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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.7
                                                                  Execution Form















                    ------------------------------------------------------------

                            EDISON BROTHERS BUILDING

                              STANDARD OFFICE LEASE

                                       FOR

                          EDISON BROTHERS STORES, INC.

                    ------------------------------------------------------------





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                            EDISON BROTHERS BUILDING
                              STANDARD OFFICE LEASE

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                -----------------

ARTICLE                INDEX                                                PAGE
-------                -----                                                ----

ARTICLE 1. PARTIES AND REFERENCE DATA..........................................1

ARTICLE 2. DEMISING CLAUSE.....................................................3

ARTICLE 3. TERM AND POSSESSION.................................................3

ARTICLE 4. RENT................................................................5

ARTICLE 5. SECURITY DEPOSIT....................................................7

ARTICLE 6. PERMITTED USE.......................................................7

ARTICLE 7. SERVICES............................................................8

ARTICLE 8. SUBLETTING AND ASSIGNMENT..........................................10

ARTICLE 9. QUIET POSSESSION AND SUBORDINATION.................................11

ARTICLE 10. LANDLORD'S RESERVED RIGHTS........................................12

ARTICLE 11. ALTERATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS......................................13

ARTICLE 12. REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS..........................................14

ARTICLE 13. DESTRUCTION OR DAMAGE.............................................14

ARTICLE 14. EMINENT DOMAIN....................................................15

ARTICLE 15. HOLDING OVER......................................................15

ARTICLE 16. SURRENDER OF POSSESSION...........................................16

ARTICLE 17. DEFAULT AND REMEDIES..............................................16

ARTICLE 18. BANKRUPTCY........................................................18

ARTICLE 19. INSURANCE AND WAIVER OF RECOVERY..................................19

ARTICLE 20. TAXES ON TENANT'S PROPERTY........................................21

ARTICLE 21. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT...................................21



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ARTICLE 22. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS...............................................21

ARTICLE 23. GENERAL PROVISIONS................................................22

ARTICLE 24. VACATION/TERMINATION OPTION.......................................27

ARTICLE 25. LCRA LEASE........................................................28

ARTICLE 26. OPTION TO EXTEND..................................................29

ARTICLE 27. TENANT PAYMENT....................................................31



Exhibit A                           Floor Plan

Exhibit B                           [intentionally deleted]

Exhibit C                           [intentionally deleted]

Exhibit D                           Building Rules

Exhibit E                           [intentionally deleted]

Exhibit F                           Lien Waivers

Exhibit G                           Lease Estoppel Certificate

Exhibit H                           [intentionally deleted]

Exhibit I                           Reserved Parking Spaces

Exhibit J                           First Floor Vacated Space Plan

Exhibit K                           Meeting Room Rules

Exhibit L                           Existing Security System

Exhibit M                           Meeting Rooms

Exhibit N                           First and Second Floor Relocation Areas

Exhibit O                           Subordination, Attornment and Non-
                                    Disturbance Agreement





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                            EDISON BROTHERS BUILDING
                              STANDARD OFFICE LEASE



                                   ARTICLE 1.
                           PARTIES AND REFERENCE DATA

                  As used in this Lease the following terms shall have the
following meanings:

                  1.1.   LANDLORD: EBS Building, L.L.C., a Delaware limited
liability company, having as its address for notice purposes:
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, One NationsBank Plaza, 800 Market Street, St. Louis,
Missouri 63101, Attn: Keith F. Cooper, with a copy to the Building manager, as
identified by Landlord by written notice to Tenant.

                  1.2.   TENANT:  Edison Brothers  Stores,  Inc., a Delaware 
corporation, having as its address for notice purposes 501 North Broadway, St.
Louis, Missouri 63102 Attn: Legal Department.

                  1.3.   DATE OF THIS LEASE:                September 30, 1998

                  1.4.   DATE OF TENANT FINISH FLOOR PLAN:           N/A
                         LANDLORD'S PLAN SUBMITTAL DATE:             N/A
                         TENANT'S PLAN APPROVAL DATE:                N/A

                  1.5.   LEASE COMMENCEMENT DATE:           October 1, 1998
                         RENT COMMENCEMENT DATE:            October 1, 1998
                         LEASE EXPIRATION DATE:             September 30, 2000

                  1.6.   TERM:                              Two years

                  1.7.   BUILDING: the office building in the City of St. Louis,
State of Missouri, known and numbered as 501 North Broadway, St. Louis, Missouri
63102, together with the legally subdivided lot upon which it is situated,
including all facilities and improvements thereon and consisting of
approximately 434,136 rentable square feet.

                  1.8.   PREMISES: approximately 206,450 rentable square feet in
the Building as depicted in Exhibit A of this Lease. Rentable Area shall be
193,442 square feet, which equals the Premises less the mezzanine areas as shown
on Exhibit A.

                  1.9.   SUITE NUMBER:  N/A,  Floor  Numbers:  Floors Three, 
Four and Five, parts of Floors One and Two, and the mezzanine levels of Floors
One and Two.

                  1.10.  PERMITTED  USE:  General  office  purposes  only and
for no other purpose without the prior written consent of Landlord.


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                  1.11.   ANNUAL BASE RENT AND MONTHLY BASE RENT INSTALLMENT:
Annual Base Rent shall be $9.00 per square foot of Rentable Area per year
through September 30, 2000; Monthly Base Rent Installment shall be the amount of
Annual Base Rent divided by 12.

                  1.12.   COMMERCIAL  OR  COMPREHENSIVE  GENERAL  LIABILITY 
                          INSURANCE  REQUIRED: 
$1,000,000.00, annual aggregate.

                  1.13.   SECURITY DEPOSIT: NONE.

                  1.14.   TENANT'S PROPORTIONATE SHARE:  44.56%.

                  1.15.   EXPENSE STOP AMOUNT: The Expense Stop Amount shall be
based upon the Expenses, as defined in Section 4.2 of the Lease, of the Building
for the 2000 (01/01/2000 - 12/31/2000) calendar year.

                  1.16.   TAX EXPENSE STOP AMOUNT: The Tax Expense Stop Amount
shall be based upon the Taxes, as defined in Section 4.2 of the Lease, of the
Building for the 2000 (01/01/2000 - 12/31/2000) calendar year.

                  1.17.  NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES: RESERVED: 68 spaces on Level
B-1 of the garage in the Building, as depicted on Exhibit I hereto; provided,
however, Tenant shall be entitled to the use of the "double spaces" on level B-1
of the garage in the Building, each of which shall only be counted as one space.
UNRESERVED: 107 spaces in the garage owned and operated by the Land Clearance
for Redevelopment Authority of the City of St. Louis and located on City Block
118 in the City of St. Louis (the "St. Louis Centre Garage"). The foregoing
numbers of spaces shall be subject to reduction pursuant to Section 23.19 below.
In addition to the parking spaces described above, Landlord shall license to
Tenant those additional 35 reserved and 143 unreserved parking spaces
(collectively, the "Additional Parking Spaces") previously made available to
Tenant under the Existing Lease (as defined below) until such time as Landlord
may revoke such license, in whole or in part, by written notice to Tenant that
Landlord proposes to make some or all of the Additional Parking Spaces available
to another tenant of the Building (whether or not then in occupancy of the
Building), which notice may be delivered by Landlord at any time and from time
to time. Tenant shall upon thirty (30) days written notice from Landlord
surrender all or the portion of such Additional Parking Spaces designated by
Landlord (subject to the limitations set forth in the following sentence) to
Landlord upon receipt of such notice and Tenant shall thereafter have no right
to utilize such spaces. During the initial Term of this Lease, in response to
Landlord's notice Tenant shall be obligated to surrender one of the Additional
Parking Spaces for each 1,000 rentable square feet of space in the Building
which Landlord proposes to lease to a tenant of the Building, whether or not
then in occupancy of the Building. During either of the Extension Periods, in
response to Landlord's notice Tenant shall surrender such number of the
Additional Parking Spaces as Landlord may designate in its notice to Tenant.

                  1.18.  INITIAL  MONTHLY  RENT PER  PARKING  SPACE:  RESERVED:
no charge.  UNRESERVED:  $65 per month.

                  1.19.  ADDENDUM:  See Addendum No. 1 attached hereto and
incorporated herein by reference.



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                  1.20.  BROKERS: Name of Landlord's broker: Insignia/ESG, Inc.;
Party responsible for payment: Landlord. Name of Tenant's broker: Cushman &
Wakefield, Inc.; Party responsible for payment: Tenant shall be responsible for
all payments to Cushman & Wakefield, Inc., and subject to and in accordance with
the provisions of Section 23.9 of this Lease, Landlord shall pay Tenant Twenty
Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) in the aggregate to reimburse Tenant for fees
paid to Cushman & Wakefield, Inc., The Stolar Partnership and/or Michael Fox,
Inc.

                  1.21.    EXHIBITS:  The  following  Exhibits  attached to this
Lease are incorporated herein by this reference.

                           Exhibit A. Floor Plan
                           Exhibit B. [intentionally deleted]
                           Exhibit C. [intentionally deleted]
                           Exhibit D. Building Rules
                           Exhibit E. [intentionally deleted]
                           Exhibit F. Lien Waivers
                           Exhibit G. Lease Estoppel Certificate
                           Exhibit H. [intentionally deleted]
                           Exhibit I. Reserved Parking Spaces
                           Exhibit J. First Floor Vacated Space Plan
                           Exhibit K. Meeting Room Rules
                           Exhibit L. Existing Security System
                           Exhibit M. Meeting Rooms
                           Exhibit N. First and Second Floor Relocation Areas
                           Exhibit O. Subordination, Attornment and Non-
                                      Disturbance Agreement

                                   ARTICLE 2.
                                 DEMISING CLAUSE

                  Landlord, for and in consideration of the rents, covenants and
agreements hereinafter mentioned and hereby agreed to be paid, kept and
performed by Tenant, does hereby lease to Tenant, and Tenant does hereby lease
from Landlord, the Premises on the terms and conditions contained herein.

                                   ARTICLE 3.
                               TERM AND POSSESSION

                  3.1. TERM. The Term shall commence on the Lease Commencement
Date and shall continue for the Term, unless earlier terminated as provided
herein. Any period of occupancy of the Premises by Tenant prior to the Lease
Commencement Date shall be governed by that certain Lease dated as of September
26, 1997 between Landlord and Tenant (the "Existing Lease"), which Existing
Lease, exclusive of the indemnities benefiting Landlord and/or Tenant
thereunder, shall terminate and be of no further force and effect concurrent
with the commencement of the Term; and in any event Tenant's and Landlord's
indemnities for the benefit of the other party under the Existing Lease shall
survive the termination of such Existing Lease. Landlord hereby acknowledges
that as of the date of this Lease, Landlord is not aware of any


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default by Tenant under the Existing Lease nor of any event which, with the
giving of notice or upon the passage of time, or both, could constitute a
default by Tenant under such Existing Lease. Tenant hereby acknowledges that as
of the date of the Lease, Tenant is not aware of any default by Landlord under
the Existing Lease nor of any event which, with the giving of notice or upon the
passage of time, or both, could constitute a default by Landlord under such
Existing Lease.

                  3.2. POSSESSION. Prior to execution of this Lease, Tenant has
been a tenant of the Premises for a number of years and has been afforded the
opportunity to fully completely examine and inspect the Premises. Tenant's
execution of this Lease shall be conclusive evidence for all purposes of
Tenant's acceptance of the Premises in good order and satisfactory condition,
and in a state and condition satisfactory, acceptable and suitable to Tenant's
use pursuant to this Lease. TENANT ACCEPTS THE PREMISES "AS IS" "WHERE IS" AND
WITH ANY AND ALL FAULTS, AND LANDLORD NEITHER MAKES NOR HAS MADE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE QUALITY,
SUITABILITY OR FITNESS THEREOF OF THE PREMISES OR THE CONDITION OR REPAIR
THEREOF.

                  3.3. BUILDING PLANNING. If, during the Term, Landlord requires
all or a portion of the Premises for use in conjunction with another suite or
for other reasons connected with the Building planning program, upon notifying
Tenant in writing, Landlord shall have the right to move Tenant out of such
portion of the Premises to other comparable space in the Building, at Landlord's
sole cost and expense, and the terms and conditions of this Lease shall remain
in full force and effect, save and excepting that a revised Exhibit A shall
become part of this Lease and shall reflect the location of the new space and
Article 1 of this Lease shall be amended to include all correct data as to the
new space. In order to be effective, any such notice delivered by Landlord shall
contain the following legend: "This notice constitutes a request for relocation
delivered pursuant to Section 3.3 of the Lease between EBS Building, L.L.C. and
Edison Brothers Stores, Inc." Landlord may effect such relocation only if the
new space meets with Tenant's reasonable approval and Tenant shall advise
Landlord of Tenant's approval thereof, or the withholding of such approval,
within ten (10) days of Landlord's notice to Tenant. If the new space does not
meet with Tenant's reasonable approval, Tenant may terminate this Lease with
respect to, but solely with respect to, the space from which Landlord requests
Tenant to move by providing written notice to Landlord of such termination
concurrent with Tenant's notice of disapproval of the new space. In the event
Tenant effects such termination, Tenant shall reimburse Landlord for the cost of
constructing any necessary demising walls and other improvements to the Building
necessary to permit leasing of such space to a third party, which payment shall
be made within ten (10) days of Landlord's invoice therefor. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, however, Landlord may not exercise such relocation right with regard
to any portion of the Premises situated on the Third, Fourth or Fifth Floors of
the Building or the mailroom situated on the First Floor of the Building, and
with regard to that portion of the Premises situated on the Second Floor of the
Building, Landlord may only exercise the foregoing relocation right with respect
to the areas between the "Harvard" and "Founders" rooms which, as of the date of
this Lease, constitute the Meeting Rooms (as defined below). Such areas on the
First and Second Floors of the Building are depicted on Exhibit N to this Lease.

                  3.4. COMMON AREAS. Tenant shall have the nonexclusive right to
use, in common with other tenants in the Building and subject to the Building
Rules, the common areas 



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in the Building. The "common areas" in the Building shall mean such areas as are
provided and maintained by Landlord from time to time as areas for the common
use by tenants or occupants of the Building, including Tenant and Landlord.

                                   ARTICLE 4.
                                      RENT

                  4.1. RENT. Commencing on the Rent Commencement Date, Tenant
shall pay the Annual Base Rent specified in Article 1 to Landlord at the
location designated from time to time by Landlord in the Monthly Base Rent
Installment specified in Article 1 in advance, on, or prior to the first day of
each and every month during the Term without abatement or reduction (except as
expressly set forth in Section 7.3 and Articles 13 and 14 of this Lease) or set
off or deduction whatsoever. The rent for any partial month shall be prorated on
the basis of thirty (30) days to the month and shall be paid on the first day of
such partial period.

                  4.2. ADJUSTMENTS TO RENT. During each lease year of any
Extension Period (as defined in Article 26 below), in addition to the Annual
Base Rent, Tenant shall pay as additional rent Tenant's Proportionate Share of
increases in Expenses and increases in Taxes in accordance with this Section
4.2. The Annual Base Rent and payments to be made pursuant to this Section 4.2
shall be referred to in this Lease as the "Rent". If the Expenses for any lease
year of any Extension Period exceed the Expense Stop Amount, Tenant shall pay
Tenant's Proportionate Share of such excess. If the Taxes in any lease year of
any Extension Period exceed the Tax Expense Stop Amount, Tenant shall pay
Tenant's Proportionate Share of such excess. Within one hundred eighty (180)
days after the end of each calendar year (or portion thereof) during the term of
any Extension Period hereunder, Landlord will provide Tenant with a written
notice ("Statement") setting forth Tenant's Proportionate Share of increases in
Taxes and/or Expenses over the Tax Expense Stop Amount or Expense Stop Amount,
as the case may be, together with a statement of Expenses and Taxes for the
previous calendar year. Within thirty (30) days following receipt of the
Statement, Tenant shall pay to Landlord as additional rent: (a) Tenant's
Proportionate Share of increases in Taxes over the Tax Expense Stop Amount
and/or Expenses over the Expense Stop Amount, as the case may be, for the
previous calendar year after credit for any estimated payments which Tenant has
made pursuant to this Section 4.2; and (b) an estimate of Tenant's Proportionate
Share for the months which have elapsed in the then current calendar year based
on the previous calendar year's increase in Expenses and/or Taxes over the
applicable Expense Stop Amount and Landlord's good faith projection of the
increase in Expenses and/or Taxes over the applicable Expense Stop Amount during
the current calendar year after credit for any estimated payments made by Tenant
pursuant to this Section 4.2. Commencing with the month following the month in
which the Statement is dated and continuing until such time as Tenant receives
Landlord's next Statement, Tenant shall, each month, pay 1/12 of the estimate of
Tenant's Proportionate Share of Expenses and Taxes over the applicable Expense
Stop Amount, which estimate shall be based on Expenses for the previous year and
taxes in excess of the Tax Expense Stop Amount based on Taxes for the previous
year and Landlord's good faith projection of the increase in Expenses and Taxes
for the current calendar year. Payments relative to Expenses shall be credited
against the actual Expenses as shown in Landlord's next Statement. Similarly,
payments relative to Taxes shall be credited against the actual Taxes as shown
in Landlord's next Statement. If the next Statement shows that Tenant has
overpaid and if Tenant is not then in default or thereafter in the event such
default is cured within the applicable cure 


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period, Landlord shall credit such overpayment against the next accruing
payments of Rent until the overpayment is reduced to zero, or if the Term of
this Lease (including any Extension Period) has ended, Landlord shall repay such
amount to Tenant as soon as reasonably practicable after the actual Expenses and
Taxes are known. The obligation to pay Tenant's Proportionate Share of the
excess of Taxes and/or Expenses over the applicable Expense Stop Amount shall
survive any termination of the Term, as extended at Tenant's option under
Article 26 hereof. In the event Tenant shall have elected to extend the term of
this Lease for the One Year Extension Period, Tenant will not be responsible to
pay that portion of the increase in Taxes over the Tax Expense Stop Amount or
Expenses over the Expense Stop Amount that is more than three percent (3%) in
excess of the Tax Expense Stop Amount or Expense Stop Amount, as the case may
be, during such One Year Extension Period. In the event Tenant shall have
elected to extend the Term of this Lease for the Seven Year Extension Period,
Tenant will not be responsible to pay that portion of the increase in Taxes over
the Tax Expense Stop Amount or Expenses over the Expense Stop Amount, as the
case may be, that is more than five percent (5%) in excess of the Tax Expense
Stop Amount or Expense Stop Amount, as the case may be, during the first year of
such Seven Year Extension Period or more than five percent (5%) in excess of the
Tax Expense Stop Amount or Expense Stop Amount, as the case may be, increased by
five percent (5%) each year (on a cumulative basis), during the remainder of
such Seven Year Extension Period. For example, in the event the Expense Stop
Amount was calculated to be $10,000, Tenant would not be responsible to pay its
proportionate share with respect to that portion of Expenses in excess of
$10,300 during the One Year Extension Period, such that Tenant's Proportionate
Share of Expenses over the Expense Stop Amount would not exceed $133.68 (44.56%
of $300) and the monthly payment would not exceed $11.14. Such payments would
commence January 1, 2001. Similarly, during the first Lease Year of the Seven
Year Extension Period, Tenant would not be responsible to pay its proportionate
share with respect to that portion of Expenses in excess of $10,500, commencing
January 1, 2001. Effective October 1, 2001, the foregoing cap would increase to
$11,025; $11,576.25 on October 1, 2002; $12,155.06 on October 1, 2003;
$12,762.82 on October 1, 2004; $13,400.96 on October 1, 2005; and $14,071.01 on
October 1, 2006.

                  4.3. EXPENSES. The term "Expenses" means all expenses and
costs of operating the Building, including, without limitation, the following
costs: (a) wages of all employees (including employment taxes and fringe
benefits); (b) janitorial labor and materials; (c) costs of building security
personnel; (d) electricity, gas, sewer, water, trash disposal and other
utilities but excluding those charges for which Landlord is otherwise reimbursed
by Tenant and excluding those charges separately billed to other tenants of the
Building; (e) maintenance and repairs (including maintenance and service
contracts); (f) landscaping maintenance; (g) insurance premiums; (h) capital
improvements to the extent necessary to comply with applicable governmental
rules and regulations; (i) expense of building management fees; and (j) capital
expenses which reduce any component cost of Expenses (such cost to be reasonably
amortized by Landlord and Expenses to include only the cost as so amortized by
Landlord during the calendar year for which such computation is made). Expenses
shall not include: (w) costs of alterations of any tenant's premises; (x)
principal and interest payments on loans made on the security of the Building;
(y) costs of capital expenditures (except as provided above in the this
section); and (z) leasing commissions. If the Building is not fully leased or if
Landlord is not providing standard building services to all tenants during any
calendar year, actual Expenses shall be adjusted to reflect a fully serviced and
leased Building for the purpose of making the adjustment to Annual




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Base Rent. Landlord shall utilize consistently applied accounting practices in
calculating Expenses during the Term.

                  4.4. TAXES. The term "Taxes" means (a) real estate taxes
assessed on the Building and personal property taxes assessed on the personal
property and equipment owned or leased by the Landlord and used in connection
with the Building, including any increases in real estate taxes as any partial
or full tax relief which presently may be afforded to the Building expires, and
further including any tax imposed as a substitute for or supplement to presently
existing real estate and/or personal property taxes; (b) reasonable expenses of
Landlord in attempting to reduce or limit real estate and/or personal property
taxes (any refunds to be credited against taxes in the year received); and (c)
any and all taxes, charges, and/or surcharges payable by Landlord (other than 
tax on net income) whether or not now customary or within the contemplation of
the parties hereto (i) upon allocation to, or measured by the Rentable Area of
the Premises or on the rent payable hereunder, including without limitation any
gross income tax or excise tax levied by the State, any political subdivision
thereof, City or Federal Government with respect to such rent; or (ii) upon or
with respect to possession, leasing, operation, management, maintenance,
alteration, repair, use or occupancy by Tenant of the Premises or any portion
thereof.

                  4.5. INSPECTION RIGHTS. During the Term and upon ten (10) days
prior written notice to Landlord, Tenant or Tenant's designee shall have the
right, during normal business hours, to inspect at the Landlord's office in the
Building, Landlord's books and records with respect to Expenses and Taxes within
sixty (60) days of Tenant's receipt of the Statement. Landlord shall cooperate
with Tenant in any such examination of Landlord's books and records, and shall,
if requested by Tenant make available a member of its staff to explain any
entries in such books and records. Tenant may, at Tenant's expense, make copies
of any such books or records not designated as confidential by Landlord;
provided, however, that such materials may not be disclosed by Tenant to any
other person or entity without Landlord's consent. Unless Tenant asserts
specific error(s) within sixty (60) days of Tenant's receipt of the Statement,
the Statement shall be deemed to be correct. In the event Landlord concurs with
Tenant's determination of specific error(s) in the Statement and if Tenant is
not then in default or thereafter in the event such default is cured within the
applicable cure period, Landlord shall credit any overpayment against the next
accruing payments of Rent until the overpayment is reduced to zero, or if the
Term of this Lease (including the Extension Period) has ended, Landlord shall
repay such amount to Tenant.

                                   ARTICLE 5.
                                SECURITY DEPOSIT

                  There shall be no security deposit required under this Lease.

                                   ARTICLE 6.
                                  PERMITTED USE

                  Tenant shall use and occupy (occupancy shall not exceed one
(1) person per 200 rentable square feet on any floors which are not fully
occupied by Tenant) the Premises only for the Permitted Use. Tenant and all
persons permitted by Tenant to come upon the Premises shall 




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comply with the Building Rules and with such reasonable modifications thereof as
Landlord may make from time to time. Landlord shall not be liable for any
nonobservance of the Building Rules or the Meeting Room Rules by any other
person; provided, however, Landlord will use reasonable efforts to enforce the
Building Rules and the Meeting Room Rules in a nondiscriminatory manner. Tenant
shall not make or permit to be made any use of the Premises which directly or
indirectly is forbidden by applicable law or governmental regulation or which
may be dangerous to persons or property or which may be in conflict with or
invalidate or increase the premium cost of any policy of insurance carried on
the Building. To the best of Landlord's knowledge, Tenant's current use of the
Premises pursuant to the Existing Lease does not conflict with or invalidate or
increase the premium cost of any policy of insurance carried on the Building.
Tenant shall have the right, in common with other tenants and occupants of the
Building, to use the meeting room facilities, if any, maintained by Landlord on
the second floor of the Building as depicted on Exhibit M to this Lease (the
"Meeting Rooms"). Tenant shall comply with the Meeting Room Rules and with such
reasonable modifications thereof as Landlord may make from time to time. The
configuration and availability of the Meeting Rooms shall be subject to such
modifications as Landlord may effect at any time and from time to time;
provided, however, that the Meeting Room currently named the "Founders" room
shall be maintained by Landlord in substantially its current configuration
during the initial Term of this Lease.

                                   ARTICLE 7.
                                    SERVICES

                  7.1. BUILDING STANDARD SERVICES. Landlord at Landlord's
expense shall furnish: (a) heat and air conditioning and ventilation to provide
a seasonable temperature (subject to governmental regulations) for normal
occupancy and use of the Premises under normal business operations daily from
7:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M., Saturdays from 7:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M., Sundays and the
following holidays excepted: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day,
Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day ("Normal Business Hours"); (b)
cold water from the public supply for drinking, lavatory and toilet purposes and
hot water for lavatory purposes from regular Building supply drawn through
fixtures installed by Landlord; (c) janitor service and customary cleaning in
and about the Premises (private kitchens, private eating areas and private
restrooms excepted) Monday through Friday (holidays excepted) comparable to
standard janitor service furnished by other Class A multi-tenant St. Louis
office buildings (Tenant shall not provide any janitor services or cleaning
without Landlord's prior consent); (d) passenger elevator service in common with
other tenants at all times, subject to temporary interruptions for maintenance
and subject to interruptions in the event of emergencies (freight elevator
service will be made available by Landlord upon reasonable notice by Tenant);
(e) window washing of all exterior windows in the Premises, both inside and out,
at reasonable intervals; (f) electrical service at those points of connection
provided and installed by Landlord and in the manner and to the extent deemed by
Landlord to be standard (which standard is described as "normal electrical
consumption" in Section 7.2 below); (g) restrooms; and (h) access to telephone
and network calling at no charge to Landlord. Tenant shall have no right of
access to and within the Building for the installation or operation of systems
for the provision of electrical service to the Premises for part or all of
Tenant's electrical energy requirements without Landlord's prior written
consent. Tenant shall report to Landlord any deficiency in the services provided
by Landlord or Landlord's agents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the
initial Term of this Lease, Landlord shall provide heat and air conditioning and
ventilation to provide a reasonable temperature (subject to



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governmental regulations) for normal occupancy and use of the Premises under
normal business operations on Mondays from 5:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M., from 6:00
A.M. to 9:00 P.M. Tuesday through Friday, and from 7:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. on
Saturdays and Sundays. In the event Tenant requires heat, air conditioning or
ventilation services before or after the foregoing hours, such services will be
available to Tenant at Landlord's expense (which expense shall constitute an
Expense for the purpose of calculating the Expense Stop Amount). Tenant may
obtain such services by providing notice to Landlord in accordance with
procedures established by Landlord from time to time. Heat, air conditioning and
ventilation services shall be provided to Tenant's computer room and telephone
room (all as presently configured) on a 24 hour per day basis, seven days per
week.

                  7.2. OVER BUILDING STANDARD SERVICES. During either of the
Extension Periods, if Tenant occupies the Premises after Normal Business Hours,
Tenant shall reimburse Landlord for the increased expenses of providing
utilities and other services necessary to operate the Building during such
hours, including but not limited to, increased expenses for heating, air
conditioning, security service, Building employees' overtime and any unusual
janitorial service. During either of the Extension Periods, after Normal
Business Hours heating, ventilating and air conditioning will be available to
Tenant at Tenant's expense at the from time to time cost thereof to Landlord as
calculated by Landlord (which is currently $25 per hour per floor, but which
charge shall be subject to unilateral change by Landlord from time to time as
provided herein). Normal electrical consumption on the Premises is as follows:
(i) electricity drawn from Building standard receptacles: 1 watt per usable
square foot in the Premises per hour; (ii) Building standard lighting: 2.5 watts
per usable square foot in the Premises per hour; and (iii) Building standard
heating, ventilating and air conditioning is designed to offset 4.5 watts per
usable square foot in the Premises per hour. Tenant will not be allowed to
exceed any of the amounts of electricity in the Premises as herein referenced
without Landlord's prior written approval. If Tenant receives Landlord's written
approval, Tenant is responsible for all expenses associated with such excess
electrical consumption during the Extension Period. Landlord reserves the right
to install submeters or to conduct an electric consumption audit to determine
electrical consumption on the premises at the expense of Landlord. A master
meter if desired by Tenant may be installed at Tenant's expense in a manner
approved by Landlord. Landlord shall have access to such metering devices at all
reasonable times and shall prepare a separate monthly statement of the excess
utilities used by such equipment based on the utility rates established from
time to time by the public utility furnishing such service. Tenant shall pay the
amounts shown on such statements to Landlord within five (5) business days of
receipt. Should Tenant fail to promptly pay for such service, Landlord may
discontinue furnishing such service, which shall not be deemed an eviction
(actual or constructive) or a disturbance of Tenant's possession, use and quiet
enjoyment of the Premises. Tenant agrees that Landlord shall not be liable for
damages resulting from such discontinuance, nor shall Tenant be relieved from
the performance of any of Tenant's covenants or obligations under this Lease.
Landlord, by furnishing any of the above services, shall not be deemed to have
warranted the same to be free from any interruption or discontinuance that is
beyond the reasonable control of the Landlord or which may result from
occasional damage or malfunctions of equipment and distribution facilities. Any
such interruption or discontinuance shall not constitute an eviction (actual or
constructive) or a disturbance of Tenant's possession, use or quiet enjoyment of
the Premises. Tenant agrees that Landlord shall not be liable for damages
resulting from any such interruption or discontinuance, nor shall Tenant be
relieved of the performance of any of Tenant's covenants or obligations under
this Lease.





                                       9
<PAGE>   13


                  7.3. INTERRUPTION OF SERVICES. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
if (i) Landlord ceases to furnish any service in the Building for a period in
excess of five (5) consecutive days, (ii) such cessation does not arise as a
result of an act or omission of Tenant, (iii) such cessation is not caused by a
fire or other casualty, and (iv) as a result of such cessation, the Premises or
a material portion thereof is rendered untenantable (meaning that Tenant is
unable to use the Premises in the normal course of its business) and Tenant in
fact ceases to use the Premises, or a material portion thereof, then Tenant, as
its sole remedy, shall be entitled to receive an abatement of Base Rent payable
hereunder during the period beginning on the sixth (6th) consecutive day of such
cessation and ending on the day when the service in question has been restored.
In the event the entire Premises has not been rendered untenantable by the
cessation in service, the amount of abatement that Tenant is entitled to receive
shall be prorated based upon the percentage of the Premises so rendered
untenantable and not used by Tenant.

                  7.4. SECURITY SYSTEM. Landlord, prior to March 31, 1999, at
Landlord's expense shall install a card-key or keypad security access system
(including the installation of wood and glass doors associated with such system
which are similar to the doors currently installed in the Fifth Floor elevator
lobby) in the elevator lobby entrances to such portions of the Premises as are
located on floors of the Building which are fully occupied by Tenant and at the
entrance to the Human Resource area on the First Floor of the Building (as shown
on Exhibit A). Landlord shall also install such system on two entrances to
Tenant's mailroom on the First Floor of the Building and on one entrance (in the
aggregate) to one of the two areas, as designated by Tenant prior to Landlord's
installation of such security access system, depicted on the First Floor Vacated
Space Plan shown on Exhibit J herein which constitute part of the Premises. Such
system shall be generally comparable to security systems installed in other
Class A multi-tenant office building. Landlord shall also install other
reasonable security measures, such as a security gate, at the atrium stairwell
entrance to the Premises accessible only by a card-key or keypad. Prior to such
time, Landlord shall maintain the existing security system described in Exhibit
L. Landlord shall have a watch-person on duty in the lobby of the Building on a
24-hour per day basis, seven days per week. Landlord shall provide security at
the entrance to the Building from the St. Louis Centre Garage. Landlord shall
provide up to 500 card keys to Tenant in connection with the use of the card key
security system installed by Landlord. Any card keys in excess thereof
(including replacements therefor) shall be made available to Tenant by Landlord
at Tenant's sole cost and expense.

                                   ARTICLE 8.
                            SUBLETTING AND ASSIGNMENT

                  8.1. SUBLEASING AND ASSIGNMENT. Tenant shall not by operation
of law or otherwise have the right to assign, hypothecate, mortgage, encumber or
convey this lease or any interest in or under it, or to sublet, or otherwise
permit occupancy by any other person or entity of all or any portion of the
Premises during the initial Term hereof. Tenant shall not by operation of law or
otherwise have the right to sublet, or otherwise permit occupancy by any other
person or entity of all or any portion of the Premises during the Extension
Period (as defined in Article 26 hereunder) without the express written consent
of the Landlord, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
For the purposes of this section any transfer of stock in a corporate tenant or
any transfer of an interest in a partnership tenant in which a transfer of
control of the corporation or partnership is effected shall not be deemed to be
an assignment of this Lease



                                       10


<PAGE>   14

requiring the prior written consent of Landlord. Any document purporting to
sublet the Premises or assign Tenant's interest in this Lease shall be of no
force or effect unless the same shall bear the written consent of Landlord. No
subtenant or assignee shall use the Premises for any purpose other than the
Permitted Use. No permitted sublease or assignment shall in any way release
Tenant from Tenant's primary liability under this Lease. If Tenant desires the
consent of Landlord to sublease or assign during the Extension Period, at least
thirty (30) but no more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the date on
which Tenant desires the assignment or sublease to be effective (the "Transfer
Date"), Tenant must submit the proposed sublease or assignment to Landlord for
Landlord's approval, together with the following documents: (a) a detailed
description of the portion of the Premises proposed to be sublet (which must be
a single, self-contained unit) (the "Space"); (b) complete copies of the
financial statements of the subtenant or assignee made available to Tenant with
an authorization to verify the same; (c) a declaration by the subtenant or
assignee as to the type of business to be carried out; (d) proof of payment of
all leasing commissions, if applicable; and (e) executed lease estoppel
certificates from Tenant and the proposed subtenant or assignee in the Building
standard form. If Tenant is permitted to sublease at a base rent in excess of
that provided for herein, or if Tenant is permitted to assign its interest in
this Lease for any consideration whatsoever, such excess or such consideration
(net of any subletting or assignment costs, including commissions, paid by
Tenant and approved in writing by Landlord in connection with such permission to
sublease or assign) shall be paid by Tenant to Landlord as received. Tenant
shall pay all of Landlord's out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including
reasonable attorneys' fees, relating to any such proposed assignment or
subletting.

                  8.2. SUBLEASING AND ASSIGNMENT TO AFFILIATES. Notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 8.1 of this Lease, Tenant, upon at least ten (10) days
prior written notice to Landlord, shall be permitted to assign this Lease or to
sublet the whole or any part of the Premises to a wholly owned subsidiary or to
an entity with which Tenant may merge or consolidate, upon advance or concurrent
written notice to Landlord (accompanied by copies of the assignment or
subletting documentation), but without the necessity of obtaining Landlord's
consent.

                                   ARTICLE 9.
                       QUIET POSSESSION AND SUBORDINATION

                  Landlord covenants and agrees with Tenant that so long as
Tenant is not in default hereunder, Tenant shall peaceably and quietly enjoy the
Premises through the Term without hindrance or molestation by anyone claiming
through or under Landlord, subject, however, to the terms of this Lease. This
Lease is subject to all present and future easements, conditions and
encumbrances of record, and to all applicable laws, ordinances and governmental
rules and regulations (hereinafter collectively called the "Conditions").
Landlord shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain from the holder of any
deeds of trust or mortgages affecting the Building a subordination, attornment
and non-disturbance agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit O attached
hereto and incorporated herein by reference. Such subordination, attornment and
non-disturbance agreement shall provide that, so long as Tenant is not in
default under this Lease, Tenant's use and enjoyment of the Premises in
accordance with all the material terms of this Lease shall not be disturbed by
reason of any foreclosure of any first deed of trust. If Tenant is not furnished
with such subordination, attornment and non-disturbance agreement from the
holder of 


                                       11

<PAGE>   15

any deed of trust or mortgage hereafter affecting the Building or
leasehold thereof, this Lease shall not be subordinate to such deed of trust or
mortgage and Landlord shall not be liable to Tenant for any failure to deliver
the requested subordination, attornment and non-disturbance agreement. If
Landlord obtains and delivers the required subordination, attornment and
non-disturbance agreement, the rights of Tenant under this Lease shall be and
are subject and subordinate at all times to the lien of any deed of trust or
mortgage hereafter in force against the Building, and to all advances made or
hereafter to be made upon the security thereof, and to all renewals,
modifications, consolidations, replacements and extensions thereof. Except as
expressly set forth above, this Article 9 is self-operative and no further
instrument of subordination shall be required. In confirmation of such
subordination Tenant shall promptly execute the required subordination,
attornment and non-disturbance agreement and any and all such further
instruments as may be reasonably requested by Landlord. If any purchaser at a
foreclosure sale (or by deed in lieu of foreclosure) becomes the owner of the
Premises, Tenant will attorn to and recognize such entity's becoming such owner
for all purposes in place of the Landlord named in this Lease.

                                   ARTICLE 10.
                           LANDLORD'S RESERVED RIGHTS

                  Landlord reserves the following rights: (a) to change the name
or street address of the Building; (b) to maintain one or more signs on the
exterior of the Building; (c) to designate and control all sources furnishing
Building related services to tenants; (d) at any time during the Term if Tenant
has vacated the Premises) and otherwise during the last six (6) months of the
Term, to display "for rent" signs on and exhibit and otherwise prepare the
Premises for reoccupancy; (e) to retain passkeys to all doors within and into
the Premises; (f) during the last six (6) months of the Term to exhibit the
Premises to prospective lessees upon reasonable notice to Tenant; (g) to grant
to anyone the exclusive right to conduct any particular business in the Building
(other than the businesses conducted by Tenant in the Building as of the
Commencement Date); (h) to close the Building after Normal Business Hours and on
legal holidays and to affect such reasonable security measures as Landlord may
deem appropriate and in the best interests of the Building and tenants; subject,
however, to Tenant's right to admittance (on a 24 hour basis, seven days per
week) under such reasonable security regulations as Landlord may prescribe from
time to time; (i) to approve the weight, size, and location of safes or other
heavy objects, which objects may be moved in, about or out of the Building or
Premises only at such times and in such manner as Landlord shall direct, and in
all events at Tenant's sole risk and responsibility; (j) to take any and all
measures necessary or desirable for the operation, safety, protection or
preservation of the Building, including repairs, alterations, decorations,
additions or improvements, whether structural or otherwise, in and about the
Building or any part thereof, and installation of an energy management system to
more accurately monitor and control heat, ventilating and air conditioning in
the Building, and during the continuance of any such work to temporarily close
doors, entry ways, public spaces and corridors in the Building and to interrupt
or temporarily suspend Building services or facilities upon reasonable prior
notice to Tenant, except in the event of emergency; and (k) to remove Tenant's
name from all exterior signage on or serving the Building and from all signage
in the interior of the Building (other than the Building directory). Landlord
may enter upon the Premises upon reasonable notice to the Tenant (except in the
case of an emergency) and may exercise any or all of the foregoing rights
without being deemed guilty of an eviction (actual or constructive) or
disturbance of Tenant's use or possession and without being liable in any manner
to Tenant and without abatement of rent or affecting of 


                                       12

<PAGE>   16

Tenant's obligations hereunder. Tenant hereby consents to Landlord's use of the
name "Edison Brothers" as part of the name of the Building during the Term of
this Lease, as extended pursuant to any Extension Period. It is understood and
agreed that Landlord is under no obligation to use the name "Edison Brothers" as
part of the name of the Building. Landlord shall comply with applicable laws,
rules and regulations and the Building Rules and the Meeting Room Rules in
connection with the operation, maintenance and management of the Building.

                                   ARTICLE 11.
                          ALTERATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS

                  Tenant shall not, without the prior written consent of
Landlord, make any alterations, improvements or additions to the Premises
(hereinafter referred to as a "Change"). Tenant's installation and
reconfiguration of its modular office units used for executive offices shall not
constitute a Change or require Landlord's consent unless such installation or
reconfiguration results in alterations to the structural components of the
Building or the Building's HVAC, electrical, plumbing or other utility systems.
Landlord may impose such reasonable conditions with respect to such Change as
Landlord deems appropriate, including without limitation, requiring Tenant to
furnish Landlord security for the payment of all costs to be incurred in
connection with the Change, insurance against liabilities which may arise out of
such work and the plans and specifications naming Landlord as an additional
insured together with all necessary permits for such Change. The work necessary
to make the Change or to effect the reconfiguration of Tenant's modular office
units shall be done at Tenant's expense by employees or contractors selected by
Tenant and, with respect to a Change, approved by Landlord, which approval shall
not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, and shall be performed in such manner
and at such times as Landlord shall direct to minimize disturbance to other
tenants (and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Tenant
acknowledges that Landlord may withhold its consent to the use of employees or a
contractor selected by Tenant if, in Landlord's judgment, the retention of such
employees or contractor might delay, hinder or otherwise interfere with
Landlord's construction activities in or management of the Building). Tenant
shall promptly pay, when due, the cost of all such work and of all decorating
required by reason thereof. With respect to a Change, Tenant shall also pay to
Landlord a percentage of the cost of such work, which percentage shall not
exceed 10% of the cost of such work (or 5% if Tenant shall have the work
supervised and performed by a general contractor selected and paid by Tenant and
approved by Landlord), as reimbursement to Landlord for all expenses arising
from Landlord's involvement with such work. Upon completion of such work, Tenant
shall deliver to Landlord, if payment is made directly to contractors, evidence
of payment, contractors' affidavits and full and final waivers of all liens for
labor, services or materials (in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F). Tenant
shall defend and hold Landlord and the Building harmless from all costs, damages
and liens and expenses related to such work. In connection with such work Tenant
shall never be deemed an agent of Landlord. All work done by Tenant or Tenant's
contractors shall be done in a first class workmanlike manner using only good
grades of materials and shall comply with all union and insurance requirements
and all Conditions. In consideration of Landlord's consent to such Change, any
Change shall (without further compensation to Tenant) become Landlord's property
at the termination of the Term, and shall, unless Landlord requests otherwise,
be relinquished to Landlord in good condition, ordinary wear, casualty,
condemnation and damage due to the acts or omissions of Landlord, its agents,
engineers or contractors excepted.


                                       13

<PAGE>   17


                                   ARTICLE 12.
                            REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS

                  Landlord, at Landlord's expense, shall maintain and keep in
good condition the Premises and Building, including the foundation, exterior
walls, roof, roof membrane and roof covering of the Building, sprinkler system
in or serving the Premises and/or the Building, the HVAC system, and plumbing,
electric and other utility lines servicing the Building or connecting the
Premises and the Building, except for damage to the Premises or Building
(including the parts thereof specified above) caused by acts or omissions of
Tenant, Tenant's agents, employees, contractors, guests or invitees, in which
event Tenant, subject to the provisions of Section 19.2 hereof, will bear the
cost of such maintenance or repair. Tenant, at Tenant's expense, shall at all
times keep the Premises in a clean, safe and tenantable condition and in first
class order, repair and appearance and Landlord shall have the right to approve
the means and methods employed in performance of such work. If Tenant does not
do so Landlord may (but need not) restore the Premises to a clean, safe and
tenantable condition, and Tenant shall pay the cost thereof forthwith upon being
billed by Landlord. This Section shall not apply to damage or destruction and
condemnation proceedings otherwise provided for in this Lease. In the event
emergency repairs are required within the Premises and Tenant is unable to
contact Landlord after diligent and persistent efforts so to do and Landlord is
otherwise unaware of such emergency, Tenant may perform Landlord's repair
obligations within the Premises as set forth herein. Such repairs shall be
performed in a good and workmanlike manner using materials of a quality
comparable to the materials used in the construction of the Premises and the
Building generally. During the performance of such repairs (and thereafter,
until Tenant is able to contact Landlord), Tenant shall endeavor to notify
Landlord that Tenant has undertaken to make such repairs on Landlord's behalf
and Landlord shall have the right to assume the performance of such repairs at
any time. Any such repairs undertaken by Tenant shall be performed in a manner
so as not to interfere with any other tenant's access to or use and occupancy of
its premises within the Building. Landlord shall reimburse Tenant for the
reasonable costs of said repairs within thirty (30) days of Landlord's receipt
of an invoice for same. For the purposes of this Article 12, an "emergency"
necessitating such repairs shall not be deemed to exist unless Tenant reasonably
determines that there is an imminent threat of harm to any person or an imminent
threat of material damage to Tenant's property located in the Premises.

                                   ARTICLE 13.
                              DESTRUCTION OR DAMAGE

                  If all or a substantial portion of the Premises be rendered
untenantable, inaccessible or unsafe by fire or other casualty, or portions of
the Building exclusive of the Premises are damaged or a system therein is
damaged in such a way as to render the Premises untenantable by fire or other
casualty, and if it is reasonably anticipated that even though undertaken and
pursued with all due diligence it will require more than six (6) months to
repair the damaged area, or if the Building or Premises are damaged by an
uninsured casualty (meaning a casualty which would not have been covered by
standard "all risk" insurance coverage, determined as of the date of this
Lease), (i) Landlord may terminate this Lease as of the date of such casualty by
notice to Tenant given within thirty (30) days after such occurrence, and (ii)
if such casualty occurs during the last twelve (12) months of the Term and is
not caused by any willful act or omission of Tenant, Tenant may terminate this
Lease as of the date of such casualty by notice to Landlord given within


                                       14

<PAGE>   18

thirty (30) days after such occurrence. If neither Landlord nor Tenant elects to
terminate this Lease, Landlord shall proceed with all due diligence to repair
the damaged area at Landlord's expense and the Rent shall abate as to that
portion of the Premises which is untenantable for so long as the same shall
remain untenantable. If this Lease is terminated pursuant to this section, Rent
shall be apportioned on a per diem basis and paid to the date of the casualty.
If the Premises are partially damaged by fire or other casualty but are not
rendered substantially untenantable, then Landlord shall proceed with all due
diligence to repair the Premises and the Rent shall abate as to that portion of
the Premises which is untenantable for so long as the same shall remain
untenantable, but Rent shall not otherwise abate. If all or a substantial
portion of the St. Louis Centre Garage shall be rendered untenantable,
inaccessible or unsafe by fire or other casualty, Tenant's obligation to pay
parking charges for the parking spaces in the St. Louis Centre Garage shall
abate for so long as the same shall remain untenantable, inaccessible or unsafe,
as the case may be.

                                   ARTICLE 14.
                                 EMINENT DOMAIN

                  If the whole of the Building or the whole of the Premises
shall be taken by the exercise of the power of eminent domain or pursuant to any
agreement in lieu of the exercise of such power (hereinafter called a
"Condemnation Proceeding"), then this Lease shall terminate as of the date of
the taking of possession by or the vesting of title in the condemning authority
(such date being hereinafter called the "Taking Date"). If less than the whole
of the Building or less than the whole of the Premises shall be taken in a
Condemnation Proceeding, Tenant may at Tenant's option terminate this Lease as
of the Taking Date by giving notice of Tenant's exercise of such option within
sixty (60) days after the Taking Date, provided that as a result of such taking
Landlord shall have reasonably determined that the Premises (or the remaining
portion thereof) may no longer be adequately used for the Permitted Use. If a
portion of the Premises shall be taken and Tenant shall not exercise Tenant's
option to terminate this Lease or if such taking shall not give rise to such
option to terminate, then this Lease shall terminate on the Taking Date only as
to that portion of the Premises so taken but shall remain in full force and
effect with respect to that portion of the Premises not so taken, and the Rent
and other charges payable by Tenant hereunder shall be reduced in the ratio in
which the diminution of the rentable square footage of the Premises following
the Taking Date shall bear to the rentable square footage thereof immediately
prior to such Taking Date. Except as otherwise ordered by the court in a
Condemnation Proceeding, all income, rent, awards or interest derived from any
Condemnation Proceeding shall belong to and be the property of Landlord, but
this shall not preclude Tenant from making an independent claim for the value of
Tenant's personal property which Tenant is entitled to remove under this Lease
in such Condemnation Proceeding provided that such claim does not result in a
reduction of Landlord's award.

                                   ARTICLE 15.
                                  HOLDING OVER

                  If Tenant without the consent of Landlord retains possession
of the Premises or any part thereof after termination of the Term of this Lease,
Tenant shall pay to Landlord Rent at a rate equal to two hundred fifty percent
(250%) (except to the extent Tenant shall have elected to extend the Term for
the Seven Year Extension Period and the holdover shall occur after the 


                                       15

<PAGE>   19

first month of the term of the Seven Year Extension Period, in which event such
rate shall be two hundred percent (200%)) of the Rent payable for the month
immediately preceding the commencement of said holding over computed on a per
month basis for each month or part thereof (without reduction for any partial
month) that Tenant remains in possession, and in addition thereto, in the event
Tenant remains in possession of the Premises or any part thereof for a period in
excess of four (4) months after termination of the Term of this Lease, Tenant
shall pay Landlord all direct and consequential damages sustained by reason of
Tenant's retention of possession. Any such retention of possession shall
constitute a month to month lease terminable in accordance with law.

                                   ARTICLE 16.
                             SURRENDER OF POSSESSION

                  Upon the termination of the Term Tenant shall immediately
surrender the Premises (together with any Changes) to Landlord in good order,
repair and condition, ordinary wear and casualty losses for which Tenant is not
responsible pursuant to the terms of this Lease and damage caused by the acts or
omissions of Landlord, its agents, contractors or employees excepted, and shall
remove all office furniture and equipment, trade fixtures and other items of
Tenant's property on the Premises. Tenant shall pay Landlord upon demand the
reasonable cost of repairing any damage to the Premises and to the Building not
repaired by Tenant and caused by any such removal. If Tenant fails or refuses to
remove any such property from the Premises, Tenant shall be conclusively
presumed to have abandoned the same and Landlord may dispose of the same without
incurring any liability therefor. Tenant shall not be required to remove the
improvements to the Premises constituting the computer room or Tenant's modular
office units used for executive offices.

                                   ARTICLE 17.
                              DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

                  17.1. TENANT DEFAULTS AND LANDLORD'S REMEDIES. If Tenant shall
default in the payment of any installment of the Rent or in the payment of any
other sum required to be paid by Tenant under this Lease and such default shall
continue for ten (10) days after written notice to Tenant, or if Tenant shall
default in the observance or performance of any other covenant or condition in
this Lease which Tenant is required to observe or perform and such default shall
continue for thirty (30) days after written notice to Tenant (or, in the event
Landlord determines, in its reasonable judgment, that (i) such default is
capable of cure by Tenant and such default will not cause or contribute to a
breach or default under any other lease of the Building or any mortgage lien on
the Building (ii) Tenant commences the cure of such default within the foregoing
30 day period, and (iii) Tenant diligently prosecutes the complete cure of such
default in good faith, then such longer period as may be reasonably necessary to
effect such cure), or if a default involves a hazardous condition and is not
cured by Tenant immediately upon written notice to Tenant, or if the interest of
Tenant in this Lease shall be levied upon under execution or other legal
process, or if any voluntary petition in bankruptcy or for corporate
reorganization or any similar relief shall be filed by Tenant, or if any
involuntary petition in bankruptcy shall be filed against Tenant under any
federal or state bankruptcy or insolvency act and shall not have been dismissed




                                       16

<PAGE>   20

within sixty (60) days following the filing thereof, or if a receiver shall be
appointed for Tenant or any of the property of Tenant by any court and such
receiver shall not be dismissed within sixty (60) days from the date of
appointment, or if Tenant shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors,
or if Tenant shall admit in writing Tenant's inability to meet Tenant's debts as
they mature, then Landlord may treat the occurrence of any one or more of the
foregoing events as a breach of this Lease and thereupon at Landlord's option
may, without notice or demand of any kind to Tenant or any other person,
exercise one or more of the following described remedies, in addition to all
other rights and remedies provided at law or in equity:

                           (a) Landlord may terminate this Lease and the estate
                  created hereby by giving Tenant written notice of such intent,
                  in which event Landlord may forthwith repossess the Premises
                  and be entitled to recover forthwith, in addition to any other
                  sums or damages for which Tenant may be liable to Landlord as
                  damages, an amount, if any, equal to the Rent which would have
                  been payable during any period of rent-free occupancy provided
                  to Tenant by this Lease, the cost of all unamortized leasing
                  commissions paid by Landlord in connection with this Lease,
                  and all other amounts paid to or on behalf of Tenant in
                  connection with Tenant's entry into this Lease and occupancy
                  of the Premises (including without limitation any moving cost
                  allowance, payments on lease(s) assumed by Landlord, payment
                  for preparation of floor plans and the like), including
                  Landlord's interest expense thereon, together with a sum of
                  money equal to the net present value of the excess of the
                  value of the Rent provided to be paid by Tenant for the
                  balance of the Term over the fair market rental value of the
                  Premises, after deduction of all anticipated expenses of
                  reletting for said period. The net present value shall be
                  calculated using a discount rate of seven percent (7%) per
                  annum.

                           (b) Landlord may terminate Tenant's right of
                  possession and may repossess the Premises by forcible entry or
                  unlawful detainer suit, by taking peaceful possession or
                  otherwise without terminating this Lease, in which event
                  Landlord may, but shall be under no obligation to, relet the
                  same for the account of Tenant, for such rent and upon such
                  terms as shall be satisfactory to Landlord. For the purpose of
                  such reletting, Landlord is authorized to decorate, repair,
                  remodel or alter the Premises. If Landlord shall fail to relet
                  the Premises, Tenant shall pay to Landlord as damages a sum
                  equal to the amount of the Rent reserved in this Lease for the
                  balance of the then-existing Term of this Lease. If the
                  Premises are relet and a sufficient sum shall not be realized
                  from such reletting after paying all of the costs and expenses
                  of all decoration, repairs, remodeling, alterations and
                  additions and the expenses of such reletting to satisfy the
                  Rent provided for in this Lease and the amounts recoverable
                  (including broker's fees) by Landlord from Tenant pursuant to
                  subparagraph (a) of this paragraph, Tenant shall satisfy and
                  pay the same upon demand therefor from time to time. Landlord
                  may file suit to recover any sums falling due from time to
                  time and no suit or recovery of any portion due Landlord
                  hereunder shall be any defense to any subsequent action
                  brought for any amount not theretofore reduced to judgment in
                  favor of Landlord.


                                       17

<PAGE>   21


No waiver of any default by Tenant shall be implied from any omission by
Landlord to take any action on account of said default if such default persists
or shall be repeated, and no express waiver shall affect any default other than
the default specified in the express waiver and then only for the time and to
the extent therein stated. No failure of Landlord to exercise any power given
Landlord hereunder or to insist upon strict compliance with any obligation
hereunder and no custom or practice of the parties at variance with the terms
hereof shall constitute a waiver of Landlord's right to demand exact compliance
with the terms hereof. The provisions of this Section shall survive any
termination of this Lease. As long as Tenant shall have vacated and surrendered
the Premises to Landlord upon the termination of the Lease or the termination of
Tenant's right of possession of the Premises, Landlord shall not include in any
calculation of damages to be paid by Tenant the amounts paid to Tenant pursuant
to Article 27 of this Lease. In the event of a default by Tenant under this
Lease which continues beyond any applicable cure period, Landlord shall use
reasonable good faith efforts to mitigate its damages in accordance with the
laws of the State of Missouri.

                  17.2. LANDLORD'S DEFAULTS. If Landlord shall default in the
observance or performance of any covenant or condition in this Lease which
Landlord is required to observe or perform and such default shall continue for
thirty (30) days after written notice to Landlord (or, in the event Landlord
commences the cure of such default within the foregoing 30 day period, and
Landlord diligently prosecutes the complete cure of such default in good faith,
such longer period as may be reasonably necessary to effect such cure), Tenant
shall thereafter have the right to perform such covenant or effect the
satisfaction of such condition and Landlord shall reimburse Tenant for Tenant's
reasonable costs in connection therewith within thirty (30) days of receipt of
Tenant's invoice therefor. Tenant may effect such performance only within the
Premises and such portions of common areas of the Building necessary for the use
and occupancy of the Premises, and further shall effect such performance without
causing or contributing to any breach or default of other leases of the Building
or any mortgage lien on the Building.

                                   ARTICLE 18.
                                   BANKRUPTCY

                  If a petition is filed by or against Tenant for relief under
the bankruptcy laws of the United States (the "Bankruptcy Code"), and Tenant
(including for the purposes of this section Tenant's successor in bankruptcy,
whether a trustee or Tenant as debtor in possession) assumes and proposes to
assign, or proposes to assume and assign, this Lease pursuant to the provisions
of the Bankruptcy Code to any person or entity who has made or accepted a bona
fide offer to accept an assignment of this Lease on the terms acceptable to
Tenant, then notice of the proposed assignment setting forth (a) the name and
address of the proposed assignee, (b) all of the terms and conditions of the
offer and proposed assignment, and (c) the adequate assurance to be furnished by
the proposed assignee of the proposed assignee's future performance under this
Lease, shall be given to Landlord by Tenant no later than twenty (20) days after
Tenant has made or received such offer, but in no event later than ten (10) days
prior to the date on which Tenant applies to a court of competent jurisdiction
for authority and approval to enter into the proposed assignment. Landlord shall
have the prior right and option, to be exercised by notice to Tenant given at
any time prior to the date on which the court order authorizing such assignment
becomes 


                                       18

<PAGE>   22

final and non-appealable, to receive an assignment of this Lease upon the same
terms and conditions, and for the same consideration, if any, as the proposed
assignee, less any brokerage commission which may otherwise be payable out of
the consideration to be paid by the proposed assignee for the assignment of this
Lease. If this Lease is assigned pursuant to the provisions of the Bankruptcy
Code, Landlord: (i) may require from the assignee a deposit or other security
for the performance of assignee's obligations under this Lease in an amount
substantially the same as would have been required by Landlord upon the initial
leasing to a tenant similar to the assignee; and (ii) shall be entitled to
receive as additional Rent, any amounts received by Tenant in connection with
such assignment. Any person or entity to which this Lease is assigned pursuant
to the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code shall be deemed without further act or
documentation to have assumed all of the Tenant's obligations arising under this
Lease on and after the date of such assignment. Any such assignee shall upon
demand execute and deliver to Landlord an instrument confirming such assumption.
No provision of this Lease shall be deemed a waiver of Landlord's rights or
remedies under the Bankruptcy Code to oppose any assumption and/or assignment of
this Lease, or to regain possession of the Premises if this Lease has neither
been assumed nor rejected within sixty (60) days after the date of the order for
relief or within such additional time as a court of competent jurisdiction may
have fixed. Notwithstanding anything in this Lease to the contrary, all amounts
payable by Tenant to or on behalf of Landlord under this Lease, whether or not
expressly denominated as rent, shall constitute rent for the purposes of Section
502(b)(6) of the Bankruptcy Code.

                                   ARTICLE 19.
                        INSURANCE AND WAIVER OF RECOVERY

                  19.1. INSURANCE. Tenant shall at all times during the Term
maintain in full force and effect with respect to the Premises (a) commercial or
comprehensive general liability insurance (on an occurrence and not claims-made
basis) having the limits set forth in Article 1 hereof, (b) workers'
compensation and employer's liability insurance in form and in at least the
minimum amount required by law, (c) contractual liability insurance sufficient
to cover Tenant's indemnity obligations hereunder and (d) such other coverage as
may be reasonably required by Landlord or any mortgagee of the Building, each in
the standard form generally of use in the State of Missouri by a company
reasonably satisfactory to Landlord. The amount of such insurance coverage shall
be subject to increase upon the reasonable request of Landlord. Such insurance
shall be subject to modification, exhaustion or cancellation only upon ten (10)
days notice to Landlord. Tenant, at or prior to the Lease Commencement Date, and
thereafter not less than thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of any such
policy, shall furnish Landlord with an endorsement to such insurance, such
endorsement to be in a form reasonably acceptable to Landlord and any mortgagee
of the Building and, at the request of Landlord, to name Landlord and any such
mortgagee as an additional insured.

                  19.2. WAIVER OF RECOVERY. Landlord and Tenant hereby mutually
waive any and all rights of recovery against one another for real or personal
property loss or damage occurring to the Premises or to the Building or any part
thereof or any personal property located therein from perils which are able to
be insured against in standard fire and extended coverage, vandalism and
malicious mischief and sprinkler leakage insurance contracts (commonly referred
to as "All Risk") issued in the State of Missouri (whether or not such insurance
actually is carried). Such release shall include any deductible or self insured
retention. Landlord and Tenant shall request


                                       19

<PAGE>   23

their insurance carriers to consent to a waiver of all rights of subrogation
against each other by inclusion of such a clause in their respective policies or
by endorsement thereto.

                  19.3. INDEMNITY BY TENANT. Subject to the foregoing limited
waiver, Tenant shall defend and indemnify Landlord and save Landlord harmless
from and against any and all claims against Landlord arising from (a) Tenant's
use or occupancy of the Premises or the conduct of Tenant's business or from any
activity, work or thing done, permitted or suffered by Tenant in or about the
Premises or Building, (b) the nonperformance of any covenant or agreement on
Tenant's part to be performed pursuant to the terms of this Lease or (c) any act
or negligence of Tenant or of any of Tenant's agents, contractors, employees,
invitees or licensees, and from and against all costs, counsel fees, expenses
and liabilities incurred in any such claim or in any action or proceeding
brought thereon; and in case any action or proceeding be brought against
Landlord by reason of any such claim, Tenant upon notice from Landlord,
covenants to resist or defend at Tenant's expense such action or proceeding by
counsel reasonably satisfactory to Landlord; provided that the foregoing
provision shall not be construed to make Tenant responsible for loss, damage,
liability or defense resulting from injuries to third parties to the extent
caused by the negligence of Landlord or Landlord's contractors, licensees,
employees, guests and invitees.

                  19.4. INDEMNITY BY LANDLORD. Landlord shall defend and
indemnify Tenant and save Tenant harmless from and against any and all claims
against Tenant arising from (a) the nonperformance of any covenant or agreement
on Landlord's part to be performed pursuant to the terms of this Lease, or (b)
any act or negligence of Landlord or any of Landlord's agents, contractors,
employees, invitees or licensees (but not including, in any event, other tenants
of the Building and their respective agents, contractors, employees, invitees or
licensees), and from and against all costs, counsel fees, expenses and
liabilities incurred in any such claim or in any action or proceeding brought
thereon; and in case any action or proceeding be brought against Tenant by
reason of any such claim, Landlord, upon notice from Tenant, covenants to resist
or defend at Landlord's expense such action or proceeding by counsel reasonably
satisfactory to Tenant; provided that the foregoing provision shall not be
construed to make Landlord responsible for loss, damage, liability or defense
resulting from injuries to third parties to the extent caused by the negligence
of Tenant or Tenant's contractors, licensees, employees, guests and invitees. It
is expressly understood and agreed that none of Landlord's covenants,
undertakings and agreements under this Lease are made or intended as personal
covenants, undertakings or agreements by Landlord, and any liability for damage
or breach or nonperformance by Landlord shall be collectible only out of
Landlord's interest in the Building, and no personal liability is assumed by or
at any time may be asserted against Landlord.

                  19.5. LANDLORD'S INSURANCE. Landlord shall at all times
maintain in full force and effect with respect to the Building commercial or
comprehensive general liability insurance having the limits set forth in Article
1 hereof and property damage insurance with respect to the Building of a type
and in commercially reasonable amounts comparable to insurance obtained by other
similarly situated landlords.




                                       20

<PAGE>   24


                                   ARTICLE 20.
                           TAXES ON TENANT'S PROPERTY

                  20.1. PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES. Tenant shall be liable for and
shall pay before delinquency, taxes levied against any personal property or
trade fixtures placed by Tenant in the Premises. If any such taxes on Tenant's
personal property or trade fixtures are levied against Landlord or Landlord's
property or if the assessed value of the Building is increased by the inclusion
therein of a value placed upon such personal property or trade fixtures of
Tenant and if Landlord, after written notice to Tenant, pays the taxes based
upon such increased assessments, which Landlord shall have the right to do
regardless of the validity thereof, but only under proper protest if requested
by Tenant, Tenant shall upon demand repay to Landlord the taxes levied against
Landlord, or the proportion of such taxes resulting from such increase in the
assessment; provided that in any such event, at Tenant's sole cost and expense,
Tenant shall have the right, in the name of Landlord and with Landlord's full
cooperation, to bring suit in any court of competent jurisdiction to recover the
amount of any such taxes so paid under protest, any amount so recovered to
belong to Tenant.

                  20.2. EXCESS REAL ESTATE TAXES. If the leasehold improvements
in the Premises, whether installed and/or paid for by Landlord or Tenant and
whether or not affixed to the real property so as to become a part thereof, are
assessed for real property tax purposes at a valuation higher than the valuation
at which leasehold improvements conforming to Landlord's building standard work
in other space in the Building are assessed, then the real property taxes and
assessments levied against Landlord or the property by reason of such excess
assessed valuation shall be deemed to be taxes levied against personal property
of Tenant and shall be governed by the provisions of Section 20.1 above. If the
records of the City Assessor are available and sufficiently detailed to serve as
a basis for determining whether said improvements are assessed at a higher
valuation than Landlord's building standard work, such records shall be binding
on both Landlord and Tenant. If the records of the City Assessor are not
available or sufficiently detailed to serve as a basis for making said
determination, the actual cost of construction shall be used.

                                   ARTICLE 21.
                         AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

                  Landlord shall be responsible for compliance with the
requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the "ADA") with respect to
the Building shell, lobbies, restrooms, and other common areas of the Building,
and agrees to hold Tenant harmless with respect to failure by Landlord to
fulfill Landlord's obligations under the ADA with respect to those areas. Tenant
shall be responsible for compliance with the requirements of the ADA with
respect to the Premises, and the use and occupancy of the Premises by Tenant,
and agrees to hold Landlord harmless with respect to failure by Tenant to
fulfill Tenant's obligations under the ADA with respect to the occupancy and use
of the Premises.

                                   ARTICLE 22.
                               HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

                  The Building was constructed in compliance with the codes and
regulations in effect at the time of construction. Landlord agrees to comply
with all applicable laws and 

                                       21


<PAGE>   25

regulations relating to hazardous materials associated with the Building
structure and common areas. The foregoing does not relate to compliance with
laws or regulations which are applicable to the use or occupancy of premises in
the Building by individual tenants or the conduct of such tenant's business in
those premises and compliance with those laws and regulations shall be the sole
responsibility of the individual tenants. As of the date of this Lease, to the
best of Landlord's knowledge, the Premises contain no asbestos and Landlord has
received no notice with respect to the Building from any governmental agency of
any violation of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
Liability Act ("CERCLA"), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA") or any
similar law or regulation in effect in the State of Missouri. Tenant agrees to
comply with all applicable laws and regulations relating to hazardous materials
and Tenant shall not use, store, dispose of, or generate any such materials in,
on or about the Premises or the Building except as customarily used for general
office purposes, which materials may be utilized and subsequently disposed of
only in strict compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and insurance
requirements applicable to the Building.

                                   ARTICLE 23.
                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

                  23.1. COSTS AND EXPENSES OF ENFORCEMENT: If Tenant or Landlord
brings any action for any relief against the other, declaratory or otherwise,
arising out of this Lease, including any suit by Landlord for the recovery of
Rent or possession of the Premises, the losing party shall reimburse the
prevailing party for the reasonable fees and costs of attorneys, including the
reasonable fees and costs of investigators and experts engaged in connection
with such action and reasonable fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection
with any appeal, all of which shall be deemed to have accrued on the
commencement of such action and shall be paid whether or not the action is
prosecuted to judgment. The "prevailing party" shall be the party that prevails
in obtaining a remedy or relief which most nearly reflects the remedy or relief
which that party sought.

                  23.2. LATE FEES: All amounts due Landlord under this Lease
shall be considered past due for the purposes hereof on the tenth (10th) day
after the due date and shall bear interest from such date until paid at an
annual rate equal to four percent (4%) in excess of the then publicly announced
Prime Rate of Mercantile Bank National Association, St. Louis, Missouri, or its
successor (the "Bank') which rate shall change as and when such Prime Rate shall
be changed by such Bank, or the highest lawful rate, whichever is less. If the
Bank no longer exists, then in such event, Landlord may designate another bank
doing business in the City or County of St. Louis, Missouri to determine the
Prime Rate for purposes of this section. Further, on the second occasion and all
subsequent occasions in any calendar year during the Term on which any
installment of Rent has not been received by Landlord within ten (10) days after
the Rent's due date, Landlord shall be entitled, as a service charge, to a fee
of five percent (5%) of the amount of the Monthly Rent then due hereunder.

                  23.3. NOTICES: All notices, consents, approvals and requests
required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing and shall be effective
for all purposes if hand delivered or sent by (a) certified or registered United
States mail, postage prepaid, or (b) expedited prepaid delivery service, either
commercial or United States Postal Service, with proof of attempted delivery,
and (c) by telecopier (with answer back acknowledged), addressed if to

                                       22
<PAGE>   26

Landlord at Landlord's address set forth in Article 1 hereof, or at such other
address designated from time to time by Landlord, or if to Tenant, at Tenant's
address set forth in Article 1 hereof, or at such other address designated from
time to time by Tenant. A notice shall be deemed to have been given: in the case
of hand delivery, at the time of delivery; in the case of registered or
certified mail, when delivered or the first attempted delivery on a Business
Day; or in the case of expedited prepaid delivery and telecopy, upon the first
attempted delivery on a Business Day.

                  23.4. LANDLORD'S RIGHT TO TRANSFER INTEREST: Landlord has the
right to transfer Landlord's interest in the Building and in this Lease, and
upon any such transfer Landlord shall automatically be released from all
liability accruing under this Lease after the date of such transfer, and Tenant
shall look solely to such transferee for the performance of Landlord's
obligations hereunder, Landlord's (and such transferee's) liability in any event
to be without personal liability or recourse to any assets other than Landlord's
or such transferee's interest and title in and to the Building. Landlord may
assign Landlord's interest in this Lease to a mortgage lender as additional
security provided that such assignment shall not release Landlord from
Landlord's obligations hereunder and Tenant shall continue to look solely to
Landlord for the performance of Landlord's obligations hereunder.

                  23.5. ENTIRE AGREEMENT: This Lease, together with the Exhibits
referenced in Article 1 and Addendum(s), if any, constitutes the entire
agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and
shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, personal
representatives, executors, successors and permitted assigns, as the case may
be. All terms used in this Lease shall be deemed to refer to the masculine,
feminine, neuter, singular or plural, as the context may require.

                  23.6. APPLICABLE LAW AND PARTIAL INVALIDITY: This Lease shall
be governed by and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of
Missouri. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Lease
shall not affect or impair any other provision.

                  23.7.    AMENDMENT:  This Lease may not be altered,  amended, 
modified, or extended except by written instrument signed by Landlord and
Tenant.

                  23.8. WAIVER: The waiver by either Landlord or Tenant of any
breach of any term, condition or covenant of this Lease shall not be deemed to
be a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same or any other term, condition or
covenant of this Lease. No failure either by Landlord or Tenant to take action
against the other party hereto on account of any failure by such party to
perform any of such party's obligations under this Lease shall be deemed to be a
waiver by the non-defaulting party, except only where the non-defaulting party
has provided to the other party a written waiver, signed by the non-defaulting
party.

                  23.9. BROKERAGE: Each of the parties hereto warrants to the
other that, except as set forth in Article 1 hereof, such party has not
obligated the other party for any finders', brokers' or other agents'
commission, fees or other remuneration in connection with this Lease; and Tenant
shall indemnify and hold Landlord harmless from and against any and all claims
for such fees alleged to have been incurred by Tenant, including, without
limitation, any such claims made by or on behalf of Cushman & Wakefield. The
foregoing notwithstanding, within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the consent
of the LCRA as described in paragraph 29 of Addendum


                                       23

<PAGE>   27

No. 1 hereto, Landlord shall reimburse Tenant in the amount of Twenty Five
Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00), in the aggregate, for (i) the costs associated
with such fees to Cushman & Wakefield, (ii) the legal expenses payable by Tenant
to The Stolar Partnership, and (iii) the architectural fees payable by Tenant to
Michael Fox, Inc.

                  23.10. LEASE ESTOPPEL CERTIFICATE: Tenant from time to time,
upon not less than ten (10) days prior written request by Landlord, will
promptly deliver to Landlord a duly executed Lease Estoppel Certificate in the
Building standard form (attached hereto as Exhibit G).

                  23.11. FORCE MAJEURE: Any prevention, delay or stoppage due to
strikes, lockouts, labor disputes, acts of God, inability to obtain labor or
materials, governmental restrictions, regulations or controls, enemy or hostile
government action, civil commotion, fire or other casualty or other causes
beyond the reasonable control of the party required to perform shall excuse the
performance by such party for a period equal to any such prevention, delay or
stoppage, except for the obligations imposed with regard to Rent and other
charges to be paid by Tenant pursuant to this Lease.

                  23.12. LEASE TERMINATION: This Lease may be terminated only in
accordance with its terms, and no unilateral termination by Tenant or voluntary
surrender of this Lease by Tenant shall be effective unless such termination or
surrender shall be accepted by Landlord in writing.

                  23.13. RELATIONSHIPS: Nothing contained in this Lease shall be
deemed to constitute or be construed to create any relationship between Landlord
and Tenant other than that of lessor and lessee.

                  23.14. AUTHORITY: Tenant, in the event that it is a
Corporation, hereby covenants and warrants that (a) it is duly authorized to do
business in the State of Missouri; (b) the person executing this lease on behalf
of Tenant is an officer of Tenant duly authorized by Tenant to sign and execute
this Lease on Tenant's behalf; and (c) this Lease is a valid and binding
obligation of Tenant, enforceable in accordance with the Lease's terms.

                  23.15. NON-BINDING UNLESS SIGNED; COUNTERPARTS; FACSIMILE
COPIES: Submission of the form of this Lease for examination shall not bind
Landlord in any manner, and no lease or other obligation of Landlord shall arise
until this instrument is signed by both Landlord and Tenant and delivery is made
to each party. This Lease may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall
constitute an original. The parties may sign this Lease by telefaxed copies, and
any such telefaxed copy shall be deemed to be an original and no objection shall
be made to the introduction into evidence of any telefaxed copy on grounds
related to the telefaxed copy not being an original. But, in such event,
executed originals shall be forwarded to the other parties at the request of any
party.

                  23.16. RIGHTS: No rights to any view or to light or air over
any property, whether belonging to Landlord or any other person are granted to
Tenant by this Lease.

                  23.17.   [intentionally deleted]


                                       24
<PAGE>   28


                  23.18. LEASE PAYMENTS: Landlord shall have the right to apply
payments received from Tenant pursuant to this Lease (regardless of Tenant's
designation of such payments) to satisfy obligations of Tenant hereunder in such
order and amounts as Landlord in Landlord's sole discretion may elect.

                  23.19. PARKING SPACES: Tenant shall have the use of the number
of reserved parking spaces in the Building parking garage as set forth in
Article 1 hereof and shown on Exhibit I on a 24 hour basis. Landlord shall mark
such spaces as "reserved" but shall have no obligation to monitor the use of
such spaces. Subject to the continued effectiveness of the Parking Lease (as
defined below), Tenant shall have the use of the number of unreserved parking
spaces in the St. Louis Centre Garage as set forth in Article 1 hereof during
Normal Business Hours and upon payment of the Monthly Rent therefor set forth in
Article 1 for such space(s), which Monthly Rent may be changed by Landlord upon
thirty (30) days advance written notice given to Tenant to a rate not exceeding
the lowest published (or otherwise objectively verifiable) monthly rate in the
St. Louis Centre Garage, but in any event not lower than the rate for such
spaces charged by the LCRA to the Landlord pursuant to the Parking Lease.
Concurrent with any vacation and surrender of space by Tenant pursuant to
Article 24 hereof, Tenant shall surrender one (1) parking space for each two
thousand (2,000) rentable square feet (or portion thereof) of space vacated by
Tenant. The number of parking spaces to be surrendered by Tenant shall be
allocated on a pro rata basis between the Building garage and the St. Louis
Centre Garage based upon a fraction, the numerator of which is the number
reserved or unreserved parking spaces then available to the Tenant hereunder, as
the case may be, and the denominator or which is the total number of parking
spaces then available to the Tenant hereunder; provided, however, single
reserved spaces shall be surrendered prior to double reserved spaces. The
parking spaces to be surrendered by Tenant shall be designated by Tenant,
subject to Landlord's reasonable approval.

                  For example, if the Tenant surrendered 5,000 square feet of
Rentable Area to Landlord, Tenant would be required to surrender 3 parking
spaces. If Tenant then had 68 reserved spaces and 107 unreserved spaces, Tenant
would be required to surrender 1 reserved space (3 x (68/175) = 1.17) and 2
unreserved spaces (3 x (107/175) = 1.83).

                  23.20. LANDLORD'S LIABILITY: Notwithstanding any other
provision hereof to the contrary, Landlord or Landlord's agents shall not be
liable for any damage to property entrusted to employees or agents of Landlord,
nor for loss of or damage to any property by theft or otherwise, nor for any
injury or damage to property resulting from fire, explosion, falling plaster,
steam, gas, electricity, water or rain which may leak from any part of the
Building or from the pipes, appliances or plumbing works therein or from the
roof, street or subsurface or from any other place or resulting from dampness or
any other cause whatsoever. Landlord or Landlord's agents shall not be liable
for interference with the light or other incorporeal hereditaments, nor shall
Landlord be liable for any latent defect in the Premises or in the Building.
Tenant shall give prompt notice to Landlord in case of fire or accidents in the
Premises or in the Building or of defects therein or in the fixtures or
equipment.

                  23.21.   [intentionally deleted]


                                       25


<PAGE>   29


                  23.22.  TENANT'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: Tenant shall, once per
quarter, provide Landlord with a current financial statement and financial
statements two (2) years prior to the current financial statement year. Such
statements shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles except as otherwise noted therein and, if such is the normal practice
of Tenant, shall be audited by an independent certified public accountant.

                  23.23. LANDLORD'S DEFAULT: In the event of any default on the
part of Landlord, Tenant shall give notice by certified mail to any holder of a
financial encumbrance covering the Building, whose address shall have been
furnished to the Tenant, and shall offer such holder a reasonable opportunity to
cure the default, which time period shall not be any shorter than the period set
forth in Section 17.2 of this Lease.

                  23.24. SIGNAGE: Tenant's existing signage may remain in place
at the Premises. Landlord shall place Tenant's corporate name on the Building
Directory located in the Lobby area(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Landlord
reserves the right to remove or replace any of Tenant's signage located on the
First and Second Floors and any other floor not fully occupied by Tenant now or
in the future.

                  23.25. WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY: Tenant hereby agrees not to
elect a trial by jury of any issue triable of right by jury, and waives any
right to trial by jury fully to the extent that any such right shall now or
hereafter exist with regard to the claim, counterclaim or other action arising
in connection therewith. This waiver of right to trial by jury is given
knowingly and voluntarily by Tenant, and is intended to encompass individually
each instance and each issue to which the right to a trial by jury would
otherwise accrue. Landlord is hereby authorized to file a copy of this paragraph
in any proceeding as conclusive evidence of this waiver by Tenant.

                  23.26. HEADINGS: The Article and/or Section headings and the
Table of Contents in this Agreement are included herein for convenience of
reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement for any other
purpose.

                  23.27. TIME OF THE ESSENCE: Time is of the essence with
respect to the performance and observance of all of the terms, covenants and
conditions hereof by Tenant and Landlord.

                  23.28. LANDLORD'S FEES. Whenever Tenant requests Landlord to
take any action or give any consent required or permitted under this Lease,
Tenant shall reimburse Landlord for Landlord's reasonable costs incurred in
reviewing the proposed action or consent, including, without limitation,
reasonable attorneys', engineers' or architects' fees, within ten days after
Landlord's delivery to Tenant of a statement of such costs. Tenant shall be
obligated to make such reimbursement without regard to whether Landlord consents
to any such proposed action.

                  23.29. TELECOMMUNICATIONS. Tenant and its telecommunications
companies, including, but not limited to, local exchange telecommunications
companies and alternative access vendor services companies, shall have no right
of access to and within the Building for the installation and operation of
telecommunications systems, including, but not limited to, voice, video, data
and any other telecommunications services provided over wire, fiber optic,
microwave, wireless and any other transmission systems, for part or all of
Tenant's telecommunications within the Building and from the 


                                       26

<PAGE>   30

Building to any other location without Landlord's prior written consent.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tenant shall have continued access to its
existing telecommunications system as configured on the date hereof for the
purpose of maintaining and repairing same. Tenant may exercise the foregoing
right so long as such maintenance or repair does not require Tenant to enter any
premises in the Building leased to or occupied by a third party and does not
otherwise interfere with any other person's or entity's use or occupancy of the
Building.

                  23.30. DISCLAIMER OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES. Landlord expressly
disclaims any implied warranty that the Premises are suitable for Tenant's
intended commercial purpose, and Tenant's obligation to pay rent and additional
rent hereunder is not dependent upon the condition of the Premises or the
performance by Landlord of its obligations hereunder, and, except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, Tenant shall continue to pay the rent and additional
rent, without abatement or reduction (except as expressly set forth in Section
7.3 and Articles 13 and 14 of this Lease) or setoff or deduction notwithstanding
any breach by Landlord of its duties or obligations hereunder, whether express
or implied.

                  23.31. LEASE YEAR. The term "lease year" means a period of
time during the term of this Lease conforming to the following: The first lease
year means the period commencing on the Lease Commencement Date and ending
September 30, 1999 and succeeding lease years during the term of this Lease
shall commence and end on dates corresponding to those on which the first lease
year commences and ends.

                                   ARTICLE 24.
                           VACATION/TERMINATION OPTION

                  Subject to Tenant's compliance with the terms and provisions
of this Article 24, Landlord hereby grants to Tenant the right to vacate and
surrender to Landlord (and thereby effect the termination of this Lease as to
such vacated and surrendered portion of the Premises) any portion of the
Premises consisting of at least five thousand (5,000) contiguous rentable square
feet in the Building. Any such vacation of space (and related termination) shall
be effective on the date specified in the Tenant's notice of exercise of such
right. Thereafter, such space shall no longer constitute part of the Premises
and Tenant shall have no right to use or occupy such space. Tenant may exercise
the foregoing rights only by giving Landlord sixty (60) days prior written
notice, which notice shall specify that part of the Premises to be vacated by
Tenant. The effectiveness of any such vacation of space shall be subject to (i)
Landlord's determination, within ten (10) days of such notice that such vacation
complies with the terms of the next grammatical paragraph hereof, and is
configured and located so as to be leaseable to third parties in accordance with
customary market terms and reasonably acceptable to Landlord, (ii) Tenant's
vacation of such space on or prior to the date specified in Tenant's notice,
which date shall be not less than sixty (60) days nor more than one hundred
eighty (180) days from the date of Tenant's notice, and (iii) Tenant's payment
(within ten (10) days of receipt of Landlord's invoice therefor) of the cost of
constructing any necessary demising walls and other improvements to the Building
necessary to permit leasing of such surrendered space to a third party. Tenant
shall cooperate with Landlord in the construction of any necessary demising
walls to separate the portion of the Premises so vacated from the remainder of
the Premises. Subject to Tenant's compliance with the terms and provisions of
this Article 24, Tenant may exercise the foregoing right at any time and from
time to time during the initial Term hereof and during the One Year Extension
Period (as hereinafter defined). The foregoing right shall not be exercisable
during the Seven Year Extension Period (as



                                       27


<PAGE>   31

hereinafter defined). The foregoing notwithstanding, Tenant at no time during
the initial Term or any Extension Period (as hereinafter defined) shall have the
right to vacate any portion of the Premises which would result in Tenant's
Rentable Area to fall below one hundred and twenty five thousand (125,000)
square feet. All calculations of the amount of rentable area vacated and
surrendered by Tenant pursuant to this Article 24, as well as all calculations
of the amount of rentable area thereafter occupied by Tenant under this Lease,
shall be performed by Landlord at Tenant's cost and expense, utilizing the same
load factor as was utilized to calculate the rentable area of such portion of
the Building at the commencement of this Lease.

                  Any space so surrendered by Tenant shall first be from either
the Fifth or First floors of the Building. Any space surrendered on the First
floor of the Building shall be configured as one of the contiguous blocks of
space described on the First Floor Vacated Space Plan attached hereto as Exhibit
J. Tenant shall have no right to surrender space on the Fourth floor of the
Building until Tenant shall have surrendered all of the space on the Fifth floor
of the Building to Landlord. Similarly, Tenant shall have no right to surrender
space on the Third floor of the Building until Tenant shall have surrendered all
of the space on the Fourth floor of the Building to Landlord, and Tenant shall
have no right to surrender space on the Second floor of the Building until
Tenant shall have surrendered all of the space on the Third floor of the
Building.

                  Concurrent with Tenant's vacation of any such space, Landlord
and Tenant shall enter into an amendment to this Lease in form and substance
satisfactory to Landlord to reflect the adjustment to the dimensions of the
Premises, the corresponding reduction of rental amounts owed by Tenant, at the
then applicable annual rental rate, and Tenant's Proportionate Share. Any space
so vacated and surrendered by Tenant shall be vacated and surrendered in
compliance with the provisions of Article 16 of this Lease (and this Lease shall
terminate with respect to such space) and Tenant shall be responsible for
re-affixing its signage to the doors to Tenant's reconfigured space.

                  Tenant shall have the right to exercise the foregoing options
only if at the time of such exercise and on the effective date thereof, no
default by Tenant exists under this Lease. If a default by Tenant under this
Lease (after giving effect to applicable cure periods) shall occur at any time
after the exercise by Tenant of one of the foregoing options but prior to the
effectiveness thereof, the exercise by Tenant of such option shall cease and be
void.

                                   ARTICLE 25.
                                   LCRA LEASE

                  On or prior to the Lease Commencement Date, Tenant shall
execute and deliver to Landlord any and all documents, consents and
certificates, and Landlord may take any and all actions, as may be necessary or
desirable to effect the assignment of Tenant's rights under that certain Lease
dated as of December 22, 1982 and the Addendum thereto (collectively, the
"Parking Lease") between Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of the City
of St. Louis (the "LCRA") and Tenant with respect to the use and enjoyment of
the parking spaces and facilities described therein. Tenant hereby represents
and warrants that Tenant is in full compliance with all the terms and conditions
of the Parking Lease and no condition exists which, of itself, or upon the lapse
of time or the giving of notice (or both) might create an event of default under
the Parking Lease. Tenant further represents and warrants that it has no
knowledge of any condition which, of itself, or upon the lapse of time or the
giving of notice (or both) might

                                       28

<PAGE>   32

create an event of default by the LCRA under the Parking Lease. Tenant shall
cooperate with Landlord to obtain any necessary third party consents in
connection with such assignment.

                                   ARTICLE 26.
                                OPTION TO EXTEND

                  Subject to the provisions hereinafter set forth in this
Article 26, and provided that Tenant is not in default hereunder, after notice
and opportunity to cure to the extent provided in Article 17, at any time from
the exercise of the option until the Lease Expiration Date, Landlord hereby
grants Tenant the option to extend the Term on the same terms, conditions and
provisions as contained in this Lease, except as otherwise expressly provided
herein, for one (1) period of either one (1) year (the "ONE YEAR EXTENSION
PERIOD") or one period of seven (7) years (the "SEVEN YEAR EXTENSION PERIOD").
Such period, regardless of its duration, may also be referred to herein
generally as the "EXTENSION PERIOD"). If exercised in accordance herewith, the
Extension Period shall commence on the first (1st) day after the Lease
Expiration Date.

                  If Tenant delivers an "Extension Notice" as hereinafter
provided, the Term shall be extended on the same terms, conditions and
provisions as contained herein except that the Annual Base Rent during the One
Year Extension Period, if elected by Tenant, shall be $12.00 per square foot of
Rentable Area of the Premises per year, and the Annual Base Rent during the
Seven Year Extension Period, if elected by Tenant, shall reflect the "Prevailing
Market" rate, as determined in accordance with this Article 26.

                  Not less than twelve (12) months prior to the Expiration Date,
Tenant may request, by written notice to Landlord (the "PRELIMINARY NOTICE"),
that Landlord determine the Prevailing Market rate for the Premises as it would
be during the Seven Year Extension Period if Tenant elected to exercise its
option for such Seven Year Extension Period. Within ten (10) days following
Landlord's receipt of the Preliminary Notice, Landlord will notify Tenant of
such Prevailing Market rate as reasonably determined by Landlord. If Tenant does
not agree with Landlord's determination of such Prevailing Market rate, Tenant,
by written notice to Landlord (the "ARBITRATION NOTICE") within five (5)
business days after being advised of Landlord's determination of the Prevailing
Market rate, shall have the right to have the Prevailing Market rate determined
using the following procedures:

                                    If Tenant provides Landlord with an
                  Arbitration Notice, each party shall, at its own expense,
                  select and retain an appraiser, with the qualifications set
                  forth below and notify the other party of its selection within
                  ten (10) days after Landlord's receipt of the Arbitration
                  Notice. Each appraiser so selected shall be certified as an
                  MAI appraiser or as an ASA appraiser and shall have had at
                  least three (3) years experience within the previous ten (10)
                  years as a real estate appraiser working in the downtown St.
                  Louis area, with working knowledge of current rental rates and
                  practices. For purposes of this Lease, an "MAI" appraiser
                  means an individual who holds an MAI designation conferred by,
                  and is an independent member of, the American Institute of
                  Real Estate Appraisers (or its successor organization, or in
                  the event there is no successor organization, the organization
                  and designation most similar), and an "ASA" appraiser means an
                  individual who holds the Senior Member designation conferred
                  by, and is an 



                                       29


<PAGE>   33

                  independent member of, the American Society of
                  Appraisers (or its successor organization, or, in the event
                  there is no successor organization, the organization and
                  designation most similar). Within thirty (30) days after
                  Landlord's receipt of the Arbitration Notice, each appraiser
                  shall determine the Prevailing Market rate and shall notify
                  the other appraiser and both parties of such appraiser's
                  determination. In the event only one party selects an
                  appraiser and notifies the other party of its selection during
                  the ten (10) day period specified above, and such party's
                  appraiser gives such notice within the thirty (30) day period,
                  or in the event an appraiser duly selected by one party fails
                  to give such notice within the thirty (30) day period, then
                  the determination of the Prevailing Market rate made by the
                  selected appraiser who gave such notice shall be deemed to be
                  the Prevailing Market rate. If the determination of the
                  appraisers are within ten percent (10%) of each other, the
                  Prevailing Market rate shall be the average of the two (2)
                  determinations. If both appraisers notify each other and both
                  of the parties of their respective determination of the
                  Prevailing Market rate within the thirty (30) day period, and
                  their determinations do not agree within ten percent (10%) on
                  the Prevailing Market rate, then within fifteen (15) days
                  after both appraisers notify both parties of their respective
                  determination of the Prevailing Market rate, each party will
                  cause the appraiser selected by it to confer with the other
                  appraiser and the two (2) appraisers shall select a third
                  appraiser (the "THIRD APPRAISER") having the qualifications
                  set forth above. In the event the appraisers selected by
                  Landlord and Tenant cannot agree upon the Third Appraiser
                  within such fifteen (15) day period, each party will, within
                  ten (10) days thereafter, cause the appraiser selected by it
                  to supply the name of one (1) appraiser having the
                  qualifications as set forth above, and a representative of
                  Landlord, with a representative of Tenant present, shall make
                  a blind draw of one (1) name of the two (2) provided, who
                  shall serve as the Third Appraiser. In the event only one (1)
                  of the appraisers supplies the name of a prospective third
                  appraiser during such ten (10) day period, the appraiser named
                  by such appraiser shall be the Third Appraiser. Within twenty
                  (20) days from the date of his appointment, the Third
                  Appraiser shall make his determination of the Prevailing
                  Market rate and will submit a written determination thereof to
                  both parties and both appraisers. If the determination of the
                  Third Appraiser and either one of the other appraisers are
                  within ten percent (10%) of each other, the Prevailing Market
                  rate shall be the average of the two (2) determinations.
                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the determination of the
                  Third Appraiser and both of the other appraisers are within
                  ten percent (10%) of each other or if none of such
                  determinations are within ten percent (10%) of the others, the
                  Prevailing Market rate shall be the average of the three (3)
                  determinations. If the Third Appraiser believes that expert
                  advice would materially assist him, he may retain one or more
                  qualified persons to provide such expert advice. The parties
                  shall share equally in the costs of the Third Appraiser and of
                  any experts retained by the Third Appraiser. Any fees of any
                  appraiser, counsel or experts engaged directly by Landlord or
                  Tenant, however, shall be borne by the party retaining such
                  appraiser, counsel or expert. In the event that the Prevailing
                  Market rate has not been determined by the commencement date
                  of the Extension Period, Tenant shall pay Annual Base Rent
                  upon the terms and conditions in effect for the Premises until
                  such time as the Prevailing Market rate


                                       30


<PAGE>   34

                  has been determined. Upon such determination, the Annual
                  Base Rent shall be retroactively adjusted to the
                  commencement of the Extension Period. If such adjustment
                  results in an underpayment of Annual Base Rent by Tenant,
                  Tenant shall pay Landlord the amount of such underpayment
                  within thirty (30) days after the determination thereof. If
                  such adjustment results in an overpayment of Annual Base
                  Rent by Tenant, Landlord shall credit such overpayment
                  against the next installment of Annual Base Rent due under
                  the Lease and, to the extent necessary, any subsequent
                  installments until the entire amount of such overpayment has
                  been credited against Annual Base Rent.

                  Not less than eight (8) months prior to the Expiration Date,
Tenant, by written notice to Landlord ("EXTENSION NOTICE"), may exercise
Tenant's option to extend for either the One Year Extension Period or the Seven
Year Extension Period and the Term of this Lease shall be thereby extended. If
Tenant shall fail to give any such Extension Notice, Tenant's right to exercise
such option shall cease and be void. Additionally, if the option to extend the
Term is not exercised in the aforesaid manner, the Term and Tenant's rights
hereunder and its rights to occupy and possess the Premises shall expire on the
Expiration Date.

                                   ARTICLE 27.
                                 TENANT PAYMENT

                  Provided that this Lease shall be in full force and effect,
that Tenant shall not be in material default under this Lease and that no event
shall have occurred that, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would
constitute a material default by Tenant hereunder, then on the date which is not
more than twenty (20) days after the Lease Commencement Date hereof or, in the
event of the occurrence of such a material default or event that would
constitute a material default, then on the date which is not more than twenty
(20) days after such default or event is cured (provided such default or event
is cured within the applicable cure period), Landlord shall pay to Tenant the
sum of Eight Hundred Eighty Seven Thousand Seven Hundred Forty Two Dollars
($887,742.00).

SEE ALSO ADDENDUM NUMBER 1 TO THIS LEASE ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE A PART HEREOF.


                                       31


<PAGE>   35


                  THIS CONTRACT CONTAINS A BINDING ARBITRATION PROVISION WHICH
MAY BE ENFORCED BY THE PARTIES.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Lease to
be signed and delivered on their behalf on the dates set forth below.

TENANT:

EDISON BROTHERS STORES, INC.

By:      /s/ Thomas M. Feiner               
     -------------------------------------
     Name:  Thomas M. Feiner
     Title:  Vice President

Date:  September 30, 1998



LANDLORD:

EBS BUILDING, L.L.C.

BY:      PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, as Manager


By:         /s/ Keith F. Cooper                
     -------------------------------------
     Keith F. Cooper
     Partner

Date:  September 29, 1998


                                       32
<PAGE>   36




                                    EXHIBIT A
                                   FLOOR PLAN


<PAGE>   37




                                    EXHIBIT B
                             [INTENTIONALLY DELETED]



<PAGE>   38




                                    EXHIBIT C

                             [INTENTIONALLY DELETED]

<PAGE>   39


                                            

                                    EXHIBIT D
                                 BUILDING RULES

                  Tenant's use of the Building and Premises shall be governed by
the following rules, which Landlord shall use reasonable efforts to enforce on a
uniform basis. Landlord reserves the right to unilaterally amend or add to the
rules (subject to the terms of this Lease and on a uniform basis), and such
amendments and additions shall be effective when notice of the same is given to
Tenant in the manner provided in the Lease.

                  1. Nothing shall be displayed, painted or affixed by Tenant on
any part of the exterior or interior of the Building (except within the
Premises) without the prior written consent of Landlord, and then only of such
color, size, style and material as shall be approved by Landlord. Nothing shall
be placed in the Premises which may be visible from the exterior of the Building
(including window treatments) without the prior written consent of Landlord.

                  2. Landlord shall furnish Tenant with two (2) keys to each
door lock for the Premises. Additional keys shall be procured from Landlord and
paid for by Tenant. No additional or replacement locks shall be placed on any
door of the Premises, and Tenant shall not permit duplicate keys to be made.
Tenant shall be solely responsible for the security of all keys to the Premises.
All keys furnished to Tenant shall be surrendered to Landlord at the termination
of the Term.

                  3. If Tenant desires additional wiring connections, Landlord
shall direct the electricians as to where the wires are to be introduced and
without such directions no boring or cutting for wiring shall be permitted.

                  4. Tenant shall not install or operate any steam or internal 
combustion engine, boiler, machinery, refrigerating or heat generating device or
air conditioning apparatus in or about the Premises or carry on any mechanical
business therein. Tenant shall not install any vending machines other than for
use by Tenant's employees; however Tenant may install a refrigerator, microwave
or coffee maker in the Premises for use solely by Tenant's employees.

                  5. The common areas of the Building shall not be obstructed by
Tenant or used in any way except for ingress and egress to and from the offices.
Tenant shall place no objects outside Tenant's premises.

                  6. The bathroom fixtures shall not be used for purposes other
than those for which they were constructed. The cost of repairing any damage
caused by Tenant resulting from misuse of such fixtures shall be borne by
Tenant.

                  7. Tenant shall not permit littering of the common areas of
the Building.

                  8. Tenant shall not make noises, cause disturbances or 
vibrations or use any electrical or electronic devices or other devices that
emit sound or other waves or disturbances or create odors, any of which may be
offensive to other tenants of the Building or which would interfere with the
operation of any device or equipment or radio or television broadcasting or
reception from or within the Building or elsewhere, and shall not place or
install any musical
        

<PAGE>   40

instrument or equipment or any similar device inside or outside the Premises
without the prior written consent of Landlord. The use thereof, if permitted,
shall be subject to control of Landlord to the end that others shall not be
disturbed or annoyed.

                  9. Tenant shall not waste utility services and shall cooperate
fully with Landlord to assure the most effective operation of the Building's
HVAC system and shall not adjust any controls other than thermostats installed
for Tenant's use. Tenant shall keep corridor door(s) closed.

                  10. Tenant assumes full responsibility for protecting Tenant's
space from theft, robbery and pilferage, which includes keeping doors locked and
other means of entry to the Premises closed and secured.

                  11. No animals, birds, bicycles or other vehicles shall be
allowed in any part of the Building without the prior consent of Landlord.

                  12. Any person or person (other than the janitor of Landlord)
who shall be employed for the purpose of cleaning or maintaining the Premises
shall be employed at Tenant's cost, subject to the terms of the Lease, and
Landlord shall in no way be responsible for any loss of property on or from the
Premises, however occurring, by such person.

                  13. Tenant shall not accumulate or store on the Premises any
waste paper, discarded records, sweepings, rags, rubbish or other combustible
matter. Tenant shall not place in any trash receptacle any material which cannot
be disposed of in the ordinary course, and Tenant shall keep all trash within
Tenant's Premises. All garbage and refuse disposal shall be made in accordance
with Landlord's instructions as designated from time to time.

                  14. Tenant shall not make any room to room canvass to solicit
business from other tenants in the Building and shall not exhibit, sell, or
offer to sell, use, rent or exchange any item or service in or from the Premises
unless within the Permitted Use.

                  15. Landlord reserves the right to exclude from the Building
all disorderly persons, persons under the influence of alcohol or a controlled
substance, idlers and peddlers, solicitors, and persons entering in crowds or in
such unusual numbers as to cause inconvenience to the tenants of the Building.

                  16. Any parking spaces included in the Lease shall be used 
only for the personal automobiles, sports utility vehicles, motorcycles and
pick-up trucks (all of widths, heights, lengths and other dimensions fitting
within the garages and Building standard parking spaces) of Tenant and Tenant's
employees and guests (no trucks, motor homes and the like). Landlord reserves
the right to designate locations for one or more of such parking spaces subject,
however, to the terms of the Lease. Upon Landlord's request, Tenant promptly
shall furnish Landlord the names, vehicle descriptions and vehicle license
numbers of each authorized user of Tenant's parking spaces. Tenant shall be
liable for all costs and expenses suffered or incurred by Landlord in the towing
of illegally parked vehicles of Tenant, Tenant's employees or guests. Landlord
shall have no obligation to monitor the use of any such spaces.

                                       2
<PAGE>   41


                   17. Tenant shall comply with all Conditions (as defined in 
the Lease) in connection with Tenant's use and occupancy of the Premises.

                  18. All deliveries to the Premises shall be subject to the 
reasonable control of Landlord as to place and time of deliveries.

                  19. The common areas of the Building are a no smoking area in
which no smoking of any kind, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars,
pipes, or any other device, is permitted except in an area specifically
designated by Landlord as an area where smoking is permitted. Landlord shall not
be responsible for violations of this provision by any Tenant of the Building,
Tenant's employees, visitors, contractors, or subcontractors. In the event
Landlord seeks to enforce this provision against Tenant, Tenant shall pay all
costs and expenses of every kind including, without limitation, all court costs
and attorneys fees and charges. In the event Landlord seeks any injunctive
relief to prevent violations of this provision of the Lease, Tenant agrees that
if a bond is required by the court, that the amount of such bond not exceed
$100.00. Landlord further reserves the absolute right to designate the entire
areas of the Building, grounds and Premises as non-smoking.

                  20. All use of the loading dock serving the Building shall be
subject to the reasonable control of Landlord.

                  21. Passenger elevators shall not be utilized for the movement
of mail carts or similar equipment.


                                       3
<PAGE>   42




                                    EXHIBIT E

                             [INTENTIONALLY DELETED





<PAGE>   43


                                    EXHIBIT F
                                     FORM 1
                            CONTRACTOR'S LIEN WAIVER

STATE OF MISSOURI )
                  )  SS.  WAIVER
CITY OF ST. LOUIS )

                  WHEREAS, _____________________ ("Contractors") has/have been
employed by EDISON BROTHERS STORES, INC., as Tenant of the Premises described
below, to perform construction as a general contractor upon the following
described premises, to-wit:



("the Premises"), the specific terms and conditions of such employment being
governed by that certain Agreement dated the ________ day of __________, 19___,
and

                  WHEREAS, EBS Building, L.L.C. ("Landlord") is Landlord of the 
Premises.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the sum of Ten
Dollars ($10.00) and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which
is hereby acknowledged, Contractor does hereby waive any right it may have to
file any and all mechanic's liens, claim of lien or right of lien against
Landlord or Landlord's interest in the Premises, provided by the statutes of the
State of Missouri, upon the above described Premises or any portion thereof.
Further, Contractor hereby acknowledges that Landlord has not contracted for or
agreed to pay for the work or materials called for in the contract described
above. Contractor agrees to look solely to Tenant or Tenant's interest in the
Premises to satisfy any mechanic's lien, right, claim or causes of action which
Contractor may have against Tenant arising out of the above referenced contract.
Contractor shall obtain a similar waiver and acknowledgment from all
subcontractors and suppliers.

                  EXECUTED this ___________day of ______________, 19____.

                                                    CONTRACTOR:

                                                    ____________________________

                                                    By:_________________________


Subscribed and sworn to before me this _______ day of ______________, 19___.

My commission expires:______________________________________________



                                             _____________________ Notary Public




<PAGE>   44


                                    EXHIBIT F
                                     FORM 2
                             PARTIAL WAIVER OF LIEN

                      (Subcontractor or Material Supplier)

STATE OF MISSOURI )
                  )       SS.
CITY OF ST. LOUIS )

                  WHEREAS, ____________________ ("Contractors") has/have been
employed by EDISON BROTHERS STORES, INC., as Tenant of the Premises described
below, to perform construction as a general contractor upon the following
described premises, to-wit:



("the Premises"), the specific terms and conditions of such employment being
governed by that certain Agreement dated the _______ day of _______________,
19_, and

                  WHEREAS, under authority of the above mentioned Agreement,
_______________ has/have employed _______________________ as a subcontractor
material supplier, to perform labor, to furnish materials or to do both upon the
Premises or some portion thereof, the specific terms and conditions of such
employment being governed by that certain Agreement dated the ________ day of
________________, 19_, and

                  WHEREAS, EBS Building, L.L.C. ("Landlord") is Landlord of the
Premises.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the sum of Ten
Dollars ($10.00) and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which
is hereby acknowledged, subcontractor or material supplier does hereby waive any
right it may have to file any and all mechanic's liens, claim of lien or rights
of lien against Landlord or Landlord's interest in the Premises, provided by the
statutes of the State of Missouri, upon the above described Premises or any
portion thereof. Further, subcontractor or material supplier hereby acknowledges
that Landlord has not contracted for or agreed to pay for the work or materials
called for in the contract described above. Subcontractor or material supplier
agrees to look solely to Tenant to satisfy any mechanic's lien, right, claim or
cause of action which subcontractor or material supplier may have against Tenant
arising out of the above referenced contract.

                  EXECUTED this ______ day of ____________, 19___.

                                                     SUBCONTRACTOR OR
                                                     MATERIAL SUPPLIER:

                                                  ______________________________

                                                  By:___________________________


<PAGE>   45



                                    EXHIBIT G
                           LEASE ESTOPPEL CERTIFICATE

LEASE DATE:                                                                  

LANDLORD:                  EBS Building, L.L.C.

TENANT:                    EDISON BROTHERS STORES, INC.

PREMISES:                  Suite _____, Edison Brothers Building

AREA:                      __________ Square Feet

MORTGAGEE/
PROSPECTIVE
PURCHASER:                ___________________________                           

                  The  undersigned  Tenant in the above Lease  hereby  certifies
to Mortgagee and to Landlord as follows:

                  1. That the term of the Lease commenced on _________________,
19___, and that Tenant is in full and complete possession of the Premises
demised under the Lease and has commenced full occupancy and use of the
Premises, such possession having been delivered by Landlord and having been
accepted by Tenant.

                  2. That the Lease calls for Monthly Base Rent Installments of
$__________ to date, and in addition, Tenant is paying an adjustment to Annual
Base Rent in the amount of $__________ per month which commenced to accrue on
_____________________, 19___.

                  3. That no advance rental or other payment has been made in
connection with the Lease except rental for the current month, and the Rent has
been paid to and including ____________________, 19___.

                  4. That, to the best knowledge of Tenant, all of the
obligations and conditions under the Lease to be performed to date by Landlord
or Tenant have been satisfied, free of defenses and setoffs, including all
construction work in the Premises; except as follows:



                  5. That the Lease is a valid lease and in full force and 
effect and represents the entire agreement between the parties, that, to the
best knowledge of Tenant, there is no existing default on the part of Landlord
or Tenant in any of the terms or conditions thereof, and no event

<PAGE>   46



has occurred which, with the passing of time or the giving of notice or both,
would constitute an event of default, and that said Lease: (check one as
appropriate)

(_____)  Has not been amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed or
assigned.

(_____) Has been amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed or assigned
as follows by the following described agreements:

     6. That the Lease provides for a term of __________ months and the term of
the Lease expires on __________________, 19___.

     7. There is no action, voluntary or involuntary, pending against Tenant
under the bankruptcy laws of the United States or any state thereof [other than
the administration of Tenant's reorganization proceedings commenced in November
1995 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware].

     8. That this Certificate is being made knowing that the Mortgagee and
Landlord are relying upon the representations made herein.

     9. This Certificate may be relied upon by the prospective purchaser's
mortgage as if addressed thereto. 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,the undersigned Tenant has executed this Lease Estoppel
Certificate as of the _____ day of ___________________, 19___.

TENANT: EDISON BROTHERS STORES, INC.

By:______________________________
   Title:__________________________

               Date:_____________________________

<PAGE>   47


                                    EXHIBIT H
                             [INTENTIONALLY DELETED]




<PAGE>   48


                                    EXHIBIT I
                             RESERVED PARKING SPACES





<PAGE>   49


                                    EXHIBIT J
                         FIRST FLOOR VACATED SPACE PLAN





<PAGE>   50


                                    EXHIBIT K
               EDISON BUILDING MEETING ROOMS RULES AND REGULATIONS


1.       Meeting Rooms to be scheduled with the Property Manager on a first 
         come, first serve basis.

2.       Equipment in the Meeting Rooms is the property of the Landlord. Tenant 
         shall operate the equipment while occupying a Meeting Room.

3.       Meeting Room equipment shall not be removed without prior written 
         consent of the Property Manager. 

4.       Tenant shall be responsible for setting up and returning the Meeting
         Rooms to the original configuration.

5.       Landlord shall maintain the Meeting Rooms and the equipment therein.



<PAGE>   51


                                    EXHIBIT L
                            EXISTING SECURITY SYSTEM
Prior to the installation of the Tenant Security System, Landlord will continue
to monitor access to Tenant's Premises as follows:

1.       Security will sign-in and announce all visitors to Tenant's Premises.

2.       Tenant's employees will be required to show identification badges prior
         to entering Tenant's Premises.

3.       Elevators 3 through 8 will serve Tenant's floors only. No other 
         elevators will be allowed access to floors 3 through 8 while Tenant 
         occupies the space.


<PAGE>   52


                                    EXHIBIT M
                                  MEETING ROOMS



<PAGE>   53


                                    EXHIBIT N
                     FIRST AND SECOND FLOOR RELOCATION AREAS



<PAGE>   54


                                    EXHIBIT O
             SUBORDINATION, ATTORNMENT AND NON-DISTURBANCE AGREEMENT


     THIS SUBORDINATION, ATTORNMENT AND NON-DISTURBANCE AGREEMENT made and
entered into as of this _____ day of ___________, ______, by and between
______________________________________________________________________, a
______________ corporation (hereinafter called "Lender"), and EDISON BROTHERS
STORES, INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called "Tenant"),

     WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS, Lender is the owner and holder of a certain promissory Note dated
________________, 19__, in the face principal amount of ________________________
Dollars ($_________________), which is secured by a Deed of Trust and Security
Agreement of even date therewith recorded in Book _______, Page __, St. Louis
City Records (the "Deed of Trust") encumbering
______________________________________________________ as described therein,

     WHEREAS, Tenant has entered into a certain Lease dated September ___, 1998 
with EBS Building, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, demising
certain premises therein described at 501 North Broadway, St. Louis, Missouri
63102 (together with any further extensions, renewals or modifications thereof,
the "Lease"),

      WHEREAS, Tenant has requested Lender to recognize Tenant's right to
the Premises demised by the Lease in the event of foreclosure of the Deed of
Trust,


<PAGE>   55


     NOW THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and the mutual 
covenants hereof, the parties hereto stipulate, covenant, and agree as follows:

     1. Lender agrees that so long as Tenant shall not be in default under the
Lease, (a) Tenant's right of possession and enjoyment of the Premises demised by
the Lease shall be and remain undisturbed and unaffected by any foreclosure or
other proceedings involving the Deed of Trust and (b) Lender and any purchaser
at a foreclosure sale involving the deed of trust shall recognize Tenant as
Tenant under the Lease.

     2. Tenant agrees to recognize Lender or any purchaser at a foreclosure sale
involving the Deed of Trust as its Landlord under the Lease for that part of the
Premises demised by the Lease without the necessity of any other or further
attornment than in this paragraph contained (and this paragraph shall be
considered an attornment). Tenant hereby waives any and all rights to terminate
the Lease by reason of any foreclosure of the Deed of Trust, and if any court
holds the Lease terminated by reason of a foreclosure of the Deed of Trust, this
Agreement shall be deemed a new lease for the balance of the term of the Lease
at the same rental therein provided, and upon the same terms and conditions as
therein provided.

     3. Neither Lender nor any purchaser at foreclosure shall, at any time
after, be:

                 (a) liable for any act or omission of a prior landlord, except
        that Lender, upon succeeding to Landlord's interest and while in
        privity of estate with Tenant, and only during such period, will remain
        obligated to cure any on-going defaults;
        
                 (b) subject to any offsets or defenses which Tenant might have
        against any prior landlord arising after the time Lender ceased to be a
        partner in the entity which is Landlord under the Lease and is not
        Landlord under the Lease except such offsets and defenses as are
        expressly provided for in the Lease and arise out of Landlord defaults
        of which Tenant notified Lender at the time of the alleged default;
        

<PAGE>   56


              (c) bound by any prepayment of rent or additional rent which 
     Tenant might have paid to any prior landlord more than thirty (30) days
     prior to the due date of such installment; or
        
              (d) bound by any agreement or modification of the Lease without 
     the consent of Lender (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).
        
     4. Subject to the provisions hereof, Tenant agrees that the Lease as it may
hereafter be amended, renewed, modified, replaced, substituted or extended, from
time to time, shall in all respects be, and is hereby expressly made, subject,
subordinate and inferior at all times to the lien, right, title and terms of the
Deed of Trust and to all of the terms, conditions and provisions thereof, and to
all advances and/or payments made or to be made thereunder, as it may have been
or may hereafter be amended, increased, renewed, modified, consolidated,
replaced, combined, substituted, severed, split, spread, refinanced, recast or
extended, whether or not such Deed of Trust also covers other lands and/or
buildings and/or leases. Furthermore, nothing contained in this Agreement shall
in any way impair or affect the lien(s) created by the Deed of Trust.

     5. This Subordination, Attornment and Non-Disturbance Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, their successors
and assigns.


<PAGE>   57


     6. This Subordination, Attornment and Non-Disturbance Agreement may be
executed by the parties hereto in several counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed to be an original and all of which shall constitute together but one and
the same agreement. 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed and delivered this
instrument as of the day and year first above written.

                                                    [LENDER]


                                                    By: ______________________  
                                                         Name:
                                                         Title:


                                                    EDISON BROTHERS STORES, INC.


                                                    By:_______________________ 
                                                         Name:
                                                         Title:


<PAGE>   58


STATE OF )
         )   SS:
OF       )


     On this day of , ______, before me appeared , to me personally known, who,
being by me duly sworn, did say that he is the __________________of
________________________________________________, a corporation of the State of
____________, and that the seal affixed to the foregoing instrument is the
corporate seal of said corporation, and that said instrument was signed and
sealed on behalf of said corporation, by authority of its Board of Directors;
and said acknowledged said instrument to be the free act and deed of said
corporation. 

     IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official
seal in the and State aforesaid, the day and year first above written.



                                                    __________________________  
                                                     Notary Public
My Commission Expires:

________________




STATE OF __________)
                   )   SS:
_______ OF ________)

     On this___________ day of_____________________ , ______, before me appeared
_________________________________________ , to me personally known to be the
person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument and who being by
me duly sworn, did say that he is a _____________ of EDISON BROTHERS STORES, 
INC., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of
Delaware; and said ______________acknowledged said instrument to be his free act
and deed and the free act and deed of said corporation.


     IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official
seal in the City and State aforesaid, the day and year first above written.


                                                                ________________
                                                                  Notary Public
My Commission Expires:



____________________




<PAGE>   59


                                 ADDENDUM NO. 1

                         ATTACHED TO AND MADE A PART OF

                         LEASE DATED SEPTEMBER 29, 1998

                   BETWEEN EBS BUILDING, L.L.C., AS LANDLORD,

                   AND EDISON BROTHERS STORES, INC., AS TENANT


         28. By execution of this Lease, Tenant does by these presents bargain
and sell unto Landlord, its successors and assigns forever, all right, title and
interest of Tenant in and to the furniture, furnishings, equipment and fixtures
in the First floor lobby of the Building, the Building atrium, the Meeting Rooms
and all other common areas of the Building, exclusive of any artwork in such
areas of the Building. Tenant shall remove any pictures, plaques and other
miscellaneous personal property on the walls of the Meeting Rooms prior to the
Commencement Date.

         29. From and after the Lease Commencement Date, Landlord hereby
covenants to perform those obligations of the tenant under the Parking Lease
which, if not performed, would give the landlord thereunder the right to
terminate such lease. Landlord shall not effect any amendment to the Parking
Lease which materially adversely affects Tenant's parking rights in the St.
Louis Centre Garage.
<PAGE>   60

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Addendum to be
executed on the date first above written.


TENANT:

EDISON BROTHERS STORES, INC.

By:      /s/ Thomas M. Feiner
     _________________________               
     Name:  Thomas M. Feiner
     Title:  Vice President

Date:  September 30, 1998

LANDLORD:

EBS BUILDING, L.L.C.

BY:      PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, as Manager


By:     /s/ Keith F. Cooper                
     _____________________________
     Keith F. Cooper
     Partner

Date:  September 29, 1998