Document:

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                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                  This Registration Rights Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is made
and entered into as of March 31, 2000, among HORIZON Pharmacies, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and the investors signatory hereto (each
such investor is a "PURCHASER" and all such investors are, collectively, the
"PURCHASERS").

                  This Agreement is made pursuant to the Convertible Debenture
Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof among the Company and the
Purchasers (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT").

                  The Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows:

         1.       DEFINITIONS

                  Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that
are defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms
in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:

                  "AFFILIATE" means, with respect to any Person, any other
Person that directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or under common
control with such Person. For the purposes of this definition, "CONTROL," when
used with respect to any Person, means the possession, direct or indirect, of
the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of
such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise; and the terms of "AFFILIATED," "CONTROLLING" and "CONTROLLED" have
meanings correlative to the foregoing.

                  "BUSINESS DAY" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any
day which shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the
State of New York or the State of Texas generally are authorized or required by
law or other government actions to close.

                  "CLOSING DATE" shall have the meaning set forth in the
Purchase Agreement.

                  "COMMISSION" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                  "COMMON STOCK" means the Company's common stock, $0.01 par
value per share, or such securities that such stock shall hereafter be
reclassified into.

                  "DEBENTURES" means the Convertible Debentures issued to the
Purchasers in accordance with the Purchase Agreement.

                  "EFFECTIVENESS DATE" means the 90th day following the Closing
Date.

                  "EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2(a).

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

                  "FILING DATE" means the 30th day following the Closing Date.

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                  "HOLDER" or "HOLDERS" means the holder or holders, as the case
may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.

                  "INDEMNIFIED PARTY" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5(c).

                  "INDEMNIFYING PARTY" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5(c).

                  "LOSSES" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).

                  "PERSON" means an individual or a corporation, partnership,
trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited
liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or political
subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.

                  "PROCEEDING" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or
proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial
proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.

                  "PROSPECTUS" means the prospectus included in the Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the
Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with
respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable
Securities covered by the Registration Statement, and all other amendments and
supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all
material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in
such Prospectus.

                  "REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion in full of the Debentures and exercise in full of the
Warrants.

                  "REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means the registration statement and
any additional registration statements contemplated by Section 2(a), including
(in each case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration
statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all
exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

                  "RULE 144" means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time,
or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.

                  "RULE 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time,
or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.

                  "RULE 424" means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time,
or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.

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                  "SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                  "SPECIAL COUNSEL" means one special counsel to the Holders,
for which the Holders will be reimbursed by the Company pursuant to Section 4.

                  "WARRANTS" shall mean (i) the Common Stock purchase warrants
issued to the Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and (ii) the Common
Stock purchase warrant issued to Wharton Capital Partners, LP in connection with
the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement.

         2.       SHELF REGISTRATION

                  (a)      On or prior to the Filing Date, the Company shall
prepare and file with the Commission a "Shelf" Registration Statement covering
the resale of all Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a
continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on
Form S-3 (except if the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the
Registrable Securities on Form S-3, in which case such registration shall be on
another appropriate form in accordance herewith as the Holders may consent) and
shall contain (except if otherwise directed by the Holders) the "Plan of
Distribution" attached hereto as ANNEX A, and cause the Registration Statement
to become effective and remain effective as provided herein. The Company shall
use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared
effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing
thereof, but in any event prior to the Effectiveness Date, and shall use its
best efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective under
the Securities Act until the date which is two years after the date that such
Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission or such earlier
date when all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have
been sold or may be sold without volume restrictions pursuant to Rule 144(k) as
determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to
such effect, addressed and acceptable to the Company's transfer agent and the
affected Holders (the "EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD"), PROVIDED, that the Company shall
not be deemed to have used its best efforts to keep the Registration Statement
effective during the Effectiveness Period if it voluntarily takes any action
that would result in the Holders not being able to sell the Registrable
Securities covered by such Registration Statement during the Effectiveness
Period, unless such action is required under applicable law or the Company has
filed a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement and the
Commission has not declared it effective.

                  (b)      The initial Registration Statement required to be
filed hereunder shall include (but not be limited to) a number of shares of
Common Stock equal to no less than the sum of (i) 200% of the number of shares
of Common Stock issuable upon conversion in full of the outstanding principal
amount of the Debentures, assuming all interest is paid in shares of Common
Stock that the Debentures remain outstanding for three years, and that such
conversion occurred on the Closing Date, and (ii) the number of shares of Common
Stock issuable upon exercise in full of the Warrants.

                  (c)      If (a) the initial Registration Statement is not
filed on or prior to the Filing Date (if the Company files such Registration
Statement without affording the Holder the opportunity to review and comment on
the same as required by Section 3(a) hereof, the Company shall not be deemed to
have satisfied this clause (a)), or (b) the Company fails to file with the
Commission a

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request for acceleration in accordance with Rule 461 promulgated under the
Securities Act, within five days of the date that the Company is notified
(orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that a
Registration Statement will not be "reviewed," or not subject to further review,
or (c) the initial Registration Statement filed hereunder is not declared
effective by the Commission on or prior to the 30th day following the
Effectiveness Date, or (d) after a Registration Statement is filed with and
declared effective by the Commission, such Registration Statement ceases to be
effective as to all Registrable Securities at any time prior to the expiration
of the Effectiveness Period without being succeeded within ten days by an
amendment to such Registration Statement or by a subsequent Registration
Statement filed with and declared effective by the Commission, or (e) the Common
Stock shall be delisted or suspended from trading on the American Stock Exchange
("AMEX") or on the New York Stock Exchange, or Nasdaq National Market or Nasdaq
Smallcap Market (each, a "SUBSEQUENT MARKET") for more than three days (which
need not be consecutive days), or (f) the conversion rights of the Holders
pursuant to the Debentures are suspended for any reason, or (g) an amendment to
a Registration Statement is not filed by the Company with the Commission within
ten days of the Commission's notifying the Company that such amendment is
required in order for such Registration Statement to be declared effective (any
such failure or breach being referred to as an "EVENT," and for purposes of
clauses (a), (c), (f) the date on which such Event occurs, or for purposes of
clause (b) the date on which such five day period is exceeded, or for purposes
of clauses (d) and (g) the date which such 10 day-period is exceeded, or for
purposes of clause (e) the date on which such three day-period is exceeded,
being referred to as "EVENT DATE"), then, on the Event Date and each monthly
anniversary thereof until the applicable Event is cured, the Company shall pay
to each Holder 2.0% of the purchase price paid by such Holder pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty. If the
Company fails to pay any liquidated damages pursuant to this Section in full
within seven (7) days after the date payable, the Company will pay interest
thereon at a rate of 18% per annum (or such lesser maximum amount that is
permitted to be paid by applicable law) to the Holder, accruing daily from the
date such liquidated damages are due until such amounts, plus all such interest
thereon, are paid in full. The liquidated damages pursuant to the terms hereof
shall apply on a pro-rata basis for any portion of a month prior to the cure of
an Event.

         3.       REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

                  In connection with the Company's registration obligations
hereunder, the Company shall:

                  (a)      Not less than five Business Days prior to the filing
of the Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto (including any document that would be incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall, (i) furnish to the
Holders and their Special Counsel copies of all such documents proposed to be
filed, which documents (other than those incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference) will be subject to the review of such Holders and
their Special Counsel, and (ii) cause its officers and directors, counsel and
independent certified public accountants to respond to such inquiries as shall
be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of respective counsel to such to conduct
a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Company
shall not file the Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any
amendments or supplements thereto to which the Holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities and their Special Counsel shall reasonably object.

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                  (b)      (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such
amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep the
Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable
Securities for the Effectiveness Period and prepare and file with the Commission
such additional Registration Statements in order to register for resale under
the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities; (ii) cause the related
Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement,
and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; (iii)
respond as promptly as reasonably possible, and in any event within ten days, to
any comments received from the Commission with respect to the Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto and as promptly as reasonably possible
provide the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to
the Commission relating to the Registration Statement; and (iv) comply in all
material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act
with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by the
Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the
intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in the
Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.

                  (c)      File additional Registration Statements if the number
of Registrable Securities at any time exceeds 85% of the number of shares of
Common Stock then registered in a Registration Statement. The Company shall have
twenty-five days to file such additional Registration Statements after such
requirement notice of which is given by the Holders.

                  (d)      Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be
sold and their Special Counsel as promptly as reasonably possible (and, in the
case of (i)(A) below, not less than five Business Days prior to such filing) and
(if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than
one Business Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is proposed
to be filed; (B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there will be
a "review" of such Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments
in writing on such Registration Statement (the Company shall provide true and
complete copies thereof and all written responses thereto to each of the
Holders); and (C) with respect to the Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any
request by the Commission or any other Federal or state governmental authority
for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Pro spectus or
for additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement covering any or
all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that
purpose; (iv) if at any time any of the representations and warranties of the
Company contained in any agreement contemplated hereby ceases to be true and
correct in all material respects; (v) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption
from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such
purpose; and (vi) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes
the financial statements included in the Registration Statement ineligible for
inclusion therein or any statement made in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by
reference untrue in any material respect or that requires any revisions to the
Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not
contain any untrue statement of a material

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fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.

                  (e)      Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if
issued, obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or
exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in
any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.

                  (f)      Furnish to each Holder and their Special Counsel,
without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and
each amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all
documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and
all exhibits to the extent requested by such Person (including those previously
furnished or incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such
documents with the Commission.

                  (g)      Promptly deliver to each Holder and their Special
Counsel, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses
(including each form of prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto as
such Persons may reasonably request. The Company hereby consents to the use of
such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities
covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.

                  (h)      Prior to any public offering of Registrable
Securities, use its best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the
selling Holders and their Special Counsel in connection with the registration or
qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such
Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws
of such jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder requests in
writing, to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption
therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other
acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement;
PROVIDED, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do
business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or subject the
Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so
subject.

                  (i)      Cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to
be delivered to a transferee pursuant to a Registration Statement, which
certificates shall be free, to the extent permitted by the Purchase Agreement,
of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in
such denominations and registered in such names as any such Holders may request.

                  (j)      Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by
Section 3(d)(vi), as promptly as reasonably possible, prepare a supplement or
amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to the Registration Statement
or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so
that, as thereafter delivered, neither the Registration Statement nor such
Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.

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                  (k)      Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of
the Commission.

                  (l)      The Company may require each selling Holder to
furnish to the Company a certified statement as to the number of shares of
Common Stock beneficially owned by such Holder and, if requested by the
Commission, the controlling person thereof.

                  4.       REGISTRATION EXPENSES. All fees and expenses incident
to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be
borne by the Company whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant
to the Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the
foregoing sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and
filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect
to filings required to be made with the AMEX and any Subsequent Market on which
the Common Stock is then listed for trading, and (B) in compliance with state
securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation, fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Holders in connection with Blue Sky qualifica
tions or exemptions of the Registrable Securities and determination of the
eligibility of the Regis trable Securities for investment under the laws of such
jurisdictions as the Holders of a majority of Registrable Securities may
designate)), (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of
printing certificates for Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses if
the printing of prospectuses is requested by the holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement), (iii) messenger,
telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Company and Special Counsel for the Holders, (v) Securities Act liability
insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance, and (vi) fees and expenses
of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In addition, the Company
shall be responsible for all of its internal expenses incurred in connection
with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and
employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual
audit and the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the
Registrable Securities on any securities exchange as required hereunder.

         5.       INDEMNIFICATION

                  (a)      INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless
each Holder, the officers, directors, agents, brokers (including brokers who
offer and sell Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or
any failure to perform under a margin call of Common Stock), investment advisors
and employees of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act) and the officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling
Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any
and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without
limitation, costs of preparation and attorneys' fees) and expenses
(collectively, "LOSSES"), as incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or
relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any
Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the

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circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except to the extent,
but only to the extent, that (1) such untrue statements or omissions are based
solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the
Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such
information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of
distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved
in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such
Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or (2) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section
3(d)(ii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus
after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is
outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice
contemplated in Section 6(e). The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of
the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding of which the Company is
aware in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  (b)      INDEMNIFICATION BY HOLDERS. Each Holder shall,
severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its
directors, officers, agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company
(within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the
Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such
controlling Persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and
against all Losses (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a
final judgment not subject to appeal or review) arising solely out of or based
solely upon any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or in any
amendment or supplement thereto, or arising solely out of or based solely upon
any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading to the extent, but only to the
extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information
so furnished in writing by such Holder to the Company specifically for inclusion
in the Registration Statement or such Prospectus or to the extent that such
information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of
distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved
in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such
Prospectus or such form of Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement
thereto. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be
greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such
Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such
indemnification obligation.

                  (c)      CONDUCT OF INDEMNIFICATION PROCEEDINGS. If any
Proceeding shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity
hereunder (an "INDEMNIFIED PARTY"), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify
the Person from whom indemnity is sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PARTY") in writing,
and the Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including the
employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the
payment of all fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof;
provided, that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall
not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to
this Agreement, except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not
subject to appeal or further review) that such failure shall have proximately
and materially adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.

                  An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate
counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but
the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such
Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed

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in writing to pay such fees and expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall
have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ
counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such
Proceeding; or (3) the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any
impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying
Party, and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that a
conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent
such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such
Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to
employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the
Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and
such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party). The
Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding
effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the
Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of
which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.

                  All fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including
reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with
investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not
inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as
incurred, within ten Business Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying
Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified
Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder; PROVIDED, that the
Indemnifying Party may require such Indemnified Party to undertake to reimburse
all such fees and expenses to the extent it is finally judicially determined
that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder).

                  (d)      CONTRIBUTION. If a claim for indemnification under
Section 5(a) or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party (by reason of public
policy or otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such
Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and
Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that
resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question,
including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission
or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to
information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or
payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject
to the limita tions set forth in Section 5(c), any reasonable attorneys' or
other reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any
Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or
expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section was available to
such party in accordance with its terms.

                  The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by PRO
RATA allocation or by any other method of allo cation that does not take into
account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), no Holder shall
be
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required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by
which the proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the
Registrable Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any
damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was
not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

                  The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have
to the Indemnified Parties.

         6.       MISCELLANEOUS

                  (a)      REMEDIES. In the event of a breach by the Company or
by a Holder, of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or
the Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all
rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages,
will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The
Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate
compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the
provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any
action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the
defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

                  (b)      NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. Neither the Company nor
any of its subsidiaries has entered, as of the date hereof, nor shall the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, on or after the date of this Agreement,
enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent
with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts
with the provisions hereof. Except as and to the extent specified in SCHEDULE
6(B) hereto, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has previously
entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to any
of its securities to any Person.

                  (c)      NO PIGGYBACK ON REGISTRATIONS. Except as and to the
extent specified in SCHEDULE 6(b) hereto, neither the Company nor any of its
security holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto) may
include securities of the Company in the Registration Statement other than the
Registrable Securities, and the Company shall not after the date hereof enter
into any agreement providing any such right to any of its security holders.

                  (d)      COMPLIANCE. Each Holder covenants and agrees that it
will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as
applicable to it in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to
the Registration Statement.

                  (e)      DISCONTINUED DISPOSITION. Each Holder agrees by its
acquisition of such Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from
the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Sections
3(d)(ii), 3(d)(iii), 3(d)(iv), 3(d)(v) or 3(d)(vi), such Holder will forthwith
discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under the Registration
Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented
Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement contemplated by Section 3(j),
or until it is advised in writing (the "ADVICE") by the Company that the use of
the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case, has received
copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed
to be

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement. The
Company may provide appropriate stop orders to enforce the provisions of this
paragraph.

                  (f)      PIGGY-BACK REGISTRATIONS. If at any time during the
Effectiveness Period there is not an effective Registration Statement covering
all of the Registrable Securities and the Company shall determine to prepare and
file with the Commission a registration statement relating to an offering for
its own account or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its
equity securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under
the Securities Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to
be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or
equity securities issuable in connection with stock option or other employee
benefit plans, then the Company shall send to each Holder written notice of such
determination and, if within fifteen days after receipt of such notice, any such
Holder shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such
registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such
holder requests to be registered.

                  (h)      AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. The provisions of this
Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended,
modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the
provisions hereof may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and
signed by the Company and the Holders of at least two-thirds of the then
outstanding Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or
consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that
relates exclusively to the rights of Holders and that does not directly or
indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of at
least a majority of the Registrable Securities to which such waiver or consent
relates; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the provisions of this sentence may not be
amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of
the immediately preceding sentence.

                  (i)      NOTICES. Any and all notices or other communications
or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified in this Section prior to 6:30 p.m. (New
York City time) on a Business Day, (ii) the Business Day after the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified in the Purchase Agreement later than 6:30
p.m. (New York City time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m. (New York City
time) on such date, (iii) the Business Day following the date of mailing, if
sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual
receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address
for such notices and communications shall be as follows:

         If to the Company:                 HORIZON Pharmacies, Inc.
                                            501 Main Street
                                            Denison, Texas 75020
                                            Facsimile No.: (903) 465-6769
                                            Attn:  Chief Financial Officer

         With copies to:                    Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
                                            3700 Trammell Crow Center
                                            2001 Ross Avenue
                                            Dallas, Texas 75201-2975
                                            Facsimile No.:  (214) 220-7716
                                            Attn:  Jay Herbert, Esq.

                                      -11-

<PAGE>

         If to a Purchaser:                 To the address set forth under such
                                            Purchaser's name on the signature
                                            pages hereto.

         If to any other Person who is then the registered Holder:

                                            To the address of such Holder as it
                                            appears in the stock transfer books
                                            of the Company

or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same
manner, by such Person.

                  (j)      SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall inure
to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of
each of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The
Company may not assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior
written consent of each Holder. Each Holder may assign their respective
rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted under the
Purchase Agreement.

                  (k)      COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an
original and, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
Agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile
transmission, such signature shall create a valid binding obligation of the
party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with
the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature were the original
thereof.

                  (l)      GOVERNING LAW. All questions concerning the
construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall
be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws
of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law
thereof.

                  (m)      CUMULATIVE REMEDIES. The remedies provided herein are
cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

                  (n)      SEVERABILITY. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative
means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated
by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and
declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the
remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of
such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

                  (o)      HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning hereof.

                  (p)      SHARES HELD BY THE COMPANY AND ITS AFFILIATES.
Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of
Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the
Company or its Affiliates (other than any Holder or transferees or successors or
assigns thereof if such Holder is deemed to be an Affiliate solely by reason of
its holdings of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in determining
whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required
percentage.

                  (q)      INDEPENDENT NATURE OF PURCHASERS' OBLIGATIONS AND
RIGHTS. The obligations of each Purchaser hereunder is several and not joint
with the obligations of any other Purchaser hereunder, and neither Purchaser
shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any
other Purchaser hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or
document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant
hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a
partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or
create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert with
respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Each Purchaser shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights, including
without limitation the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be
necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any
proceeding for such purpose.

                   [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
                           SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW]

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this
Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

                            HORIZON PHARMACIES, INC.

                            By: /s/ Rick D. McCord
                                -------------------------------
                               Name: Rick D. McCord
                               Title: President

                   [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
                     SIGNATURE PAGES OF PURCHASER TO FOLLOW]

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

                            ADVANTAGE FUND II LTD.

                            By: /s/ Donald R. Morken
                               ----------------------------
                               Name: Donald R. Morken
                               Title: President

                            Address for Notice:

                            c/o CITCO
                            Kaya Flamboyan 9
                            Curacao, Netherlands Antilles
                            Facsimile: 011-599-9732-2008
                            Attention: W.R. Weber

                            Jurisdiction of organization: British Virgin Islands

                            With copies to:

                            Genesee International Inc.
                            10500 NE 8th Street
                            Suite 1920
                            Bellevue, WA 98004
                            Facsimile: (425) 462-4645
                            Attention: Christopher Purrier

                            Robinson Silverman Pearce Aronsohn & Berman LLP
                            1290 Avenue of the Americas
                            New York, NY 10104
                            Facsimile No.:  (212) 541-4630 and (212) 541-1432
                            Attn:  Eric L. Cohen, Esq.

                   [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
                      SIGNATURE PAGE FOR PURCHASER FOLLOWS]

                                      -15-<PAGE>

================================================================================

                    CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                      Among

                            HORIZON PHARMACIES, INC.

                                       and

                         THE INVESTORS SIGNATORY HERETO

                           Dated as of March 31, 2000

================================================================================

<PAGE>

         CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURE PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT"), dated as
of March 31, 2000, among HORIZON Pharmacies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"COMPANY"), and the investors signatory hereto (each such investor is a
"PURCHASER" and all such investors are, collectively, the "PURCHASERS").

         WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, the Company desires to issue and sell to the Purchasers and the
Purchasers, severally and not jointly, desire to purchase from the Company an
aggregate principal amount of $2,500,000 of the Company's 5% Convertible
Debentures, due March 31, 2003, which shall be in the form of EXHIBIT A (the
"DEBENTURES"), and which are convertible into shares of the Company's common
stock, $0.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock").

         NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants contained in
this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and
adequacy are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Purchasers agree as
follows:

                                    ARTICLE I
                                PURCHASE AND SALE

         1.1      THE CLOSING.

                  (a)      THE CLOSING. (i) Subject to the terms and conditions
set forth in this Agreement, the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchasers
and the Purchasers shall, severally and not jointly, purchase from the Company
the Debentures for an aggregate purchase price of $2,500,000. The closing of the
purchase and sale of the Debentures (the "CLOSING") shall take place at the
offices of Robinson Silverman Pearce Aronsohn & Berman LLP ("ROBINSON
SILVERMAN"), 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104, immediately
following the execution hereof or such later date as the parties shall agree.
The date of the Closing is hereinafter referred to as the "CLOSING DATE."

                           (ii)     On the Closing Date, the parties shall
deliver or shall cause to be delivered the following: (A) the Company shall
deliver to each Purchaser (1) the Debentures in the aggregate principal amount
indicated below such Purchaser's name on the signature page to this Agreement,
registered in the name of such Purchaser, (2) a Common Stock purchase warrant,
in the form of EXHIBIT D, registered in the name of such Purchaser, pursuant to
which such Purchaser shall have the right to acquire the number of shares of
Common Stock indicated below such Purchaser's name on the signature page to this
Agreement (collectively, the "WARRANTS"), (3) the legal opinion of Vinson &
Elkins L.L.P., outside counsel to the Company, in the form of EXHIBIT C, and (4)
an executed Registration Rights Agreement, dated the date hereof, among the
Company and the Purchasers, in the form of EXHIBIT B (the "REGISTRATION RIGHTS
AGREEMENT"), and the Transfer Agent Instructions, in the form of EXHIBIT E,
delivered to and acknowledged by the Company's transfer agent (the "TRANSFER
AGENT INSTRUCTIONS"); and (5) the consent of McKesson HBOC, Inc, in form
mutually agreed by the parties and (B) each Purchaser shall deliver (1) the
purchase price indicated below such Purchaser's name on the signature page to
this Agreement in United States dollars in immediately available funds by wire
transfer to an account designated in writing by the Company for such purpose,
and (2) an executed Registration Rights Agreement.

                                       -1-
<PAGE>

                  1.2      CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS. For purposes of this
Agreement, "CONVERSION PRICE," "ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE" and "TRADING DAY" shall
have the meanings set forth in the Debentures; "BUSINESS DAY" shall mean any day
except Saturday, Sunday and any day which shall be a federal legal holiday or a
day on which banking institutions in the State of New York or the State of Texas
are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close;
"PERSON" means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or
unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint
stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity
of any kind.

                                   ARTICLE II
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         2.1      REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY. The
Company hereby makes the following representations and warranties to the
Purchasers:

                  (a)      ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION. The Company is a
corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the State of Delaware with the requisite corporate power and authority
to own and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as
currently conducted. The Company has no subsidiaries other than as set forth in
SCHEDULE 2.1(a) (collectively the "SUBSIDIARIES"). Except as set forth in
Schedule 2.1(a), each of the Subsidiaries is an entity, duly incorporated or
otherwise organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization (as applicable), with the
requisite power and authority to own and use its properties and assets and to
carry on its business as currently conducted. Each of the Company and the
Subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a
foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business
conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary, except
where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be,
could not, individually or in the aggregate, (x) adversely affect the legality,
validity or enforceability of the Securities (as defined below) or any of this
Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Transfer Agent Instructions,
the Debentures or the Warrants (collectively, the "TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS"), (y)
have or result in a material adverse effect on the results of operations,
assets, prospects, or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and the
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (z) adversely impair the Company's ability to
perform fully on a timely basis its obligations under any of the Transaction
Documents (any of (x), (y) or (z), a "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT").

                  (b)      AUTHORIZATION; ENFORCEMENT. The Company has the
requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to consummate the
transactions contemplated by each of the Transaction Documents and otherwise to
carry out its obligations thereunder. The execution and delivery of each of the
Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by it of the
transactions contemplated thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary
action on the part of the Company and no further action is required by the
Company. Each of the Transaction Documents has been duly executed by the Company
and, when delivered (or filed, as the case may be) in accordance with the terms
hereof, will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Company
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms. Neither the
Company nor any

                                       -2-
<PAGE>

Subsidiary is in violation of any of the provisions of its respective
certificate or articles of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational or
charter documents.

                  (c)      CAPITALIZATION. The number of authorized, issued and
outstanding capital stock of the Company is set forth in SCHEDULE 2.1(c). Except
as disclosed in Schedule 2.1(c), the Company owns all of the capital stock of
each Subsidiary. No shares of Common Stock are entitled to preemptive or similar
rights, nor is any holder of the Common Stock entitled to preemptive or similar
rights arising out of any agreement or understanding with the Company by virtue
of any of the Transaction Documents. Except as a result of the purchase and sale
of the Debentures and the Warrants and except as disclosed in SCHEDULE 2.1(c),
there are no outstanding options, warrants, script rights to subscribe to, calls
or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities, rights or
obligations convertible into or exchangeable for, or giving any Person (as
defined below) any right to subscribe for or acquire, any shares of Common
Stock, or contracts, commitments, understandings, or arrangements by which the
Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to issue additional shares of
Common Stock, or securities or rights convertible or exchangeable into shares of
Common Stock.

                  (d)      ISSUANCE OF THE DEBENTURES AND THE WARRANTS. The
Debentures and the Warrants are duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in
accordance with the terms hereof, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and rights of first
refusal of any kind (collectively, "LIENS"). The Company has on the date hereof
and will, at all times while the Debentures and the Warrants are outstanding,
maintain an adequate reserve of duly authorized shares of Common Stock, reserved
for issuance to the holders of the Debentures and the Warrants, to enable it to
perform its conversion, exercise and other obligations under this Agreement, the
Debentures and the Warrants. Such number of reserved and available shares of
Common Stock is not less than the sum of (i) 200% of the number of shares of
Common Stock which would be issuable upon conversion in full of the Debentures,
assuming such conversion occurred on the Original Issue Date, the Debentures
remain outstanding for three years and all interest is paid in shares of Common
Stock and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
the Warrants (such number of shares of Common Stock as contemplated in clauses
(i)-(ii), the "INITIAL MINIMUM"). All such authorized shares of Common Stock
shall be duly reserved for issuance to the holders of the Debentures and the
Warrants. The shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Debentures
and upon exercise of the Warrants are collectively referred to herein as the
"UNDERLYING SHARES." The Debentures, the Warrants and the Underlying Shares are
collectively referred to herein as, the "SECURITIES." When issued in accordance
with the Debentures and the Warrants, the Underlying Shares will be duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all
Liens.

                  (e)      NO CONFLICTS. The execution, delivery and performance
of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by the Company
of the transactions contemplated thereby do not and will not (i) conflict with
or violate any provision of the Company's or any Subsidiary's certificate or
articles of incorporation, bylaws or other charter documents (each as amended
through the date hereof), or (ii) other than with respect to the matters
specified in Section 2.1(e), subject to obtaining the Required Approvals (as
defined below), conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with
notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others
any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation (with or

                                       -3-
<PAGE>

without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any agreement, credit facility, debt
or other instrument (evidencing a Company or Subsidiary debt or otherwise) or
other understanding to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by
which any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or
affected, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order,
judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or governmental
authority to which the Company or a Subsidiary is subject (including federal and
state securities laws and regulations), or by which any property or asset of the
Company is bound or affected; except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and
(iii), as could not, individually or in the aggregate, have or result in a
Material Adverse Effect. The business of the Company or a Subsidiary is not
being conducted in violation of any law, ordinance or regulation of any
governmental authority, except for violations which, individually or in the
aggregate, could not have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (f)      FILINGS, CONSENTS AND APPROVALS. Neither the Company
nor any Subsidiary is required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or
order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court
or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority or other Person
in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the
Transaction Documents, other than (i) the filings required pursuant to Section
3.10, (ii) the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") of a registration statement meeting the requirements set forth in
the Registration Rights Agreement and covering the resale of the Underlying
Shares by the Purchasers (the "UNDERLYING SHARES REGISTRATION STATEMENT"), (iii)
the application(s) to the American Stock Exchange ("AMEX") for the listing of
the Underlying Shares for trading on the AMEX (and with any other national
securities exchange or market on which the Common Stock is then listed in the
time and manner required thereby), (iv) applicable Blue Sky filings and (v) in
all other cases where the failure to obtain such consent, waiver, authorization
or order, or to give such notice or make such filing or registration could not
have or result in, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect
(collectively, the "REQUIRED APPROVALS").

                  (g)      LITIGATION; PROCEEDINGS. There is no action, suit,
inquiry, notice of violation, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties before or by any court,
arbitrator, governmental or administrative agency or regulatory authority
(federal, state, county, local or foreign) (collectively, an "Action") which (i)
adversely affects or challenges the legality, validity or enforceability of any
of the Transaction Documents or the Securities or (ii) could, individually or in
the aggregate, have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (h)      NO DEFAULT OR VIOLATION. Except as set forth in
SCHEDULE 2.1(h), neither the Company nor any Subsidiary (i) is in default under
or in violation of (and no event has occurred which has not been waived which,
with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a default by the Company
or any Subsidiary under), nor has the Company or any Subsidiary received notice
of a claim that it is in default under or that it is in violation of, any
indenture, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument to
which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound, (ii) is in
violation of any order of any court, arbitrator or governmental body, or (iii)
is in violation of any statute, rule or regulation of any governmental
authority, in each case of clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above, except as could not
individually or in the aggregate, have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                                       -4-
<PAGE>

                  (i)      PRIVATE OFFERING. Assuming the accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Purchasers set forth in Sections
2.2(b)-(g), the offer, issuance and sale of the Securities to the Purchasers as
contemplated hereby are exempt from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"). Neither the Company
nor any Person acting on its behalf has taken or is, to the knowledge of the
Company, contemplating taking any action which could subject the offering,
issuance or sale of the Securities to the registration requirements of the
Securities Act including soliciting any offer to buy or sell the Securities by
means of any form of general solicitation or advertising.

                  (j)      SEC DOCUMENTS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The Company has
filed all reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT"), including pursuant to Section 13(a) or
15(d) thereof, for the two years preceding the date hereof (or such shorter
period as the Company was required by law to file such material) (the foregoing
materials being collectively referred to herein as the "SEC DOCUMENTS" and,
together with the Schedules to this Agreement, the "DISCLOSURE MATERIALS") on a
timely basis or has received a valid extension of such time of filing and has
filed any such SEC Documents prior to the expiration of any such extension. As
of their respective dates, the SEC Documents complied in all material respects
with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules
and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, and none of the SEC
Documents, when filed, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading. All material agreements to which the Company is
a party or to which the property or assets of the Company are subject have been
filed as exhibits to the SEC Documents as required. The financial statements of
the Company included in the SEC Documents comply in all material respects with
applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the
Commission with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing. Such
financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved
("GAAP"), except as may be otherwise specified in such financial statements or
the notes thereto, and fairly present in all material respects the financial
position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of and for the
dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then
ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, immaterial,
year-end audit adjustments. Since December 31, 1999, except as specifically
disclosed in the SEC Documents, (a) there has been no event, occurrence or
development that has or that could result in a Material Adverse Effect, (b) the
Company has not incurred any liabilities (contingent or otherwise) other than
(x) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice and (y) liabilities not required to be reflected in the Company's
financial statements pursuant to GAAP or required to be disclosed in filings
made with the Commission, (c) the Company has not altered its method of
accounting or the identity of its auditors and (d) the Company has not declared
or made any payment or distribution of cash or other property to its
stockholders or officers or directors (other than in compliance with existing
Company stock option plans) with respect to its capital stock, or purchased,
redeemed (or made any agreements to purchase or redeem) any shares of its
capital stock.

                  (k)      INVESTMENT COMPANY. The Company is not, and is not an
Affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of, an "investment
company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

                                       -5-
<PAGE>

                  (l)      CERTAIN FEES. Except for certain fees payable to
Wharton Capital Markets, LLC, Allegiance Financial, Waterford Financial and
Nealtown N.V. by the Company, no fees or commissions will be payable by the
Company to any broker, financial advisor or consultant, finder, placement agent,
investment banker, bank or other Person with respect to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. The Purchasers shall have no obligation with
respect to any fees or with respect to any claims made by or on behalf of other
Persons for fees of a type contemplated in this Section that may be due in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Company
shall indemnify and hold harmless the Purchasers, their employees, officers,
directors, agents, and partners, and their respective Affiliates, from and
against all claims, losses, damages, costs (including the costs of preparation
and attorney's fees) and expenses suffered in respect of any such claimed or
existing fees, as such fees and expenses are incurred.

                  (m)      FORM S-3 ELIGIBILITY. The Company is eligible to
register securities for resale with the Commission under Form S-3 promulgated
under the Securities Act.

                  (n)      EXCLUSIVITY. The Company shall not issue and sell the
Debentures to any Person other than the Purchasers without the specific prior
written consent of the Purchasers.

                  (o)      LISTING AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS COMPLIANCE.
Except as set forth in the SEC Documents, the Company has not, in the two years
preceding the date hereof, received written notice from the AMEX or any other
stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the Common Stock is or has
been listed (or on which it has been quoted) to the effect that the Company is
not in compliance with the listing or maintenance requirements of such exchange
or market. The Company is, and has no reason to believe that it will not in the
foreseeable future continue to be, in compliance with all such listing and
maintenance requirements.

                  (p)      PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS. The Company and its
Subsidiaries have, or have rights to use, all patents, patent applications,
trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, trade names, copyrights,
licenses and rights which are necessary or material for use in connection with
their respective businesses, as described in the SEC Documents and which the
failure to so have would have a Material Adverse Effect (collectively, the
"INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS"). Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has
received a written notice that the Intellectual Property Rights used by the
Company or its Subsidiaries violates or infringes upon the rights of any Person.
To the best knowledge of the Company, all such Intellectual Property Rights are
enforceable and there is no existing infringement by another Person of any of
the Intellectual Property Rights.

                  (q)      REGISTRATION RIGHTS; RIGHTS OF PARTICIPATION. Except
as set forth on SCHEDULE 6(B) to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company
has not granted or agreed to grant to any Person any rights (including
"piggy-back" registration rights) to have any securities of the Company
registered with the Commission or any other governmental authority which has not
been satisfied. No Person, has any right of first refusal, preemptive right,
right of participation, or any similar right to participate in the transactions
contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

                  (r)      REGULATORY PERMITS. The Company and its Subsidiaries
possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate
Federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their
respective businesses as described in the SEC Documents,

                                       -6-
<PAGE>

except where the failure to possess such permits could not, individually or in
the aggregate, have or result in a Material Adverse Effect ("MATERIAL PERMITS"),
and neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has received any notice of
proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Material Permit.

                  (s)      ABSENCE OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS. Except as described
in the SEC Reports, (i) there is no Action pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened against the Company, in any such case wherein an unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding could have or result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(ii) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor any director or officer
thereof, is or has been the subject of any Action involving (A) a claim of
violation of or liability under federal or state securities laws or (B) a claim
of breach of fiduciary duty; (iii) the Company does not have pending before the
Commission any request for confidential treatment of information and the Company
has no knowledge of any expected such request that would be made prior to the
Effectiveness Date (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement); and (iv)
there has not been, and to the best of the Company's knowledge there is not
pending or contemplated, any investigation by the Commission involving the
Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company.

                  (t)      LABOR RELATIONS. No labor problem exists or, to the
knowledge of the Company, is imminent with respect to any of the employees of
the Company which could have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (x)      DISCLOSURE. The Company confirms that neither it nor
any other Person acting on its behalf has provided any of the Purchasers or its
agents or counsel with any information that constitutes or might constitute
material non-public information. The Company understands and confirms that the
Purchasers shall be relying on the foregoing representations in effecting
transactions in securities of the Company. All disclosure provided to the
Purchasers regarding the Company, its business and the transactions contemplated
hereby, including the Schedules to this Agreement, furnished by or on behalf of
the Company are true and correct and do not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.

         2.2      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASERS. Each
Purchaser hereby for itself and for no other Purchaser represents and warrants
to the Company as follows:

                  (a)      ORGANIZATION; AUTHORITY. Such Purchaser is an entity
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its organization with the requisite corporate or partnership
power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions
contemplated by the Transaction Documents and otherwise to carry out its
obligations thereunder. The purchase by such Purchaser of the Securities
hereunder has been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of such
Purchaser. Each of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement has been
duly executed by such Purchaser, and when delivered by such Purchaser in
accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute the valid and legally binding
obligation of such Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with its
terms.

                                       -7-
<PAGE>

                  (b)      INVESTMENT INTENT. Such Purchaser is acquiring the
Securities as principal for its own account for investment purposes only and not
with a view to or for distributing or reselling such Securities or any part
thereof, without prejudice, however, to such Purchaser's right, subject to the
provisions of this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Warrant,
at all times to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of such Securities
pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or
under an exemption from such registration and in compliance with applicable
federal and state securities laws. Such Purchaser is acquiring the Securities
hereunder in the ordinary course of its business. Such Purchaser does not have
any agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to
distribute the Securities.

                  (c)      PURCHASER STATUS. At the time such Purchaser was
offered the Debentures and its respective Warrants, it was, and at the date
hereof it is, and at each exercise date under its respective Warrants, it will
be, an "accredited investor" as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act.
Such Purchaser has not been formed solely for the purpose of acquiring the
Securities.

                  (d)      EXPERIENCE OF SUCH PURCHASER. Such Purchaser, either
alone or together with its representatives, has such knowledge, sophistication
and experience in business and financial matters so as to be capable of
evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment in the Securities,
and has so evaluated the merits and risks of such investment.

                  (e)      ABILITY OF SUCH PURCHASER TO BEAR RISK OF INVESTMENT.
Such Purchaser is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the
Securities and, at the present time, is able to afford a complete loss of such
investment.

                  (f)      ACCESS TO INFORMATION. Such Purchaser acknowledges
that it has reviewed the Disclosure Materials and has been afforded (i) the
opportunity to ask such questions as it has deemed necessary of, and to receive
answers from, representatives of the Company concerning the terms and conditions
of the offering of the Securities and the merits and risks of investing in the
Securities; (ii) access to information about the Company and the Company's
financial condition, results of operations, business, properties, management and
prospects sufficient to enable it to evaluate its investment; and (iii) the
opportunity to obtain such additional information which the Company possesses or
can acquire without unreasonable effort or expense that is necessary to make an
informed investment decision with respect to the investment and to verify the
accuracy and completeness of the information contained in the Disclosure
Materials. Neither such inquiries nor any other investigation conducted by or on
behalf of such Purchaser or its representatives or counsel shall modify, amend
or affect such Purchaser's right to rely on the truth, accuracy and completeness
of the Disclosure Materials and the Company's representations and warranties
contained in the Transaction Documents.

                  (g)      GENERAL SOLICITATION. Such Purchaser is not
purchasing the Securities as a result of or subsequent to any advertisement,
article, notice or other communication regarding the Securities published in any
newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television or radio or
presented at any seminar or any other general solicitation or general
advertisement.

                                       -8-
<PAGE>

                  (h)      RELIANCE. Such Purchaser understands and acknowledges
that (i) the Securities are being offered and sold to it without registration
under the Securities Act in a private placement that is exempt from the
registration provisions of the Securities Act and (ii) the availability of such
exemption, depends in part on, and the Company will rely upon the accuracy and
truthfulness of, the foregoing representations and such Purchaser hereby
consents to such reliance.

                  (i)      TRADING IN COMMON STOCK. Such Purchaser does not
maintain a short position in the Common Stock as of the Closing Date.

                  The Company acknowledges and agrees that no Purchaser makes or
has made any representations or warranties with respect to the transactions
contemplated hereby other than those specifically set forth in this Section 2.2.

                                   ARTICLE III
                         OTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES

         3.1      TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS. (a) Securities may only be disposed of
pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, to the
Company or pursuant to an available exemption from or in a transaction not
subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and in
compliance with any applicable federal and state securities laws. In connection
with any transfer of Securities other than pursuant to an effective registration
statement or to the Company, except as otherwise set forth herein, the Company
may require the transferor thereof to provide to the Company an opinion of
counsel selected by the transferor, the form and substance of which opinion
shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such
transfer does not require registration of such transferred securities under the
Securities Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company, without requiring a
legal opinion as described in the immediately preceding sentence, hereby
consents to and agrees to register on the books of the Company and with any
transfer agent for the securities of the Company any transfer of Securities by a
Purchaser to an Affiliate of such Purchaser or to one or more funds or managed
accounts under common management with such Purchaser, and any transfer among any
such Affiliates or one or more funds or managed accounts, provided that the
transferee certifies to the Company that it is an "accredited investor" as
defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act and that it is acquiring the
Securities solely for investment purposes (subject to the qualifications
hereof). Any such transferee shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms of
this Agreement and shall have the rights of a Purchaser under this Agreement and
the Registration Rights Agreement.

                  (b)      The Purchasers agree to the imprinting, so long as is
required by this Section 3.1(b), of the following legend on the Securities:

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

                  Underlying Shares shall not contain the legend set forth above
nor any other legend if the conversion of Debentures and exercise of the
Warrants or other issuances of Underlying Shares as contemplated hereby, by the
Debentures or the Warrants occurs at any time while an Underlying Shares
Registration Statement is effective under the Securities Act or, in the event
there is not an effective Underlying Shares Registration Statement, at such
time, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, such legend is not required
under applicable requirements of the Securities Act (including judicial
interpretations and pronouncements issued by the staff of the Commission). The
Company shall cause its counsel to issue the legal opinion included in the
Transfer Agent Instructions to the Company's transfer agent on the day that the
Underlying Shares Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission
(the "EFFECTIVE DATE"). The Company agrees that, in the event any Underlying
Shares are issued with a legend in accordance with this Section 3.1(b), it will,
as soon as practicable but in no event later than three (3) Trading Days after
request therefor by a Purchaser, provide such Purchaser with a certificate or
certificates representing such Underlying Shares, free from such legend at such
time as such legend would not have been required under this Section 3.1(b) had
such issuance occurred on the date of such request. The Company may not make any
notation on its records or give instructions to any transfer agent of the
Company which enlarge the restrictions of transfer set forth in this Section.

         3.2      ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF DILUTION. The Company acknowledges that the
issuance of the Underlying Shares upon (i) conversion of the Debentures in
accordance with the terms of the Debentures, and (ii) exercise of the Warrants
in accordance with their terms, will result in dilution of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock, which dilution may be substantial under certain market
conditions. The Company further acknowledges that its obligation to issue
Underlying Shares upon (x) conversion of the Debentures in accordance with the
terms of the Debentures, and (y) exercise of the Warrants in accordance with
their terms, is unconditional and absolute, subject to the limitations set forth
herein in the Debentures or pursuant to the Warrants, regardless of the effect
of any such dilution.

         3.3      FURNISHING OF INFORMATION. As long as the Purchasers own
Securities, the Company covenants to timely file (or obtain extensions in
respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports
required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. As long as the Purchasers own Securities, if
the Company is not required to file reports pursuant to such sections, it will
prepare and furnish to the Purchasers and make publicly available in accordance
with Rule 144(c) promulgated under the Securities Act such information as is
required for the Purchasers to sell the Securities under Rule 144 promulgated
under the Securities Act. The Company further covenants that it will take such
further action as any holder of Securities may reasonably request, all to the
extent required from time to time to enable such Person to sell Underlying
Shares without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of
the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act,
including causing

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

its attorneys to render and deliver any legal opinion required in order to
permit a Purchaser to sell Underlying Shares under Rule 144 upon notice of an
intention to sell or other form of notice having a similar effect the legal
opinion referenced above in this Section. Upon the request of any such Person,
the Company shall deliver to such Person a written certification of a duly
authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

         3.4      INTEGRATION. The Company shall not, and shall use its best
efforts to ensure that, no Affiliate of the Company shall, sell, offer for sale
or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as
defined in Section 2 of the Securities Act) that would be integrated with the
offer or sale of the Securities in a manner that would require the registration
under the Securities Act of the sale of the Securities to the Purchasers or that
would be integrated with the offer or sale of the Securities for purposes of the
rules and regulations of the AMEX.

         3.5      INCREASE IN AUTHORIZED SHARES. If on any date the Company
would be, if a notice of conversion or exercise (as the case may be) were to be
delivered on such date, precluded from (a) issuing (a) 200% of the number of
Underlying Shares as would then be issuable upon a conversion in full of the
Debentures, and (b) the number of Underlying Shares issuable upon exercise in
full of the Warrants (the "CURRENT REQUIRED MINIMUM"), in either case, due to
the unavailability of a sufficient number of authorized but unissued or reserved
shares of Common Stock, then the Board of Directors of the Company shall
promptly prepare and mail to the stockholders of the Company proxy materials
requesting authorization to amend the Company's certificate or articles of
incorporation to increase the number of shares of Common Stock which the Company
is authorized to issue to at least such number of shares as reasonably requested
by the Purchasers in order to provide for such number of authorized and unissued
shares of Common Stock to enable the Company to comply with its issuance,
conversion exercise and reservation of shares obligations as set forth in this
Agreement, the Debentures and the Warrants (the sum of (x) the number of shares
of Common Stock then outstanding plus all shares of Common Stock issuable upon
exercise of all outstanding options, warrants and convertible instruments, and
(y) the Current Required Minimum, shall be a reasonable number). In connection
therewith, the Board of Directors shall (a) adopt proper resolutions authorizing
such increase, (b) recommend to and otherwise use its best efforts to promptly
and duly obtain stockholder approval to carry out such resolutions (and hold a
special meeting of the stockholders no later than the earlier to occur of the
60th day after delivery of the proxy materials relating to such meeting and the
120th day after request by a holder of Securities to issue the number of
Underlying Shares in accordance with the terms hereof) and (c) within five
Business Days of obtaining such stockholder authorization, file an appropriate
amendment to the Company's certificate or articles of incorporation to evidence
such increase.

         3.6      RESERVATION AND LISTING OF UNDERLYING SHARES. (a) The Company
shall (i) in the time and manner required by AMEX and such other exchange,
market or quotation system on which the Common Stock is traded, prepare and file
with the AMEX (and such other national securities exchange or market or trading
or quotation facility on which the Common Stock is then listed) an additional
shares listing application covering a number of shares of Common Stock which is
not less than the Initial Minimum, (ii) take all steps necessary to cause such
shares of Common Stock to be approved for listing on the AMEX (as well as on any
such other national securities exchange or market or trading or quotation
facility on which the Common Stock is then listed) as soon as possible
thereafter, and (iii) provide to the Purchasers evidence of such listing, and
the Company shall

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

maintain the listing of its Common Stock thereon. If the number of Underlying
Shares issuable upon conversion in full of the then outstanding Debentures and
upon exercise of the then unexercised portion of the Warrants exceeds 85% of the
number of Underlying Shares previously listed on account thereof with AMEX (and
any such other required exchanges), then the Company shall take the necessary
actions to immediately list a number of Underlying Shares as equals no less than
the then Current Required Minimum.

                  (b)      The Company shall maintain a reserve of shares of
Common Stock for issuance upon conversion of the Debentures in full and upon
exercise in full of the Warrants in accordance with this Agreement, the
Debentures and the Warrants, respectively, in such amount as may be required to
fulfill its obligations in full under the Transaction Documents, which reserve
shall equal no less than the then Current Required Minimum.

         3.7      CONVERSION AND EXERCISE PROCEDURES. The Transfer Agent
Instructions, Conversion Notice (as defined in the Debentures) and Notice of
Exercise under the Warrants set forth the totality of the procedures with
respect to the conversion of the Debentures and exercise of the Warrants,
including the form of legal opinion, if necessary, that shall be rendered to the
Company's transfer agent and such other information and instructions as may be
reasonably necessary to enable the Purchasers to convert their Debentures and
exercise their Warrants as contemplated in the Debentures and the Warrants (as
applicable).

         3.8      RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL; SUBSEQUENT REGISTRATIONS. (a) The
Company shall not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of
the Purchasers, offer, sell, grant any option to purchase, or otherwise dispose
of (or announce any offer, sale, grant or any option to purchase or other
disposition) any of its or its Affiliates' equity or equity-equivalent
securities including the issuance of any debt or other instrument at any time
over life thereof convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, or any
other transaction intended to be exempt or not subject to registration under the
Securities Act (a "SUBSEQUENT PLACEMENT") for a period of 180 Trading Days after
the Effective Date, PROVIDED, that such 180 Trading Day period shall be extended
for the number of Trading Days during such period (A) in which trading in the
Common Stock is suspended by the AMEX or such market or quotation system on
which the Common Stock is then listed, or (B) during which the Underlying Shares
Registration Statement is not effective, or (C) during which the prospectus
included in the Underlying Shares Registration Statement may not be used by the
holders thereof for the resale of Underlying Shares, except (i) the granting of
options or warrants to employees, officers and directors, and the issuance of
shares upon exercise of options granted, under any stock option plan heretofore
or hereinafter duly adopted by the Company, (ii) shares of Common Stock issuable
upon exercise of any currently outstanding warrants and upon conversion of any
currently outstanding convertible securities of the Company, in each case
disclosed in SCHEDULE 2.1(c), (iii) shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of Debentures and upon exercise of the Warrants in accordance with
the Debentures or the Warrants, and (iv) shares of Common Stock issued in
connection with a Strategic Transaction (as defined below) or as payment of
purchase price in connection with a bona fide business combination, unless (A)
the Company delivers to each of the Purchasers a written notice (the "SUBSEQUENT
PLACEMENT NOTICE") of its intention to effect such Subsequent Placement, which
Subsequent Placement Notice shall describe in reasonable detail the proposed
terms of such Subsequent Placement, the amount of proceeds intended to be raised
thereunder, the Person with whom such Subsequent Placement shall be effected,
and attached to

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

which shall be a term sheet or similar document relating thereto and (B) such
Purchaser shall not have notified the Company by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time)
on the tenth Trading Day after its receipt of the Subsequent Placement Notice of
its willingness to provide (or to cause its sole designee to provide), subject
to completion of mutually acceptable documentation, financing to the Company on
the same terms set forth in the Subsequent Placement Notice. If the Purchasers
shall fail to notify the Company of their intention to enter into such
negotiations within such time period, the Company may effect the Subsequent
Placement substantially upon the terms and to the Persons (or Affiliates of such
Persons) set forth in the Subsequent Placement Notice; PROVIDED, that the
Company shall provide the Purchasers with a second Subsequent Placement Notice,
and the Purchasers shall again have the right of first refusal set forth above
in this paragraph (a), if the Subsequent Placement subject to the initial
Subsequent Placement Notice shall not have been consummated for any reason on
the terms set forth in such Subsequent Placement Notice within forty-five
Trading Days after the date of the initial Subsequent Placement Notice with the
Person (or an Affiliate of such Person) identified in the Subsequent Placement
Notice. If the Purchasers shall indicate a willingness to provide financing in
excess of the amount set forth in the Subsequent Placement Notice, then each
Purchaser shall be entitled to provide financing pursuant to such Subsequent
Placement Notice up to an amount equal to such Purchaser's pro-rata portion of
the aggregate principal amount of Debentures purchased by such Purchaser under
this Agreement, but the Company shall not be required to accept financing from
the Purchasers in an amount in excess of the amount set forth in the Subsequent
Placement Notice. A "STRATEGIC TRANSACTION" shall mean a transaction or
relationship in which the Company issues Common Stock to an entity which is,
itself or through its subsidiaries, an operating company in a business related
to the business of the Company and in which the Company receives material
benefits in addition to the investment of funds, but shall not include a
transaction in which the Company is issuing securities primarily for the purpose
of raising capital.

         (b)      Except for (x) Underlying Shares, (y) other "Registrable
Securities" (as such term is defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) to be
registered, and securities of the Company permitted pursuant to Schedule 6(b) of
the Registration's Rights Agreement to be registered, in the Underlying Shares
Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, and
(z) Common Stock permitted to be issued pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)- (iv) of
Section 3.8(a), the Company shall not, for a period of not less than 90 Trading
Days after the Effective Date, without the prior written consent of the
Purchasers (i) issue or sell any of its or any of its Affiliates' equity or
equity-equivalent securities pursuant to Regulation S promulgated under the
Securities Act, or (ii) register any securities of the Company. Any days that a
Purchaser is unable to sell Underlying Shares under the Underlying Shares
Registration Statement shall be added to such 90 Trading Day period for the
purposes of (i) and (ii) above.

         3.9      CERTAIN SECURITIES LAWS DISCLOSURES; PUBLICITY. The Company
shall: (i) on the Closing Date issue a press release acceptable to the
Purchasers disclosing the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) file with the
Commission a Report on Form 8-K disclosing the transactions contemplated hereby
within ten Business Days after the Closing Date, and (iii) timely file with the
Commission a Form D promulgated under the Securities Act as required under
Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act and provide a copy thereof to
the Purchasers promptly after the filing thereof. The Company shall, no less
than one Business Day prior to the filing of any disclosure required by clauses
(ii) and (iii) above, provide a copy thereof to the Purchasers. No such

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

filing or disclosure may be made that mentions the Purchasers by name without
the prior consent of the Purchasers. The Company and the Purchasers shall
consult with each other in issuing any press releases or otherwise making public
statements or filings and other communications with the Commission or any
regulatory agency or stock market or trading facility with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereby and neither party shall issue any such press
release or otherwise make any such public statement, filings or other
communications without the prior written consent of the other, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, except that no prior consent
shall be required if such disclosure is required by law, in which such case the
disclosing party shall provide the other party with prior notice of such public
statement, filing or other communication. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company shall not publicly disclose the names of the Purchasers, or include the
names of the Purchasers in any filing with the Commission, or any regulatory
agency, trading facility or stock market without the prior written consent of
the Purchasers, except to the extent such disclosure (but not any disclosure as
to the controlling Persons thereof) is required by law, in which case the
Company shall provide the Purchasers with prior notice of such disclosure.

         3.10     USE OF PROCEEDS. The Company shall use the net proceeds from
the sale of the Securities hereunder for working capital purposes and not for
the satisfaction of any portion of the Company's debt (other than payment of
trade payables in the ordinary course of the Company's business and prior
practices), to redeem any Company equity or equity-equivalent securities or to
settle any outstanding litigation.

         3.11     REIMBURSEMENT. If any Purchaser, other than by reason of its
gross negligence or willful misconduct, becomes involved in any capacity in any
action, proceeding or investigation brought by or against any Person, including
stockholders of the Company, in connection with or as a result of the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, the
Company will reimburse such Purchaser for its reasonable legal and other
expenses (including the cost of any investigation and preparation) incurred in
connection therewith, as such expenses are incurred. In addition, other than
with respect to any matter in which a Purchaser is a named party, the Company
will pay such Purchaser the charges, as reasonably determined by such Purchaser,
for the time of any officers or employees of such Purchaser devoted to appearing
and preparing to appear as witnesses, assisting in preparation for hearings,
trials or pretrial matters, or otherwise with respect to inquiries, hearings,
trials, and other proceedings relating to the subject matter of this Agreement.
The reimbursement obligations of the Company under this paragraph shall be in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have, shall extend
upon the same terms and conditions to any Affiliates of the Purchasers who are
actually named in such action, proceeding or investigation, and partners,
directors, agents, employees and controlling persons (if any), as the case may
be, of the Purchasers and any such Affiliate, and shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of any successors, assigns, heirs and personal
representatives of the Company, the Purchasers and any such Affiliate and any
such Person. The Company also agrees that neither the Purchasers nor any such
Affiliates, partners, directors, agents, employees or controlling persons shall
have any liability to the Company or any Person asserting claims on behalf of or
in right of the Company in connection with or as a result of the consummation of
the Transaction Documents except to the extent that any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses incurred by the Company result from the gross negligence
or willful misconduct of the applicable Purchaser or entity in connection with
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

         3.12     CERTAIN TRADING RESTRICTIONS. Each Purchaser agrees that,
prior to the Effective Date, it shall not enter into any Short Sales (as defined
herein). For purposes of this Section 3.12, a "Short Sale" by a Purchaser shall
mean a sale of Common Stock by such Purchaser that is marked as a short sale and
that is made at a time when there is no equivalent offsetting long position in
Common Stock held by the Purchaser. For purposes of determining whether there is
an equivalent offsetting long position in Common Stock held by a Purchaser,
Underlying Shares that are issuable on conversion of the Debentures or exercise
of the Warrants (as the case may be) for which a conversion or exercise notice
(as the case may be) has been delivered by a Purchaser on or prior to a Trading
Day shall be deemed to be held long by such Purchaser on such Trading Day.

         3.13     GOOD STANDINGS. The Company shall use its best efforts to
cause it and its subsidiaries to be in "Good Standing" in each jurisdiction
referenced as not in "Good Standing" on Schedule 2.1(c), as soon as possible and
in any event prior to the 60th day following the Closing Date.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

                  4.1      FEES AND EXPENSES. At the Closing, the Company shall
reimburse the Purchasers for their legal fees and expenses incurred in
connection with the preparation and negotiation of the Transaction Documents by
paying to Robinson Silverman $25,000 for the preparation and negotiation of the
Transaction Documents. The amount contemplated by the immediately preceding
sentence shall be retained by the Purchasers and shall not be delivered to the
Company at the Closing. Other than the amount contemplated herein, and except as
otherwise set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, each party shall pay
the fees and expenses of its advisers, counsel, accountants and other experts,
if any, and all other expenses incurred by such party incident to the
negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.
The Company shall pay all stamp and other taxes and duties levied in connection
with the issuance of the Securities.

                  4.2      ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENTS. The Transaction
Documents, together with the Exhibits and Schedules thereto and the Transfer
Agent Instructions contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect
to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and
understandings, oral or written, with respect to such matters, which the parties
acknowledge have been merged into such documents, exhibits and schedules.

                  4.3      NOTICES. Any and all notices or other communications
or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified in this Section prior to 6:30 p.m. (New
York City time) on a Business Day, (ii) the Business Day after the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified in this Agreement later than 6:30 p.m. (New
York City time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on
such date, (iii) the Business Day following the date of mailing, if sent by
nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual receipt by
the party to whom

                                      -15-
<PAGE>

such notice is required to be given. The address for such notices and
communications shall be as follows:

         If to the Company:           HORIZON Pharmacies, Inc.
                                      501 Main Street
                                      Denison, Texas 75020
                                      Facsimile No.: (903) 465-6769
                                      Attn: Chief Financial Officer

         With copies to:              Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
                                      3700 Trammell Crow Center
                                      2011 Ross Avenue
                                      Dallas, Texas 75201-2975
                                      Facsimile No.:  (214) 220-7716
                                      Attn:  Jay Hebert, Esq.

         If to a Purchaser:           To the address
                                      set forth under such
                                      Purchaser's name on the
                                      signature pages hereto.

or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same
manner, by such Person.

                  4.4      AMENDMENTS; WAIVERS. No provision of this Agreement
may be waived or amended except in a written instrument signed, in the case of
an amendment, by the Company and each of the Purchasers or, in the case of a
waiver, by the party against whom enforcement of any such waiver is sought. No
waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or require ment
of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a
waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any
delay or omission of either party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner
impair the exercise of any such right accruing to it thereafter.

                  4.5      HEADINGS. The headings herein are for convenience
only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to
limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.

                  4.6      SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and
permitted assigns. The Company may not assign this Agreement or any rights or
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Purchasers.
Except as set forth in Section 3.1(a), the Purchasers may not assign this
Agreement or any of the rights or obligations hereunder without the consent of
the Company. This provision shall not limit any Purchaser's right to transfer
securities or transfer or assign rights under the Registration Rights Agreement.

                  4.7      NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This Agreement is
intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors
and permitted assigns and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision
hereof be enforced by, any other Person.

                                      -16-
<PAGE>

                  4.8      GOVERNING LAW. The corporate laws of the State of
Delaware shall govern all issues concerning the relative rights of the Company
and its stockholders. All other questions concerning the construction, validity,
enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by and
construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New
York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.

                  4.9      SURVIVAL. The representations, warranties, agreements
and covenants contained herein shall survive the Closing and the delivery and
conversion or exercise (as the case may be) of the Debentures and the Warrants.

                  4.10     EXECUTION. This Agreement may be executed in two or
more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and
the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed
by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both
parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is
delivered by facsimile transmission, such signature shall create a valid and
binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is
executed) the same with the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature
page were an original thereof.

                  4.11     SEVERABILITY. In case any one or more of the
provisions of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable in any respect,
the validity and enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this
Agreement shall not in any way be affecting or impaired thereby and the parties
will attempt to agree upon a valid and enforceable provision which shall be a
reasonable substitute therefor, and upon so agreeing, shall incorporate such
substitute provision in this Agreement.

                  4.12     REMEDIES. In addition to being entitled to exercise
all rights provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages,
each of the Purchasers will be entitled to specific performance of the
obligations of the Company under the Transaction Documents. The Company and each
of the Purchasers agree that monetary damages may not be adequate compensation
for any loss incurred by reason of any breach of its obligations described in
the foregoing sentence and hereby agrees to waive in any action for specific
performance of any such obligation the defense that a remedy at law would be
adequate.

                  4.13     INDEPENDENT NATURE OF PURCHASERS' OBLIGATIONS AND
RIGHTS. The obligations of each Purchaser under any Transaction Document is
several and not joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser and no
Purchaser shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations
of any other Purchaser under any Transaction Document. Nothing contained herein
or in any Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant
thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a partnership, an
association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a
presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert with respect to
such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Document.
Each Purchaser shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its
rights, including without limitation the rights arising out of this Agreement or
out of the other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any
other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such
purpose.

                                      -17-
<PAGE>

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                            SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOWS]

                                      -18-
<PAGE>

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Convertible Debenture Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective
authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.

                            HORIZON PHARMACIES, INC.

                            By: /s/ Rick D. McCord
                                -------------------------------
                               Name: Rick D. McCord
                               Title: President

                   [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
                      SIGNATURE PAGE FOR PURCHASER FOLLOWS]

<PAGE>

                            ADVANTAGE FUND II LTD.

                            By: /s/ Donald R. Morken
                               ----------------------------
                               Name: Donald R. Morken
                               Title: President

                            Purchase Price for Debentures to be
                            acquired at Closing:                      $2,500,000

                            Number of Shares underlying Warrant:          50,000

                            Address for Notice:

                            c/o CITCO
                            Kaya Flamboyan 9
                            Curacao, Netherlands Antilles
                            Facsimile: 011-599-9732-2008
                            Attention: W.R. Weber

                            Jurisdiction of organization: British Virgin Islands

                             With copies to:

                             Genesee International Inc.
                             10500 NE 8th Street
                             Suite 1920
                             Bellevue, WA 98004
                             Facsimile: (425) 462-4645
                             Attention: Christopher R. Purrier

                             Robinson Silverman Pearce Aronsohn & Berman LLP
                             1290 Avenue of the Americas
                             New York, NY 10104
                             Facsimile No.:  (212) 541-4630 and (212) 541-1432
                             Attn:  Eric L. Cohen, Esq.

                   [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
                      SIGNATURE PAGE FOR PURCHASER FOLLOWS]

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