OCWEN FINANCIAL CORP
S-8, 1998-01-27
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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                                                    Registration No. 333-_______
                                                          Filed January 27, 1998



                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

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


                           OCWEN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its Articles of Incorporation)



          FLORIDA                                         65-0039856
 ------------------------                      ---------------------------------
 (State of incorporation)                      (IRS Employer Identification No.)


                              The Forum, Suite 1000
                         1675 Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard
                         WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA 33401
          ------------------------------------------------------------
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)



                      1991 NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN
                          1996 STOCK PLAN FOR DIRECTORS
                -------------------------------------------------
                            (Full Title of the Plans)




                                           Copies to:
William C. Erbey
President and Chief Executive Officer      Gerard L. Hawkins, Esq.
Ocwen Financial Corporation                Kenneth B. Tabach, Esq.
The Forum, Suite 1000                      Elias, Matz, Tiernan & Herrick L.L.P.
1675 Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard            734 15th Street, N.W.
West Palm Beach, Florida  33401            Washington, D.C. 20005
(561) 681-8000                             (202) 347-0300
- ------------------------------------
(Name, address, and telephone number
 of agent for service)


                           Page 1 of 11 pages Index to
                         Exhibits is located on page 8.


<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


        Title of                        Proposed         Proposed
       Securities                        Maximum          Maximum       Amount of
         to be        Amount to be    Offering Price     Aggregate     Registration
       Registered     Registered(1)     Per Share      Offering Price      Fee

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                   <C>               <C>           <C>              <C>      
Common Stock, par
  value $.01          1,267,814         $ 9.80(3)     $ 12,424,577(3)  $3,665.25


Common Stock, par
  value $.01         11,828,108         $24.97(4)     $295,347,857(4)  87,127.62
                     ----------          -----         -----------     ---------

Total                13,095,922(2)                    $307,772,434    $90,792.87
                     ==========                        ===========     =========

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

(1) Together  with an  indeterminate  number of  additional  shares which may be
necessary to adjust the number of shares  reserved for issuance  pursuant to the
Ocwen  Financial   Corporation   (the  "Company"  or  the   "Registrant")   1991
Non-Qualified  Stock Option Plan (the "Option Plan") and the 1996 Stock Plan for
Directors  (the  "Directors  Plan" and  together,  the "Plans") as a result of a
stock split,  stock  dividend or similar  adjustment of the  outstanding  common
stock, $.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company.

(2) Represents 12,605,814 currently reserved for issuance pursuant to the Option
Plan and 490,108 currently reserved for issuance pursuant to the Directors Plan.

(3) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration  fee, which
has been calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h) promulgated under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended  ("Securities Act"). The Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per
Share is equal to the weighted  average  exercise  price for options to purchase
1,267,814 shares of Common Stock which are outstanding  under the Option Plan as
of the date hereof.

(4) Estimated  solely for the purposes of calculating  the  registration  fee in
accordance with Rule 457(c)  promulgated  under the Securities Act. The Proposed
Maximum  Offering Price Per Share for 11,338,000  shares for which stock options
have not been granted under the Option Plan and the 490,108 shares to be offered
under the  Directors  Plan is equal to the average of the high and low prices of
the Common  Stock of the Company on January 21, 1998 as reported by the New York
Stock Exchange.

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

        This Registration  Statement shall become effective  automatically  upon
the date of filing in accordance  with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act and 17
C.F.R. Section 230.462.


                                        2

<PAGE>

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.           INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         The following  documents  filed or to be filed with the  Securities and
Exchange  Commission (the  "Commission")  are  incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement:

                  (a) The Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year
         ended December 31, 1996;

                  (b) All  reports  filed by the  Company  pursuant  to Sections
         13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
         "Exchange  Act"),  since  the end of the  fiscal  year  covered  by the
         Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K referred to in clause (a) above;

                  (c)  The  description  of the  Common  Stock  of  the  Company
         contained  in  the  Company's   Registration   Statement  on  Form  8-A
         (Commission  File No.  1-3219)  filed with the  Commission  on July 25,
         1997;

                  (d) All  documents  filed by the Company  pursuant to Sections
         13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date hereof 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.

         Any  statement  contained  in  this  Registration  Statement,  or  in a
document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration  Statement
to the extent that a statement  contained herein,  or in any other  subsequently
filed  document  which  also is or is deemed  to be  incorporated  by  reference
herein, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded  shall  not be  deemed,  except  as so  modified  or  superseded,  to
constitute a part of this Registration Statement.


ITEM 4.           DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         Not  applicable  since the Company's  Common Stock is registered  under
Section 12 of the Exchange Act.

ITEM. 5.          INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         Not applicable.


                                        3

<PAGE>

ITEM 6.           INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         Article  V of the  Company's  Articles  of  Incorporation  provides  as
follows:

                                 INDEMNIFICATION

         This  corporation  shall,  to  the  fullest  extent  permitted  by  the
provisions  of Fla.  Stat.  Section  607.0850,  as the same may be  amended  and
supplemented,  indemnify  any and  all  persons  whom it  shall  have  power  to
indemnify  under said  section  from and  against  any and all of the  expenses,
liabilities, or other matters referred to in or covered by said section, and the
indemnification  provided for herein shall not be deemed  exclusive of any other
rights to which those  indemnified  may be entitled under any Bylaw,  agreement,
vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise,  both as to action
in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such
office,  and shall  continue  as to a person  who has  ceased to be a  director,
officer,  employee,  or agent  and  shall  inure to the  benefit  of the  heirs,
executors, and administrators of such a person.

         Section  607.0850 of the Florida  Business  Corporation Act provides as
follows:

         607.0850 INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS.
- -- (1) A corporation  shall have the power to indemnify any person who was or is
a party to any  proceeding  (other  than an action  by, or in the right of,  the
corporation),  by  reason  of the fact  that he is or was a  director,  officer,
employee, or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the
corporation as a director,  officer,  employee, or agent of another corporation,
partnership,  joint  venture,  trust,  or  other  enterprise  against  liability
incurred in connection with such proceeding, including any appeal thereof, if he
acted in good  faith and in a manner  he  reasonably  believed  to be in, or not
opposed to, the best  interests  of the  corporation  and,  with  respect to any
criminal  action or proceeding,  had no reasonable  cause to believe his conduct
was unlawful. The termination of any proceeding by judgment,  order, settlement,
or conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent  shall not, of
itself,  create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a
manner  which he  reasonably  believed  to be in, or not  opposed  to,  the best
interests  of the  corporation  or,  with  respect  to any  criminal  action  or
proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

         (2) A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person,  who was or
is a party to any proceeding by or in the right of the  corporation to procure a
judgment  in its  favor  by  reason  of the fact  that he is or was a  director,
officer,  employee,  or agent of the  corporation  or is or was  serving  at the
request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another
corporation,  partnership,  joint venture,  trust, or other enterprise,  against
expenses and amounts paid in settlement  not  exceeding,  in the judgment of the
board of  directors,  the  estimated  expense of  litigating  the  proceeding to
conclusion,  actually and reasonably  incurred in connection with the defense or
settlement   of  such   proceeding,   including   any   appeal   thereof.   Such
indemnification  shall be authorized if such person acted in good faith and in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of
the  corporation,  except  that no  indemnification  shall  be made  under  this
subsection  in respect of any claim,  issue,  or matter as to which such  person
shall have

                                        4
<PAGE>

been  adjudged to be liable  unless,  and only to the extent that,  the court in
which such proceeding was brought, or any other court of competent jurisdiction,
shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but
in view of all  circumstances  of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper.

         (3) To the extent that a  director,  officer,  employee,  or agent of a
corporation  has been  successful  on the merits or  otherwise in defense of any
proceeding referred to in subsection (1) or subsection (2), or in defense of any
claim,  issue,  or matter  therein,  he shall be  indemnified  against  expenses
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.

         (4) Any indemnification  under subsection (1) or subsection (2), unless
pursuant to a determination by a court, shall be made by the corporation only as
authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the
director,  officer, employee, or agent is proper in the circumstances because he
has met the  applicable  standard  of  conduct  set forth in  subsection  (1) or
subsection (2). Such determination shall be made:

                  (a) By the board of directors  by a majority  vote of a quorum
consisting of directors who were not parties to such proceeding;

                  (b) If such a quorum is not obtainable or, even if obtainable,
by majority  vote of a committee  duly  designated by the board of directors (in
which  directors who are parties may  participate)  consisting  solely of two or
more directors not at the time parties to the proceeding;

                  (c) By independent legal counsel:

         (1) Selected by the board of directors  prescribed  in paragraph (a) or
the committee prescribed in paragraph (b); or

         (2) If a quorum of the  directors  cannot be obtained for paragraph (a)
and the committee cannot be designated under paragraph (b), selected by majority
vote of the full board of  directors  (in which  directors  who are  parties may
participate); or

                  (d)  By  the  shareholders  by a  majority  vote  of a  quorum
consisting of  shareholders  who were not parties to such  proceeding  or, if no
such  quorum is  obtainable,  by a majority  vote of  shareholders  who were not
parties to such proceeding.

         (5) Evaluation of the  reasonableness  of expenses and authorization of
indemnification  shall  be made in the same  manner  as the  determination  that
indemnification is permissible.  However, if the determination of permissibility
is made by independent  legal  counsel,  persons  specified by paragraph  (4)(c)
shall evaluate the reasonableness of expenses and may authorize indemnification.

         (6) Expenses incurred by an officer or director in defending a civil or
criminal  proceeding  may be paid by the  corporation  in  advance  of the final
disposition of such

                                        5

<PAGE>

proceeding  upon receipt of an  undertaking  by or on behalf of such director or
officer to repay such  amount if he is  ultimately  found not to be  entitled to
indemnification by the corporation  pursuant to this section.  Expenses incurred
by  other  employees  and  agents  may be paid in  advance  upon  such  terms or
conditions that the board of directors deems appropriate.

         (7) The  indemnification  and advancement of expenses provided pursuant
to this  section  are not  exclusive,  and a  corporation  may make any other or
further  indemnification  or  advancement  of expenses of any of its  directors,
officers, employees, or agents, under any bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders
or  disinterested  directors,  or  otherwise,  both as to action in his official
capacity  and as to  action in  another  capacity  while  holding  such  office.
However,  indemnification  or advancement of expenses shall not be made to or on
behalf of any director, officer, employee, or agent if a judgment or other final
adjudication establishes that his actions, or omissions to act, were material to
the cause of action so adjudicated and constitute:

                  (a) A violation  of the  criminal  law,  unless the  director,
officer,  employee,  or agent had  reasonable  cause to believe  his conduct was
lawful or had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful;

                  (b) A transaction from which the director,  officer, employee,
or agent derived an improper personal benefit;

                  (c) In the case of a director,  a circumstance under which the
liability provisions of s.607.0834 are applicable; or

                  (d) Willful  misconduct or a conscious  disregard for the best
interests  of  the  corporation  in a  proceeding  by or in  the  right  of  the
corporation  to procure a judgment in its favor or in a proceeding  by or in the
right of a shareholder.

         (8)  Indemnification  and  advancement  of expenses as provided in this
section  shall  continue  as,  unless  otherwise  provided  when  authorized  or
ratified,  to a person who has ceased to be a director,  officer,  employee,  or
agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators
of such a person, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified.

         (9)  Unless  the  corporation's   articles  of  incorporation   provide
otherwise,   notwithstanding   the   failure   of  a   corporation   to  provide
indemnification,  and despite any contrary  determination of the board or of the
shareholders in the specific case, a director,  officer,  employee,  or agent of
the  corporation  who  is  or  was  a  party  to  a  proceeding  may  apply  for
indemnification or advancement of expenses, or both, to the court conducting the
proceeding, to the circuit court, or to another court of competent jurisdiction.
On receipt of an application,  the court,  after giving notice that it considers
necessary,  may order  indemnification  and  advancement of expenses,  including
expenses  incurred in seeking  court-ordered  indemnification  or advancement of
expenses, if it determines that:


                                        6
<PAGE>

                  (a) The director,  officer,  employee, or agent is entitled to
mandatory  indemnification  under  subsection (3), in which case the court shall
also order the corporation to pay the director  reasonable  expenses incurred in
obtaining court-ordered indemnification or advancement of expenses;

                  (b) The  director,  officer,  employee or agent is entitled to
indemnification  or advancement of expenses,  or both, by virtue of the exercise
by the corporation of its power pursuant to subsection (7); or

                  (c) The director,  officer,  employee,  or agent is fairly and
reasonably  entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses,  or both, in
view of all the relevant  circumstances,  regardless  of whether such person met
the  standard  of  conduct  set forth in  subsection  (1),  subsection  (2),  or
subsection (7).

         (10) For purposes of this section, the term "corporation"  includes, in
addition to the resulting  corporation,  any constituent  corporation (including
any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger, so that
any  person  who  is  or  was a  director,  officer,  employee,  or  agent  of a
constituent  corporation,  or is or was serving at the request of a  constituent
corporation as a director,  officer,  employee or agent of another  corporation,
partnership,  joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, is in the same position
under this section with respect to the resulting or surviving  corporation as he
would  have  with  respect  to  such  constituent  corporation  if its  separate
existence had continued.

         (11) For purposes of this section:

              (a) The term "other enterprises" includes employee benefit plans;

              (b) The term "expenses" includes counsel fees, including those for
appeal;

              (c)  The  term  "liability"  includes  obligations  to  pay  for a
judgment,  settlement,  penalty,  find  (including  an excise tax assessed  with
respect to any employee  benefit  plan),  and expenses  actually and  reasonably
incurred with respect to a proceeding;

              (d) The term  "proceeding"  includes any threatened,  pending,  or
completed action,  suit, or other type of proceeding,  whether civil,  criminal,
administrative, or investigative and whether formal or informal;

              (e) The term "agent" includes a volunteer;

              (f) The term "serving at the request of the corporation"  includes
any service as a director,  officer,  employee, or agent of the corporation that
imposes duties on such persons, including duties relating to an employee benefit
plan and its participants or beneficiaries; and

              (g) The term "not opposed to the best interest of the corporation"
describes  the  actions  of a person  who acts in good  faith and in a manner he
reasonably  believes  to be in  the  best  interests  of  the  participants  and
beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan.

                                        7

<PAGE>

         (12) A corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain  insurance
on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of
the  corporation  or is or was  serving at the request of the  corporation  as a
director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture,  trust, or other enterprise  against any liability asserted against him
and  incurred by him in any such  capacity or arising out of his status as such,
whether or not the  corporation  would have the power to  indemnify  him against
such liability under the provisions of this section.

ITEM 7.           EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

         Not  applicable  since no  restricted  securities  will be reoffered or
resold pursuant to this Registration Statement.

ITEM 8.           EXHIBITS

         The following exhibits are filed with or incorporated by reference into
this Registration  Statement on Form S-8 (numbering corresponds to Exhibit Table
in Item 601 of Regulation S-K):

   No.       Exhibit                                                   Page
   ---       -------                                                   ----

   4         Common Stock Certificate*                                  --

   5         Opinion of Elias, Matz, Tiernan & Herrick                  E-1
               L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities

   23.1      Consent of Elias, Matz, Tiernan & Herrick                  --
             L.L.P. (contained in the opinion included
              as Exhibit 5)

   23.2      Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP                            E-3

   24        Power of attorney for any subsequent                       --
              amendments is located in the signature pages

   99.1      1991 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, as amended           E-4

   99.2      1996 Stock Plan for Directors, as amended                  E-12


- ----------
*        Incorporated by reference from the Company's  Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (Commission File No. 333-5153)  declared effective by the Commission on
September 25, 1996, as amended.


                                        8
<PAGE>

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 the Securities Act, (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 a fundamental change in the
information set forth in the  Registration  Statement,  and (iii) to include any
material  information  with respect to the plan of  distribution  not previously
disclosed  in  the  Registration  Statement  or  any  material  change  in  such
information in the Registration Statement;  provided,  however, that clauses (i)
and  (ii)  do  not  apply  if  the  information  required  to be  included  in a
post-effective amendment by those clauses is contained in periodic reports filed
by the  Registrant  pursuant to Section 13 or Section  15(d) of the Exchange Act
that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

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

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

         4. That,  for the  purposes  of  determining  any  liability  under the
Securities  Act,  each  filing of the  Registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to
Section  13(a) or Section  15(d) of the  Exchange  Act 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.

         5.  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  Commission  such
indemnification  is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the event  that a claim for  indemnification
against  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 questions whether such  indemnification by it is against public
policy  expressed  in the  Securities  Act and  will be  governed  by the  final
adjudication of such issue.


                                        9
<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 West Palm Beach, State of Florida,  on the 26th day of
January 1998.

                           OCWEN FINANCIAL CORPORATION


                                       By: /s/ WILLIAM C. ERBEY
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          William C. Erbey, President and
                                           Chief Executive Officer

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities and on the dates indicated. Each person whose signature appears below
hereby  makes,  constitutes  and  appoints  William C. Erbey his true and lawful
attorney,  with full power to sign for such person and in such person's name and
capacity  indicated  below,  and with  full  power of  substitution  any and all
amendments to this Registration Statement,  hereby ratifying and confirming such
person's  signature  as it may be  signed  by  said  attorney  to  any  and  all
amendments.


/s/ WILLIAM C. ERBEY                                        January 26, 1998
- ----------------------------------------
William C. Erbey
Chairman, President and
  Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)


/s/ THOMAS F. LEWIS                                         January 26, 1998
- ----------------------------------------
Hon. Thomas F. Lewis
Director


/s/ W.C. MARTIN                                             January 26, 1998
- ----------------------------------------
W.C. Martin
Director


                                       10

<PAGE>


/s/ HOWARD H. SIMON                                         January 26, 1998
- ----------------------------------------
Howard H. Simon
Director


/s/ BARRY N. WISH                                           January 26, 1998
- ----------------------------------------
Barry N. Wish
Director


/s/ MARK S. ZEIDMAN                                         January 26, 1998
- ----------------------------------------
Mark S. Zeidman
Senior Vice President and
  Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial and
  accounting officer)


                                       11



                                                                       EXHIBIT 5

                                   Law Offices
                      ELIAS, MATZ, TIERNAN & HERRICK L.L.P.
                           12th Floor 734 15th Street,
                                      N.W.
                             Washington, D.C. 20005
                            Telephone (202) 347-0300

                                January 27, 1998



Board of Directors
Ocwen Financial Corporation
The Forum, Suite 1000
1675 West Palm Beach Boulevard
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401

        Re:    Registration Statement on Form S-8
               13,095,922 Shares of Common Stock

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        We have  acted as  special  counsel to Ocwen  Financial  Corporation,  a
Florida corporation (the "Corporation"),  in connection with the preparation and
filing with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission  pursuant to the Securities
Act  of  1933,  as  amended,  of a  Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-8  (the
"Registration Statement"),  relating to the registration of up to 490,108 shares
of common stock, par value $.01 per share ("Common  Stock"),  to be issued under
the Corporation's 1996 Stock Plan for Directors (the "Directors Plan") and up to
12,605,814  shares of Common  Stock to be issued  pursuant to the  Corporation's
1991  Non-Qualified  Stock Option Plan (the "Option  Plan") upon the exercise of
stock options  (collectively,  the "Shares").  The  Registration  Statement also
registers an  indeterminate  number of additional  shares which may be necessary
under the plans to adjust the number of shares reserved  thereby for issuance as
the  result of a stock  split,  stock  dividend  or  similar  adjustment  of the
outstanding  Common Stock of the Corporation.  We have been requested to furnish
an opinion to be included as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

        In this  regard,  we  have  reviewed  the  Registration  Statement,  the
Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Corporation,  the Directors
Plan, the Option Plan, a specimen stock certificate  evidencing the Common Stock
of the  Corporation  and such other  corporate  records and documents as we have
deemed  appropriate  for the purposes of this  opinion.  We are relying upon the
originals,  or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction,  of
the  corporate   records  of  the  Corporation   and  such  other   instruments,
certificates   and   representations   of   public   officials,   officers   and
representatives of the


<PAGE>

Board of Directors
January 27, 1998
Page 2


Corporation as we have deemed  applicable or relevant as a basis for the opinion
set forth below. In addition, we have assumed, without independent verification,
the  genuineness  of all  signatures  and  the  authenticity  of  all  documents
furnished  to us and the  conformance  in all  respects of copies to  originals.
Furthermore,  we have made such factual  inquiries  and reviewed such laws as we
determined to be relevant for the purposes of this opinion.

        For purposes of this  opinion,  we have also assumed that (i) the shares
of Common Stock  issuable  pursuant to stock options  granted under the terms of
the Option Plan will  continue to be validly  authorized on the dates the Common
Stock is issued pursuant to such stock options;  (ii) the shares of Common Stock
issuable  pursuant to the Directors Plan will continue to be validly  authorized
on the dates the  Common  Stock is issued in  accordance  with the terms of such
plan;  (iii) on the dates the stock  options are  exercised,  the stock  options
granted  under the terms of the Option  Plan will  constitute  valid,  legal and
binding   obligations  of  the  Corporation  and  will  (subject  to  applicable
bankruptcy,  moratorium,  insolvency,  reorganization  and other  laws and legal
principles  affecting  the  enforceability  of creditors'  rights  generally) be
enforceable as to the Corporation in accordance with their terms; (iv) no change
occurs in applicable law or the pertinent facts; and (v) the provisions of "blue
sky" and other  securities  laws as may be applicable have been complied with to
the extent required.

         Based on the  foregoing,  and  subject  to the  assumptions  set  forth
herein,  we are of the  opinion as of the date  hereof that the shares of Common
Stock to be issued  pursuant  to the  Directors  Plan and the  Option  Plan when
issued and sold  pursuant  to the  Directors  Plan or the  Option  Plan and upon
receipt of the  consideration  required thereby,  will be legally issued,  fully
paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock of the Corporation.

        We hereby  consent  to the  filing of this  opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

                                           Very truly yours,

                                           ELIAS, MATZ, TIERNAN & HERRICK L.L.P.


                                           By: /s/ KENNETH B. TABACH
                                              ----------------------------------
                                               Kenneth B. Tabach, a Partner




                                                                    Exhibit 23.2



               Consent of Independent Certified Public Accountants



We  hereby  consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in  the  Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated January 21, 1997 appearing on page F-2
of Ocwen Financial  Corporation's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1996.



/s/ PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
- --------------------------------

Price Waterhouse LLP
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
January 27, 1998



                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

                                             AS AMENDED THROUGH JANUARY 26, 1998
                                           AS ADJUSTED FOR THE TEN-FOR-ONE STOCK
                                          SPLIT IN JULY 1996 AND THE TWO-FOR-ONE
                                                    STOCK SPLIT IN NOVEMBER 1997

                           OCWEN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                      1991 NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN

                                    ARTICLE I
                                   DEFINITIONS

         As used herein,  the following terms have the meanings  hereinafter set
forth unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary:

         (a)      "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

         (b)      "Committee"  shall  mean  the  Compensation  Committee  of the
                  Board, which shall consist of such person or persons as may be
                  appointed  from time to time by the Board  until  such time as
                  the Stock is  registered  under the  Exchange  Act,  following
                  which time the  Committee  shall  consist of not less than the
                  minimum  number of persons from time to time  required by Rule
                  16b-3,  each of whom,  to the extent  necessary to comply with
                  Rule 16b-3 only, shall be a "disinterested  person" within the
                  meaning of Rule 16b-3.

         (c)      "Company"  shall mean Ocwen Financial  Corporation,  a Florida
                  corporation.

         (d)      "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
                  as amended.

         (e)      "Fair  Value"  of the  Stock  shall  mean (i) if the  Stock is
                  listed or  admitted to trading on any  securities  exchange or
                  national  market system in the United  States,  the average of
                  the high and low  sales  prices  on such day on the  principal
                  securities  exchange or national  market  system in the United
                  States on which the Stock is traded,  (ii) if the Stock is not
                  then  listed or  admitted to trading on any such day, or if no
                  sale takes  place on such day,  the average of the closing bid
                  and asked prices in the United States on such day, as reported
                  by a reputable  quotation source  designated by the Committee,
                  and  (iii) if the  Stock is not then  listed  or  admitted  to
                  trading on any such  securities  exchange or  national  market
                  system and no such reported sale price or bid and asked prices
                  are  available,  the average of the reported  high bid and low
                  asked prices in the United  States on such day, as reported in
                  THE WALL STREET JOURNAL  (Eastern  edition) or other newspaper
                  designated by the Committee.

         (f)      "Option"  shall  mean an  option  to  purchase  Stock  granted
                  pursuant to the provisions of Article VI hereof.

         (g)      "Optionee"  shall  mean a person  to whom an  Option  has been
                  granted hereunder.


<PAGE>


         (h)      "Option  Price"  shall mean the price at which an Optionee may
                  purchase a share of stock under a Stock Option Agreement which
                  price may be less than  Fair  Value at the time the  Option is
                  granted.

         (i)      "Plan"  shall  mean  the  Ocwen  Financial   Corporation  1991
                  Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, as amended.

         (j)      "Rule  16b-3"  shall  mean  Rule  16b-3  as  promulgated   and
                  interpreted by the Securities  and Exchange  Commission  under
                  the Exchange Act, or any successor rule or regulation  thereto
                  as in effect from time to time.

         (k)      "Stock"  shall mean the common stock,  $.01 par value,  of the
                  Company or, in the event that the outstanding  shares of Stock
                  are  hereinafter  changed  into or  exchanged  for shares of a
                  different  stock or  securities  of the  Company or some other
                  corporation, such other stock or securities.

         (l)      "Stock Option  Agreement" shall mean an agreement  between the
                  Company and the Optionee under which the Optionee may purchase
                  Stock hereunder.

         (m)      "Subsidiary"  shall mean any corporation,  the majority of the
                  outstanding  voting  stock  of  which is  owned,  directly  or
                  indirectly, by the Company.

                                   ARTICLE II
                                    THE PLAN

         2.1 NAME. This plan shall be known as the "Ocwen Financial  Corporation
1991 Non- Qualified Stock Option Plan."

         2.2 PURPOSE. The purpose of the Plan is to advance the interests of the
Company, its Subsidiaries and its shareholders by affording certain officers and
other key  employees  of the  Company and its  Subsidiaries  an  opportunity  to
acquire or increase their proprietary  interests in the Company by granting such
persons  Options to purchase Stock in the Company.  The Options will promote the
growth  and  profitability  of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  because  the
Optionees will be provided with an additional incentive to achieve the Company's
objectives  through  participation  in its success and growth and by encouraging
their continued employment with the Company.

         2.3 EFFECTIVE DATE; TERMINATION DATE. The effective date of the Plan is
December 1, 1991.  The Plan shall  terminate,  and no further  Options  shall be
granted hereunder, after November 30, 2006.

                                   ARTICLE III
                                  PARTICIPANTS

         Any "key employee," as determined by the Committee, including executive
personnel,  department  heads and directors,  of the Company or its Subsidiaries
shall be eligible to participate  in the Plan,  provided that they are full-time
employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.


                                       2

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE IV
                                 ADMINISTRATION

         4.1 DUTIES AND POWERS OF COMMITTEE.  The Plan shall be  administered by
the  Committee.   In  administering  the  Plan,  the  Committee's   actions  and
determinations  shall be  binding  on all  interested  parties.  Subject  to the
express provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the sole discretion and
authority to determine from among eligible key employees those to whom an Option
shall be granted,  the number of shares of Stock subject to the Option,  and the
terms and  conditions  of the Stock  Option  Agreement.  Subject to the  express
provisions  of the Plan,  the Committee  shall also have  complete  authority to
interpret  the Plan,  to  prescribe,  amend and  rescind  rules and  regulations
relating to it, to  determine  the details and  provisions  of each Stock Option
Agreement,  and to make all other  determinations  necessary or advisable in the
administration  of the Plan,  including,  without  limitation,  the  amending or
altering of the Plan and any  Options  granted  hereunder  as may be required to
comply with or to conform to any  federal,  state or local laws or  regulations.
The  Committee  shall  have the  power to  authorize  the  issuance  of Stock in
accordance  with the provisions of the Plan. No member of the Committee shall be
liable to any person for any  determination  made in good faith with  respect to
the Plan or any Option granted hereunder.

         4.2  COMMITTEE  PROCEDURES.  The  Committee  may make  such  rules  and
regulations  for  the  conduct  of its  business  as it may  deem  necessary  or
appropriate.  A majority  of the members of the  Committee  shall  constitute  a
quorum,  and any action  taken by a  majority  at a meeting at which a quorum is
present or any action taken without a meeting evidenced by a writing executed by
all the members of the Committee,  shall constitute the action of the Committee.
The Committee shall keep minutes of its meetings.

         The Company shall supply full and timely  information  to the Committee
on all matters  relating to eligible  persons as the Committee may require.  The
Company shall furnish the Committee  with such clerical and other  assistance as
is necessary in the performance of its duties.

         4.3  AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary
contained in the Plan, the Plan also may be administered by the Board until such
time as the Stock is registered under the Exchange Act, following which time the
Plan also may be administered by the Board only to the extent  permitted by Rule
16b-3. In the event of such  administration  by the Board, all references to the
Committee  in  the  Plan  shall  be  deemed  to  refer  to  the  Board  and  any
employee-director  of the  Company  shall be eligible  to be  designated  a "key
employee" for purposes of the Plan.


                                       3

<PAGE>

                                    ARTICLE V

                         SHARES OF STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN

         5.1 LIMITATIONS.  Subject to any adjustment  pursuant to the provisions
of Section 5.2 hereof, the maximum number of shares of Stock which may be issued
and sold  hereunder  shall not exceed  20,000,000  shares.  Shares subject to an
Option may be either  authorized and unissued  shares or shares issued and later
acquired by the  Company.  Any shares of Stock that are subject to an Option and
which are  forfeited,  and any shares of Stock that for any other reason are not
issued to an Optionee,  shall automatically become available again for use under
the Plan if Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange  Act, as such rule may be amended,  or
any successor rule, and  interpretations  thereof by the Securities and Exchange
Commission or its staff permit such share replenishment.

         5.2 ANTIDILUTION. In the event that the outstanding shares of Stock are
changed  into or  exchanged  for a  different  number or kind of shares or other
securities  of the  Company  or of  another  corporation  by reason  of  merger,
consolidation, reorganization,  recapitalization,  reclassification, combination
of shares, stock splitup or stock dividend:

                  (a)      The  aggregate  number and kind of shares of Stock on
                           which  Options  may be  granted  hereunder  shall  be
                           adjusted appropriately;

                  (b)      The  rights   under   outstanding   Options   granted
                           hereunder,  both as to the number of  subject  shares
                           and   the   Option    Price,    shall   be   adjusted
                           appropriately; and

                  (c)      Where  dissolution  or  liquidation of the Company is
                           involved,   the   Optionee   shall  have  the  right,
                           immediately prior to such dissolution or liquidation,
                           to exercise his Option,  in whole or in part,  to the
                           extent  that  it  shall  not  have  been   exercised,
                           subject,  however,  to the  limitations  set forth in
                           Article VI hereof.

         The foregoing  adjustments and the manner of application  thereof shall
be determined  solely by the Committee,  and any such adjustment may provide for
the elimination of fractional  share interests.  The adjustments  required under
this Article shall apply to any successor or successors of the Company and shall
be  made  regardless  of the  number  or  type of  successive  events  requiring
adjustments hereunder.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                                     OPTIONS

         6.1 OPTION GRANT AND AGREEMENT.  Each Option granted hereunder shall be
evidenced by minutes of a meeting or the written consent of the Committee and by
a written Stock Option

                                       4

<PAGE>

Agreement  dated as of the date of grant and  executed  by the  Company  and the
Optionee.  As to each grant  hereunder,  the terms of the Option,  including the
Option's  exercise  price,  shall be  stated in the Stock  Option  Agreement  or
incorporated  therein by reference to the  resolution or written  consent of the
Committee  setting  the terms of the  Option.  The terms and  conditions  of the
Option shall be consistent with the Plan.

         6.2 OPTION PRICE.  The Option Price of the Stock subject to each Option
shall be determined by the Committee.

         6.3 EXERCISE  PERIOD.  The period for the exercise of each Option shall
be ten years from the date of grant,  unless the Option is earlier terminated as
may be provided in the Stock Option Agreement.

         6.4 OPTION EXERCISE. An Option shall be exercisable in full or in part,
subject  to the terms of the Stock  Option  Agreement,  prior to  expiration  or
termination of the Option.

         An Option may be  exercised at any time or from time to time during the
term of the Option as to any or all full shares,  but not at any time as to less
than 50 shares unless the remaining  shares  subject to the Option are less than
50 shares.  The Option  Price is to be paid in full in cash upon the exercise of
the Option,  and the Company shall not be required to deliver  certificates  for
such shares until such payment has been made; provided, however, that in lieu of
cash all or any portion of the Option  Price may be paid in such other manner as
may be  acceptable  to the  Committee  prior to delivery  of the  certificate(s)
representing  said Stock which may,  in the sole  discretion  of the  Committee,
include the tendering to the Company  shares of Stock duly endorsed for transfer
and owned by the Optionee, to be credited against the Option Price at their Fair
Value on the date of exercise. The holder of an Option shall not have any of the
rights of a  stockholder  with  respect  to the  shares of Stock  subject to the
Option  until  such  shares  have  been  issued or  transferred  to him upon the
exercise of his Option.

         An Option shall be  exercised  by written  notice of intent to exercise
the Option with respect to a specified  number of shares of Stock,  which notice
shall include the agreement to sign and abide by the terms and conditions of all
then  applicable  stockholders'  agreements  and  transfer  restrictions  and by
payment in full to the Company in accordance with the preceding paragraph of the
Option  Price for the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Option
is then being exercised.  The foregoing notice and payment shall be delivered to
the  Secretary of the Company.  In addition to and at the time of payment of the
Option Price,  the Optionee  shall pay to the Company in cash the full amount of
any federal and state  withholding or other  employment  taxes applicable to the
taxable income of such Optionee resulting from such exercise; provided, however,
that in lieu of cash all or any portion of such tax  obligations,  together with
additional  taxes not  exceeding the actual  additional  taxes to be owed by the
Optionee as a result of such exercise, may, upon the irrevocable election of the
Optionee,  be paid by tendering to the Company shares of Stock duly endorsed for
transfer  and owned by the  Optionee,  or by  authorization  to the  Company  to
withhold shares of Stock otherwise issuable upon exercise of the

                                        5

<PAGE>

Option,  in either case in that number of shares having a Fair Value at the time
of exercise equal to the amount of such taxes thereby being paid.

         6.5  NONTRANSFERABILITY OF OPTION. No Option shall be transferred by an
Optionee otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.  During
the lifetime of an Optionee,  his Option shall be exercisable only by him (or by
his guardian or legal representative, should one be appointed).


                                   ARTICLE VII
                               STOCK CERTIFICATES

         The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver a certificate for
shares of Stock  purchased upon the exercise of any Option granted  hereunder or
any portion thereof, prior to fulfillment of all of the following conditions:

         (a)      The execution of all then applicable  stockholders' agreements
                  and agreement to all then applicable transfer restrictions;

         (b)      The  obtaining  of any  approval or other  clearance  from any
                  federal or state  governmental  agency  which the Company upon
                  the advice of  counsel  shall  determine  to be  necessary  or
                  advisable; and

         (c)      The  lapse of such  reasonable  period of time  following  the
                  exercise  of the Option as may be  appropriate  for reasons of
                  administrative convenience.

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                 TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND MODIFICATION OF PLAN

         The  Board may at any time  terminate  the Plan and may at any time and
from  time to time  and in any  respect  amend or  modify  the  Plan;  provided,
however,  that if the Plan is approved by the  stockholders of the Company,  the
Board may not thereafter,  without further stockholder approval,  amend the Plan
to:

         (a)      Increase  the total  number of shares of Stock  subject to the
                  Plan;

         (b)      Materially  change or modify the class of  employees  that may
                  participate in the Plan; or

         (c)      Otherwise   materially   increase  the  benefits  accruing  to
                  participants under the Plan.


                                       6

<PAGE>


         No  termination,  amendment or modification of the Plan shall adversely
affect any Option  previously  granted  hereunder without the written consent of
the Optionee or his guardian, legal representative or legatee.

                                   ARTICLE IX
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         9.1 PLAN  BINDING ON  SUCCESSORS.  The Plan  shall be binding  upon the
successors and assigns of the Company.

         9.2  SINGULAR,  PLURAL;  GENDER.  Whenever  used  herein,  nouns in the
singular shall include the plural,  and the masculine  pronoun shall include the
feminine gender.

         9.3 HEADINGS,  ETC., NO PART OF PLAN. Headings of articles and sections
hereof are inserted for  convenience  and reference;  they constitute no part of
the Plan.


                                       7



                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.2
                                             AS AMENDED THROUGH JANUARY 26, 1998
                                                 AS ADJUSTED FOR THE TEN-FOR-ONE
                                                STOCK SPLIT IN JULY 1996 AND THE
                                        TWO-FOR-ONE STOCK SPLIT IN NOVEMBER 1997


                           OCWEN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                          1996 STOCK PLAN FOR DIRECTORS


SECTION 1.  INTRODUCTION

         1.1 ESTABLISHMENT.  Ocwen Financial Corporation,  a Florida corporation
(the "Company"),  has established the 1996 Stock Plan for Directors (the "Plan")
for all  Directors  of the  Company,  including  Directors  who are  officers or
employees of the Company or its  subsidiaries.  The Plan  provides,  among other
things,  for the payment of the Annual  Director's Fee in the form of Restricted
Stock and for the  payment of the Annual  Committee  Chair's  Fee in the form of
Restricted  Stock.  Unless  otherwise  provided  for  herein,  the term  Company
includes Ocwen Financial Corporation and its subsidiaries.

         1.2  PURPOSES.  The purposes of the Plan are to encourage  Directors to
own shares of the  Company's  stock and  thereby to align their  interests  more
closely  with  the  interests  of the  other  shareholders  of the  Company,  to
encourage the highest level of Director  performance  and to provide a financial
incentive that will help attract and retain the most qualified Directors.


SECTION 2.  DEFINITIONS

         2.1 DEFINITIONS.  The following terms shall have the meanings set forth
below:

         (a) "ANNUAL COMMITTEE CHAIR'S FEE" means the annual amount  established
from time to time by the Board as the  annual  fee to be paid to  Directors  for
their services as chairs of standing committees of the Board.

         (b)  "ANNUAL  DIRECTOR'S  FEE"  means the annual  amount  (which may be
prorated for a Director  serving less than a full one year term,  as in the case
of a Director who will be retiring or not standing for  reelection at the annual
meeting of shareholders or a Director joining the Board after the annual meeting
of shareholders) established from time to time by the Board as the annual fee to
be paid to Directors for their services as directors.

         (c) "ATTENDANCE PERCENTAGE" for a Director with respect to a particular
Grant Year means the  percentage  of the  aggregate of all meetings of the Board
and  committees  of which the  Director  was a member held during the Grant Year
(or,  for  Directors  who are  elected  after the  beginning  of the Grant Year,
Directors who retire at the next annual meeting of  shareholders,  Directors who
do not stand for  reelection  at the next  annual  meeting  of  shareholders  or
Directors who die during the Grant Year, the aggregate of all such meetings held
for the  portion  of the  Grant  Year  during  which  the  Director  served as a
director), which were attended by the Director.

                                      C-1

<PAGE>

In the event that a  Director  ceases to be a  director  at any time  during the
Grant  Year for any  reason  other  than  retirement  at the  annual  meeting of
shareholders, not standing for reelection at the annual meeting of shareholders,
or death, all meetings held during the Grant Year of the Board and committees of
which he was a member at the time of  termination of service will continue to be
included as meetings when calculating the Attendance Percentage.

         (d) "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

         (e) "CAUSE" means any act of (a) fraud or intentional misrepresentation
or (b) embezzlement,  misappropriation  or conversion of assets or opportunities
of the Company or any of its direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiaries.

         (f)  "CHANGE IN  CONTROL"  shall  have the  meaning  assigned  to it in
Section 6.2 hereof.

         (g) "COMMITTEE"  means the  Compensation  Committee of the Board or any
successor established by the Board.

         (h) "DIRECTOR"  means a member of the Board,  including a member who is
an officer or an employee of the Company.

         (i)  "EXCHANGE  ACT"  means the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as
amended from time to time.

         (j)  "EXISTING   PRINCIPAL   STOCKHOLDERS"   means,   individually   or
collectively,  William  C.  Erbey,  Barry N. Wish and  Harold D. Price and their
respective estates, spouses, heirs, ancestors, lineal descendants,  legatees and
legal  representatives  of any of the  foregoing,  the  trustee of any bona fide
trust of which one or more of the  foregoing  are the  trustees or the  majority
beneficiaries,  and any entity of which any of the  foregoing,  individually  or
collectively,  beneficially  owns more than  fifty  percent  (50%) of the voting
securities thereof.

         (k) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means (i) if the Stock is listed or admitted to
trading on any  securities  exchange  or  national  market  system in the United
States,  the  average  of the  high  and low  sales  prices  on such  day on the
principal  securities exchange or national market system in the United States on
which the Stock is traded,  (ii) if the Stock is not then  listed or admitted to
trading on any such day, or if no sale takes  place on such day,  the average of
the closing bid and asked  prices in the United  States on such day, as reported
by a reputable  quotation source  designated by the Committee,  and (iii) if the
Stock is not then listed or admitted to trading on any such securities  exchange
or  national  market  system  and no such  reported  sale price or bid and asked
prices are available,  the average of the reported high bid and low asked prices
in the  United  States on such  day,  as  reported  in THE WALL  STREET  JOURNAL
(Eastern edition) or other newspaper designated by the Committee.

         (l) "GRANT DATE" means the date of grant pursuant to Section 5.1.

         (m) "GRANT YEAR" means, as to a particular  award, the 12 full calendar
months following the date on which the award was granted.


                                      C-2
<PAGE>

         (n) "INTERNAL REVENUE CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended from time to time.

         (o)  "RESTRICTED  STOCK"  means  shares of Stock  awarded to a Director
pursuant to Section 5 and subject to certain restrictions in accordance with the
Plan.

         (p)  "RESTRICTED  STOCK AWARD"  means an award of shares of  Restricted
Stock granted to a Director pursuant to Section 5 of the Plan.

         (q) "STOCK" means the common stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company.

         2.2 GENDER AND NUMBER.  Except when otherwise indicated by the context,
the masculine gender shall also include the feminine gender,  and the definition
of any term herein in the singular shall also include the plural.


SECTION 3.  PLAN ADMINISTRATION

         (a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The members of the
Committee shall be members of the Board appointed by the Board,  and any vacancy
on the Committee shall be filled by the Board.

         The  Committee  shall keep  minutes of its  meetings  and of any action
taken by it without a meeting.  A majority of the Committee  shall  constitute a
quorum,  and the acts of a majority  of the  members  present at any  meeting at
which a quorum is present  shall be the acts of the  Committee.  Any action that
may be taken at a meeting of the  Committee  may be taken without a meeting if a
consent or consents in writing setting forth the action so taken shall be signed
by all of the members of the  Committee.  The Committee  shall make  appropriate
reports to the Board concerning the operations of the Plan.

         (b) Subject to the  limitations of the Plan,  the Committee  shall have
the sole and complete  authority:  (i) to impose such limitations,  restrictions
and conditions upon such awards as it shall deem appropriate;  (ii) to interpret
the Plan and to adopt,  amend and rescind  administrative  guidelines  and other
rules  and  regulations  relating  to the  Plan;  and  (iii) to make  all  other
determinations  and to take all other  actions  necessary or  advisable  for the
implementation  and administration of the Plan.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,
the  Committee  shall  have no  authority,  discretion  or power to  select  the
Directors who will receive awards pursuant to the Plan,  determine the awards to
be  granted  pursuant  to the Plan,  the  number of shares of Stock to be issued
thereunder  or the price  thereof  or the time at which  such  awards  are to be
granted, establish the duration and nature of awards or alter any other terms or
conditions  specified in the Plan, except in the sense of administering the Plan
subject to the provisions of the Plan. The Committee's determinations on matters
within its authority  shall be  conclusive  and binding upon the Company and all
other persons. The Plan shall be interpreted and implemented in a manner so that
Directors  will not fail,  by reason  of the Plan or its  implementation,  to be
"disinterested persons" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under Section 16 of the
Exchange Act, as such rule may be amended, or any successor rule.

                                      C-3

<PAGE>

         (c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Plan, the
Plan  also may be  administered  by the  Board  until  such time as the Stock is
registered  under the Exchange  Act,  following  which time the Plan also may be
administered  by the Board  only to the  extent  permitted  by Rule 16b-3 of the
Exchange Act, as such rule may be amended,  or any successor  rule. In the event
of such administration by the Board, all references to the Committee in the Plan
shall be deemed to refer to the Board.

         (d)  The  Company  shall  be the  sponsor  of the  Plan.  All  expenses
associated with the Plan shall be borne by the Company.


SECTION 4.  STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

         4.1  NUMBER OF  SHARES.  500,000  shares of Stock  are  authorized  for
issuance under the Plan in accordance  with the provisions of the Plan,  subject
to  adjustment  and   substitution   as  set  forth  in  this  Section  4.  This
authorization  may be increased  from time to time by approval of the Board and,
if such approval is required,  by the  shareholders of the Company.  The Company
shall at all times during the term of the Plan retain as authorized and unissued
Stock at least  the  number  of  shares  from  time to time  required  under the
provisions of the Plan, or otherwise assure itself of its ability to perform its
obligations hereunder.

         4.2 OTHER  SHARES OF STOCK.  Any shares of Stock that are  subject to a
Restricted Stock Award and which are forfeited, and any shares of Stock that for
any other  reason  are not  issued to a  Director,  shall  automatically  become
available  again for use under the Plan if Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, as
such rule may be amended, or any successor rule, and interpretations  thereof by
the  Securities  and  Exchange   Commission  or  its  staff  permit  such  share
replenishment.

         4.3 ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN STOCK. If after adoption of the Plan by
the Board there shall be any change in the Stock of the Company, through merger,
consolidation,   division,   share   exchange,   combination,    reorganization,
recapitalization,  stock dividend,  stock split, spinoff,  split up, dividend in
kind  or  other  change  in  the  corporate  structure  or  distribution  to the
shareholders,  appropriate  adjustments may be made by the Committee (or, if the
Company is not the surviving  corporation in any such transaction,  the board of
directors of the  surviving  corporation)  in the  aggregate  number and kind of
shares  subject  to the Plan,  and the  number  and kind of shares  which may be
issued under the Plan. Appropriate adjustments may also be made by the Committee
in the terms of any awards  under the Plan to reflect such changes and to modify
any other terms of outstanding  awards on an equitable basis as the Committee in
its discretion determines.

                                      C-4

<PAGE>

SECTION 5.  RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS.

         5.1      GRANTS OF RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS.

         (a) Each Director will receive the value of his Annual  Director's  Fee
in the form of a Restricted Stock Award.  Such Restricted Stock shall be granted
automatically each year immediately following the annual meeting of shareholders
and the  organization  meeting of the Board  related to such  annual  meeting of
shareholders,  beginning  with the annual  meeting of  shareholders  and related
organization meeting held in 1996, to each Director who is elected to the Board.
If a person is elected to the Board at any time other than the annual meeting of
shareholders, whether by action of the shareholders of the Company or the Board,
such person upon becoming a Director shall be granted automatically the value of
his or her Annual  Director's  Fee for that period  remaining  prior to the next
annual  meeting  of  shareholders  in  the  form  of a  Restricted  Stock  Award
immediately following such person's election to the Board.

         (b) Each Director who is the chair of a standing committee of the Board
will  receive  the value of his Annual  Committee  Chair's  Fee in the form of a
Restricted  Stock Award.  Such Restricted  Stock shall be granted  automatically
each year  immediately  following  the annual  meeting of  shareholders  and the
organization   meeting  of  the  Board   related  to  such  annual   meeting  of
shareholders,  beginning  with the annual  meeting of  shareholders  and related
organization  meeting  held in 1996,  to each  Director  who is  elected at such
organization meeting to serve as the chair of a standing committee of the Board.

         (c)  The  total  number  of  shares  of  Stock  representing  any  such
Restricted  Stock Award will be the number of shares  determined by dividing the
amount of the Annual  Director's Fee or the Annual Committee Chair's Fee, as the
case may be,  to be paid in the  form of a  Restricted  Stock  Award by the Fair
Market  Value of a share of Stock on the Grant  Date,  rounded up to the nearest
whole share.

         (d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Plan, (i)
each Director  elected at the annual meeting of shareholders  held in 1996 shall
receive the value of his Annual  Director's Fee and each Director who is elected
as the chair of a standing  committee  of the Board at the related  organization
meeting held in 1996 shall receive the value of his Annual Committee Chair's Fee
in the form of a Restricted  Stock Award  granted  automatically  on the date on
which the Stock is  registered  under the Exchange  Act, and (ii) the Grant Date
for each  Restricted  Stock Award granted under Section  5.1(d)(i) shall for all
purposes  under  the Plan be  deemed  to be the date of the  annual  meeting  of
shareholders held in 1996.

         (e) Restricted  Stock granted  pursuant to Section 5.1 shall be subject
to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3.

                                      C-5

<PAGE>

         5.2 TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK.  Restricted Stock granted
under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

         (a)  RESTRICTION  PERIOD.   Restricted  Stock  will  be  subject  to  a
Restriction  Period  ("Restriction  Period")  beginning  on the  Grant  Date and
continuing through last day of the Grant Year.

         (b)  VESTING.

         (1) Except as set forth in Section  5.2(b)(3),  a  Director's  right to
ownership  in shares of  Restricted  Stock  granted  to a Director  pursuant  to
Section 5.1(a) will vest on the first day of the month immediately following the
expiration  of the  Restriction  Period for such shares (the  "Restricted  Stock
Vesting  Date")  if  the  Director  has an  Attendance  Percentage  of at  least
seventy-five  percent (75%) for the Grant Year. In the event that a Director has
an Attendance  Percentage of less than seventy-five  percent (75%) for the Grant
Year, a number of shares of Restricted Stock equal to the Director's  Attendance
Percentage  for the  Grant  Year  multiplied  by the  total  number of shares of
Restricted  Stock  granted  pursuant  to  Section  5.1(a)  during the Grant Year
(rounded  up to the  nearest  whole  share)  will vest on the  Restricted  Stock
Vesting Date and the remaining  shares of Restricted  Stock granted  pursuant to
Section  5.1(a)  during the Grant Year will be  forfeited  as of the  Restricted
Stock Vesting Date.

         (2) Except as set forth in Section  5.2(b)(3),  a  Director's  right to
ownership in shares of Restricted Stock granted to a committee chair pursuant to
Section 5.1(b) will vest on the Restricted Stock Vesting Date.

         (3)  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary herein, (i) in the event
that a director is removed from office for Cause prior to the  Restricted  Stock
Vesting Date, all of such  Director's  shares of Restricted  Stock that have not
yet  vested  will be  forfeited  immediately  as of the time the  grantee  is so
removed  from office and the Company  will have the right to complete  the blank
stock  power  described  below with  respect to such  shares,  and (ii) upon the
occurrence of a Change in Control,  all shares of Restricted Stock that have not
yet vested will immediately vest.

         (c) ISSUANCE OF SHARES.  On the Grant Date, a certificate  representing
the shares of Restricted  Stock will be registered  in the  Director's  name and
deposited by the Director,  together with a stock power endorsed in blank,  with
the Company.  Subject to the transfer  restrictions  set forth in Section 5.2(d)
and to the last sentence of this Section 5.2(c), the Director as owner of shares
of Restricted  Stock will have the rights of the holder of such Restricted Stock
during the Restriction Period.  Following  expiration of the Restriction Period,
on the Restricted Stock Vesting Date,  vested shares of Restricted Stock will be
redelivered  by the Company to the Director and  nonvested  shares of Restricted
Stock will be  forfeited  and the Company  will have the right to  complete  the
blank stock power with respect to such shares.  For shares of  Restricted  Stock
granted prior to the  effective  date of the Plan as set forth in Section 11, no
certificate will be issued, such shares will not be issued and outstanding,  and
the  Director  will not have any of the rights of the owner of the shares  until
such effective date has occurred.

                                      C-6
<PAGE>

         (d) TRANSFER  RESTRICTIONS;  MANDATORY  HOLDING  OF  STOCK.  Except  as
otherwise  provided in Section 5.5 or Section 7, shares of Restricted  Stock are
not  transferable  during the Restriction  Period.  Once the Restriction  Period
lapses and shares vest,  except as otherwise  provided in Section 5.5 or Section
7, shares acquired as a Restricted Stock Award must be held by the grantee for a
minimum of: (1) three years from the Grant Date, (2) two years from the date the
grantee ceases to be a director of the Company, or (3) until the occurrence of a
Change in Control,  whichever  first  occurs  (the  "Restricted  Shares  Holding
Period").

         (e) RESTRICTED  STOCK  AGREEMENT.  All Restricted  Stock Awards will be
confirmed by an agreement,  or an amendment  thereto,  which will be executed on
behalf of the  Company  by the  Chief  Executive  Officer,  the  President,  any
Managing  Director,  any Senior Vice  President  or any Vice  President  and the
grantee.

         (f) GENERAL RESTRICTIONS.

         (1) The  obligation of the Company to issue shares of Restricted  Stock
under  the Plan  shall be  subject  to the  condition  that,  if at any time the
Company shall determine that (a) the listing,  registration or  qualification of
shares of Restricted  Stock upon any securities  market or exchange or under any
state or federal  law,  or (b) the  consent or  approval  of any  government  or
regulatory body is necessary or desirable,  then such Restricted Stock shall not
be issued unless such listing, registration,  qualification, consent or approval
shall have been effected or obtained free from any  conditions not acceptable to
the Company.

         (2)  Shares of Stock for use under  the  provisions  of this  Section 5
shall not be issued until they have been duly listed,  upon  official  notice of
issuance, upon the Nasdaq system and/or such other markets or exchanges, if any,
as the Board shall determine,  and a registration statement under the Securities
Act of 1933 with respect to such shares shall have become, and be, effective.

         Subject to the  foregoing  provisions of this Section 5.2 and the other
provisions of the Plan,  any shares of  Restricted  Stock granted under the Plan
shall be subject to such restrictions and other terms and conditions, if any, as
shall be determined by the Committee,  in its  discretion,  and set forth in the
agreement  referred to in Section  5.2(e),  or an amendment  thereto;  provided,
however,  that in no event  shall the  Committee  or the Board have any power or
authority which would cause the Directors to cease to be "disinterested persons"
or would cause transactions  pursuant to the Plan to cease to be exempt from the
provisions of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 16b-3,  as such
rule may be amended, or any successor rule.

         5.3 ANNUAL  STATEMENT.  A statement will be sent to each Director as to
the status of his Restricted Stock at least once each calendar year.

         5.4   DESIGNATION  OF  A  BENEFICIARY.   A  Director  may  designate  a
beneficiary  to hold shares of Restricted  Stock in accordance  with the Plan in
the event of the Director's death.

         5.5 HOLDING PERIOD  APPLICABLE TO A DECEASED  GRANTEE'S ESTATE. As long
as at least six months have elapsed since the Grant Date, a properly  designated
beneficiary,  or a person  holding  shares of Restricted  Stock under a deceased
grantee's will or under the applicable laws

                                      C-7

<PAGE>

of descent or distribution, will not be subject to the Restricted Shares Holding
Period with respect to such shares of Restricted Stock.


SECTION 6.  CHANGE IN CONTROL

         6.1 SETTLEMENT OF COMPENSATION.  In the event of a Change in Control of
the  Company as defined  herein,  to the extent not  already  vested,  all Stock
Option Awards,  Restricted  Stock Awards and other benefits  hereunder  shall be
vested immediately.

         6.2 DEFINITION OF CHANGE IN CONTROL. A Change in Control shall mean the
occurrence of one or more of the following events:

         (a) there shall be consummated (i) any  consolidation  or merger of the
Company in which the Company is not the  continuing or surviving  corporation or
pursuant to which shares of the  Company's  Stock would be converted  into cash,
securities  or other  property,  other than a merger of the Company in which the
holders of the  Company's  Stock  immediately  prior to the merger have the same
proportionate ownership of common stock of the surviving corporation immediately
after the merger,  or (ii) any sale,  lease,  exchange or other transfer (in one
transaction or a series of related  transactions) of all, or substantially  all,
of the assets of the Company; or

         (b) the  shareholders  of the  Company  shall  approve  of any  plan or
proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

         (c)(i) any  person  (as such term is  defined  in Section  13(d) of the
Exchange  Act),  corporation  or other  entity  shall  purchase any Stock of the
Company  (or  securities   convertible  into  the  Company's  Stock)  for  cash,
securities  or any other  consideration  pursuant to a tender  offer or exchange
offer,  unless,  prior to the making of such  purchase  of Stock (or  securities
convertible  into  Stock),  the Board  shall  determine  that the making of such
purchase shall not  constitute a Change in Control,  or (ii) any person (as such
term is defined in Section  13(d) of the  Exchange  Act),  corporation  or other
entity  (other  than the  Existing  Principal  Stockholders,  the Company or any
benefit plan sponsored by the Company or any of its  subsidiaries)  shall become
the "beneficial owner" (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange
Act),  directly or indirectly,  of securities of the Company  representing forty
percent  (40%)  or more of the  combined  voting  power  of the  Company's  then
outstanding  securities  ordinarily  (and apart from any rights  accruing  under
special  circumstances)  having the right to vote in the  election of  directors
(calculated  as provided  in Rule  13d-3(d) in the case of rights to acquire any
such  securities),  unless,  prior to such  person so becoming  such  beneficial
owner,  the Board shall  determine that such person so becoming such  beneficial
owner shall not constitute a Change in Control; or

         (d) during any period of two consecutive years,  individuals who at the
beginning of such period constituted the Board, or whose nomination for election
by the  shareholders  of the Company was approved by a vote of a majority of the
Directors  then still in office who were either  Directors  at the  beginning of
such period or whose election or nomination for election was

                                      C-8

<PAGE>

previously  so  approved,  cease for any reason to  constitute a majority of the
Directors then in office.


SECTION 7.  ASSIGNABILITY

         The right to receive payments or distributions hereunder (including any
"derivative  security"  issued  pursuant to the Plan, as such term is defined by
the rules  promulgated  under  Section 16 of the Exchange Act) and any shares of
Restricted Stock granted  hereunder  during the Restriction  Period shall not be
transferable  or  assignable  by a director  other than by will,  by the laws of
descent and distribution,  to a properly designated  beneficiary in the event of
death,  or  pursuant  to a  domestic  relations  order  as  defined  by  Section
414(p)(1)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code or the rules thereunder that satisfies
Section  414(p)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code or the rules  thereunder.  In
addition,  Stock acquired as Restricted Stock shall not be transferable prior to
the end of the applicable Restricted Shares Holding Period, if any, set forth in
Sections  5.2(d) and 5.5,  in either  case other than by will,  by transfer to a
properly designated beneficiary in the event of death, by the applicable laws of
descent and distribution or pursuant to a domestic relations order as defined by
Section  414(p)(1)(B) of the Internal  Revenue Code or the rules thereunder that
satisfies  Section  414(p)(1)(A)  of the  Internal  Revenue  Code  or the  rules
thereunder.


SECTION 8.  RETENTION; WITHHOLDING OF TAX

         8.1 RETENTION. Nothing contained in the Plan or in any Restricted Stock
Award granted under the Plan shall  interfere with or limit in any way the right
of the Company to remove any director from the Board pursuant to the Articles of
Incorporation  and the Bylaws of the  Company,  nor confer upon any director any
right to continue in the service of the Company.

         8.2  WITHHOLDING  OF TAX. To the extent  required by applicable law and
regulation,  each  director must arrange with the Company for the payment of any
federal,  state or local  income or other tax  applicable  to any payment or any
delivery of Stock  hereunder  before the Company  shall be required to make such
payment,  issue or, in the case of Restricted  Stock,  deliver such shares under
the Plan.


SECTION 9.  PLAN AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION

         The Board may at any time terminate, and from time to time may amend or
modify,  the Plan;  provided,  however,  that no amendment or  modification  may
become  effective  without  approval of the  amendment  or  modification  by the
shareholders  if shareholder  approval is required to enable the Plan to satisfy
any applicable statutory or regulatory  requirements and provide further,  that,
unless otherwise permitted by the rules under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, no
amendment  or  modification  shall be made more than once every six months  that
would  change  the  amount,  price,  or timing of the  Restricted  Stock  Awards
hereunder, other than to

                                      C-9

<PAGE>


comport with  changes in the  Internal  Revenue  Code,  the Employee  Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or the rules promulgated thereunder.


SECTION 10.  REQUIREMENTS OF LAW

         10.1  FEDERAL   SECURITIES   LAW   REQUIREMENTS.   Implementation   and
interpretations  of, and transactions  pursuant to, the Plan shall be subject to
all conditions  required under Rule 16b-3,  as such rule may be amended,  or any
successor  rule,  to  qualify  such  transactions  for any  exemption  from  the
provisions of Section  16(b) of the Exchange Act  available  under that rule, or
any successor  rule, and to permit the Directors to be  "disinterested  persons"
within the meaning of that rule, or any successor  rule,  insofar as the Plan or
its implementation shall impact such disinterested status.

         10.2  GOVERNING  LAW. The Plan and all  agreements  hereunder  shall be
construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Florida.


SECTION 11.  EFFECTIVE DATE OF AMENDMENT

         The  Plan  shall  be  effective  on the  date on  which  the  Stock  is
registered  under the Exchange  Act. The Plan shall not preclude the adoption by
appropriate means of any other compensation or deferral plan for directors.


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