Even without a central exchange, the move toward stock plans is gaining momentum.

"Until recently, a lot of people were more interested in the three days off" that the company gave workers along with the stock plan.

Many investors favor companies that say they will consider a stock buyback plan.

After his retirement, he also served as trustee of the stock plan.

The third tier applies to workers hired after the stock plan went into effect.

The stock plan paid $30.875 a share, then the current market price, but it is open to question whether that price was fair.

Lockheed set up the stock plan last year largely as a takeover defense.

T Juniors got several thousand dollars from the state to help assess whether a stock plan would work.

The initial financing for the stock plan, however, will come from bank loans.

In response to that ruling, a flock of companies have moved to establish such stock plans.