<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 4.5

NEITHER THIS DEBENTURE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THIS DEBENTURE IS
CONVERTIBLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR
THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM
REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES
ACT"), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN
EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN
AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE
SECURITIES LAWS.

                                                              NEW YORK, NEW YORK
                                                                   JULY 27, 2000

NO. 1
                                   $2,000,000

                              ELTRAX SYSTEMS, INC.
                           5.00% CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURE
                                DUE JULY 26, 2001

     THIS DEBENTURE is one of a series of duly authorized and issued debentures
of ELTRAX SYSTEMS, INC., a Minnesota corporation, having a principal place of
business at 400 Galleria Parkway, Suite 300, Atlanta, Georgia 30339 (the
"Company"), designated as its 5.00% Convertible Debentures, due July 26, 2001,
in the aggregate principal amount of Seven Million Dollars ($7,000,000) (the
"Debentures").

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the Company promises to pay to the order of Strong
River Investment, Inc., or its registered assigns (the "Holder"), the principal
sum of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000), on July 26, 2001 or such earlier date
as the Debentures are required or permitted to be repaid as provided hereunder
(the "Maturity Date") and to pay interest thereon at the rate of 5.00% per
annum, payable in arrears on each Conversion Date (as defined herein) and on
each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year during which
this Debenture remains outstanding (for purposes of payment of interest, each
Conversion Date and each quarterly date being an "Interest Payment Date"), in
cash. Interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve
thirty-day months and shall accrue daily (but compound annually) commencing on
the Original Issue Date (as defined in Section 7) until payment (whether through
conversion of all outstanding principal amount hereunder or otherwise) in full
of the principal sum, together with all accrued and unpaid interest and other
amounts which may become due hereunder, has been made. Interest hereunder will
be paid to the Person (as defined in Section 7) in whose name this Debenture is
registered on the records of the Company regarding registration and transfers of
Debentures (the "Debenture Register"). All overdue accrued and unpaid interest
to be paid in cash hereunder shall entail a late fee at the rate of 18% per
annum (or such lower maximum amount of interest permitted to be



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charged under applicable law) (to accrue daily, from the date such interest is
due hereunder through and including the date of payment), payable in cash.

     This Debenture is subject to the following additional provisions:

     Section 1.  This Debenture is exchangeable for an equal aggregate
principal amount of Debentures of different authorized denominations, as
requested by the Holder surrendering the same. No service charge will be made
for such registration of transfer or exchange.

     Section 2.  This Debenture has been issued subject to certain investment
representations of the original Holder set forth in the Purchase Agreement (as
defined in Section 7) and may be transferred or exchanged to another Person only
in compliance with the Purchase Agreement. Prior to due presentment to the
Company for transfer of this Debenture, the Company and any agent of the Company
may treat the Person in whose name this Debenture is duly registered on the
Debenture Register as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment as
herein provided and for all other purposes, whether or not this Debenture is
overdue, and neither the Company nor any such agent shall be affected by notice
to the contrary.

     Section 3.  Events of Default.


          (a)  "Event of Default", wherever used herein, means any one of the
following events (whatever the reason and whether it shall be voluntary or
involuntary or effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree
or order of any court, or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or
governmental body):

               (i)   any default in the payment of the principal of, interest on
or any other amount due in respect of, any Debentures, free of any claim of
subordination, by the fifth Business Day (as defined in Section 6) following the
date the same shall become due and payable (whether on an Interest Payment Date
or the Maturity Date, by acceleration or otherwise);

               (ii)  the Company shall fail to observe or perform any other
covenant, agreement or warranty contained in, or otherwise commit any breach of,
any Transaction Document (as defined in Section 7) or any other Debenture (other
than those matters that are the specific subject of another Event of Default
under this Section), and such failure or breach shall not have been remedied
within twenty Business Days after the date on which notice of such failure or
breach shall have been given;

               (iii) the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall commence, or
there shall be commenced against the Company or any such subsidiary, a case
under any applicable bankruptcy or insolvency laws as now or hereafter in effect
or any successor thereto, or the Company commences any other proceeding under
any reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debt, relief of debtors,
dissolution, insolvency or liquidation or similar law of any jurisdiction
whether now or hereafter in effect relating to the Company or any subsidiary
thereof or there is commenced against the Company or any subsidiary thereof any
such

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bankruptcy, insolvency or other proceeding which remains undismissed for a
period of sixty days; or the Company or any subsidiary thereof is adjudicated
insolvent or bankrupt; or any order of relief or other order approving any such
case or proceeding is entered; or the Company or any subsidiary thereof suffers
any appointment of any custodian or the like for it or any substantial part of
its property which continues undischarged or unstayed for a period of sixty
days; or the Company or any subsidiary thereof makes a general assignment for
the benefit of creditors; or the Company shall fail to pay, or shall state that
it is unable to pay, or shall be unable to pay, its debts generally as they
become due; or the Company or any subsidiary thereof shall call a meeting of its
creditors with a view to arranging a composition, adjustment or restructuring of
its debts; or the Company or any subsidiary thereof shall by any act or failure
to act expressly indicate its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any of
the foregoing; or any corporate or other action is taken by the Company or any
subsidiary thereof for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

               (iv)   the Company shall default in any of its payment
obligations under any other Debenture of any mortgage, credit agreement or other
facility, indenture agreement, factoring agreement or other instrument under
which there may be issued, or by which there may be secured or evidenced any
indebtedness for borrowed money or money due under any long term leasing or
factoring arrangement of the Company in an amount exceeding five hundred
thousand dollars ($500,000), whether such indebtedness now exists or shall
hereafter be created and such default shall result in such indebtedness becoming
or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise
become due and payable without such indebtedness having been discharged in full
or any acceleration of such indebtedness having been rescinded or annulled in
full within the applicable grace period;

               (v)    the Common Stock shall not be quoted for trading on The
Nasdaq National Market ("NASDAQ") or, if the Common Stock shall hereafter become
listed or quoted for trading on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, The New York Stock
Exchange, or American Stock Exchange (each, a "Subsequent Market"), it shall
fail to be quoted or listed for trading on such Subsequent Market, for an
aggregate of five Trading Days;

               (vi)   the Company shall be a party to any Change of Control
Transaction (as defined in Section 7), shall agree to sell or dispose of all or
substantially all of its assets in one or more transactions (whether or not such
sale would constitute a Change of Control Transaction), or shall redeem or
repurchase shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company
(other than redemptions of Underlying Shares (as defined in Section 6));

               (vii)  an Underlying Shares Registration Statement shall not have
been declared effective by the Commission (as defined in Section 6) on or prior
to the 175th day after the Original Issue Date;

               (viii) if, during the Effectiveness Period (as defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 8)), the effectiveness of
the Underlying Shares Registration Statement lapses for any reason or the Holder
shall not be permitted to resell

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<PAGE>   4


Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) under
an Underlying Shares Registration Statement, in either case, for an aggregate of
more of than sixty Trading Days (which need not be consecutive Trading Days) in
any twelve month period;

               (ix)  an Event (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement)
shall not have been cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Holder prior to
the expiration of thirty days from the Event Date (as defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement) relating thereto (other than an Event resulting
from a failure of an Underlying Shares Registration Statement to be declared
effective by the Commission on or prior to the 175th day after the Original
Issue Date, which shall be covered by Section 3(a)(vii));

               (x)   the Company shall fail for any reason to deliver
certificates to a Holder prior to the seventh (7th) Trading Day after a Delivery
Date (as defined in Section 4(e)) pursuant to and in accordance with Section
4(b) or the Company shall provide notice to the Holder, including by way of
public announcement, at any time, of its intention not to comply with requests
for conversions of any Debentures in accordance with the terms hereof; or

               (xi)  the Company shall fail for any reason to deliver the
payment in cash pursuant to a Buy-In (as defined herein) within five Business
Days after written notice for such Buy-In is provided.

          (b)  If any Event of Default occurs, the full principal amount of this
Debenture (and, at the Holder's option, all other Debentures then held by such
Holder), together with interest and other amounts owing in respect thereof, to
the date of acceleration shall become, at the Holder's election immediately due
and payable in cash. The aggregate amount payable upon an Event of Default shall
be equal to the sum of (i) the Mandatory Prepayment Amount (as defined in
Section 7) plus (ii) the product of (A) the number of Underlying Shares issued
in respect of conversions hereunder within thirty (30) days of the date of a
declaration of an Event of Default and then held by the Holder and (B) the
closing sales price of the Common Stock as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (or the
successor to its function of reporting share prices) on the date prepayment is
due or the date the full prepayment price is paid, whichever is greater.
Interest shall accrue on the prepayment amount hereunder from the seventh
Business Day after such amount is due (being the date of an Event of Default)
through the date of prepayment in full thereof at the rate of 18% per annum (or
such lesser maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable law), to
accrue daily from the date such payment is due hereunder through and including
the date of payment. All Debentures and Underlying Shares for which the full
prepayment price hereunder shall have been paid in accordance herewith shall
promptly be surrendered to or as directed by the Company. The Holder need not
provide and the Company hereby waives any presentment, demand, protest or other
notice of any kind, and the Holder may immediately enforce any and all of its
rights and remedies hereunder and all other remedies available to it under
applicable law. Such declaration may be rescinded and annulled by Holder at any
time prior to payment hereunder. No such rescission or annulment shall affect
any subsequent Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

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         Section 4.      Conversion.


               (a)       Conversion at Option of Holder. The Holder shall effect
conversions hereunder by delivering to the Company by facsimile a completed
conversion notice in the form attached as Exhibit A (a "Holder Conversion
Notice") and delivery to the Company within two Trading Days thereafter of the
principal amount of Debentures to be converted. Each Holder Conversion Notice
shall specify the date on which such conversion is to be effected, which date
may not be prior to the date such Holder Conversion Notice is deemed to have
been delivered hereunder (a "Holder Conversion Date"). If no Holder Conversion
Date is specified in a Holder Conversion Notice, the Holder Conversion Date
shall be the date that such Holder Conversion Notice is deemed delivered
hereunder. Subject to Section 4(b), each Holder Conversion Notice, once given,
shall be irrevocable. If the Holder is converting less than all of the principal
amount represented by the Debenture(s) tendered by the Holder with the Holder
Conversion Notice, or if a conversion hereunder cannot be effected in full for
any reason, the Company shall honor such conversion to the extent permissible
hereunder and shall promptly deliver to such Holder (in the manner and within
the time set forth in Section 4(e)) a new Debenture for such principal amount as
has not been converted.

               (b)       Conversion at Option of the Company.

                         (i)  If the conditions set forth in this subsection are
satisfied, the Company may require the conversion of all or a portion of the
principal amount of the Debentures subject to an effective Underlying Shares
Registration Statement. The Company shall only have the right to require
conversions hereunder if (i) the closing sales price of the Common Stock as
reported by Bloomberg L.P. (or any successor to its function of reporting share
prices) exceeds $6.72 (subject to equitable adjustment in the event of stock
splits and similar events) for twenty consecutive Trading Days following the
date on which an Underlying Shares Registration Statement shall have first been
declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Effective
Date"), (ii) the Underlying Shares Registration Statement shall be effective and
the prospectus thereunder available to the Holders for the resale of all
Underlying Shares issuable upon such conversion during the entire twenty Trading
Day period and on the Company Conversion Date (as defined below) or Underlying
Shares may be sold by the Holder subject to such conversion without volume
limitation under Rule 144(k) promulgated under the Securities Act on the Company
Conversion Date, (iii) the Company has available sufficient unreserved and
available shares of Common Stock to fulfill its share delivery requirements upon
such conversion, (iv) the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the
NASDAQ or a Subsequent Market during the entire twenty Trading Day calculation
period described above in this subsection, (v) such conversion would not result
in a violation of Section 4d(i), (ii) or (iii), and (vi) the Company shall not
have been more than three Trading Days late in delivering any conversion shares
pursuant to Section 4(e).

                         (ii) The Company shall exercise its right to
require conversions under Section 4(b)(i) by delivering to the Holder a
completed conversion notice in the form attached as Exhibit B (a "Company
Conversion Notice"). Each of a Company Conversion Notice and a Holder Conversion
Notice is sometimes referred to herein as a "Conversion Notice". Each

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Company Conversion Notice shall specify the principal amount of Debentures to be
converted and the date on which such conversion is to be effected, which date
may not be prior to the date such Company Conversion Notice is deemed to have
been delivered hereunder (a "Company Conversion Date"). Each of a Company
Conversion Date and a Holder Conversion Date is referred to herein as a
"Conversion Date". If no Conversion Date is specified in a Company Conversion
Notice, the Conversion Date shall be the date that such Company Conversion
Notice is deemed delivered hereunder. Subject to the Holder's rights under
Section 4(b), the conversion subject to each Company Conversion Notice, once
given, shall be irrevocable. Not more than three Trading Days following receipt
of the Company Conversion Notice, the Holder shall deliver to the Company the
principal amount of Debentures subject to such Company Conversion Notice against
receipt of the Underlying Shares. If the Company is requiring conversion of less
than the full principal amount represented by the Debenture(s) tendered by the
Holder following a Company Conversion Notice, or if a conversion hereunder
cannot be effected in full for any reason, the Company shall honor such
conversion to the extent permissible hereunder and shall promptly deliver to
such Holder (in the manner and within the time set forth in Section 4(e)) a new
Debenture for such principal amount as has not been converted.

               (c)  Number of Underlying Shares Issuable Upon Conversion.


                         (i)       The number of shares of Common Stock issuable
upon a conversion hereunder shall be determined by adding the sum of (i) the
quotient obtained by dividing (x) the principal amount of this Debenture to be
converted and (y) the Conversion Price (as defined herein), and (ii) the amount
equal to (I) the product of (x) the principal amount of this Debenture to be
converted and (y) the product of (1) .000139 and (2) the number of days for
which such principal amount was outstanding, divided by (II) the Conversion
Price on the Conversion Date, provided, that (1) if the Company shall have paid
the interest at issue in cash, subsection (ii) shall not be used in the
calculation of the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such
conversion, and (2) only such portion of the accrued and outstanding amount of
interest owing on the principal amount being converted shall be calculated in
subsection (ii), giving credit for previously paid interest on such principal
amount.

                         (ii)      Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, if on any Conversion Date: (1) the number of shares of Common
Stock at the time authorized, unissued and unreserved for all purposes, or held
as treasury stock, is insufficient to permit issuance of the shares upon
Conversion; (2) after the Effective Date (as defined in Section 7) such shares
of Common Stock (x) are not registered for resale pursuant to an effective
Underlying Shares Registration Statement and (y) may not be sold without volume
restrictions pursuant to Rule 144(k) promulgated under the Securities Act (as
defined in Section 7), as determined by counsel to the Company pursuant to a
written opinion letter, addressed to the Company's transfer agent in the form
and substance reasonably acceptable to the applicable Holder and such transfer
agent; (3) the Common Stock is not listed or quoted for trading on the NASDAQ or
on a Subsequent Market; or (4) the issuance of such shares of Common Stock would
result in a violation of Sections 4(d)(i), (ii) or (iii), then, at the option of
the Holder, the

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Company, in lieu of delivering shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 4(c),
shall deliver, within ten Trading Days of each applicable Conversion Date, an
amount in cash equal to the product of (a) the outstanding principal amount of
the Debentures to be converted on such Conversion Date and (b) the product of
(x) .000139 and (y) the number of days for which such principal amount was
outstanding, less any interest previously paid in cash.

                    (d)  Certain Conversion Restrictions.

                         (i)       A Holder may not convert Debentures to the
extent such conversion would result in the Holder, together with any affiliate
thereof, beneficially owning (as determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of
the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder) in excess of 4.999% of
the then issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, including shares
issuable upon conversion of the Debentures held by such Holder after application
of this Section. Since the Holder will not be obligated to report to the Company
the number of shares of Common Stock it may hold at the time of a conversion
hereunder, unless the conversion at issue would result in the issuance of shares
of Common Stock in excess of 4.999% of the then outstanding shares of Common
Stock without regard to any other shares which may be beneficially owned by the
Holder or an affiliate thereof, the Holder shall have the authority and
obligation to determine whether the restriction contained in this Section will
limit any particular conversion hereunder and to the extent that the Holder
determines that the limitation contained in this Section applies, the
determination of which portion of the principal amount of Debentures are
convertible shall be the responsibility and obligation of the Holder. If the
Holder has delivered a Conversion Notice for a principal amount of Debentures
that, without regard to any other shares that the Holder or its affiliates may
beneficially own, would result in the issuance in excess of the permitted amount
hereunder, the Company shall notify the Holder of this fact and shall honor the
conversion for the maximum principal amount permitted to be converted on such
Conversion Date in accordance with the periods described in Section 4(b) and, at
the option of the Holder, either retain any principal amount tendered for
conversion in excess of the permitted amount hereunder for future conversions or
return such excess principal amount to the Holder. The provisions of this
Section may be waived by a Holder (but only as to itself and not to any other
Holder) upon not less than sixty-one days prior notice to the Company. Other
Holders shall be unaffected by any such waiver.

                         (ii)      A Holder may not convert Debentures to the
extent such conversion would result in the Holder, together with any affiliate
thereof, beneficially owning (as determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of
the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder) in excess of 9.999% of
the then issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, including shares
issuable upon conversion of the Debentures held by such Holder after application
of this Section. Since the Holder will not be obligated to report to the Company
the number of shares of Common Stock it may hold at the time of a conversion
hereunder, unless the conversion at issue would result in the issuance of shares
of Common Stock in excess of 9.999% of the then outstanding shares of Common
Stock without regard to any other shares which may be beneficially owned by the
Holder or an affiliate thereof, the Holder shall have the authority and
obligation to determine whether the restriction contained in

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this Section will limit any particular conversion hereunder and to the extent
that the Holder determines that the limitation contained in this Section
applies, the determination of which portion of the principal amount of
Debentures are convertible shall be the responsibility and obligation of the
Holder. If the Holder has delivered a Conversion Notice for a principal amount
of Debentures that, without regard to any other shares that the Holder or its
affiliates may beneficially own, would result in the issuance in excess of the
permitted amount hereunder, the Company shall notify the Holder of this fact and
shall honor the conversion for the maximum principal amount permitted to be
converted on such Conversion Date in accordance with the periods described in
Section 4(b) and, at the option of the Holder, either retain any principal
amount tendered for conversion in excess of the permitted amount hereunder for
future conversions or return such excess principal amount to the Holder. The
provisions of this Section may be waived by a Holder (but only as to itself and
not to any other Holder) upon not less than sixty-one days prior notice to the
Company. Other Holders shall be unaffected by any such waiver.

                         (iii)     If the Common Stock is then listed for
trading on the NASDAQ National Market or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market and the
Company has not obtained the Shareholder Approval (as defined below), then the
Company is precluded from issuing at a Conversion Price or, with respect to the
Warrants described below in this sentence, an exercise price, that is less than
the closing sales price per share of the Common Stock on the Trading Day
immediately preceding the first closing of the transactions contemplated by the
Purchase Agreement, subject to equitable adjustment in the event of stock splits
and similar events (such price, the "Market Price"), in excess of 5,160,577
shares of Common Stock (the "Issuable Maximum") upon conversion of the
Debentures and exercise of the Warrants (as defined in the Purchase Agreement).
The Issuable Maximum equals 19.999% of the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately prior to the first closing of transactions set forth in
the Purchase Agreement. Accordingly, if on any Conversion Date (A) the Common
Stock is listed for trading on the NASDAQ or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market and (B)
the Company shall not have previously obtained the vote of shareholders (the
"Shareholder Approval"), if any, as may be required by the applicable rules and
regulations of the Nasdaq Stock Market (or any successor entity) applicable to
approve the issuance of a number of shares of Common Stock in excess of the
Issuable Maximum at a price below the Market Price, then the Company shall issue
to the Holder requesting a conversion a number of shares of Common Stock equal
to the lesser of (x) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such
conversion at the Conversion Price and (y) the Issuable Maximum less all shares
of Common Stock previously issued upon conversion of the Debentures and as
payment of interest thereon (but only those shares issued at a Conversion Price
less than the Market Price) and all shares of Common Stock previously issued
upon any exercise of Warrants (but only those shares issued at an exercise price
less than the Market Price). With respect to the principal amount of Debentures
tendered for conversion at issue for which a conversion in accordance with the
Conversion Price would, when aggregated with all shares of Common Stock
previously issued on account of conversions of Debentures and payment of
interest thereon and upon exercise of Warrants (at the exercise and Conversion
Price described in the immediately preceding sentence) (the "Excess Principal"),
result in the issuance of a number of shares of Common Stock in excess of the
Issuable Maximum, the converting Holder shall have the option to require the
Company

                                       8


<PAGE>   9


to either (1) use its best efforts to obtain the Shareholder Approval applicable
to such issuance as soon as is possible, but in any event not later than the
first to occur of (x) the twenty-fifth day from the date that the Commission
approves or indicates that it has no further comments to the Company's
preliminary proxy statement, if any, prepared for delivery to the shareholders
of the Company in connection with the Shareholder Approval contemplated hereby
and (y) the 90th day after such request (such date the "Approval Date"), or (2)
pay cash to the converting Holder in an amount equal to the Mandatory Prepayment
Amount for the Excess Principal. If the converting Holder shall have elected the
first option pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence and the Company
shall have failed for any reason to obtain the Shareholder Approval on or prior
to the Approval Date, then within three days of the Holder's demand therefore,
which may be given at any time following the Approval Date, the Company shall
pay cash to the converting Holder in an amount equal to the Mandatory Prepayment
Amount for the Excess Principal. If the Company fails to pay the Mandatory
Prepayment Amount in full pursuant to this Section within seven days of the date
payable, the Company will pay interest thereon at a rate of 18% per annum (or
such lesser maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable law) to
the converting Holder, accruing daily from the Conversion Date until such
amount, plus all such interest thereon, is paid in full. In the event there is
more than one holder of Debentures, the Issuable Maximum applicable to each
Debenture shall be determined pro rata by reference to the percentage of the
principal amount of all Debentures held by such Holder, provided that if one or
more Debentures shall have been prepaid or converted without having been issued
its pro rata allocated portion of the Issuable Maximum such unissued shares
shall be allocated pro rata to the remaining Holders. It is understood and
agreed that shares of Common Stock delivered to and held by the Holder or one of
its affiliates on account of conversion hereunder may not cast votes on the
matter of Shareholder Approval. Shares delivered on account of conversion
hereunder and not held by the Holder or its affiliates may cast votes on the
matter of Shareholder Approval. Any Mandatory Prepayment Amount owing pursuant
to this Section shall be due and payable by the 20th day following the demand
therefor.

               (e)       Delivery of Certificates.

                         (i)       Not later than three Trading Days after any
Conversion Date (a "Delivery Date"), the Company will deliver to the Holder (A)
a certificate or certificates which shall be free of restrictive legends and
trading restrictions (other than those required by Section 3.1(b) of the
Purchase Agreement or in the event that the Holder does not execute and deliver
to the Company by fax the undertaking set forth in the Company Conversion Notice
within two Trading Days after a Company Conversion Date (provided that in such
event, the Company shall cause any legend to be removed immediately upon receipt
of such undertaking)) representing the number of shares of Common Stock being
acquired upon the conversion of Debentures, (B) Debentures in a principal amount
equal to the principal amount of Debentures not converted, and (C) a bank check
in the amount of accrued and unpaid interest, provided, that the Company shall
not be obligated to issue certificates evidencing the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion of the principal amount of Debentures until Debentures
are delivered for conversion to the Company, or the Holder notifies the Company
that such Debentures have been lost, stolen or destroyed and provides a bond (or
other adequate

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<PAGE>   10


security) reasonably satisfactory to the Company to indemnify the Company from
any loss incurred by it in connection therewith. The Company shall, upon request
of the Holder, if available, use its best efforts to deliver any certificate or
certificates required to be delivered by the Company under this Section
electronically through the Depository Trust Corporation or another established
clearing corporation performing similar functions. If in the case of any
Conversion Notice such certificate or certificates are not delivered to or as
directed by the applicable Holder by the Delivery Date after a Conversion Date,
the Holder shall be entitled by written notice to the Company at any time on or
before its receipt of such certificate or certificates thereafter, to rescind
such conversion, in which event the Company shall immediately return the
certificates representing the principal amount of Debentures tendered for
conversion.

                         (ii)      If the Company fails to deliver to the
Holder such certificate or certificates pursuant to this Section 4 by the
Delivery Date, the Company shall pay to such Holder, in cash, as liquidated
damages and not as a penalty, $5,000 for each Trading Day after the Delivery
Date until such certificates are delivered. Nothing herein shall limit a
Holder's right to pursue actual damages or declare an Event of Default pursuant
to Section 3 herein for the Company's failure to deliver certificates
representing shares of Common Stock upon conversion within the period specified
herein and such Holder shall have the right to pursue all remedies available to
it at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific
performance and/or injunctive relief. The exercise of any such rights shall not
prohibit the Holders from seeking to enforce damages pursuant to any other
Section hereof or under applicable law. Further, if the Company shall not have
delivered any cash due in respect of conversions of Debentures or as payment of
interest thereon by the Delivery Date, the Holder may, by notice to the Company,
require the Company to issue shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 4(c),
except that for such purpose the Conversion Price applicable thereto shall be
the lesser of the Conversion Price on the Conversion Date and the Conversion
Price on the date of such Holder demand. Any such shares will be subject to the
provision of this Section.

                         (iii)     In addition to any other rights available to
the Holder, if the Company fails to deliver to the Holder such certificate or
certificates pursuant to this Section 4 by the Delivery Date, and if after the
Delivery Date the Holder purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise)
Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by such Holder of the
Underlying Shares which the Holder anticipated receiving upon such conversion (a
"Buy-In"), then the Company shall pay in cash to the Holder (in addition to any
remedies available to or elected by the Holder) the amount by which (x) the
Holder's total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the
Common Stock so purchased exceeds (y) the product of (1) the lesser of (A) the
aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that such Holder anticipated
receiving from the conversion at issue or (B) the number of shares of Common
Stock so purchased, multiplied by (2) the Conversion Price of the Common Stock
on the Conversion Date, in which event the number of shares of Common Stock that
would have been issued had the Company timely complied with its delivery
requirements under this Section 4 shall not be so issued. For example, if the
Holder purchases Common Stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover
a Buy-In in connection with an attempted conversion

                                       10



<PAGE>   11

of Debentures with respect to which the Conversion Price of the Underlying
Shares on the applicable Conversion Date multiplied by the number of Underlying
Shares was equal to $2,000 under clause (A) of the immediately preceding
sentence, the Company shall be required to pay the Holder $9,000. The Holder
shall provide the Company written notice indicating the amounts payable to the
Holder in respect of the Buy-In. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to
the contrary, if a Holder requires the Company to make payment in respect of a
Buy-In for the failure to timely deliver certificates hereunder and the Company
timely pays in full such payment, the Company shall not be required to pay such
Holder liquidated damages under Section 4(e)(ii) in respect of the certificates
resulting in such Buy-In.

     (f) Conversion Price; Adjustment. The Conversion Price of the Debentures on
any Conversion Date(the "Conversion Price") shall equal $4.80, subject to
adjustment as provided for in subsection (i) through (x) below and in Section 5
hereof.

          (i) If the Company, at any time while any Debentures are outstanding,
     (a) shall pay a stock dividend or otherwise make a distribution or
     distributions on shares of its Common Stock or any other equity or equity
     equivalent securities payable in shares of Common Stock (other than PIK
     dividend preferred stock), (b) subdivide outstanding shares of Common Stock
     into a larger number of shares, (c) combine (including by way of reverse
     stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of
     shares, or (d) issue by reclassification of shares of the Common Stock any
     shares of capital stock of the Company, then the Conversion Price shall be
     multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of
     shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding
     before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of
     shares of Common Stock outstanding after such event. Any adjustment made
     pursuant to this Section shall become effective immediately after the
     record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such
     dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the
     effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or
     re-classification.

          (ii) If the Company, at any time while any Debentures are outstanding,
     shall issue rights, options or warrants to all holders of Common Stock (and
     not to Holders) entitling them to subscribe for or purchase shares of
     Common Stock at a price per share less than the Per Share Market Value at
     the record date mentioned below, then the Conversion Price shall be
     multiplied by a fraction, of which the denominator shall be the number of
     shares of the Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding
     on the date of issuance of such rights or warrants plus the number of
     additional shares of Common Stock offered for subscription or purchase, and
     of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of the Common Stock
     (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding on the date of issuance of
     such rights or warrants plus the number of shares which the aggregate
     offering price of the total number of shares so offered would purchase at
     such Per Share Market Value. Such adjustment shall be made whenever such
     rights or warrants are issued, and shall become effective immediately after
     the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive
     such rights, options or warrants. However, upon the expiration of any such

                                       11

<PAGE>   12
right, option or warrant to purchase shares of the Common Stock the issuance of
which resulted in an adjustment in the Conversion Price pursuant to this
Section, if any such right, option or warrant shall expire and shall not have
been exercised, the Conversion Price shall immediately upon such expiration be
recomputed and effective immediately upon such expiration be increased to the
price which it would have been (but reflecting any other adjustments in the
Conversion Price made pursuant to the provisions of this Section after the
issuance of such rights or warrants) had the adjustment of the Conversion Price
made upon the issuance of such rights, options or warrants been made on the
basis of offering for subscription or purchase only that number of shares of the
Common Stock actually purchased upon the exercise of such rights, options or
warrants actually exercised.

          (iii) If the Company or any subsidiary thereof, as applicable with
respect to Common Stock Equivalents (as defined below), at any time while
Debentures are outstanding shall issue shares of Common Stock or rights,
warrants, options or other securities or debt that are convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of Common Stock ("Common Stock Equivalents"), entitling
any Person to acquire shares of Common Stock at a price per share less than the
Conversion Price (if the holder of the Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalent
so issued shall at any time, whether by operation of purchase price adjustments,
reset provisions, floating conversion, exercise or exchange prices or otherwise,
or due to warrants, options or rights issued in connection with such issuance,
be entitled to receive shares of Common Stock at a price less than the
Conversion Price, such issuance shall be deemed to have occurred for less than
the Conversion Price), then, the Conversion Price shall be multiplied by a
fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately prior to the issuance of such shares of Common Stock or
such Common Stock Equivalents plus the number of shares of Common Stock which
the offering price for such shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents
would purchase at the Conversion Price, and the denominator of which shall be
the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to
such issuance plus the number of shares of Common Stock so issued or issuable,
provided, that for purposes hereof, all shares of Common Stock that are issuable
upon conversion exercise or exchange of Common Stock Equivalents shall be deemed
outstanding immediately after the issuance of such Common Stock Equivalents.
Such adjustment shall be made whenever such shares of Common Stock or Common
Stock Equivalents are issued. However, upon the expiration of any Common Stock
Equivalents the issuance of which resulted in an adjustment in the Conversion
Price pursuant to this Section, if any such Common Stock Equivalents shall
expire and shall not have been exercised, the Conversion Price shall immediately
upon such expiration be recomputed and effective immediately upon such
expiration be increased to the price which it would have been (but reflecting
any other adjustments in the Conversion Price made pursuant to the provisions of
this Section after the issuance of such Common Stock Equivalents) had the
adjustment of the Conversion Price made upon the issuance of such Common Stock
Equivalents been made on the basis of offering for subscription or purchase only
that number of shares of Common Stock actually purchased upon the exercise of
such


                                       12
<PAGE>   13
     Common Stock Equivalents actually exercised. The foregoing shall not apply
     to any (i) issuances of securities as consideration in a merger,
     consolidation or acquisition of assets, or in connection with any strategic
     partnership or joint venture (the primary purpose of which is not to raise
     equity capital), or as consideration for the acquisition of a business,
     product or license by the Company, (ii) the issuance of securities upon the
     exercise or conversion of the Company's options, warrants or other
     convertible securities outstanding as of the date hereof, or (iii) the
     grant of options or warrants, or the issuance of additional securities,
     under any duly authorized Company stock option, restricted stock plan or
     stock purchase plan for the benefit of the Company's employees.

          (iv) If the Company, at any time while Debentures are outstanding,
     shall distribute to all holders of Common Stock (and not to Holders)
     evidences of its indebtedness or assets or rights or warrants to subscribe
     for or purchase any security, then in each such case the Conversion Price
     at which Debentures shall thereafter be convertible shall be determined by
     multiplying the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to the record
     date fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to receive such
     distribution by a fraction of which the denominator shall be the Per Share
     Market Value determined as of the record date mentioned above, and of which
     the numerator shall be such Per Share Market Value on such record date less
     the then fair market value at such record date of the portion of such
     assets or evidence of indebtedness so distributed applicable to one
     outstanding share of the Common Stock as determined by the Board of
     Directors in good faith. In either case the adjustments shall be described
     in a statement provided to the Holders of the portion of assets or
     evidences of indebtedness so distributed or such subscription rights
     applicable to one share of Common Stock. Such adjustment shall be made
     whenever any such distribution is made and shall become effective
     immediately after the record date mentioned above.

          (v) In case of any reclassification of the Common Stock or any
     compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is converted
     into other securities, cash or property, the Holders shall have the right
     thereafter to, at their option, (A) convert the then outstanding principal
     amount, together with all accrued but unpaid interest and any other amounts
     then owing hereunder in respect of this Debenture only, into the shares of
     stock and other securities, cash and property receivable upon or deemed to
     be held by holders of the Common Stock following such reclassification or
     share exchange, and the Holders of the Debentures shall be entitled upon
     such event to receive such amount of securities, cash or property as the
     shares of the Common Stock of the Company into which the then outstanding
     principal amount, together with all accrued but unpaid interest and any
     other amounts then owing hereunder in respect of this Debenture could have
     been converted immediately prior to such reclassification or share exchange
     would have been entitled or (B) require the Company to prepay the aggregate
     of its outstanding principal amount of Debentures, plus all interest and
     other amounts due and payable thereon, at a price determined in accordance
     with Section 3(b). The entire prepayment price shall be paid in cash. This
     provision shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications or share
     exchanges.


                                       13
<PAGE>   14


          (vi)      All calculations under this Section 4 shall be made to the
     nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. No
     adjustments in the Conversion Price shall be required if such adjustment is
     less than $0.01, provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of
     this Section are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken
     into account in any subsequent adjustment.

          (vii)     Whenever the Conversion Price is adjusted pursuant hereto,
     the Company shall promptly mail to each Holder a notice setting forth the
     Conversion Price after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement
     of the facts requiring such adjustment.

          (viii)    If (A) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other
     distribution) on the Common Stock; (B) the Company shall declare a special
     nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Common Stock; (C) the
     Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Common Stock
     rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock
     of any class or of any rights; (D) the approval of any stockholders of the
     Company shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the
     Common Stock, any consolidation or merger to which the Company is a party,
     any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the
     Company, of any compulsory share exchange whereby the Common Stock is
     converted into other securities, cash or property; (E) the Company shall
     authorize the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding
     up of the affairs of the Company; then, in each case, the Company shall
     cause to be filed at each office or agency maintained for the purpose of
     conversion of the Debentures, and shall cause to be mailed to the Holders
     at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the stock books of the
     Company, at least twenty calendar days prior to the applicable record or
     effective date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on
     which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend,
     distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be
     taken, the date as of which the holders of the Common Stock of record to be
     entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants
     are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification,
     consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to
     become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that
     holders of the Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their
     shares of the Common Stock for securities, cash or other property
     deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale,
     transfer or share exchange, provided, that the failure to mail such notice
     or any defect therein or in the mailing thereof shall not affect the
     validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice.
     Holders are entitled to convert Debentures during the twenty-day period
     commencing the date of such notice to the effective date of the event
     triggering such notice.

          (ix)      Except as contemplated by the Merger Agreement, in case of
     any (1) merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person,
     or (2) sale by the Company of more than one-half of the assets of the
     Company (based upon then fair market value) in one or a series of related
     transactions, a Holder shall have the right to

                                       14

<PAGE>   15

     (A) if permitted under Section 3(b) hereof, exercise its rights of
     prepayment under Section 3(b) with respect to such event, or (B) convert
     its aggregate principal amount of Debentures then outstanding into the
     shares of stock and other securities, cash and property receivable upon or
     deemed to be held by holders of Common Stock following such merger,
     consolidation or sale, and such Holder shall be entitled upon such event or
     series of related events to receive such amount of securities, cash and
     property as the shares of Common Stock into which such aggregate principal
     amount of Debentures could have been converted immediately prior to such
     merger, consolidation or sales would have been entitled, or (C) in the
     event that the Holder shall have elected under clause (A) above and the
     Company shall not have failed to pay the amounts due under Section 3(b) by
     the second Business Day prior to the closing of such Change of Control
     Transaction, or shall have indicated its intention to do so, then in the
     case of a merger or consolidation at the closing thereof, (x) require the
     surviving entity to issue shares of convertible preferred stock or
     convertible debentures with such aggregate stated value or in such face
     amount, as the case may be, equal to the aggregate principal amount of
     Debentures then held by such Holder, plus all accrued and unpaid interest
     and other amounts owing thereon, which newly issued shares of preferred
     stock or debentures shall have terms identical (including with respect to
     conversion) to the terms of this Debenture (except, in the case of
     preferred stock, as may be required to reflect the differences between
     equity and debt) and shall be entitled to all of the rights and privileges
     of a Holder of Debentures set forth herein and the agreements pursuant to
     which the Debentures were issued (including, without limitation, as such
     rights relate to the acquisition, transferability, registration and listing
     of such shares of stock other securities issuable upon conversion thereof),
     and (y) simultaneously with the issuance of such convertible preferred
     stock or convertible debentures, shall have the right to convert such
     instrument only into shares of stock and other securities, cash and
     property receivable upon or deemed to be held by holders of Common Stock
     following such merger or consolidation. In the case of clause (C), the
     conversion price applicable for the newly issued shares of convertible
     preferred stock or convertible debentures shall be based upon the amount of
     securities, cash and property that each share of Common Stock would receive
     in such transaction and the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to
     the effectiveness or closing date for such transaction. The terms of any
     such merger, sale or consolidation shall include such terms so as to
     continue to give the Holders the right to receive the securities, cash and
     property set forth in this Section upon any conversion or redemption
     following such event. This provision shall similarly apply to successive
     such events.

          (x) In the event that at any time prior to the Third Closing Date (as
     defined in the Purchase Agreement) the Exchange Ratio (as defined in the
     Merger Agreement) is modified such that each share of Cereus Common Stock
     (as defined in the Merger Agreement) issued and outstanding immediately
     prior to the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement) shall be
     converted into the right to receive, without interest, more than 1.75 fully
     paid and non-assessable shares of Parent Common Stock (as defined in the
     Merger Agreement), then the Conversion Price shall be decreased
     proportionately as follows:

                                       15

<PAGE>   16


                    CP=              PX
                                     --
                               X+((CN)-- (CO))

Where:
                    CP=        New Conversion Price;

                    P=         $4.80;

                    X=         41,606,823;

                    C=         9,023,444;

                    O=         1.75; and

                    N=         The new Exchange Ratio.

     (g) The Company covenants that it will at all times reserve and keep
available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock solely for
the purpose of issuance upon conversion of the Debentures and payment of
interest on the Debentures, each as herein provided, free from preemptive rights
or any other actual contingent purchase rights of persons other than the
Holders, not less than such number of shares of the Common Stock as shall
(subject to any additional requirements of the Company as to reservation of such
shares set forth in the Purchase Agreement) be issuable (taking into account the
adjustments and restrictions of Section 4(b)) upon the conversion of the
outstanding principal amount of the Debentures and payment of interest
hereunder. The Company covenants that all shares of Common Stock that shall be
so issuable shall, upon issue, be duly and validly authorized, issued and fully
paid, nonassessable and, if the Underlying Shares Registration Statement has
been declared effective under the Securities Act, registered for public sale in
accordance with such Underlying Shares Registration Statement.

     (h) Upon a conversion hereunder the Company shall not be required to issue
stock certificates representing fractions of shares of the Common Stock, but may
if otherwise permitted, make a cash payment in respect of any final fraction of
a share based on the Per Share Market Value at such time. If the Company elects
not, or is unable, to make such a cash payment, the Holder shall be entitled to
receive, in lieu of the final fraction of a share, one whole share of Common
Stock.

     (i) The issuance of certificates for shares of the Common Stock on
conversion of the Debentures shall be made without charge to the Holders thereof
for any documentary stamp or similar taxes that may be payable in respect of the
issue or delivery of such certificate, provided that the Company shall not be
required to pay any tax that may be payable in respect of any transfer involved
in the issuance and delivery of any such certificate upon conversion in a name
other than that of the Holder of such Debentures so converted and the Company
shall

                                       16
<PAGE>   17


not be required to issue or deliver such certificates unless or until the person
or persons requesting the issuance thereof shall have paid to the Company the
amount of such tax or shall have established to the satisfaction of the Company
that such tax has been paid.

     (j) Any provision herein to be contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment in
the Conversion Price of the Debentures shall be made in respect of the issuance
by the Company of additional shares of Common Stock or additional Common Stock
Equivalents (i) unless the consideration per share for an additional share of
Common Stock Equivalents is less than the Conversion Price in effect on the date
of, and immediately prior to, such issue; or (ii) in any case where the shares
of Common Stock or the Common Stock Equivalents are issued or issuable (A) upon
conversions of the Debentures, (B) upon exercise of outstanding options or
warrants, (C) to any bank lender, or (D) to employees, officers or directors of,
or consultants to, the Company pursuant to stock option or stock purchase plans
or agreements or terms approved by the Company's Board of Directors.

     (k) Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be
provided by the Holders hereunder, shall be in writing and delivered personally,
by facsimile, sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service or sent
by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the Company, at
400 Galleria Parkway, Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30339, Facsimile No.: (703)
375-3160, attention General Counsel, or such other address or facsimile number
as the Company may specify for such purposes by notice to the Holders delivered
in accordance with this Section, with a copy to (other than for Conversion
Notices) to Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss P.C., One Woodward Avenue, Suite 2400,
Detroit, MI 48226. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to
be provided by the Company hereunder shall be in writing and delivered
personally, by facsimile, sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier
service or sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, addressed to
each Holder at the facsimile telephone number or address of such Holder
appearing on the books of the Company, or if no such facsimile telephone number
or address appears, at the principal place of business of the Holder. Any notice
or other communication or deliveries hereunder shall be deemed given and
effective on the earliest of (i) the date of transmission, if such notice or
communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile telephone number
specified in this Section prior to 6:30 p.m. (New York City time), (ii) the date
after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via
facsimile at the facsimile telephone number specified in this Section later than
6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m. (New York
City time) on such date, (iii) four days after deposit in the United States
mail, (iv) the Business Day following the date of mailing, if sent by nationally
recognized overnight courier service, or (v) upon actual receipt by the party to
whom such notice is required to be given.

         Section 5. Put Option; Redemption.


               (a)  If, at any time after the Original Issue Date, the Per Share
Market Value shall be less than $4.00 (as adjusted from time to time for stock
splits, stock dividends and the like) for fifteen consecutive Trading Days then,
and in such event the Holder shall at any time thereafter have the option to
require the Company to prepay this Debenture for an amount

                                       17

<PAGE>   18
equal to the Mandatory Prepayment Amount plus any and all accrued and unpaid
interest (the "Put Prepayment Amount") by notifying the Company in writing of
its election to do so (a "Put Notice"). Within five Business Days of receipt of
a Put Notice, the Company shall either pay the Put Prepayment Amount or advise
the Holder in writing (an "Election Notice") that it has elected not to prepay
this Debenture, but instead has elected to reduce the Conversion Price, in which
event the Company shall not be required to prepay this Debenture and the
Conversion Price then in effect shall thereafter be adjusted on the first day of
each month following the giving of the Put Notice to an amount which shall equal
the lesser (a) of the Conversion Price in effect on the first day of such month
or (b) the average Per Share Market Value for the last ten Trading Days of the
prior month (i.e., if the Conversion Price in effect on September 1, 2000 were
$5.50 per share and the average Per Share Market Value for the last ten Trading
Days of August 2000 were $3.25 per share, the Conversion Price would on and
after September 1, 2000 be $3.25 per share and, if the Conversion Price
thereafter remained unchanged until October 1, 2000 and the average Per Share
Market Value for the last ten Trading Days of September 2000 were $3.50 per
share the Conversion Price in effect from and after October 1, 2000 would remain
$3.25 per share, etc.)

               (b)  In the event the Company fails to deliver an Election Notice
within the prescribed period, then, and in such event, the Holder shall have
twenty business days to advise the Company in writing of its election to receive
the Put Prepayment Amount which, in such event, shall be immediately due and
payable, or to reduce the Conversion Price as provided in this Section,
retroactive to the date of the Put Notice.

               (c)  If at any time after the Original Issue Date the following
two conditions are met, the options set forth in Section 5(a) and 5(b) above, if
not previously effected, shall terminate and be of no further force and effect
(if the option set forth in Section 5(b) above shall have previously been
exercised, no further adjustment shall thereafter be required):

                    (i)  The Per Share Market Value shall exceed $6.00 (as
adjusted for stock dividends or any subdivision, combination or reclassification
of the Common Stock) for a period of Twenty Consecutive Trading Days (the
"Measurement Period"); and

                    (ii) The Underlying Share Registration Statement shall have
been effective at all times during the Measurement Period.

               (d)  If the Cereus Merger shall not have been consummated on or
prior to the 150th day after the Original Issuance Date, then by notifying the
Company in writing of its election to do so (a "Redemption Notice"), the Holder
shall have, at any time thereafter, the option to require the Company to prepay
this Debenture for the "Prepayment Amount" (as defined below). The Prepayment
Amount shall equal, (i) if such prepayment is made on or before the ninetieth
day following the Redemption Notice, one-hundred percent of the principal amount
of this Debenture, (ii) if such prepayment is made after the ninetieth day but
on or before the one hundred eightieth day following the Redemption Notice, one
hundred ten percent of the principal amount of this Debenture, and (iii) if such
prepayment is made after the one hundred eightieth day following the Redemption
Notice, one hundred twenty percent of

                                       18
<PAGE>   19

the principal amount of this Debenture, in each case together with any and all
accrued and unpaid interest through the date of payment. Until this Debenture is
paid in full, Holder shall have all of its rights hereunder without interruption
or modification notwithstanding its delivery of Redemption Notice.

     Section 6.     Unconditional Obligation. Except as expressly provided
herein, no provision of this Debenture shall alter or impair the obligation of
the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of,
interest and liquidated damages (if any) on, this Debenture at the time, place,
and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed. This Debenture is a
direct obligation of the Company. This Debenture ranks pari passu with all other
Debentures now or hereafter issued under the terms set forth herein. As long as
there are Debentures outstanding, the Company shall not and shall cause it
subsidiaries not to, without the consent of the Holders, (i) amend its
certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other charter documents so as to
adversely affect any rights of the Holders (creation of a class of preferred
stock that does not otherwise alter the relative rights, preferences or terms of
this Debenture or otherwise breach other provisions of the Transaction Documents
will not violate this clause); or (ii) enter into any agreement with respect to
the foregoing. The Company may not prepay principal amount under the Debentures
without the consent of the Holders.

     Section 7.     Definitions. For the purposes hereof, the following terms
shall have the following meanings:

          "Business Day" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day which
shall be a federal legal holiday in the United States or a day on which banking
institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other
government action to close.

          "Cereus Merger" means the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

          "Change of Control Transaction" means the occurrence of any of (i) an
acquisition after the date hereof by an individual or legal entity or "group"
(as described in Rule 13d-5(b)(1) promulgated under the Exchange Act) of
effective control (whether through legal or beneficial ownership of capital
stock of the Company, by contract or otherwise) of in excess of 50% of the
voting securities of the Company, (ii) a replacement at one time or over time of
more than one-half of the members of the Company's board of directors which is
not approved by a majority of those individuals who are members of the board of
directors on the date hereof (or by those individuals who are serving as members
of the board of directors on any date whose nomination to the board of directors
was approved by a majority of the members of the board of directors who are
members on the date hereof), (iii) the merger of the Company with or into
another entity that is not wholly-owned by the Company, consolidation or sale of
50% or more of the assets of the Company in one or a series of related
transactions, or (iv) the execution by the Company of an agreement to which the
Company is a party or by which it is bound, providing for any of the events set
forth above in (i), (ii) or (iii).

          "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                       19
<PAGE>   20

          "Common Stock" means the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of
the Company and stock of any other class into which such shares may hereafter
have been reclassified or changed.

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

          "Effective Date" means the date that an Underlying Shares Registration
Statement is declared effective by the Commission.

          "Mandatory Prepayment Amount" shall equal the sum of (i) the greater
of (A) 120% of the principal amount of Debentures to be prepaid, plus all
accrued and unpaid interest thereon, and (B) the principal amount of Debentures
to be prepaid, plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, divided by the
Conversion Price on (x) the date the Mandatory Prepayment Amount is demanded or
otherwise due or (y) the date the Mandatory Prepayment Amount is paid in full,
whichever is less, multiplied by the closing sales price of the Common Stock as
reported by Bloomberg L.P. (or the successor to its function of reporting share
prices) on (x) the date the Mandatory Prepayment Amount is demanded or otherwise
becomes due or (y) the date the Mandatory Prepayment Amount is paid in full,
whichever is greater, and (ii) all other amounts, costs, expenses and liquidated
damages due in respect of such principal amount. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
if the event giving rise to the obligation to pay any Mandatory Prepayment
Amount shall be a merger or business combination or sale that would constitute a
Change of Control Transaction, then (x) if the consideration to be received by
the Holder were it to participate in such transaction would result in a premium
of 20% or more above the outstanding Debenture principal amount and interest
hereunder, clause (A) in this definition shall be deleted for such purposes and
(y) if the consideration to be received by the Holder were it to participate in
such transaction would result in a premium of 10% to 19.99% above the
outstanding Debenture principal amount and interest hereunder, clause (A) in
this definition shall equal 110%.

          "Merger Agreement" means the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of
June 12, 2000 by and among the Company and Cereus Technology Partners, Inc.

          "Original Issue Date" shall mean the date of the first issuance of the
Debentures regardless of the number of transfers of any Debenture and regardless
of the number of instruments which may be issued to evidence such Debenture.

          "Per Share Market Value" means on any particular date (a) the closing
bid price per share of Common Stock on such date on the NASDAQ, or if there is
no such price on such date, then the closing bid price on the NASDAQ on the date
nearest preceding such date, or (b) if the shares of Common Stock are not then
listed or quoted on a NASDAQ, the closing sale or bid price, as applicable, for
a share of Common Stock on a Subsequent Market, at the close of business on such
date, or (c) if the shares of Common Stock are not then listed or quoted on a
Subsequent Market, then the average of the "bulletin board" quotes on such date,
as determined in good faith by the Holder, or (d) if the shares of Common Stock
are not then

                                       20
<PAGE>   21
publicly traded the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined
by an Appraiser selected in good faith by the Holders of a majority in interest
of the principal amount of Debentures then outstanding.

               "Person" means a corporation, an association, a partnership,
organization, a business, an individual, a government or political subdivision
thereof or a governmental agency.

               "Purchase Agreement" means the Convertible Debenture Purchase
Agreement, dated July 27, 2000, to which the Company and the original Holder are
parties, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance
with its terms.

               "Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights
Agreement, dated July 27, 2000, to which the Company and the original Holder are
parties, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance
with its terms.

               "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

               "Trading Day" means (a) a day on which the shares of Common Stock
are traded on a The Nasdaq NMS, or (b) if the shares of Common Stock are not
listed on The Nasdaq NMS, a day on which the shares of Common Stock are traded
on a subsequent Market, or (c) if the shares of Common Stock are not quoted on
the NASDAQ or any Subsequent Market, a day on which the shares of Common Stock
are quoted in the over-the-counter market as reported by the National Quotation
Bureau Incorporated (or any similar organization or agency succeeding its
functions of reporting prices); provided that in the event that the shares of
Common Stock are not listed or quoted as set forth in (a), (b) and (c) hereof,
then Trading Day shall mean any Business Day.

               "Transaction Documents" shall have the meaning set forth in the
Purchase Agreement.

               "Underlying Shares" means the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon conversion of Debentures or as payment of interest in accordance with the
terms hereof.

               "Underlying Shares Registration Statement" means a registration
statement meeting the requirements set forth in the Registration Rights
Agreement, covering, among other things, the resale of the Underlying Shares and
naming the Holder as a "selling stockholder" thereunder.

     Section 8. This Debenture shall not entitle the Holder to any of the rights
of a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to
vote, to receive dividends and other distributions, or to receive any notice of,
or to attend, meetings of stockholders or any other proceedings of the Company,
unless and to the extent converted into shares of Common Stock in accordance
with the terms hereof.

                                       21
<PAGE>   22

         Section 9.  If this Debenture shall be mutilated, lost, stolen or
destroyed, the Company shall execute and deliver, in exchange and substitution
for and upon cancellation of a mutilated Debenture, or in lieu of or in
substitution for a lost, stolen or destroyed debenture, a new Debenture for the
principal amount of this Debenture so mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed but
only upon receipt of evidence of such loss, theft or destruction of such
Debenture, and of the ownership hereof, and indemnity, if requested, all
reasonably satisfactory to the Company.

         Section 10. No current indebtedness of the Company is, and no future
indebtedness of the Company will be, senior to this Debenture in right of
payment, whether with respect to interest, damages or upon liquidation or
dissolution or otherwise other than Senior Indebtedness (as defined below),
indebtedness secured by purchase money security interests (which will be senior
as to the underlying asset covered thereby) and capital lease obligations (which
will be senior as to the property covered thereby).

         Section 11. (a) Subject to the provisions of this Section 11 relating
to payments on the Subordinated Indebtedness that are permitted to be made to
the extent and under the circumstances set forth herein, Holder hereby postpones
and subordinates all of the Subordinated Indebtedness to the full and final
payment and discharge of all of the Senior Indebtedness.

                 (b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 11(c) hereof, (i)
Company may pay to Holder, and Holder may accept and retain, any regularly
scheduled installments of principal and interest due and owing to Holder from
Company under this Debenture in accordance with its tenor, but without
prepayment (whether mandatory or optional) or payment upon acceleration,
including, without limitation, any Put Prepayment Amount, and (ii) Holder and
Company may exercise their rights under this Debenture to convert all or a
portion of the Subordinated Indebtedness to Common Stock.

                 (c) Company shall not be permitted to make any payments with
respect to the Debenture (other than distributions of Common Stock upon the
conversion of all or a portion of the Subordinated Indebtedness to Common
Stock), including, without limitation, any Put Prepayment Amount, and Holder
shall not be permitted to retain any payments with respect to the Debenture
(other than distributions of Common Stock upon the conversion of all or a
portion of the Subordinated Indebtedness to Common Stock) if, at the time of
making such payment or as a result thereof, any PNC Default or PNC Event of
Default exists or would exist. In no event shall any Lender's continuing to
honor any requests of Company or any other borrower for loans or other
extensions of credit under the PNC Agreement after the occurrence or existence
of any such PNC Default or PNC Event of Default be deemed a waiver thereof,
unless such PNC Default or PNC Event of Default is expressly waived in writing
by the Lenders.

                 (d) If any payment, distribution or security, or the proceeds
thereof, are received by Holder on account of or with respect to any of the
Subordinated Indebtedness other than as expressly permitted in this Section 11,
Holder shall forthwith deliver same to Agent,

                                       22
<PAGE>   23


for application to the Senior Indebtedness outstanding under the PNC Agreement,
in the form received (except for the addition of any endorsement or assignment
necessary to effect a transfer of all rights therein) or, at Agent's option,
Holder shall pay to Agent the amount thereof on demand. Until so delivered, any
such payment, distribution or security shall be held by Holder in trust for
Agent and shall not be commingled with other funds or property of Holder.

          (e) Any amendment or modification of the terms of this Section 11
shall not be effective against any Senior Creditor unless such Senior Creditor
so consents in writing.

          (f) No present or future Senior Creditor shall be prejudiced in its
right to enforce the provisions of this Section 11 by any act or failure to act
on the part of Company.

          (g) Holder agrees and acknowledges that in no event shall Holder
accept, receive or otherwise obtain any Lien on any assets of Company or any of
its subsidiaries. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, Holder is granted or
otherwise acquires such a Lien, Holder agrees and acknowledges such Lien shall
be subordinated to any and all Liens held by any Senior Creditor on any such
assets.

          (h) If the Senior Indebtedness has been indefeasibly paid and
discharged, Holder shall be subrogated (without any representation by or
recourse to any Senior Creditor) to the rights of Senior Creditors to receive
payments or distributions of cash, property or securities payable or
distributable on account of the Senior Indebtedness, to the extent of all
payments and distributions paid over to or for the benefit of Senior Creditors
pursuant to this Section 11 on account of the Subordinated Indebtedness. In no
event, however, shall Holder have any rights or claims against any Senior
Creditor for any alleged impairment of Holder's subrogation rights, Holder
acknowledging that any actions taken by a Senior Creditor with respect to the
Senior Indebtedness or the collateral securing all or any part of the Senior
Indebtedness are authorized and consented to by Holder.

          (i) The provisions of this Debenture subordinating the Subordinated
Indebtedness are solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of
Senior Creditors and Holder and shall not impair, as between Holder and Company,
the obligation of Company, which is unconditional and absolute, to pay the
Subordinated Indebtedness in accordance with its terms except as payment thereof
may be postponed in accordance with this Debenture.

          (j) For purposes of this Section 11, the following terms shall have
the following meanings:

           "Agent" shall mean PNC Bank, National Association, in its capacity as
administrative and collateral agent for the Lenders, and its successors in such
capacity.

           "Insolvency Proceeding" means any action, suit, case or proceeding
commenced by or against Company or any of its subsidiaries for the appointment
of a receiver for Company, any of Company's subsidiaries, any of Company's
property or any property of any

                                       23

<PAGE>   24

subsidiary of Company, for an order for relief under any chapter of the United
States bankruptcy code, as an assignment for the benefit of creditors or for any
relief under any other insolvency law relating to the readjustment,
reorganization, composition or extension of debts owed by Company or any
subsidiary.

          "Lenders" shall mean the various lenders who are or may become parties
to the PNC Agreement from time to time.

          "Lien" shall mean any security interest, statutory lien, common law
lien, equitable lien, or judicial lien or other interest in any property.

          "PNC Agreement" shall mean the Revolving Credit and Security Agreement
dated March 14, 2000, among Company, the other borrowers from time to time party
thereto, Lenders and Agent, as such agreement may be amended, modified,
restated, replaced, extended, refinanced, increased, renewed or supplemented
from time to time, any and all agreements relating thereto and any agreement
executed with or in favor of the Agent or any of the Lenders in connection with
any amendment, modification, restatement, replacement, extension, refinancing,
renewal or supplement thereof.

          "PNC Default" shall have the meaning ascribed to the term "Default" in
the PNC Agreement.

          "PNC Event of Default" shall have the meaning ascribed to the term
"Event of Default" in the PNC Agreement.

          "Senior Creditor" shall mean any holder of any of the Senior
Indebtedness.

          "Senior Indebtedness" means the principal of, and premium, if any, and
interest on (i) all indebtedness of Company for monies borrowed from banks,
trust companies, insurance companies and other financial institutions whose
primary business is lending money, including, without limitation, commercial
paper and accounts receivable sold or assigned by Company to such institutions
and any indebtedness of Company incurred in any Insolvency Proceeding, and (ii)
principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on any indebtedness or
obligations of a subsidiary of Company of the kinds described in (i) above
assumed or guaranteed in any manner by Company, as any of such indebtedness,
obligations or liabilities described in (i) or (ii) may be amended, modified,
restated, replaced, extended, refinanced, increased, renewed or supplemented
from time to time, and "Senior Indebtedness" shall include, all indebtedness,
liabilities, debts and obligations of Company and the other borrowers to Agent
and Lenders under the PNC Agreement, including, without limitation, all
principal, interest, fees and other expenses due and owing thereunder.

          "Subordinated Indebtedness" means all indebtedness, liabilities, debit
balances, covenants and duties at any time or times owed by Company or its
subsidiaries to Holder, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent,
secured or unsecured, primary or secondary, joint or several, liquidated or
unliquidated, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter

                                       24
<PAGE>   25

arising, including, without limitation, (i) all liabilities of Company to Holder
under this Debenture, the Purchase Agreement or the Registration Rights
Agreement, (ii) any debt, liability or obligation owing by Company to any other
Person which Holder may have obtained by assignment, pledge, purchase or
otherwise, (iii) all interest, fees, charges, expenses and attorneys' fees for
which Company is now or hereafter becomes liable to pay to Holder under any
agreement or by law, and (iv) any renewals, extensions or refinancings of any of
the foregoing.

          Section 12. This Debenture shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to
conflicts of laws thereof. The Company and the Holder hereby irrevocably submits
to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the
City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute
hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby
or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in
any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to
the jurisdiction of any such court, or that such suit, action or proceeding is
improper. Each of the Company and the Holder hereby irrevocably waives personal
service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action
or proceeding by receiving a copy thereof sent to the Company at the address in
effect for notices to it under this instrument and agrees that such service
shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve
process in any manner permitted by law.

          Section 13. Any waiver by the Company or the Holder of a breach of any
provision of this Debenture shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver
of any other breach of such provision or of any breach of any other provision of
this Debenture. The failure of the Company or the Holder to insist upon strict
adherence to any term of this Debenture on one or more occasions shall not be
considered a waiver or deprive that party of the right thereafter to insist upon
strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Debenture. Any waiver
must be in writing.

          Section 14. If any provision of this Debenture is invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, the balance of this Debenture shall remain in effect, and if any
provision is inapplicable to any person or circumstance, it shall nevertheless
remain applicable to all other persons and circumstances. If it shall be found
that any interest or other amount deemed interest due hereunder shall violate
applicable laws governing usury, the applicable rate of interest due hereunder
shall automatically be lowered to equal the maximum permitted rate of interest.

          Section 15. Whenever any payment or other obligation hereunder shall
be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the
next succeeding Business Day.

                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.
                             SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

                                       25
<PAGE>   26





     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Convertible Debenture to be
duly executed by a duly authorized officer as of the date first above indicated.

                                           ELTRAX SYSTEMS, INC.



                                           By: /s/ William A. Fielder III
                                              ---------------------------------
                                              Name:     William A. Fielder, III
                                              Title:    Chief Financial Officer

Attest:



By:  /s/ Steven A. Odom
   ---------------------------------------
     Name: Steven A. Odom
     Title: Acting Chief Executive Officer











                                       26
<PAGE>   27







                                    EXHIBIT A

                            HOLDER CONVERSION NOTICE

(To be Executed by the Registered Holder
in order to Convert the Debenture)

The undersigned hereby elects to convert the attached Debenture into shares of
the Common Stock (the "Common Stock") of Eltrax Systems, Inc. (the "Company")
according to the conditions hereof, as of the date written below. If shares are
to be issued in the name of a person other than undersigned, the undersigned
will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto and is delivering
herewith such certificates and opinions as reasonably requested by the Company
in accordance therewith. No fee will be charged to the holder for any
conversion, except for such transfer taxes, if any.

The undersigned hereby covenants and agrees that the undersigned (i) will not
sell or otherwise dispose of the shares of Common Stock to be delivered pursuant
to this Conversion Notice (the "Shares") except pursuant to an effective
registration statement (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), (ii) will sell the Shares only in accordance
with the Plan of Distribution set forth in the prospectus forming a part of the
Registration Statement (the ("Prospectus"), (iii) will comply with the
requirements of the Act when selling or otherwise disposing of the Shares,
including, but not limited to, the prospectus delivery requirements of the Act,
(iv) will not sell or otherwise dispose of, and will return immediately to the
Company for the purpose of placing a restrictive legend thereon, the Shares (and
any certificates representing the Shares, if applicable) upon notice from the
Company that the Prospectus may not be used for the sale of the Shares, and (v)
will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers, agents
and employees, each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Act and Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended), and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling
persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all
Losses (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement dated July 27, 2000 by
and between the Company and the investors signatory thereto) arising out of or
based upon any breach by the undersigned of any of the covenants contained
herein.

Conversion calculations:          ----------------------------------------------
                                  Date to Effect Conversion

                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Principal Amount of Debentures to be Converted

                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Number of shares of Common Stock to be Issued

                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Applicable Conversion Price

                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Signature

                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Name

                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Address


<PAGE>   28


                                    EXHIBIT B

                            COMPANY CONVERSION NOTICE


(To be Executed by the Company to Require
Conversion of Debentures)

The undersigned authorized officer of the Eltrax Systems, Inc. (the "Company")
hereby requires the conversion of the principal amount of the Company's
Debentures held by the registered holder addressee hereof of the Company's
Common Stock (the "Common Stock") pursuant to the conditions of the Dentures as
of the date written below. No fee will be charged to the holder for any
conversion, except for such transfer taxes, if any.

Conversion calculations:                    ------------------------------------
                                            Date to Effect Conversion

                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Principal Amount of Debentures to be
                                            Converted

                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Number of shares of Common Stock to
                                            be Issued

                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Applicable Conversion Price

                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Signature

                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Name and Office


     In order to induce the Company to issue shares without restrictive legend,
the undersigned hereby covenants and agrees that the undersigned (i) will not
sell or otherwise dispose of the shares of Common Stock to be delivered pursuant
to this Conversion Notice (the "Shares") except pursuant to an effective
registration statement (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), (ii) will sell the Shares only in accordance
with the Plan of Distribution set forth in the prospectus forming a part of the
Registration Statement (the ("Prospectus"), (iii) will comply with the
requirements of the Act when selling or otherwise disposing of the Shares,
including, but not limited to, the prospectus delivery requirements of the Act,
(iv) will not sell or otherwise dispose of, and will return immediately to the
Company for the purpose of placing a restrictive legend thereon, the

                                       2
<PAGE>   29

Shares (and any certificates representing the Shares, if applicable) upon notice
from the Company that the Prospectus may not be used for the sale of the Shares,
and (v) will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers,
agents and employees, each person who controls the Company (within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Act and Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended), and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such
controlling persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and
against all Losses (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement dated July
27, 2000 by and between the Company and the investors signatory thereto) arising
out of or based upon any breach by the undersigned of any of the covenants
contained herein.


                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Signature

                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Name







                                       3