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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

THE SECURITIES TO WHICH THIS AGREEMENT RELATES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR UNDER ANY
STATE SECURITIES LAWS ("STATE LAWS") AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE
TRANSFERRED UNLESS THE OFFER AND SALE IS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR
THE ISSUER RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER
THAT THE OFFER AND SALE IS EXEMPT FROM SECURITIES ACT REGISTRATION.

                          SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

        This agreement is made and entered into as of the 8th day of June, 2000,
by and between Contango Oil & Gas Company (the "Issuer") and the Southern Ute
Indian Tribe, a federally recognized Indian tribe organized under the Indian
Reorganization Act of 1934, doing business as the Southern Ute Indian Tribe
Growth Fund (the "Purchaser").

         1. AGREEMENT TO PURCHASE SECURITIES. On the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this agreement, the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase
from the Issuer 2,500,000 shares of the Issuer's common stock (the "Shares") for
an aggregate purchase price of $2,500,000 (the "Purchase Price"), payable by
wire transfer to the account of the Issuer. The Issuer will also grant Purchaser
a 90-day option to purchase an additional 2,500,000 shares of the Issuer's
common stock (the "Option") for an aggregate purchase price of $2,500,000. The
shares of Issuer's common stock that may be issued upon exercise of the Option
are referred to herein as the "Option Shares" and the Shares, the Option and the
Option Shares are collectively referred to herein as the "Securities".

         2. WIRE TRANSFER OF PAYMENT FOR AND DELIVERY OF THE SECURITIES.
Immediately after the Purchaser has wired the Purchase Price for the Securities
as instructed by Issuer, the Issuer shall issue and deliver a certificate
representing the Shares, and the Options in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
A and Exhibit B, in the name and to the address specified by the Purchaser in
the registration and delivery instructions on the signature page of this
agreement.

         3.PURCHASER'S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Purchaser hereby
represents and warrants to the Issuer that:

                  3.1 Investment Intent. The Purchaser is acquiring the
Securities solely for the Purchaser's own account for investment purposes, and
not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution of
the Securities in violation of the Securities Act.

                  3.2 Access to Information. The Purchaser has received a copy
of the Issuer's annual report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended June 30, 1999
(the "Annual Report") and quarterly report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended
March 31, 2000 (the "Quarterly Report") and has reviewed them, including the
risk factors set forth under the heading, "Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Plan of Operation -- Risk Factors." In addition, the Purchaser has received
and reviewed a copy of the Issuer's proxy statement for its annual meeting of
stockholders held on September 28, 1999 (the "Proxy Statement"). If desired, the
Purchaser has also sought and obtained from management of the Issuer such
additional information concerning

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the business, management and financial affairs of the Issuer as the Purchaser
has deemed necessary or appropriate in evaluating an investment in the Issuer
and determining whether or not to purchase the Securities.

                  3.3 Accredited Investor. By completing the Accredited Investor
Certification attached as Exhibit C, the Purchaser represents and warrants that
it is an accredited investor, as defined by Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under
the Securities Act.

                  3.4 Knowledge and Experience. The Purchaser has such knowledge
and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of
evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities and of
protecting its interests in connection with an acquisition of the Securities.

                  3.5 Suitability. The Purchaser has carefully considered, and
has, to the extent the Purchaser deems it necessary, discussed with the
Purchaser's own professional legal, tax and financial advisers the suitability
of an investment in the Securities for the Purchaser's particular tax and
financial situation, and the Purchaser has determined that the Securities are a
suitable investment for the Purchaser.

                  3.6 Ability to Bear Risk of Loss. The Purchaser is financially
able to hold the Securities subject to restrictions on transfer for an
indefinite period of time, and is capable of bearing the economic risk of losing
up to the entire amount of its investment in the Securities.

                  3.7 Private Offering. The offer of the Securities was directly
communicated to the Purchaser by the Issuer. At no time was the Purchaser
presented with or solicited by any leaflet, newspaper or magazine article, radio
or television advertisement, or any other form of general advertising or
solicited or invited to attend a promotional meeting otherwise than in
connection and concurrently with such directly communicated offer.

                  3.8 Truth and Accuracy. All representations and warranties
made by the Purchaser in this agreement are true and accurate as of the date
hereof and shall be true and accurate as of the date the Issuer issues the
Securities. If at any time prior to the issuance of the Securities any
representation or warranty shall not be true and accurate in any respect, the
Purchaser shall so notify the Issuer.

                  3.9 Authority. The individuals executing and delivering this
agreement on behalf of the Purchaser have been duly authorized to execute and
deliver this agreement on behalf of the Purchaser, the signature of both such
individuals is binding upon the Purchaser, the Purchaser is a federally
recognized Indian tribe organized under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934
and the Purchaser was not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the
Securities.

                  3.10 No Violation. The execution and delivery of this
agreement and the consummation of the transactions or performance of the
obligations contemplated by this agreement do not and will not violate any term
of the Purchaser's organizational documents.

                  3.11 Enforceability. The Purchaser has duly executed and
delivered this agreement and (subject to its execution by the Issuer) it
constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Purchaser enforceable in
accordance with its terms against the Purchaser, except as such enforceability
may be limited by and subject to laws of general application

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relating to bankruptcy, insolvency and the relief of debtors and rules of law
governing specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies.

                  3.12 Reliance on Own Advisers. In connection with the
Purchaser's investment in the Securities, the Purchaser has not relied upon the
Issuer or its advisers for legal or tax advice, and has, if desired, in all
cases sought the advice of the Purchaser's own legal counsel and tax advisers.

                  3.13 Scope of Business. The Purchaser has been advised and
understands that the Issuer will be exposed to numerous investment opportunities
in all areas of the oil and gas industry and may therefore pursue various types
of opportunities, even if they do not fit within the primary focus of the
Issuer's current business plan. For example, such opportunities could include
both onshore and offshore United States investments and also international
investments. Potential opportunities could also include such things as
downstream investments in oil and gas service companies, pipelines, and gas
processing and gas storage facilities.

         4. ISSUER'S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Issuer hereby
represents and warrants to the Purchaser that:

                  4.1 Corporate Existence; Authority. The Issuer is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of Nevada and is duly qualified and in good standing in each jurisdiction in
which such qualification is required by law, except where the failure to be so
qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the Issuer. The Issuer has
all requisite power and authority to own or hold under lease the properties it
purports to own or hold under lease and to carry on its business as it is being
conducted and to execute and deliver this agreement and to perform the
provisions hereof. The individual executing and delivering this agreement on
behalf of the Issuer has been duly authorized to execute and deliver this
agreement on behalf of the Issuer and the signature of such individual is
binding upon the Issuer.

                  4.2 Enforceability. The Issuer has duly taken all requisite
action necessary to authorize the execution and delivery by it of this agreement
and to authorize the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
the performance of its obligations hereunder. The Issuer has duly executed and
delivered this agreement and (subject to its execution by the Purchaser) it
constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Issuer enforceable in
accordance with its terms against the Issuer, except as such enforceability may
be limited by and subject to laws of general application relating to bankruptcy,
insolvency and the relief of debtors and rules of law governing specific
performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies.

                  4.3 Capitalization. (a) The Issuer has no outstanding capital
stock other than common stock as of the date of this agreement. The Issuer is
authorized to issue 50,000,000 shares of common stock, of which (prior to giving
effect to the transactions set forth herein) 17,496,661 shares are issued and
outstanding, and 125,000 shares of preferred stock, none of which are issued and
outstanding. All of the Issuer's outstanding shares of common stock have been
duly and validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and not subject to
any preemptive or similar rights. The Shares have been duly authorized and when
issued and delivered to the Purchaser against payment therefor as provided by
this agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the
issuance of such Shares will not be subject to any preemptive or

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similar rights. If and when issued, the Option Shares will have been duly
authorized and when issued and delivered to the Purchaser against payment
therefor as provided by in the Option, will be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable, and the issuance of such Option Shares will not be subject to
any preemptive or similar rights.

                           (b) Prior to giving effect to the transactions set
forth herein, there are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants,
convertible securities, calls, commitments, agreements or rights to purchase or
otherwise acquire from the Issuer any shares of, or any securities convertible
into, the capital stock of the Issuer except as set forth on Schedule 4.3(b),
including (i) outstanding options to purchase 814,167 shares of the Issuer's
common stock under the Issuer's 1999 Stock Incentive Plan, under which 5,000,000
shares of common stock are reserved for issuance, (ii) warrants exercisable for
2,830,370 shares of the Issuer's common stock at the exercise price of $1.00 per
share, and (iii) outstanding options to purchase an aggregate of 275,000 shares
of the Issuer's common stock pursuant to certain agreements between the Issuer
and various third parties.

                           (c) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.3(c), no
shareholders of the Issuer have any right to require the registration of any
securities of the Issuer or to participate in any such registration.

                  4.4 No Conflicts. The issuance and sale of the Securities to
the Purchaser as contemplated hereby and the performance of this Agreement and
the Option will not violate or conflict with the Issuer's Articles of
Incorporation or By-laws or any agreements to which the Issuer is a party or by
which it is otherwise bound or, to the Issuer's knowledge, any statute, rule or
regulation (federal, state, local or foreign) to which it is subject.

                  4.5 SEC Documents. The Issuer has provided the Annual Report,
the Quarterly Report and the Proxy Statement to the Purchaser. As of the date
hereof, the Annual Report, the Quarterly Report and the Proxy Statement do not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit 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. The financial statements of the Issuer included in the Annual Report
have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be
indicated in the notes thereto) and fairly present the financial position of the
Issuer as of the dates thereof and the results of its operations and cash flows
for the periods then ended. The Issuer has included in the Annual Report all
material agreements, contracts and other documents that are required to be filed
as exhibits to the Annual Report.

                  4.6 Litigation. There is no litigation or other legal,
administrative or governmental proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the
Issuer, threatened against or relating to the Issuer or its properties or
business, that if determined adversely to the Issuer may reasonably be expected
to have a material adverse effect on the present or future operations or
financial condition of the Issuer.

                  4.7 No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the
Quarterly Report, there has not been any material adverse change in the
business, operations, properties, prospects,

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assets, or condition of the Issuer, and no event has occurred or circumstance
exits that may result in such a material adverse change.

                  4.8 Environmental Matters.

                           (a) Except as would not be reasonably likely to have
a material adverse effect change in the business, operations, properties,
prospects, assets, or condition of the Issuer: (i) to Issuer's knowledge, Issuer
has complied with all applicable Environmental Laws (as defined in Section
4.8(b)); (ii) to Issuer's knowledge, Issuer is not subject to liability for any
Hazardous Substance disposal or contamination on any third party property; (iii)
to Issuer's knowledge, Issuer has not been associated with any release or threat
of release of any Hazardous Substance; (v) Issuer has not received any notice,
demand, letter, claim or request for information alleging that Issuer may be in
violation of or liable under any Environmental Law; (vi) Issuer is not subject
to any orders, decrees, injunctions or other arrangements with any Governmental
Entity or is subject to any indemnity or other agreement with any third party
relating to liability under any Environmental Law or relating to Hazardous
Substances; and (vii) there are no circumstances or conditions involving Issuer
that could reasonably be expected to result in any claims, liability,
investigations, costs or restrictions on the ownership, use or transfer of any
property of Issuer pursuant to any Environmental Law.

                           (b) For purposes of this agreement, the term
"Environmental Law" means any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation,
order, decree, permit, authorization, opinion, common law or agency requirement
relating to: (A) the protection, investigation or restoration of the
environment, health and safety, or natural resources, (B) the handling, use,
presence, disposal, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Substance or
(C) noise, odor, wetlands, pollution, contamination or any injury or threat of
injury to persons or property.

                           (c) For purposes of this agreement, the term
"Hazardous Substance" means any substance that is: (A) listed, classified or
regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law; (B) any petroleum product or
by-product, asbestos-containing material, lead-containing paint or plumbing,
polychlorinated biphenyls, radioactive materials or radon; or (C) any other
substance which is the subject of regulatory action by any governmental entity
pursuant to any Environmental Law.

                  4.9 Juneau Agreement. Issuer has delivered a true and correct
copy of the agreement dated as of September 1, 1999 (the "Juneau Agreement") by
and between the Issuer and Juneau Exploration, Inc. to Purchaser, and since the
date received by Purchaser, the Juneau Agreement has not been amended or
modified in any respect orally or in writing, is in full force and effect and
has not been terminated.

                  4.10 No Subsidiaries. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.10,the
Issuer has no Subsidiary, owns no stock in any other person, and is not a member
of any general or limited partnership, joint venture or association of any kind.
For purposes of this agreement, the term Subsidiary of a specified person means
any corporation, association, partnership, joint venture, or other business or
corporate entity, enterprise or organization which is directly or indirectly
(through one or more intermediaries) controlled by or owned fifty percent or
more by the specified person, provided that associations, joint ventures or
other relationships (i) which are established pursuant to a standard form
operating agreement or similar agreement or which are

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partnerships for purposes of federal income taxation only, (ii) which are not
corporations or partnerships (or subject to the Uniform Partnership Act) under
applicable state law, and (iii) whose businesses are limited to the exploration,
development and operation of oil, gas or mineral properties and interests owned
directly by the parties in such associations, joint ventures or relationships,
shall not be deemed to be "Subsidiaries" of the specified person.

                  4.11 Compliance with Laws, Other Instruments. The execution,
delivery and performance by the Issuer of this agreement will not (a)
contravene, result in any breach of, or constitute a default under or result in
the creation of any lien in respect of any property of the Issuer under, any
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, purchase or credit agreement, lease,
corporate charter or bylaws, or any other material agreement or instrument to
which the Issuer is bound or by which the Issuer or any of its respective
properties may be bound or affected, (b) conflict with or result in a breach of
any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any order, judgment, decree, or
ruling of any court, arbitrator or governmental authority applicable to the
Issuer or (c) violate any provision of any statute or other rule or regulation
of any governmental authority applicable to the Issuer.

                  4.12 Government Authorization. No consent, approval or
authorization of, or registration, filing or declaration with a governmental
authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance
by the Issuer of this agreement.

                  4.13 Observance of Agreements, Statutes and Orders. The Issuer
is not in default under any term of any agreement or instrument to which it is a
party or by which it is bound, or any order, judgment, decree or ruling of any
court, arbitrator or governmental authority or is in violation of any applicable
law, ordinance, rule or regulation (including without limitation environmental
laws) of any governmental authority which default or violation could have a
material adverse effect upon the business or operations of the Issuer.

                  4.14 Taxes. The Issuer has filed all tax returns that are
required to have been filed by it in any jurisdiction, and has paid all taxes
shown to be due and payable on such returns and all other taxes, assessments,
governmental charges or levies levied upon it or its properties, assets, income
or franchises, to the extent such taxes and assessments have become due and
payable and before they have become delinquent, except for any taxes and
assessments (i) the amount of which is not individually or in the aggregate
material in relation to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition,
assets, properties or prospects of the Issuer, or (ii) the amount, applicability
or validity of which is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings and with respect to which the Issuer has established adequate
reserves in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Issuer
knows of no basis for any other tax or assessment with respect to itself that
could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect. The charges,
accruals and reserves on the books of the Issuer in respect of federal, state or
other taxes for all fiscal periods are adequate.

                  4.15 Licenses, Permits, etc.

                           (a) the Issuer owns or possesses all licenses,
permits, franchises, authorizations, patents, copyrights, service marks,
trademarks and trade names, or rights thereto necessary for the conduct of its
business, without known conflict with the rights of others;

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                           (b) no product of the Issuer infringes in any
material respect any license, permit, franchise, authorization, patent,
copyright, service mark, trademark, trade name or other right owned by any other
person; and

                           (c) there is no material violation by any person of
any right of the Issuer with respect to any patent, copyright, service mark,
trademark, trade name or other right owned or used by the Issuer.

                  4.16 ERISA. The Issuer has not had nor does it have any plans
subject to ERISA.

                  4.17 Insurance. The Issuer maintains, with financially sound
and reputable insurers, insurance with respect to its properties and businesses
against such casualties and contingencies, of such types, on such terms, and in
such amounts (including deductibles, coinsurance and self-insurance, if adequate
reserves are maintained with respect thereto) as is customary in the case of
entities of established reputations engaged in the same or similar business and
similarly situated. Set forth in Schedule 4.17 is a list as of the date hereof
of all of the Issuer's policies of insurance, containing in each case the name
of the insurer, the policy number, coverage amounts, deductible, premium and
expiration date.

                  4.18 Commissions. The Issuer has not entered into any
agreement or incurred any obligation which might result in the obligation to pay
a brokerage commission or finder's fee with respect to the sale and issuance of
the Securities.

                  4.19 Election. At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the
Issuer held on May 30, 2000, Robert Zahradnick was elected to the Board of
Directors of the Issuer subject to the consummation of the transactions pursuant
to this agreement.

         5. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER.

                  5.1 Resale Restrictions. The Purchaser understands that the
offer and sale of the Securities to the Purchaser has not been registered under
the Securities Act or under any State Laws. The Purchaser agrees not to offer,
sell or otherwise transfer the Securities, or any interest in the Securities,
unless (i) the offer and sale is registered under the Securities Act, (ii) the
Securities may be sold in accordance with the applicable requirements and
limitations of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and any applicable State Laws
and, if the Issuer reasonably requests, the Purchaser delivers to the Issuer an
opinion of counsel to such effect, or (iii) the Purchaser delivers to the Issuer
an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer that the offer and
sale is otherwise exempt from Securities Act registration. Notwithstanding the
foregoing subsections (ii) and (iii), no opinion shall be required for transfers
by Purchaser to Purchaser's affiliates.

                  5.2 Restrictive Legend. The Purchaser understands and agrees
that a legend in substantially the following form will be placed on the
certificates or other documents representing the Securities:

        "THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR
        UNDER ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY

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         NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNLESS (i) THE OFFER AND
         SALE IS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (ii) THE OFFER AND SALE
         IS EXEMPT FROM SECURITIES ACT REGISTRATION AND THE TERMS OF SECTION 5.1
         OF THE SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO WHICH THE SECURITIES
         WERE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED HAVE BEEN COMPLIED WITH. (A COPY OF THE
         SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT IS ON FILE AT THE CORPORATE OFFICE OF THE
         ISSUER.)"

                  5.3 Illiquid Investment. The Purchaser acknowledges that it
must bear the economic risk of its investment in the Securities for an
indefinite period of time, until such time as the Securities are registered or
as an exemption from registration is available. The Purchaser acknowledges that
the soonest that the Rule 144 exemption from registration could become available
would be after the Purchaser has paid for and held the Securities for one year.

         6. RIGHT TO ADDITIONAL SECURITIES.

                  6.1 First Refusal Rights. Subject to the terms and conditions
of this Article 6, the Issuer hereby grants to the Purchaser a right of first
refusal to purchase its Pro Rata Share (as defined below) of any issue of New
Securities (as defined below) that the Issuer (or any subsidiary whose capital
stock will not be wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by the Issuer upon
completion of any such issuance) may from time to time after the date of this
agreement propose to issue.

                  6.2 New Securities. "New Securities" shall mean any capital
stock, any rights, options or warrants to purchase or subscribe for capital
stock, and any securities or other instruments of any type whatsoever that are,
or may become, convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock, which are
issued for cash; provided, however, that "New Securities" shall not include: (i)
up to 5,000,000 shares of the Issuer's common stock (or related options or
rights) issued to the Issuer's employees, directors and consultants pursuant to
a plan adopted by the Board of Directors; (ii) shares of the Issuer's capital
stock issued in connection with any warrant, option or right, stock split or
stock dividend by the Issuer outstanding on the date hereof; (iii) shares issued
to Glenn Dillon, the Issuer's controller, in an amount not to exceed 1,250 per
month; (iv) shares issued to William Gibbons, the Issuer's treasurer and
assistant secretary, in an amount not to exceed 2,000 per month through December
2000; and (v) shares issued to Billy Jack Corbell in connection with the
acquisition of leases in Shelby County, Texas, in an amount not to exceed 5,000.

                  6.3 Notice and Allocation Periods. If the Issuer or, when
applicable, its subsidiary, proposes to undertake a bona fide issuance of New
Securities, then it shall give the Purchaser written notice, at the address set
forth on the signature page hereof or any substitute address delivered to Issuer
in writing by Purchaser, of its intention, describing the type of New
Securities, the price, the number of shares to be offered, and the general terms
upon which such securities are proposed to be offered. The Purchaser shall be
given at least 20 days' prior written notice within which to agree to purchase
all or any part of its Pro Rata Share (as hereinafter defined) of such issuance
of New Securities for the price and upon the general terms specified in said
notice by giving written notice to the issuer within such period and stating
therein the quantity of New Securities to be purchased by it. "Pro Rata Share"
shall mean that portion of the number of shares of New Securities proposed to be
issued that equals the proportion that (a) the

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number of shares of common stock held by the Purchaser immediately prior to the
proposed issuance, plus the number of shares of common stock that would then be
issuable to the Purchaser assuming that the Option had been fully exercised,
bears to (b) the total number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the proposed issuance.

                  6.4 Right of Issuer to Sell New Securities. If the Purchaser
fails to exercise in full its rights of first refusal within the applicable
period set forth above, then the Issuer or, when applicable, its subsidiary
shall have 120 days thereafter to sell the New Securities respecting that the
rights set forth herein were not exercised at a price and upon general terms no
more favorable to the purchaser thereof than specified in the notice to the
Purchaser. If such New Securities have not been sold within such 120-day period,
then the Issuer or, when applicable, its subsidiary shall not thereafter issue
or sell any New Securities without first offering them to the Purchaser in the
manner provided above.

                  6.5 Expiration of First Refusal Rights. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in the foregoing, the right of first refusal granted to
the Purchaser pursuant to this Article 6 shall expire upon completion of a
public offering of the Issuer's common stock pursuant to a registration
statement declared effective by the SEC in connection with the sale by the
Issuer of at least $10.0 million of the Issuer's common stock.

         7. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.

                  7.1 Initial Filing. Within 180 days after the issuance of the
Shares, the Issuer shall prepare and file or cause to be filed with the SEC a
registration statement (the "Initial Registration Statement") with respect to
the Shares. The Issuer shall thereafter use diligence in attempting to cause the
Initial Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC and shall
thereafter use diligence to maintain the effectiveness of the Initial
Registration Statement until the earlier to occur of (i) the date which is one
year from the effective date of the Initial Registration Statement, (ii) the
date on which all of the Shares have been sold by the Purchaser or (iii) the
date on which the Shares can be resold in full over a three-month period
pursuant to SEC Rule 144.

                  7.2 Demand Registration Rights. If at any time the Initial
Registration Statement is no longer effective, Purchaser shall be entitled to
make a request for registration under the Securities Act of Shares or Option
Shares (together, "Registerable Securities") in an aggregate amount of at least
2,500,000 shares (a "Demand Registration"). Within 120 days of the receipt of a
written request for a Demand Registration, the Issuer shall file with the SEC
and use its best efforts to cause to become effective under the Securities Act a
registration statement with respect to such Registerable Securities (a "Demand
Registration Statement"). Any such request will specify the number of
Registerable Securities proposed to be sold and will also specify the intended
method of disposition thereof. The Issuer shall be required to register
Registerable Securities pursuant to this Section 7.2 on a maximum of two
separate occasions; provided, the Issuer shall not be required to register
Registerable Securities pursuant to this Section 7.2 more than once in any
twelve month period.

                  Subject to Section 7.2(b) hereof, no other securities of the
Issuer except securities held by Purchaser, any persons with "demand"
registration rights pursuant to a contractual commitment of the Issuer ("Demand
Right Holder"), and any Person entitled to exercise "piggy

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back" registration rights pursuant to contractual commitments of the Issuer
shall be included in a Demand Registration.

                           (a) In a registration pursuant to Section 7.2(a)
hereof involving an underwritten offering, if the managing underwriter or
underwriters of such underwritten offering have informed, in writing, the Issuer
and the Purchaser that in such underwriter's or underwriters' reasonable opinion
the total number of securities which the Purchaser and any other person desiring
to participate in such registration intend to include in such offering is such
as to adversely affect the success of such offering, including the price at
which such securities can be sold, then the Issuer will be required to include
in such registration only the amount of securities which it is so advised should
be included in such registration. In such event, securities shall be registered
in such registration in the following order of priority: (i) first, the
Registerable Securities which have been requested to be included in such
registration by the Purchaser and person(s) exercising demand registration
rights (whether pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise) (pro rata based on the
amount of securities sought to be registered by such Persons), (ii) second,
provided that no securities sought to be included by the Purchasers and the
Demand Right Holders have been excluded from such registration, the securities
of other persons entitled to exercise "piggy-back" registration rights pursuant
to contractual commitments of the Issuer (pro rata based on the amount of
securities sought to be registered by such Persons) and (iii) third, securities
the Issuer proposes to register.

                           (b) A Demand Registration Statement will not be
deemed to have been effected as a Demand Registration unless it has been
declared effective by the SEC and the Issuer has complied in a timely manner and
in all material respects with all of its obligations under this Agreement with
respect thereto; provided, however, that if, after such Demand Registration
Statement has become effective, the offering of Registerable Securities pursuant
to such Registration Statement is or becomes the subject of any stop order,
injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other governmental or
administrative agency or court that prevents, restrains or otherwise limits the
sale of Registerable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration Statement
for any reason not attributable to Purchaser and such Demand Registration
Statement has not become effective within a reasonable time period thereafter
(not to exceed 60 days), such Demand Registration Statement will be deemed not
to have been effected. If (i) a registration requested pursuant to this Section
7.2 is deemed not to have been effected or (ii) a Demand Registration does not
remain effective under the Securities Act until at least the earlier of (A) an
aggregate of 90 days after the effective date thereof or (B) the consummation of
the distribution by the Purchaser of 80% of Purchaser's Registerable Securities
covered thereby, then the Company shall continue to be obligated to effect a
Demand Registration pursuant to this Section 7.2. For purposes of calculating
the 90-day period referred to in the preceding sentence, any period of time
during which such Demand Registration Statement was not in effect shall be
excluded.

                  7.3 Piggy-Back Registration Rights. (a) If at any time the
Initial Registration Statement is no longer effective the Issuer proposes to
file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to an
offering by the Issuer for its own account or for the account of any of its
securityholders of any class of its common stock in a firmly underwritten public
equity offering (other than (i) a registration statement on Form S-4 or S-8 (or
any substitute form that may be adopted by the SEC) or (ii) a registration
statement filed in connection with an exchange offer or offering of securities
solely to the Issuer's existing securityholders), then the Issuer shall

                                       10
<PAGE>   11

give written notice of such proposed filing to the Purchaser as soon as
practicable (but in no event fewer than 30 days before the anticipated filing
date), and such notice shall offer Purchaser the opportunity to register such
number of Registerable Securities as Purchaser may request in writing within 15
days after receipt of such written notice from the Issuer (which request shall
specify the shares intended to be disposed of by Purchaser) (a "Piggy-Back
Registration"). The Issuer shall use its best efforts to keep such Piggy-Back
Registration continuously effective under the Securities Act until at least the
earlier of (A) the 90th day after the effective date thereof or (B) the
consummation of the distribution by the holders of all of the securities covered
thereby. The Issuer shall use its best efforts to cause the managing underwriter
or underwriters, if any, of such proposed offering to permit the Registerable
Securities requested by Purchaser to be included in a Piggy-Back Registration to
be included on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the
Issuer or any other securityholder included therein and to permit the sale or
other disposition of such Registerable Securities in accordance with the
intended method of distribution thereof. Purchaser shall have the right to
withdraw its request for inclusion of its Registerable Securities in any
Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 7.3 by giving written notice to
the Issuer of its request to withdraw. The Issuer may withdraw a Piggy-Back
Registration at any time prior to the time it becomes effective or the Issuer
may elect to delay the registration; provided, however, that the Issuer shall
give prompt written notice thereof to Purchaser.

                  No registration effected under this Section 7.3, and no
failure to effect a registration under this Section 7.3, shall relieve the
Issuer of its obligation to effect a registration upon the request of Purchaser
pursuant to Section 7.2 hereof, and no failure to effect a registration under
this Section 7.3 and to complete the sale of securities registered thereunder in
connection therewith shall relieve the Issuer of any other obligation under this
Agreement.

                           (b) In a registration pursuant to Section 7.3 hereof
involving an underwritten offering, if the managing underwriter or underwriters
of such underwritten offering have informed, in writing, the Issuer and the
securityholders requesting inclusion in such offering that in such underwriter's
or underwriters' reasonable opinion the total number of securities which the
Issuer, the Purchaser and any other persons desiring to participate in such
registration intend to include in such offering is such as to adversely affect
the success of such offering, including the price at which such securities can
be sold, then the Issuer will be required to include in such registration only
the amount of securities which it is so advised should be included in such
registration. In such event: (x) in cases initially involving the registration
for sale of securities for the Issuer's own account, securities shall be
registered in such offering in the following order of priority: (i) first, the
securities which the Issuer proposes to register and (ii) second, the securities
which have been requested to be included in such registration by persons
entitled to exercise "piggy-back" registration rights pursuant to contractual
commitments of the Issuer (pro rata based on the amount of securities sought to
be registered by such persons); and (y) in cases not initially involving the
registration for sale of securities for the Issuer's own account, securities
shall be registered in such offering in the following order of priority: (i)
first, the securities of any Demand Right Holder whose exercise of a demand
registration right is the basis for the registration, (ii) second, securities of
other persons entitled to exercise "piggy-back" registration rights pursuant to
contractual commitments (pro rata based on the amount of securities sought to be
registered by such Persons) and (iii) third, the securities which the Issuer
proposes to register.

                                       11
<PAGE>   12

                  7.4 Following effectiveness of any registration statement
filed by Issuer pursuant to Sections 7.1, 7.2 or 7.3 of this Agreement ("a
Registration Statement"), the Issuer shall furnish to the Purchaser a prospectus
as well as such other documents as the Purchaser may reasonably request.

                  7.5 Without the written consent of the Purchaser, the Issuer
shall not grant to any person the right to request the Issuer to register any
securities of the Issuer under the Securities Act unless the rights so granted
are subject to the prior rights of the Purchaser set forth herein, and are not
otherwise in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.

                  7.6 The Issuer shall use diligent efforts to (i) register or
otherwise qualify the common stock covered by the Registration Statement for
sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Purchaser may
reasonably request, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions such amendments
(including post-effective amendments) and supplements as may be required, (iii)
take such other actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations
and/or qualifications in effect at all times while the Registration Statement is
likewise maintained effective and (iv) take all other actions reasonably
necessary or advisable to qualify the Shares for sale in such jurisdictions;
provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be required in connection therewith
or as a condition thereto to (A) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction
where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 7.6,
(B) subject itself to general taxation in any such jurisdiction, (C) file a
general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction, (D) provide any
undertakings that cause more than nominal expense or burden to the Issuer or (E)
make any change in its certificate of incorporation or bylaws, which in each
case the Board determines to be contrary to the best interests of the Issuer and
its stockholders.

                  7.7 The Issuer shall, following effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, as promptly as practicable after becoming aware of any
such event, notify the Purchaser of the happening of any event of which the
Issuer has knowledge, as a result of which the prospectus included in the
Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a
material fact or omits 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, and use its best efforts promptly to
prepare a supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement to correct such
untrue statement or omission, and deliver a number of copies of such supplement
or amendment to the Purchaser or as the Purchaser may reasonably request. The
Issuer may voluntarily suspend once the effectiveness of a Registration
Statement for a limited time, which in no event shall be longer than 90 days, if
the Issuer has been advised by legal counsel that the offering of common stock
pursuant to the Registration Statement would adversely affect, or would be
improper in view of (or improper without disclosure in a prospectus), a proposed
financing, a reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, or similar
transaction involving the Issuer or its subsidiaries, in which event the one
year period referred to in clause (i) of Section 7.6 shall be extended for an
additional period of time beyond such one year period equal to the number of
days the effectiveness thereof has been suspended pursuant to this sentence.

                  7.8 Following effectiveness of a Registration Statement, the
Issuer, as promptly as practicable after becoming aware of any such event, will
notify the Purchaser of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order or other
suspension of effectiveness of the Registration Statement at the earliest
possible time.

                                       12
<PAGE>   13

                  7.9 Following effectiveness of a Registration Statement, the
Issuer will use diligence either to (i) cause all the common stock covered by
the Registration Statement to be listed on each national securities exchange on
which similar securities issued by the Issuer are then listed, if any, if the
listing of such common stock is then permitted under the rules of such exchange,
or (ii) secure the quotation of all the common stock covered by the Registration
Statement on The Nasdaq SmallCap Market, if the listing of such common stock is
then permitted under the rules of such The Nasdaq SmallCap Market, or (iii) if,
despite the Issuer's best efforts to satisfy the preceding clause (i) or (ii),
the Issuer is unsuccessful in satisfying the preceding clause (i) or (ii) and
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to use its best efforts to
arrange for at least two market makers to register with the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. as such with respect to such common stock.

                  7.10 It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of
the Issuer to take any action pursuant to this Article 7 that the Purchaser
shall furnish to the Issuer such information regarding itself as the Issuer may
reasonably request to effect the registration of the common stock and shall
execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Issuer may
reasonably request.

                  7.11 The Purchaser agrees to cooperate with the Issuer in any
manner reasonably requested by the Issuer in connection with the preparation and
filing of a Registration Statement hereunder.

                  7.12 The Purchaser agrees that, upon receipt of any notice
from the Issuer of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section
7.7 or 7.8, the Purchaser will immediately discontinue disposition of Shares
pursuant to an effective Registration Statement until the Purchaser's receipt of
notice from the Issuer that sales may resume and copies of the supplemented or
amended prospectus and, if so directed by the Issuer, shall deliver to the
Issuer (at the expense of the Issuer) or destroy (and deliver to the Issuer a
certificate of destruction) all copies in the Purchaser's possession of the
prospectus covering such common stock current at the time of receipt of such
notice.

                  7.13 All expenses, other than (i) underwriting discounts and
commissions, (ii) other fees and expenses of investment bankers and (iii)
brokerage commissions, incurred in connection with registrations, filings or
qualifications pursuant to this Article 7, including, without limitation, all
registration, listing and qualification fees, printing and accounting fees and
the fees and disbursements of counsel to the Issuer, shall be borne by the
Issuer.

                  7.14 To the extent permitted by law, the Issuer will indemnify
and hold harmless the Purchaser, its directors, officers, agents and each
person, if any, who is under common control with the Purchaser within the
meaning of the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act"), any underwriter (as defined in the Securities Act) for the
Purchaser, the officers and directors of such underwriter and each person, if
any, who controls any such underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act
or the Exchange Act (each, an "Indemnified Person"), against any losses, claims,
damages, expenses or liabilities (joint or several) (collectively, "Claims") to
which any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act
or otherwise, insofar as such Claims (or actions or proceedings, whether
commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any
of the following statements, omissions or violations in a Registration
Statement, or any post effective amendment thereof, or any prospectus included
therein: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in a Registration Statement or any post

                                       13
<PAGE>   14

effective amendment thereof or the omission or alleged omission to state therein
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus if used
prior to the effective date of a Registration Statement, or contained in the
final prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the Issuer files any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or the omission or alleged omission
to state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements made
therein, in light of the circumstances under which the statements therein were
made, not misleading or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Issuer
of the Securities Act, any state securities law or any rule or regulation under
the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any state securities law (the matters in
the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) are hereinafter collectively referred to
as the "Violations"). Subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 7.16 with
respect to the number of legal counsel, the Issuer shall reimburse the Purchaser
and each such underwriter or controlling person, promptly as such expenses are
incurred and are due and payable, for any reasonable legal fees or other
reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, the indemnity contained in this Section 7.13 (A) shall not apply to a
Claim arising out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and
in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Issuer by any
Indemnified Person or underwriter for such Indemnified Person expressly for use
in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement or any such
amendment thereof or supplement thereto; and (B) shall not apply to amounts paid
in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior
written consent of the Issuer, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person and shall survive
the transfer of the Shares by the Purchaser.

                  7.15 To the extent permitted by law, the Purchaser agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless, to the same extent and in the same manner set forth
in Section 7.14, the Issuer, each of its directors, each of its officers who
signs a Registration Statement, each person, if any, who controls the Issuer
within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, any underwriter
and any other stockholder selling securities pursuant to a Registration
Statement or any of its directors or officers or any person who controls such
stockholder or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act (each such person and each Indemnified Person, an "Indemnified
Party"), against any Claim to which any of them may become subject, under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim arises out
of or is based upon any Violation by the Purchaser, in each case to the extent
(and only to the extent) that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Issuer by the Purchaser
expressly for use in connection with such Registration Statement or such
prospectus; and the Purchaser will reimburse any reasonable legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by any Indemnified Party in connection with
investigating or defending any such Claim; provided, however, that the indemnity
contained in this Section 7.16 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of
any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of
the Purchaser, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided,
further, that the Purchaser shall be liable under this Section 7.15 for only
that amount of a Claim as does not exceed the net proceeds to the Purchaser as a
result of the sale of Shares pursuant to any such Registration Statement or such
prospectus. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect

                                       14
<PAGE>   15

regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party
and shall survive the transfer of the Shares (or underlying securities) by the
Purchaser. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein the
indemnity contained in this Section 7.15 with respect to any preliminary
prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Party if the untrue
statement or omission of material fact contained in the preliminary prospectus
was corrected on a timely basis in the prospectus, as then amended or
supplemented.

                  7.16 Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party under Section 7.14 or 7.15 of notice of the commencement of
any action (including any governmental action), such Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is made against any
indemnifying party under this Article 7, deliver to the indemnifying party a
written notice of the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall
have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so
desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, assume
control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the
indemnifying parties; provided, however, that an Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, with the fees
and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if, in the reasonable opinion
of counsel retained by the indemnifying party, the representation by such
counsel of the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and the indemnifying
party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests
between such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any other party
represented by such counsel in such proceeding. Except as provided in the
preceding sentence, the Issuer shall pay for only one separate legal counsel for
the Indemnified Persons. The failure to deliver written notice to the
indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such
action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Article 7, except to the
extent that the indemnifying party is prejudiced in its ability to defend such
action. The indemnity required by this Article 7 shall be made by periodic
payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or
defense, as such expense, loss, damage or liability is incurred and is due and
payable.

         8. TRANSFER AGENT INSTRUCTIONS. The Issuer will instruct its transfer
agent to, concurrently with the delivery by the Purchaser of the Purchase Price,
issue one or more certificates representing the Shares purchased, bearing the
restrictive legend specified in Section 5.2 of this agreement, registered in the
name of the Purchaser or its nominee and in such denominations as shall be
specified by the Purchaser. The Issuer warrants that no instruction other than
to issue the shares and stop transfer instructions to give effect to Section 5.1
and 5.2 hereof will be given by the Issuer to the transfer agent and that the
Shares shall otherwise be freely transferable on the books and records of the
Issuer as and to the extent provided in this Agreement. Nothing in Article 5
herein shall affect in any way the Purchaser's obligations and agreement to
comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws upon resale of the
Shares. If the Purchaser provides the Issuer with an opinion of counsel
reasonably satisfactory in form, scope and substance to the Issuer that
registration of a resale by the Purchaser of any of the Shares in accordance
with Section 5.1 is not required under the Securities Act or applicable state
securities laws, the Issuer shall permit the transfer agent to issue one or more
share certificates in such name and in such denominations as specified by the
Purchaser.

         9. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The Issuer's board shall consist of not more
than seven members. From and until the earlier of five (5) years from the date
hereof and the date Purchaser holds less than five (5) percent of the Issuer's
outstanding common stock, the Issuer shall use its

                                       15
<PAGE>   16

best efforts to cause one of the directors to be an individual selected by
Purchaser in its discretion. Such board member, if any, shall have all the
rights and privileges of each other outside board member of the Issuer,
including rights to compensation as established by the Issuer, except that such
board member shall not receive the automatic grant of stock options provided to
other outside board members of the Issuer. Rather, for so long as Robert
Zahradnick or any other individual elected or appointed for election by
Purchaser is serving as a director of Issuer, Purchaser shall receive options on
a quarterly basis at the same time and on the same terms and conditions as the
other outside board members pursuant to a stock option agreement substantially
in the form set forth as Exhibit B. If at any time Purchaser has not appointed
or nominated for election at least one of the members of the Issuer's Board and
Purchaser holds at least five percent (5) of the Issuer's outstanding common
stock, Purchaser shall be entitled to appoint one observer to the Issuer's Board
(the "Observer"). Such Observer shall have the right to attend, and receive all
materials distributed for or at, all meetings (telephonic and otherwise) of the
Board (including committees thereof) and shall be entitled to the same rights
and privileges as directors of the Issuer, except that such Observer shall not
be entitled to vote on matters presented to or discussed by the Board. The
Observer will receive no compensation from the Issuer for his services as
observer, but shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the Issuer for all
reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with his participation in
meetings or other activities of the Board.

         10. RELIANCE. Each of the Purchaser and the Issuer understand and agree
that the other party and its respective officers, directors, employees and
agents may, and will, rely on the accuracy of the other party's respective
representations and warranties in this agreement to establish compliance with
applicable securities laws. Each of the Purchaser and the Issuer agree to
indemnify and hold harmless all such parties against all losses, claims, costs,
expenses and damages or liabilities which they may suffer or incur caused or
arising from their reliance on such representations and warranties.

         11. MISCELLANEOUS.

                  11.1 Survival. The representations and warranties made in this
Agreement shall survive the closing of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.

                  11.2 Binding Effect; Assignment. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective
successors and permitted assigns. Nothing in this Agreement shall create or be
deemed to create any third party beneficiary rights in any person or entity not
a party to this Agreement. No assignment of this Agreement or of any rights or
obligation hereunder may be made by either party (by operation of law or
otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other and any attempted
assignment without the required consent shall be void, but no such assignment by
Purchaser or Issuer of their rights or obligations hereunder shall relieve
Purchaser or Issuer of any of their obligations under this Agreement to the
other.

                  11.3 Execution and Delivery of Agreement. The Issuer shall be
entitled to rely on delivery by facsimile transmission of an executed copy of
this agreement, and acceptance by the Issuer of such facsimile copy shall create
a valid and binding agreement between the Purchaser and the Issuer.

                                       16
<PAGE>   17

                  11.4 Titles. The titles of the sections and subsections of
this agreement are for the convenience of reference only and are not to be
considered in construing this agreement.

                  11.5 Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
particular provision of this agreement shall not affect or limit the validity or
enforceability of the remaining provisions of this agreement.

                  11.6 Entire Agreement. This agreement constitutes the entire
agreement and understanding between the parties with respect to the subject
matters herein and supersedes and replaces any prior agreements and
understandings, whether oral or written, between them with respect to such
matters.

                  11.7 Waiver and Amendment. Except as otherwise provided
herein, the provisions of this agreement may be waived, altered, amended or
repealed, in whole or in part, only upon the mutual written agreement of the
Purchaser and the Issuer.

                  11.8 Counterparts. This agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                  11.9 Governing Law and Venue. This agreement is governed by
and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Nevada. Venue
for the resolution of disputes relating to this agreement shall be limited to
the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, and the parties
agree not to contest such court's jurisdiction to adjudicate such disputes and
not to seek the prior exhaustion of remedies in any other judicial,
administrative or other forum; provided however, if such court determines that
it lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate such dispute, venue shall instead be limited
to another federal court of competent jurisdiction sitting in Colorado or Texas,
and further provided that the selection of governing law and venue in this
agreement shall not preclude the assertion of claims, rights or remedies that
any party may elect relating to matters other than governing law and venue.

                  11.10 Fees. The Issuer agrees to pay or reimburse the
Purchaser for the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Purchaser in
connection with investigation, review, negotiation, execution and delivery of
this agreement.

                  11.11 Mr. Jurrius. The Issuer and Purchaser agree that Mr.
John Jurrius may maintain a relationship with the Issuer as a director, officer,
consultant and/or participant in oil and gas prospects from time to time and
maintain a relationship with the Purchaser as an advisor or consultant. Both
parties waive any conflict of interest that may arise from any such
relationships.

                  11.12 Press Releases, Public Announcements. The Issuer will
not make any public announcement or press release respecting the transactions
contemplated hereby or the transactions contemplated under the Participation
Agreement between the Purchaser and the Issuer without the Purchaser's prior
permission; provided, however, that the Issuer shall make such disclosures
without the prior permission of the Purchaser as may be necessary upon advice of
counsel to Issuer in order for it to comply with applicable law.

                                       17
<PAGE>   18

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this agreement
as of the date first above mentioned.

<TABLE>
<S>                                                  <C>
THE "ISSUER"                                         THE "PURCHASER"

CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY                           Southern Ute Indian Tribe,
                                                     doing business as the Southern Ute Indian
                                                     Tribe Growth Fund

By:   /s/  KENNETH R. PEAK                           By:  /s/  JOHN E. BAKER, JR.
      -----------------------------------------         --------------------------------------
         Kenneth R. Peak
         President and Chief Executive
           Officer

                                                     By:
                                                        --------------------------------------

Address: 3700 Buffalo Speedway                       Address: 135 East 9th Street
         Suite 960                                            Suite H
         Houston, Texas  77098                                Durango, Colorado  81301
</TABLE>

                                       18
<PAGE>   19

                                    EXHIBIT A
                         FORM OF STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

THIS OPTION AGREEMENT AND THE SHARES ISSUABLE HEREUNDER HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED, OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION THEREOF UNDER SUCH ACT
OR PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE
COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL, THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

                           CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY
                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

Name of Optionee:                       Southern Ute Indian Tribe

Address:                                135 East 9th Street, Suite H
                                        Durango, Colorado  81301

Number of Options Granted:              2,500,000 shares of common stock

Date Option Granted:                    June 8, 2000

                  THIS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made as of the date set
forth above between Contango Oil & Gas Company, a Nevada corporation (the
"Company"), and the optionee named above (the "Optionee").

                                     RECITAL

                  In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement dated as
of June 8, 2000 (the "Purchase Agreement") by and between the Company and the
Optionee, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has determined
that it is to the advantage and interest of the Company and its stockholders to
grant the option provided for herein to the Optionee. The option provided for
herein is being granted in connection with the investment by Optionee in the
Company.

In consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto
agree as follows:

1. Grant of Option. The Company hereby grants to the Optionee the right and
option (the "Option") to purchase on the terms and conditions hereinafter set
forth all or any part of an aggregate of 2,500,000 shares (the "Shares") of the
presently authorized and unissued common stock of the Company, par value $0.04
(the "common stock"), at the purchase price of $1.00 per share, for an aggregate
purchase price of $2,500,000. The Option is fully vested and immediately
exercisable.

2. Exercise. The right to exercise the Option granted hereunder, to the extent
unexercised, shall remain in effect for a period of ninety (90) days from the
date of grant of this Option.

                                      A-1
<PAGE>   20
3. Method of Exercise. The Option may be exercised from time to time by written
notice to the Company, stating the number of Shares with respect to which the
Option is being exercised, together with payment in full, in cash or by
certified or cashier's check payable to the order of the Company, of the
purchase price for the number of Shares being exercised. If requested by the
Board, prior to the delivery of any Shares the Optionee, or any other person
entitled to exercise the Option, shall supply the Board with a representation
that the shares are not being acquired with a view to distribution and will be
sold or otherwise disposed of only in accordance with applicable federal and
state statutes, rules and regulations. As a condition to the exercise of the
Option in whole or in part the Board may, in its sole discretion, require the
Optionee to pay in addition to the purchase price for the Shares being exercised
an amount equal to any federal, state or local taxes that the Board has
determined are required to be paid in connection with the exercise of the Option
in order to enable the Company to claim a deduction in connection with the
exercise of the Option or otherwise. As soon after the notice of exercise as the
Company is reasonably able to comply, the Company shall, without transfer or
issue tax to the Optionee or any other person entitled to exercise the Option,
deliver to the Optionee or any such other person, at the main office of the
Company or such other place as shall be mutually acceptable, a certificate or
certificates for the Shares being exercised.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have the right to
postpone the time of delivery of the Shares for such period as may be required
for it with reasonable diligence to comply with any applicable listing
requirements of any national securities exchange or any federal, state or local
law. The Optionee may exercise the Option for less than the total number of
Shares for which the Option is exercisable, provided that a partial exercise may
not be for less than 100 shares and shall not include any fractional shares.

4. Termination of Option. The Option shall terminate and expire upon the last
date for exercise of the Option as provided in Section 2 of this Agreement.

5. Adjustments. In the event the Company (i) pays a dividend in shares of its
common stock or makes a distribution in shares of its common stock, to holders
of its shares of common stock, (ii) subdivides its outstanding shares of common
stock, (iii) combines its outstanding shares of common stock into a smaller
number of shares of common stock, or (iv) issues, by reclassification or
reorganization, other securities or property of the Company to holders of its
shares of common stock generally, then the Shares granted to Optionee hereunder
shall be adjusted so that Optionee shall be entitled to receive the number of
shares of common stock or other securities or property of the Company which
Optionee would have owned or been entitled to receive if the option had been
exercised immediately prior to any such event or any record date with respect
thereto. No fractional shares of stock shall be issued as a result of or in
connection with any such adjustment. In the event of an adjustment of the number
of Shares subject to the Option pursuant to this Section 5 which would result in
the issuance of a fractional share of stock, the number of Shares, as adjusted,
shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number of Shares. Whenever the number
of Shares is adjusted as herein provided, the exercise price payable upon
exercise of the Option shall be adjusted by multiplying such exercise price
immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction, of which the numerator shall
be the number of Shares immediately prior to such adjustment, and of which the
denominator shall be the number of Shares subject to the Option immediately
thereafter. An adjustment made pursuant to this Section 5 shall become effective
immediately after the effective date of such event,

                                      A-2
<PAGE>   21
retroactive to the record date, if any, for such event, and prompt written
notice thereof shall be given to the Optionee.

6. Non-Transferability. The Option is not assignable or transferable by the
Optionee, either voluntarily or by operation of law, other than with the
Company's prior written consent or by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution.

7. No Stockholder Rights. The Optionee or other person entitled to exercise the
Option shall have no rights or privileges as a stockholder with respect to any
Shares subject hereto until the Optionee or such person has become the holder of
record of such Shares, and no adjustment (except such adjustments as may be
effected pursuant to the provisions of Section 5 hereof) shall be made for
dividends or distributions of rights in respect of such Shares if the record
date is prior to the date on which the Optionee or such person becomes the
holder of record.

8. Conditions to Issuance of Shares. The Company's obligation to issue Shares of
its common stock upon exercise of the Option is expressly conditioned upon, at
the Company's option, the completion by the Company of any registration or other
qualification of such Shares under any state and/or federal law or rulings or
regulations of any government regulatory body or the making of such investment
representations or other representations and agreements by the Optionee or any
person entitled to exercise the Option in order to comply with the requirements
of any exemption from any such registration or other qualification of such
Shares which the Board shall, in its sole discretion, deem necessary or
advisable. Such required representations and agreements include representations
and agreements that the Optionee, or any other person entitled to exercise the
Option, (a) is not purchasing such Shares for distribution and (b) agrees to
have placed upon the face and reverse of any certificates for such Shares a
legend setting forth any representations and agreements which have been given to
the Board or a reference thereto and stating that, prior to making any sale or
other disposition of any such Shares, the Optionee, or any other person entitled
to exercise the Option, will give the Company notice of intention to sell or
dispose of the Shares not less than five days prior to such sale or disposition.

9. Legends. This Option and the Shares issuable upon exercise of this Option
shall be imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

        THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933,
        AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED
        WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION THEREOF UNDER SUCH ACT OR PURSUANT TO
        RULE 144 OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY
        AND ITS COUNSEL THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

10. Miscellaneous.

         a. Notices. All notices, requests, statements, invoices, payments and
other communications required or permitted by the terms hereof to be given to
any person shall be made to the following:

                                      A-3
<PAGE>   22

         IF TO THE COMPANY:

         Contango Oil and Gas Company
         Attn: Kenneth R. Peak
         3700 Buffalo Speedway
         Suite 960
         Houston, Texas 77098
         Facsimile No.: (713) 960-1065

         IF TO OPTIONEE:

         to the address set forth on the signature page below.

Notices required to be in writing shall be delivered by letter, facsimile or
other documentary form. Notice by facsimile or hand delivery shall be deemed to
have been received by the close of the business day on which it was transmitted
or hand delivered (unless transmitted or hand delivered after close in which
case it shall be deemed received at the close of the next business day). Notice
by overnight mail or courier shall be deemed to have been received two business
days after it was sent. Either the Company or the Optionee may change its
address by providing notice of same in accordance herewith.

         b. Governing Law. This agreement is governed by and shall be construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Nevada. Venue for the resolution of
disputes relating to this agreement shall be limited to the United States
District Court for the District of Nevada, and the parties agree not to contest
such court's jurisdiction to adjudicate such disputes and not to seek the prior
exhaustion of remedies in any other judicial, administrative or other forum;
provided however, if such court determines that it lacks jurisdiction to
adjudicate such dispute, venue shall instead be limited to another federal court
of competent jurisdiction sitting in Colorado or Texas, and further provided
that the selection of governing law and venue in this agreement shall not
preclude the assertion of claims, rights or remedies that any party may elect
relating to matters other than governing law and venue.

         c. Entirety. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between
the Company and the Optionee concerning the subject matter hereof. There are no
prior or contemporaneous agreements or representations affecting the same
subject matter other than those herein expressed. No amendment, modification or
change herein shall be enforceable unless reduced to writing and executed by
both the Company and the Optionee.

         d. Non-Waiver. No waiver by either of the parties hereto of any one or
more defaults by the other party in the performance of any of the provisions of
this Agreement shall be construed as a waiver of any other default or defaults
whether of a like kind or different nature.

         e. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement shall
provide any benefit to any third party or entitle any third party to any claim,
cause of action, remedy or right of any kind, it being the intent of the Parties
that this Agreement shall not be construed as a third party beneficiary
contract.

                                      A-4
<PAGE>   23

         f. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective
to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the
remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any
jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any
other jurisdiction.

         g. Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning hereof.

         h. Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures. This Agreement may be executed
in multiple counterparts and by facsimile, and all of said counterparts taken
together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

THIS AGREEMENT IS ADDRESSED TO THE OPTIONEE IN DUPLICATE AND SHALL NOT BE
EFFECTIVE UNTIL THE OPTIONEE EXECUTES THE ACCEPTANCE BELOW AND RETURNS ONE COPY
TO THE COMPANY, THEREBY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT HAS READ, APPROVES OF AND AGREES
TO ALL THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT.

                                    * * * * *

                                      A-5
<PAGE>   24

                     EFFECTIVE as of the 8th of June, 2000.

                                 CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY

                                 ----------------------------------------------
                                 By:      Kenneth R. Peak
                                    -------------------------------------------
                                 Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer
                                       ----------------------------------------

ACCEPTED:

Southern Ute Indian Tribe,
dba the Southern Ute Indian Tribe Growth Fund

---------------------------------------------
By:
   ------------------------------------------
Title:
      ---------------------------------------

Address:          135 East 9th Street
        -------------------------------------
                  Suite H
---------------------------------------------
                  Durango, Colorado  81301
---------------------------------------------
Facsimile:        970-375-2216
          -----------------------------------

                                      A-6
<PAGE>   25
                                    EXHIBIT B
                         FORM OF STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

Name of Optionee:          Southern Ute Indian Tribe, d/b/a SUIT Growth Fund

Address:                   135 East 9th Street, Suite H
                           Durango, Colorado  81301

Number of Options
Granted:                   ____ shares of common stock

Date Option Granted:                        , 2000
                           -----------------

         THIS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made as of the date set forth above
between Contango Oil & Gas Company, a Nevada corporation (the "Company"), and
the optionee named above (the "Optionee").

                                     RECITAL

         The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has determined that
it is to the advantage and interest of the Company and its stockholders to grant
the option provided for herein to the Optionee.

         In consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties
hereto agree as follows:

1. Grant of Option

         The Company hereby grants to the Optionee the right and option (the
"Option") to purchase on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth all or
any part of an aggregate of 5,000 shares (the "Shares") of the presently
authorized and unissued common stock of the Company, par value $0.04 (the
"Common Stock"). Unless otherwise specified on Exhibit "A" attached hereto, the
Option shall vest and be exercisable immediately upon the date granted at the
purchase price of $___ per share.

2. Exercise. The right to exercise the Option, to the extent unexercised, shall
remain in effect for a period of five (5) years from the date of grant of the
Option.

3. Method of Exercise. The Option may be exercised from time to time by written
notice to the Company substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B,
stating the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being
exercised, together with payment in full, in cash or by certified or cashier's
check payable to the order of the Company, of the purchase price for the number
of Shares being exercised. If requested by the Board, prior to the delivery of
any Shares the Optionee, or any other person entitled to exercise the Option,
shall supply the Board with a

                                       1
<PAGE>   26

representation that the shares are not being acquired with a view to
distribution and will be sold or otherwise disposed of only in accordance with
applicable federal and state statutes, rules and regulations. As a condition to
the exercise of the Option in whole or in part the Board may, in its sole
discretion, require the Optionee to pay in addition to the purchase price for
the Shares being exercised an amount equal to any federal, state or local taxes
that the Board has determined are required to be paid in connection with the
exercise of the Option in order to enable the Company to claim a deduction in
connection with the exercise of the Option or otherwise. As soon after the
notice of exercise as the Company is reasonably able to comply, the Company
shall, without transfer or issue tax to the Optionee or any other person
entitled to exercise the Option, deliver to the Optionee or any such other
person, at the main office of the Company or such other place as shall be
mutually acceptable, a certificate or certificates for the Shares being
exercised.

         Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have the right to
postpone the time of delivery of the Shares for such period as may be required
for it with reasonable diligence to comply with any applicable listing
requirements of any national securities exchange or any federal, state or local
law. The Optionee may exercise the Option for less than the total number of
Shares for which the Option is exercisable, provided that a partial exercise may
not be for less than 100 shares, except during the final year of the Option, and
shall not include any fractional shares.

4. Termination of Option. The Option shall terminate and expire upon the last
date for exercise of the Option as provided in Section 2 of this Agreement.

5. Adjustments. In the event the Company (i) pays a dividend in shares of its
common stock or makes a distribution in shares of its common stock, to holders
of its shares of common stock, (ii) subdivides its outstanding shares of common
stock, (iii) combines its outstanding shares of common stock into a smaller
number of shares of common stock, or (iv) issues, by reclassification or
reorganization, other securities or property of the Company to holders of its
shares of common stock generally, then the Shares granted to Optionee hereunder
shall be adjusted so that Optionee shall be entitled to receive the number of
shares of common stock or other securities or property of the Company which
Optionee would have owned or been entitled to receive if the option had been
exercised immediately prior to any such event or any record date with respect
thereto. No fractional shares of stock shall be issued as a result of or in
connection with any such adjustment. In the event of an adjustment of the number
of Shares subject to the Option pursuant to this Section 5 which would result in
the issuance of a fractional share of stock, the number of Shares, as adjusted,
shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number of Shares Whenever the number of
Shares is adjusted as herein provided, the exercise price payable upon exercise
of the Option shall be adjusted by multiplying such exercise price immediately
prior to such adjustment by a fraction, of which the numerator shall be the
number of Shares immediately prior to such adjustment, and of which the
denominator shall be the number of Shares subject to the Option immediately
thereafter. An adjustment made pursuant to this Section 5 shall become effective
immediately after the effective date of such event, retroactive to the record
date, if any, for such event, and prompt written notice thereof shall be given
to the Optionee.

6. Non-Transferability. The Option is not assignable or transferable by the
Optionee, either voluntarily or by operation of law, other than with the
Company's prior written consent or by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution.

                                       2
<PAGE>   27
7.       No Stockholder Rights. The Optionee or other person entitled to
         exercise the Option shall have no rights or privileges as a stockholder
         with respect to any Shares subject hereto until the Optionee or such
         person has become the holder of record of such Shares, and no
         adjustment (except such adjustments as may be effected pursuant to the
         provisions of Section 5 hereof) shall be made for dividends or
         distributions of rights in respect of such Shares if the record date is
         prior to the date on which the Optionee or such person becomes the
         holder of record.

8.       Conditions to Issuance of Shares. The Company's obligation to issue
         Shares of its Common Stock upon exercise of the Option is expressly
         conditioned upon, at the Company's option, the completion by the
         Company of any registration or other qualification of such Shares under
         any state and/or federal law or rulings or regulations of any
         government regulatory body or the making of such investment
         representations or other representations and agreements by the Optionee
         or any person entitled to exercise the Option in order to comply with
         the requirements of any exemption from any such registration or other
         qualification of such Shares which the Board shall, in its sole
         discretion, deem necessary or advisable. Such required representations
         and agreements include representations and agreements that the
         Optionee, or any other person entitled to exercise the Option, (a) is
         not purchasing such Shares for distribution and (b) agrees to have
         placed upon the face and reverse of any certificates for such Shares a
         legend setting forth any representations and agreements which have been
         given to the Board or a reference thereto and stating that, prior to
         making any sale or other disposition of any such Shares, the Optionee,
         or any other person entitled to exercise the Option, will give the
         Company notice of intention to sell or dispose of the Shares not less
         than five days prior to such sale or disposition.

9.       Legends. This Option and the Shares issuable upon exercise of this
         Option shall be imprinted with a legend in substantially the following
         form:

         THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933,
         AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED
         WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION THEREOF UNDER SUCH ACT OR PURSUANT TO
         RULE 144 OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE
         COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

10.      Miscellaneous.

         a. Notices. All notices, requests, statements, invoices, payments and
other communications required or permitted by the terms hereof to be given to
any person shall be made to the following:

                                       3
<PAGE>   28

         IF TO THE COMPANY:

         Contango Oil & Gas Company
         Attn: Kenneth R. Peak
         3700 Buffalo Speedway
         Suite 960
         Houston, Texas 77098
         Facsimile No.: (713) 960-1065

         IF TO OPTIONEE:

         To the address set forth on the signature page below.

Notices required to be in writing shall be delivered by letter, facsimile or
other documentary form. Notice by facsimile or hand delivery shall be deemed to
have been received by the close of the business day on which it was transmitted
or hand delivered (unless transmitted or hand delivered after close in which
case it shall be deemed received at the close of the next business day). Notice
by overnight mail or courier shall be deemed to have been received two business
days after it was sent. Either the Company or the Optionee may change its
address by providing notice of same in accordance herewith.

         b. Governing Law. This agreement is governed by and shall be construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Nevada. Venue for the resolution of
disputes relating to this agreement shall be limited to the United States
District Court for the District of Nevada, and the parties agree not to contest
such court's jurisdiction to adjudicate such disputes and not to seek the prior
exhaustion of remedies in any other judicial, administrative or other forum;
provided however, if such court determines that it lacks jurisdiction to
adjudicate such dispute, venue shall instead be limited to another federal court
of competent jurisdiction sitting in Colorado or Texas, and further provided
that the selection of governing law and venue in this agreement shall not
preclude the assertion of claims, rights or remedies that any party may elect
relating to matters other than governing law and venue.

         c. Entirety. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between
the Company and the Optionee concerning the subject matter hereof. There are no
prior or contemporaneous agreements or representations affecting the same
subject matter other than those herein expressed. No amendment, modification or
change herein shall be enforceable unless reduced to writing and executed by
both the Company and the Optionee.

         d. Non-Waiver. No waiver by either of the parties hereto of any one or
more defaults by the other party in the performance of any of the provisions of
this Agreement shall be construed as a waiver of any other default or defaults
whether of a like kind or different nature.

         e. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement shall
provide any benefit to any third party or entitle any third party to any claim,
cause of action, remedy or right of any kind, it being the intent of the Parties
that this Agreement shall not be construed as a third party beneficiary
contract.

                                       4
<PAGE>   29

         f. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective
to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the
remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any
jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any
other jurisdiction.

         g. Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning hereof.

         h. Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures. This Agreement may be executed
in multiple counterparts and by facsimile, and all of said counterparts taken
together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

THIS AGREEMENT IS ADDRESSED TO THE OPTIONEE IN DUPLICATE AND SHALL NOT BE
EFFECTIVE UNTIL THE OPTIONEE EXECUTES THE ACCEPTANCE BELOW AND RETURNS ONE COPY
TO THE COMPANY, THEREBY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT HE OR SHE HAS READ, APPROVES OF AND
AGREES TO ALL THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT.

                                    * * * * *

                                       5
<PAGE>   30

EFFECTIVE as of the ______ of June, 2000

                                           CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY

                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Kenneth R. Peak
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

ACCEPTED:

--------------------------------------
By: Southern Ute Indian Tribe,
doing business as the Southern Ute Indian Tribe Growth Fund

Address: 135 East 9th Street
         Suite H
         Durango, Colorado 81301

Facsimile: (970) 375-2216

                                       6
<PAGE>   31

                                    EXHIBIT A

                                       7
<PAGE>   32

                                    EXHIBIT B

                           CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY

                        FORM OF EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTION

                    (To be signed only on exercise of Option)

                  I hereby exercise, on the date hereof, the Stock Option
granted by Contango Oil & Gas Company to me on _________, ____, subject to all
the terms and provisions thereof as contained in the Agreement concerning such
Stock Option signed by me on _______________, ____, and notify you of my desire
to purchase ________________ shares of Common Stock of the Company which were
offered to me pursuant to said Option. Enclosed is my check in the sum of
$_________________ in full payment for such shares.

                  I hereby represent that the ________________ shares of Common
Stock to be delivered to me pursuant to the exercise of the Stock Option granted
to me on _______________, ____ are being acquired by me as an investment and not
with a view to, or for sale in connection with, the distribution of any part
thereof.

Dated:  _______________________

------------------------------------
[Name of Optionee]

                                       8
<PAGE>   33

                                    EXHIBIT C
                         ACCREDITED INVESTOR CERTIFICATE

         In connection with the issuance of certain Common Stock (the "Common
Stock") of Contango Oil & Gas Company, a Nevada corporation (the "Company"), the
undersigned (an "Investor") hereby furnishes the following information and makes
the following acknowledgments and representations and warranties:

I.                Legal Status of Investor.

         Each Investor must check the applicable statement below.

         The Investor is (check the appropriate category(ies)):

___               A natural person whose net worth (or joint net worth with his
                  or her spouse) is in excess of $1,000,000 as of the date
                  hereof;

___               A natural person whose income in 1997 and 1998 was, and whose
                  income in 1999 is expected to be, in excess of $200,000, or
                  whose income with his or her spouse in 1997 and 1998 was, and
                  whose income with his or her spouse in 1999 is expected to be,
                  in excess of $300,000;

___               A broker dealer registered pursuant to Section 15 of the
                  Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;

___               An organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
                  Revenue Code, corporation, Massachusetts or similar business
                  trust or partnership, not formed for the specific purpose of
                  acquiring the Securities, with total assets in excess of
                  $5,000,000;

___               A trust with total assets in excess of $5,000,000, not formed
                  for the specific purpose of acquiring the Securities, whose
                  purchase is directed by a sophisticated person as described in
                  Rule 506(b)(2)(ii) under the Securities Act;

___               An entity in which all of the equity owners are "accredited
                  investors" as defined in Rule 501 under the Securities Act; or

___               A director or executive officer of the Company.

                                       9
<PAGE>   34

I.       Identity of Investor.

         Name:
              ----------------------------------------------------------------
         Address:
                --------------------------------------------------------------
         Telephone:
                   -----------------------------------------------------------
         Tax ID No.:
                    ----------------------------------------------------------

I.       Acknowledgment.

         Investor understands, acknowledges and agrees that:

                  (a) The Common Stock has not been registered under the
         Securities Act or any other applicable federal or state securities
         laws;

                  (b) Investor is acquiring the Common Stock for his, her or its
         own account for investment purposes and not with a view to, or for
         offer or sale in connection with, any distribution of the Common Stock
         in violation of the Securities Act; and

                  (c) Investor has a preexisting personal and business
         relationship with the Company and certain of its officers, directors
         and controlling persons, and, by reason of Investor's business and
         financial experience, has the capacity to protect his, her or its
         interests in connection with the acquisition of the Common Stock.

         This completed questionnaire must be returned as soon as possible after
receipt hereof and prior to acquiring the Common Stock.

                                      ----------------------------------------
                                      Print or type name of Investor

                                      By:
                                         -------------------------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

Date:                      , 2000
     ----------------------<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4-F

                                VERITAS DGC INC.
                              RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN
                     (AS AMENDED AND RESTATED MARCH 7, 2000)

                                   SECTION 1.

                           GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING
                    TO PLAN GOVERNANCE, COVERAGE AND BENEFITS

1.1   PURPOSE

      The purpose of the Plan is to foster and promote the long-term financial
      success of Veritas DGC Inc. (the "Company") and its Subsidiaries and to
      increase stockholder value by: (a) encouraging the commitment of selected
      key Employees, (b) motivating superior performance of such Employees by
      means of long-term performance related incentives, (c) encouraging and
      providing such Employees with a program for obtaining ownership interests
      in the Company which link and align their personal interests to those of
      the Company's stockholder, (d) attracting and retaining key Employees by
      providing competitive incentive compensation opportunities, and (e)
      enabling key Employees to share in the long-term growth and success of the
      Company.

      The Plan provides for the payment of restricted stock incentive
      compensation and it is not intended to be a plan that is subject to the
      Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA). The
      Plan shall be interpreted, construed and administered consistent with its
      status as a plan that is not subject to ERISA.

      The Plan shall become effective as of June 9, 1998 (the "Effective Date").
      The Plan shall commence on the Effective Date, and shall remain in effect,
      subject to the right of the Board to amend or terminate the Plan at any
      time pursuant to Section 4.6, until all Shares subject to the Plan have
      been purchased or acquired according to its provisions. However, in no
      event may an Incentive Award be granted under the Plan after the
      expiration of ten (10) years from the Effective Date. The plan was amended
      and restated by the Board on March 7, 2000.

1.2   DEFINITIONS

      Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings set forth in
      Schedule A attached.

1.3   PLAN ADMINISTRATION

      (a)   Authority of the Committee. Except as may be limited by law and
            subject to the provisions herein, the Committee shall have full
            power to (i) select Grantees who shall participate in the Plan; (ii)
            determine the sizes, duration and types of Incentive Awards; (iii)
            determine the terms and conditions of Incentive Awards

<PAGE>   2

            and Restricted Stock Agreements; (iv) determine whether any Shares
            subject to Incentive Awards will be subject to any restrictions on
            transfer; (v) construe and interpret the Plan and any Restricted
            Stock Agreement or other agreement entered into under the Plan; and
            (vi) establish, amend, or waive rules for the Plan's administration.
            Further, the Committee shall make all other determinations which may
            be necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.

            The Committee may grant an Incentive Award to an individual who it
            expects to become an Employee within the next six months, with such
            Incentive Award being subject to such individual actually becoming
            an Employee within such time period, and subject to such other terms
            and conditions as may be established by the Committee in its
            discretion.

      (b)   Meetings. The Committee shall designate a chairman from among its
            members who shall preside at all of its meetings, and shall
            designate a secretary, without regard to whether that person is a
            member of the Committee, who shall keep the minutes of the
            proceedings and all records, documents, and data pertaining to its
            administration of the Plan. Meetings shall be held at such times and
            places as shall be determined by the Committee and the Committee may
            hold telephonic meetings. The Committee may take any action
            otherwise proper under the Plan by the affirmative vote, taken with
            or without a meeting, of a majority of its members. The Committee
            may authorize any one or more of their members or any officer of the
            Company to execute and deliver documents on behalf of the Committee.

      (c)   Decisions Binding. All determinations and decisions made by the
            Committee shall be made in its discretion pursuant to the provisions
            of the Plan, and shall be final, conclusive and binding on all
            persons including the Company, its shareholders, Employees,
            Grantees, and their estates and beneficiaries. The Committee's
            decisions and determinations with respect to any Incentive Award
            need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Incentive
            Awards and Grantees, whether or not such Incentive Awards are
            similar or such Grantees are similarly situated.

      (d)   Modification of Outstanding Incentive Awards. Subject to any
            required stockholder approval requirements, if applicable, the
            Committee may, in its discretion, provide for the extension of the
            exercisability of an Incentive Award, accelerate the vesting or
            exercisability of an Incentive Award, eliminate or make less
            restrictive any restrictions contained in an Incentive Award, waive
            any restriction or other provisions of an Incentive Award, or
            otherwise amend or modify an Incentive Award in any manner that is
            either (i) not adverse to the Grantee to whom such Incentive Award
            was granted, or (ii) consented to by such Grantee.

      (e)   Delegation of Authority. The Committee may delegate to any
            Authorized Officer certain of its duties under the Plan pursuant to
            such conditions or limitations as

                                       2
<PAGE>   3

            the Committee may establish from time to time, except that the
            Committee may not delegate to any person the authority to (i) grant
            Incentive Awards to any Insider, or (ii) take any action that would
            contravene the requirements of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or
            the Performance-Based Exception under Section 162(m) of the Code to
            the extent that Rule 16b-3 or the Performance-Based Exemption is
            applicable to the Grantee as determined by the Committee; provided,
            however, any such action if taken by an Authorized Officer may be
            subsequently ratified by the Committee, in its discretion, before
            the Incentive Award becomes vested and, in such event, any Incentive
            Award that is granted to the Insider shall be subject to such
            subsequent ratification by the Committee.

      (f)   Expenses of Committee. The Committee may employ legal counsel,
            including, without limitation, independent legal counsel and counsel
            regularly employed by the Company, and other agents as the Committee
            may deem appropriate for the administration of the Plan. The
            Committee may rely upon any opinion or computation received from any
            such counsel or agent. All expenses incurred by the Committee in
            interpreting and administering the Plan, including, without
            limitation, meeting expenses and professional fees, shall be paid by
            the Company.

      (g)   Surrender of Previous Incentive Awards. The Committee may, in its
            absolute discretion, grant Incentive Awards to Grantees on the
            condition that such Grantees surrender to the Committee for
            cancellation such other Incentive Awards as the Committee directs.
            Incentive Awards granted on the condition precedent of surrender of
            outstanding Incentive Awards shall not count against the limits set
            forth in Section 1.4 until such time as such previous Incentive
            Awards are surrendered and canceled.

      (h)   Indemnification. Each person who is or was a member of the Committee
            shall be indemnified by the Company against and from any damage,
            loss, liability, cost and expense that may be imposed upon or
            reasonably incurred by him in connection with or resulting from any
            claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he may be a party or in
            which he may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to
            act under the Plan, except for any such act or omission constituting
            willful misconduct or gross negligence. Such person shall be
            indemnified by the Company for all amounts paid by him in settlement
            thereof, with the Company's approval, or paid by him in satisfaction
            of any judgment in any such action, suit, or proceeding against him,
            provided he shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own
            expense, to handle and defend the same before he undertakes to
            handle and defend it on his own behalf. The foregoing right of
            indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of
            indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the
            Company's Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law,
            or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify
            them or hold them harmless.

                                       3
<PAGE>   4

1.4   SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AVAILABLE FOR INCENTIVE AWARDS.

      Subject to adjustment under Section 3.5, there shall be available for
      Incentive Awards under the Plan an aggregate of One Hundred Seventy Three
      Thousand Nine Hundred Seventy-Five (173,975) Shares of Common Stock;
      provided, however, that, together with all other plans of the Company not
      exempt under Para. 312.03(a)(1)-(3) of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, in
      no case shall the Plan allow the issuance of more than five percent (5%)
      of the Company's Common Stock outstanding as of June 9, 1998 or as of any
      such later time at which the Plan is amended to increase the number of
      Shares authorized for issuance under the Plan. The number of Shares of
      Common Stock subject to Incentive Awards that are forfeited or terminated,
      or are settled in a manner such that all or some of the Shares covered by
      the Incentive Award are not issued to a Grantee, shall again immediately
      become available for Incentive Awards hereunder. The Committee may from
      time to time adopt and observe such procedures concerning the counting of
      Shares against the Plan maximum as it may deem appropriate.

      If the Committee determines that a particular Incentive Award granted to a
      Covered Employee is not intended to comply with the Performance-Based
      Exception, then, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3.5, the
      maximum aggregate number of Shares of Common Stock that may be granted or
      that may vest, as applicable, in any calendar year pursuant to any
      Incentive Award held by any individual Covered Employee shall be 50,000
      Shares.

1.5   SHARE POOL ADJUSTMENTS FOR AWARDS AND PAYOUTS.

      A grant of Shares of Restricted Stock shall reduce, on a one Share for one
      Share basis, the number of Shares authorized for issuance under the Share
      Pool.

      The following transactions shall restore, on a one Share for one Share
      basis, the number of Shares authorized for issuance under the Share Pool:

      (a)   A cancellation, termination, expiration, forfeiture, or lapse for
            any reason of any Shares subject to an Incentive Award; and

      (b)   The payment of any purchase price for Shares by the Grantee with
            previously acquired Shares, or by withholding Shares which otherwise
            would be acquired on purchase (i.e., the Share Pool shall be
            increased by the number of Shares turned in or withheld as payment
            of the purchase price, if any, for an Incentive Award).

1.6   COMMON STOCK AVAILABLE.

      The Common Stock available for issuance or transfer under the Plan shall
      be made available from Shares now or hereafter (a) held in the treasury of
      the Company, (b) authorized but unissued Shares or (c) Shares to be
      purchased or acquired by the Company. No fractional Shares shall be issued
      under the Plan; payment for fractional Shares shall be made in cash.

                                       4
<PAGE>   5

1.7   ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION.

      In its discretion, the Committee shall from time to time designate those
      Employees to be granted Incentive Awards under the Plan, the number of
      Shares subject to the Incentive Award, and the other terms or conditions
      relating to the Incentive Award as it deems appropriate to the extent not
      inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan. A Grantee who has been
      granted an Incentive Award may, if otherwise eligible, be granted
      additional Incentive Awards at any time.

                                   SECTION 2.

                                RESTRICTED STOCK

2.1   AWARD OF RESTRICTED STOCK

      (a)   Grant. In consideration for Employment by the Grantee, Shares of
            Restricted Stock may be awarded under the Plan by the Committee with
            such restrictions during the Restriction Period as the Committee
            designates in its discretion, any of which restrictions may differ
            with respect to a particular Grantee. Restricted Stock shall be
            awarded for no additional consideration or such additional
            consideration as the Committee may determine, which consideration
            may be less than, equal to or more than the Fair Market Value of the
            Shares of Restricted Stock on the date of grant. The terms and
            conditions of each grant of Restricted Stock shall be evidenced by a
            Restricted Stock Agreement.

      (b)   Immediate Transfer Without Immediate Delivery of Restricted Stock.
            Unless otherwise specified in the Grantee's Restricted Stock
            Agreement, each Restricted Stock Award shall constitute an immediate
            transfer of the record and beneficial ownership of the Shares of
            Restricted Stock to the Grantee in consideration of the performance
            of services as an Employee, entitling such Grantee to all voting and
            other ownership rights in such Shares subject to any restrictions
            thereon.

            As specified in the Restricted Stock Agreement, a Restricted Stock
            Award may limit the Grantee's dividend rights during the Restriction
            Period in which the Shares of Restricted Stock are subject to a
            "substantial risk of forfeiture" (within the meaning given to such
            term under Code Section 83) and restrictions on transfer. In the
            Restricted Stock Agreement, the Committee may apply any restrictions
            to the dividends that the Committee deems appropriate. Without
            limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, if the grant or
            vesting of Shares of Restricted Stock for a Covered Employee is
            designed to comply with the requirements of the Performance-Based
            Exception, the Committee may apply any restrictions that it deems
            appropriate to the payment of dividends declared with respect to
            such Shares of Restricted Stock, such that the dividends and/or the
            Shares of Restricted Stock maintain eligibility for the
            Performance-Based Exception. In the event that any dividend
            constitutes a derivative security or an

                                       5
<PAGE>   6

            equity security pursuant to the rules under Section 16 of the
            Exchange Act, if applicable, such dividend shall be subject to a
            vesting period equal to the remaining vesting period of the Shares
            of Restricted Stock with respect to which the dividend is paid.

            As determined by the Committee, Shares awarded pursuant to a grant
            of Restricted Stock may be issued in the name of the Grantee and
            held, together with a stock power endorsed by the Grantee in blank,
            by the Committee or the Secretary of the Company (or their
            delegates) as a depository for safekeeping until such time as the
            forfeiture restrictions and restrictions on transfer have lapsed.
            All such terms and conditions shall be set forth in the particular
            Grantee's Restricted Stock Agreement. The Company or Committee shall
            issue to the Grantee a receipt evidencing the certificates held by
            it which are registered in the name of the Grantee.

2.2   RESTRICTIONS

      (a)   Forfeiture of Restricted Stock. Restricted Stock awarded to a
            Grantee may be subject to the following restrictions until the
            expiration of the Restriction Period:

            (i)   a restriction that constitutes a "substantial risk of
                  forfeiture" (as defined in Code Section 83), or a restriction
                  on transferability under Code Section 83; and

            (ii)  any other restrictions that the Committee determines are
                  appropriate, including, without limitation, rights of
                  repurchase or first refusal in the Company or provisions
                  subjecting the Restricted Stock to a continuing substantial
                  risk of forfeiture in the hands of any transferee. Any such
                  restrictions shall be set forth in the particular Grantee's
                  Restricted Stock Agreement.

      (b)   Issuance of Certificates. Coincident with or promptly after the
            grant date with respect to Shares of Restricted Stock, the Company
            shall cause to be issued a stock certificate, registered in the name
            of the Grantee to whom such Restricted Stock was granted, evidencing
            such Shares; provided, however, that the Company shall not cause to
            be issued such a stock certificate unless it has received a stock
            power duly endorsed in blank by the Grantee with respect to such
            Shares. Each such stock certificate shall bear the following legend
            or any other legend approved by the Company:

                  THE TRANSFERABILITY OF THIS CERTIFICATE AND THE SHARES OF
                  STOCK REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS,
                  TERMS AND CONDITIONS (INCLUDING FORFEITURE AND RESTRICTIONS
                  AGAINST TRANSFER) CONTAINED IN THE VERITAS DGC INC. RESTRICTED
                  STOCK PLAN AND A RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT DATED

                                       6
<PAGE>   7

                  _______________, ____ BETWEEN THE REGISTERED OWNER OF SUCH
                  SHARES AND VERITAS DGC INC. RESTRICTIONS ON THE RIGHT TO OWN
                  OR TRANSFER THE SHARES OF STOCK REPRESENTED BY THIS
                  CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN IMPOSED PURSUANT TO SAID RESTRICTED
                  STOCK AGREEMENT. A COPY OF THE RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT IS
                  ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE COMPANY AND WILL BE
                  FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE
                  UPON RECEIPT BY THE COMPANY AT ITS PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS
                  OR REGISTERED OFFICE OF A WRITTEN REQUEST FROM THE HOLDER
                  REQUESTING SUCH COPY.

            Such legend shall not be removed from the certificate evidencing
            such Shares of Restricted Stock until such Shares vest pursuant to
            the terms of the Restricted Stock Agreement.

      (c)   Removal of Restrictions. The Committee, in its discretion, shall
            have the authority to remove any or all of the restrictions on the
            Restricted Stock if it determines that, by reason of a change in
            applicable law or another change in circumstance arising after the
            grant date of the Restricted Stock, such action is appropriate.

2.3   DELIVERY OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK.

      Subject to withholding taxes under Section 4.3 and to the terms of the
      Restricted Stock Agreement, a stock certificate evidencing the Shares of
      Restricted Stock with respect to which the restrictions in the Restricted
      Stock Agreement have lapsed or otherwise been satisfied shall be delivered
      to the Grantee or other appropriate recipient free of restrictions. Such
      delivery shall be effected for all purposes when the Company shall have
      deposited such certificate in the United States mail, addressed to the
      Grantee or other appropriate recipient.

2.4   SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENT ON VESTING OF RESTRICTED STOCK.

      The Grantee shall be responsible for the payment of any federal, state or
      other income taxes due in connection with the Grant, whether such taxes
      are due at the time the Incentive Award is granted or otherwise.

                                       7
<PAGE>   8

                                   SECTION 3.

                    PROVISIONS RELATING TO PLAN PARTICIPATION

3.1   PLAN CONDITIONS.

      (a)   Restricted Stock Agreement. Each Grantee to whom an Incentive Award
            is granted shall be required to enter into a Restricted Stock
            Agreement with the Company, in such a form as is provided by the
            Committee. The Restricted Stock Agreement shall contain specific
            terms as determined by the Committee, in its discretion, with
            respect to the Grantee's particular Incentive Award. Such terms need
            not be uniform among all Grantees or any similarly-situated
            Grantees. The Restricted Stock Agreement may include, without
            limitation, vesting, forfeiture and other provisions particular to
            the particular Grantee's Incentive Award, as well as, for example,
            provisions to the effect that the Grantee (i) shall not disclose any
            confidential information acquired during Employment with the
            Company, (ii) shall abide by all the terms and conditions of the
            Plan and such other terms and conditions as may be imposed by the
            Committee, (iii) shall not interfere with the employment or other
            service of any employee, (iv) shall not compete with the Company or
            become involved in a conflict of interest with the interests of the
            Company, (v) shall forfeit an Incentive Award if terminated for
            Cause, (vi) shall not be permitted to make an election under Section
            83(b) of the Code when applicable, and (vii) shall be subject to any
            other agreement between the Grantee and the Company regarding Shares
            that may be acquired under an Incentive Award including, without
            limitation, an agreement restricting the transferability of Shares
            by Grantee. A Restricted Stock Agreement shall include such terms
            and conditions as are determined by the Committee, in its
            discretion, to be appropriate with respect to any individual
            Grantee. The Restricted Stock Agreement shall be signed by the
            Grantee to whom the Incentive Award is made and by an Authorized
            Officer.

      (b)   No Right to Employment. Nothing in the Plan or any instrument
            executed pursuant to the Plan shall create any Employment rights
            (including without limitation, rights to continued Employment) in
            any Grantee or affect the right of the Company to terminate the
            Employment of any Grantee at any time without regard to the
            existence of the Plan.

      (c)   Securities Requirements. The Company shall be under no obligation to
            effect the registration pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 of
            any Shares of Common Stock to be issued hereunder or to effect
            similar compliance under any state laws. Notwithstanding anything
            herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be obligated to cause
            to be issued or delivered any certificates evidencing Shares
            pursuant to the Plan unless and until the Company is advised by its
            legal counsel that the issuance and delivery of such certificates is
            in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental
            authorities, and the requirements of any securities exchange on
            which Shares are traded. The Committee may require, as a condition
            of the issuance and delivery of certificates evidencing Shares

                                       8
<PAGE>   9

            pursuant to the terms hereof, that the recipient of such Shares make
            such covenants, agreements and representations, and that such
            certificates bear such legends, as the Committee, in its discretion,
            deems to be necessary or desirable.

      (d)   Officer and Director Issuance Limitations. No single officer or
            Director may acquire under the Plan more than one percent (1%) of
            the Shares of the Company's Common Stock outstanding as of June 9,
            1998 or as of any such later time at which the Plan is amended to
            increase the number of Shares authorized for issuance.

3.2   TRANSFERABILITY.

      (a)   Non-Transferable Awards. No Incentive Award and no right under the
            Plan, contingent or otherwise, will be (i) assignable, saleable, or
            otherwise transferable by a Grantee except by will or by the laws of
            descent and distribution, or (ii) subject to any encumbrance,
            pledge, lien, assignment or charge of any nature.

            No transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution shall
            be effective to bind the Company unless the Committee has been
            furnished with a copy of the deceased Grantee's enforceable will or
            such other evidence as the Committee deems necessary to establish
            the validity of the transfer. Any attempted transfer in violation of
            this Section 3.2(a) shall be void and ineffective.

      (b)   Ability to Exercise Rights. Subject to a valid beneficiary
            designation pursuant to Section 4.5, only the Grantee (or his legal
            guardian in the event of Grantee's Disability), or in the event of
            his death, his estate, may assume any rights of the Grantee
            hereunder.

3.3   RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER.

      (a)   Stockholder Rights. Except as otherwise provided in his Restricted
            Stock Agreement for the grant of Restricted Stock, the Grantee (or a
            permitted transferee of such Grantee) shall have voting and other
            rights as a stockholder with respect to such Shares of Restricted
            Stock prior to the lapse of any restrictions thereon.

      (b)   Representation of Ownership. In the case of the exercise of an
            Incentive Award by a person or estate acquiring the right to
            exercise such Incentive Award by reason of the death or Disability
            of a Grantee, the Committee may require evidence as to the ownership
            of such Incentive Award, or the authority of such person, and may
            require such consents and releases of taxing authorities as the
            Committee deems advisable.

                                       9
<PAGE>   10

3.4   LISTING AND REGISTRATION OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK.

      The exercise of any Incentive Award granted hereunder shall only be
      effective at such time as legal counsel to the Company shall have
      determined that the issuance and delivery of Shares of Common Stock
      pursuant to such exercise is in compliance with all applicable laws,
      regulations of governmental authorities and the requirements of any
      securities exchange on which Shares are traded. The Committee may, in its
      discretion, defer the effectiveness of any exercise of an Incentive Award
      in order to allow the issuance of Shares to be made pursuant to
      registration or an exemption from registration or other methods for
      compliance available under federal or state securities laws. The Committee
      shall inform the Grantee in writing of its decision to defer the
      effectiveness of the exercise of an Incentive Award. During the period
      that the effectiveness of an Incentive Award has been deferred, the
      Grantee may, by written notice to the Committee, withdraw such exercise
      and obtain the refund of any amount paid with respect thereto.

3.5   CHANGE IN STOCK AND ADJUSTMENTS.

      (a)   Changes in Law or Circumstances. Subject to Section 3.7 (which only
            applies in the event of a Change in Control), in the event of any
            change in applicable laws or any change in circumstances which
            results in or would result in any dilution of the rights granted
            under the Plan, or which otherwise warrants equitable adjustment
            because it interferes with the intended operation of the Plan, then,
            if the Committee should determine, in its absolute discretion, that
            such change equitably requires an adjustment in the number or kind
            of shares of stock or other securities or property theretofore
            subject, or which may become subject, to issuance or transfer under
            the Plan or in the terms and conditions of outstanding Incentive
            Awards, such adjustment shall be made in accordance with such
            determination. Such adjustments may include changes with respect to
            (i) the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the
            Plan, (ii) the number of Shares subject to Incentive Awards, and
            (iii) the price per Share for outstanding Incentive Awards.

      (b)   Exercise of Corporate Powers. The existence of the Plan or
            outstanding Incentive Awards hereunder shall not affect in any way
            the right or power of the Company or its stockholders to make or
            authorize any or all adjustments, recapitalization, reorganization
            or other changes in the Company's capital structure or its business
            or any merger or consolidation of the Company, or any issue of
            bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stocks ahead of or
            affecting the Common Stock or the rights thereof, or the dissolution
            or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any
            part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or
            proceeding whether of a similar character or otherwise.

      (c)   Recapitalization of the Company. Subject to Section 3.7, if while
            there are Incentive Awards outstanding, the Company shall effect any
            subdivision or consolidation of Shares of Common Stock or other
            capital readjustment, the payment of a stock dividend, stock split,
            combination of Shares, recapitalization or other increase or
            reduction in the number of Shares outstanding, without receiving
            compensation therefor in money, services or property, then the
            number

                                       10
<PAGE>   11

            of Shares available under the Plan and the number of Incentive
            Awards which may thereafter be exercised shall (i) in the event of
            an increase in the number of Shares outstanding, be proportionately
            increased and the price per share of the Incentive Awards awarded
            shall be proportionately reduced; and (ii) in the event of a
            reduction in the number of Shares outstanding, be proportionately
            reduced, and the price per share of the Incentive Awards awarded
            shall be proportionately increased. The Committee shall take such
            action and whatever other action it deems appropriate, in its
            discretion, so that the value of each outstanding Incentive Award to
            the Grantee shall not be adversely affected by a corporate event
            described in this subsection (c).

      (d)   Reorganization of the Company. Subject to Section 3.7, if the
            Company is reorganized, merged or consolidated, or is a party to a
            plan of exchange with another corporation, pursuant to which
            reorganization, merger, consolidation or exchange, stockholders of
            the Company receive any Shares of Common Stock or other securities
            or property, or if the Company should distribute securities of
            another corporation to its stockholders, each Grantee shall be
            entitled to receive, in lieu of the number of Restricted Stock
            shares, with a corresponding adjustment to the price per Share of
            said Incentive Awards, to which he would have been entitled if,
            immediately prior to such corporate action, such Grantee had been
            the holder of record of a number of Shares equal to the number of
            the outstanding Incentive Awards payable in Shares that were
            previously awarded to him. For this purpose, Shares of Restricted
            Stock shall be treated the same as unrestricted outstanding Shares
            of Common Stock. In this regard, the Committee shall take whatever
            other action it deems appropriate to preserve the rights of Grantees
            holding outstanding Incentive Awards.

      (e)   Issue of Common Stock by the Company. Except as hereinabove
            expressly provided in this Section 3.5 and subject to Section 3.7,
            the issue by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or
            securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, for cash
            or property, or for labor or services, either upon direct sale or
            upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, or
            upon any conversion of shares or obligations of the Company
            convertible into such shares or other securities, shall not affect,
            and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to,
            the number of, or price per Share of, any Incentive Awards then
            outstanding under previously granted Incentive Awards; provided,
            however, in such event, outstanding Shares of Restricted Stock shall
            be treated the same as outstanding unrestricted Shares of Common
            Stock.

      (f)   Acquisition of the Company. Subject to Section 3.7, in the case of
            any sale of assets, merger, consolidation or combination of the
            Company with or into another corporation other than a transaction in
            which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation and
            which does not result in the outstanding Shares being converted into
            or exchanged for different securities, cash or other property, or
            any combination thereof (an "Acquisition"), in the absolute
            discretion of the Committee, any Grantee who holds an outstanding
            Incentive Award shall have the

                                       11
<PAGE>   12

            right (subject to any limitation applicable to the Incentive Award)
            thereafter and during the term of the Incentive Award, to receive
            upon exercise thereof the Acquisition Consideration (as defined
            below) receivable upon the Acquisition by a holder of the number of
            Shares which would have been obtained upon exercise of the Incentive
            Award immediately prior to the Acquisition. The term "Acquisition
            Consideration" shall mean the kind and amount of shares of the
            surviving or new corporation, cash, securities, evidence of
            indebtedness, other property or any combination thereof receivable
            in respect of one Share upon consummation of an Acquisition. The
            Committee, in its discretion, shall have the authority to take
            whatever action it deems appropriate to effectuate the provisions of
            this subsection (f).

      (g)   Assumption under the Plan of Other Restricted Stock Awards. The
            Committee, in its absolute discretion, may authorize the assumption
            and continuation under the Plan of outstanding stock-based incentive
            awards that were granted under a plan or agreement that is or was
            maintained by a corporation or other entity that was merged into,
            consolidated with, or whose stock or assets were acquired by, the
            Company as the surviving corporation. Any such action shall be upon
            such terms and conditions as the Committee, in its discretion, may
            deem appropriate, including provisions to preserve the holder's
            rights under the previously granted stock-based restricted stock
            award. Any such assumption and continuation of any such previously
            granted and unexercised restricted stock award shall be treated as
            an outstanding Incentive Award under the Plan and shall thus count
            against the number of Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to
            Section 1.4.

      (h)   Assumption of Incentive Awards by a Successor. In the event of a
            dissolution or liquidation of the Company, a sale of all or
            substantially all of the Company's assets, a merger or consolidation
            involving the Company in which the Company is not the surviving
            corporation, or a merger or consolidation involving the Company in
            which the Company is the surviving corporation but the holders of
            Shares of Common Stock receive securities of another corporation
            and/or other property, including cash, the Committee shall, in its
            absolute discretion, have the right and power to:

            (i)   cancel, effective immediately prior to the occurrence of such
                  corporate event, each outstanding Incentive Award (whether or
                  not then exercisable), and, in full consideration of such
                  cancellation, pay to the Grantee to whom such Incentive Award
                  was granted an amount in cash equal to the excess of (A) the
                  value, as determined by the Committee, of the property
                  (including cash) received by the holder of a Share of Common
                  Stock as a result of such event over (B) the Grantee's
                  purchase price, if any, under such Incentive Award; or

            (ii)  provide for the exchange of each Incentive Award outstanding
                  immediately prior to such corporate event (whether or not then
                  exercisable) for another award on some or all of the property
                  for which

                                       12
<PAGE>   13

                  such Incentive Award is exchanged and, incident thereto, make
                  an equitable adjustment as determined by the Committee, in its
                  discretion, in the purchase price of the Incentive Award, or
                  the number of Shares or amount of cash subject to the
                  Incentive Award or, if deemed appropriate, provide for a cash
                  payment to the Grantee in consideration for the exchange of
                  his Incentive Award.

            The Committee, in its discretion, shall have the authority to take
            whatever action it deems appropriate to effectuate the provisions of
            this subsection (h).

3.6   TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT, DEATH AND DISABILITY.

      (a)   Termination of Employment. Unless otherwise expressly provided in
            his Restricted Stock Agreement, if the Grantee's Employment is
            terminated for Retirement or any other reason except due to his
            death or Disability, any non-vested portion of his outstanding
            Incentive Award at the time of such termination shall automatically
            expire and terminate and no further vesting shall occur.

      (b)   Disability or Death. Unless otherwise expressly provided in his
            Restricted Stock Agreement, upon termination of Employment as a
            result of the Grantee's Disability or death, any non-vested portion
            of his Incentive Award shall become 100% vested upon termination of
            Employment due to Disability or death.

      (c)   Continuation of Incentive Award. Subject to applicable law, in the
            event that a Grantee ceases to be an Employee, for whatever reason,
            the Committee and Grantee may mutually agree with respect to any
            outstanding Incentive Award then held by the Grantee (i) for an
            acceleration or other adjustment in any vesting schedule applicable
            to the Incentive Award, or (ii) to any other change in the terms and
            conditions of the Incentive Award. In the event of any such change
            to an outstanding Incentive Award, a written amendment to the
            Grantee's Restricted Stock Agreement shall be required.

3.7   CHANGE IN CONTROL.

      Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the Plan, in the event of a
      Change in Control (as defined below), the following actions shall
      automatically occur as of the day immediately preceding the Change in
      Control date unless otherwise expressly provided in the Grantee's
      Restricted Stock Agreement:

      (a)   all of the restrictions and conditions of any Incentive Award then
            outstanding shall be deemed satisfied, and the Restriction Period
            with respect thereto shall be deemed to have lapsed and expired; and

      (b)   all Restricted Stock shall be 100% vested and deemed earned in full.

      Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, unless expressly
      provided otherwise in the Grantee's Restricted Stock Agreement, the
      provisions of this Section 3.7 may not be

                                       13
<PAGE>   14

      terminated, amended, or modified to adversely affect any Incentive Award
      theretofore granted under the Plan without the prior written consent of
      the Grantee with respect to his outstanding Incentive Award subject,
      however, to the last paragraph of this Section 3.7.

      For all purposes of the Plan, a "Change in Control" of the Company shall
      mean:

      (a)   The acquisition by an individual, entity or group (within the
            meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act (a
            "Person") of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3
            promulgated under the Exchange Act) of fifty percent (50%) or more
            of the total voting power of all the Company's then outstanding
            securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors
            to the Board; provided, however, that for purposes of this
            subsection (a), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a
            Change in Control: (i) any acquisition by the Company or its Parent
            or Subsidiaries, (ii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan
            (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or its
            Parent or Subsidiaries, or (iii) any acquisition consummated with
            the prior approval of the Board; or

      (b)   During the period of two consecutive calendar years, individuals who
            at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new
            Directors whose election by the Board or nomination for election by
            the Company's shareholders was approved by a vote of at least
            two-thirds of the Directors then still in office, who either were
            Directors at the beginning of the two-year period or whose election
            or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any
            reason to constitute a majority of the Board; or

      (c)   The Company becomes a party to a merger, plan of reorganization,
            consolidation or share exchange in which either (i) the Company will
            not be the surviving corporation or (ii) the Company will be the
            surviving corporation and any outstanding Shares of the Company's
            Common Stock will be converted into shares of any other company
            (other than a reincorporation or the establishment of a holding
            company involving no change of ownership of the Company) or other
            securities, cash or other property (excluding payments made solely
            for fractional Shares; or

      (d)   The shareholders of the Company approve a merger, plan of
            reorganization, consolidation or share exchange with any other
            corporation, and immediately following such merger, plan of
            reorganization, consolidation or share exchange the holders of the
            voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior
            thereto hold securities representing fifty percent (50%) or less of
            the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or
            such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger,
            plan of reorganization, consolidation or share exchange; provided,
            however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, no Change in Control
            shall be deemed to have occurred if one-half (1/2) or more of the
            members of the Board of the Company or such surviving entity
            immediately after such merger, plan of reorganization, consolidation
            or share exchange is comprised of persons who served as Directors of
            the Company immediately prior

                                       14
<PAGE>   15

            to such merger, plan of reorganization, consolidation or share
            exchange or who are otherwise designees of the Company; or

      (e)   Upon approval by the Company's shareholders of a complete
            liquidation and dissolution of the Company or the sale or other
            disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company
            other than to a Parent or Subsidiary; or

      (f)   Any other event that a majority of the Board, in its sole
            discretion, shall determine constitutes a Change in Control.

      Notwithstanding the occurrence of any of the foregoing events of this
      Section 3.7 which would otherwise result in a Change in Control, the Board
      may determine in its complete discretion, if it deems it to be in the best
      interest of the Company, that an event or events otherwise constituting a
      Change in Control shall not be considered a Change in Control. Such
      determination shall be effective only if it is made by the Board prior to
      the occurrence of an event that otherwise would be a Change in Control, or
      after such event if made by the Board a majority of which is composed of
      Directors who were members of the Board immediately prior to the event
      that otherwise would be a Change in Control.

3.8   EXCHANGE OF INCENTIVE AWARDS.

      The Committee may, in its discretion, permit any Grantee to surrender
      outstanding Incentive Awards in order to exercise or realize his rights
      under other Incentive Awards or in exchange for the grant of new Incentive
      Awards, or require holders of Incentive Awards to surrender outstanding
      Incentive Awards (or comparable rights under other plans or arrangements)
      as a condition precedent to the grant of new Incentive Awards.

3.9   FINANCING.

      The Company may extend and maintain, or arrange for and guarantee, the
      extension and maintenance of financing to any Grantee to purchase Shares
      pursuant to exercise of an Incentive Award upon such terms as are approved
      by the Committee in its discretion.

                                   SECTION 4.

                                     GENERAL

4.1   EFFECTIVE DATE AND GRANT PERIOD.

      This Plan is adopted by the Board effective as of the Effective Date.
      Unless sooner terminated by the Board, no Incentive Award shall be granted
      under the Plan after ten (10) years from the Effective Date.

                                       15
<PAGE>   16

4.2   FUNDING AND LIABILITY OF COMPANY.

      No provision of the Plan shall require the Company, for the purpose of
      satisfying any obligations under the Plan, to purchase assets or place any
      assets in a trust or other entity to which contributions are made, or
      otherwise to segregate any assets. In addition, the Company shall not be
      required to maintain separate bank accounts, books, records or other
      evidence of the existence of a segregated or separately maintained or
      administered fund for purposes of the Plan. The Company shall not be
      required to segregate any assets that may at any time be represented by
      cash, Common Stock or rights thereto. The Plan shall not be construed as
      providing for such segregation, nor shall the Company, the Board or the
      Committee be deemed to be a trustee of any cash, Common Stock or rights
      thereto. Any liability or obligation of the Company to any Grantee with
      respect to an Incentive Award shall be based solely upon any contractual
      obligations that may be created by this Plan and any Restricted Stock
      Agreement, and no such liability or obligation of the Company shall be
      deemed to be secured by any pledge or other encumbrance on any property of
      the Company. Neither the Company, the Board nor the Committee shall be
      required to give any security or bond for the performance of any
      obligation that may be created by the Plan.

4.3   WITHHOLDING TAXES.

      (a)   Tax Withholding. The Company shall have the power and the right to
            deduct or withhold, or require a Grantee to remit to the Company, an
            amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes,
            domestic or foreign, required by law or regulation to be withheld
            with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of an
            Incentive Award.

      (b)   Share Withholding. With respect to tax withholding required upon the
            lapse of restrictions on Shares of Restricted Stock, or upon any
            other taxable event arising as a result of any Incentive Awards,
            Grantees may elect, subject to the approval of the Committee in its
            discretion, to satisfy the withholding requirement, in whole or in
            part, by having the Company withhold Shares having a Fair Market
            Value on the date the tax is to be determined equal to the minimum
            statutory total tax which could be imposed on the transaction. All
            such elections shall be made in writing, signed by the Grantee, and
            shall be subject to any restrictions or limitations that the
            Committee, in its discretion, deems appropriate.

      (c)   Loans. The Committee, in its discretion, may provide for loans, on
            either a short term or demand basis, from the Company to a Grantee
            to permit the payment of taxes required by law.

4.4   NO GUARANTEE OF TAX CONSEQUENCES.

      Neither the Company nor the Committee makes any commitment or guarantee
      that any federal, state or local tax treatment will apply or be available
      to any person participating or eligible to participate hereunder.

                                       16
<PAGE>   17

4.5   DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY BY PARTICIPANT.

      Each Grantee may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries
      (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under
      any Incentive Award is to be paid in case of his death before he receives
      any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall revoke all prior
      designations by the same Grantee, shall be in a form prescribed by the
      Committee, and will be effective only when filed by the Grantee in writing
      with the Committee during the Grantee's lifetime.

      A Grantee may, from time to time, revoke or change his beneficiary
      designation by filing a new designation form with the Committee (or its
      delegate). The last valid designation received shall be controlling;
      provided, however, that no beneficiary designation, or change or
      revocation thereof, shall be effective unless received prior to the
      Grantee's death and in no event shall it be effective as of a date prior
      to its receipt. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Section
      4.5, no beneficiary designation made by a married Grantee, other than one
      under which the surviving lawful spouse of such Grantee is designated as
      the sole beneficiary, shall be valid and effective without the written
      consent of such spouse.

      If no valid and effective beneficiary designation exists at the time of
      the Grantee's death, or if no designated beneficiary survives the Grantee,
      or if such designation conflicts with applicable law, the payment of the
      Grantee's Incentive Award, if earned and payable hereunder, shall be made
      to the Grantee's surviving lawful spouse, if any, or if there is no such
      surviving spouse, to the executor or administrator of his estate. If the
      Committee is in doubt as to the right of any person to receive such
      amount, the Committee may direct that the amount be paid into any court of
      competent jurisdiction in an interpleader action, and such payment shall
      be a full and complete discharge of any liability or obligation of the
      Plan, Company, Committee or Board therefor.

4.6   AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION.

      The Board shall have the plenary power and authority to terminate or amend
      the Plan at any time. No termination, amendment, or modification of the
      Plan shall adversely affect in any material way any outstanding Incentive
      Award previously granted to a Grantee under the Plan, without the written
      consent of such Grantee or other designated holder of such Incentive
      Award.

      To the extent that the Committee determines that (a) the listing for
      qualification requirements of any national securities exchange or
      quotation system on which the Company's Common Stock is then listed or
      quoted, if applicable, (b) Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or other
      requirements of applicable securities laws, regulations or rules, or (c)
      the Code (or regulations promulgated thereunder), require stockholder
      approval in order to maintain compliance with such listing or securities
      requirements or to maintain any favorable tax advantages or
      qualifications, then the Plan shall not be amended in such respect without
      approval of the Company's stockholders.

                                       17
<PAGE>   18

4.7   REQUIREMENTS OF LAW.

      The granting of Incentive Awards and the issuance of Shares under the Plan
      shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to
      such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities
      exchanges as may be required. Certificates evidencing Shares of Common
      Stock delivered under this Plan (to the extent that such Shares are so
      evidenced) may be subject to such stop transfer orders and other
      restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules and
      regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any securities
      exchange or transaction reporting system upon which the Common Stock is
      then listed or to which it is admitted for quotation, and any applicable
      federal or state securities law. The Committee may cause a legend or
      legends to be placed upon such certificates to make appropriate reference
      to such restrictions.

4.8   RULE 16b-3 SECURITIES LAW COMPLIANCE.

      With respect to Insiders, to the extent applicable, as determined by the
      Committee, transactions under the Plan are intended to comply with all
      applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. Any
      ambiguities or inconsistencies in the construction of an Incentive Award
      or the Plan shall be interpreted to give effect to such intention.
      However, to the extent any provision of the Plan or action by the
      Committee fails to so comply, it shall be deemed null and void to the
      extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee in its
      discretion.

4.9   NYSE SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL COMPLIANCE.

      With respect to the Shares available for issuance under the Plan,
      transactions under the Plan are intended to comply with all applicable
      conditions of Para. 312.03(a)(4) in the NYSE Listed Company Manual
      exempting the Plan from shareholder approval. Those conditions are
      specifically set forth in Section 1.4 and Section 3.1(d) of the Plan. Any
      ambiguities or inconsistencies in the construction of an Incentive Award
      or the Plan shall be interpreted to give effect to such intention.
      However, to the extent any provision of the Plan or action by the
      Committee fails to so comply, it shall be deemed null and void to the
      extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee in its
      discretion.

4.10  SUCCESSORS.

      All obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to Incentive
      Awards granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company,
      whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or
      indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or
      substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

4.11  MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

      (a)   No Employee shall have any claim or right to be granted an Incentive
            Award under the Plan. Neither the Plan, nor any action taken
            hereunder, shall be construed as giving any Employee any right to be
            retained in Employment.

                                       18
<PAGE>   19

      (b)   No Shares of Common Stock shall be issued hereunder unless counsel
            for the Company is then satisfied that such issuance will be in
            compliance with federal and state securities laws.

      (c)   The expenses of the Plan shall be borne by the Company.

      (d)   By accepting any Incentive Award, each Grantee and each person
            claiming by or through him shall be deemed to have indicated his
            acceptance of the Plan.

4.12  SEVERABILITY.

      In the event that any provision of this Plan shall be held illegal,
      invalid or unenforceable for any reason, such provision shall be fully
      severable, but shall not affect the remaining provisions of the Plan, and
      the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal, invalid, or
      unenforceable provision was not included herein.

4.13  GENDER, TENSE AND HEADINGS.

      Whenever the context so requires, words of the masculine gender used
      herein shall include the feminine and neuter, and words used in the
      singular shall include the plural. Section headings as used herein are
      inserted solely for convenience and reference and constitute no part of
      the interpretation or construction of the Plan.

4.14  GOVERNING LAW.

      The Plan shall be interpreted, construed and constructed in accordance
      with the laws of the State of Texas without regard to its conflicts of law
      provisions, except as may be superseded by applicable laws of the United
      States.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Veritas DGC Inc. has caused this Plan to be duly executed in
its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized officer.

                                      VERITAS DGC INC.

                                      By:
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                           Anthony Tripodo
                                           Executive Vice President,
                                           Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

                                       19

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