Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.2
                     FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONSULTING AGREEMENT

         This First Amendment to the Consulting Agreement (the "Amendment") is
made on this _31st__ day of January, 2001 by and between Apollo Advisors, L.P.
("Apollo") and Florsheim Group Inc. (f/k/a The Florsheim Shoe Company)
("Florsheim").

                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, on November 16, 1994, Apollo and Florsheim entered into that
certain Consulting Agreement ("Agreement"), with an initial duration period of
one year; and

         WHEREAS, the Agreement has been automatically renewed annually since
December 31, 1995; and

         WHEREAS, the Agreement provides for the payment of a fee for each full
fiscal year to Florsheim at the annual rate of $400,000 (the "Annual Fee"); and

         WHEREAS, Apollo is the owner of certain securities of Florsheim; and

         WHEREAS, Florsheim, BT Commercial Corporation, LaSalle Bank National
Association and Dime Commercial Corp. (BT Commercial Corporation, LaSalle Bank
National Association and Dime Commercial Corp. being hereafter referred to as
the "Lenders") are parties to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of August
23, 1999, as amended from time to time (the "Credit Agreement"); and

         WHEREAS, on or about November 15, 2000, the Lenders agreed to make
available to Florsheim $15,000,000 in additional Revolving Loans in respect of
the Plan Distribution Availability (the "PDA Loans") pursuant to that certain
Third Amendment to the Credit Agreement dated as of November 15, 2000 (the
"Third Amendment"); and

         WHEREAS, the Third Amendment amended Section 8.9 of the Credit
Agreement by adding, among other things, a prohibition of the payment of the
Annual Fee to Apollo commencing October 1, 2000 and ending upon the Expiration
Date (as defined therein); and

         WHEREAS, Apollo is willing to waive said Annual Fee in that Apollo has
derived substantial and continuing benefit from the extension of the PDA Loans.

         NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the benefits derived by Apollo and
other good and valuable consideration, the adequacy of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

         SECTION 1 DEFINITIONS. Unless otherwise defined herein, all capitalized
terms shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

         SECTION 2 AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT.

         Section 4 of the Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the following
sentence at the end of the paragraph:

         "Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Advisor agrees to waive the above
         described annual fee of $400,000 commencing October 1, 2000, and ending
         upon the Expiration Date, as said term is defined in that certain
         Credit Agreement dated as of August 23, 1999 between Florsheim and BT
         Commercial Corporation, LaSalle Bank National Association and Dime
         Commercial Corp., as amended from time to time."

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         SECTION 3 FULL FORCE AND EFFECT. Except as herein amended, the
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

         SECTION 4 COUNTERPARTS. This Amendment may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same document.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed and delivered in New York by their proper and duly authorized officers
as of the date first set forth above.

                                                  FLORSHEIM GROUP INC.

                                                  By: /s/ Thomas P. Polke
                                                      ---------------------
                                                      Thomas P. Polke
                                                      Executive Vice President
                                                      Chief Financial Officer

                                                     APOLLO ADVISORS, L.P.

                                                     By: /s/ Josh  Harris
                                                       -------------------

                                                     Its: Vice President
                                                          ----------------<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.4

                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                          SHAREHOLDERS RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS RIGHTS AGREEMENT
("Agreement") is made as of the 3rd day of May, 2001, by and among Beacon
Education Management, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") with its
principal place of business at 112 Turnpike Road, Suite 107, Westborough,
Massachusetts 01581; KinderCare Learning Centers, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Investor") with its principal place of business at 650 NE Holladay, Suite
1400, Portland, Oregon 97232; and the shareholders of the Company, including the
Investor, listed on Exhibit A, as amended in the future upon such other persons
or entities becoming shareholders of the Company and becoming parties to this
Agreement (the "Shareholders").

                                    RECITALS

                WHEREAS, the Company and Investor are parties to the Equity
Purchase and Loan Agreement (the "Equity Agreement") dated as of February 17,
2000; and

                WHEREAS, the Company agreed, as an inducement for Investor to
enter into the Equity Agreement, to provide certain rights to Investor with
respect to the shares of common stock of the Company acquired by Investor
pursuant to the Equity Agreement (whether by initial purchase, conversion or
otherwise; "Investor's Shares"); and

                WHEREAS, certain of the Shareholders and Investor entered into
the Shareholders Rights Agreement, dated February 17, 2000 (the "Original
Agreement"), describing all rights with respect to the common stock, $0.01 par
value per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") (such common stock and any
other securities convertible or exchangeable into common stock or other
securities into which such common stock shall have been changed or reclassified
the "Shares"); and

                WHEREAS, the parties to the Original Agreement desire to amend
the Original Agreement in order to grant certain rights to the purchasers of the
Company's Common Stock pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as
of the date hereof, by and between the Company and the persons listed on Exhibit
A hereto as the Subsequent Investors (the "Subsequent Investors").

                NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and
covenants set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

        1. Registration Rights. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:

           1.1 Definitions. For purposes of this Section 1:

               (a) The term "Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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               (b) The term "Form S-3" means such form under the Act as in
effect on the date hereof or any registration form under the Act subsequently
adopted by the SEC which permits inclusion or incorporation of substantial
information by reference to other documents filed by the Company with the SEC.

               (c) The term "Hambrecht" means the Hambrecht 1980 Revocable
Trust, William R. Hambrecht as Trustee.

               (d) The term "Holder" means the Investor or any of the Other
Investors and any person owning or having the right to acquire Registrable
Securities as an assignee thereof in accordance with Section 1.12 hereof.

               (e) The term "Investor Registrable Securities" means (i) the
Investor's Shares, (ii) the Shares of the Company acquired by Investor pursuant
to Section 2.3 hereof, (iii) any capital stock or other securities into which
Investor's Shares have been changed or any capital stock or other securities
resulting from a reclassification thereof, (iv) any equity interests of the
Company issued as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant,
right or other security which is issued as) a dividend or other distribution
with respect to, or in exchange for or in replacement of Investor's Shares
referenced in (i) or (ii) above, excluding in all cases, however, any
Registrable Securities sold by Investor in a transaction in which the rights
under this Section 1 are not assigned or assignable and any Registrable
Securities sold to the public or sold pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the
Act.

               (f) The term "1934 Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.

               (g) The term "Other Investors" means Hambrecht and the Subsequent
Investors.

               (h) The term "Other Registrable Securities" means (i) the Shares
of the Other Investors, (ii) the Shares of the Company acquired by the Other
Investors pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof, (iii) any capital stock or other
securities into which any of the Other Investors' Shares have been changed or
any capital stock or other securities resulting from a reclassification thereof,
(iv) any equity interests of the Company issued as (or issuable upon the
conversion or exercise of any warrant, right or other security which is issued
as) a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or in exchange for or in
replacement of any of the Other Investors' Shares referenced in (i) or (ii)
above, excluding in all cases, however, any Registrable Securities sold by any
of the Other Investors in a transaction in which the rights under this Section 1
are not assigned or assignable and any Registrable Securities sold to the public
or sold pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Act.

               (i) The term "Qualified Public Offering" shall mean the
consummation of the sale of securities pursuant to a registration statement
filed by the Company under the Act in connection with the initial firm
commitment underwritten offering of its securities to the general

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public generating not less than $25,000,000 in aggregate proceeds to the Company
and reflecting a valuation of the Company of not less than $60,000,000.

               (j) The terms "register," "registered," and "registration" refer
to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or
similar document in compliance with the Act and the declaration or ordering of
effectiveness of such registration statement or document.

               (k) The term "Registrable Securities" shall mean the Investor
Registrable Securities and the Other Registrable Securities.

               (l) The number of shares of "Registrable Securities then
outstanding" as to Investor or the Other Investors shall be the aggregate number
of Shares outstanding which are, and the number of Shares issuable pursuant to
then exercisable or convertible securities which are, Investor Registrable
Securities and Other Registrable Securities, as the case may be.

               (m) The term "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

           1.2 Demand Registration.

               (a) If the Company shall receive at any time after 180 days
following the closing of the first registered public offering of securities of
the Company a written request from Holder that the Company file a registration
statement under the Act covering the registration of the Registrable Securities
then outstanding, then the Company shall use its best efforts to effect as soon
as practicable, and in any event within 120 days of the receipt of such request,
the registration under the Act of all Registrable Securities that Holder
requests to be registered, provided that the Registrable Securities requested by
Holder to be registered pursuant to such request must have an anticipated
aggregate public offering price of not less than $3,000,000. Promptly (in any
event, within 10 days) after the Company has received notice from a Holder of a
demand, the Company shall notify the other Holders of such demand and, subject
to Section 1.2(b) hereof, the other Holders may elect to exercise their demand
rights in concert with the first Holder.

               (b) If a Holder intends to distribute the Registrable Securities
covered by its request by means of an underwritten public offering, it shall so
advise the Company as a part of its request made pursuant to subsection 1.2(a).
The underwriter will be selected by the Company and shall be reasonably
acceptable to each Holder participating in the underwriting, provided that such
underwriter shall be of nationally recognized standing and shall agree to firmly
underwrite such offering. Each Holder participating in the underwriting shall
(together with the Company as provided in subsection 1.4(e)) enter into an
underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters
selected for such underwriting. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
Agreement, if the underwriter advises a Holder in writing that marketing factors
require a limitation of the number of shares to be underwritten, then the number
of shares of Registrable Securities that may be included in the underwriting
shall be reduced first by reducing the number of Registrable Securities of
Holders other than Investor; and provided, however, that the number of
Investor's shares of Registrable Securities to be included in such underwriting
shall not be reduced

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unless all other securities are first entirely excluded from the underwriting.
In a registration pursuant to Section 1.2(a), if Registrable Securities held by
Holder are excluded from the registration pursuant to this Section 1.2(b), then
that registration will not be deemed to be a registration requested by Holder
for the purposes of Section 1.2(d)(ii).

               (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing:

                   (i) If the Company shall furnish to each Holder demanding
registration a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company
stating that in the good faith judgment of the Company it would be detrimental
to the Company for such registration statement to be filed and it is therefore
essential to defer the filing of such registration statement, the Company shall
have the right to defer taking action with respect to such filing for a period
of not more than 120 days after receipt of the request of the first such Holder;
provided, however, that the Company may not utilize this right more than once in
any twelve-month period. If the Company shall so postpone the filing of a
registration statement, each Holder shall have the right to withdraw the request
for registration by giving written notice to the Company within thirty (30) days
after receipt of the notice of postponement and, in the event of such
withdrawal, such request shall not be counted for purposes of the request for
registration to which Holder is entitled pursuant to Section 1.2 hereof.

                   (ii) Upon written notice by the Company to each Holder
demanding registration stating that in the good faith judgment of the Company it
would be advantageous to the Company to raise capital in the proposed
registration, then the Company may offer Shares for its own account in the
proposed registration. If any underwriter in connection with the proposed
registration advises Holder and the Company in writing that marketing factors
require a limitation of the number of Shares to be underwritten, then the number
of Shares offered by the Company in the underwriting shall be reduced
accordingly.

               (d) In addition, the Company shall not be obligated to effect, or
to take any action to effect,

                   (i) As to Investor, any registration pursuant to this Section
1.2 after the Company has effected one registration requested by Investor
pursuant to that subsection and such registration has been declared or ordered
effective;

                   (ii) As to the holders of Other Registrable Securities, any
registration pursuant to this Section 1.2 after the Company has effected one
registration requested by the holders of Other Registrable Securities pursuant
to that subsection and such registration has been declared or ordered effective;

                   (iii) A registration subject to this Section 1.2 hereof
during the period starting with the date ninety (90) days prior to the Company's
good faith estimate of the date of filing of a registration statement pursuant
to which Holder would be entitled to participate under Section 1.3 hereof, and
ending on a date ninety (90) days after the effective date of such filing,

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provided that the Company is actively employing in good faith all reasonable
efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective.

           1.3 Company Registration. If (but without any obligation to do so)
the Company proposes to register (including for this purpose a registration
effected by the Company for shareholders other than a Holder) any of its stock
or other securities under the Act in connection with the public offering of such
securities solely for cash (other than a registration relating solely to the
sale of securities to participants in a Company option plan, a registration
solely with respect to debt securities or a registration pursuant to Section
1.2), the Company shall, at such time, promptly give each Holder written notice
of such registration. Upon the written request of any Holder given within twenty
(20) days after mailing of such notice by the Company in accordance with Section
6.5, the Company shall, subject to the provisions of Section 1.8, cause to be
registered under the Act all of the Registrable Securities that such Holder has
requested to be registered, provided, however, that the Company shall have the
right to postpone or withdraw any registration effected pursuant to this Section
1.3 without obligation to any such Holder.

           1.4 Obligations of the Company. Whenever required under this Section
1 to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities, the Company and the
participating Holder (for purposes of Section 1.4(e)) shall, as expeditiously as
reasonably possible:

               (a) Prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement with
respect to such Registrable Securities and use its diligent efforts to cause
such registration statement to become effective, and, upon the request of
Holder, keep such registration statement effective for a period of up to one
hundred twenty (120) days; provided, however, that such 120-day period shall be
extended for a period of time equal to the period Holder refrains from selling
any securities included in such registration at the request of an underwriter of
securities of the Company.

               (b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements
to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection with such
registration statement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the
Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such
registration statement.

               (c) Furnish to each participating Holder such numbers of copies
of a prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the
requirements of the Act, and such other documents as it may reasonably request
in order to facilitate the disposition of Registrable Securities owned by it.

               (d) Use its commercially reasonable efforts to register and
qualify the securities covered by such registration statement under such other
securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably
requested by each participating Holder; provided that the Company shall not be
required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to qualify to do
business or to file a general consent to service of process in any such states
or jurisdictions, unless the Company is already subject to service in such
jurisdiction and except as may be required by the Act.

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               (e) In the event of any underwritten public offering, enter into
and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and
customary form, with the managing underwriter of such offering. Each
participating Holder shall also enter into and perform its obligations under
such an agreement.

               (f) Notify each participating Holder any time when a prospectus
relating to the Registrable Securities is required to be delivered under the Act
of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in
such 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 not misleading in the light of the
circumstances then existing.

               (g) Cause all such Registrable Securities registered pursuant
hereunder to be listed on each securities exchange on which similar securities
issued by the Company are then listed.

               (h) Provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable
Securities registered pursuant hereunder and a CUSIP number for all such
Registrable Securities, in each case not later than the effective date of such
registration.

               (i) Cause to be furnished, at the request of each participating
Holder on the date that such Registrable Securities are delivered to the
underwriters for sale in connection with a registration pursuant to this Section
1, if such securities are being sold through underwriters, or, if such
securities are not being sold through underwriters, on the date that the
registration statement with respect to such securities becomes effective, (i) an
opinion, dated such date, of the counsel representing the Company for the
purposes of such registration, in form and substance as is customarily given to
underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters,
if any, and to each participating Holder and (ii) a letter dated such date, from
the independent certified public accountants of the Company, in form and
substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to
underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters,
if any, and to each participating Holder.

           1.5 Furnish Information. It shall be a condition precedent to the
obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to this Section 1 with
respect to the Registrable Securities that each participating Holder shall
furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable
Securities held by it, and the intended method of disposition of such securities
as shall be required to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities.

           1.6 Expenses of Demand Registration. All expenses other than
underwriting discounts and commissions incurred in connection with
registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Section 1.2, including
(without limitation) all registration, filing, qualification, printers' and
accounting fees and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company shall be
borne by the Company and the Company shall indemnify against and reimburse
Holder for all such expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel for
the Company in its capacity as counsel to each participating Holder; provided
that, if Company counsel does not make itself available to each

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participating Holder for this purpose, the Company will pay and reimburse the
reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for each participating Holder
in an amount not to exceed $15,000 for each participating Holder); provided,
however, that the Company shall not be required to pay for any expenses of any
registration proceeding begun pursuant to Section 1.2 if the registration
request is subsequently withdrawn at the request of a participating Holder (in
which case the Holder requesting such withdrawal shall bear such expenses),
unless the Holder requesting such withdrawal agrees to forfeit its demand
registration rights pursuant to Section 1.2; provided further, however, that if
at the time of such withdrawal, such Holder has either learned of a material
adverse change in the condition, business, or prospects of the Company from that
known to such Holder at the time of its request and has withdrawn the request
with reasonable promptness following disclosure by the Company of such material
adverse change or the notification to the Company by such Holder of such
material adverse change (it being acknowledged by the Company that no Holder has
any duty to discover any such matter), or such withdrawal by such Holder is in
response to a deferral of registration by the Company pursuant to Section
1.2(c)(i), then Holder shall not be required to pay any of such expenses and
shall retain its rights pursuant to Section 1.2.

           1.7 Expenses of Company Registration. The Company shall bear and pay
all expenses incurred in connection with any registration, filing or
qualification of Registrable Securities with respect to registrations pursuant
to Section 1.3 for each participating Holder, including (without limitation) all
registration, filing, qualification, printers' and accounting fees, fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company (including fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company in its capacity as counsel to each participating Holder;
provided that, if Company counsel does not make itself available to each
participating Holder for this purpose, the Company will pay and reimburse the
reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for each participating Holder
in an amount not to exceed $15,000 for each participating Holder; but excluding
underwriting discounts and commissions relating to Registrable Securities.

           1.8 Underwriting Requirements. In connection with any offering
involving an underwritten public offering of Shares under Section 1.3, the
Company shall not be required to include any of Holder's securities in such
offering unless such Holder accepts the terms of the offering as agreed upon
between the Company, each participating Holder and the underwriters selected by
the Company (or by other persons entitled to select the underwriters), and then
only in such quantity as the underwriters determine in their sole discretion
will not jeopardize the success of the offering by the Company. If the total
amount of securities, including Registrable Securities, to be included in such
offering exceeds the amount of securities that the underwriters determine in
their sole discretion is compatible with the success of the offering, then the
Company shall be required to include in the offering only that number of such
securities, including Registrable Securities, which the underwriters determine
in their sole discretion will not jeopardize the success of the offering (the
securities so included to be apportioned pro rata among the Holders other than
the Investor according to the total amount of Registrable Securities entitled to
be included therein owned by each such Holder or in such other proportions as
shall mutually be agreed to by such Holders) but in no event shall the amount of
securities of the Investor included in the offering be reduced unless all other
securities other than Shares to be offered for the account of the Company are
first entirely excluded from the underwriting.

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           1.9 Reports Under Securities Exchange Act of 1934. With a view to
making available to Holder the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the Act
and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit each
Holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration or
pursuant to a registration on Form S-3, the Company agrees to:

               (a) make and keep public information available, as those terms
are understood and defined in SEC Rule 144, at all times after ninety (90) days
after the effective date of the first registration statement filed by the
Company for the offering of its securities to the general public;

               (b) take such action, including the voluntary registration of its
common stock (or other securities) under Section 12 of the 1934 Act, as is
necessary to enable Holder to utilize Form S-3 for the sale of their Registrable
Securities, such action to be taken as soon as practicable after the end of the
fiscal year in which the first registration statement filed by the Company for
the offering of its securities to the general public is declared effective;

               (c) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other
documents required of the Company under the Act and the 1934 Act; and

               (d) furnish to each Holder, so long as such Holder owns any
Registrable Securities, forthwith upon request (i) a written statement by the
Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of SEC Rule 144 (at
any time after ninety (90) days after the effective date of the first
registration statement filed by the Company), the Act, and the 1934 Act (at any
time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements), or that it
qualifies as a registrant whose securities may be resold pursuant to Form S-3
(at any time after it so qualifies), (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or
quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by
the Company, and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested in
availing Investor of any rule or regulation of the SEC which permits the selling
of any such securities without registration or pursuant to such form.

           1.10 Form S-3 Registration. If the Company shall receive from any
Holder a written request or requests that the Company effect a registration on
Form S-3 and any related qualification or compliance with respect to all or a
part of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder, the Company will:

               (a) as soon as practicable, effect such registration and all such
qualifications and compliances as may be so requested and as would permit or
facilitate the sale and distribution of all or such portion of the Registrable
Securities as are specified in such request; provided, however, that the Company
shall not be obligated to effect any such registration, qualification or
compliance, pursuant to this Section 1.10: (1) if Form S-3 is not available for
offering by such Holder; (2) if such Holder proposes to sell Registrable
Securities and such other securities (if any) at an aggregate price to the
public (net of any underwriters' discounts or commissions) of less than
$1,000,000; (3) if the Company shall furnish to such Holder a certificate signed
by the President or Chief Executive Officer of the Company stating that in the
good faith judgment of the Company, it would be detrimental to the Company for
such Form S-3 Registration

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to be effected at such time, in which event the Company shall have the right to
defer the filing of the Form S-3 registration statement for a period of not more
than 120 days after receipt of the request of such Holder under this Section
1.10; provided, however, that the Company shall not utilize this right more than
once in any twelve month period; (4) if the Company has, within the twelve (12)
month period preceding the date of such request, already effected a registration
on Form S-3 pursuant to this Section 1.10 or a registration pursuant to Section
1.2 hereof; or (5) in any particular jurisdiction in which the Company would be
required to qualify to do business or to execute a general consent to service of
process in effecting such registration, qualification or compliance.

               (b) Subject to the foregoing, the Company shall file a
registration statement covering the Registrable Securities and other securities
so requested to be registered as soon as practicable after receipt of the
request of a Holder. The Company shall bear and pay all expenses incurred in
connection with a registration requested pursuant to Section 1.10, including
(without limitation) all registration, filing, qualification, printer's and
accounting fees, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company (including
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company in its capacity as counsel to
each participating Holder; provided that if Company counsel does not make itself
available to each participating Holder for this purpose, the Company will pay
the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for each participating
Holder in an amount not to exceed $15,000 for each participating Holder) and the
Company shall indemnify Holder against and reimburse Holder for all such
expenses but excluding underwriting discounts and commissions relating to
Registrable Securities. Registrations effected pursuant to this Section 1.10
shall not be counted as registrations effected pursuant to Sections 1.2 or 1.3.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to effect, or
to take any action to effect, a registration subject to this Section 1.10 hereof
during the period starting with the date ninety (90) days prior to the Company's
good faith estimate of the date of filing of a registration statement pursuant
to which Holder would be entitled to participate under Section 1.3 hereof, and
ending on a date ninety (90) days after the effective date of such filing,
provided that the Company is actively employing in good faith all reasonable
efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective.

           1.11 Indemnification. In the event any Registrable Securities are
included in a registration statement under this Section 1:

               (a) To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify,
reimburse and hold harmless each participating Holder, any underwriter (as
defined in the Act) for such Holder and each person, if any, who controls such
Holder or any such underwriter within the meaning of the Act or the 1934 Act,
against any losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (joint or several) to which
they may become subject under the Act, the 1934 Act or other federal or state
law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any of the following statements,
omissions or violations (collectively a "Violation"): (i) any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in such registration
statement, including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained
therein or any amendments or supplements thereto, (ii) the omission or alleged
omission to state in any such prospectus, amendment or supplement a material
fact required to be stated therein, or

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necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading, or (iii) any
violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Act, the 1934 Act, any
state securities law, or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Act. In
connection with (and not in limitation of) any of the foregoing, Company will
indemnify, reimburse and hold harmless each participating Holder, underwriter or
controlling person any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in
connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability, or action; provided; however, that the indemnity agreement contained
in this subsection 1.11(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any
such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action if such settlement is effected
without the consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably
delayed or withheld), nor shall the Company be liable in any such case for any
such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action to the extent that it arises out
of or is based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in strict
conformity with written information furnished expressly for use in connection
with such registration by such Holder, underwriter or controlling person.

               (b) To the extent permitted by law, each participating Holder
will indemnify, reimburse and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors,
each of its officers who has signed the registration statement, each person, if
any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act, any underwriter,
and each other Holder against any losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (joint
or several) to which any of the foregoing persons may become subject, under the
Act, the 1934 Act or other federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereto) arise out of or are
based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent (and only to the extent)
that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in strict conformity with
written information furnished by such Holder expressly for use in connection
with such registration; and such Holder will pay, as incurred, any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by any person intended to be indemnified
pursuant to this subsection 1.11(b), in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however,
that the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection 1.11(b) shall not
apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability,
or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of such Holder,
which consent shall not be unreasonably delayed or withheld; provided, however,
that in no event shall any indemnity under this subsection 1.11(b) exceed the
net proceeds from the offering received by a Holder.

               (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 1.11 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any
governmental action), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof
is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 1.11, 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 notified, to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually
satisfactory to the parties; provided, however, that an indemnified party
(together with all other indemnified parties which may be represented without
conflict by one counsel) shall have the right to retain one separate counsel,
with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if
representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the
indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing
interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such
counsel in such proceeding. The failure to deliver written notice to the
indemnifying party within a

                                       10
<PAGE>   11

reasonable time of the commencement of any such action, if prejudicial to its
ability to defend such action, shall relieve such indemnifying party of any
liability to the indemnified party under this Section 1.11, but the omission so
to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party will not relieve it of any
liability that it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this
Section 1.11.

               (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 1.11 is
held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified
party with respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense referred to
therein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified
party hereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the
indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party on the other in
connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss,
liability, claim, damage, or expense as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the
indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information, and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission.

               (e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the
provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in the underwriting
agreement entered into in connection with the underwritten public offering are
in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the provisions in the underwriting
agreement shall control.

               (f) The obligations of the Company and each Holder under this
Section 1.11 shall survive the completion of any offering of Registrable
Securities in a registration statement under this Section 1, and otherwise.

           1.12 Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights to cause the
Company to register Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 1 may be
assigned (but only with all related obligations) by any Holder to one or more
transferees or assignees of such securities, provided: (a) the Company is,
within a reasonable time after such transfer, furnished with written notice of
the name and address of each such transferee or assignee and the securities with
respect to which such registration rights are being assigned; (b) with respect
to all rights other than the rights to demand registration under Section 1.2 (it
being acknowledged that only the Investor or any of the Other Investors or if
assigned, a Holder with more than fifty percent (50%) of the Investor
Registrable Securities or Other Registrable Securities shall be permitted to
exercise such demand right; provided, that, in connection with any demand
registration, the other Holders may participate in such registration under
Section 1.3 as though such registration were by the Company) such transferee or
assignee acquires from Investor or any of the Other Investors at least twenty
percent (20%) of the Investor Registrable Securities or Other Registrable
Securities, as the case may be; (c) such transferee or assignee agrees in
writing to be bound by and subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, including without limitation the provisions of Sections 1.14, 2.3, 4
and 5 below; and (d) such assignment shall be effective only if immediately
following such transfer the further disposition of such Registrable Securities
by the transferee or assignee is restricted under the Act.

                                       11
<PAGE>   12

           1.13 Limitations on Subsequent Registration Rights. From and after
the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not, without the prior written
consent of Investor (including, for purposes of this Section, an affiliate of
Investor upon transfer of the Registrable Securities from Investor to an
affiliate pursuant to this Agreement), enter into any agreement with any holder
or prospective holder of any securities of the Company granting any registration
rights to such holder or prospective holder superior to those in this Agreement,
unless the Company shall provide Investor rights at least equal thereto.

           1.14 "Market Stand-Off" Agreement. Each Holder hereby agrees that,
during the period of duration specified by the Company and an underwriter of
common stock or other securities of the Company following the date of the first
sale to the public pursuant to a registration statement of the Company filed
under the Act, it shall not, to the extent requested by the Company and such
underwriter, directly or indirectly sell, offer to sell, contract to sell
(including, without limitation, any short sale), grant any option to purchase or
otherwise transfer or dispose of (other than to donees who agree to be similarly
bound) any securities of the Company held by it at any time during such period;
provided, however, that:

               (a) such agreement shall be applicable only to the first such
registration statement of the Company which covers common stock (or other
securities) to be sold on its behalf to the public in an underwritten offering;
and

               (b) all officers and directors of the Company and all other
persons with registration rights (whether or not pursuant to this Agreement) who
own more than 5 percent of the Company's outstanding securities enter into
similar agreements;

               (c) such market stand-off time period shall not exceed 180 days.

           In order to enforce the foregoing covenant, the Company may impose
stop-transfer instructions with respect to the Registrable Securities of Holders
(and the Shares or securities of every other person subject to the foregoing
restriction) until the end of the period.

           Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations described in this
Section 1.14 shall not apply to a registration relating solely to employee
benefit plans on Form S-1 or Form S-8 or similar forms which may be promulgated
in the future, or a registration relating solely to a Commission Rule 145
transaction on Form S-4 or similar forms which may be promulgated in the future.

           1.15 Termination of Registration Rights.

               (a) Holders shall not be entitled to exercise any right provided
for in this Section 1 after five (5) years following the consummation of the
Company's first registered public offering of securities.

               (b) In addition, the right of a Holder to request registration or
inclusion in any registration pursuant to Section 1 shall terminate on such
date, after the closing of the first

                                       12
<PAGE>   13

registered public offering of Common Stock of the Company, that the Company
delivers to the Holder an opinion of counsel to the Company (in form, substance
and from a firm reasonably satisfactory to such Holder) that all Registrable
Securities held or entitled to be held upon conversion by such Holder may
immediately be sold under Rule 144 during any 90-day period.

           2. Covenants of the Company.

                2.1 Preemptive Rights. Subject to the terms and conditions
specified in this Section 2.1, the Company hereby grants to Investor and each
Shareholder a preemptive right with respect to future sales by the Company of
its Shares.

                Each time the Company proposes to offer for sale any Shares, the
Company shall first offer such Shares to Investor and each Shareholder of the
Company (provided that the Company shall not be obligated to offer Shares to
Investor or any Shareholder that is not an accredited investor as defined in
Rule 501(a) under the Act) in accordance with the following provisions:

                     (a) The Company shall deliver a notice ("Notice") to
Investor and each Shareholder stating (i) its bona fide intention to offer such
Shares, (ii) the number of such Shares to be offered and (iii) the price and
terms, if any, upon which it proposes to offer such Shares.

                     (b) By written notification received by the Company, within
30 calendar days after receiving the Notice, Investor and Shareholders may elect
to purchase or obtain, at the price and on the terms specified in the Notice, up
to that number of Shares being offered in the Notice owned by the Investor or
Shareholder, as shall equal the product of (i) a fraction, the numerator of
which is the number of Shares owned by the Investor (assuming Investor has
converted its commitment pursuant to the Equity Agreement) or Shareholder
(including any options for the purchase of Shares) as the case may be, as of the
date of the Notice and the denominator of which is the aggregate number of
Shares owned as of the date of the Notice by the Investor and all the
Shareholders (on a fully diluted basis), times (ii) the number of Shares being
offered in the Notice.

                     (c) If all Shares that Investor and Shareholders are
entitled to obtain pursuant to subsection 2.1(b) are not elected to be obtained
as provided in subsection 2.1(b) hereof, the Company may, during the 10-day
period following the expiration of the period provided in subsection 2.1(b)
hereof, first offer the remaining unsubscribed portion of such Shares to
Investor and the Other Investors, with the Investor being entitled to purchase
50% of the remaining Shares and the Other Investors collectively being entitled,
on a pro rata basis, to purchase 50% of the remaining shares. If either Investor
or Other Investors elect not to purchase their full 50% share within ten (10)
days, the other party will have the right within the next succeeding 10 days to
purchase the remaining Shares. Thereafter, if Shares entitled to be purchased
pursuant to subsection 2.1(b) remain unpurchased, the Company may offer the
remaining unsubscribed portion of such Shares to any person or persons at a
price not less than, and upon terms no more favorable to the offeree than those
specified in the Notice. If the Company does not enter into an agreement for the
sale of the Shares within a 60-day period following the expiration of the period
provided in

                                       13
<PAGE>   14

subsection 2.1(b), or if such agreement is not consummated within 30 days of the
execution thereof, the right provided hereunder shall be deemed to be revived
and such Shares shall not be offered unless first reoffered to Investor and the
Shareholders in accordance herewith.

               (d) The preemptive rights in this Section 2.1 shall not be
applicable to (i) any Shares issuable under any Company option or incentive plan
authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company, (ii) the issuance of
securities pursuant to the conversion or exercise of convertible or exercisable
securities currently outstanding, (iii) the issuance of securities for other
than cash consideration in connection with a bona fide business acquisition of
or by the Company, whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets, sale or
exchange of stock or otherwise, and (iv) securities issued as a result of any
stock split, stock dividend or reclassification of Common Stock of the Company,
distributable on a pro rata basis to all holders of such Common Stock.

               (e) The preemptive rights in this Section 2.1 are not
transferable to a subsequent Holder or otherwise, except that Investor may
transfer such rights to an affiliate of Investor (in which event or the term
"Investor" herein shall be deemed where appropriate to refer to such affiliate).

           2.2 General Restriction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
herein, none of the Shareholders may sell, exchange, give, devise or otherwise
dispose of ("Transfer"), either voluntarily or involuntarily or by operation of
law (including any Transfer pursuant to equitable distribution proceedings or
pursuant to a divorce decree) any of the Shares, or any rights or interest
appertaining thereto, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except as
permitted by this Agreement.

        Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Shareholders may pledge or
encumber Shares, or any rights or interest appertaining thereto, whether now
owned or hereafter acquired and such transaction shall not constitute a
Transfer; provided, however, that such transaction shall be deemed a Transfer in
the event of a foreclosure by a third party of a security interest in any
Shares, and in such event the Eligible Offeree Shareholders (as hereinafter
defined) and the Company shall have the rights of first offer as set forth in
Section 2.3(a), subject to the same notice, purchase, and time provisions
provided therein; provided, further, that any pledgee shall acknowledge and
agree prior to any such pledge or encumbrance that any Shares so pledged or
encumbered by a Shareholder are subject to the provisions of this Agreement. If
the Eligible Offeree Shareholders and the Company elect not to purchase the
Shares in the event of a Transfer pursuant to a foreclosure by a third party of
a security interest, the Shares may thereafter be sold or transferred to a third
party consistent with the foreclosure proceeding.

           2.3 Voluntary Transfer. A Shareholder may voluntarily Transfer Shares
under and as permitted by this Section 2.3, but not otherwise.

           (a) First Offer Rights. If a Shareholder shall desire to Transfer any
Shares held by such Shareholder (the "Selling Shareholder"), such Selling
Shareholder shall first offer such Shares (the "Offered Stock") to the Company
and then to the Eligible Offeree Shareholders in accordance with the provisions
hereof.

                                       14
<PAGE>   15

           (b) Notice. The Selling Shareholder shall give written notice to each
of the Company and the Eligible Offeree Shareholders setting forth the terms and
conditions (the "Offer Terms") upon which the Selling Shareholder proposes to
Transfer the Offered Stock. The term "Eligible Offeree Shareholder" shall mean
any Shareholder other than the Selling Shareholder. As used herein, the term
"Common Stock Equivalent Shares" held by any person shall be all shares of the
Company's Common Stock held by such person and all shares of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion or exchange of any convertible or exchangeable security
held by such person or issuable upon exercise of any option, warrant, or other
right held by such person, in each case whether or not such security, option,
warrant, or right is by its terms then convertible, exchangeable, or
exercisable.

           (c) Option to Company. The Company shall have the exclusive right
during the period of twenty (20) days following receipt of such notice to elect
to purchase any or all of the Offered Stock proposed to be sold in accordance
with the Offer Terms and Section 2.3(f); provided, however, that, as set forth
in Section 2.3(d), an election by the Company to purchase less than all of the
Offered Stock shall not be effective unless the option in Section 2.3(d) is
exercised as to all of the Offered Stock not elected to be purchased by the
Company under this Section 2.3(c).

           (d) Option in the Eligible Offeree Shareholders. If the Company does
not exercise its right to purchase all of the Offered Stock proposed to be sold,
the Eligible Offeree Shareholders shall have the exclusive right during the
period of ten (10) days next following the twenty (20) day period provided for
in Section 2.3(c) to elect to purchase all (but not less than all) of the
Offered Stock proposed to be sold and not purchased by the Company pursuant to
Section 2.3(c) in accordance with the Offer Terms and Section 2.3(f). In the
event that more than one Eligible Offeree Shareholder wishes to purchase the
Offered Stock to be sold, the right to purchase shall be allocated among such
Eligible Offeree Shareholders in proportion to their ownership of Common Stock
Equivalent Shares.

           (e) Non-Exercise. If there shall be any default in making payment in
full for any of the Offered Stock to be sold as aforesaid, in accordance with
the applicable requirements of this Section 2.3, then, other than the defaulting
party, non-defaulting Eligible Offeree Shareholders or the Company may purchase
the Offered Stock as contemplated and the Selling Shareholder may sell the
remaining shares of Offered Stock so offered hereunder to any person on terms no
more favorable to such person than the Offer Terms. However, if the Selling
Shareholder does not effect such sale within 90 days after the termination (by
passage of time or default) of the first offer rights created under Section
2.3(a) through (d), the Selling Shareholder may not thereafter transfer any such
shares without again complying with the provisions of this Section 2.3.

           (f) Closing. All purchase transactions between and among the parties
hereto (or their assignees) pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall be consummated at
a closing to be held not later than five (5) business days after the expiration
of the applicable period provided for in Section 2.3(d), or at such later date
as provided in the Offer Terms. At the closing, the purchaser shall deliver to
the Selling Shareholder the consideration (cash or other, as agreed to by the
parties to the Transfer) against delivery of the appropriate stock
certificate(s) (or voting trust certificate(s)) duly endorsed for transfer.

                                       15
<PAGE>   16

                 (g) Exempted Transfers. The provisions of this Section 2.3
shall not apply to the transfer or retransfer of, and the Shareholders may
transfer or retransfer, any Shares held by such Shareholder to or for the
benefit of (i) any spouse, parent, child, grandchild, or lineal descendant
(including adopted children and stepchildren) of such holder (including, without
limitation, trustee(s) of a trust for the benefit of the Shareholder or any of
the foregoing); (ii) any trustee of a voting trust for purposes of transferring
shares into such voting trust; (iii) any legal representative, devisee, or heir
of a Shareholder upon his or her death, provided all such transferees shall take
such Offered Stock, subject to all the restrictions, terms, and condition of
this Agreement and shall execute and deliver to the Secretary of the Company a
written statement confirming the same prior to acquiring such shares and there
shall be no further transfer of such shares except in accordance with this
Agreement; (iv) the contractual obligations of William R. DeLoache and John C.
Eason with Michael Ronan existing as of the date hereof; (v) the sale of Shares
in a public offering or (vi) the transfer by Investor to an affiliate of
Investor (each an "Exempted Transfer").

           2.4 Termination of Covenants. The covenants set forth in Sections
2.1 through 2.3 shall terminate and be of no further force or effect upon the
consummation of a Qualified Public Offering.

        3. Board Rights.

           So long as Investor holds at least five percent (5%) of the
outstanding capital stock of the Company that votes for the election of
directors, Investor is entitled to vote its Shares to elect such number of
directors that will give the Investor representation approximately proportionate
to its percentage of outstanding Shares in the Company, subject to a minimum of
one director. The Board of Directors shall, subject to exercise of their
fiduciary duty, nominate such persons selected by the Investor and each party to
this Agreement shall vote for such nominee. The rights pursuant to this SECTION
3 are not transferable by Investor to a subsequent Holder or otherwise except
Investor may transfer such rights to an affiliate of Investor (in which event
the term "Investor" shall be deemed where appropriate to refer to such
affiliate).

        4. Agreement to Sell Shares. If at any time after the date of this
Agreement the holders of at least a majority of the Shares (being referred to
jointly as the "Seller") shall determine to Transfer (in a business combination
or otherwise) a majority of the Shares of the Company (but excluding an Exempt
Transfer pursuant to Section 2.3(g)) in a bona fide arm's-length transaction to
a person or entity not otherwise affiliated with any Seller ( a "Third Party")
in which the same price per share shall be payable in respect to all Shares,
then, upon the written request of such Seller, Investor and each Shareholder
shall be obligated to, and shall, if so requested by such Third Party, (a) sell,
transfer and deliver, or cause to be sold, transferred and delivered to such
Third Party, all Shares owned by it at the same price per share and on the same
terms as are applicable to the Seller, and (b) if approval by the shareholders
of the Company of the transaction is required, vote its Shares in favor thereof
and (c) sell, transfer and deliver, or cause to be sold, transferred and
delivered, to such Third Party all Shares owned by it (with respect to Investor
a request pursuant to this Section 4 being an event triggering the conversion of
Investor's commitment pursuant to the Equity Agreement) at a price per share
equal to the terms as are applicable to the concurrent sale of

                                       16
<PAGE>   17

Shares. The rights and obligations of the parties under this Section 4 shall
terminate upon the consummation of a Qualified Public Offering.

        5. Participation Rights.

           5.1 Tag-Along Obligations. Any party (the "Tag-Along Initiator")
desiring to transfer any Shares (not constituting an Exempt Transfer pursuant to
Section 2.3(g)) shall give not less than 20 days prior written notice of such
intended transfer to each other party to this Agreement ("Tag-Along Offeree")
and to the Company. Such notice (the "Tag-Along Notice") shall set forth the
terms and conditions of such proposed transfer, including the name of the
proposed transferee, the number of Shares proposed to be transferred by the
Tag-Along Initiator (the "Tag-Along Shares"), the purchase price per Share
proposed to be paid therefor and the payment terms and type of transfer to be
effectuated. Within 10 days after delivery of the Tag-Along Notice, each
Tag-Along Offeree shall, by written notice to the Tag-Along Initiator and the
Company, have the opportunity and right to sell to the transferee in such
proposed transfer (upon the same terms and conditions as the Tag-Along
Initiator) up to that number of Shares owned by the Tag-Along Offeree as shall
equal the product of (i) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of
Shares owned by the Tag-Along Offeree as of the date of the Tag-Along Notice
and the denominator of which is the aggregate number of Shares owned as of the
date of the Tag-Along Notice by the Tag-Along Initiator and all of the Tag-Along
Offerees, times (ii) the number of Shares owned as of the date of the Tag-Along
Notice by the Tag-Along Offeree; provided, however, that the number of Shares to
be sold by any Tag-Along Offeree shall not exceed the same proportion as the
Shares to be transferred by the Tag-Along Initiator bears to the number of
Shares held by the Tag-Along Initiator. The amount of Tag-Along Shares to be
sold by any Tag-Along Initiator shall be reduced to the extent necessary to
provide for such sales of Shares by Tag-Along Offerees.

           5.2 Closing. At the closing of any proposed transfer in respect of
which a Tag-Along Notice has been delivered, the Tag-Along Initiator together
with all Tag-Along Offerees electing to sell Shares, shall deliver, free and
clear of all liens, to the proposed transferee certificates evidencing the
Shares to be sold thereto duly endorsed with transfer powers and shall receive
in exchange therefore the consideration to be paid or delivered by the proposed
transferee in respect of such Shares as described in the Tag-Along Notice.

           5.3 Termination. The rights and obligations under this Section 5
shall terminate upon the consummation of a Qualified Public Offering.

6. Miscellaneous.

           6.1 Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise provided herein, the
terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the respective successors and assigns of the parties (including
transferees of any Shares of Registrable Securities). Nothing in this Agreement,
express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties
hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies,
obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as
expressly provided in this Agreement.

                                       17
<PAGE>   18

           6.2 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
under the laws of the State of Delaware, exclusive of choice of law provisions.

           6.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

           6.4 Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this
Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in
construing or interpreting this Agreement.

           6.5 Notices. Except as otherwise specified herein, all notices,
requests, demands, and other communications to or upon the parties hereto shall
be in writing or by tested or otherwise authenticated telecopier, telex,
telegram, or cable and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made two
business days after deposit in the mails, certified and postage prepaid, or
transmitted by telecopier or telex or delivered to the telegraph office,
addressed to the party to which such notice, request, demand, or other
communication is requested or permitted to be given or made hereunder at the
addresses set forth below (or to any telecopier or telex number published as
belonging to such party at such address) or at such other address of which such
party shall have notified in writing the other parties hereto.

           If to Investor:        KinderCare Learning Centers, Inc.
                                  c/o Eva M. Kripalani
                                  Vice President and General Counsel
                                  650 NE Holladay, Suite 1400
                                  Portland, Oregon 97232
                                       Facsimile No. (503) 872-1391

            With a copy to:        Stoel Rives LLP
                                   900 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 2300
                                   Portland, Oregon 97204
                                   Attn: Gary R. Barnum, Esq.
                                   Facsimile No. (503) 220-2480

           If to Hambrecht:        Hambrecht 1980 Revocable Trust
                                   Attn: William R. Hambrecht
                                   550 15th Street
                                   San Francisco, CA 94103
                                   Facsimile No. (415) 551-8686

If to any of the Subsequent Investors: To the address on the books of the
Company.

                                       18
<PAGE>   19

           If to the Company:     Beacon Education Management, Inc.
                                  112 Turnpike Road, Suite 107
                                  Westborough, Massachusetts 01581
                                  Attn:  William R. DeLoache, Jr.
                                  Facsimile No. (615) 352-1776

           With a copy to:        Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
                                  315 Deaderick Street, Suite 2700
                                  Nashville, Tennessee 37238
                                  Attn: Howard H. Lamar III
                                  Facsimile No. (615) 742-6293

           6.6 Expenses. If suit or action is filed by any party to enforce the
provisions of this Agreement or otherwise with respect to the subject matter of
this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable
attorneys' fees as fixed by the trial court and, if any appeal is taken from the
decision of the trial court, reasonable attorneys' fees as fixed by the
appellate court. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "prevailing party"
shall be deemed to include a party that successfully opposes a petition for
review filed with an appellate court.

           6.7 Amendments and Waivers. Any term of this Agreement, including an
addition of a Shareholder under this Agreement, may be amended and the
observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a
particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only with the
written consent of the Company, Investor and a majority of Shareholders except
that amendments related to the registration rights provided in Section 1 may be
made only with the written consent of the Company, Investor and the holders of a
majority of the Other Registrable Securities.

           6.8 Severability. If one or more provisions of this Agreement are
held to be unenforceable under applicable law, such provision shall be excluded
from this Agreement and the balance of the Agreement shall be interpreted as if
such provision were so excluded and shall be enforceable in accordance with its
terms.

           6.9 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
between the parties hereto, and supersedes any other agreements and
understandings, whether oral or written, between the parties hereto, with
respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.

           6.9 Amendment of Original Agreement. This Agreement hereby amends,
restates and supercedes the Original Agreement in its entirety.

                  [Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

                                       19
<PAGE>   20

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

                                    BEACON EDUCATION MANAGEMENT, INC.

                                    By:    /s/ Michael B. Ronan
                                           -------------------------------------
                                    Title: CEO and President
                                           -------------------------------------

INVESTOR:                           KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTERS, INC.

                                    By:    /s/ David J. Johnson
                                           -------------------------------------
                                    Its:   Chairman and CEO
                                           -------------------------------------

SHAREHOLDERS:                              /s/ William R. DeLoache, Jr.
                                    --------------------------------------------

                                           /s/ John C. Eason
                                    --------------------------------------------

                                           /s/ Ledyard H. McFadden
                                    --------------------------------------------

                                    HAMBRECHT 1980 REVOCABLE TRUST

                                    By:    /s/ William R. Hambrecht
                                           -------------------------------------

                                           /s/ Michael B. Ronan
                                           -------------------------------------

                                    J.F. Shea Co., Inc.
                                    as nominee 2001-20

                                    By:    /s/ James G. Shontere
                                           -------------------------------------
                                    Title: Secretary
                                           -------------------------------------

                                       20
<PAGE>   21

                                    WR HAMBRECHT + CO, LLC

                                    By:    /s/ Anna-Marie Schweizer
                                           -------------------------------------
                                    Title: Treasurer
                                           -------------------------------------

                                    HAMCO Capital Corporation

                                    By:    /s/ W.R. Hambrecht
                                           -------------------------------------
                                    Title: President
                                           -------------------------------------

                                    Ashford Capital Management, Inc. with
                                    discretion f/b/o Anvil Investment
                                    Associates, L.P.

                                    By:    /s/ Theodore H. Ashford for Anvil
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Management Co., LLC
                                           -------------------------------------

                                    Title: General Partner
                                           -------------------------------------

                                           /s/ Jodi Tucker
                                    --------------------------------------------

                                           /s/ Avalee Abu-Suneima
                                    --------------------------------------------

                                           /s/ Paul McDonnel Cathcart
                                    --------------------------------------------

                                           /s/ Mrs. Paul McDonnell Cathcart
                                    --------------------------------------------

                                           /s/ Karin L. Harvey
                                    --------------------------------------------

                                           /s/ Peter J. Harvey
                                    --------------------------------------------

                                           /s/ Alan Pearson
                                    --------------------------------------------

                                       21
<PAGE>   22

                                           /s/ William E. Mayer
                                    --------------------------------------------

                                           /s/ Paul Pelosi
                                    --------------------------------------------

                                           /s/ Henry S. Bienen
                                    --------------------------------------------

                                           /s/ Richard J. Guggenhime
                                    --------------------------------------------

                                       22

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