EXHIBIT 10.6


                             AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENTS

                  AGREEMENT,  dated as of October 11, 2000 by and between Hexcel
Corporation,  a Delaware  corporation  (the  "Company") and Harold E. Kinne (the
"Executive").

                  WHEREAS, the Company  maintains  the  Hexcel  Corporation
Incentive Stock Plan (the "Plan") and the Hexcel Corporation Management Stock
Purchase Plan (the "MSPP"); and

                  WHEREAS,  the Company has granted to the  Executive  (1) under
the Plan, nonqualified options ("NQOs") to acquire shares of the common stock of
the Company (the "Common Stock"), performance accelerated stock options ("PASOs"
and,  together with the NQOs,  the  "Options") to acquire shares of Common Stock
and  contractual  rights  representing  the right to earn shares of Common Stock
under specified circumstances ("PARs") and (2) contractual rights under the MSPP
representing   the  right  to  earn  shares  of  Common  Stock  under  specified
circumstances  ("RSUs"),  in each case  evidenced  by written  award  agreements
entered into between the Company and the Executive (the "Award Agreements"); and

                  WHEREAS,  under the Award Agreements the Executive has certain
rights upon the occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined thereby); and

                  WHEREAS,  the Company and the  Executive  have entered into an
Executive  Severance  Agreement  dated as of  February  3, 1999 (the  "Severance
Agreement"); and

                  WHEREAS,  under the  Severance  Agreement  the  Executive  has
certain rights upon the occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined  therein);
and

                  WHEREAS,  the Company and the  Executive  have  entered into a
Supplemental  Executive Retirement Agreement dated as of May 10, 2000 (the "SERP
Agreement"); and

                  WHEREAS,  under the SERP  Agreement  the Executive has certain
rights upon the occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined therein); and

                  WHEREAS,  Ciba Specialty Chemicals Holding, Inc. ("Ciba SCH"),
Ciba Specialty Chemicals Inc. ("Ciba SCI"), Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation
("Ciba  SCC" and  together  with Ciba SCH and Ciba  SCI,  "Ciba"),  LXH,  L.L.C.
("LXH") and LXH II, L.L.C.  ("LXH II" and together  with LXH, "the  Purchasers")
have entered into a Stock Purchase  Agreement  dated as of October 11, 2000 (the
"Stock  Purchase   Agreement")  pursuant  to  which,  among  other  things,  the
Purchasers will purchase from Ciba shares of Common Stock; and

                  WHEREAS,  the consummation (the "Closing") of the transactions
contemplated  by  the  Stock  Purchase  Agreement  (the   "Transactions")   will
constitute a Change in Control under the Plan, the MSPP,  the Award  Agreements,
the Severance Agreement and the SERP Agreement; and

                  WHEREAS,  the Company  desires the  Executive to waive certain
rights under the Plan, the MSPP and the Award  Agreements and desires to provide
additional  incentives  to  the  Executive  to  remain employed by  the Company
following the Closing.

                  NOW, THEREFORE,  the Company and the Executive hereby agree as
follows.

                  1. The consummation of the Transactions shall not constitute a
Change in Control for  purposes of the Plan,  the MSPP or the Award  Agreements,
notwithstanding anything therein to the contrary.

                  2. Each Award Agreement,  the Severance Agreement and the SERP
Agreement is hereby  amended to  incorporate a new definition of the term Change
in Control (and related definitions), in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A.

                  3. Each Award  Agreement  pursuant to which  Options have been
granted is hereby  amended to provide  that each  Option that is unvested at the
Closing will vest and become  exercisable  on the earliest to occur of (i) as to
50% of the shares subject thereto,  on the 1st anniversary of the Closing and as
to the remaining 50% of the shares subject  thereto,  on the 2nd  anniversary of
the  Closing,  (ii) the  Executive's  termination  of  employment  due to death,
Disability (as defined in the Severance  Agreement),  termination by the Company
without  Cause (as defined in the  Severance  Agreement) or by the Executive for
Good Reason (as defined in the Severance Agreement) or (iii) the occurrence of a
Change in Control (as defined in Exhibit A hereto).

                  4.  Each  Award  Agreement  pursuant  to which  PARs have been
granted is hereby  amended to provide  that each PAR subject  thereto  will vest
and,  without  being  subject to the  existing  limitations  relating to Section
162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,  the underlying  shares
will be  distributed on the  earliest  to occur of (i) as to 50% of the shares
subject  thereto,  on the 1st anniversary of the Closing and as to the remaining
50% of the shares subject thereto,  on the 2nd anniversary of the Closing,  (ii)
the Executive's termination of employment due to death, Disability,  termination
by the Company  without  Cause or by the  Executive for Good Reason or (iii) the
occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined in Exhibit A hereto).

                  5.  Each  Award  Agreement  pursuant  to which  RSUs have been
granted is hereby amended to provide that each RSU subject thereto will vest and
the underlying  shares will be distributed on the earliest to occur of (i) as to
50% of the shares subject thereto,  on the 1st anniversary of the Closing and as
to the remaining 50% of the shares subject  thereto,  on the 2nd  anniversary of
the  Closing,  (ii) the  Executive's  termination  of  employment  due to death,
Disability,  termination  by the Company  without  Cause or by the Executive for
Good  Reason or (iii) the  occurrence  of a Change in  Control  (as  defined  in
Exhibit A hereto).

                  6. The  Severance  Agreement  is hereby  amended  to include a
provision, in the form annexed  hereto as Exhibit B,  pursuant to which,  under
the circumstances  described  therein,  the  Company  will  hold  the  Executive
harmless from any excise tax that may be imposed on the Executive  under section
280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

                  7. Except as otherwise  expressly  provided herein,  the Award
Agreements,  the  Severance  Agreement  and  the SERP  shall remain in effect in
accordance with their respective terms.

                  8.  Effective as of the date on which the Closing  occurs (the
"Closing  Date"),  the Company shall grant to the  Executive  options to acquire
76,935  shares of Common Stock.  Such options shall be at an exercise  price per
share equal to the greater of (a) the fair market value (as defined in the Plan)
of a share of Common Stock on the Closing  Date or (b) $11, and shall  otherwise
be made pursuant to the form of Stock Option Agreement annexed hereto as Exhibit
C. The Company  agrees that such grant shall not be in lieu of, or  otherwise be
taken into  account in  determining the size  or terms of,  the annual long term
incentive grant to the Executive for the 2001 or other fiscal year.

                  9. For purposes of this Agreement,  notices,  demands, and all
other  communications  provided for  hereunder  shall be in writing and shall be
deemed  to have  been  duly  given  when hand  delivered  or  (unless  otherwise
specified)  when  mailed  by  United  States  certified  mail,   return  receipt
requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

                  To the Executive at the address shown in the personnel records
                  of the Company

                  To the Company at:

                  Hexcel Corporation
                  Two Stamford Plaza
                  281 Tresser Boulevard
                  Stamford Connecticut 06901-3238

                  Att'n:

or to such other  address  as either  party may have  furnished  to the other in
writing in accordance  herewith,  except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.

                  10. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof
shall not  affect  the other  provisions  hereof,  and this  Agreement  shall be
construed in all respects as if such invalid or unenforceable provision had been
omitted.

                  11. No change, modification or waiver of any provision of this
Agreement shall be valid unless the same be in writing and signed by the parties
hereto.

                  12. This Agreement  contains the entire  understanding  of the
parties  hereto with respect to the subject  matter  hereof and  supersedes  all
prior communications, representations and negotiations in respect thereto.

                  13. This Agreement  shall  be governed by, and construed  and
enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware,  without regard
to its conflicts of law rules.

                  14. This  Agreement may be executed in  counterparts,  each of
which  shall  be  deemed  to be an  original  but all of  which  together  shall
constitute one and the same instrument.

                  15. This  agreement  shall become  effective upon the Closing,
and shall be null and void and of no effect if the Closing does not occur.

                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  hereto  have  caused  this
Agreement to be duly executed as of the date and year first written above.

                                            HEXCEL CORPORATION


                                            By: /s/ Ira J. Krakower
                                            Name:  Ira J. Krakower
                                            Title:    Senior Vice President


                                            /s/ H. E. Kinne
                                            Harold E. Kinne




                                                                       EXHIBIT A

Affiliate of any Person shall mean any other Person that directly or indirectly,
through one or more  intermediaries,  Controls,  is  Controlled  by, or is under
common Control with, such first Person. Control shall have the meaning specified
in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as in effect on the date
of this Agreement.

Beneficial Owner shall have the meaning used in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act.

Change in Control means:

(i) any Person is or becomes the Beneficial  Owner,  directly or indirectly,  of
40% or more of either (x) the then outstanding  common stock of the Company (the
"Out  standing  Common  Stock")  or (y) the  combined  voting  power of the then
outstanding  securities  entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
of the Company (the "Total Voting Power"), excluding, however, the following (1)
any  acquisition  by the Company or any of its  Controlled  Affiliates,  (2) any
acquisition  by any  employee  benefit  plan (or  related  trust)  sponsored  or
maintained by the Company or any of its Controlled Affiliates and (3) any Person
who becomes such a Beneficial  Owner in connection with a transaction  described
in the exception within clause (iii); or

(ii) a change in the composition of the Board such that the individuals  who, on
the date hereof,  constitute  the Board (such  individuals  shall be hereinafter
referred to as the "Incumbent  Directors") cease for any reason to constitute at
least  a  majority  of the  Board;  provided,  however,  for  purposes  of  this
definition  that any individual  who becomes a director  subsequent to such date
whose election,  or nomination for election by the Company's  stockholders,  was
made or approved pursuant to the Governance Agreement or by a vote of at least a
majority of the Incumbent  Directors (or directors  whose election or nomination
for election was  previously  so approved)  shall be  considered a member of the
Incumbent Board; but, provided,  further, that any such individual whose initial
assumption  of office  occurs  as a result  of  either  an actual or  threatened
election  contest  (as such  terms  are used in Rule  14a-11 of  Regulation  14A
promulgated  under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened  solicitation
of proxies or  consents by or on behalf of a person or legal  entity  other than
the Board shall not be considered a member of the Incumbent  Board;  or there is
consummated a merger or  consolidation  of the Company or any direct or indirect
subsidiary  of the  Company  or a sale or other  disposition  of all or substan-
tially all of the assets of the Company  ("Corporate  Transaction");  excluding,
how  ever,  such  a  Corporate   Transaction   pursuant  to  which  (x)  all  or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who are the Beneficial Owners,
respectively,  of  the  Outstanding  Common  Stock and  the Total  Voting  Power
immediately prior to such Corporate  Transaction will Beneficially Own, directly
or indirectly, more than 50%, respectively, of  the outstanding common stock and
the  combined  voting  power of the  outstanding  common  stock and the combined
voting power of the then  outstanding  securities  entitled to vote generally in
the  election  of  directors  of  the  company  resulting  from  such  Corporate
Transaction (including,  without limitation, a corporation which as  a result of
such transaction  owns the Company or all or substantially  all of the Company's
assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the
same  proportions  as  their  ownership  immediately  prior  to  such  Corporate
Transaction of the Outstanding  Common Stock and Total Voting Power, as the case
may be, and (y)  immediately  following  which the  individuals who comprise the
Board immediately  prior thereto  constitute at least a majority of the board of
directors of the company resulting from such Corporate  Transaction  (including,
without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the
Company or all or  substantially  all of the Company's assets either directly or
through one or more subsidiaries); or

(iv) the approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation
or dissolution of the Company; or

(v) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase
Agreement.1

Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Governance Agreement shall mean the Governance Agreement, dated [          ],
2000, among LXH, L.L.C., LXH II, L.L.C., Hexcel Corporation  and  the  other
parties listed on the signature pages thereto.

- --------
         1Clause (v) to be included only in the Severance Agreement and the SERP
Agreement.







Person shall have the meaning set forth in Section  3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act,
as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act.

Stock Purchase Agreement shall mean the Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of
October 11, 2000 by and among Ciba Specialty Chemicals Holding, Inc., Ciba
Specialty Chemicals Inc., Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation, LXH, L.L.C.
("LXH") and LXH II, L.L.C..2


- --------
         2This definition to be included only in the Severance Agreement and the
SERP Agreement.






                                                                       EXHIBIT B

Additional Payments.

                  (a) In the event that the  Executive  becomes  entitled to the
payments under Section 4 hereof,  if any of the payments or benefits received or
to be received by the Executive in connection with the transactions contemplated
by the Stock  Purchase  Agreement or the  Executive's  termination of employment
within 2 years thereof  (whether  pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any
other plan,  arrangement or agreement with the Company, any Person whose actions
result in a Change in Control or any Person  affiliated with the Company or such
Person) (all such payments and benefits,  excluding the Gross-Up Payment,  being
hereinafter  referred to as the "Total  Payments") will be subject to the excise
tax (the "Excise Tax")  imposed under section 4999 of the Internal  Revenue Code
of 1986,  as amended (the  "Code"),  the Company  shall pay to the  Executive an
additional amount (the "Gross-Up  Payment") such that the net amount retained by
the Executive,  after  deduction of any Excise Tax on the Total Payments and any
federal,  state and local  income and  employment  taxes and Excise Tax upon the
Gross-Up Payment, shall be equal to the Total Payments.

                  (b) For  purposes  of  determining  whether  any of the  Total
Payments  will be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such  Excise  Tax,
(i) all of the Total Payments shall be treated as "parachute  payments"  (within
the meaning of section  280G(b)(2)  of the Code)  unless,  in the opinion of tax
counsel ("Tax Counsel")  reasonably  acceptable to the Executive and selected by
the accounting firm which was,  immediately prior to the Change in Control,  the
Company's  independent  auditor (the  "Auditor"),  such payments or benefits (in
whole or in part) do not constitute  parachute payments,  including by reason of
section  280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code, (ii) all "excess parachute  payments" within
the meaning of section 280G(b)(l) of the Code shall be treated as subject to the
Excise Tax unless, in the opinion of Tax Counsel, such excess parachute payments
(in whole or in part) represent  reasonable  compensation for services  actually
rendered (within the meaning of section  280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code) in excess of
the base amount (within the meaning of section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) allocable
to such reasonable compensation, or are otherwise not subject to the Excise Tax,
and (iii) the value of any noncash  benefits or any deferred  payment or benefit
shall be determined by the Auditor in accordance with the principles of sections
280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code.  For purposes of  determining  the amount of the
Gross-Up Payment, the Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income tax at the
highest marginal rate of federal income taxation in the calendar year in which
the  Gross-Up Payment is to  be  made  and state  and local income taxes at the
highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of the  Executive's
residence on  the Date  of Termination (or if there is no Date of Termination,
then the date on which the Gross-Up Payment is calculated  for purposes of this
Section),  net of the maximum  reduction in federal  income taxes which could be
obtained  from  deduction of such state and local taxes.

                  (c) In the event that the Excise Tax is finally  determined to
be less than the amount taken into account hereunder in calculating the Gross-Up
Payment, the Executive shall repay to the Company, within five (5) business days
following  the time  that the  amount of such  reduction  in the  Excise  Tax is
finally  determined,  the portion of the Gross-Up  Payment  attributable to such
reduction (plus that portion of the Gross-Up Payment  attributable to the Excise
Tax and federal,  state and local  income and  employment  taxes  imposed on the
Gross-Up  Payment  being  repaid  by the  Executive,  to the  extent  that  such
repayment  results in a  reduction  in the  Excise  Tax and a  dollar-for-dollar
reduction in the  Executive's  taxable income and wages for purposes of federal,
state and local income and employment taxes, plus interest on the amount of such
repayment at 120% of the rate provided in section  1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code. In
the event  that the  Excise Tax is  determined  to exceed the amount  taken into
account  hereunder in calculating the Gross-Up  Payment  (including by reason of
any payment the existence or amount of which cannot be determined at the time of
the Gross-Up Payment),  the Company shall make an additional Gross-Up Payment in
respect of such excess (plus any interest, penalties or additions payable by the
Executive  with respect to such excess)  within five (5) business days following
the time that the amount of such excess is finally determined. The Executive and
the Company shall each  reasonably  cooperate with the other in connection  with
any administrative or judicial proceedings concerning the existence or amount of
liability for Excise Tax with respect to the Total Payments.





                                                                       EXHIBIT C

                            EMPLOYEE OPTION AGREEMENT


     EMPLOYEE OPTION  AGREEMENT,  dated as of the Grant Date, by and between the
Optionee and Hexcel Corporation (the "Corporation").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS, the Corporation has adopted the Hexcel Corporation Incentive Stock
Plan (the "Plan"); and

     WHEREAS,  the Executive  Compensation  Committee (the  "Committee")  of the
Board of Directors of the  Corporation  (the "Board") has determined  that it is
desirable and in the best interest of the Corporation to grant to the Optionee a
stock  option as an incentive  for the Optionee to advance the  interests of the
Corporation;

     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

1. Notice of Grant;  Incorporation of Plan. A Notice of Grant is attached hereto
as Annex A and  incorporated  by reference  herein.  Unless  otherwise  provided
herein,  capitalized  terms used  herein  and set forth in such  Notice of Grant
shall have the meanings  ascribed to them in the Notice of Grant and capitalized
terms used herein and set forth in the Plan shall have the meanings  ascribed to
them in the Plan. The Plan is  incorporated by reference and made a part of this
Employee Option  Agreement,  and this Employee Option Agreement shall be subject
to the terms of the Plan, as the Plan may be amended from time to time, provided
that any such amendment of the Plan must be made in accordance with Section X of
the Plan. The Option  granted herein  constitutes an Award within the meaning of
the Plan.

2. Grant of Option. Pursuant to the Plan and subject to the terms and conditions
set forth herein and therein,  the Corporation hereby grants to the Optionee the
right and option (the "Option") to purchase all or any part of the Option Shares
of the  Corporation's  common  stock,  $.01 par  value per  share  (the  "Common
Stock"),  which Option is not intended to qualify as an incentive  stock option,
as defined in Section 422 of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code").

3. Purchase Price. The purchase price per share of the Option Shares shall be
the Purchase Price.

4. Term of Option.

         (a) Expiration  Date;  Term.  Subject to Section 4(c) below, the Option
         shall  expire on,  and shall no longer be  exercisable  following,  the
         tenth anniversary of the Grant Date. The ten-year period from the Grant
         Date to its  tenth  anniversary  shall  constitute  the  "Term"  of the
         Option.

         (b) Vesting Period; Exercisability.  Subject to Section 4(c) below, the
         Option shall vest and become exercisable at the rate of 33-1/3% of the
         Option Shares on each of the first three anniversaries of the Grant
         Date.

         (c)      Termination of Employment; Change in Control.

                  (i) For  purposes  of the grant  hereunder,  any  transfer  of
                  employment  by the  Optionee  among  the  Corporation  and the
                  Subsidiaries   shall  not  be  considered  a  termination   of
                  employment. Except as set forth below in this Section 4(c)(i),
                  if  the  Optionee's  employment  with  the  Corporation  shall
                  terminate  for any reason,  (a) the Option (to the extent then
                  vested) may be exercised  at any time within  ninety (90) days
                  after such termination (but not beyond the Term of the Option)
                  and (b) the  Option,  to the  extent  not then  vested,  shall
                  immediately expire upon such termination.  Notwithstanding the
                  foregoing,   (a)  if  the  Optionee's   employment   with  the
                  Corporation  is  terminated  for Cause (as defined in the last
                  Section hereof), the Option, whether or not then vested, shall
                  be automatically terminated as of the date of such termination
                  of employment,  (b) if the Optionee's employment terminates by
                  reason  of  Retirement,  the  termination  of  the  Optionee's
                  employment  by  the  Company  other  than  for  Cause,  or the
                  termination of the  Optionee's  employment by the Optionee for
                  Good  Reason (as  defined  in the last  Section  hereof),  the
                  Option shall remain  exercisable for three years from the date
                  of such  termination of employment (but not beyond the Term of
                  the Option) and (c) if the Optionee  dies or becomes  Disabled
                  (A) while  employed by the  Corporation  or (B) within 90 days
                  after the  termination of his or her employment  (other than a
                  termination  described in clause (a) or (b) of this sentence),
                  the Option may be exercised at any time within one  year after
                  the Optionee's death or Disability (but not beyond the Term of
                  the Option).

                  (ii) If the  Optionee's  employment  terminates  by  reason of
                  death,   Disability,   Retirement,   the  termination  of  the
                  Optionee's  employment by the Company other than for Cause, or
                  the  termination of the Optionee's  employment by the Optionee
                  for Good Reason, the Option shall become fully and immediately
                  vested  and  exercisable.  In the event of a Change in Control
                  (as  defined in the last  Section  hereof),  the Option  shall
                  immediately become fully vested and exercisable.

5.  Adjustment Upon Changes in Capitalization.

         (a) The aggregate  number of Option Shares and the Purchase Price shall
         be appropriately adjusted by the Committee for any increase or decrease
         in the  number  of  issued  shares of  Common  Stock  resulting  from a
         subdivision or consolidation of shares or other capital adjustment,  or
         the payment of a stock  dividend or other  increase or decrease in such
         shares,  effected  without receipt of consideration by the Corporation,
         or other change in corporate or capital structure.  The Committee shall
         also  make the  foregoing  changes  and any  other  changes,  including
         changes  in  the  classes  of  securities  available,   to  the  extent
         reasonably  necessary or  desirable  to preserve the intended  benefits
         under  this  Employee  Option  Agreement  in the  event  of  any  other
         reorganization,   recapitalization,  merger,  consolidation,  spin-off,
         extraordinary  dividend or other  distribution  or similar  transaction
         involving the Corporation.

         (b) Any adjustment  under this Section 5 in the number of Option Shares
         and the Purchase Price shall apply to only the  unexercised  portion of
         the  Option.  If  fractions  of a share  would  result  from  any  such
         adjustment,  the adjustment  shall be rounded down to the nearest whole
         number of shares.

6.  Method of Exercising Option and Withholding.

          (a) The Option  shall be  exercised by the delivery by the Optionee to
          the  Corporation at its principal  office (or at such other address as
          may be  established  by the Committee) of written notice of the number
          of  Option  Shares  with  respect  to which the  Option is  exercised,
          accompanied  by payment in full of the  aggregate  Purchase  Price for
          such Option  Shares.  Payment for such Option Shares shall be made (i)
          in U.S.  dollars by personal check,  bank draft or money order payable
          to the  order of the  Corporation,  or by money  transfers  or  direct
          account  debits to an  account  designated  by the  Corporation;  (ii)
          through  the  delivery  of shares of Common  Stock with a Fair  Market
          Value equal to the total payment due from the Optionee; (iii) pursuant
          to a "cashless  exercise"  program if such a program is established by
          the Corporation;  or (iv) by any combination of the methods  described
          in (i) through (iii) above.

         (b) The Corporation's obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock upon
         the  exercise  of the Option  shall be  subject  to the  payment by the
         Optionee of applicable  federal,  state and local  withholding  tax, if
         any. The Corporation  shall,  to the extent  permitted by law, have the
         right to  deduct  from any  payment  of any kind  otherwise  due to the
         Optionee any federal, state or local taxes required to be withheld with
         respect to such payment.

7.  Transfer.  Except  as  provided  in  this  Section  7,  the  Option  is  not
transferable otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and
the Option may be exercised during the Optionee's lifetime only by the Optionee.
Any attempt to transfer the Option in contravention of this Section 7 is void ab
initio.  The  Option  shall not be  subject to  execution,  attachment  or other
process.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the  Optionee  shall be permitted to
transfer the Option to members of his or her immediate  family (i.e.,  children,
grandchildren  or spouse),  trusts for the benefit of such family  members,  and
partnerships  whose only partners are such family  members;  provided,  however,
that  no  consideration  can be paid  for the  transfer  of the  Option  and the
transferee  of the Option shall be subject to all  conditions  applicable to the
Option prior to its transfer.

8.  No Rights in Option Shares.  The Optionee shall have none of the rights of a
stockholder with respect to the Option Shares unless and until shares of Common
Stock are issued upon exercise of the Option.

9.  No Right to Employment.  Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to
confer upon the Optionee any right to remain as an employee of the Corporation.

10.  Governing Law/Jurisdiction.  This Employee Option Agreement shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware
without reference to principles of conflict of laws.

11.  Resolution of Disputes.  Any disputes  arising under or in connection  with
this Employee Option Agreement shall be resolved by binding arbitration before a
single  arbitrator,  to be held in New York in  accordance  with the  commercial
rules and procedures of the American Arbitration Association.  Judgment upon the
award  rendered by the  arbitrator  shall be final and subject to appeal only to
the extent  permitted  by law.  Each party shall bear such  party's own expenses
incurred in connection with any arbitration; provided, however, that the cost of
the arbitration, including without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees of the
Optionee,  shall be borne by the  Corporation  in the event the  Optionee is the
prevailing party in the arbitration.  Anything to the contrary  notwithstanding,
each party hereto has the right to proceed  with a court  action for  injunctive
relief or relief  from  violations  of law not  within  the  jurisdiction  of an
arbitrator.

12.  Notices.  Any notice  required  or  permitted  under this  Employee  Option
Agreement shall be deemed given when delivered personally,  or when deposited in
a United States Post Office, postage prepaid,  addressed, as appropriate, to the
Optionee at the last address specified in Optionee's employment records, or such
other address as the Optionee may designate in writing to the Corporation, or to
the Corporation,  Attention:  Corporate Secretary,  or such other address as the
Corporation may designate in writing to the Optionee.

13.  Failure To Enforce Not a Waiver.  The failure of either party hereto to
enforce at any time any provision of this Employee Option Agreement shall in no
way be construed to be a waiver of such provision or of any other provision
hereof.

14.  Counterparts.  This Employee Option Agreement may be executed in two or
more counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which together
shall represent one and the same agreement.

15.  Miscellaneous.  This Employee Option Agreement cannot be changed or
terminated orally.  This Employee Option Agreement and  the  Plan contain  the
entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof.
The section headings herein are intended for reference only and shall not affect
the interpretation hereof.

16.  Definitions.  For purposes of this Employee Option Agreement:

         (I) the term "Affiliate" of any Person shall mean any other Person that
         directly or indirectly,  through one or more intermediaries,  Controls,
         is Controlled by, or is under common  Control with,  such first Person.
         The term "Control" shall have the meaning specified in Rule 12b-2 under
         the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 as in effect on the date of this
         Agreement;

         (II) the term  "Beneficial  Owner"  shall have the meaning used in Rule
         13d- 3 promulgated under the Exchange Act;

         (III) the term "Cause" shall mean (A) the willful and continued failure
         by the Optionee to substantially perform the Optionee's duties with the
         Corporation  (other than any such failure resulting from the Optionee's
         incapacity  due to  physical  or mental  illness or any such  actual or
         anticipated  failure after the issuance of a Notice of  Termination  by
         the Executive for Good Reason) after demand for substantial performance
         is  delivered  to the Optionee by the  Corporation,  that  specifically
         identifies  the  manner  in which  the  Corporation  believes  that the
         Optionee has not substantially  performed the Optionee's duties, or (B)
         the willful engaging by the Optionee in misconduct that is demonstrably
         and materially  injurious to the  Corporation,  monetarily or otherwise
         including,  but not  limited  to  conduct  that  violates  any  written
         noncompetition  covenant between the Optionee and the  Corporation.  No
         act,  or  failure  to act,  on the  Optionee's  part  shall  be  deemed
         "willful"  unless done,  or omitted to be done,  by the Optionee not in
         good faith and without  reasonable belief that the Optionee's action or
         omission was in the best interest of the  Corporation.  Notwithstanding
         the foregoing, the Optionee shall not be deemed to have been terminated
         for Cause without (i) reasonable  notice from the Board to the Optionee
         setting forth the reasons for the Corporation's  intention to terminate
         for Cause,  (ii) delivery to the Optionee of a resolution  duly adopted
         by the affirmative  vote two-thirds or more of the Board then in office
         (excluding  the  Optionee  if he is then a member  of the  Board)  at a
         meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose,  finding that in
         the good faith opinion of the Board, the Optionee was guilty of conduct
         herein  set forth and  specifying  the  particulars  thereof in detail,
         (iii) an opportunity for the Optionee, together with his counsel, to be
         heard before the Board,  and (iv)  delivery to the Optionee of a Notice
         of Termination from the Board specifying the particulars in detail.

         (IV) the term  "Change  in  Control"  shall  mean any of the  following
events:

                           (1) any Person is or becomes  the  Beneficial  Owner,
                  directly or indirectly,  of 40% or more of either (x) the then
                  outstanding  common  stock of the  Company  (the  "Outstanding
                  Common  Stock") or (y) the  combined  voting power of the then
                  outstanding  securities  entitled  to  vote  generally  in the
                  election  of  directors  of the  Company  (the  "Total  Voting
                  Power"), excluding, however, the following (1) any acquisition
                  by the Company or any of its  Controlled  Affiliates,  (2) any
                  acquisition  by any employee  benefit plan (or related  trust)
                  sponsored  or   maintained  by  the  Company  or  any  of  its
                  Controlled  Affiliates  and (3) any Person who becomes  such a
                  Beneficial Owner in connection with a transaction described in
                  the exclusion within paragraph (3) below; or

                           (2) a change in the  composition  of the  Board  such
                  that the individuals  who, on the date hereof,  constitute the
                  Board (such  individuals  shall be hereinafter  referred to as
                  the "Incumbent  Directors") cease for any reason to constitute
                  at least a  majority  of the  Board;  provided,  however,  for
                  purposes of this  definition that any individual who becomes a
                  director subsequent to such date whose election, or nomination
                  for  election  by the  Company's  stockholders,  was  made  or
                  approved pursuant to the Governance  Agreement or by a vote of
                  at least a majority of the  Incumbent  Directors (or directors
                  whose  election or nomination  for election was  previously so
                  approved) shall be considered a member of the Incumbent Board;
                  but, provided, further, that any such individual whose initial
                  assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or
                  threatened  election  contest  (as such terms are used in Rule
                  14a-11 of Regulation 14A  promulgated  under the Exchange Act)
                  or other  actual or  threatened  solicitation  of  proxies  or
                  consents  by or on behalf of a person  or legal  entity  other
                  than  the  Board  shall  not be  considered  a  member  of the
                  Incumbent Board; or

                           (3) there is consummated a merger or consolidation of
                  the  Company  or any  direct  or  indirect  subsidiary  of the
                  Company or a sale or other disposition of all or substantially
                  all of the assets of the  Company  ("Corporate  Transaction");
                  excluding, however, such a  Corporate   Transaction   pursuant
                  to   which  (x)  all  or substantially  all of the individuals
                  and entities who are the Beneficial  Owners,  respectively, of
                  the  Outstanding  Common  Stock and the Total  Voting  Power
                  immediately  prior  to  such  Corporate  Transaction  will
                  Beneficially  Own,  directly  or  indirectly,  more than 50%,
                  respectively, of the outstanding common stock and the combined
                  voting  power  of  the  outstanding  common  stock  and  the
                  combined  voting  power  of the  then outstanding  securities
                  entitled  to  vote  generally  in the election  of  directors
                  of the  company  resulting  from such  Corporate  Transaction
                  (including,   without  limitation,   a corporation  which as a
                  result  of  such  transaction  owns  the  Company or all or
                  substantially  all of the Company's  assets either  directly
                  or  through  one or  more  subsidiaries)  in  substantially
                  the  same  proportions as  their  ownership immediately  prior
                  to  such  Corporate  Transaction of  the  Outstanding  Common
                  Stock  and Total Voting Power,  as the case  may be, and (y)
                  immediately  following  which the individuals who comprise the
                  Board immediately prior thereto constitute at least a majority
                  of the board of  directors of the  company resulting from such
                  Corporate  Transaction  (including,  without  limitation,  a
                  corporation  which  as  a  result  of  such  transaction  owns
                  the Company or all or  substantially  all of  the Company's
                  assets either directly or through one or more  subsidiaries);
                  or

                           (4)  the approval by the stockholders of the Company
                  of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

         (V) the term "Disability (or becoming  Disabled)" shall mean that, as a
         result of the  Optionee's  incapacity due to physical or mental illness
         or injury,  he or she shall not have performed all or substantially all
         of his or her usual  duties as an  employee  of the  Corporation  for a
         period of more  than one-  hundred-fifty  (150)  days in any  period of
         one-hundred-eighty (180) consecutive days;

         (VI)  the term "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
         1934, as amended;

         (VII) the term "Good  Reason" for  termination  by the  Optionee of the
         Optionee's employment shall mean:

                           (1) A diminution in the Optionee's position,  duties,
                  responsibilities  or authority (except during periods when the
                  Executive is unable to perform all or substantially all of his
                  duties on account of illness  (either  physical  or mental) or
                  other incapacity;

                           (2) A reduction in the Optionee's annual rate of base
                  salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may  be
                  increased from time to time;

                           (3) Failure by the  Corporation to continue in effect
                  any compensation plan in which the Optionee participates which
                  is material to the Optionee's  total  compensation,  unless an
                  equitable arrangement (embodied in an ongoing substitute plan)
                  has been made with  respect  to such  plan,  or failure by the
                  Corporation to continue the Optionee's  participation  therein
                  (or in such  substitute  plan) on a basis not materially  less
                  favorable to the Optionee;

                           (4) Failure by the Corporation to continue to provide
                  the  Optionee  with  benefits  substantially  similar to those
                  enjoyed  by  the  Optionee  under  any  of  the  Corporation's
                  pension,   savings,  life  insurance,   medical,   health  and
                  accident,  or  disability  plans in  which  the  Optionee  was
                  participating  (except for across-the-board  changes similarly
                  affecting  all senior  executives of the  Corporation  and all
                  senior   executives   of  any   Person  in   control   of  the
                  Corporation),  or failure by the  Corporation  to  continue to
                  provide the Optionee with the number of paid vacation days per
                  year equal to the  greater 6 weeks and (b) the number to which
                  the Optionee is entitled in accordance with the  Corporation's
                  vacation policy;

                           (5)  Failure to provide facilities or services which
                  are suitable to the Optionee's position;

                           (6)  Failure  of any  successor  (whether  direct  or
                  indirect,   by   purchase   of   stock  or   assets,   merger,
                  consolidation  or otherwise) to the  Corporation to assume the
                  Corporation's   obligations   hereunder   or  failure  by  the
                  Corporation to remain liable to the Optionee  hereunder  after
                  such assumption;

                           (7)  Any   termination  by  the  Corporation  of  the
                  Optionee's  employment  which is not  effected  pursuant  to a
                  Notice of Termination  satisfying the requirements of a Notice
                  of Termination contained in this Agreement;

                           (8) the relocation of the Optionee's  principal place
                  of  employment  to a location  more than fifty (50) miles from
                  the  Optionee's  principal  place of employment as of the date
                  hereof; or

                           (9)  Failure  to pay  the  Optionee  any  portion  of
                  current or deferred  compensation within seven (7) days of the
                  date such compensation is due.

         The Optionee's continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or
         waiver of rights with respect to, any  circumstance  constituting  Good
         Reason hereunder;  provided, however, that the Optionee shall be deemed
         to have waived his rights pursuant to circumstances  constituting  Good
         Reason hereunder if he shall not have provided the Corporation a Notice
         of  Termination  within ninety (90) days following his knowledge of the
         occurrence of circumstances constituting Good Reason;

         (VIII)   the term "Governance Agreement shall mean the Governance
         Agreement, dated [          ], 2000, among LXH, L.L.C., LXH II, L.L.C.,
         Hexcel Corporation and the other parties listed on the signature pages
         thereto;


         (IX) the term "Person" shall have the meaning given in Section  3(a)(9)
         of the Exchange  Act, as modified and used in Sections  13(d) and 14(d)
         of the Exchange Act; and

         (X) the term  "Retirement"  shall mean  termination  of the  Optionee's
         employment,  other  than by reason of death or Cause,  either (A) at or
         after  age  65 or (B) at or  after  age 55  after  five  (5)  years  of
         employment by the Corporation (or a Subsidiary thereof).

         (XI) the term "Notice of  Termination"  shall mean a notice which shall
         indicate the specific  termination  provision in this Agreement  relied
         upon  and  shall  set  forth  in   reasonable   detail  the  facts  and
         circumstances  claimed  to  provide a  basis for  termination  of  the
         Optionee's employment under the provision so indicated.








                                     Annex A


                                 NOTICE OF GRANT
                              EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION
                     HEXCEL CORPORATION INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN

         The following employee of Hexcel  Corporation,  a Delaware  corporation
("Hexcel") or a Subsidiary, has been granted an option to purchase shares of the
Common Stock of Hexcel,  $.01 par value,  in  accordance  with the terms of this
Notice of Grant and the Employee Option  Agreement to which this Notice of Grant
is attached.

         The following is a summary of the  principal  terms of the option which
has been granted. The terms below shall have the meanings ascribed to them below
when used in the Employee Option Agreement.


Optionee
Address of Optionee
Employee Number
Employee ID Number
Foreign Sub Plan, if applicable
Grant Date
Purchase Price
Aggregate Number of Shares
Granted (the "Option Shares")
- ----------------------------------  --------------------------------------------

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  hereby  agree to the terms of this Notice of
Grant  and the  Employee  Option  Agreement  to which  this  Notice  of Grant is
attached and execute this Notice of Grant and  Employee  Option  Agreement as of
the Grant Date.

______________________                  HEXCEL CORPORATION
Optionee

                                        By:        _____________________________
                                                   Ira J. Krakower
                                                   Senior Vice President


                                    Annex A-1