SUPERTEL HOSPITALITY INC
DEFA14A, 1997-04-01
HOTELS & MOTELS
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                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

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


Filed by the Registrant [ X ] Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]

Check the appropriate box:

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


                           SUPERTEL HOSPITALITY, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

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


Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[XX] No fee required.
[  ]     Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4)
         and 0-11.
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             -------------------------------------------------------------------
         2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
             ------------------------------------------------------------------
         3)  Per unit price or other  underlying  value of transaction  computed
             pursuant to  Exchange  Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which
             the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
             -------------------------------------------------------------------
         4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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         5)  Total fee paid:
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[  ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

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

         1)       Amount Previously Paid:
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         2)       Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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         3)       Filing Party:
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
         4)       Date Filed:
                  --------------------------------------------------------------


<PAGE>



                                    NOTICE OF
                                 ANNUAL MEETING
                                 OF STOCKHOLDERS






                                 PROXY STATEMENT







                           SUPERTEL HOSPITALITY, INC.





                              309 North 5th Street
                             Norfolk, Nebraska 68701
                                 (402) 371-2520





                           SUPERTEL HOSPITALITY, INC.



<PAGE>



                           SUPERTEL HOSPITALITY, INC.

                              309 North 5th Street
                             Norfolk, Nebraska 68701
                                 (402) 371-2520

                                NOTICE OF MEETING


To Supertel Hospitality, Inc. Stockholders:


     The annual meeting of  stockholders of Supertel  Hospitality,  Inc. will be
held on May 2, 1997 at 2:00 p.m.  local  time,  at The Red Lion Inn,  1616 Dodge
Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102.

     We hope you will be able to attend the Annual Stockholders' Meeting. If you
do not expect to be present and wish your stock to be voted,  please sign,  date
and mail the enclosed proxy form. If you later decide to attend the meeting, you
may withdraw your proxy at that time and vote your shares in person.

         Matters to be considered by the stockholders:

         Item 1.           Election of Directors.

         Item 2.           Approval of the 1997 Stock Plan.

         Item 3.           Approval of the appointment of the independent
                           accountants for fiscal year 1997.

     Stockholders  of record as of the close of  business  on March 14, 1997 are
eligible to vote at the Annual Stockholders' Meeting.

                                        By order of the Board of Directors



                                        Paul J. Schulte, President and
                                          Chief Executive Officer





March 25, 1997

                                       -2-

<PAGE>



                                 PROXY STATEMENT

     Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 2, 1997


To our Stockholders:

     The Board of Directors of Supertel Hospitality,  Inc. ("Supertel") solicits
your proxy in the form enclosed for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to
be held on Friday, May 2, 1997.

     Stockholders  of  record  at the close of  business  on March 14,  1997 are
entitled  to vote at the  meeting.  Supertel  at March 14,  1997 had  issued and
outstanding  4,840,000  shares of common stock.  All holders of common stock are
entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by them.

     The  presence  of a majority  of the  outstanding  shares of common  stock,
represented  in person or by proxy at the  meeting,  will  constitute  a quorum.
Common shares  represented by proxies that are marked  "abstain" will be counted
as shares present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum.  Proxies
relating to "street  name" shares that are voted by brokers on some matters will
be treated as shares  present for  purposes  of  determining  the  presence of a
quorum, but will not be treated as shares entitled to vote at the annual meeting
on those  matters  as to  which  authority  to vote is  withheld  by the  broker
("broker non-votes").

     The five  nominees  receiving  the  highest  vote totals will be elected as
directors of Supertel.  Accordingly,  abstentions and broker  non-votes will not
affect the outcome of the election of  directors.  All other matters to be voted
on will be decided by the  affirmative  vote of a majority of the common  shares
present or  represented at the meeting and entitled to vote. On any such matter,
an abstention  will have same effect as a negative vote. A broker  non-vote will
not be counted as an affirmative  vote or a negative vote because shares held by
brokers  will not be  considered  entitled  to vote on  matters  as to which the
brokers withhold authority.

     A stockholder  giving a proxy may revoke it before the meeting by mailing a
signed instrument revoking the proxy to: Secretary, Supertel Hospitality,  Inc.,
309 North 5th Street, Norfolk,  Nebraska, 68701. To be effective, the revocation
must be received by the Secretary prior to May 2, 1997. A stockholder may attend
the meeting in person,  and at that time  withdraw  his or her proxy and vote in
person.  This proxy  statement is being mailed to stockholders on or about March
25, 1997.

     The cost of solicitation of proxies,  including the cost of reimbursing the
banks  and  brokers  for  forwarding  proxies  and  proxy  statements  to  their
principals, will be borne by Supertel.



                                       -3-

<PAGE>



                              CERTAIN STOCKHOLDERS

     The  following  table sets forth  information  relating  to the  beneficial
ownership of Supertel's  common stock by each person known to Supertel to be the
beneficial  owner of more than 5% of the outstanding  shares of common stock, by
each  director,  by each executive  officer,  and by all directors and executive
officers as a group.


Name and Address of                      Beneficial           Percent
Beneficial Owner                         Ownership as of      of Class
                                         March 14, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paul Schulte                             715,651(1)           14.8%(1)
309 North 5th Street
Norfolk, NE 68701

Steve Borgmann                           767,639(1)           15.9%(1)
309 North 5th Street
Norfolk, NE 68701

Loren Steele                               6,000(1)            (2)

Joseph Caggiano                            6,500(1)            (2)

Richard Herink                            25,500(1)            (2)

Troy Beatty                                  200(1)            (2)

KPM Investment Management, Inc.
  10250 Regency Circle
  Omaha, Nebraska 68114                  421,600(3)            8.7%(3)

Wellington Management
  Company, LLP                           467,000(4)            9.7%(4)

All Executive Officers and
Directors as a Group                   1,523,990              31.5%
(6 persons)

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

(1)      Beneficial ownership includes shares owned by spouses and minor
         children and shares which the persons indicated have the right to
         acquire through the exercise of stock options as follows: Mr. Steele
         and Mr. Caggiano, 4,500 shares each; Mr. Schulte and Mr. Borgmann,
         10,000 shares each; Mr. Schulte's spouse, 4,000 shares; and Mr.
         Herink, 3,000 shares. Beneficial ownership also includes shares
         indirectly owned through corporations as follows: Mr. Schulte,
         37,504 shares; and Mr. Borgmann, 82,932 shares.

(2)      Less than 1% of the outstanding common stock.

(3)      Based on a Schedule 13G dated February 3, 1997 filed with the
         Securities and Exchange Commission.

(4)      Based on a Schedule 13G dated January 24, 1997 filed with the
         Securities and Exchange Commission.



                                       -4-

<PAGE>



                              ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

     Supertel's  Board of Directors  is composed of five  members  elected on an
annual basis.

     The  following  table  sets  forth  Supertel's  nominees  for the  Board of
Directors.  Each  nominee is a member of the  present  Board of  Directors.  Mr.
Schulte  and Mr.  Borgmann  have  served  as  directors  of  Supertel  since its
formation.  Mr. Steele and Mr.  Caggiano have served as directors since February
1994. Mr. Herink became a director in February 1997.  Supertel became subject to
the  reporting  requirements  of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934  upon
completion  of its  initial  public  offering  on May 3, 1994.  For  information
concerning the ownership of Supertel common stock by the nominees,  see "Certain
Stockholders".

PAUL J. SCHULTE

          Mr.  Schulte,  age 63, is  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of
     Supertel. Mr. Schulte has been involved in acquiring,  developing,  owning,
     managing and  operating  economy  motels for  Supertel or its  predecessors
     since 1978.

STEVE H. BORGMANN

          Mr. Borgmann,  age 51, is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating
     Officer  of  Supertel.   Mr.  Borgmann  has  been  involved  in  acquiring,
     developing,  owning,  managing and operating economy motels for Supertel or
     its predecessors since 1978.

LOREN STEELE

          Mr. Steele,  age 56, is a director of Super 8 Motels,  Inc., a wholly-
     owned subsidiary of Hospitality  Franchise Systems, Inc. (a publicly- owned
     franchisor  of hotels  and  motels).  Mr.  Steele is also  Chairman  of the
     International  Franchise  Association.  From 1988 through  April 1993,  Mr.
     Steele was Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Super 8 Enterprises
     Motel System, Inc. (franchisor of Super 8 Motels).

JOSEPH CAGGIANO

          Mr. Caggiano,  age 71, has served as Vice Chairman Emeritus of Bozell,
     Jacobs,  Kenyon & Eckhardt,  Inc.  from 1991 to the  present.  From 1974 to
     1991, Mr. Caggiano  served as Chief Financial  Officer and Vice Chairman of
     the  Board of  Bozell & Jacobs  (advertising  and  public  relations).  Mr.
     Caggiano is also a director of First Omaha Funds.

RICHARD HERINK

          Mr.  Herink,  age 43, became  Executive  Vice President of Supertel in
     August  1995.  From  April  1993 to  August  1995,  he was  Executive  Vice
     President of FirsTier Bank,  N.A.,  Norfolk.  Prior to April 1993, he was a
     Division President with Farm Credit Services of the Midlands.

     The proxies will be voted for the election of these nominees;  however,  in
the event any nominee  should become  unavailable,  which the Board of Directors
has no  reason  to  believe  will be the  case,  the  proxy  holders  will  have
discretionary authority in that instance to vote the proxies for a substitute.

                                       -5-

<PAGE>



                       DIRECTOR MEETINGS AND COMPENSATION

     The Board of Directors meets on a regularly  scheduled  basis. The Board of
Directors met six times during 1996. The Board of Directors has assigned certain
responsibilities  to  committees.  Supertel does not have a standing  Nominating
Committee.

     The Audit  Committee,  which met four  times in 1996,  is  responsible  for
recommending  the  appointment  of Supertel's  independent  public  accountants,
reviewing  the  scope  of  the  audits  recommended  by the  independent  public
accountants,  and  consulting  with  the  independent  public  accountants  on a
periodic basis on matters relating to financing controls and procedures. Members
of the Audit Committee are Joseph Caggiano (Chairman) and Loren Steele.

     The Compensation  Committee,  which met five times in 1996,  determines the
amounts  and  types  of  remuneration  to be paid to  management  employees  and
administers  compensation  plans  for  management  employees.   Members  of  the
Compensation Committee are Loren Steele (Chairman) and Joseph Caggiano.

     Directors  who are not  employees of Supertel  receives fees of $12,000 per
annum plus $750 per board and committee meeting attended (other than meetings by
written consent or telephone  communications).  In addition,  each  non-employee
director receives an option to acquire 1,500 shares of common stock, exercisable
at the market price of the shares on the grant date,  each year  following  such
director's election at the annual stockholders' meeting.

                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

     The  following  Summary  Compensation  Table  shows  compensation  paid  by
Supertel for services rendered during calendar years 1996, 1995 and 1994 for the
executive  officers  of  Supertel  whose  salary  and  bonus  for 1996  exceeded
$100,000.

<TABLE>

===============================================================================================================================
                                                              Annual Compensation                           Long-Term
                                                                                                          Compensation
===============================================================================================================================
        Name and Principal Position                Year             Salary            Bonus             Number of Options
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                <C>             <C>                  <C>               <C>
Paul Schulte                                       1996            $250,000            -0-                5,000
  President and                                    1995            $250,000          $10,000              5,000
  Chief Executive Officer                          1994            $250,000          $10,000                -0-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Borgmann                                     1996            $250,000            -0-                5,000
  Executive Vice President and                     1995            $250,000          $10,000              5,000
  Chief Operating Officer                          1994            $250,000          $10,000                -0-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard Herink                                     1996            $132,000            -0-                3,000
  Executive Vice President(1)                      1995            $ 41,015          $ 4,400                -0-
                                                   1994               ---              ---                  ---
===============================================================================================================================

     (1) Mr. Herink became an executive officer of Supertel in August 1995.
</TABLE>

                                       -6-

<PAGE>



                              OPTION GRANTS IN 1996

     The  following  table sets  forth  information  on grants of stock  options
during 1996  pursuant to the Supertel  1994 Stock  Option Plan to the  executive
officers named in the Summary  Compensation  Table. No stock appreciation rights
were granted during 1996. <TABLE>

===================================================================================================================================
                                                  Percent of                                      Potential Realizable Value at
                                                 Total Options     Per Share                      Assumed Annual Rates of Stock
                                 Number of        Granted to       Exercise                       Price Appreciation for Option
                                  Options        Employees in        Price                        Term(2)
           Name                 Granted(1)        Fiscal 1996                     Expiration
                                                                                     Date
                                                                                                ===================================
                                                                                                       5%               10%
===================================================================================================================================
<S>                                <C>               <C>            <C>             <C> <C>           <C>               <C>
       Paul Schulte                5,000             14.4%          $10.75          2-5-06            $33,863           $85,463
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Steve Borgmann               5,000             14.4%          $10.75          2-5-06            $33,863           $85,463
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Richard Herink               3,000              8.6%          $10.75          2-5-06            $20,318           $51,278
===================================================================================================================================

     (1) The  options  were  granted on February 5, 1996 at the then fair market
value of Supertel's common stock and became exercisable on February 5, 1997.

     (2) Potential  realizable  value is based on the assumption that the common
stock price appreciates at the annual rate shown (compounded  annually) from the
date of grant until the end of the ten-year option term. Supertel's common stock
price at the end of the ten-year term based on a 5% appreciation would be $17.52
and Supertel's common stock price at the end of the 10- year term based on a 10%
appreciation   would  be  $27.84.  The  numbers  are  calculated  based  on  the
requirements  promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The actual
value,  if any, an executive  may realize will depend on the excess of the stock
price  over the  exercise  price on the date the  option  is  exercised  (if the
executive  were to sell  the  shares  on the date of  exercise),  so there is no
assurance  that the value  realized will be at or near the potential  realizable
value as calculated in this table. </TABLE>


                                       -7-

<PAGE>



               OPTION EXERCISES IN FISCAL 1996 AND YEAR-END VALUES

     The following table sets forth information on aggregate option exercises in
1996 and  information  with  respect  to the  value of  unexercised  options  to
purchase Supertel's Common Stock for the executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table. <TABLE>

==================================================================================================================================
                                                                                                    Value of Unexercised In-The-
                            Number of                        Number of Unexercised Options             Money Options Held at
                              Shares                           Held at December 31, 1996                December 31, 1996(1)
                           Acquired on        Value
         Name                Exercise       Realized
                                                                                              ------------------------------------
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Exercisable       Unexercisable       Exercisable       Unexercisable
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>             <C>            <C>                <C>                  <C>                <C>
Paul Schulte                   -0-             -0-             5,000              5,000               -0-                -0-
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Borgmann                 -0-             -0-             5,000              5,000               -0-                -0-
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard Herink                 -0-             -0-              -0-               3,000               -0-                -0-
==================================================================================================================================

(1)      Value is common stock  closing  price on December  31,  1996,  less the
         option exercise price, multiplied by the number of shares.

</TABLE>

                       CERTAIN AGREEMENTS AND TRANSACTIONS

     Supertel is a party to employment agreements with Messrs. Schulte, Borgmann
and Herink.  Each employment  agreement is for a term extending through December
31, 1997,  is annually  renewable  thereafter,  and  requires  the  executive to
refrain from  competing  with  Supertel for one year  following  termination  of
employment.  Each  employment  agreement  provides  for payment of base  salary,
participation  in  bonus  and  option  plans  to the  extent  determined  by the
Compensation  Committee,  and payment of normal business  expenses.  If Supertel
terminates an executive without cause (as defined in each employment agreement),
Supertel is required to pay the  executive's  base salary for the remaining term
of the  employment  agreement,  but in no event for a period of less than twelve
months.



                                       -8-

<PAGE>



             COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     Supertel's   executive   compensation   program  is   administered  by  the
Compensation  Committee  of  the  Board  of  Directors  (the  "Committee").  The
Committee  is composed of  non-employee  directors.  The  Committee's  executive
compensation policies are designed to provide competitive levels of compensation
which  integrate pay with  Supertel's  annual and long-term  performance  goals,
reward above-average  corporate performance,  and assist Supertel in attracting,
motivating and retaining qualified executives.

     The program consists of three  components:  base salary,  annual incentives
and long-term incentives. The Committee recommended or established the executive
compensation  within  each of  these  components  during  1996.  In  determining
competitive   levels  of  compensation,   the  Committee  obtains  and  utilizes
information such as executive  compensation  surveys and comparative analyses of
compensation  data in proxy  statements  of  others.  The  Committee  intends to
structure  all executive  compensation  so that such payments will be deductible
under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.

     BASE SALARY.  The Committee  targets base salary for  executives at a level
comparable  to  base  salaries  paid  by  competitive  businesses  in  the  same
geographic  area. The base salary paid during 1996 to Supertel's chief executive
officer and chief operating  officer was established  prior to the completion of
Supertel's  initial  public  offering  in May 1994  and has not  been  increased
following such date. The Committee  intends to annually review base salaries for
executive officers.

     ANNUAL INCENTIVES.  The Committee believes that an executive's contribution
to net income  should form the basis for annual  incentives,  since such results
maximize  earnings  in the best  interests  of the  corporation.  For 1996,  the
Committee did not authorize any cash bonuses.

     LONG-TERM   INCENTIVES.   Supertel's  long-term  incentives  for  executive
officers are provided  through stock options under  Supertel's 1994 Stock Option
Plan.  The  Committee  intends to grant stock options at the  prevailing  market
price of  Supertel's  common  stock,  and  therefore any option grants will have
value only if Supertel's  stock price  increases.  The size of option grants are
expected to be based upon competitive  practice and position level, the expected
contribution  of each  member  of the  executive  officer  group  to  Supertel's
strategic and operational  goals, and the Committee's  desire to provide certain
executive  officers with an opportunity to build a meaningful stake in Supertel.
Past stock option grants are not considered when determining the number of stock
options to grant in a given year.


                                       -9-

<PAGE>



     The Committee  granted  options to acquire an aggregate of 34,600 shares to
42 employees  during 1996. The grants to executive  officers are set forth under
"Option  Grants in 1996" above.  The grants  reflect the  Committee's  policy of
issuing  stock  options for 20% to 25% of the shares  authorized  under the 1994
Stock  Option  Plan on an  annual  basis,  and  issuing  options  to  Supertel's
executive  officers  at  a  level  substantially  above  the  grants  for  other
employees.

     COMPENSATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE  OFFICER.  The Committee  intends to review
the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer on an annual basis. During 1996,
the Committee did not make any change in the base salary of the Chief  Executive
Officer from that existing prior to Supertel's  initial  public  offering in May
1994.

                                      Supertel Hospitality, Inc.
                                        Compensation Committee


                                         Loren Steele, Chairman
                                         Joseph Caggiano

                                      -10-

<PAGE>



                          STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE GRAPH

     The following  performance  graph  compares the  performance  of Supertel's
common stock to the Total Return Index for the NASDAQ Stock Market-United States
Companies (Broad Market Index) and the S & P Hotel/Motel  Index. The performance
graph shows cumulative  stockholder  returns.  The performance graph assumes the
value of the  investment in  Supertel's  common stock and each Index was $100 on
May 1, 1994  (immediately  prior to the completion of Supertel's  initial public
offering on May 3, 1994) and that any dividends were reinvested.

EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC


                          Supertel             Nasdaq             S&P Hotel/
                      Hospitality, Inc.     Composite Index      Motel Index

    DATE               PRICE     INDEX     PRICE      INDEX     PRICE     INDEX

May 1, 1994           $10.00    100.00    $  740.68   100.00   $298.77    100.00

December 31, 1994      12.75    127.50       751.96   101.52    302.00    101.08

December 31, 1995      10.00    100.00     1,052.14   142.05    353.46    118.31

December 31, 1996       9.00     90.00     1,291.03   174.30    407.07    136.25






                                      -11-

<PAGE>




                    APPROVAL OF THE SUPERTEL 1997 STOCK PLAN

GENERAL

     Supertel's Board of Directors has adopted the Supertel 1997 Stock Plan (the
"Plan"),  subject to stockholder approval. The Board of Directors recognizes the
value of stock  incentives in assisting  Supertel in the hiring and retaining of
management  personnel  and in enhancing of the  long-term  mutuality of interest
between Supertel stockholders and its directors,  officers and employees.  Since
only 25,500 shares of common stock remain  available for grant under  Supertel's
current  stock  plan,  the  Board of  Directors  has  approved  the  Plan  which
authorizes the issuance of up to 250,000 shares of Supertel common stock.

     Under the Plan, the Compensation  Committee (the  "Committee") of the Board
may grant stock options,  stock appreciation rights,  restricted stock and stock
bonuses to officers and other  employees of Supertel and its  subsidiaries.  The
number of grantees may vary from year to year. The number of employees  eligible
to participate in the Plan is estimated to be  approximately  125. The Committee
administers  the Plan  and its  determinations  are  binding  upon  all  persons
participating in the Plan.

     The maximum number of shares of Supertel's  common stock that may be issued
under the Plan is 250,000.  Any shares of common stock subject to an award which
for any reason are  cancelled,  terminated  or  otherwise  settled  without  the
issuance of any common stock are again  available for awards under the Plan. The
maximum  number of shares of common  stock which may be issued under the Plan to
any one  employee  shall not  exceed  20% of the  aggregate  number of shares of
common  stock that may be issued  under the Plan.  The  shares  may be  unissued
shares  or  treasury  shares.  If  there  is  a  stock  split,  stock  dividend,
recapitalization  or other relevant change  affecting  Supertel's  common stock,
appropriate  adjustments  may be made by the  Committee  in the number of shares
issuable  in the  future  and in the  number  of  shares  and  price  under  all
outstanding grants made before the event.

GRANTS UNDER THE PLAN

     Stock Options for Employees. The Committee may grant employees nonqualified
options and options  qualifying as incentive stock options.  The option price of
either a nonqualified stock option or an incentive stock option will be the fair
market value of the common  stock on the date of grant.  Options  qualifying  as
incentive stock options must meet certain  requirements of the Internal  Revenue
Code,  including the  requirement  that the  aggregate  fair market value of the
common stock (determined at the time of the grant of the option) with respect to
which such options are  exercisable for the first time by an employee during any
calendar

                                      -12-

<PAGE>



year shall not exceed $100,000.  To exercise an option,  an employee may pay the
option price in cash, or if permitted by the Committee,  by  withholding  shares
otherwise  issuable on exercise of the option or by  delivering  other shares of
common  stock if such  shares have been owned by the  optionee  for at least six
months.  The term of each  option  will be fixed  by the  Committee  but may not
exceed ten years from the date of grant.  The Committee  will determine the time
or times when each option is  exercisable.  Options may be made  exercisable  in
installments,  and the  exercisability  of  options  may be  accelerated  by the
Committee.  All outstanding options become immediately  exercisable in the event
of a change-in-control of Supertel.

     Stock  Appreciation  Rights.  The Committee may grant a stock  appreciation
right  (an  "SAR")  in  conjunction  with an  option  granted  under the Plan or
separately  from any  option.  Each SAR  granted in tandem with an option may be
exercised  only to the extent that the  corresponding  option is exercised,  and
such SAR terminates upon  termination or exercise of the  corresponding  option.
Upon the exercise of an SAR granted in tandem with an option,  the corresponding
option will terminate.  SAR's granted  separately from options may be granted on
such terms and conditions as the Committee establishes. If an employee exercises
an SAR, the employee will generally receive a payment equal to the excess of the
fair market  value at the time of  exercise of the shares with  respect to which
the SAR is  being  exercised  over  the  price  of such  shares  as fixed by the
Committee  at the  time the SAR was  granted.  Payment  may be made in cash,  in
shares of Supertel  common stock,  or any  combination of cash and shares as the
Committee determines.

     Restricted  Stock.  The Committee  may grant awards of restricted  stock to
employees  under the Plan. The  restrictions on such shares shall be established
by  the  Committee,   which  may  include  restrictions  relating  to  continued
employment  and Supertel  financial  performance.  The  Committee may issue such
restricted  stock awards without any cash payment by the employee,  or with such
cash payment as the  Committee  may  determine.  The  Committee has the right to
accelerate the vesting of restricted shares and to waive any  restrictions.  All
restrictions lapse in the event of a change-in-control of Supertel.

     Stock Bonuses. The Committee may grant a bonus in shares of Supertel common
stock to  employees  under the Plan.  Such stock  bonuses may be in lieu of cash
compensation  otherwise payable to such employee,  or may be in addition to such
cash compensation.

     Director  Participation.  Each non-employee director will receive under the
Plan an annual grant of a  nonstatutory  stock option to acquire 1,500 shares of
common  stock  exercisable  at the fair market  value of the common stock on the
date of grant.  The annual  stock  option  grant will first be made  immediately
following the 1998 annual stockholders' meeting. Each non-employee director

                                      -13-

<PAGE>



currently receives such an option grant pursuant to the terms of Supertel's 1994
Stock Option Plan.

     Tax Withholding. The Committee may permit an employee to satisfy applicable
federal,  state  and local  income  tax  withholding  requirements  through  the
delivery to Supertel of previously-acquired  shares of common stock or by having
shares otherwise issuable under the Plan withheld by Supertel.

     Other  Information.  The Board may  terminate the Plan at any time but such
termination shall not affect any stock options, SAR's, restricted stock or stock
bonuses then  outstanding  under the Plan.  Unless  terminated  by action of the
Board,  the Plan will  continue in effect until  December  31, 2006,  but awards
granted  prior to such  date  will  continue  in  effect  until  they  expire in
accordance  with  their  terms.  The Board  may also  amend the Plan as it deems
advisable. Amendments which materially modify the requirements for participation
in the Plan or increase the number of shares of common stock subject to issuance
under the Plan must be submitted to stockholders for approval.

FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

     With respect to incentive  stock  options,  if the holder of an option does
not dispose of the shares  acquired  upon exercise of the option within one year
from the transfer of such shares to such employee,  or within two years from the
date the  option to acquire  such  shares is  granted,  for  federal  income tax
purposes  (i) the  optionee  will not  recognize  any  income at the time of the
exercise of the option;  (ii) the excess of the fair market  value of the shares
as of the date of exercise  over the option  price will  constitute  an "item of
adjustment"  for  purposes  of  the  alternative  minimum  tax;  and  (iii)  the
difference between the option price and the amount realized upon the sale of the
shares by the  optionee  will be treated as a  long-term  capital  gain or loss.
Supertel  will not be allowed a  deduction  for federal  income tax  purposes in
connection  with the  granting of an  incentive  stock option or the issuance of
shares thereunder.

     With respect to the grant of options which are not incentive stock options,
the person receiving an option will recognize no income on receipt thereof. Upon
the exercise of the option,  the optionee will recognize  ordinary income in the
amount of the  difference  between the option price and the fair market value of
the  shares on the date the  option  is  exercised.  Supertel  will  receive  an
equivalent deduction at that time.

     With respect to  restricted  stock awards and bonuses of common  stock,  an
amount equal to the fair market value of the Supertel shares  distributed to the
employee  (in  excess  of any  purchase  price  paid  by the  employee)  will be
includable  in the  employee's  gross  income at the time of receipt  unless the
award is not transferable and subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture as

                                      -14-

<PAGE>



defined in Section 83 of the Internal Revenue Code (a "Forfeiture Restriction").
If an  employee  receives  an award  subject to a  Forfeiture  Restriction,  the
employee  may elect to include  in gross  income  the fair  market  value of the
award.  In the absence of such an election,  the employee  will include in gross
income the fair market value of the award subject to a Forfeiture Restriction on
the earlier of the date such  restrictions  lapse or the date the award  becomes
transferable.  Supertel is entitled to a deduction at the time and in the amount
income is included in the gross income of an employee.

     With respect to stock  appreciation  rights, the amount of any cash (or the
fair market  value of any common  stock)  received  upon the exercise of a stock
appreciation right will be subject to ordinary income tax in the year of receipt
and Supertel will be entitled to a deduction for such amount.

VOTE REQUIRED

     The favorable vote of the holders of a majority of the  outstanding  shares
of  Supertel's  common stock  present in person or  represented  by proxy at the
meeting is required for approval of the Plan.

                  The Board of  Directors  recommends a vote FOR the approval of
                  the Supertel 1997 Stock Plan.


                         INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

     The firm of KPMG Peat Marwick has been  appointed by the Board of Directors
to conduct  the 1997 audit of  Supertel's  financial  statements.  The same firm
conducted the 1996 audit. The Board of Directors requests  stockholder  approval
of their  appointment.  A representative of KPMG Peat Marwick will be present at
the  Annual  Stockholders'  Meeting  and  will  have the  opportunity  to make a
statement and to respond to appropriate questions.


                              STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

     Stockholder proposals intended to be included in Supertel's proxy statement
for the 1998 annual  meeting must be received by Supertel no later than December
1, 1997 in order for such proposals to be considered for inclusion in Supertel's
proxy statement relating to such meeting.

     Supertel's  bylaws set forth certain  procedures  which  stockholders  must
follow in order to  nominate a  director  or present  any other  business  at an
annual stockholders'  meeting.  Generally, a stockholder must give timely notice
to the Secretary of Supertel.

                                      -15-

<PAGE>



     To be timely,  such  notice  must be  received by Supertel at 309 North 5th
Street, Norfolk,  Nebraska, 68701, not less than thirty nor more than sixty days
prior to the meeting.  The bylaws specify the  information  which must accompany
any such  stockholder  notice.  Details on these provisions of the bylaws may be
obtained by any stockholder from the Secretary of Supertel.


                                  OTHER MATTERS

     The  Board  of  Directors  does not know of any  other  matter  that may be
presented for action an the annual meeting of stockholders.  If any other matter
or proposal  should be presented and should properly come before the meeting for
action,  the persons named in the accompanying  proxy will vote upon such matter
and upon such proposal in accordance with their best judgment.

                                    By Order of the Board of Directors


                                    Steve H. Borgmann, Secretary
                                    Supertel Hospitality, Inc.


                                      -16-

<PAGE>


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

                           Supertel Hospitality, Inc.

              Proxy for Annual Meeting of Stockholders May 2, 1997


     The  undersigned  hereby  constitutes  and appoints  Paul Schulte and Steve
Borgmann,  or either of them,  with full power of  substitution in each of them,
for and on  behalf  of the  undersigned  to vote as  proxies,  as  directed  and
permitted herein at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Supertel to be held at
The Red Lion Inn, 1616 Dodge Street, Omaha,  Nebraska,  68102, on May 2, 1997 at
2:00 p.m. and at any  adjournment  thereof,  upon matters set forth in the Proxy
Statement,  and, in their judgment and  discretion,  upon such other business as
may properly come before the meeting.

                                     ITEM 1.

Election of Directors - FOR the following nominees for Director: Paul
Schulte, Steve Borgmann, Richard Herink, Loren Steele and Joseph
Caggiano.

     VOTE FOR             WITHHOLD          WITHHOLD VOTE FOR
     ALL NOMINEES         VOTE FOR ALL      ONLY THE FOLLOWING
                          NOMINEES          NOMINEE(S):

          |-|                |-|            -----------------------

                                     ITEM 2.

Approval of the 1997 Stock Plan:

          FOR               AGAINST             ABSTAIN

          |-|                 |-|                  |-|

                                     ITEM 3.

Approval of appointment of independent  accountants KPMG Peat Marwick for fiscal
1997:

          FOR               AGAINST              ABSTAIN

          |-|                 |-|                  |-|

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF  DIRECTORS.  This proxy,  when
properly  executed,  will  be  voted  in  the  manner  directed  herein  by  the
undersigned  stockholder.  If properly  executed and no direction is made,  this
proxy will be voted FOR proposals 1, 2 and 3.

Dated this ___ day of _______________, 1997.


Signature______________________________________


Signature______________________________________
         (When signing as attorney, executor,  administrator,  trustee, guardian
         or conservator, designate full title. All joint tenants must sign.)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


<PAGE>

                                    Appendix
              Pursuant to Instructions to Item 10 of Rule 14a-101

                            SUPERTEL 1997 STOCK PLAN

                                    SECTION 1

                                NAME AND PURPOSE

     1.1 Name.  The name of the plan shall be the Supertel  1997 Stock Plan (the
"Plan").

     1.2.  Purpose of Plan. The purpose of the Plan is to foster and promote the
long-term financial success of the Company and increase stockholder value by (a)
motivating  superior  performance by means of stock incentives,  (b) encouraging
and providing  for the  acquisition  of an ownership  interest in the Company by
Employees  and (c)  enabling the Company to attract and retain the services of a
management team responsible for the long-term financial success of the Company.


                                    SECTION 2

                                   DEFINITIONS

     2.1 Definitions.  Whenever used herein,  the following terms shall have the
respective meanings set forth below:

         (a)      "Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

         (b)      "Award" means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted
                  Stock,  Stock Bonus,  or any  combination  thereof,  including
                  Awards  combining  two or more  types  of  Awards  in a single
                  grant.

         (c)      "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

         (d)      "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         (e)      "Committee"  means the  Compensation  Committee  of the Board,
                  which shall consist of two or more members, each of whom shall
                  be a "non-employee  director" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3
                  as promulgated under the Act.

         (f)      "Company" means Supertel Hospitality, Inc., a Delaware 
                  corporation (and any successor thereto) and its Subsidiaries.

         (g)      "Director  Award"  means a grant of stock  options  granted to
                  each  Eligible  Director  pursuant  to Section 7.1 without any
                  action by the Board or the Committee.
<PAGE>
         (h)      "Eligible Director" means a person who is serving as a member
                  of the Board and who is not an Employee.

         (i)      "Employee" means any employee of the Company or any of its
                  Subsidiaries.

         (j)      "Fair Market Value" means, on any date, the average of the 
                  high and low sales prices of the Stock as reported on the
                  National Association of Securities Dealers Automated
                  Quotation system (or on such other recognized market or
                  quotation system on which the trading prices of the Stock are
                  traded or quoted at the relevant time) on such date. In the
                  event that there are no Stock transactions reported on such
                  system (or such other system) on such date, Fair Market Value
                  shall mean the average of the high and low sale prices on the
                  immediately preceding date on which Stock transactions were so
                  reported.

         (k)      "Option"  means the right to purchase  Stock at a stated price
                  for a specified  period of time.  For purposes of the Plan, an
                  Option may be either (i) an Incentive  Stock Option within the
                  meaning  of  Section  422 of the  Code or (ii) a  Nonstatutory
                  Stock Option.

         (l)      "Participant" means any Employee designated by the Committee
                  to participate in the Plan.

         (m)      "Plan" means the Supertel 1997 Stock Plan, as in effect from
                  time to time.

         (n)      "Restricted Stock" shall mean a share of Stock granted to a
                  Participant subject to such restrictions as the Committee may
                  determine.

         (o)      "Stock" means the Common Stock of the Company, par value $.01
                  per share.

         (p)      "Stock Appreciation Right" means the right, subject to such
                  terms and conditions as the Committee may determine, to
                  receive an amount in cash or Stock, as determined by the
                  Committee, equal to the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value,
                  as of the date such Stock Appreciation Right is exercised, of
                  the number shares of Stock covered by the Stock Appreciation
                  Right being exercised over (ii) the aggregate exercise price
                  of such Stock Appreciation Right.

         (q)      "Stock  Bonus" means the grant of Stock as  compensation  from
                  the  Company,  which  may  be in  lieu  of  cash  compensation
                  otherwise receivable by the Participant or in addition to such
                  cash compensation.

         (r)      "Subsidiary"  means any  corporation or partnership in which
                  the Company owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or

                                       -2-
<PAGE>

                  more of the total  combined  voting  power of all  classes  of
                  stock  of  such  corporation  or of the  capital  interest  or
                  profits interest of such partnership.

     2.2 Gender and Number.  Except when  otherwise  indicated  by the  context,
words in the  masculine  gender  used in the Plan  shall  include  the  feminine
gender,  the singular shall include the plural, and the plural shall include the
singular.


                                    SECTION 3

                          ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

     Except as otherwise  provided in Section 7.1, the only persons  eligible to
participate  in the Plan shall be those  Employees  selected by the Committee as
Participants.


                                    SECTION 4

                             POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE

     4.1 Power to Grant.  The Committee shall determine the Participants to whom
Awards  shall be  granted,  the type or types of Awards to be  granted,  and the
terms and  conditions  of any and all such Awards.  The  Committee may establish
different  terms and  conditions  for different  types of Awards,  for different
Participants receiving the same type of Awards, and for the same Participant for
each Award such  Participant  may  receive,  whether or not granted at different
times.

     4.2   Administration.   The  Committee   shall  be   responsible   for  the
administration  of the Plan.  The  Committee,  by majority  action  thereof,  is
authorized to prescribe,  amend,  and rescind rules and regulations  relating to
the Plan, to provide for conditions deemed necessary or advisable to protect the
interests  of the  Company,  and to make all other  determinations  necessary or
advisable  for the  administration  and  interpretation  of the Plan in order to
carry out its provisions and purposes. Determinations, interpretations, or other
actions made or taken by the  Committee  pursuant to the  provisions of the Plan
shall be final, binding, and conclusive for all purposes and upon all persons.


                                    SECTION 5

                              STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN

     5.1 Number.  Subject to the provisions of Section 5.3, the number of shares
of Stock subject to Awards  (including  Director  Awards) under the Plan may not
exceed 250,000 shares of Stock. The

                                       -3-
<PAGE>

shares to be  delivered  under  the Plan may  consist,  in whole or in part,  of
treasury  Stock or  authorized  but unissued  Stock,  not reserved for any other
purpose.  The maximum number of shares of Stock with respect to which Awards may
be granted to any one Employee under the Plan is 20% of the aggregate  number of
shares of Stock available for Awards under Section 5.1.

     5.2 Cancelled,  Terminated or Forfeited Awards. Any shares of Stock subject
to an Award which for any reason are cancelled,  terminated or otherwise settled
without the issuance of any Stock shall again be available  for Awards under the
Plan.

     5.3  Adjustment in  Capitalization.  In the event of any Stock  dividend or
Stock split, recapitalization (including,  without limitation, the payment of an
extraordinary   dividend),   merger,   consolidation,   combination,   spin-off,
distribution  of assets to  stockholders,  exchange of shares,  or other similar
corporate  change,  (i) the  aggregate  number of shares of Stock  available for
Awards under  Section 5.1 and (ii) the number of shares and exercise  price with
respect to Options and the number,  prices and dollar value of other Awards, may
be  appropriately  adjusted  by the  Committee,  whose  determination  shall  be
conclusive. If, pursuant to the preceding sentence, an adjustment is made to the
number  of  shares  of  Stock   authorized   for  issuance  under  the  Plan,  a
corresponding  adjustment  shall be made with respect to Director Awards granted
pursuant to Section 7.1.


                                    SECTION 6

                                  STOCK OPTIONS

     6.1 Grant of Options.  Options may be granted to  Participants at such time
or times as shall be determined by the Committee. Options granted under the Plan
may be of two types:  (i) Incentive  Stock Options and (ii)  Nonstatutory  Stock
Options.  The Committee shall have complete discretion in determining the number
of  Options,  if any,  to be  granted to a  Participant.  Each  Option  shall be
evidenced by an Option  agreement that shall specify the type of Option granted,
the exercise price, the duration of the Option, the number of shares of Stock to
which the  Option  pertains,  the  exercisability  (if any) of the Option in the
event of death,  retirement,  disability or termination of employment,  and such
other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee shall
determine.

     6.2 Option Price.  Nonstatutory  Stock Options and Incentive  Stock Options
granted pursuant to the Plan shall have an exercise price which is not less than
the Fair Market Value on the date the Option is granted.


                                       -4-
<PAGE>

     6.3 Exercise of Options.  Options  awarded to a Participant  under the Plan
shall be exercisable at such times and shall be subject to such restrictions and
conditions  as the  Committee may impose,  subject to the  Committee's  right to
accelerate the exercisability of such Option in its discretion.  Notwithstanding
the foregoing,  no Option shall be exercisable for more than ten years after the
date on which it is granted.

     6.4  Payment.  The  Committee  shall  establish  procedures  governing  the
exercise of Options,  which shall  require  that  written  notice of exercise be
given  and that the  Option  price be paid in full in cash or cash  equivalents,
including  by  personal  check,  at the  time of  exercise  or  pursuant  to any
arrangement  that  the  Committee  shall  approve.  The  Committee  may,  in its
discretion,  permit a Participant  to make payment (i) in Stock already owned by
the Participant valued at its Fair Market Value on the date of exercise (if such
Stock has been  owned by the  Participant  for at least six  months)  or (ii) by
electing to have the Company  retain  Stock which would  otherwise  be issued on
exercise of the Option, valued at its Fair Market Value on the date of exercise.
As soon as  practicable  after  receipt  of a written  exercise  notice and full
payment of the exercise  price,  the Company shall deliver to the  Participant a
certificate or certificates representing the acquired shares of Stock.

     6.5 Incentive  Stock Options.  Notwithstanding  anything in the Plan to the
contrary,  no term of this Plan  relating to Incentive  Stock  Options  shall be
interpreted,  amended or altered,  nor shall any discretion or authority granted
under the Plan be so exercised,  so as to disqualify  the Plan under Section 422
of the Code, or, without the consent of any  Participant  affected  thereby,  to
cause any Incentive Stock Option  previously  granted to fail to qualify for the
Federal income tax treatment afforded under Section 421 of the Code.


                                    SECTION 7

                                 DIRECTOR AWARDS

     7.1 Amount of Award.  Each Eligible  Director shall receive an annual grant
of a Nonstatutory  Stock Option to acquire 1,500 shares of Stock  exercisable at
the Fair Market Value of the Company's  common stock on the date of grant;  such
grant shall be made on the date of and immediately  following the annual meeting
of stockholders  (beginning  with the 1998 Annual  Stockholders'  Meeting).  The
Nonstatutory   Stock  Options   awarded  to  a  director   hereunder   shall  be
appropriately adjusted in the event of any stock changes as described in Section
5.3.




                                       -5-
<PAGE>

                                    SECTION 8

                            STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

     8.1 SAR's In Tandem with Options.  Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted
to Participants  in tandem with any Option granted under the Plan,  either at or
after  the  time of the  grant  of  such  Option,  subject  to  such  terms  and
conditions,  not inconsistent  with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee
shall determine.  Each Stock Appreciation Right shall only be exercisable to the
extent that the  corresponding  Option is exercisable,  and shall terminate upon
termination or exercise of the  corresponding  Option.  Upon the exercise of any
Stock Appreciation Right, the corresponding Option shall terminate.

     8.2 Other Stock Appreciation  Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights may also be
granted to Participants  separately  from any Option,  subject to such terms and
conditions,  not inconsistent  with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee
shall determine.


                                    SECTION 9

                                RESTRICTED STOCK

     9.1 Grant of Restricted  Stock. The Committee may grant Restricted Stock to
Participants at such times and in such amounts,  and subject to such other terms
and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as it shall determine.  Each grant
of Restricted Stock shall be subject to such  restrictions,  which may relate to
continued  employment  with the Company,  performance  of the Company,  or other
restrictions,  as the Committee may  determine.  Each grant of Restricted  Stock
shall be evidenced by a written agreement setting forth the terms of such Award.

     9.2 Removal of  Restrictions.  The Committee  may  accelerate or waive such
restrictions in whole or in part at any time in its discretion.

                                   SECTION 10

                                  STOCK BONUSES

     10.1 Grant of Stock  Bonuses.  The  Committee  may grant a Stock Bonus to a
Participant  at such times and in such amounts,  and subject to such other terms
and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan, as it shall determine.

     10.2 Effect on Compensation.  The Committee may from time to time determine
to grant a Stock Bonus in lieu of salary or cash bonuses  otherwise payable to a
Participant.


                                       -6-
<PAGE>


                                   SECTION 11

                AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION OF PLAN

     11.1  General.  The Board may from time to time amend,  modify or terminate
any or all of the  provisions  of the Plan,  subject to the  provisions  of this
Section 11.1.  The Board may not change the Plan in a manner which would prevent
outstanding  Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan from being Incentive
Stock Options without the consent of the optionees concerned.  Furthermore,  the
Board  may not  make  any  amendment  which  would  (i)  materially  modify  the
requirements for participation in the Plan or (ii) increase the number of shares
of Stock  subject to Awards under the Plan pursuant to Section 5.1, in each case
without the consent and approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of Stock  entitled to vote thereon.  No amendment or  modification  shall
affect the rights of any Employee  with respect to a previously  granted  Award,
nor shall any  amendment  or  modification  affect  the  rights of any  Eligible
Director pursuant to a previously granted Director Award.

     11.2  Termination  of Plan.  No further  Options shall be granted under the
Plan  subsequent to December 31, 2006, or such earlier date as may be determined
by the Board.


                                   SECTION 12

                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     12.1 Beneficiary Designation. Each Participant under the Plan may from time
to time name any beneficiary or  beneficiaries  (who may be named  contingent or
successively)  to whom any  benefit  under the Plan is to be paid or by whom any
right under the Plan is to be exercised in case of his death.  Each  designation
will revoke all prior  designations by the same  Participant  shall be in a form
prescribed by the  Committee,  and will be effective  only when filed in writing
with the Committee.  In the absence of any such designation,  Awards outstanding
at death may be  exercised by the  Participant's  surviving  spouse,  if any, or
otherwise by his estate, subject to the terms and conditions of the Award.

     12.2 No Guarantee of Employment or Participation. Nothing in the Plan shall
interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to
terminate  any  Participant's  employment  at any  time,  nor  confer  upon  any
Participant  any  right  to  continue  in  the  employ  of  the  Company  or any
Subsidiary. No Employee shall have a right to be selected as a Participant,  or,
having been so selected, to receive any future Awards.

     12.3 Tax  Withholding.  The Company  shall have the power to  withhold,  or
require a Participant or Eligible Director to remit to

                                       -7-
<PAGE>

the  Company,  an  amount  sufficient  to  satisfy  federal,  state,  and  local
withholding  tax  requirements  on any Award under the Plan, and the Company may
defer issuance of Stock until such  requirements  are  satisfied.  The Committee
may,  in its  discretion,  permit  a  Participant  to  elect,  subject  to  such
conditions as the Committee shall impose,  (i) to have shares of Stock otherwise
issuable  under the Plan  withheld  by the  Company  or (ii) to  deliver  to the
Company  previously  acquired shares of Stock, in each case having a Fair Market
Value  sufficient to satisfy all or part of the  Participant's  estimated  total
federal, state and local tax obligation associated with the transaction.

     12.4 Change of Control. On the date of a Change of Control, all outstanding
options and stock appreciation  rights shall become immediately  exercisable and
all  restrictions  with  respect to  Restricted  Stock shall  lapse.  "Change of
Control" shall mean:

         (i)   The  acquisition  (other  than from the  Company)  by any person,
               entity or  "group",  within the  meaning of Section  13(d)(3)  or
               14(d)(2) of the Act (excluding any  acquisition or holding by (i)
               the Company or its subsidiaries or (ii) any employee benefit plan
               of the  Company or its  subsidiaries  which  acquires  beneficial
               ownership  of voting  securities  of the  Company) of  beneficial
               ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
               Act) of 50% or more of  either  the then  outstanding  shares  of
               common stock or the combined  voting power of the Company's  then
               outstanding  voting securities  entitled to vote generally in the
               election of directors; or

         (ii)  Individuals who, as of the date hereof,  constitute the Board (as
               of the date hereof the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to
               constitute  at least a majority of the Board,  provided  that any
               person  becoming a director  subsequent  to the date hereof whose
               election,  or  nomination  for  the  election  by  the  Company's
               stockholders,  was  approved  by a vote of at least a majority of
               the directors then  comprising the Incumbent  Board shall be, for
               purposes  of this Plan,  considered  as though such person were a
               member of the Incumbent Board; or

         (iii) Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a  reorganization,
               merger or  consolidation,  in each  case,  with  respect to which
               persons  who were the  stockholders  of the  Company  immediately
               prior to such  reorganization,  merger or  consolidation  do not,
               immediately thereafter,  own more than 50% of the combined voting
               power  entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of
               the   reorganized,   merged  or   consolidated   company's   then
               outstanding voting securities, or a liquidation or

                                       -8-
<PAGE>
               dissolution of the Company or of the sale of all or substantially
               all of the assets of the Company.

     12.5  Company  Intent.  The  Company  intends  that the Plan  comply in all
respects with Rule 16b-3 under the Act, and any  ambiguities or  inconsistencies
in the  construction  of the Plan shall be  interpreted  to give  effect to such
intention.

     12.6 Requirements of Law. The granting of Awards and the issuance of shares
of Stock shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to
such approvals by any  governmental  agencies or securities  exchanges as may be
required.

     12.7  Effective  Date. The Plan shall be effective upon its adoption by the
Board subject to approval by the  affirmative  vote of the holders of a majority
of the shares of Stock present in person or by proxy at a stockholders' meeting.

     12.8  Governing  Law.  The Plan,  and all  agreements  hereunder,  shall be
construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.


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