Document:

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                                  EXHIBIT 10.1

           GENERAL DATACOMM INDUSTRIES, INC. SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), is made and entered into as of
September 12, 2000, by and among GENERAL DATACOMM INDUSTRIES, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and the purchasers listed on Schedule A attached
hereto (collectively, the "Purchasers" and individually, a "Purchaser").

1.       AUTHORIZATION OF SALE OF THE SHARES

         Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company has
authorized the sale of 3,000,000 shares (the "Shares") of common stock, par
value $.10 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company.

2.       AGREEMENT TO SELL AND PURCHASE THE SHARES

         2.1      Purchase and Sale

         Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Purchaser
severally agrees to purchase, and the Company agrees to sell and issue to each
Purchaser, at the Closing (as defined below) that number of Shares set forth
opposite such Purchaser's name on Schedule A attached hereto.

         2.2      PURCHASE PRICE

         The purchase price of each Share (the "Per Share Price") shall be
$5.00. The Company will not, for ninety (90) days after the Closing Date (as
defined below) without adjusting the Per Share Price hereunder accordingly, sell
(i) Shares at a price per share of less than $5.00, or (ii) options, warrants or
any other securities that can be converted into, or otherwise exchanged for,
shares of the Company's common stock at a conversion or exercise price per share
less than $5.00. In the event the Company shall, during the period ending ninety
(90) days after the Closing Date, sell any shares of the Company's common stock
or any instruments that can be converted into or otherwise exchanged for the
Company's common stock (the "Subsequent Sale") exercisable at a price per share
(the "Subsequent Purchase Price") of less than $5.00 per share, the purchase
price per Share hereunder shall be adjusted to an amount equal to the Subsequent
Purchase Price, such that the Company shall, within ten (10) business days of
the Subsequent Sale, pay to the Purchaser an amount equal to the number of
Shares times the difference between $5.00 and the Subsequent Purchase Price.

3.       DELIVERY OF THE SHARES AT THE CLOSING

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         (a) The completion of the purchase and sale of the Shares (the
"Closing") shall occur at the offices of Weisman Celler Spett & Modlin, P.C.
counsel to the Company, at 445 Park Avenue, N.Y.C. at 9:00 a.m. local time on
September 13, 2000 or such other time and date as may be agreed by the parties
(the "Closing Date").

         (b) At the Closing, the Company shall authorize its transfer agent (the
"Transfer Agent") to issue to each Purchaser one or more stock certificates
registered in the name of such Purchaser, or in such nominee name(s) as
designated by such Purchaser in writing, representing the number of Shares set
forth in Section 2 above and bearing an appropriate legend referring to the fact
that the Shares were sold in reliance upon the exemption from registration
provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), and Rule 506 under the Securities Act. The Company will
deliver one certificate representing 2,400,000 Shares and one certificate
representing 600,000 Shares (the "Certificates") promptly after listing of the
Shares on the New York Stock Exchange. The Company shall immediately proceed
after the Closing to file a listing application with the New York Stock Exchange
for the Shares and file all necessary documents as may be required for such
listing. Payment for the Shares by the Purchasers shall be made at the Closing.
Prior to the Purchasers' delivery of payment for the Shares, the Company will
deliver via facsimile a copy of the Certificates to be delivered to the office
of the Purchasers (at the fax number indicated on the signature pages attached
hereto).

         (c) The Company's obligation to complete the purchase and sale of the
Shares shall be subject to the following conditions, any one or more of which
may be waived by the Company:

                  (i) receipt by the Company from stockholders holding rights to
require the Company to register the sale of any securities owned by such holder
in the Registration Statement (as defined below) of waivers of such rights
(including the waiver of any notice requirements related to such rights);

                  (ii) receipt by the Company of same-day funds in the full
amount of the purchase price for the Shares being purchased under this
Agreement; and

                  (iii) the accuracy in all material respects of the
representations and warranties made by the Purchasers and the fulfillment in all
material respects of those undertakings of the Purchasers to be fulfilled before
the Closing.

         (d) The Purchasers' obligations to accept delivery of such stock
certificates and to pay for the Shares evidenced by the certificates shall be
subject to the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived by a
Purchaser with respect to such Purchaser's obligation:

                  (i) the representations and warranties made by the Company in
this Agreement shall be accurate in all material respects and the undertakings
of the Company shall have been fulfilled in all material respects on or before
the Closing;

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                  (ii) the Company shall have delivered to the Purchasers a
certificate executed by the chairman of the board or president and the chief
financial or accounting officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchasers, to the effect that the
representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 4 hereof are
true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and
as of the Closing Date, and that the Company has complied with all the
agreements and satisfied all the conditions in this Agreement on its part to be
performed or satisfied on or before the Closing Date; and

                  (iii) the Company shall have delivered to Purchasers a legal
opinion in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

                  (iv) the Company shall have obtained gross proceeds of at
least $15,000,000 from the sale of the Shares at the Closing.

                  (v) the Company shall have obtained the consent of Foothill
Capital Corporation, as agent, to the redemption from the proceeds by the
Company of its 5% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock.

         (e) Each Purchaser's obligations under this Agreement are expressly not
conditioned on the purchase by any or all of the other Purchasers of the Shares
that they have agreed to purchase from the Company under this Agreement.

4.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

         Except as set forth on the Schedule of Exceptions attached hereto as
Exhibit B, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Purchasers as
follows:

         4.1      ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION

         The Company and each of its subsidiaries has each been duly
incorporated or organized, and is validly existing as a corporation in good
standing under the laws of its respective state or country of incorporation or
organization. The Company has the corporate power and authority to own, lease
and operate its properties and to conduct its business as currently conducted
and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. The Company
is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good
standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether
by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business,
except where the failure to so qualify would not, singly or in the aggregate,
have a material adverse effect on the assets, business, or financial condition
of the Company on a consolidated basis (a "Material Adverse Effect").

         4.2      CAPITALIZATION

         (a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 50,000,000
shares of Common Stock, 10,000,000 shares of Class B Stock and 3,000,000 shares
of Preferred Stock.

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         (b) As of August 31, 2000, the issued and outstanding capital stock of
the Company consists of 24,497,784 shares of Common Stock, 2,057,103 shares of
Class B stock and 987,900 shares of Preferred Stock. The shares of issued and
outstanding capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly
issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and have not been issued in violation
of or are not otherwise subject to any preemptive or other similar rights.

         (c) The Company has reserved 5,491,224 shares of Common Stock for
issuance upon the exercise of stock options granted or available for future
grant under the Company's stock option plans, stock purchase plan and director
stock options.

         (d) The Company has reserved 327,379 shares of Common Stock for
issuance upon the exercise of outstanding warrants to purchase Common Stock and
1,044,444 shares of Common Stock for issuance on conversion of bank debt.

         With the exception of the foregoing, there are no outstanding
subscriptions, options, warrants, convertible or exchangeable securities or
other rights granted to or by the Company to purchase shares of Common Stock or
other securities of the Company and there are no commitments, plans or
arrangements to issue any shares of Common Stock or any security convertible
into or exchangeable for Common Stock.

         4.3      ISSUANCE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE SHARES

         (a) The Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the
Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the
Company pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set
forth in this Agreement, will be validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable
and free and clear of all pledges, liens and encumbrances. The certificates
evidencing the Shares are in due and proper form under Delaware law.

         (b) The issuance of the Shares is not subject to preemptive or other
similar rights. No further approval or authority of the shareholders or the
Board of Directors of the Company will be required for the issuance and sale of
the Shares to be sold by the Company as contemplated in this Agreement.

         (c) Subject to the accuracy of the Purchasers' representations and
warranties in Section 5 of this Agreement, the offer, sale, and issuance of the
Shares in conformity with the terms of this Agreement constitute transactions
exempt from the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act and
from the registration or qualification requirements of the laws of any
applicable state or United States jurisdiction.

         4.4      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

         The financial statements included (as exhibits or otherwise) in the
Company Documents (as defined below) present fairly the financial position of
the Company as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations for
the periods specified. Except as otherwise stated in such Company Documents,
such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally

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accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis, and any supporting
schedules included with the financial statements present fairly the information
stated in the financial statements. The financial and statistical data set forth
in the Company Documents were prepared on an accounting basis consistent with
such financial statements.

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         4.5      NO MATERIAL CHANGE

         Since August 31, 2000,

         (a) there has been no material adverse change or any development
involving a prospective Material Adverse Effect, whether or not arising in the
ordinary course of business;

         (b) there have been no transactions entered into by the Company or its
subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are
material with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis; and

         (c) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared,
paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock.

         The Company and its subsidiaries have no material contingent
obligations on a consolidated basis, other than in the ordinary course of
business or as set forth in the Company Documents or Exhibit B.

         4.6      ENVIRONMENTAL

         Except as would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect,

         (a) the Company and its subsidiaries, to the best of their knowledge,
is in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws (as defined below);

         (b) the Company and it subsidiaries, have all permits, authorizations
and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are in
compliance with the requirements of such permits authorizations and approvals;

         (c) there are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company,
threatened Environmental Claims (as defined below) against the Company and its
subsidiaries; and

         (d) under applicable law, to the best knowledge of the Company, there
are no circumstances with respect to any property or operations of the Company
and its subsidiaries that are reasonably likely to form the basis of an
Environmental Claim against the Company and its subsidiaries.

         For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings: "Environmental Law" means any United States (or other
applicable jurisdiction's) Federal, state, local or municipal statute, law,
rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law and any judicial
or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or
administrative order, consent decree or judgment, relating to the environment,
health, safety or any chemical, material or substance, exposure to which is
prohibited, limited or regulated by any governmental authority. "Environmental
Claims" means any and all administrative, regulatory or judicial

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actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance
or violation, investigations or proceedings relating in any way to any
Environmental Law.

         4.7      NO DEFAULTS

         The Company and its subsidiaries are not in violation of their
respective articles or certificate of incorporation, bylaws, or organization
documents, or in material default in the performance or observance of any
obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any material contract
indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, deed, trust, note, lease, sublease, voting
agreement, voting trust, or other instrument or material agreement for borrowed
money to which the Company is a party or by which it may be bound, or to which
any of the property or assets of the Company is subject, for which default the
Company has received notice of default.

         4.8      LABOR MATTERS

         No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or its subsidiaries
exists or, to the best knowledge of the Company, is imminent.

         4.9      NO ACTIONS

         There is no action, suit or proceeding before or by any court or
governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or its
subsidiaries which, singly or in the aggregate, would result in any Material
Adverse Effect or which might materially and adversely affect the consummation
of this Agreement, nor, to the best knowledge of the Company, is there any
reasonable basis therefor. The Company is not in default with respect to any
judgment, order or decree of any court or governmental agency or instrumentality
which, singly or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

         4.10     INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

         (a) The Company and its subsidiaries to the best of their knowledge,
own or are licensed or otherwise have the right to use all patents, patent
applications, inventions, trademarks, trade names, applications for registration
of trademarks, service marks, service mark applications, copyrights, licenses
and rights in any thereof that are material to the business of the Company and
its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as now conducted and as proposed to be
conducted (in this Agreement called the "Proprietary Rights"), or are seeking,
or will seek, to obtain rights to use such Proprietary Rights that are material
to the business of the Company and it subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as
proposed to be conducted.

         (b) The Company has not received any notice of, any pending conflicts
with or infringement of the rights of others with respect to any Proprietary
Rights or with respect to any license of Proprietary Rights which are material
to the business of the Company and it subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

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         (c) No action, suit, arbitration, or legal, administrative or other
proceeding, or investigation is pending, or, to the best knowledge of the
Company, threatened, against the Company or its subsidiaries, which involves any
Proprietary Rights.

         (d) The Company and its subsidiaries are not subject to any judgment,
order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or any Federal, state, local,
foreign or other governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or
instrumentality, domestic or foreign, or any arbitrator with respect to the
Proprietary Rights, and has not entered into or are not a party to any contract
which restricts or impairs the use by the Company or its subsidiaries of any
such Proprietary Rights in a manner which would have a Material Adverse Effect
on the use of any of the Proprietary Rights.

         (e) The Company and its subsidiaries have not received written notice
of any pending conflict with or infringement by the Proprietary Rights upon a
third-party's proprietary rights.

         (f) The Company and its subsidiaries have not entered into any consent,
indemnification, forbearance to sue or settlement agreement with respect to any
action against the Company with respect to the Proprietary Rights other than in
the ordinary course of business. No claims are presently pending by any person
with respect to the validity of the Company's or its subsidiaries' ownership or
right to use the Proprietary Rights and, to the best knowledge of the Company
without investigation, there is no reasonable basis for any such claim to be
successful that would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

         (g) The Company and its subsidiaries have complied, in all material
respects, with its obligations relating to the protection of the Proprietary
Rights which are material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries
used pursuant to licenses.

         4.11     PERMITS

         The Company and its subsidiaries possess and are operating in
compliance with all material licenses, certificates, consents, authorities,
approvals and permits from all state, federal, foreign and other regulatory
agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the businesses now operated by them, and
the Company has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the
revocation or modification of any such permit or any circumstance which would
lead it to believe that such proceedings would result in a Material Adverse
Effect.

         4.12     DUE EXECUTION, DELIVERY AND PERFORMANCE

         (a) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company
and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms.

         (b) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and the
fulfillment of the terms of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action and will not conflict with or constitute a breach of,
or default under, or result in the creation or imposition of

                                       8.
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any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or
its subsidiaries pursuant to, any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement,
deed, trust, note, lease, sublease, voting agreement, voting trust or other
instrument or agreement to which the Company or its subsidiaries are parties or
by which they may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the
Company or its subsidiaries is subject, and will not trigger anti-dilution
rights or other rights to acquire additional equity securities of the Company or
its subsidiaries , nor will such action result in any violation of the
provisions of the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Company or any
applicable statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, decision, directive or
order.

         4.13     PROPERTIES

         The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to its
properties, free and clear of all material security interests, mortgages,
pledges, liens, charges, encumbrances and claims of record. The properties of
the Company and its subsidiaries are, in the aggregate, in good repair
(reasonable wear and tear excepted), and suitable for their respective uses. Any
real property held under lease by the Company or its subsidiaries are held under
valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not
material and do not interfere with the conduct of the business of the Company
and its subsidiaries. The Company and its subsidiaries own or lease all such
properties as are necessary to their businesses or operations as now conducted.

         4.14     COMPLIANCE

         The Company and its subsidiaries have conducted and are conducting
their businesses in compliance with all applicable Federal, state, local and
foreign statutes, laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, codes, decisions,
decrees, directives and orders, except where the failure to do so would not have
a Material Adverse Effect.

         4.15     SECURITY MEASURES

         The Company and its subsidiaries take security measures designed to
enable the Company and its subsidiaries to assert trade secret protection in its
non-patented technology.

         4.16     CONTRIBUTIONS

         To the best of the Company's knowledge, neither the Company, its
subsidiaries, nor any employee or agent of the Company or its subsidiaries have
made any payment of funds of the Company or its subsidiaries or received or
retained any funds in violation of any law, rule or regulation.

         4.17     INVESTMENT COMPANY

         The Company is not now, and after the sale of the Shares under this
Agreement and under all other agreements and the application of the net proceeds
from the sale of the Shares described in Section 4.28 will not be, an
"investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended.

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         4.18     PRIOR OFFERINGS

         All offers and sales of capital stock of the Company before the date of
this Agreement were at all relevant times duly registered or exempt from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act and were duly registered or
subject to an available exemption from the registration requirements of the
applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws.

         4.19     TAXES

         The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all material tax returns
required to be filed, which returns are true and correct in all material
respects, and the Company and its subsidiaries are not in default in the payment
of any material taxes, including penalties and interest, assessments, fees and
other charges, shown thereon due or otherwise assessed, other than those being
contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been provided or
those currently payable without interest which were payable pursuant to said
returns or any assessments with respect thereto.

         4.20     OTHER GOVERNMENTAL PROCEEDINGS

         To the Company's knowledge, there are no rule making or similar
proceedings before any Federal, state, local or foreign government bodies that
involve the Company or its subsidiaries, which would involve a prospective
Material Adverse Effect.

         4.21     NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENTS

         To the knowledge of the Company, any full-time employee who has entered
into any non-competition, non-disclosure, confidentiality or other similar
agreement with any party other than the Company or its subsidiaries is neither
in violation of nor is expected to be in violation of that agreement as a result
of the business currently conducted or expected to be conducted by the Company
or its subsidiaries or such person's performance of his or her obligations to
the Company or its subsidiaries. The Company and its subsidiaries have not
received written notice that any consultant or scientific advisor of the Company
or its subsidiaries is in violation of any non-competition, non-disclosure,
confidentiality or similar agreement, which is pending.

         4.22     TRANSFER TAXES

         On the Closing Date, all stock transfer or other taxes (other than
income taxes) that are required to be paid in connection with the sale and
transfer of the Shares to be sold to the Purchasers under this Agreement will
be, or will have been, fully paid or provided for by the Company and all laws
imposing such taxes will be or will have been fully complied with.

         4.23     INSURANCE

         The Company and its subsidiaries maintain insurance of the type and in
the amount that the Company reasonably believes is adequate for its business,
including, but not limited to, insurance covering all real and personal property
owned or leased by the Company or its

                                      10.
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subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and all other
risks customarily insured against by similarly situated companies, all of which
insurance is in full force and effect.

         4.24     GOVERNMENTAL CONSENTS

         No registration, authorization, approval, qualification or consent of
any court or governmental authority or agency is necessary in connection with
the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the offering, issuance or sale
of the Shares under this Agreement.

         4.25     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION FILINGS

         The Company has timely filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") all documents required to be filed by the Company
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act.")

         4.26     ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

         The Company represents and warrants that the information contained in
the following documents (the "Company Documents"), which will be provided to
Purchaser before the Closing, is or will be true and correct in all material
respects as of their respective final dates:

         (a) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
9/30/99;

         (b) the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
quarters ended 12/31/99, 3/31/00 and 6/30/00;

         (c) the Company's Proxy Statement for its 3/2/00 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders; and

         (d) all other documents, if any, filed by the Company with the
Commission since June 30, 2000 pursuant to the reporting requirements of the
Exchange Act.

         4.27     CONTRACTS

         The contracts described in the Company Documents or incorporated by
reference therein are in full force and effect on the date hereof, except for
contracts the termination or expiration of which would not, singly or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor, to the best
knowledge of the Company, any other party is in material breach of or default
under any such contracts.

         4.28 Use of Proceeds. The Company agrees that the proceeds to the
Company from the sale of the Shares may be used to fund existing operations and
working capital, provided that a portion of such proceeds as applicable up to
105% of the liquidation value of the Company's currently outstanding 5%
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (the "5% Preferred Stock") shall be
reserved to that extent necessary to redeem the Company's 5% Preferred Stock.

                                      11.
<PAGE>   12
         4.29 Redemption. In respect to its outstanding 5% Preferred Stock, the
Company agrees to deliver to the holders of its 5% Preferred Stock a "Notice of
Redemption" as provided and to the extent permitted in Sections C(a) and
D(10)(a) of the Company's Certificate of The Powers, Designation, Preferences,
Rights and Limitations of 5% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock. In
particular, on the Closing Date the Company will send to the holders of such 5%
Preferred Stock written notice that the Company will exercise its option to
redeem all the outstanding shares of the 5% Preferred Stock if the conversion
price for the 5% Preferred Stock would be reset to a price lower than $5.00 per
share on a Reset Date as defined in said Certificate.

5.       REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF THE PURCHASERS

         5.1      SECURITIES LAW REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         Each Purchaser represents, warrants and covenants to the Company as
follows:

         (a) The Purchaser is knowledgeable, sophisticated and experienced in
making, and is qualified to make, decisions with respect to investments in
shares representing an investment decision like that involved in the purchase of
the Shares, including investments in securities issued by the Company, and has
requested, received, reviewed and considered all information it deems relevant
in making an informed decision to purchase the Shares.

         (b) The Purchaser is acquiring the number of Shares set forth in
Section 2 above in the ordinary course of its business and for its own account
for investment (as defined for purposes of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvement Act of 1976 and the regulations thereunder) only, and has no present
intention of distributing any of the Shares nor any arrangement or understanding
with any other persons regarding the distribution of such Shares within the
meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act, other than as contemplated in
Section 7 of this Agreement.

         (c) The Purchaser will not, directly or indirectly, offer, sell,
pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose of (or solicit any offers to buy, purchase
or otherwise acquire or take a pledge of) any of the Shares except in compliance
with the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations thereunder.

         (d) The Purchaser has completed or caused to be completed the Stock
Certificate Questionnaire and the Registration Statement Questionnaire, attached
to this Agreement as Appendices I and II, for use in preparation of the
Registration Statement (as defined in Section 7.3 below), and the answers to the
Questionnaires are true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and will be
true and correct as of the effective date of the Registration Statement;
provided that the Purchasers shall be entitled to update such information by
providing notice thereof to the Company before the effective date of such
Registration Statement.

         (e) The Purchaser has, in connection with its decision to purchase the
number of Shares set forth in Section 2 above, relied solely upon the Company
Documents and the representations and warranties of the Company contained in
this Agreement.

                                      12.
<PAGE>   13
         (f) The Purchaser is an "accredited investor" within the meaning of
Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act and has completed
and returned the Investor Questionnaire previously provided by the Company.

         5.2      RESALES OF SHARES

         (a) The Purchaser hereby covenants with the Company not to make any
sale of the Shares without satisfying the requirements of the Securities Act and
the Rules and Regulations, including, in the event of any resale under the
Registration Statement, the prospectus delivery requirements under the
Securities Act, and the Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that such Shares are
not transferable on the books of the Company pursuant to a resale under the
Registration Statement unless the certificate submitted to the transfer agent
evidencing the Shares is accompanied by a separate officer's certificate

                  (i) in the form of Appendix III to this Agreement;

                  (ii) executed by an officer of, or other authorized person
designated by, the Purchaser; and

                  (iii) to the effect that (A) the Shares have been sold in
accordance with the Registration Statement and (B) the requirement of delivering
a current prospectus has been satisfied.

         (b) The Purchaser acknowledges that there may occasionally be times
when the Company determines the use of the prospectus forming a part of the
Registration Statement (the "Prospectus," as further defined in Section 7.3.1
below) should be suspended until such time as an amendment or supplement to the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus has been filed by the Company and any
such amendment to the Registration Statement is declared effective by the
Commission, or until such time as the Company has filed an appropriate report
with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act. The Purchaser hereby covenants
that it will not sell any Shares pursuant to the Prospectus during the period
commencing at the time at which the Company gives the Purchaser written notice
of the suspension of the use of the Prospectus and ending at the time the
Company gives the Purchaser written notice that the Purchaser may thereafter
effect sales pursuant to the Prospectus. The Company may, upon written notice to
the Purchasers, suspend the use of the Prospectus for up to thirty (30) days in
any 365-day period based on the reasonable determination of the Company's Board
of Directors that there is a significant business purpose for such
determination, such as pending corporate developments, public filings with the
SEC or similar events. The Company shall in no event be required to disclose the
business purpose for which it has suspended the use of the Prospectus if the
Company determines in its good faith judgment that the business purpose should
remain confidential.

         (c) The Purchaser further covenants to notify the Company promptly of
the sale of any of its Shares, other than sales pursuant to a Registration
Statement contemplated in Section 7 of this Agreement or sales upon termination
of the transfer restrictions pursuant to Section 7.4 of this Agreement.

                                      13.
<PAGE>   14
         5.3      DUE EXECUTION, DELIVERY AND PERFORMANCE

         (a) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the
Purchaser and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser,
enforceable against the Purchaser in accordance with its terms.

         (b) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and the
fulfillment of the terms of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action and will not conflict with or constitute a breach of,
or default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or
encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Purchaser pursuant to, any
contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, deed, trust, note, lease,
sublease, voting agreement, voting trust or other instrument or agreement to
which the Purchaser is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to
which any of the property or assets of the Purchaser is subject, nor will such
action result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or bylaws of the
Purchaser or any applicable statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, decision,
directive or order.

6.       SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS.

         Notwithstanding any investigation made by any party to this Agreement,
all covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Company
and the Purchasers in this Agreement and in the certificates for the Shares
delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the execution of this
Agreement, the delivery to the Purchasers of the Shares being purchased and the
payment therefor but shall expire eighteen (18) months after the date of this
Agreement and any claim based on a breach thereof must be brought prior to such
expiration.

7.       FORM D FILING; REGISTRATION; COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT;
         COVENANTS

         7.1      FORM D FILING; REGISTRATION OF SHARES

                  7.1.1    REGISTRATION STATEMENT; EXPENSES

         The Company shall:

         (a) file in a timely manner a Form D relating to the sale of the Shares
under this Agreement, pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation
D.

         (b) as soon as practicable after the Closing Date, but in no event
later than the 30th day following the Closing Date, prepare and file with the
Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or, if the Company is
ineligible to use Form S-3, then on Form S-1) relating to the sale of the Shares
by the Purchasers from time to time on the New York Stock Exchange (or the
facilities of any national securities exchange on which the Company's Common
Stock is then traded) or in privately negotiated transactions (the "Registration
Statement");

                                      14.
<PAGE>   15
         (c) provide to Purchasers any information required to permit the sale
of the Shares under Rule 144A of the Securities Act;

         (d) subject to receipt of necessary information from the Purchasers,
use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Commission to notify the Company of
the Commission's willingness to declare the Registration Statement effective on
or before 120 days after the Closing Date;

         (e) notify Purchasers promptly upon the Registration Statement being
declared effective by the Commission;

         (f) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
supplements to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (as defined in
Section 7.3.1 below) and take such other action, if any, as may be necessary to
keep the Registration Statement effective until the earlier of (i) two years
after the effective date of the Registration Statement, (ii) the date on which
the Shares may be resold by the Purchasers without registration or without
regard to any volume limitations by reason of Rule 144(k) under the Securities
Act or any other rule of similar effect or (iii) all of the Shares have been
sold pursuant to the Registration Statement or Rule 144(k) under the Securities
Act or any other rule of similar effect;

         (g) promptly furnish to the Purchasers with respect to the Shares
registered under the Registration Statement such reasonable number of copies of
the Prospectus, including any supplements to or amendments of the Prospectus, in
order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of all or any of the
Shares by the Purchasers;

         (h) during the period when copies of the Prospectus are required to be
delivered under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, will file all documents
required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15 of the
Exchange Act within the time periods required by the Exchange Act and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder;

         (i) file documents required of the Company for customary Blue Sky
clearance in all states requiring Blue Sky clearance; provided, however, that
the Company shall not be required to qualify to do business or consent to
service of process in any jurisdiction in which it is not now so qualified or
has not so consented; and

         (j) bear all expenses in connection with the procedures in paragraphs
(a) through (f) of this Section 7.1.1 and the registration of the Shares
pursuant to the Registration Statement, including fees and expenses (whether
external or internal) of up to $15,000 of the Purchaser, but not including any
fees and expenses of any other advisers to the Purchasers or brokerage fees and
commissions incurred by the Purchasers.

                  7.1.2    DELAY IN EFFECTIVENESS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT

         In the event that the Registration Statement is not declared effective
by the date that is 120 days after the Closing Date, the Company shall pay to
each Purchaser liquidated damages in

                                      15.
<PAGE>   16
an amount equal to 0.25% of the total purchase price of the Shares purchased by
such Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement for each week after the date that is
120 days after the Closing Date that the Registration Statement is not declared
effective.

         7.2      TRANSFER OF SHARES AFTER REGISTRATION

         Each Purchaser agrees that it will not effect any disposition of the
Shares or its right to purchase the Shares that would constitute a sale within
the meaning of the Securities Act, except as contemplated in the Registration
Statement referred to in Section 7.1 or as otherwise permitted by law, and that
it will promptly notify the Company of any changes in the information set forth
in the Registration Statement regarding the Purchaser or its plan of
distribution.

         7.3      INDEMNIFICATION

         For the purpose of this Section 7.3, the term "Registration Statement"
shall include any preliminary or final prospectus, exhibit, supplement or
amendment included in or relating to the Registration Statement referred to in
Section 7.1.

                  7.3.1    INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY

         The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the
Purchasers and each person, if any, who controls any Purchaser within the
meaning of the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or expenses, joint or several, to which such Purchasers or such controlling
person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or any
other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or
otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is
effected with the written consent of the Company), insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof as
contemplated below) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, including the Prospectus, financial statements and schedules, and all
other documents filed as a part thereof, as amended at the time of effectiveness
of the Registration Statement, including any information deemed to be a part
thereof as of the time of effectiveness pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 430A,
or pursuant to Rule 434 of the Rules and Regulations, or the Prospectus, in the
form first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Regulations,
or filed as part of the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness if
no Rule 424(b) filing is required (the "Prospectus"), or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged
omission to state in any of them a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements in any of them, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or arise out of or are
based in whole or in part on any inaccuracy in the representations and
warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement, or any failure of the
Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or under law, and will
reimburse each Purchaser and each such controlling person for any legal and
other expenses as such expenses are reasonably incurred by such Purchaser or
such controlling person in connection with investigating or, defending, any such
claim or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any
such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense
arises out of or is based upon (i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue

                                      16.
<PAGE>   17
statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement,
the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement of the Registration Statement or
Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished
to the Company by or on behalf of the Purchaser expressly for use in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or (ii) the failure of such Purchaser
to comply with the covenants and agreements contained in Sections 5.2 or 7.2 of
this Agreement respecting resale of the Shares, or (iii) the inaccuracy of any
representations made by such Purchaser in this Agreement or (iv) any untrue
statement or omission of a material fact required to make such statement not
misleading in any Prospectus that is corrected in any subsequent Prospectus that
was delivered to the Purchaser before the pertinent sale or sales by the
Purchaser.

                  7.3.2    INDEMNIFICATION BY THE PURCHASER

         Each Purchaser will severally and not jointly indemnify and hold
harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed the
Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses to which the Company, each of its directors, each of its
officers who signed the Registration Statement or controlling person may become
subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or any other federal or
state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in
settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written
consent of such Purchaser), insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or expenses (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arise out of
or are based upon (i) any failure on the part of such Purchaser to comply with
the covenants and agreements contained in Sections 5.2 or 7.2 of this Agreement
respecting the sale of the Shares or (ii) the inaccuracy of any representation
made by such Purchaser in this Agreement or (iii) any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or
Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon 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, in each case to the extent, but only
to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of
such Purchaser expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the Purchaser
shall not be liable for any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission of which the Purchaser has delivered to the Company in
writing a correction before the occurrence of the transaction from which such
loss was incurred, and the Purchaser will reimburse the Company, each of its
directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement or
controlling person for any legal and other expenses as such expenses are
reasonably incurred by the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers
who signed the Registration Statement or controlling person in connection with
investigating or defending any such claim or action.

                                      17.
<PAGE>   18
                  7.3.3    INDEMNIFICATION PROCEDURE

         (a) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section
7.3 of notice of the threat or commencement of any action, such indemnified
party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying
party under this Section 7.3, promptly notify the indemnifying party in writing
of the claim; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not
relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party for
contribution or otherwise under the indemnity agreement contained in this
Section 7.3 to the extent it is not prejudiced as a result of such failure.

         (b) In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party
and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an
indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in,
and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with all other indemnifying parties
similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the defendants in
any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party
and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a
conflict between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal
defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or
additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party
or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal
defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of
such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying
party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense of such
action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party
will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 7.3 for any
legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with the defense thereof unless:

                  (i) the indemnified party shall have employed such counsel in
connection with the assumption of legal defenses in accordance with the proviso
to the preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying
party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel,
approved by such indemnifying party representing all of the indemnified parties
who are parties to such action) or

                  (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of action, in each
of which cases the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the
expense of the indemnifying party. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 7.3, the Purchaser shall not be liable for any indemnification
obligation under this Agreement in excess of the amount of gross proceeds
received by the Purchaser from the sale of the Shares.

                  7.3.4    CONTRIBUTION

         If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7.3 is required by
its terms but is for any reason held to be unavailable to or otherwise
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified

                                      18.
<PAGE>   19
party under this Section 7.3 in respect to any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses referred to in this Agreement, then each applicable
indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses referred to in this Agreement

         (a) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company and the Purchaser from the placement of Common
Stock or

         (b) if the allocation provided by clause (a) above is not permitted by
applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause (a) above but the relative fault of the
Company and the Purchaser in connection with the statements or omissions or
inaccuracies in the representations and warranties in this Agreement that
resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as
any other relevant equitable considerations.

         The respective relative benefits received by the Company on the one
hand and each Purchaser on the other shall be deemed to be in the same
proportion as the amount paid by such Purchaser to the Company pursuant to this
Agreement for the Shares purchased by such Purchaser that were sold pursuant to
the Registration Statement bears to the difference (the "Difference") between
the amount such Purchaser paid for the Shares that were sold pursuant to the
Registration Statement and the amount received by such Purchaser from such sale.
The relative fault of the Company and each Purchaser shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged statement of a
material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact or
the inaccurate or the alleged inaccurate representation or warranty relates to
information supplied by the Company or by such Purchaser and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to
above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in
Section 7.3.3, any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such
party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim. The
provisions set forth in Section 7.3.3 with respect to the notice of the threat
or commencement of any threat or action shall apply if a claim for contribution
is to be made under this Section 7.3.4; provided, however, that no additional
notice shall be required with respect to any threat or action for which notice
has been given under Section 7.3 for purposes of indemnification. The Company
and each Purchaser agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 7.3 were determined solely by pro rata allocation (even
if the Purchaser were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other
method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section
7.3, no Purchaser shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
amount by which the Difference exceeds the amount of any damages that such
Purchaser has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. The Purchasers' obligations to contribute pursuant
to this Section 7.3 are several and not joint.

                                      19.
<PAGE>   20
         7.4      TERMINATION OF CONDITIONS AND OBLIGATIONS

         The restrictions imposed by Section 5 or this Section 7 upon the
transferability of the Shares shall cease and terminate as to any particular
number of the Shares upon the passage of two years from the effective date of
the Registration Statement covering the Shares or at such time as an opinion of
counsel satisfactory in form and substance to the Company shall have been
rendered to the effect that such conditions are not necessary in order to comply
with the Securities Act.

         7.5      INFORMATION AVAILABLE

         So long as the Registration Statement is effective covering the resale
of Shares owned by any Purchaser, the Company will furnish to such Purchaser:

         (a) as soon as practicable after available (but in the case of the
Company's Annual Report to Shareholders, within 90 days after the end of each
fiscal year of the Company), one copy of

                  (i) its Annual Report to Shareholders (which Annual Report
shall contain financial statements audited in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles by a national firm of certified public accountants);

                  (ii) if not included in substance in the Annual Report to
Shareholders, its Annual Report on Form 10-K;

                  (iii) if not included in substance in its Quarterly Reports to
Shareholders, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q; and

                  (iv) a full copy of the particular Registration Statement
covering the Shares (the foregoing, in each case, excluding exhibits);

         (b) upon the request of the Purchaser, a reasonable number of copies of
the Prospectus to supply to any other party requiring the Prospectus.

         7.6      RULE 144 INFORMATION

         For two years after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall file
all reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act, the Rules and
Regulations and the Exchange Act and shall take such further action to the
extent required to enable the Purchasers to sell the Shares pursuant to Rule 144
under the Securities Act (as such rule may be amended from time to time).

          7.7     STOCK OPTION MATTERS

         The Company shall, within thirty (30) days of the Closing Date, adopt
such amendments to the Company Plans and the Company's By-laws to provide that,
unless approved by the

                                      20.
<PAGE>   21
holders of a majority of the shares present and entitled to vote at a duly
convened meeting of shareholders, the Company shall not grant any stock options
(excluding Employee Stock Purchase Plan) with an exercise price that is less
than 100% of the fair market value of the underlying stock on the date of grant
or reduce the exercise price of any stock option granted under any existing or
future stock option plan. This By-law may not be amended or repealed without the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present and entitled
to vote at a duly convened meeting of shareholders. The Company shall promptly
furnish to the Purchaser a copy of such By-laws after adoption. The Company
shall remove within 30 days after the Closing the parenthetical sentence in
Article VII of such By-laws reserving the right of the Board of Directors to
challenge or repeal said By-law.

8.       BROKER'S FEE

         The Purchasers acknowledge that the Company does not intend to pay a
fee in respect of the sale of the Shares to the Purchasers. Each of the parties
to this Agreement hereby represents that, on the basis of any actions and
agreements by it, there are no brokers or finders entitled to compensation in
connection with the sale of the Shares to the Purchasers. The Company shall
indemnify and hold harmless the Purchasers from and against all fees,
commissions or other payments owing by the Company to any person or firm acting
on behalf of the Company hereunder. The Purchasers, severally and not jointly,
shall similarly indemnify the Company and hold it harmless from and against all
such fees, commissions and other payments owing by the Purchasers to any person
or firm acting on behalf of the Purchasers hereunder.

9.       NOTICES

         All notices, requests, consents and other communications under this
Agreement shall be in writing, shall be mailed by first-class registered or
certified airmail, confirmed facsimile or nationally recognized overnight
express courier postage prepaid, and shall be delivered as addressed as follows:

         (a)      if to the Company, to:     Park Road Extension

                                             Middlebury Ct.  06762-1299

                                             Att:  Chief Financial Officer

or to such other person at such other place as the Company shall designate to
the Purchaser in writing; and

         (b) if to a Purchaser, at its address as set forth on the signature
page to this Agreement, or at such other address or addresses as may have been
furnished to the Company in writing.

                                      21.
<PAGE>   22
         Such notice shall be deemed effectively given upon confirmation of
receipt by facsimile, one business day after deposit with such overnight courier
or three days after deposit of such registered or certified airmail with the
U.S. Postal Service, as applicable.

10.      MODIFICATION; AMENDMENT

         This Agreement may not be modified or amended except pursuant to an
instrument in writing signed by the Company and the Purchasers of a majority of
the Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement.

11.      TERMINATION

         This Agreement may be terminated as to any Purchaser, at the option of
such Purchaser, if the Closing has not occurred on or before thirty (30) days
from the date of this Agreement.

12.      EXPENSES

         Each party to this Agreement shall pay its own fees and expenses
incident to the negotiation, preparation and execution of this Agreement and
related documents (including legal and accounting fees and expenses).

13.      HEADINGS

         The headings of the various sections of this Agreement have been
inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to be part of
this Agreement.

14.      SEVERABILITY

         If any provision contained in this Agreement should be held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining provisions contained in this Agreement shall not
in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

15.      GOVERNING LAW

         This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the state of Delaware and the federal law of the United States of
America.

16.      NO CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.

         The Company represents, warrants and covenants that, to the best of its
knowledge, no officer or employee of the State of Wisconsin Investment Board has
or will receive, directly or indirectly, a personal interest in the Company or
its property or anything of substantial economic value for his or her private
benefit from the Company, or anyone acting on its behalf, in connection with the
investment made pursuant to this Agreement.

                                      22.
<PAGE>   23
17.      COUNTERPARTS

         This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall constitute an original, but all of which, when taken together, shall
constitute but one instrument, and shall become effective when one or more
counterparts have been signed by each party to this Agreement and delivered to
the other parties.

                            [Signature pages follow]

                                      23.
<PAGE>   24
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties to this Agreement have caused this
Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the day
and year first above written.

                                        GENERAL DATACOMM INDUSTRIES, INC.

                                        By /s/ WILLIAM G. HENRY
                                           --------------------

                                        Name:  William G. Henry

                                        Its:   V.P. Finance and CFO

                                      24.
<PAGE>   25
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties to this Agreement have caused this
Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the day
and year first above written.

                                        STATE OF WISCONSIN INVESTMENT BOARD

                                        By: /s/ JOHN F. NELSON
                                            ------------------

                                        Name:   John F. Nelson

                                        Title:  Investment Director

                                        Address:

                                        121 E. Wilson Street
                                        Madison, WI 53702
                                        Facsimile: (608) 266-2436

                            SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                                 SIGNATURE PAGE

<PAGE>   26

                                   SCHEDULE A

                                   PURCHASERS

<TABLE>
<S>                                                             <C>
STATE OF WISCONSIN INVESTMENT BOARD                             2,400,000 SHARES

STATE OF WISCONSIN INVESTMENT BOARD                               600,000 SHARES
</TABLE>

                                       1
<PAGE>   27

                                    EXHIBIT A

September 13, 2000

To the Purchasers of
Common Stock of General DataComm Industries, Inc.
listed on Exhibit A attached hereto

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel for General DataComm Industries, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the issuance and sale to you of
3,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock (the "Shares") pursuant to the
Share Purchase Agreement dated September 12, 2000 between the Company and each
of the Purchasers listed on Exhibit A hereto (the "Agreement"). We are rendering
this opinion pursuant to Section 3(d)(iii) of the Agreement. Except as otherwise
defined herein, capitalized terms used, but not defined herein, have the
respective meanings given to them in the Agreement.

In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon the
representations and warranties as to factual matters contained in and made
pursuant to the Agreement by the various parties and originals or copies
certified to our satisfaction, of such records, documents, certificates,
opinions, memoranda and other instruments delivered in connection with the
Agreement, the Company's certificate of incorporation, by-laws and minute books
and the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Where we
render an opinion "to the best of our knowledge" or concerning an item "known to
us" or our opinion otherwise refers to our knowledge, it is based solely upon
(i) an inquiry of attorneys within this firm who perform legal services for the
Company, (ii) receipt of a certificate executed by an officer of the Company
covering such matters, and (iii) such other investigation, if any, that we
specifically set forth herein.

In rendering this opinion, we have assumed: the genuineness and authenticity of
all signatures on original documents; the authenticity of all documents
submitted to us as originals; the conformity to originals of all documents
submitted to us as copies; the accuracy, completeness and authenticity of
certificates of public officials; and the due authorization, execution and
delivery of all documents (except the due authorization, execution and delivery
by the Company of the Agreement), where authorization, execution and delivery
are prerequisites to the effectiveness of such documents. We have also assumed:
that all individuals executing and delivering documents had the legal capacity
to so execute and deliver; that you have received all documents you were to
receive under the Agreement; and that the Agreement is an obligation binding
upon you. In rendering this opinion we have also assumed that there are no
extrinsic agreements or understandings among the parties to the Agreement that
would modify or interpret the terms of the Agreement or the respective rights or
obligations of the parties thereunder.

                                       1
<PAGE>   28

Our opinion is expressed only with respect to the federal laws of the United
States of America, and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We
express no opinion as to whether the laws of any particular jurisdiction apply,
and no opinion to the extent that the laws of any jurisdiction other than those
identified above are applicable to the subject matter hereof. We are not
rendering any opinion as to compliance with any antifraud law, rule or
regulation relating to securities, or to the sale or issuance thereof. We are
qualified to practice law in the state of New York and do not purport to be
experts on, or to express any opinion herein concerning, any law other than the
laws of the State of New York, the Delaware General Corporation Law and the laws
of the United States. Our opinions with respect to the applicable sections of
the Delaware General Corporation Law are not to be implied as constituting
practice under the laws of the State of Delaware.

On the basis of the foregoing, in reliance thereon and with the foregoing
qualifications, we are of the opinion that:

1. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Company is qualified to do
business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in the State of
Connecticut. The Company has the requisite corporate power to own or lease its
property and assets and to conduct its business as currently conducted.

2. The Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on
the part of the Company and has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of
the Company and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except (i) as
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement,
moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors' rights, and (ii) as limited by equitable principles generally and
limitations on the availability of equitable remedies, whether such
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

3. The Shares have been duly authorized and when issued, delivered and paid for
in accordance with the terms of the Agreement, will be validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable and free of any pre-emptive or similar rights.

4. Except as set forth in the Agreement, to our knowledge there is no action,
proceeding or investigation pending or overtly threatened in writing against the
Company which in our opinion would result in any Material Adverse Effect.

5. The offer and sale of the Shares by the Company to the Purchasers is exempt
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

6. The execution and delivery of the Agreement by the Company and the
consummation of the sale of the Shares by the Company as contemplated therein,
do not violate any provisions of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or
By-laws or any material agreements known to us to which the Company is a party.

                                       2
<PAGE>   29

7. All consents, approvals, authorizations, or orders of, and filings,
registrations and qualifications with any regulatory authority or governmental
body in the United States required for the issuance by the Company of the Shares
as contemplated by the Agreement, have been made or obtained, except for (i) the
filing of a Form D pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation D,
(ii) the filing of a Form D with the Securities Commissioner of the State of
Wisconsin. (iii) the filing of a registration statement as contemplated by the
Agreement, and (iv) the filing of a listing application with the New York Stock
Exchange.

This opinion is intended solely for your benefit and is not to be made available
to or be relied upon by any other person, firm, or entity without our prior
written consent.

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            WEISMAN CELLER SPETT & MODLIN, P.C.

                                       3
<PAGE>   30

                                    EXHIBIT B

                             SCHEDULE OF EXCEPTIONS

     1) Shares of common stock issuable on conversion of:

          (i)  9% Cumulative Convertible Exchangable Preferred Stock - 1,443,040
               shares

          (ii) 5% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock - 1,000,000 shares

          (iii) 7-3/4% Senior Convertible Subordinated Debentures - 514,492
               shares

     2) To the best of the Company's knowledge, prior owners or operators of the
Company 's real property used such property for manufacturing rubber, watch and
other products. Such activities may have involved the disposal, storage,
handling, treatment, release or transport of hazardous materials. To the best of
the Company's knowledge, no claims or allegations of uncured violations based on
such manufacturing operations have been made in any court or by any governmental
agency. None of the Company or its subsidiaries properties or assets has been
designated or identified as hazardous materials disposal site, or as a candidate
for closure, nor has the Company or any subsidiary received any summons, notice,
citation, directive from government authorities regarding releasing or disposing
hazardous materials to the environment except as set forth or resolved in the
following:

     (a) A consent order dated April 7, 1994 between Timex Corporation and the
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection .

     (b) Actions entitled Bernbach, et al. v. Timex Corp., et al., Case No. 3:94
CV-224 (JAC) (United States District Court for the District of Connecticut), and
MacDonald v. Timex Corp. & M.O.P., 3:97 CV 00271 (United States District Court
for the District of Connecticut).

     (c) An action entitled Middlebury Office Park Limited Partnership v. Timex
Corp., General DataComm Industries, Inc. and Middlebury Park Road Associates,
Case No. 3:95 CV 2160 (ANT), (United States District Court for the District of
Connecticut). This action has been discontinued against the Company.

     (d) A consent order, HM-815, against General DataComm, Inc.

     (e) An action entitled Middlebury Office Park Limited Partnership v.
General DataComm Industries, Inc. Index No. 114589/95, currently pending in New
York Supreme Court, which has been settled.

                                       1
<PAGE>   31

     In addition to the foregoing, there are certain underground storage tanks
located in the Company's real property. To the best of the Company's knowledge,
these tanks are not in violation of any Environmental Law.

     3) Substantially all of the assets of the Company and its principal
subsidiaries are collateral under the Loan and Security Agreement dated May 14,
1999 as amended between the Company, certain subsidiaries and Foothill Capital
Corporation, as agent. The Middlebury office building and Naugatuck facility are
subject to first mortgages in favor of Chase Manhattan Bank as Agent and
subordinate mortgages are in favor of the Foothill Capital Corporation lending
group. There are capital equipment leases outstanding with a balance of
$2,280,365 owed as of June 30, 2000.

     4) General DataComm, Inc. v. Sahara Networks, Inc., et al. and General
DataComm Ltd. v. Pathway Inc., et al are pending actions each brought by a
subsidiary relating to the Company's intellectual property.

                                       2
<PAGE>   32

                                   APPENDIX I

                        GENERAL DATACOMM INDUSTRIES, INC.

                         STOCK CERTIFICATE QUESTIONNAIRE

     Pursuant to Section 3 of the Agreement, please provide us with the
following information:

1.   The exact name that your Shares are to be registered in (this is the name
     that will appear on your stock certificate(s)). You may use a nominee name
     if appropriate:

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

2.   The relationship between the Purchaser of the Shares and the Registered
     Holder listed in response to item 1 above:

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

3.   The mailing address of the Registered Holder listed in response to item 1
     above:

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

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

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

4.   The Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number of the Registered
     Holder listed in response to item 1 above:

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

                                       1
<PAGE>   33

                                   APPENDIX II

                        GENERAL DATACOMM INDUSTRIES, INC.

                      REGISTRATION STATEMENT QUESTIONNAIRE

     In connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement, please
provide us with the following information:

5.   Pursuant to the "Selling Shareholder" section of the Registration
     Statement, please state your or your organization's name exactly as it
     should appear in the Registration Statement:

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

6.   Please provide the number of shares that you or your organization will own
     immediately after Closing, including those Shares purchased by you or your
     organization pursuant to this Purchase Agreement and those shares purchased
     by you or your organization through other transactions:

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

7.   Have you or your organization had any position, office or other material
     relationship within the past three years with the Company or its
     affiliates?

            _____ Yes         _____ No

    If yes, please indicate the nature of any such relationships below:

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

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

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

                                       1
<PAGE>   34

                                  APPENDIX III

                   PURCHASER'S CERTIFICATE OF SUBSEQUENT SALE

     The undersigned, an officer of, or other person duly authorized by

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              [fill in official name of individual or institution]

hereby certifies that he/she/it is the Purchaser of the shares evidenced by the
attached certificate, and as such, sold such shares on ________________, 200__
in accordance with Registration Statement number 333-________________, and
complied with the requirement of delivering a current prospectus in connection
with such sale.

PRINT OR TYPE:

Name of Purchaser (Individual or Institution):

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

Name of Individual representing Purchaser (if an Institution)

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

Title of Individual representing Purchaser (if an Institution):

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

SIGNATURE:

Individual Purchaser or Individual representing Purchaser:

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

                                       1
<PAGE>   35

                              OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE

     We, Charles P. Johnson, Chairman of the Board, and William G. Henry, Vice
President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, of General DataComm Industries,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), pursuant to Section 3(d)(ii) of
the Share Purchase Agreement dated September 12, 2000 (the "Agreement"), between
the Company and the Purchasers listed on Schedule A to the Agreement, DO HEREBY
CERTIFY that:

          (i) the representations and warranties of the Company in Section 4 of
          the Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on and as
          of the date of the Agreement and as of the Closing Date with the same
          effect as if made on the Closing Date and the Company has complied
          with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part
          to be performed or satisfied at or before the Closing Date;

                              -----------------------------
                              Charles P. Johnson
                              Chairman of the Board

                              -----------------------------
                              William G. Henry
                              Vice President, Finance
                              Chief Financial Officer

Dated:  September 13, 2000

                                       2<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.17

                          EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

         This EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE AGREEMENT ("Agreement") has been executed as
of the 8th day of November, 1999 between DONALD H. NONNENKAMP ("Executive") and
LaBARGE, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").

       WHEREAS, Executive is the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
the Company; and

       WHEREAS, the Company is willing, subject to the terms of this Agreement,
to provide certain benefits to the Executive in the event of termination of his
employment following a Change of Control (as defined below);

       THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

       1.     Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement the following
words shall have the following meanings:

              (a)    "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

              (b)    "Change of Control" shall mean:

                     (i)    The purchase or other acquisition by any person,
              entity or group of persons, within the meaning of Section 13(d) or
              14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
              "Exchange Act") (excluding, for this purpose, (i) the Company or
              its subsidiaries, (ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or
              its subsidiaries or (iii) Pierre L. LaBarge, Jr., Craig E. LaBarge
              or the spouse or lineal descendants of Craig E. LaBarge), of
              beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated
              under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of either the
              then-

<PAGE>   2

              outstanding shares of common stock of the Company or the combined
              voting power of the Company's then-outstanding voting securities
              entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; or

                     (ii)   When individuals who, as of the date hereof,
              constitute the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board" and,
              as of the date hereof, the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason
              to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any
              person who becomes a director subsequent to the date hereof whose
              election or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders,
              was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors
              then comprising the Incumbent Board (other than an individual
              whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual
              or threatened election contest relating to the election of the
              directors of the Company, as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of
              Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) shall be, for
              purposes of this section, considered as though such person were a
              member of the Incumbent Board; or

                     (iii)   Approval by the stockholders of the Company of (a)
              a reorganization, merger or consolidation, in each case with
              respect to which persons who were the stockholders of the Company
              immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation
              do not, immediately thereafter, own more than 50% of,
              respectively, the common stock and the combined voting power
              entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the
              reorganized, merged or consolidated corporation's then-outstanding
              voting securities, or (b) a liquidation or dissolution of the
              Company or of the sale of all or substantially all of the assets
              of the Company.

                                       2

<PAGE>   3

         Notwithstanding the foregoing, an isolated sale, spin-off, joint
         venture or other business combination by the Company, which involves
         one or more divisions or subsidiaries of the Company and is approved by
         a majority vote of the incumbent Board, shall not be deemed to be a
         Change of Control.

              (c)    "Code"shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
         amended.

              (d)    "Effective Date" shall mean the first date on which a
         Change of Control occurs, or such earlier date as the Human Resources
         Committee of the Board may determine with respect to the Executive.
         Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if the
         Executive's employment with the Company is terminated and if such
         termination of employment (i) was at the request of a third party who
         has taken steps reasonably calculated to affect a Change of Control, or
         (ii) otherwise arose in connection with, or in anticipation of, a
         Change of Control, then for all purposes of this Agreement the
         "Effective Date" shall mean the date immediately prior to the date of
         such termination of employment.

              (e)    "Employment Period" shall mean the period commencing on the
         Effective Date and ending on the first anniversary of such date.

              (f)    "Fiscal Year" shall mean the fiscal year of the Company.

         2.   Terms of Employment.

              (a)    Location and Duties.

                     (i)   The Company shall keep the Executive in its employ
              for the Employment Period. During the Employment Period, the
              Executive's services shall be required to be performed at the
              location where the Executive was employed

                                       3

<PAGE>   4

              immediately preceding the Effective Date, or at any office or
              location less than 50 miles from such location.

                     (ii)    During the Employment Period, and excluding any
              periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is
              entitled, the Executive will be expected to devote reasonable
              attention and time during normal business hours to the business
              and affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to
              discharge the responsibilities assigned to the Executive, to use
              the Executive's reasonable beat efforts to perform faithfully and
              efficiently such responsibilities. During the Employment Period it
              shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to
              (A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees,
              (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at
              educational institutions and (C) manage personal investments, so
              long an such activities do not significantly interfere with the
              performance of the Executive's assigned responsibilities. To the
              extent that any such activities have been conducted by the
              Executive prior to the Effective Date, the continued conduct of
              such activities (or the conduct of activities similar in nature
              and scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective Date shall not
              hereafter be deemed to interfere with the performance of the
              Executive's responsibilities to the Company.

              (b)    Compensation. During the Employment Period, unless his
         employment is earlier terminated pursuant to Section 3, the Executive
         shall receive:

                     (i)     Base Salary. A minimum base salary ("Base Salary"),
              which shall be paid at a monthly rate, in an amount not less than
              the annualized monthly base salary rate paid or payable to the
              Executive during the month immediately preceding the

                                       4

<PAGE>   5

              month in which the Effective Date occurs, including any base
              salary which was earned but payment of which was deferred and any
              base salary which was paid or payable to the Executive by the
              Company and its affiliated companies. As used in this Agreement,
              the term "affiliated companies" shall include any company directly
              or indirectly controlled by, controlling or under common control
              with the Company.

                     (ii)    Annual Bonus. A minimum annual bonus ("Annual
              Bonus") in cash, payable in accordance with past practices of the
              Company, calculated by multiplying the Base Salary defined in
              Section 2(b)(i) times the Average Annual Bonus Percentage. The
              "Average Annual Bonus Percentage" is the average of the
              percentages of the Executive's Base Salary earned in a Fiscal Year
              represented by his annual bonus earned in respect of that Fiscal
              Year from the Company or its affiliated companies for each of the
              five Fiscal Years most recently ended, after disregarding the
              highest and lowest of such percentages; if the Executive has been
              employed by the Company for three years or less, the Average
              Annual Bonus Percentage is the average of the percentages of the
              Executive's Base Salary earned in a Fiscal Year represented by his
              Annual Bonus earned in respect of that Fiscal Year from the
              Company or its affiliated companies for each of the three Fiscal
              Years most recently ended. If the Executive has been employed by
              the Company for less than one year, the Executive will be entitled
              to the Bonus, if any, to which he would otherwise be entitled
              irrespective of the terms of this Agreement.

                     (iii)   Benefits. All pension, welfare and other employee
              benefits, fringe benefits and perquisites in amounts and on terms
              not less favorable than those to

                                       5

<PAGE>   6

              which the Executive was entitled on the Effective Date, subject
              only to benefits reductions within the scope of Section 3(c)( i).

         3.   Termination of Employment.

              (a)    Death or Disability. The Executive's employment shall
         terminate automatically upon the Executive's death during the
         Employment Period. If the Company determines in good faith and as set
         forth below that the Disability of the Executive has occurred or is
         continuing during the Employment Period, it may give to the Executive
         written notice of its intention to terminate the Executive's
         Employment. In such event, the Executive's employment with the Company
         shall terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt of such notice
         by the Executive (the "Disability Effective Date"), provided that,
         within the 30 days after such receipt, the Executive shall not have
         returned to full-time performance of the Executive's duties. For
         purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" shall mean the absence of the
         Executive from the Executive's duties with the Company on a full-time
         basis for 180 consecutive business days as a result of incapacity due
         to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total, and
         permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and
         acceptable to the Executive or the Executive's legal representative
         (such agreement as to acceptability not to be withhold unreasonably).

              (b)    Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment
         during the Employment Period for Cause. For the sole and exclusive
         purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean:

                     (i)    The willful and continued failure of the Executive
              to perform substantially the Executive's duties with the Company
              or one of its affiliates (other

                                       6

<PAGE>   7

              than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or
              mental illness), after a written demand for such performance is
              delivered to the Executive by the Board or the Chief Executive
              Officer of the Company which specifically identifies the manner in
              which the Board or Chief Executive Officer believes that the
              Executive has not substantially performed the Executive's duties,
              or

                     (ii)    The willful engaging by the Executive in (A)
              illegal conduct (other than minor traffic offenses), or (B)
              conduct which is in breach of the Executive's fiduciary duty to
              the Company and which is demonstrably injurious to the Company,
              its reputation or its business prospects.

         For purposes of this provision, no act or failure to act on the part of
         the Executive shall be considered "willful" unless it is done, or
         omitted to be done, by the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable
         belief that the Executive's action or omission was in the best
         interests of the Company. Any act, or failure to act, based upon
         authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board or
         upon the instructions of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or
         based upon the advice of counsel for the Company shall be conclusively
         presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in good
         faith and in the best interests of the Company. The cessation of
         employment of the Executive shall not be deemed to be for Cause unless
         and until there shall have been delivered to the Executive a copy of a
         resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than
         three-quarters of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of
         the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is
         provided to the Executive and the Executive is given an opportunity to
         be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good-faith opinion of
         the

                                       7

<PAGE>   8

              Board, the Executive is guilty of the conduct described in
              subparagraph (i) or (ii) above, and specifying the particulars
              thereof in detail.

                     (c)   Good Reason. The Executive may voluntarily terminate
              his employment for Good Reason. For the sole and exclusive
              purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean:

                           (i)   any failure by the Company to comply with any
                     of the provisions of this Agreement, other than an isolated
                     failure not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by
                     the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given
                     by the Executive and other than a failure to comply with
                     Section 2(b)(iii) solely by reason of a reduction in
                     benefits that applies to all salaried employees who are
                     exempt from the wage and hour provisions of the Fair Labor
                     Standards Act;

                           (ii)   the Company's requiring the Executive to be
                     based at any office or location other than an provided in
                     Section 2(a)(i);

                           (iii)  any purported termination by the Company of
                     the Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly
                     permitted by this Agreement; or

                           (iv) any failure by the Company to comply with and
                     satisfy Section 9(c).

                     (d)   Notice of Termination. Any termination of employment
              hereunder shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the
              other party hereto given in accordance with Section 10(c). For
              purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a
              written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination
              provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent
              applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
              circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the
              Executive's employment under the

                                       8

<PAGE>   9

              provision so indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as
              defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice,
              specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more than
              90 days after the giving of such notice). Any failure by the
              Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination
              any fact or circumstance which contributes to a show of Good
              Reason or Cause shall not waive any right to the Executive or the
              Company, respectively, hereunder or preclude the Executive or the
              Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in
              enforcing the Executive's or the Company's rights hereunder.

                     (e)   Date of Termination. "Date of Termination" means (i)
              if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for
              Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, the date of receipt of
              the Notice of Termination or any later date specified therein, as
              the case may be, (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated
              by the Company other than for Cause or Disability, the Date of
              Termination shall be the date 90 days after the date on which the
              Company notifies the Executive of such termination and (iii) if
              the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of death or
              Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date of death of
              the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, an the case may
              be.

              4.     Obligations of the Company Upon Termination.

                     (a)   Good Reason; Other Than for Cause, Death or
              Disability. If, during the Employment Period, the Company shall
              terminate the Executive's employment other than for Cause or
              Disability or the Executive shall terminate employment for Good
              Reason:

                           (i)   The Company shall pay to the Executive in a
                     lump sum in cash within 30 days after the Date of
                     Termination the aggregate of the following amounts:

                                       9
<PAGE>   10

                                 (A)   To the extent not theretofore paid, the
                           Executive's current base salary; plus

                                 (B)   All previously deferred base salary,
                           bonuses and other compensation (together with any
                           accrued interest thereon) not yet paid by the
                           Company; plus

                                 (C)   A bonus equal to the Base salary earned
                           from the beginning of the Fiscal Year in which the
                           termination occurred to the Date of Termination
                           multiplied by the Average Annual Bonus Percentage
                           defined in Section 2(b)(ii); plus

                                 (D)   The product of three (3) times Final
                           Compensation. "Final Compensation" is the sum of (x)
                           the Base Salary defined in Section 2(b)(i), plus (y)
                           the Average Annual Bonus Percentage defined in
                           Section 2(b)(ii) multiplied by such Base Salary; plus

                                 (E)   Vacation pay equal to Final Compensation
                           per day multiplied by the number of days of earned
                           vacation not taken as of the Date of Termination.

                           (ii)  The Company shall continue to provide to the
                     Executive, or reimburse the Executive for the cost of, all
                     medical, hospitalization, disability, [DENTAL, LIFE
                     INSURANCE, CLUB MEMBERSHIP AND AUTOMOBILE BENEFITS], in
                     amounts and on terms not less favorable than those to which
                     the Executive was entitled on the Date of Termination, for
                     three years after the Date of Termination, and shall pay or
                     provide any other amounts or benefits required by law to be
                     paid or provided to the Executive

                                       10

<PAGE>   11

                     or which the Executive is entitled to receive under any
                     Agreement, program, policy, practice, contract or agreement
                     of the Company or any of its affiliated companies.

                           (iii)   If the aggregate amounts under (i) above are
                     not paid to the Executive when due, interest thereon shall
                     accrue and be paid to the Executive at the rate of the
                     lesser of (A) 15% per annum, compounded monthly or (B) the
                     maximum rate allowed by law.

                           (iv)    As a condition of receiving payments and
                     benefits under this Section 4(a), the Executive must
                     provide the Company with a release, satisfactory to the
                     Company in its sole discretion, of all claims, charges and
                     causes of action the Executive may have arising out of or
                     relating in any way to the Executive's employment by the
                     Company and its affiliated companies and the termination of
                     such employment, including, but not limited to, ADEA
                     waivers.

                     (b)   Termination in Other Cases. If the Executive's
              employment is terminated during the Employment Period by reason of
              the Executive's death or Disability, for Cause, or as a result of
              the Executive's termination thereof without Good Reason, this
              Agreement shall terminate with respect to the Executive without
              further obligations to the Executive or the Executive's legal
              representative under this Agreement.

              5.     Non-exclusivity of Rights. Nothing shall herein limit or
         otherwise affect such rights as the Executive may have under any other
         contract or agreement with the Company or any of its affiliated
         companies or by law. Amounts which are vested benefits or which the
         Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any other Agreement,
         policy, practice or program of or any contract or agreement with the
         Company or any of its affiliated companies at or subsequent to the

                                       11

<PAGE>   12

         Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with its terms,
         unless explicitly modified by this Agreement.

              6.     No Obligation to Mitigate. The Company's obligation to make
         the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform
         its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off,
         counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which
         the Company may have against the Executive. Except as otherwise
         provided in this Section 6, in no event shall the Executive be
         obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of
         mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the
         provisions of this Agreement and such amounts shall not be reduced
         whether or not the Executive obtains other employment. Notwithstanding
         the foregoing, if the Executive obtains other employment, the Company's
         obligation to provide medical, hospitalization, disability, [DENTAL OR
         LIFE INSURANCE] benefits under Section 4(a)(ii) shall be reduced to the
         extent such benefits are provided to the Executive as a result of such
         other employment.

              7.     Legal Expenses. The Company and its affiliated companies
         shall pay promptly upon submission of appropriate invoices, to the full
         extent permitted by law, all reasonable attorneys' fees and related
         expenses which the Executive reasonably deems necessary to incur in
         connection with any dispute with respect to the validity or
         enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this Agreement
         (including without limitation any dispute as to the amount of any
         payment pursuant to this Agreement); provided, however, that if the
         Company is advised by independent counsel that it will probably prevail
         if the dispute is litigated on a motion for summary judgment, the
         Company may refrain from such payments so long as the Company actively
         pursues a decision on such motion, and it such motion is granted and
         becomes a final, non-appealable order, the Company shall have

                                       12

<PAGE>   13

         no obligation under this Section 7 with respect to the Executive's
         attorneys' fees and related expenses in connection with such dispute.
         However, if such motion for summary judgment is denied and if such
         denial becomes a final, non-appealable order, the Company shall pay
         such attorneys' fees and related expenses, or, if the Executive has
         already paid such attorneys' fees and related expenses, the Company
         shall reimburse the Executive for such payment, together with interest,
         from the date of such payment to the date of reimbursement, at the rate
         of the lesser of (A) 15% per annum, compounded monthly or (B) the
         maximum rate allowed by law.

              8.     Provisions Relating to Taxation of Payments.

                     (a)   Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
              notwithstanding, in the event it shall be determined that any
              payment or distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of
              the Executive (whether paid or payable or distributed or
              distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or
              otherwise) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section
              4999 of the Code (or any other provision of the Code relating to
              excise taxes or "excess parachute payments") or any interest or
              penalty is imposed on the Executive with respect to such excise
              tax, the Executive shall not be entitled to receive any additional
              payment in any amount to compensate for such tax, interest or
              penalty.

                     (b)   For purposes of this section, (i) "Payment" shall
              mean any payment or distribution in the nature of compensation to
              or for the benefit of the Executive, whether paid or payable
              pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise; (ii) "Present Value"
              shall mean such value determined in accordance with Section
              280G(d)(4) of the Code; and (iii) "Reduced Amount," shall mean the
              largest aggregate amount of Payments which results in no tax being
              imposed upon the Executive under Section 4999 of the Code.

                                       13

<PAGE>   14

                     (c)   Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
              notwithstanding, in the event a certified public accounting firm
              designated by the Company (the " Accounting Firm") shall determine
              that receipt of all Payments would subject the Executive to tax
              under Section 4999 of the Code, it shall determine whether some
              amount of Payments would meet the definition of a "Reduced
              Amount." If the Accounting Firm determines that there is a Reduced
              Amount, the Payments under this Agreement shall be reduced so that
              the aggregate Payments shall equal such Reduced Amount. Any
              reduction of Payments shall be made out of the lump sum otherwise
              payable under Section 4(a)(i).

                     (d)   While it is the intention of the Company that the
              amount of Payments to the Executive shall result in the maximum
              aggregate amounts being paid to the Executive without the
              imposition of tax under Section 4999 of the Code, as a result of
              the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 at the time of
              the initial determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is
              possible that amounts will have been paid or distributed by the
              Company to or for the benefit of the Executive pursuant to this
              Agreement which should not have been so paid or distributed
              ("Overpayment") or that additional amounts which will have not
              been paid or distributed by the Company to or for the benefit of
              the Executive pursuant to this Agreement could have been so paid
              or distributed ("Underpayment"), in each case, consistent with the
              calculation of the Reduced Amount hereunder. In the event that the
              Accounting Firm, based either upon the assertion of a deficiency
              by the Internal Revenue Service against the Company or the
              Executive which the Accounting Firm believes has high probability
              of success or controlling precedent or other substantial
              authority, determines that an Overpayment has been made, any such
              Overpayment paid or distributed by the Company

                                       14

<PAGE>   15

              to or for the benefit of the Executive shall be treated for all
              purposes as a loan ab initio to the Executive which the Executive
              shall repay to the Company together with interest at the
              applicable federal rate provided for in Section 787 2(f )(2) of
              the Code; provided, however, that no such loan shall be deemed to
              have been made and no amount shall be payable by the Executive to
              the Company if and to the extent such deemed loan and payment
              would not either reduce the amount on which the Executive is
              subject to tax under Section 1 and Section 4999 of the Code or
              generate a refund of such taxes. In the event that the Accounting
              Firm, based upon controlling precedent or other substantial
              authority, determines that an Underpayment has occurred, any such
              Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the
              benefit of the Executive together with interest at the applicable
              federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Code.

              9.     Successors.

                     (a)    This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
              enforceable by the Executive and the Executive's legal
              representative.

                     (b)    This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
              binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.

                     (c)    The Company shall require any successor (whether
              direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, sale of
              assets or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business
              and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to
              perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent
              that the Company would be required to perform it if no such
              succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, "Company"
              shall mean the Company as herein before defined and any successor
              to its business and/or

                                       15

<PAGE>   16

              assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this
              Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.

              10.    Miscellaneous.

                     (a)    This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
              accordance with the laws of the State of Missouri, without
              reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this
              Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no
              force or effect.

                     (b)    This Agreement may be amended, changed or ratified
              by the Company prior to the Effective Date in any manner by
              written notice to the Executive given in accordance with
              subparagraph (c) below; provided, however, that unless the first
              anniversary of the giving of such notice occurs prior to the
              Effective Date, no such amendment, change or modification adverse
              to the rights of the Executive hereunder shall become effective.
              This Agreement is intended to benefit and create a binding
              contractual relationship between the Executive and the Company,
              and to be enforceable by the Executive, with respect to the
              Executive, according to its terms.

                     (c)    All notices and other communications hereunder shall
              be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other
              party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt
              requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

                            If to the Executive:

                            At the current home address of the Executive
                            identified in the personnel records of the Company.

                                       16

<PAGE>   17

                           If to the Company:
                           Mr. Craig E. LaBarge
                           Chief Executive Officer and President
                           LaBarge, Inc.
                           9900A Clayton Road
                           St. Louis, MO 63124

         Notices and communications shall be effective at the time they are
         given in the foregoing manner.

              (d)    The Company shall withhold from any amounts payable under
         this Agreement such Federal, state, local or foreign taxes as may be
         required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

              (e)    The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon
         strict compliance with any provision hereof or any other provision of
         this Agreement or the failure to assert any right the Executive or the
         Company may have hereunder, including, without limitation, the right of
         the Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason of this
         Agreement, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or
         right or any other provision or right of this Agreement.

              (f)    Except as may otherwise be provided under any other written
         agreement between the Executive and the Company the employment of the
         Executives by the Company is "at will" and, prior to the Effective
         Date, the Executive's employment may be terminated by either the
         Executive or the Company, in which case the Executive shall have no
         further rights under this Agreement.

                                       17

<PAGE>   18

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed as of the date
first above written.

                                    LABARGE, INC.

                                    By: /s/ Craig E. LaBarge
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        Craig E. LaBarge
                                        Chief Executive Officer and President

                                        /s/ Donald H. Nonnenkamp
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        DONALD H. NONNENKAMP

                                       18

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