Sample Business Contracts


Grant Certificate - FreeMarkets Inc. and John P. Levis III


                            FreeMarkets OnLine, Inc.
                             1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                                Grant Certificate

This Grant Certificate, dated May 28, 1998, evidences the grant of an option
pursuant to the provisions of the 1998 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") of
FreeMarkets OnLine, Inc. (the "Company") to the individual whose name appears
below (the "Grantee"), covering the specific number of shares of Common Stock of
the Company, par value $.01 per share ("Shares") set forth below, pursuant to
the provisions of the Plan and on the following terms and conditions:

1. Name of Grantee: John P. Levis III

2. Number of Shares subject to this option: 10,000 Shares

3. Exercise price per Share subject to this option: $3.25

4. Date of grant of this option: May 28, 1998

5. Vesting: Subject to (1) and (2) below, the vesting schedule for the options
            is as follows:

                       Date                         Number of Shares
                       ----                         ----------------
                       May 28, 2001                       2,500
                       May 28, 2002                       2,500
                       May 28, 2003                       2,500
                       May 28, 2004                       2,500

   (1) In the event that the Company consummates an underwritten public offering
       of shares registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission
       (an "IPO"), 30% of any options which are not vested as of the date of the
       consummation of the IPO, shall vest on such date, and any remaining
       unvested options shall continue to vest ratably over the vesting period
       set forth above.

   (2) Upon the occurrence of a "Change in Control" of the Company, as defined
       in the attached, 50% of any of the above options which are not vested
       upon the occurrence of a Change of Control shall vest on the date of
       such occurrence, and any remaining unvested options shall continue to
       vest ratably over the vesting period set forth above.

   Vesting ceases immediately upon termination of employment for any reason, and
   any portion of this option that has not vested on or prior to the date of
   such termination is forfeited on such date. Once vesting has occurred, the
   vested portion can be exercised at any time, subject to Section 6 below.

6. The last day on which the vested portion of this option can be exercised is
   the earliest of:

   a. May 28, 2008 [tenth anniversary of date of grant];

   b. the date on which Grantee's employment terminates for "cause"
      (as defined in the Plan);

   c. 60 days following the date that Grantee's employment terminates other than
      for "cause" (as defined in the Plan); or

   d. one year following the Grantee's death or "permanent disability"
      (as defined in the Plan).


<PAGE>   2

7. Type of option: Incentive Stock Option

The Grantee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan as presently in
effect. All of the terms and conditions of the Plan are incorporated herein by
reference (including but not limited to capitalized terms not otherwise defined
herein), and this option is subject to such terms and conditions in all
respects. This Grant Certificate and the Plan constitute the entire agreement of
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersede any prior
written or oral agreements. If the Grantee is entitled to exercise the vested
portion of this option, and wishes to do so, in whole or in part, the Grantee
shall submit to the Company a written notice of exercise in the form attached to
this Grant Certificate, specifying the exercise date and the number of Shares to
be purchased pursuant to such exercise, and shall remit to the Company in a form
satisfactory to the Company (in its sole discretion) the exercise price, plus an
amount sufficient to satisfy any withholding tax obligations of the Company that
arise in connection with such exercise.


Accepted and Agreed:              FreeMarkets OnLine, Inc.

/s/ John P. Levis III             By: /s/ Glen T. Meakem
--------------------------           -----------------------------------------
Employee Signature                Name:  Glen T. Meakem
                                  Title: Chief Executive Officer



<PAGE>   3



FURTHER RESOLVED, that for the purposes of the Senior Leadership Options, a
"Change in Control" shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:

         (i) the acquisition, other than from the Company, by any individual,
entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person")
(other than the Company or an employee benefit plan of the Company) of
beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act) of more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors (the "Voting Securities"); or

         (ii) the approval by the stockholders of the Company of a
reorganization, merger, consolidation or recapitalization of the Company (a
"Business Combination"), other than a Business Combination in which more than
50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the
surviving or resulting entity immediately following the Business Combination is
held by the persons who, immediately prior to the Business Combination, were the
holders of the Voting Securities; or

         (iii) the approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or a sale of all or substantially all
of the assets of the Company; or

         (iv) individuals who, as of May 28, 1998, constitute the Board (the
"Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the
Board, provided that any individual becoming a director subsequent to such date
whose election or nomination for 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 considered as though such individual were a member of
the Incumbent Board.


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