OTHER MATTERS

The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. In addition to this solicitation by mail, proxies may be solicited by officers, directors and regular employees of the Company, without extra compensation, personally and by mail, telephone or telegraph. Brokers, nominees, fiduciaries and other custodians will be requested to forward soliciting material to the beneficial owners of shares and will be reimbursed for their expenses. The Company may also retain an investor relations firm to solicit proxies by telephone or mail. Proxies may be voted by returning the printed proxy card, or by voting via the telephone or Internet. For more information about how to vote your proxy, please see the instructions on your proxy card.

The Board of Directors is not aware of any matter to be submitted for consideration at the Annual Meeting other than those set forth in the accompanying notice. If any other matter properly comes before the Annual Meeting for action, proxies will be voted on such matter in accordance with the best judgment of the persons named as proxies. Each shareholder has the unconditional right to revoke his or her proxy at any time prior to the voting thereof by giving the Secretary of the Company written notice of such revocation.

The Annual Report of the Company is mailed with this proxy statement. A copy of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2000 (as filed with the SEC) is available without charge to any shareholder upon request. Requests for the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K should be directed to Robert C. Layne, Corporate Secretary.

Options granted under the Stock Incentive Program will vest nine and one-half years from the date of grant. These options may vest on an accelerated basis upon the attainment of individual and Company performance goals. Each Named Executive Officer met Company stock ownership requirements to receive additional grants under the Stock Plus Program. Option grants for each Named Executive Officer are listed in the following order: (1) Stock Incentive Program grants which, for purposes of accelerated vesting are tied to earnings goal one,
(2) Stock Incentive Program grants which, for purposes of accelerated vesting are tied to earnings goal two and (3) Stock Plus Program grants. All share amounts and prices have been adjusted to reflect all common stock splits as of the date of this report.

Market value of underlying securities at exercise, minus the exercise price.

EXHIBIT A
DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION
1998 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
As Amended and Restated

SECTION 1. Purpose; Definitions.

The purpose of the Dollar General Corporation 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") is to enable Dollar General Corporation (the "Corporation") to attract, retain and reward key employees of and consultants to the Corporation and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates, and directors who are not also employees of the Corporation, and to strengthen the mutuality of interests between such key employees, consultants, and directors by awarding such key employees, consultants, and directors performance-based stock incentives and/or other equity interests or equity-based incentives in the Corporation, as well as performance-based incentives payable in cash. The provisions of the Plan are intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the requirements thereof, as now or hereafter construed, interpreted, and applied by regulations, rulings, and cases. The Plan is also designed so that awards granted hereunder intended to comply with the requirements for "performance-based" compensation under
Section 162(m) of the Code may comply with such requirements. The creation and implementation of the Plan will not diminish or prejudice other compensation plans or programs approved from time to time by the Board.

For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

A. "Affiliate" means any entity other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries that is designated by the Board as a participating employer under the Plan, provided that the Corporation directly or indirectly owns at least 20% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of such entity or at least 20% of the ownership interests in such entity.

B. "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

C. "Cause" has the meaning provided in Section 5(j) of the Plan.

D. "Change in Control" has the meaning provided in Section 9(b) of the Plan.

E. "Change in Control Price" has the meaning provided in Section 9(d) of the Plan.

F. "Common Stock" means the Corporation's Common Stock, $.50 par value per share.

G. "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.

H. "Committee" means the Committee referred to in Section 2 of the Plan.

I. "Corporation" means Dollar General Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Tennessee, or any successor corporation.

J. "Disability" means disability as determined under the Corporation's Group Long Term Disability insurance Plan.

K. "Early Retirement" means retirement, for purposes of this Plan with the express consent of the Corporation at or before the time of such retirement, from active employment with the Corporation and any Subsidiary or Affiliate prior to age 65, in accordance with any applicable early retirement policy of the Corporation then in effect or as may be approved by the Committee.

L. "Effective Date" has the meaning provided in Section 13 of the Plan.

M. "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.

N. "Fair Market Value" means with respect to the Common Stock, as of any given date or dates, unless otherwise determined by the Committee in good faith, the reported closing price of a share of Common Stock on the NYSE or such other market or exchange as is the principal trading market for the Common Stock, or, if no such sale of a share of Common Stock is reported on Nasdaq or other exchange or principal trading market on such date, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by the Committee in good faith.

O. "Incentive Stock Option" means any Stock Option intended to be and designated as an "Incentive Stock Option" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

P. "Immediate Family" means any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, and shall include adoptive relationships.

Q. "Non-Employee Director" means a member of the Board who is a Non-Employee Director within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act and an outside director within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Sec. 162-27(e)(3) promulgated under the Code.

R. "Non-Qualified Stock Option" means any Stock Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

S. "Normal Retirement" means retirement from active employment with the Corporation and any Subsidiary or Affiliate on or after age 65.

T. "NYSE" means the New York Stock Exchange.

U. "Outside Director" means a member of the Board who is not an officer or employee of the Corporation or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Corporation.

V. "Outside Director Option" means an award to an Outside Director under Section 8 below.

W. "Performance Goals" means performance goals based on one or more of the following criteria: (i) pre-tax income or after-tax income; (ii) operating cash flow; (iii) operating profit; (iv) return on equity, assets, capital, or investment; (v) earnings or book value per share; (vi) sales or revenues; (vii) operating expenses; (viii) Common Stock price appreciation; and (ix) implementation, management, or completion of critical projects or processes. Where applicable, the Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of attaining a specified level of the particular criteria or the attainment of a percentage increase or decrease in the particular criteria, and may be applied to one or more of the Corporation or any Subsidiary, or a division or strategic business unit of the Corporation, or may be applied to the performance of the Corporation relative to a market index, a group of other companies, or a combination thereof, all as determined by the Committee. The Performance Goals may include a threshold level of performance below which no payment will be made (or no vesting will occur), levels of performance at which specified payments will be made (or specified vesting will occur), and a maximum level of performance above which no additional payment will be made (or at which full vesting will occur). Each of the foregoing Performance Goals shall be determined, to the extent applicable, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and shall be subject to certification by the Committee; provided that the Committee shall have the authority to make equitable adjustments to the Performance Goals

in recognition of unusual or non-recurring events affecting the Corporation or any Subsidiary or the financial statements of the Corporation or any Subsidiary, in response to changes in applicable laws or regulations, or to account for items of gain, loss, or expense determined to be extraordinary or unusual in nature or infrequent in occurrence or related to the disposal of a segment of business or related to a change in accounting principles.

X. "Plan" means this Dollar General Corporation 1998 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

Y. "Restricted Stock" means an award of shares of Common Stock that is subject to restrictions under Section 7 of the Plan.

Z. "Restriction Period" has the meaning provided in Section 7 of the Plan.

AA. "Retirement" means Normal or Early Retirement.

BB. "Section 162(m) Maximum" has the meaning provided in Section 3(a) hereof.

CC. "Stock Appreciation Right" means the right pursuant to an award granted under Section 6 below to surrender to the Corporation all (or a portion) of a Stock Option in exchange for an amount equal to the difference between (i) the Fair Market Value, as of the date such Stock Option (or such portion thereof) is surrendered, of the shares of Common Stock covered by such Stock Option (or such portion thereof), subject, where applicable, to the pricing provisions in Section 6(b)(ii), and (ii) the aggregate exercise price of such Stock Option (or such portion thereof).

DD. "Stock Option" or "Option" means any option to purchase shares of Common Stock (including Restricted Stock, if the Committee so determines) granted pursuant to Section 5 below.

EE. "Subsidiary" means any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Corporation if each of the corporations (other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain) owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in the chain.

SECTION 2. Administration.

Except as provided below, the Plan shall be administered by a Committee of not less than two Non-Employee Directors, who shall be appointed by the Board and who shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. The functions of the Committee specified in the Plan may be exercised by an existing Committee of the Board composed exclusively of Non-Employee Directors. The initial Committee shall be the Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee of the Board. In the event there are not at least two Non-Employee Directors on the Board, the Plan shall be administered by the Board and all references herein to the Committee shall refer to the Board.

The Committee shall have the power to delegate authority to the Corporation's Chief Executive Officer, or to a committee composed of executive officers of the Corporation, to grant, on behalf of the Committee, Non-Qualified Stock Options exercisable at Fair Market Value on the date of grant, subject to such guidelines as the Committee may determine from time to time; provided, however that (i) options may only be granted pursuant to such delegated authority for the purposes specified by the Committee, which may include attracting new employees, awarding outstanding performance, or retaining employees, (ii) the Committee shall specify the maximum number of shares that may be granted for purposes of attracting-any single new employee at any specified level and the maximum number that may be granted to any other employee for any other purpose, (iii) options to purchase no more than 100,000 shares may be granted in any fiscal year pursuant to such delegated authority, and (iv) a report of each grant of an option pursuant to such delegated authority shall be presented to the Committee at the first meeting of the Committee following such grant. Options granted pursuant to such delegated authority in accordance herewith shall be deemed, to the extent permitted under applicable law, to have been granted by the Committee for all purposes under the Plan.

The Committee shall have authority to grant, pursuant to the terms of the Plan, to officers, other key employees and consultants eligible under
Section 4: (i) Stock Options, (ii) Stock Appreciation Rights, and/or (iii) Restricted Stock.

In particular, the Committee, or the Board, as the case may be, shall have the authority, consistent with the terms of the Plan:

(a) to select the officers, key employees of and consultants to the Corporation and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates to whom Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, and/or Restricted Stock may from time to time be granted hereunder;

(b) to determine whether and to what extent Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, and/or Restricted Stock, or any combination thereof, are to be granted hereunder to one or more eligible persons;

(c) to determine the number of shares to be covered by each such award granted hereunder;

(d) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any award granted hereunder (including, but not limited to, the share price and any restriction or limitation, or any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions regarding any Stock Option or other award and/or the shares of Common Stock relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion); and to amend or waive any such terms and conditions to the extent permitted by Section 10 hereof;

(e) to determine whether and under what circumstances a Stock Option may be settled in cash or Restricted Stock under Section 5(l) or
(m), as applicable, instead of Common Stock;

(f) to determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Option grants and/or other awards under the Plan are to be made, and operate, on a tandem basis vis-a-vis other awards under the Plan and/or cash awards made outside of the Plan;

(g) to determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances shares of Common Stock and other amounts payable with respect to an award under this Plan shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the participant (including providing for and determining the amount (if any) of any deemed earnings on any deferred amount during any deferral period);

(h) to determine the terms, conditions, and restrictions of any Performance Goals and the number of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, or shares of Restricted Stock subject thereto;

(i) to determine whether to require payment of tax withholding requirements in shares of Common Stock subject to the award; and

(j) to impose any holding period required to satisfy Section 16 under the Exchange Act.

The Committee shall have the authority to adopt, alter, and repeal such rules, guidelines, and practices governing the Plan as it shall, from time to time, deem advisable; to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any award issued under the Plan (and any agreements relating thereto); and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan; and, except as expressly set forth herein or otherwise required by law, all decisions made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be made in the Committee's sole discretion and shall be final and binding on all persons, including the Corporation and Plan participants.

SECTION 3. Shares of Common Stock Subject to Plan.

(a) As of the Effective Date, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan shall be 21,375,000 shares. The shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares. No officer of the Corporation or other person whose compensation may be subject to the limitations on deductibility under

Section 162(m) of the Code shall be eligible to receive awards pursuant to this Plan relating to in excess of 500,000 shares of Common Stock in any fiscal year (the "Section 162(m) Maximum").

(b) If any shares of Common Stock that have been optioned cease to be subject to a Stock Option, or if any shares of Common Stock that are subject to. any Restricted Stock granted hereunder are forfeited prior to the payment of any dividends, if applicable, with respect to such shares of Common Stock, or any such award otherwise terminates without a payment being made to the participant in the form of Common Stock, such shares shall again be available for distribution in connection with future awards under the Plan.

(c) In the event of any merger, reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, extraordinary cash dividend, stock dividend, stock split or other change in corporate structure affecting the Common Stock, an appropriate substitution or adjustment shall be made in the maximum number of shares that may be awarded under the Plan, in the number and option price of shares subject to outstanding Options granted under the Plan, in the Performance Goals, in the number of

shares underlying Outside Director Options to be granted under Section 8 hereof, in the Section 162(m) Maximum, and in the number of shares subject to other outstanding awards granted under the Plan as may be determined to be appropriate by the Committee, in its sole discretion, provided that the number of shares subject to any award shall always be a whole number. An adjusted option price shall also be used to determine the amount payable by the Corporation upon the exercise of any Stock Appreciation Right associated with any Stock Option.

SECTION 4. Eligibility.

Officers, other key employees and Outside Directors of and consultants to the Corporation and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates who are responsible for or contribute to the management, growth and/or profitability of the business of the Corporation and/or its Subsidiaries and Affiliates are eligible to be granted awards under the Plan. Outside Directors are eligible to receive awards pursuant to Section 8 and not pursuant to any other provisions of the Plan.

SECTION 5. Stock Options.

Stock Options may be granted alone, in addition to, or in tandem with other awards granted under the Plan and/or cash awards made outside of the Plan. Any Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be in such form as the Committee may from time to time approve.

Stock Options granted under the Plan may be of two types: (i) Incentive Stock Options and (ii) Non-Qualified Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to individuals who are employees of the Corporation or any Subsidiary of the Corporation. No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted on or following the tenth anniversary of the earlier of(i) the effectiveness of the Plan or (ii) the date of shareholder approval of the Plan.

The Committee shall have the authority to grant to any optionee Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, or both types of Stock Options (in each case with or without Stock Appreciation Rights).

Options granted to officers, key employees, Outside Directors and consultants under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem desirable.

(a) Option Price. The option price per share of Common Stock purchasable under a Stock Option shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant but shall be not less than 100% (or, in the case of any employee who owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation or of any of its Subsidiaries, not less than 110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at grant, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, and not less than 50% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at grant, in the case of Non-Qualified Stock Options.

(b) Option Term. The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the Committee, but no Stock Option (Incentive or Non-Qualified) shall be exercisable more than ten years (or, in the case of an employee who owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries or parent corporations, no Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable more than five years) after the date the Option is granted.

(c) Exercisability. Stock Options shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee at or after grant. The Committee may provide that a Stock Option shall vest over a period of future service at a rate specified at the time of grant, or that the Stock Option is exercisable only in installments. If the Committee provides, in its sole discretion, that any Stock Option is exercisable only in installments, the Committee may waive such installment exercise provisions at any time at or after grant, in whole or in part, based on such factors as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion.

(d) Method of Exercise. Subject to whatever installment exercise restrictions apply under Section 5(c), Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during the option period, by giving written notice of exercise to the Corporation specifying the number of shares to be purchased. Such notice shall be accompanied by

payment in full of the purchase price, either by check, note, or such other instrument as the Committee may accept. As determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, at or (except in the case of an Incentive Stock Option) after grant, payment in full or in part may also be made in the form of shares of Common Stock already owned by the optionee or, in the case of a Non-Qualified Stock Option, shares of Restricted Stock or shares subject to such Option or another award hereunder (in each case valued at the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the Option is exercised). If payment of the exercise price is made in part or in full with Common Stock, the Committee may award to the employee a new Stock Option to replace the Common Stock which was surrendered. If payment of the option exercise price of a Non-Qualified Stock Option is made in whole or in part in the form of Restricted Stock, such Restricted Stock (and any replacement shares relating thereto) shall remain (or be) restricted in accordance with the original terms of the Restricted Stock award in question, and any additional Common Stock received upon the exercise shall be subject to the same forfeiture restrictions, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, at or after grant. No shares of Common Stock shall be issued until full payment therefor has been made. An optionee shall generally have the rights to dividends or other rights of a shareholder with respect to shares subject to the Option when the optionee has given written notice of exercise, has paid in full for such shares, and, if requested, has given the representation described in Section 12(a).

(e) Transferability of Options. No Non-Qualified Stock Option shall be transferable by the optionee without the prior written consent of the Committee other than (i) transfers by the Optionee to a member of his or her Immediate Family or a trust for the benefit of the optionee or a member of his or her Immediate Family, or (ii) transfers by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. No Incentive Stock Option shall be transferable by the optionee otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and all Incentive Stock Options shall be exercisable, during the optionee's lifetime, only by the optionee.

(f) Bonus for Taxes. In the case of a Non-Qualified Stock Option or an optionee who elects to make a disqualifying disposition (as defined in Section 422(a)(1) of the Code) of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option, the Committee in its discretion may award at the time of grant or thereafter the right to receive upon exercise of such Stock Option a cash bonus calculated to pay part or all of the federal and state, if any, income tax incurred by the optionee upon such exercise.

(g) Termination by Death. Subject to Section 5(k), if an optionee's employment by the Corporation and any Subsidiary or (except in the case of an Incentive Stock Option) Affiliate terminates by reason of death, any Stock Option held by such optionee may thereafter be exercised, to the extent such option was exercisable at the time of death or (except in the case of an Incentive Stock Option) on such accelerated basis as the Committee may determine at or after grant (or except in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, as may be determined in accordance with procedures established by the Committee) by the legal representative of the estate or by the legatee of the optionee under the will of the optionee, for a period of one year (or such other period as the Committee may specify at or after grant) from the date of such death or until the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Option, whichever period is the shorter.

(h) Termination by Reason of Disability. Subject to Section
5(k), if an optionee's employment by the Corporation and any Subsidiary or (except in the case of an Incentive Stock Option) Affiliate terminates by reason of Disability, any Stock Option held by such optionee may thereafter be exercised by the optionee, to the extent it was exercisable at the time of termination or (except in the case of an Incentive Stock Option) on such accelerated basis as the Committee may determine at or after grant (or, except in the case of an incentive Stock Option, as may be determined in accordance with procedures established by the Committee), for a period of (i) three years (or such other period as the Committee may specify at or after grant) from the date of such termination of employment or until the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Option, whichever period is the shorter, in the case of a Non-Qualified Stock Option and (ii) one year from the date of termination of employment or until the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Option, whichever period is shorter, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option; provided however, that, if the optionee dies within the period specified in (i) above (or other such period as the Committee shall specify at or after grant), any unexercised Non-Qualified Stock Option held by such optionee shall thereafter be exercisable to the extent to which it was exercisable at the time of death for a period of twelve months from the date of such death or until the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Option, whichever period is shorter. In the event of termination of employment by reason of Disability, if an Incentive Stock Option is exercised after the expiration of the exercise period applicable to Incentive Stock Options, but before the expiration of any period that would apply if

such Stock Option were a Non-Qualified Stock Option, such Stock Option will thereafter be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

(i) Termination by Reason of Retirement. Subject to Section
5(k), if an optionee's employment by the Corporation and any Subsidiary or (except in the case of an Incentive Stock Option) Affiliate terminates by reason of Normal or Early Retirement, any Stock Option held by such optionee may thereafter be exercised by the optionee, to the extent it was exercisable at the time of such Retirement or (except in the case of an Incentive Stock Option) on such accelerated basis as the Committee may determine at or after grant (or, except in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, as may be determined in accordance with procedures established by the Committee), for a period of (i) three years (or such other period as the Committee may specify at or after grant) from the date of such termination of employment or the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Option, whichever period is the shorter, in the case of a Non-Qualified Stock Option and (ii) three months from the date of such termination of employment or the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Option, whichever period is the shorter, in the event of an Incentive Stock Option; provided however, that, if the optionee dies within the period specified in (i) above (or other such period as the Committee shall specify at or after grant), any unexercised Non-Qualified Stock Option held by such optionee shall thereafter be exercisable to the extent to which it was exercisable at the time of death for a period of twelve months from the date of such death or until the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Option, whichever period is shorter. In the event of termination of employment by reason of Retirement, if an Incentive Stock Option is exercised after the expiration of the exercise period applicable to Incentive Stock Options, but before the expiration of the period that would apply if such Stock Option were a Non-Qualified Stock Option, the option will thereafter be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

(j) Other Termination. Subject to Section 5(k), unless otherwise determined by the Committee (or pursuant to procedures established by the Committee) at or (except in the case of an Incentive Stock Option) after grant, if an optionee's employment by the Corporation and any Subsidiary or (except in the case of an Incentive Stock Option) Affiliate is involuntarily terminated for any reason other than death, Disability or Normal or Early Retirement, the Stock Option shall thereupon terminate, except that such Stock Option may be exercised, to the extent otherwise then exercisable, for the lesser of three months or the balance of such Stock Option's term if the involuntary termination is without Cause. For purposes of this Plan, "Cause" means (i) a felony conviction of a participant or the failure of a participant to contest prosecution for a felony, or (ii) a participant's willful misconduct or dishonesty, which is directly and materially harmful to the business or reputation of the Corporation or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, in each case as determined by the Committee, in its sole direction. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, if an optionee voluntarily terminates employment with the Corporation and any Subsidiary or (except in the case of an Incentive Stock Option) Affiliate (except for Disability, Normal or Early Retirement), the Stock Option shall thereupon terminate; provided, however, that the Committee at grant or (except in the case of an Incentive Stock Option) thereafter may extend the exercise period in this situation for the lesser of three months or the balance of such Stock Option's term.

(k) Incentive Stock Options. Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, 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 the optionee(s) affected, to disqualify any Incentive Stock Option under such Section 422. No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any participant under the Plan if such grant would cause the aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the Common Stock with respect to which all Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by such participant during any calendar year (under all such plans of the Company and any Subsidiary) to exceed $100,000. To the extent permitted under Section 422 of the Code or the applicable regulations thereunder or any applicable Internal Revenue Service pronouncement:

(i) if (x) a participant's employment is terminated by reason of death, Disability, or Retirement and (y) the portion of any Incentive Stock Option that is otherwise exercisable during the post-termination period specified under
Section 5(g), (h) or (i), applied without regard to the $100,000 limitation contained in Section 422(d) of the Code, is greater than the portion of such Option that is immediately exercisable as an "Incentive Stock Option" during such post-termination period under Section 422, such excess shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option; and

(ii) if the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option is accelerated by reason of a Change in Control, any portion of such Option that is not exercisable as an Incentive Stock Option by reason of the $100,000 limitation contained in
Section 422(d) of the Code shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

(l) Buyout Provisions. The Committee may at any time offer to buy out for a payment in cash, Common Stock, or Restricted Stock an Option previously granted, based on such terms and conditions as the Committee shall establish and communicate to the optionee at the time that such offer is made.

(m) Settlement Provisions. If the option agreement so provides at grant or (except in the case of an Incentive Stock Option) is amended after grant and prior to exercise to so provide (with the optionee's consent), the Committee may require that all or part of the shares to be issued with respect to the spread value of an exercised Option take the form of Restricted Stock, which shall be valued on the date of exercise on the basis of the Fair Market Value (as determined by the Committee) of such Restricted Stock determined without regard to the forfeiture restrictions involved.

(n) Performance and Other Conditions. The Committee may condition the exercise of any Option upon the attainment of specified Performance Goals or other factors as the Committee may determine, in its sole discretion. Unless specifically provided in the option agreement, any such conditional Option shall vest six months prior to its expiration if the conditions to exercise have not theretofore been satisfied.

SECTION 6. Stock Appreciation Rights.

(a) Grant and Exercise. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted in conjunction with all or part of any Stock Option granted under the Plan. In the case of a Non-Qualified Stock Option, such rights may be granted either at or after the time of the grant of such Stock Option. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, such rights may be granted only at the time of the grant of such Stock Option. A Stock Appreciation Right or applicable portion thereof granted with respect to a given Stock Option shall terminate and no longer be exercisable upon the termination or exercise of the related Stock Option, subject to such provisions as the Committee may specify at grant where a Stock Appreciation Right is granted with respect to less than the full number of shares covered by a related Stock Option. A Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised by an optionee, subject to Section 6(b), in accordance with the procedures established by the Committee for such purpose. Upon such exercise, the optionee shall be entitled to receive an amount determined in the manner prescribed in Section 6(b). Stock Options relating to exercised Stock Appreciation Rights shall no longer be exercisable to the extent that the related Stock Appreciation Rights have been exercised.

(b) Terms and Conditions. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as shall be determined from time to time by the Committee, including the following:

(i) Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable only at such time or times and to the extent that the Stock Options to which they relate shall be exercisable in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 and this Section 6 of the Plan.

(ii) Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, an optionee shall be entitled to receive an amount in cash and/or shares of Common Stock equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock over the option price per share specified in the related Stock Option multiplied by the number of shares in respect of which the Stock Appreciation Right shall have been exercised, with the Committee having the right to determine the form of payment. When payment is to be made in shares, the number of shares to be paid shall be calculated on the basis of the Fair Market Value of the shares on the date of exercise. When payment is to be made in cash, such amount shall be calculated on the basis of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise.

(iii) Stock Appreciation Rights shall be transferable only when and to the extent that the underlying Stock Option would be transferable under Section 5(e) of the Plan.

(iv) Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Stock Option or part thereof to which such Stock Appreciation Right is related shall be deemed to have been exercised for the purpose of the limitation set forth in
Section 3 of the Plan on the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued under the Plan.

(v) The Committee, in its sole discretion, may also provide that, in the event of a Change in Control and/or a Potential Change in Control, the amount to be paid upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be based on the Change in Control Price, subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may specify at grant.

(vi) The Committee may condition the exercise of any Stock Appreciation Right upon the attainment of specified Performance Goals or other factors as the Committee may determine, in its sole discretion.

SECTION 7. Restricted Stock.

(a) Administration. Shares of Restricted Stock may be issued either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with other awards granted under the Plan and/or cash awards made outside the Plan. The Committee shall determine the eligible persons to whom, and the time or times at which, grants of Restricted Stock will be made, the number of shares of Restricted Stock to be awarded to any person, the price (if any) to be paid by the recipient of Restricted Stock (subject to Section 7(b)), the time or times within which such awards may be subject to forfeiture, and the other terms, restrictions and conditions of the awards in addition to those set forth in Section 7(c). The Committee may condition the grant of Restricted Stock upon the attainment of specified Performance Goals or such other factors as the Committee may determine, in its sole discretion. The provisions of Restricted Stock awards need not be the same with respect to each recipient.

(b) Awards and Certificates. The prospective recipient of a Restricted Stock award shall not have any rights with respect to such award, unless and until such recipient has executed an agreement evidencing the award and has delivered a fully executed copy thereof to the Corporation, and has otherwise complied with the applicable terms and conditions of such award.

(i) The purchase price for shares of Restricted Stock shall be established by the Committee and may be zero.

(ii) Awards of Restricted Stock must be accepted within a period of 60 days (or such shorter period as the Committee may specify at grant) after the award date, by executing a Restricted Stock Award Agreement and paying whatever price (if any) is required under Section 7(b)(i).

(iii) Each participant receiving a Restricted Stock award shall be issued a stock certificate in respect of such shares of Restricted Stock. Such certificate shall be registered in the name of such participant (or a transferee permitted by Section 12(h) hereof), and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such award.

(iv) The Committee shall require that the stock certificates evidencing such shares be held in custody by the Corporation until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that, as a condition of any Restricted Stock award, the participant shall have delivered a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the shares of Common Stock covered by such award.

(v) The maximum number of shares eligible for issuance pursuant to this Section 7 shall be 100,000.

(c) Restrictions and Conditions. The shares of Restricted Stock awarded pursuant to this Section 7 shall be subject to the following restrictions and conditions:

(i) In accordance with the provisions of this Plan and the award agreement, during a period set by the Committee commencing with the date of such award (the "Restriction Period"), the participant shall not be permitted to sell, transfer, pledge, assign, or otherwise encumber shares of Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan. Within these limits, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide for the lapse of such restrictions in installments and may accelerate or waive such restrictions, in whole or in part, based on service, the attainment of Performance Goals, or such other factors or criteria as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion.

(ii) Except as provided in this paragraph (ii) and
Section 7(c)(i), the participant shall have, with respect to the shares of Restricted Stock, all of the rights of a shareholder of the Corporation, including the right to vote the shares, and the right to receive any cash dividends. The Committee, in its sole discretion, as determined at the time of award, may permit or require the payment of cash dividends to be deferred and, if the Committee so determines, reinvested, subject to Section 12(e), in additional Restricted Stock to the extent shares are available under Section 3, or otherwise reinvested. Pursuant to Section 3 above, stock dividends issued with respect to Restricted Stock shall be treated as additional shares of Restricted Stock that are subject to the same restrictions and other terms and conditions that apply to the shares with respect to which such dividends are issued. If the Committee so determines, the award agreement may also impose restrictions on the right to vote and the right to receive dividends.

(iii) Subject to the applicable provisions of the award agreement and this Section 7, upon termination of a participant's employment with the Corporation and any Subsidiary or Affiliate for any reason during the Restriction Period, all shares still subject to restriction will vest, or be forfeited, in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Committee at or after grant.

(iv) If and when the Restriction Period expires without a prior forfeiture of the Restricted Stock subject to such Restriction Period, certificates for an appropriate number of unrestricted shares shall be delivered to the participant (or a transferee permitted by Section 12(h) hereof) promptly.

(d) Minimum Value Provisions. In order to better ensure that award payments actually reflect the performance of the Corporation and service of the participant, the Committee may provide, in its sole discretion, for a tandem performance-based or other award designed to guarantee a minimum value, payable in cash or Common Stock to the recipient of a restricted stock award, subject to such performance, future service, deferral, and other terms and conditions as may be specified by the Committee.

SECTION 8. Awards to Outside Directors.

(a) The provisions of this Section 8 shall apply only to awards to Outside Directors in accordance with this Section 8. The Committee shall have no authority to determine the timing of or the terms or conditions of any award under this Section 8. No awards shall be made hereunder until awards are no longer made pursuant to the 1995 Outside Directors Stock Option Plan.

(b) A Non-Qualified Stock Option will be awarded hereunder pursuant to the following formula: Each Outside Director shall receive an annual Non-Qualified Stock Option for the purchase of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing (i) the annual retainer for an Outside Director (determined with reference to the rate of annual retainer in effect on the date the Non-Qualified Stock Option is granted) by (ii) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of the grant, multiplying the result (the quotient) by three, rounding the resulting number of shares up to the nearest whole share. In the event an Outside Director serves as Chairman of the Board, the multiplier in the preceding sentence shall be four in lieu of three. The exercise price of each Non-Qualified Stock Option granted hereunder shall be the Fair Market Value on the date of grant.

(c) Each Outside Director Option shall vest and become exercisable on the first anniversary of the date of grant if the grantee is still a member of the Board on such date, but shall not be exercisable before such date except as provided in Section 9.

(d) No Outside Director Option shall be exercisable prior to vesting. Each Outside Director Option shall expire, if unexercised, on the tenth anniversary of the date of grant. The exercise price may be paid in cash or in shares of Common Stock, including shares of Common Stock subject to the Outside Director Option.

(e) Outside Director Options shall not be transferable without the prior written consent of the Board other than (i) transfers by the optionee to a member of his or her Immediate Family or a trust for the benefit of optionee or a member of his or her Immediate Family, or (ii) transfers by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

(f) Recipients of Outside Director Options shall enter into a stock option agreement with the Corporation setting forth the exercise price and other terms as provided herein.

(g) Upon termination of an Outside Director's service as a director of the Corporation, (i) all Outside Director Options shall be governed by the provisions of Sections 5(g), 5(i), and 5(j) hereof as if Outside Directors were employees of the Corporation, except that there shall be no discretion to accelerate the vesting of any Outside Director Options in connection with the termination of service of any individual Outside Director.

(h) Outside Director Options shall be subject to Section 9. The number of shares and the exercise price per share of each Outside Director Option theretofore awarded shall be adjusted automatically in the same manner as the number of shares and the exercise price for Stock Options under Section 3(c) hereof at any time that Stock Options are adjusted as provided in Section 3(c). The number of shares underlying Outside Director Options to be awarded in the future shall be adjusted automatically in the same manner as the number of shares underlying outstanding Stock Options are adjusted under Section 3(c) hereof at any time that Stock Options are adjusted under Section 3(c) hereof.

(i) Any applicable withholding taxes shall be paid in shares of Common Stock subject to the Outside Director Option valued as the Fair Market Value of such shares unless the Corporation agrees to accept payment in cash in the amount of such withholding taxes.

(j) The Board, in its sole discretion, may determine to reduce the size of any Outside Director Option prior to grant or to postpone the vesting and exercisability of any Outside Director Option prior to grant.

SECTION 9. Change in Control Provisions.

(a) Impact of Event. In the event of:

(1) a "Change in Control" as defined in Section 9(b); or

(2) a "Potential Change in Control" as defined in
Section 9(c), but only if and to the extent so determined by the Committee or the Board at or after grant (subject to any right of approval expressly reserved by the Committee or the Board at the time of such determination);

(i) subject to the limitations set forth below in this Section 9(a), the following acceleration provisions shall apply:

(a) Any Stock Appreciation Right, Stock Option or Outside Director Option awarded under the Plan not previously exercisable and vested shall become fully exercisable and vested.

(b) The restrictions applicable to any Restricted Stock in each case to the extent not already vested under the Plan, shall lapse and such shares and awards shall be deemed fully vested.

(ii) subject to the limitations set forth below in this Section 9(a), the value of all outstanding Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock and Outside Director Options in each case to the extent vested, shall, unless otherwise determined by the Board or by the Committee in its sole discretion prior to any Change in Control, be cashed out on the basis of the "Change in Control Price" as defined in Section 9(d) as of the date such Change in Control or such Potential Change in Control is determined to have occurred or such other date as the Board or Committee may determine prior to the Change in Control.

(iii) The Board or the Committee may impose additional conditions on the acceleration or valuation of any award in the award agreement.

(b) Definition of Change in Control. For purposes of Section
9(a), a "Change in Control" - means the happening of any of the following:

(i) any person or entity, including a "group" as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, other than the Corporation or a wholly-owned subsidiary thereof or any employee benefit plan of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries, becomes the beneficial owner of the Corporation's securities having 35% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Corporation that may be cast for the election of directors of the Corporation (other than as a result of an issuance of securities initiated by the Corporation in the ordinary course of business); or

(ii) as the result of, or in connection with, any cash tender or exchange offer, merger or other business combination, sales of assets or contested election, or any combination of the foregoing transactions, less than a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Corporation or any successor corporation or entity entitled to vote generally in the election of the directors of the Corporation or such other corporation or entity after such transaction are held in the aggregate by the holders of the Corporation's securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Corporation immediately prior to such transaction; or

(iii) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of any such period constitute the Board cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the election, or the nomination for election by the Corporation's shareholders, of each director of the Corporation first elected during such period was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors of the Corporation then still in office who were directors of the Corporation at the beginning of any such period.

(c) Definition of Potential Change in Control. For purposes of
Section 9(a), a "Potential

Change in Control" means the happening of any one of the following:

(i) The approval by shareholders of an agreement by the Corporation, the consummation of which would result in a Change in Control of the Corporation as defined in Section 9(b); or

(ii) The acquisition of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, by any entity, person or group (other than the Corporation or a Subsidiary or any Corporation employee benefit plan (including any trustee of such plan acting as such trustee)) of securities of the Corporation representing 5% or more of the combined voting power of the Corporation's outstanding securities and the adoption by the Committee of a resolution to the effect that a Potential Change in Control of the Corporation has occurred for purposes of this Plan.

(d) Change in Control Price. For purposes of this Section 9, "Change in Control Price" means the highest price per share paid in any transaction reported on the New York Stock Exchange or such other exchange or market as is the principal trading market for the Common Stock, or paid or offered in any bona fide transaction related to a

Potential or actual Change in Control of the Corporation at any time during the 60 day period immediately preceding the occurrence of the Change in Control (or, where applicable, the occurrence of the Potential Change in Control event), in each case as determined by the Committee except that, in the case of Incentive Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights relating to Incentive Stock Options, such price shall be based only on transactions reported for the date on which the optionee exercises such Stock Appreciation Rights or, where applicable, the date on which a cash out occurs under Section 9(a)(ii).

SECTION 10. Amendments and Termination.

The Board may at any time amend, alter or discontinue the Plan without shareholder approval to the fullest extent permitted by the Exchange Act and the Code; provided, however, that no amendment, alteration, or discontinuation shall be made which would impair the rights of an optionee or participant under a Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock or Outside Director Option theretofore granted, without the participant's consent.

The Committee may amend the terms of any Stock Option or other award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively, but, subject to Section 3 above, no such amendment shall impair the rights of any holder without the holder's consent. The Committee may also substitute new Stock Options for previously granted Stock Options (on a one for one or other basis), including previously granted Stock Options having higher option exercise prices. Solely for purposes of computing the Section 162(m) Maximum, if any Stock Options or other awards previously granted to a participant are canceled and new Stock Options or other awards having a lower exercise price or other more favorable terms for the participant are substituted in their place, both the initial Stock Options or other awards and the replacement Stock Options or other awards will be deemed to be outstanding (although the canceled Stock Options or other awards will not be exercisable or deemed outstanding for any other purposes).

SECTION 11. Unfunded Status of Plan.

The Plan is intended to constitute an "unfunded" plan for incentive and deferred compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a participant or optionee by the Corporation, nothing contained herein shall give any such participant or optionee any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Corporation. In its sole discretion, the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the obligations created under the Plan to deliver Common Stock or payments in lieu of or with respect to awards hereunder; provided, however, that, unless the Committee otherwise determines with the consent of the affected participant, the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the "unfunded" status of the Plan.

SECTION 12. General Provisions.

(a) The Committee may require each person purchasing shares pursuant to a Stock Option or other award under the Plan to represent to and agree with the Corporation in writing that the optionee or participant is acquiring the shares without a view to distribution thereof. The certificates for such shares may include any legend which the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer. All certificates for shares of Common Stock or other securities delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is then listed, and any applicable Federal or state securities law, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

(b) Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to shareholder approval if such approval is required; and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

(c) The adoption of the Plan shall not confer upon any employee of the Corporation or any Subsidiary or Affiliate any right to

continued employment with the Corporation or a Subsidiary or Affiliate, as the case may be, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Corporation or a Subsidiary or Affiliate to terminate the employment of any of its employees at any time.

(d) No later than the date as of which an amount first becomes includable in the gross income of the participant for Federal income tax purposes with respect to any award under the Plan, the participant shall pay to the Corporation, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Committee regarding the payment of, any Federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to such amount. The Committee may require withholding obligations to be settled with Common Stock, including Common Stock that is part of the award that gives rise to the withholding requirement. The obligations of the Corporation under the Plan shall be conditional on such payment or arrangements and the Corporation and its Subsidiaries or Affiliates shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the participant.

(e) The actual or deemed reinvestment of dividends or dividend equivalents in additional Restricted Stock (or other types of Plan awards) at the time of any dividend payment shall only be permissible if sufficient shares of Common Stock are available under Section 3 for such reinvestment (taking into account then outstanding Stock Options and other Plan awards).

(f) The Plan and all awards made and actions taken thereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Tennessee.

(g) The members of the Committee and the Board shall not be liable to any employee or other person with respect to any determination made hereunder in a manner that is not inconsistent with their legal obligations as members of the Board. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as directors or as members of the Committee, the members of the Committee shall be indemnified by the Corporation against the reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan or any option granted thereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by the Corporation) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such Committee member is liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duties; provided that within 60 days after institution of any such action, suit or proceeding, the Committee member shall in writing offer the Corporation the opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same.

(h) In addition to any other restrictions on transfer that may be applicable under the terms of this Plan or the applicable award agreement, no Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award or other right issued under this Plan is transferable by the participant without the prior written consent of the Committee, or, in the case of an Outside Director, the Board, other than (i) transfers by an optionee to a member of his or her Immediate Family or a trust for the benefit of the optionee or a member of his or her Immediate Family or (ii) transfers by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The designation of a beneficiary will not constitute a transfer.

(i) The Committee may, at or after grant, condition the receipt of any payment in respect of any award or the transfer of any shares subject to an award on the satisfaction of a six-month holding period, if such holding period is required for compliance with Section 16 under the Exchange Act.

SECTION 13. Effective Date of Plan.

The Plan shall be effective as of the date of approval of the Plan by a majority of the votes cast by the holders of the Corporation's Common Stock (the "Effective Date").