive discretion, the acceleration provided for herein, the
following shall apply: Stock options ("options") and stock appreciation  rights,
if any,  ("rights")  granted to the  Optionee  by the  Company  pursuant to this
Agreement will be exercisable in full for a period of one year (i) following the
Effective  Date (as  hereinafter  defined) or (ii)  commencing  on the date (the
"Approval  Date") of the  approval of the  Company's  Board of  Directors  of an
agreement providing for a merger,  consolidation,  sale or disposition of all or
substantially  all of the assets of the Company,  or other form of extraordinary

<PAGE>

business  combination as a result of the  consummation of which  stockholders of
the Company  immediately  before  Approval Date will own less than a majority of
the outstanding voting stock of the resulting organization. After the expiration
of any such one year period,  the options and rights  shall  remain  exercisable
only  to the  extent,  if any,  provided  in the  applicable  option  or  rights
agreement without taking into  consideration  the effect of this paragraph.  The
Committee's discretion to revoke or limit the acceleration  contemplated by this
paragraph  may be exercised at any time before or within 20 business  days after
the Effective Date or the Approval Date referred to in the foregoing clauses (i)
or (ii).  In the  event the  Approval  Date and an  Effective  Date  arise  from
substantially  identical facts and circumstances (as determined by the Committee
in its sole  discretion) and unless the Committee shall have determined to limit
the  effect  of this  sentence,  such one  year  period  (and the 20 day  period
referred to in the immediately  preceding sentence) shall commence only once and
upon the first to occur of the Approval Date or the Effective Date.

     (b) For purposes of the foregoing  paragraph,  the following terms have the
meanings indicated:

          (i)  "Effective  Date"  shall  mean  the date on  which a  "Change  of
     Control" as hereinafter  defined occurs.  Anything in this Agreement to the
     contrary  notwithstanding,  if a  Change  of  Control  occurs,  and  if the
     Optionee's  employment with the Company had terminated prior to the date on
     which the Change of Control occurred, and if it is reasonably  demonstrated
     by the  Optionee  that such  termination  of  employment  either was at the
     request  of a third  party who had taken  steps  reasonably  calculated  to
     effect the Change of Control or otherwise  arose in  connection  with or in
     anticipation  of the Change of  Control,  then,  for all  purposes  of this
     Agreement,  the term "Effective Date" shall mean the date immediately prior
     to the date of such termination of employment.

          (ii) A "Change of Control"  shall be deemed to have taken place on the
     date of the earlier to occur of either of the following  events: a) a third
     party, including a "group" as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934,  becomes the  beneficial  owner of 25% or more of the
     Company's  outstanding  Common  Stock,  or  b)  as  the  result  of,  or in
     connection with, any cash tender or exchange offer, merge, consolidation or
     other business combination, sale or disposition of all or substantially all
     of the Company's assets, or contested  election,  or any combination of the
     foregoing transactions (a "Transaction"), the persons who were directors of
     the Company  immediately before the Transaction shall cease to constitute a
     majority of the Board of Directors  of the Company or any  successor to the
     Company or the persons  who were  stockholder  of the  Company  immediately
     before  the  Transaction  shall  cease  to own at least a  majority  of the
     outstanding voting stock of the Company or any successor to the Company.


<PAGE>

     6. Termination.
        ------------

     The option granted hereby shall terminate and be of no force or effect upon
the first occurrence of any one of the following events:

     (a) The expiration of ten years from the date of this Agreement;

     (b)  The  expiration  of  30  days  after  termination  of  the  Optionee's
employment  with the  Company,  except  in the case of the  Optionee's  death or
retirement with the consent of the Company;  provided,  however, that any day on
which  the  Company  has  restricted  employee  securities   transactions  under
then-applicable  securities  transactions  policies and procedures  shall not be
included in  determining  such 30-day period.  During such period,  the Optionee
shall have the right to exercise  the option  hereby  granted only to the extent
exercisable on the date of termination.

     (c) The  expiration  of  seven  months  after  the  date of the  Optionee's
retirement with the consent of the Company.  During such seven-month  period the
Optionee  shall  have the right to  exercise  the option  hereby  granted to the
extent the right to exercise the same has accrued prior to such  retirement  but
has not been exercised prior to such retirement,  subject, in addition, however,
to acceleration by the Committee pursuant to paragraph 3(c); or

     (d) The  expiration of seven months after the date of death of the Optionee
if said death  occurs  while (i) the Optionee is in the employ of the Company or
(ii) within the period of time after  retirement with the consent of the Company
during  which the  Optionee  was  entitled to exercise  the option.  During such
seven-month period the Optionee's estate, personal representative or beneficiary
shall have the right to exercise the option hereby granted in full.

     Retirement  at the  Optionee's  normal  retirement  date or at an  optional
retirement  date in accordance  with the provisions of a retirement  plan of the
Company under which the Optionee is then covered  shall  constitute a retirement
with  the  consent  of the  Company  for the  purposes  of this  Agreement.  The
Committee shall have absolute and uncontrolled  discretion to determine  whether
any other termination of Optionee's employment is to be considered as retirement
with the consent of the Company for the purposes of this  Agreement  and whether
an authorized  leave of absence or absence on military or government  service or
otherwise shall  constitute a termination of employment for the purposes of this
Agreement.  Any  determination  made by the Committee with respect to any matter
referred to in this paragraph 5 shall, subject to the provisions of paragraph 14
hereof, be final and conclusive on all persons affected  thereby.  Employment by
the  Company  shall be deemed to  include  employment  of  Optionee  by,  and to
continue during any period in which Optionee is in the employ of, a "Subsidiary"
of the Company as that term is defined in the Plan.


<PAGE>

     7. Optionee.
        ---------

     Whenever the word  "Optionee"  is used in any  provision of this  Agreement
under  circumstances  where the provision should logically be construed to apply
to the estate, personal  representative,  or beneficiary to whom this option may
be transferred by will or by the laws of descent and  distribution,  it shall be
deemed to include such person.

     8. Assignability.
        --------------

     This option is not  transferable by the Optionee  otherwise than by will or
the laws of descent and  distribution  and is exercisable  during the Optionee's
lifetime only by the Optionee.  No assignment or transfer of this option,  or of
the rights represented thereby,  whether voluntary or involuntary,  by operation
of law or  otherwise,  except by will or the laws of descent  and  distribution,
shall  vest  in  the  assignee  or  transferee  any  interest  or  right  herein
whatsoever,  but immediately  upon any attempt to assign or transfer this option
the same shall terminate and be of no force or effect.

     9. Rights as a Stockholder.
        ------------------------

     The Optionee shall not be deemed for any purpose to be a stockholder of the
Company  with  respect to any shares as to which this option shall not have been
exercised and payment and issue made as herein provided.

     10. The Company's Rights.
         ---------------------

     The existence of this option shall not affect in any way the right or power
of the Company or its  stockholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments,
recapitalizations,  reorganizations  or other changes in the  Company's  capital
structure or its business or any merger or consolidation of the Company,  or any
issue of bonds,  debentures,  preferred or other stocks with preference ahead of
or  convertible  into,  or  otherwise  affecting  the Common Stock or the rights
thereof,  or the  dissolution  or  liquidation  of the  Company,  or any sale or
transfer of all or any part of its assets or business or any other corporate act
or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

     11. Recapitalization.
         -----------------

     The shares  with  respect to which this option is granted are shares of the
Common Stock of the Company as  constituted on the date of this  Agreement,  but
if, and  whenever,  prior to the delivery by the Company of all of the shares of
Common  Stock with  respect to which this option is granted,  the Company  shall
effect a subdivision or consolidation of shares, or other capital  readjustment,
or the payment of a stock dividend,  or other increase or decrease in the number
of shares of Common Stock outstanding,  without receiving  compensation therefor
in money,  services or  property,  then (a) in the event of any  increase in the
number of such  shares  outstanding,  the number of shares of Common  Stock then
remaining subject to option hereunder shall be proportionately increased (except

<PAGE>

that  any  fraction  of a share  resulting  from any  such  adjustment  shall be
excluded  from the  operation  of this  Agreement),  and the cash  consideration
payable per share shall be  proportionately  reduced,  and (b) in the event of a
reduction  in the  number of such  shares  outstanding,  the number of shares of
Common Stock then remaining subject to option hereunder shall be proportionately
reduced  (except that any fractional  share  resulting from any such  adjustment
shall  be  excluded  from  the  operation  of  this  Agreement),  and  the  cash
consideration payable per share shall be proportionately increased.

     12. Merger and Consolidation.
         -------------------------

     After a merger of one or more  corporations  into the  Company,  or after a
consolidation  of the Company and one or more  corporations in which the Company
shall be the  surviving or resulting  corporation,  the  Optionee  shall,  at no
additional  cost,  be  entitled  upon any  exercise of this  option,  to receive
(subject to any required action by stockholders) in lieu of the number of shares
as to which  this  option  shall then be so  exercised,  the number and class of
shares  of stock or other  securities  to which  the  Optionee  would  have been
entitled pursuant to the terms of the agreement of merger or consolidation,  if,
immediately  prior to such merger or  consolidation,  the  Optionee had been the
holder of record of a number of shares of Common  Stock of the Company  equal to
the number of shares as to which such option  shall be so  exercised;  provided,
that  anything  herein  contained  to the  contrary  notwithstanding,  upon  the
dissolution or liquidation of the Company,  or upon any merger or consolidation,
in which the Company is not the surviving or resulting corporation,  this option
shall  terminate  and be of no force or effect,  except to the extent  that such
surviving or resulting corporation may issue a substituted option.

     13. Preemption of Applicable Laws or Regulations.
         ---------------------------------------------

     Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if, at any time
specified herein for the issue of shares to the Optionee, any law, regulation or
requirements of any governmental  authority having  jurisdiction in the premises
shall  require  either  the  Company  or the  Optionee  to take  any  action  in
connection with the shares then to be issued,  the issue of such shares shall be
deferred until such action shall have been taken.

     14. Resolution of Disputes.
         -----------------------

     Subject  to  the  provisions  of  paragraph  14  hereof,   any  dispute  or
disagreement  which shall arise  under,  or as a result of, or pursuant to, this
Agreement shall be determined by the Committee in its absolute and  uncontrolled
discretion,  and  any  such  determination  or any  other  determination  by the
Committee  under or pursuant to this  Agreement  and any  interpretation  by the
Committee of the terms of this Agreement, shall be final, binding and conclusive
on all persons affected thereby.

<PAGE>

     15. Amendments.
         -----------

     The  Committee  shall  have the right,  in its  absolute  and  uncontrolled
discretion,  to alter or amend this  Agreement,  from time to time in any manner
for the  purpose  of  promoting  the  objectives  of the  Plan  but  only if all
agreements  granting  options to purchase  shares of the Company's  Common Stock
pursuant to the Plan which is in effect and not wholly  exercised at the time of
such  alteration  or amendment  shall also be similarly  altered or amended with
substantially the same effect, and any alteration or amendment of this Agreement
by the Committee shall,  upon adoption  thereof by the Committee,  become and be
binding and conclusive on all persons affected  thereby without  requirement for
consent or other  action with respect  thereto by any such  person.  The Company
shall give written notice to the Optionee of any such alteration or amendment of
this  Agreement by the  Committee  as promptly as  practical  after the adoption
thereof.  The  foregoing  shall not restrict the ability of the Optionee and the
Company by mutual  consent to alter or amend this  Agreement in any manner which
is consistent with the Plan and approved by the Committee.

     16. Notice.
         -------

      Any notice  which either party hereto may be required or permitted to give
to the other shall be in writing,  and may be delivered  personally  or by mail,
postage prepaid,  addressed as follows:  to the Secretary of the Company,  or to
the Company (attention of the Secretary),  at 100 East Pratt Street,  Baltimore,
Maryland  21202,  or at such  other  address  as the  Company,  by notice to the
Optionee,  may  designate  in writing  from time to time to the  Optionee at the
Optionee's  address  as shown on the  records of the  Company,  or at such other
address  as the  Optionee,  by  notice  to the  Secretary  of the  Company,  may
designate in writing from time to time.

     17. Construction.
         -------------

     This  Agreement has been entered into in  accordance  with the terms of the
Plan and wherever a conflict may arise  between the terms of this  Agreement and
the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control.

     18. Disqualifying Dispositions.
         ---------------------------

     (a) The  Optionee  shall  notify the  Company,  within ten (10) days of the
occurrence  thereof,  of  the  disposition  of any  stock  acquired  under  this
incentive stock option  agreement within less than two years of the date of this
Agreement or one year of the exercise of the option to purchase such shares.

<PAGE>

     (b) In  connection  with any such  disqualifying  dispositions  the Company
shall have the option to (i)  require  the  Optionee  to remit to the Company an
amount  sufficient to satisfy all federal,  state, and other  withholding  taxes
thereby  incurred;  or (ii) withhold all federal,  state, and other  withholding
taxes thereby incurred from compensation otherwise due to the Optionee.

      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed
by its duly  authorized  officer,  and the  Optionee has hereunto set his or her
hand and seal all as of the day and year first above written.

                                              THE COMPANY:
          
                                              T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.


                                              By______________________________


                                              THE OPTIONEE:


                                              ___________________________(L.S.)
                                     






                      NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

                                 pursuant to the

                         T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC.

                            1996 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

                                                                      _


     AGREEMENT, dated as of this __th day of __________,  _____, between T. ROWE
PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC. (the "Company"), and 1~ (the "Optionee").

     WHEREAS,  the  Optionee is now in the employ of the Company or a Subsidiary
(as  hereinafter  defined) in a key capacity and the Company desires to have the
Optionee  remain in such employ and to afford the  Optionee the  opportunity  to
acquire,  or enlarge,  the Optionee's stock ownership in the Company so that the
Optionee may have a direct proprietary interest in the Company's success; and

     WHEREAS,  the Company has and its  stockholders  have  approved the T. Rowe
Price Associates, Inc. 1996 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), pursuant to which
the Company  may,  from time to time,  enter into stock option  agreements  with
certain of its eligible employees as therein defined;

     NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants
and  agreements  hereinafter  set forth,  the  parties  hereto  hereby  mutually
covenant and agree as follows:

     1. Employee's Agreement.

     The Optionee agrees to remain in the employ of the Company and to render it
the Optionee's  exclusive  services at such compensation as shall be determined,
from time to time, by the Company for a period of one year from the date hereof,
but this  Agreement  shall not be deemed to limit or  restrict  the right of the
Company to terminate  Optionee's  employment at any time, for any reason, for or
without cause;  provided,  that the Company's sole remedy hereunder for a breach
of the  employee's  agreement  shall be the  termination  of the option  granted
hereunder in accordance with Section 6 hereof.

     2. Grant of Option.

     Subject to the terms and  conditions  set forth herein,  the Company hereby
grants to the Optionee  during the period  commencing one year after the date of
this Agreement and ending ten years from the date hereof (the "Option  Period"),
the option to  purchase  from the  Company at a price of $______ per share up to
but not exceeding in the aggregate 2~ shares of the Company's Common Stock.

     3. Exercise of Option.

     (a) The  aggregate  number  of  shares  of stock  shall be  exercisable  as
follows:

          The first  installment of 3~ shares shall be exercisable,  in whole or
     in part, commencing ----------, -----;

          The second installment of 4~ shares shall be exercisable,  in whole or
     in part, commencing ----------, -----;

          The third  installment of 5~ shares shall be exercisable,  in whole or
     in part, commencing ------------, ------;

          The fourth installment of 6~ shares shall be exercisable,  in whole or
     in part, commencing ____________, ______; and

          The final  installment of 7~ shares shall be exercisable,  in whole or
     in part, commencing --------------, -----.

     (b) The Executive  Compensation  Committee of the Board of Directors of the
Company (the  "Committee") may in its discretion place limitations on the extent
to which  shares of Common  Stock of the Company may be tendered by the Optionee
as payment upon exercise of an option pursuant to paragraph 4(a) hereof.

     (c) In the case of an  option  not  immediately  exercisable  in full,  the
Committee may in its discretion  accelerate the time at which such option may be
exercised.

     (d) To the extent  not  exercised,  installments  shall  accumulate  and be
exercisable  by the  Optionee,  in  whole  or in part,  in any  subsequent  year
included in the Option  Period but not later than the  expiration  of the Option
Period.

     (e) No less than 50 shares of Common  Stock may be  purchased  upon any one
exercise of the option granted  hereby unless the number of shares  purchased at
such time is the total  number of shares in respect of which the option  granted
hereby is then exercisable.

     (f) In no event  shall  any  option  granted  hereby be  exercisable  for a
fractional share.

<PAGE>

     4. Method of Exercising Option and Payment of Option Price.

     (a) The option granted hereby shall be exercised by the Optionee delivering
to the  Secretary  of the Company,  from time to time,  on any business day (the
"Exercise  Date"),  written notice  specifying the number of shares the Optionee
then desires to purchase (the "Notice"),  and either (i) cash,  certified check,
bank draft or postal or express  money  order to the order of the Company for an
amount in United  States  dollars  equal to the  option  price for the number of
shares  specified in the Notice (the "Total Option  Price"),  such payment to be
delivered  with the Notice,  (ii) shares of Common  Stock of the Company  with a
value  (determined in accordance  with paragraph 4(c)) equal to or less than the
Total Option Price plus cash,  certified check,  bank draft or postal or express
money order to the order of the Company for an amount in United  States  dollars
equal to the amount,  if any, by which the Total Option Price  exceeds the value
of such shares of the Company's  stock  (determined in accordance with paragraph
4(c)),  or (iii)  through such other means,  acceptable  to the Committee in its
sole discretion,  as may be provided by an independent third party to facilitate
exercise or payment.  Such  Company's  stock and cash shall be  delivered to the
Secretary of the Company not later than the end of the first  business day after
the Exercise Date. In the case of payment in shares,  such payment shall be made
by delivery of the necessary  share  certificates,  with  executed  stock powers
attached, to the Secretary of the Company.

     (b) Within five business days after the Exercise  Date,  the Company shall,
subject to the receipt of  withholding  tax, if any,  issue to the  Optionee the
number of shares with  respect to which such option shall be so  exercised,  and
shall deliver to the Optionee a certificate or certificates therefor.

     (c) For  purposes of  paragraph  4(a),  the value of shares of Common Stock
tendered to exercise an option  shall be the last  reported  sales price of such
shares on the Nasdaq  National  Market System on the Exercise  Date,  or, if the
Common  Stock is not  quoted on the  Nasdaq  National  Market  System,  the mean
between the closing bid and asked prices of such shares on the Nasdaq  System on
the  Exercise  Date,  or,  if  the  foregoing  are  inapplicable,  as  otherwise
determined by the Committee.

     (d) In the sole  discretion  of the  Committee,  the Company may in lieu of
requiring  the exercise of an option and the payment of the Total Option  Price,
authorize  the payment of cash to the  Optionee in an amount equal to the market
value of shares of Common  Stock  subject to an option less the option  price in
exchange for the cancellation of the option.

     5. Exercisability Upon the Occurrence of Certain Events.

     (a) Notwithstanding  any provisions limiting  exercisability in whole or in
part,  and unless the  Committee  shall have  otherwise  determined  (within the
limits  specified in the last sentence of this paragraph) to revoke or to limit,

<PAGE>

in its sole and conclusive discretion, the acceleration provided for herein, the
following shall apply: Stock options ("options") and stock appreciation  rights,
if any,  ("rights")  granted to the  Optionee  by the  Company  pursuant to this
Agreement will be exercisable in full for a period of one year (i) following the
Effective  Date (as  hereinafter  defined) or (ii)  commencing  on the date (the
"Approval  Date") of the  approval of the  Company's  Board of  Directors  of an
agreement providing for a merger,  consolidation,  sale or disposition of all or
substantially  all of the assets of the Company,  or other form of extraordinary
business  combination as a result of the  consummation of which  stockholders of
the Company  immediately  before  Approval Date will own less than a majority of
the outstanding voting stock of the resulting organization. After the expiration
of any such one year period,  the options and rights  shall  remain  exercisable
only  to the  extent,  if any,  provided  in the  applicable  option  or  rights
agreement without taking into  consideration  the effect of this paragraph.  The
Committee's discretion to revoke or limit the acceleration  contemplated by this
paragraph  may be exercised at any time before or within 20 business  days after
the Effective Date or the Approval Date referred to in the foregoing clauses (i)
or (ii).  In the  event the  Approval  Date and an  Effective  Date  arise  from
substantially  identical facts and circumstances (as determined by the Committee
in its sole  discretion) and unless the Committee shall have determined to limit
the  effect  of this  sentence,  such one  year  period  (and the 20 day  period
referred to in the immediately  preceding sentence) shall commence only once and
upon the first to occur of the Approval Date or the Effective Date.

     (b) For purposes of the foregoing  paragraph,  the following terms have the
meanings indicated:

          (i)  "Effective  Date"  shall  mean  the date on  which a  "Change  of
     Control" as hereinafter  defined occurs.  Anything in this Agreement to the
     contrary  notwithstanding,  if a  Change  of  Control  occurs,  and  if the
     Optionee's  employment with the Company had terminated prior to the date on
     which the Change of Control occurred, and if it is reasonably  demonstrated
     by the  Optionee  that such  termination  of  employment  either was at the
     request  of a third  party who had taken  steps  reasonably  calculated  to
     effect the Change of Control or otherwise  arose in  connection  with or in
     anticipation  of the Change of  Control,  then,  for all  purposes  of this
     Agreement,  the term "Effective Date" shall mean the date immediately prior
     to the date of such termination of employment.

          (ii) A "Change of Control"  shall be deemed to have taken place on the
     date of the earlier to occur of either of the following  events: a) a third
     party, including a "group" as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934,  becomes the  beneficial  owner of 25% or more of the
     Company's  outstanding  Common  Stock,  or  b)  as  the  result  of,  or in
     connection with, any cash tender or exchange offer, merge, consolidation or
     other business combination, sale or disposition of all or substantially all
     of the Company's assets, or contested  election,  or any combination of the
     foregoing transactions (a "Transaction"), the persons who were directors of

<PAGE>

     the Company  immediately before the Transaction shall cease to constitute a
     majority of the Board of Directors  of the Company or any  successor to the
     Company or the persons  who were  stockholder  of the  Company  immediately
     before  the  Transaction  shall  cease  to own at least a  majority  of the
     outstanding voting stock of the Company or any successor to the Company.

     6. Termination.

      The option  granted  hereby shall  terminate  and be of no force or effect
upon the first occurrence of any one of the following events:

     (a) The expiration of ten years from the date of this Agreement;

     (b)  The  expiration  of  30  days  after  termination  of  the  Optionee's
employment  with the  Company,  except  in the case of the  Optionee's  death or
retirement with the consent of the Company;  provided,  however, that any day on
which  the  Company  has  restricted  employee  securities   transactions  under
then-applicable  securities  transactions  policies and procedures  shall not be
included in  determining  such 30-day period.  During such period,  the Optionee
shall have the right to exercise  the option  hereby  granted only to the extent
exercisable on the date of termination.

     (c) The  expiration  of  seven  months  after  the  date of the  Optionee's
retirement with the consent of the Company.  During such seven-month  period the
Optionee  shall  have the right to  exercise  the option  hereby  granted to the
extent the right to exercise the same has accrued prior to such  retirement  but
has not been exercised prior to such retirement,  subject, in addition, however,
to acceleration by the Committee pursuant to paragraph 3(c); or

     (d) The  expiration of seven months after the date of death of the Optionee
if said death  occurs  while (i) the Optionee is in the employ of the Company or
(ii) within the period of time after  retirement with the consent of the Company
during  which the  Optionee  was  entitled to exercise  the option.  During such
seven-month period the Optionee's estate, personal representative or beneficiary
shall have the right to exercise the option hereby granted in full.

     Retirement  at the  Optionee's  normal  retirement  date or at an  optional
retirement  date in accordance  with the provisions of a retirement  plan of the
Company under which the Optionee is then covered  shall  constitute a retirement
with  the  consent  of the  Company  for the  purposes  of this  Agreement.  The
Committee shall have absolute and uncontrolled  discretion to determine  whether
any other termination of Optionee's employment is to be considered as retirement
with the consent of the Company for the purposes of this  Agreement  and whether
an authorized  leave of absence or absence on military or government  service or
otherwise shall  constitute a termination of employment for the purposes of this
Agreement.  Any  determination  made by the Committee with respect to any matter

<PAGE>

referred to in this paragraph 5 shall, subject to the provisions of paragraph 14
hereof, be final and conclusive on all persons affected  thereby.  Employment by
the  Company  shall be deemed to  include  employment  of  Optionee  by,  and to
continue during any period in which Optionee is in the employ of, a "Subsidiary"
of the Company as that term is defined in the Plan.

     7. Optionee.

     Whenever the word  "Optionee"  is used in any  provision of this  Agreement
under  circumstances  where the provision should logically be construed to apply
to the estate, personal  representative,  or beneficiary to whom this option may
be transferred by will or by the laws of descent and  distribution,  it shall be
deemed to include such person.

     8. Assignability.

     This option is not  transferable by the Optionee  otherwise than by will or
the laws of descent and  distribution  and is exercisable  during the Optionee's
lifetime only by the Optionee.  No assignment or transfer of this option,  or of
the rights represented thereby,  whether voluntary or involuntary,  by operation
of law or  otherwise,  except by will or the laws of descent  and  distribution,
shall  vest  in  the  assignee  or  transferee  any  interest  or  right  herein
whatsoever,  but immediately  upon any attempt to assign or transfer this option
the same shall terminate and be of no force or effect.

     9. Rights as a Stockholder.

     The Optionee shall not be deemed for any purpose to be a stockholder of the
Company  with  respect to any shares as to which this option shall not have been
exercised and payment and issue made as herein provided.

     10. The Company's Rights.

     The existence of this option shall not affect in any way the right or power
of the Company or its  stockholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments,
recapitalizations,  reorganizations  or other changes in the  Company's  capital
structure or its business or any merger or consolidation of the Company,  or any
issue of bonds,  debentures,  preferred or other stocks with preference ahead of
or  convertible  into,  or  otherwise  affecting  the Common Stock or the rights
thereof,  or the  dissolution  or  liquidation  of the  Company,  or any sale or
transfer of all or any part of its assets or business or any other corporate act
or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

     11. Recapitalization.

     The shares  with  respect to which this option is granted are shares of the
Common Stock of the Company as  constituted on the date of this  Agreement,  but
if, and  whenever,  prior to the delivery by the Company of all of the shares of
Common  Stock with  respect to which this option is granted,  the Company  shall

<PAGE>

effect a subdivision or consolidation of shares, or other capital  readjustment,
or the payment of a stock dividend,  or other increase or decrease in the number
of shares of Common Stock outstanding,  without receiving  compensation therefor
in money,  services or  property,  then (a) in the event of any  increase in the
number of such  shares  outstanding,  the number of shares of Common  Stock then
remaining subject to option hereunder shall be proportionately increased (except
that  any  fraction  of a share  resulting  from any  such  adjustment  shall be
excluded  from the  operation  of this  Agreement),  and the cash  consideration
payable per share shall be  proportionately  reduced,  and (b) in the event of a
reduction  in the  number of such  shares  outstanding,  the number of shares of
Common Stock then remaining subject to option hereunder shall be proportionately
reduced  (except that any fractional  share  resulting from any such  adjustment
shall  be  excluded  from  the  operation  of  this  Agreement),  and  the  cash
consideration payable per share shall be proportionately increased.

     12. Merger and Consolidation.

     After a merger of one or more  corporations  into the  Company,  or after a
consolidation  of the Company and one or more  corporations in which the Company
shall be the  surviving or resulting  corporation,  the  Optionee  shall,  at no
additional  cost,  be  entitled  upon any  exercise of this  option,  to receive
(subject to any required action by stockholders) in lieu of the number of shares
as to which  this  option  shall then be so  exercised,  the number and class of
shares  of stock or other  securities  to which  the  Optionee  would  have been
entitled pursuant to the terms of the agreement of merger or consolidation,  if,
immediately  prior to such merger or  consolidation,  the  Optionee had been the
holder of record of a number of shares of Common  Stock of the Company  equal to
the number of shares as to which such option  shall be so  exercised;  provided,
that  anything  herein  contained  to the  contrary  notwithstanding,  upon  the
dissolution or liquidation of the Company,  or upon any merger or consolidation,
in which the Company is not the surviving or resulting corporation,  this option
shall  terminate  and be of no force or effect,  except to the extent  that such
surviving or resulting corporation may issue a substituted option.

     13. Preemption of Applicable Laws or Regulations.

     Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if, at any time
specified herein for the issue of shares to the Optionee, any law, regulation or
requirements of any governmental  authority having  jurisdiction in the premises
shall  require  either  the  Company  or the  Optionee  to take  any  action  in
connection with the shares then to be issued,  the issue of such shares shall be
deferred until such action shall have been taken.

     14. Resolution of Disputes.

     Subject  to  the  provisions  of  paragraph  14  hereof,   any  dispute  or
disagreement  which shall arise  under,  or as a result of, or pursuant to, this
Agreement shall be determined by the Committee in its absolute and  uncontrolled
discretion,  and  any  such  determination  or any  other  determination  by the

<PAGE>

Committee  under or pursuant to this  Agreement  and any  interpretation  by the
Committee of the terms of this Agreement, shall be final, binding and conclusive
on all persons affected thereby.

     15. Amendments.

     The  Committee  shall  have the right,  in its  absolute  and  uncontrolled
discretion,  to alter or amend this  Agreement,  from time to time in any manner
for the  purpose  of  promoting  the  objectives  of the  Plan  but  only if all
agreements  granting  options to purchase  shares of the Company's  Common Stock
pursuant to the Plan which is in effect and not wholly  exercised at the time of
such  alteration  or amendment  shall also be similarly  altered or amended with
substantially the same effect, and any alteration or amendment of this Agreement
by the Committee shall,  upon adoption  thereof by the Committee,  become and be
binding and conclusive on all persons affected  thereby without  requirement for
consent or other  action with respect  thereto by any such  person.  The Company
shall give written notice to the Optionee of any such alteration or amendment of
this  Agreement by the  Committee  as promptly as  practical  after the adoption
thereof.  The  foregoing  shall not restrict the ability of the Optionee and the
Company by mutual  consent to alter or amend this  Agreement in any manner which
is consistent with the Plan and approved by the Committee.

     16. Notice.

     Any notice  which  either party hereto may be required or permitted to give
to the other shall be in writing,  and may be delivered  personally  or by mail,
postage prepaid,  addressed as follows:  to the Secretary of the Company,  or to
the Company (attention of the Secretary),  at 100 East Pratt Street,  Baltimore,
Maryland  21202,  or at such  other  address  as the  Company,  by notice to the
Optionee,  may  designate  in writing  from time to time to the  Optionee at the
Optionee's  address  as shown on the  records of the  Company,  or at such other
address  as the  Optionee,  by  notice  to the  Secretary  of the  Company,  may
designate in writing from time to time.

     17. Construction.

     This  Agreement has been entered into in  accordance  with the terms of the
Plan and wherever a conflict may arise  between the terms of this  Agreement and
the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control.

     18.  The  option  created  by this  Agreement  shall not be  treated  as an
incentive stock option.


<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by
its duly authorized  officer,  and the Optionee has hereunto set his or her hand
and seal all as of the day and year first above written.

                                             THE COMPANY:

                                             T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.


                                             By________________________________


                                             THE OPTIONEE:


                                                                                
                                             ____________________________(L.S.)





                                 PIPER & MARBURY
                                     L.L.P.

                              CHARLES CENTER SOUTH
                             36 SOUTH CHARLES STREET
                         BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21201-3018
                                  410-539-2530
                                FAX: 410-539-0489



                                January 24, 1997


T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
100 East Pratt Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202

                       Registration Statement on Form S-8

Dear Sirs:

     We have acted as counsel  for T. Rowe Price  Associates,  Inc.,  a Maryland
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with a Registration Statement on Form
S-8 which was filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
(the  "Registration  Statement"),  and which registers  8,000,000  shares of the
Common  Stock  of the  Company  (the  "Shares")  to be  issued  pursuant  to the
Company's 1996 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Incentive Plan"). In that capacity, we
have  reviewed  the  charter  and  by-laws  of  the  Company,  the  Registration
Statement,  the  corporate  action  taken by the Company  that  provides for the
issuance or delivery of the Shares to be issued or delivered under the Incentive
Plan and such other  materials  and matters as we have deemed  necessary for the
issuance of this opinion.

     Based upon the  foregoing,  we are of the opinion that the Shares have been
duly  and  validly   authorized  and  upon  issuance  and  delivery  thereof  as
contemplated  in  the  Registration  Statement,   will  be,  under  the  general
corporation  law of the State of  Maryland,  legally  issued,  fully  paid,  and
non-assessable.

     We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the  Registration
Statement  and  to  the  reference  to  our  firm  and  to  our  opinion  in the
Registration Statement and the prospectus which is a part thereof.

                                             Very truly yours,

                                             /s/  Piper & Marbury L.L.P.



                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We  hereby  consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in this  Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated January 25, 1996, appearing on page 22
of the T. Rowe Price  Associates,  Inc.  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1995.

/s/  PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP

Baltimore, Maryland
January 24, 1997





                         T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC.

                                Power of Attorney

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned directors and officers
of T. Rowe Price  Associates,  Inc.,  a  Maryland  corporation,  constitute  and
appoint George J. Collins, George A. Roche, and Alvin M. Younger, Jr. or any one
of them,  the true and lawful agents and  attorneys-in-fact  of the  undersigned
with full power and authority in said agents and  attorneys-in-fact,  and in any
one or more of them, to sign for the  undersigned in their  respective  names as
directors  and  officers  of T. Rowe  Price  Associates,  Inc.,  a  Registration
Statement  on Form  S-8  (or  other  appropriate  form)  to be  filed  with  the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission  under the  Securities  Act of 1933 and any
amendment or supplement to such registration  statement  relating to the sale of
common stock under the T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. 1996 Stock Incentive Plan.
We hereby  confirm all acts taken by such agents and  attorneys-in-fact,  or any
one or more of them, as herein authorized.


DATED:   January 24, 1997




                                    /s/ George J. Collins
                                    ---------------------
                                    George J. Collins,
                                    Principal Executive Officer and Director


                                    /s/ George A. Roche
                                    -------------------
                                    George A. Roche,
                                    Principal Financial Officer and Director


                                    /s/ Alvin M. Younger, Jr.
                                    -------------------------
                                    Alvin M. Younger, Jr.
                                    Principal Accounting Officer


George J.  Collins,  Henry H.  Hopkins,  James A.C.  Kennedy,  John H.  Laporte,
William T. Reynolds, James S. Riepe, George A. Roche, and M. David Testa.



                                   /s/ Henry H. Hopkins
                                   --------------------
                                   Henry H. Hopkins


                                   /s/ James A.C. Kennedy
                                   ----------------------
                                   James A.C. Kennedy


                                   /s/ John H. Laporte
                                   -------------------
                                   John H. Laporte


                                   /s/ William T. Reynolds
                                   -----------------------
                                   William T. Reynolds


                                   /s/ James S. Riepe
                                   ------------------
                                   James S. Riepe


                                   /s/ M. David Testa
                                   ------------------
                                   M. David Testa





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