Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

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

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                            DATED AS OF JULY 1, 2005

                                  BY AND AMONG

                               TEJAS INCORPORATED,

                             TEJAS ACQUISITION CORP.

                                       AND

                       CAPITAL & TECHNOLOGY ADVISORS, INC.

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

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                       PAGE
<S>                                                                                                    <C>
ARTICLE I    THE MERGER..................................................................                1
         Section 1.01.   The Merger......................................................                1
         Section 1.02.   Closing.........................................................                1
         Section 1.03.   Effective Time..................................................                2
         Section 1.04.   Effects of the Merger...........................................                2
         Section 1.05.   Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws........................                2
         Section 1.06.   Board of Directors and Officers.................................                2

ARTICLE II   MERGER CONSIDERATION; CONVERSION OF SECURITIES; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES....                2
         Section 2.01.   Effect on Capital Stock.........................................                2
         Section 2.02.   Delivery of Merger Consideration................................                4

ARTICLE III  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY...............................                5
         Section 3.01.   Organization; Authority.........................................                5
         Section 3.02.   Subsidiaries....................................................                6
         Section 3.03.   Capitalization..................................................                6
         Section 3.04.   No Conflicts....................................................                6
         Section 3.05.   Condition and Sufficiency of Assets.............................                7
         Section 3.06.   Consents; Governmental Approvals................................                7
         Section 3.07.   Brokers.........................................................                8
         Section 3.08.   ERISA and Related Matters.......................................                8
         Section 3.09.   Labor Matters...................................................                9
         Section 3.10.   Compliance with Employment Laws.................................               10
         Section 3.11.   Taxes...........................................................               10
         Section 3.12.   Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect................               11
         Section 3.13.   No Undisclosed Liabilities......................................               12
         Section 3.14.   Contracts.......................................................               12
         Section 3.15.   Intellectual Property...........................................               14
         Section 3.16.   Environmental Matters...........................................               15
         Section 3.17.   Litigation......................................................               16
         Section 3.18.   Compliance with Laws, etc.......................................               16
</TABLE>

                                       -i-

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                   (continued)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                       PAGE
<S>                                                                                                    <C>
         Section 3.19.   Affiliate Transactions..........................................               17
         Section 3.20.   Insurance.......................................................               17
         Section 3.21.   Conduct of the Business.........................................               17
         Section 3.22.   Competitive Restrictions........................................               17
         Section 3.23.   Accounts Receivables; Escheat Property..........................               17
         Section 3.24.   Third Parties' Business Operations..............................               18
         Section 3.25.   Corrupt Practices...............................................               18
         Section 3.26.   Corporate Records...............................................               19
         Section 3.27.   Offices.........................................................               19
         Section 3.28.   Safe Deposit Boxes and Bank Accounts............................               19
         Section 3.29.   Power of Attorney...............................................               19
         Section 3.30.   Omitted.........................................................               19
         Section 3.31.   Indemnification.................................................               19
         Section 3.32.   Real Property...................................................               19
         Section 3.33.   Corporate Governance............................................               20
         Section 3.34.   Disclosure......................................................               20
         Section 3.35.   Industry Specific Representations and Warranties................               21

ARTICLE IV   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE STOCKHOLDERS..........................               21
         Section 4.01.   Organization; Authority.........................................               21
         Section 4.02.   Agreement Binds the Stockholders................................               21
         Section 4.03.   No Conflicts....................................................               21
         Section 4.04.   Consents; Governmental Approvals................................               22
         Section 4.05.   Title of Company Stock..........................................               22
         Section 4.06.   Investment Representations......................................               22
         Section 4.07.   Acknowledgement of Stockholders.................................               22
         Section 4.08.   Brokers.........................................................               23
         Section 4.09.   Disclosure......................................................               23

ARTICLE V    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND SUB............................               23
         Section 5.01.   Organization; Authority.........................................               23
</TABLE>

                                      -ii-

<PAGE>
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                   (continued)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                       PAGE
<S>                                                                                                    <C>
         Section 5.02.   Sub.............................................................               24
         Section 5.03.   No Conflicts....................................................               24
         Section 5.04.   Consents; Governmental Approvals................................               25
         Section 5.05.   Disclosure......................................................               25
         Section 5.06.   SEC Filings; Financial Statements...............................               25
         Section 5.07.   Availability of Merger Consideration............................               26
         Section 5.08.   No Undisclosed Liabilities......................................               26
         Section 5.09.   Brokers.........................................................               26
         Section 5.10.   Compliance with Laws, etc.......................................               26
         Section 5.11.   No Material Adverse Effect......................................               26
         Section 5.12.   Capitalization..................................................               26

ARTICLE VI   ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS.......................................................               27
         Section 6.01.   Commercially Reasonable Efforts.................................               27
         Section 6.02.   Consents and Approvals..........................................               27
         Section 6.03.   Resignation of the Company Board of Directors...................               27
         Section 6.04.   Board of Directors..............................................               27
         Section 6.05.   Directors and Officers Insurance Continuation...................               28
         Section 6.06.   Key Man Insurance...............................................               28

ARTICLE VII  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT........................................................               28
         Section 7.01.   Conditions to Each Party's Obligation To Effect the Merger......               28
         Section 7.02.   Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Sub.....................               28
         Section 7.03.   Conditions to Obligations of the Company........................               30

ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION.............................................................               31
         Section 8.01.   Indemnification of Parties......................................               31
         Section 8.02.   Survival of Representations and Warranties......................               32
         Section 8.03.   Procedures for Indemnification..................................               32
         Section 8.04.   Escrow Amount...................................................               33
         Section 8.05.   Limitations on Indemnification..................................               33
         Section 8.06.   Contribution....................................................               33
         Section 8.07.   Reduction for Insurance Coverage and Tax Benefits...............               33
</TABLE>

                                      -iii-

<PAGE>
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                   (continued)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                       PAGE
<S>                                                                                                    <C>
         Section 8.08.   Sole Remedy.....................................................               34

ARTICLE IX   DEFINITIONS.................................................................               34
         Section 9.01.   Definitions.....................................................               34

ARTICLE X  GENERAL PROVISIONS............................................................               37
         Section 10.01.  Dispute Resolution..............................................               37
         Section 10.02.  Expenses........................................................               38
         Section 10.03.  No Third-Party Beneficiaries....................................               38
         Section 10.04.  Entire Agreement................................................               38
         Section 10.05.  Incorporation of Exhibits and Schedules.........................               38
         Section 10.06.  Succession and Assignment.......................................               39
         Section 10.07.  Counterparts and Facsimile Signatures...........................               39
         Section 10.08.  Headings........................................................               39
         Section 10.09.  Notices.........................................................               39
         Section 10.10.  Governing Law and Jurisdiction..................................               40
         Section 10.11.  Amendments and Waivers..........................................               40
         Section 10.12.  Severability....................................................               40
         Section 10.13.  Construction....................................................               40
         Section 10.14.  Specific Performance............................................               41

SCHEDULE 2.02 DELIVERY OF MERGER CONSIDERATION...........................................                1
</TABLE>

                                      -iv-

<PAGE>

      AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "Agreement") dated July 1, 2005, among
TEJAS INCORPORATED, a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), TEJAS ACQUISITION CORP.,
a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Sub"), Capital
& Technology Advisors, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") and all of
the stockholders of the Company, who are named on the signature pages hereto
(each, a "Stockholder" and, collectively, the "Stockholders"). Certain terms
used herein as defined terms are defined in Article IX hereof.

      WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent, Sub and the Company
have approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the merger of Sub with
and into the Company (the "Merger"), upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement, whereby each issued and outstanding
share of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the "Company
Common Stock"), other than shares owned by Parent, Sub or the Company, will be
converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration (as defined in
Section 2.01(d)); and

      WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent, Sub and the Company
have each determined that the Merger and the other transactions contemplated
hereby are consistent with, and in furtherance of, their respective business
strategies and goals; and

      WHEREAS, (a) the Stockholders and (b) Parent, as the sole stockholder of
Sub, have each approved the Merger; and

      WHEREAS, Parent, Sub and the Company desire to make certain
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the
Merger and also to prescribe various conditions to the Merger; and

      WHEREAS, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the
Merger will qualify as a reorganization under the provisions of Section 368(a)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and that this
Agreement constitutes a plan of reorganization.

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, the parties agree as
follows:

                                   ARTICLE I

                                   The Merger

      SECTION 1.01. The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation
Law, as in effect on the date hereof (the "DGCL"), Sub shall be merged with and
into the Company at the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.03). Following
the Effective Time, the Company shall be the surviving corporation (the
"Surviving Corporation") and shall succeed to and assume all the rights and
obligations of Sub in accordance with the DGCL.

      SECTION 1.02. Closing. The closing of the Merger (the "Closing") will take
place on the same date as the date of this Agreement (the "Closing Date"). The
Closing will be held at
<PAGE>

the offices of Morrison & Foerster LLP, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York,
New York 10104.

      SECTION 1.03. Effective Time. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement,
as soon as practicable on or after the Closing Date, the parties shall file a
certificate of merger or other appropriate documents (in any such case, the
"Certificate of Merger") executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of
the DGCL and shall make all other filings or recordings required under the DGCL.
The Merger shall become effective at such time as the Certificate of Merger is
duly filed with the Delaware Secretary of State or at such subsequent date or
time as Parent and the Company shall agree and specify in the Certificate of
Merger (the time the Merger becomes effective being hereinafter referred to as
the "Effective Time").

      SECTION 1.04. Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set
forth in Section 259 of the DGCL, with Sub merging into the Company and the
Company being the Surviving Corporation.

      SECTION 1.05. Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws.

            (a) The certificate of incorporation of the Company, as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the certificate of
incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter changed or amended
as provided therein or by Applicable Law.

            (b) The by-laws of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to
the Effective Time, shall be the by-laws of the Surviving Corporation until
thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by Applicable Law.

      SECTION 1.06. Board of Directors and Officers.

            (a) At the Effective Time, the Board of Directors of the Surviving
Corporation shall be comprised of Wayne Barr, Jr., Kurt Rechner and John Garber.

            (b) At the Effective Time, the following persons shall be the
officers of the Surviving Corporation, until the earlier of their resignation or
removal or their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, as the
case may be: President and CEO, Wayne Barr, Jr.; Treasurer, John Garber;
Secretary, Kurt J. Rechner.

                                   ARTICLE II

    Merger Consideration; Conversion of Securities; Exchange of Certificates

      SECTION 2.01. Effect on Capital Stock. As of the Effective Time, by virtue
of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any shares of
the Company Common Stock or any shares of capital stock of Sub:

            (a) Capital Stock of Sub. Each issued and outstanding share of
capital stock of Sub shall be converted into one share of common stock of the
Surviving Corporation.

                                       -2-
<PAGE>

            (b) Cancellation of Treasury Stock and Parent-Owned Stock. Each
share of the Company Common Stock that is owned by the Company, Sub or Parent
shall automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and no
consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor.

            (c) Cash Merger Consideration Paid. On the date of the acceptance of
the letter of intent between Parent and the Company dated May 9, 2005 (the
"Letter of Intent"), Parent paid to the Company two million dollars ($2,000,000)
in cash (the "Option Payment"), in the Company's capacity as paying agent for
the Stockholders. In such capacity, the Company shall pay over the Option
Payment to the Stockholders immediately prior to the Effective Time in the
manner set forth for the cash payment to be made in Section 2.01(d)(i).

            (d) Conversion of the Company Common Stock. Subject to the proviso
contained in Section 2.02(a), each share of the Company Common Stock issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than shares of common
stock cancelled pursuant to Section 2.01(b), shall be converted into the right
to receive (subject to the provisions of Section 2.02(d)) the following
(collectively, the "Merger Consideration"):

                  (i) Cash in an amount equal to the fraction (x) the numerator
of which shall be three million dollars ($3,000,000) and (y) the denominator of
which shall be the total number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding at
the Effective Time (giving effect to the exercise of all options to purchase
Company Common Stock) ("Total Outstanding Company Shares"); and

                  (ii) Such number of shares of common stock, $.001 par value
per share, of Parent ("Parent Common Stock") as is equal to the quotient
obtained by dividing: (x) (A) sixty million by (B) the Parent Common Stock
Closing Price (as defined below), by (y) the Total Outstanding Company Shares
(the "Share Merger Consideration").

            (e) "Parent Common Stock Closing Price" shall mean:

                  (i) If the average per share closing price (the "Average Per
Share Closing Price") of the Parent Common Stock as reported by the OTC Bulletin
Board for the ten (10) Business Days on which the Parent Common Stock has traded
prior to the date three (3) trading days before the Closing Date is:

                        (1) less than or equal to nineteen dollars ($19.00),
then the "Parent Common Stock Closing Price" shall be nineteen dollars ($19.00);

                        (2) greater than nineteen dollars ($19.00) but less than
nineteen dollars and thirty-five cents ($19.35), then the "Parent Common Stock
Closing Price" shall be set at the Average Per Share Closing Price;

                        (3) equal to or greater than nineteen dollars and
thirty-five cents ($19.35), then the "Parent Common Stock Closing Price" shall
be nineteen dollars and thirty-five cents ($19.35).

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

As of the Effective Time, all such shares of the Company Common Stock shall no
longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and retired and shall
cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate representing any such shares of
the Company Common Stock (each, a "Certificate") shall cease to have any rights
with respect thereto, except the right to receive the Merger Consideration.

            (f) Appraisal Rights. All of the owners of capital stock of the
Company are executing this Agreement and agreeing to the terms and conditions
set forth herein. As a result, no Stockholder is either entitled to or will and
hereby agrees not to, exercise and perfect appraisal rights pursuant to Section
262 of the DGCL.

      SECTION 2.02. Delivery of Merger Consideration.

            (a) Share Exchange. At the Effective Time, Parent shall deliver to
each Stockholder (or shall have instructed its transfer agent, with respect to
any common stock to be delivered, to deliver such shares of common stock to the
Stockholders) in the amounts set forth in Schedule 2.02 hereto to the addresses
hereinbefore provided to the Parent by such Stockholders in exchange for the
shares of Company Common Stock owned of record by such holder, the Merger
Consideration to which such Stockholder is entitled based on the number of
shares of Company Common Stock so owned, and the Certificate representing such
Company Common Stock delivered pursuant to Section 7.02(j) shall forthwith be
canceled; provided, however, that Parent shall deliver to HSBC Bank USA,
National Association (the "Escrow Agent") ten percent (10%) of the Parent Common
Stock (the "Escrow Shares") otherwise deliverable to Niskayuna Development LLC
and Wayne Barr, Jr. (each, a "Holder" and collectively the "Holders") pursuant
to this Section 2.02(a), which is equal to 309,316 shares (collectively, the
"Escrow Amount"), which Escrow Amount shall be held in escrow (the "Escrow") in
accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement (as defined below).

            (b) Cash Delivery. At the Effective Time and subject to the terms
and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the portion of the Merger
Consideration which consists of cash shall be wire transferred to the
Stockholders, in accordance with the Stockholders' duly authorized payment
instructions notified to Parent prior to the Closing Date.

            (c) No Fractional Shares. Each Stockholder who would have been
entitled to receive a fractional share of Parent Common Stock as part of his or
her Share Merger Consideration shall, upon proper surrender of his or her
Certificates, receive such whole number of shares of Parent Common Stock as is
equal to the precise number of shares of Parent Common Stock constituting Share
Merger Consideration to which such person would be entitled, rounded up or down
to the nearest whole number (with a fractional interest equal to .5 rounded to
the nearest odd number).

            (d) Escrow. On the Closing Date, Parent, the Escrow Agent and the
Holders shall enter into an escrow agreement in substantially the form of
Exhibit B hereto (the "Escrow Agreement"). On the Closing Date, Parent shall
deliver to the Escrow Agent a certificate (issued in the name of the Escrow
Agent) representing the Escrow Shares, as described in Section 2.02(a), for the
purpose of securing the indemnification obligations set forth in this Agreement.
The Escrow Shares shall be held by the Escrow Agent under the Escrow Agreement
pursuant to

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

the terms thereof. The Escrow Shares shall be held as a trust fund and shall not
be subject to any lien, attachment, trustee process or any other judicial
process of any creditor of any party, and shall be held and disbursed solely for
the purposes and in accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement.

            (e) No Liability. Parent shall not be liable to any Stockholder in
respect of any Merger Consideration delivered to a public official as required
by and pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar
Applicable Law.

                                   ARTICLE III

                  Representations and Warranties of the Company

      Except as set forth in the disclosure schedules delivered by the Company
to Parent on the date hereof (the "Company Disclosure Schedules"), the Company
and the Holders hereby, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to Parent
as follows:

      SECTION 3.01. Organization; Authority.

            (a) Power to Enter into the Agreement. The Company is a corporation
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
State of Delaware. The Company has the power and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement and each other document to be executed and delivered by
it under this Agreement, to perform its obligations under such documents, and to
consummate the Merger and any other transactions contemplated by or pursuant to
this Agreement and any ancillary documents (the "Transactions"). Prior to the
date of this Agreement, the Company has delivered to Parent a complete and
correct copy of the organizational documents of the Company, as amended to such
date, and such organizational documents are in full force and effect.

            (b) Authorization of the Agreement. The Company has, by requisite
action, authorized the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and
each other document to be executed and delivered by it under this Agreement, and
the consummation of the Transactions to which it is a party in accordance with
Applicable Law and the organizational documents. The Company has given Parent
evidence of such approval in a form reasonably satisfactory to Parent.

            (c) Execution of the Agreement. The Company has duly executed and
delivered this Agreement and each other document to be executed and delivered by
it under this Agreement.

            (d) Agreement Binds the Company. This Agreement and each other
document to be delivered by the Company under this Agreement constitutes the
valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms (subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to
general principles of equity, regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a
proceeding in equity or at law).

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

            (e) Power to Carry on Business. The Company is the sole successor in
interest to the business of Capital & Technology Advisors LLC and Communication
Technology Advisors LLC (each, an "LLC" and collectively, the "LLCs") and has
the power and authority and possess the rights, licenses, authorizations and
approvals, governmental or otherwise, necessary to entitle it to own, lease or
otherwise hold its material properties and assets, and to carry on its business
as currently conducted. The Company is duly qualified, licensed or registered to
transact business, and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which it owns
or leases properties.

      SECTION 3.02. Subsidiaries. The Company does not own, directly or
indirectly, any shares of capital stock or other equity or ownership interests
in, any other Person ("Third Party Interest"), nor does the Company have any
rights to, nor is the Company bound by any commitment or obligation to, acquire
by any means, directly or indirectly, any Third Party Interests or to make any
investment in, or contribution or advance to, any person.

      SECTION 3.03. Capitalization. As of the date hereof, the authorized
capital stock of the Company consists of 30,000 shares of Company Common Stock,
of which there are 200 shares of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding.
All outstanding shares of Company Common Stock of the Company are duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The Company does not
have any outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations, the holders
of which have the right to vote (or which are convertible into or exercisable
for securities having the right to vote) with the Stockholders on any matter,
and there are no options, warrants or other rights (including preemptive rights)
or agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character, whether or not
contingent, relating to issued or unissued Company Common Stock or obligating
the Company to issue, redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire any share of
Company Common Stock or any other equity interest in, the Company. Schedule 3.03
of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth, as of the date hereof, each of
the Stockholders as indicated on the stock transfer books of the Company and the
number of shares of Company Common Stock owned by, and the number of shares of
Company Common Stock subject to options and warrants owned by, such Stockholder
and the exercise price per share of any such options or warrants. The Company is
not under any obligation, contingent or otherwise, to register any of its
securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
Each Stockholder of the Company is an "Accredited Investor" within the
definition set forth in Rule 501(a) promulgated under the Securities Act.

      SECTION 3.04. No Conflicts. The Company's execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement, and of each other document to be delivered by it
under this Agreement, and the consummation of the Transactions, will not:

            (a) conflict with, or result in a breach of, a provision of the
Company's organizational documents;

            (b) conflict with, or result in a breach of (whether immediately or
through the passage of time or otherwise), a provision of a contract, agreement
or undertaking to which the Company is a party, or by which it or any of its
assets or properties is bound, except where the conflict or breach would not
have a Material Adverse Effect;

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

            (c) give rise to a right of termination, cancellation, amendment or
acceleration of an obligation or loss of a benefit affecting, or result in the
imposition of any Liens on, any of its assets; or

            (d) violate Applicable Law.

      SECTION 3.05. Condition and Sufficiency of Assets.

            (a) The Company has good and marketable title to, or a valid
leasehold interest in, its assets, in each case free and clear of Liens except:

                  (i) Liens for Taxes or other governmental obligations not yet
due or being contested in good faith for which appropriate reserves have been
made in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") in the
Financial Statements that the Company delivered to Parent;

                  (ii) deposits or pledges made in connection with, or to secure
payment of, workers' compensation, unemployment insurance or similar programs
mandated by Applicable Law;

                  (iii) statutory Liens arising in the ordinary course of
business which, in each case, do not interfere with the use of the assets to
which they relate for the purposes for which those assets were acquired; and

                  (iv) the ownership interests of the lessor or licensor of
leased assets or licensed Intellectual Property (collectively, "Permitted
Liens").

            (b) The Company's assets include all assets used in, necessary for
the conduct of, or otherwise material to, the business as currently conducted,
or as currently contemplated to be conducted, by the Company.

            (c) The leasehold improvements, furniture, fixtures, equipment and
other tangible personal property used in the business, taken as a whole, are in
suitable working condition for the Company's current use of them.

      SECTION 3.06. Consents; Governmental Approvals. Except for any Consents
listed in Schedule 3.06, the Company does not need any Consent or Governmental
Approval in connection with the Company:

            (a) executing and delivering this Agreement and each other document
to be executed and delivered by it under this Agreement;

            (b) performing its obligations under this Agreement and each other
document to be executed and delivered by it under this Agreement; and

            (c) consummating the Transactions.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

      SECTION 3.07. Brokers. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates has
incurred or will incur any Liability for a fee or commission to a broker,
finder, investment banker or other intermediary in connection with the
Transactions.

      SECTION 3.08. ERISA and Related Matters.

            (a) The Company's Employee Benefit Plans.

                  (i) Schedule 3.08(a) lists each "employee benefit plan" (as
defined in section 3(3) of ERISA) whether or not subject to ERISA, and each
employment, consulting, bonus, incentive or deferred compensation, vacation,
tuition reimbursement, employee discount, expense reimbursement, allowance,
severance, termination, retention, change of control, stock option or other
equity-based, performance or other employee or retiree benefit or compensation
plan, program, arrangement, agreement or policy, whether written or unwritten,
under which any current or former employee or consultant (an "Employee")
employed or engaged by the Company or the beneficiaries or dependents of such a
Person (collectively, the "Plan Employees") is or may become eligible to
participate or derive a benefit, and that is or has been maintained or
established by the Company, or to which the Company contributes or is or has
been obligated or required to contribute, or with respect to which the Company
has or may have any Liability (collectively, the "Plans"). The Company, its
ERISA Affiliates, and the LLCs have not ever maintained, established,
contributed to, or been required to contribute to any "employee pension plan" as
defined in Section 3(2)(A) of ERISA or a plan intended to be qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Code or a "multiemployer plan" as defined in Section 3(37)
of ERISA.

                  (ii) Each Plan can be terminated by the Company within a
period of thirty (30) days following the Closing Date, without payment of any
additional compensation or amount or the additional vesting or acceleration of
any such benefits.

                  (iii) The Company has given Parent complete and correct copies
of the written Plans in effect and descriptions of the unwritten Plans in effect
and, with respect to each Plan: any trust agreements, insurance contracts or
other funding arrangements in effect; the two most recent actuarial and trust
reports, if any exist; any material communications received from or sent to the
IRS or the Department of Labor; the two most recent IRS Forms 5500 and the
related schedules to them, if any have been required; the current summary plan
descriptions, if any have been required; the most recent actuarial report
regarding any post-employment life or medical benefits provided under the Plans;
and any amendments and modifications to any such document.

                  (iv) The consummation of the Transactions will not (x) entitle
any current or former Plan Employee, director or officer of the Company to
severance pay, unemployment compensation or any other payment (except as
expressly provided in this Agreement) or (y) accelerate the time of payment or
vesting, or increase the amount, of compensation or benefits due any such Plan
Employee, director or officer.

                  (v) No Plan provides benefits, including death or medical
benefits (whether or not insured), with respect to Plan Employees after
retirement or other termination of service except:

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

                        (1) coverage mandated by Applicable Law; or

                        (2) deferred compensation benefits accrued as
liabilities and reflected on the Financial Statements.

                  (vi) No material Liability has been or is expected to be
incurred by the Company under or pursuant to ERISA or the penalty, excise Tax or
joint and several Liability provisions of the Code relating to employee benefit
plans. No event, transaction or condition has occurred or exists that reasonably
could be expected to result in such Liability or obligation to the Company. No
transaction prohibited by Code section 4975 or ERISA section 406 for which no
applicable exemption exists (a "Prohibited Transaction") has occurred with
respect to any Plan that would subject the Company to a Tax or penalty imposed
by section 4975 of the Code or section 502 of ERISA. The consummation of the
Transactions will not result in a Prohibited Transaction or the imposition of
any Liability, penalty or Taxes with respect to any Plan. No Plan contains any
security issued by the Company or Affiliate. Schedule 3.08(a)(vi) lists every
trade or business, whether or not incorporated, which is (or would have been at
any date of determination within six years before the date of this Agreement)
treated as a single employer under section 414 of the Code together with the
Company.

                  (vii) Each of the Plans has been operated and administered in
all respects in compliance with its terms, Applicable Law (including ERISA and
the Code) and all applicable collective bargaining agreements. There are no
material pending or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened claims, actions,
investigations or proceedings by or on behalf of a Plan, a Governmental Entity,
a Plan Employee or otherwise involving a Plan or its assets (except routine
claims for benefits). There are no facts or circumstances that could result in
any such claims, actions, investigations or proceedings.

            (b) Disqualification. To the Company's knowledge, no basis exists
such that the Company or any of their current or former Employees would become
subject to disqualification from serving in any capacity described in section
411(a) of ERISA by virtue of section 411 of ERISA or a similar provision of
other Applicable Law. The Transactions will not cause the Parent or any of its
Affiliates to become subject to such a disqualification.

            (c) Employees and Consultants. Schedule 3.08(c) lists the current
Employees of the Company and each Company Subsidiary, their respective base and
total salaries or wages and other compensation, and their dates of employment,
positions, vacation entitlement and accrued vacation time.

      SECTION 3.09. Labor Matters. The Company is not a party to or bound by any
collective bargaining or similar agreements or work rules or practices agreed to
with any labor unions or Employee associations. There are no labor unions or
other organizations representing (or purporting or attempting to represent) any
Employees of the Company. Since May 29, 2001, the date of formation of the
earliest formed LLCs, there has not occurred (or, to the Company's knowledge,
been threatened) any strike, slowdown, picketing, work stoppage, concerted
refusal to work overtime or other similar labor activity with respect to any
Employees of the Company. There is no representation petition pending (or, to
the Company's knowledge, threatened) with respect to any Employee of the
Company.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

      SECTION 3.10. Compliance with Employment Laws. The Company has complied in
all material respects with Applicable Law regarding the employment or
termination of employment of Employees and independent contractors (including
Applicable Laws relating to labor relations, equal employment, fair employment
practices, entitlements, prohibited discrimination or distinction, immigration
status, employment Taxes or other similar employment practices or acts).

      SECTION 3.11. Taxes.

            (a) The Company has timely filed all Tax Returns required to be
filed by it (and all such Tax Returns are true, complete and correct in all
material respects or all requests for extensions to file such Tax Returns have
been timely filed, granted and have not expired). The Company has paid all Taxes
(shown as due on such Tax Returns or otherwise due or payable by the Company,
and the most recent Financial Statements contained an adequate reserve for all
Taxes payable by the Company for all taxable periods and portions thereof
accrued through the date of such Financial Statements). As of the Closing Date,
the Company will have (i) paid all installments that are due and payable at such
time on account of Taxes payable by the Company for the current year; (ii)
properly withheld by the Company and remitted to the proper taxing authority all
Taxes required to be withheld with respect to amounts paid or credited, or owed
to or for the account or benefit of, any person, including any Employee,
independent contractor, member, stockholder, non-resident person or other third
party; and (iii) collected all sales, transfer and use Taxes (including goods
and services sales taxes) required to be collected by the Company, and has
remitted, or will remit on a timely basis, such amounts to the appropriate
Governmental Entity and has furnished properly completed exemption certificates
for all exempt transactions.

            (b) Neither LLC has ever made an election to be treated as a
corporation for Tax purposes, and each LLC has been taxed as a partnership for
federal tax purposes from its respective formation date. For purposes of this
Section 3.11, "the Company" shall also mean the LLCs.

            (c) No deficiency for any Taxes has been proposed, asserted or
assessed against the Company that is not adequately reserved for.

            (d) The Company is not a party to any benefit Plan or other Company
Employee compensation arrangements in effect as of the date of this Agreement
that would result in the disallowance of a material deduction under Section
162(m) of the Code for any amounts paid or payable by the Company under any such
plan or arrangement and, to the knowledge of the Company, no fact or
circumstance exists that is reasonably likely to cause such disallowance to
apply to any such amounts. The Company has never been a party to any contract,
agreement, plan or arrangement, including but not limited to the provisions of
this Agreement, covering any Employee of the Company that, individually or
collectively, could give rise to the payment of any amount that would not be
deductible pursuant to Section 280G of the Code by the Company or Parent as an
expense under Applicable Law.

            (e) The Company does not constitute either a "distributing
corporation" or a "controlled corporation" in a distribution of stock qualifying
for Tax-free treatment under

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

Section 355 of the Code (x) in the two years prior to the date of this Agreement
or (y) in a distribution which could otherwise constitute part of a "plan" or
"series of related transactions" (within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the
Code) in conjunction with the Merger.

            (f) The Company has not executed any waiver or extension of any
statute of limitations on the assessment or collection of any Taxes or with
respect to any Liability arising therefrom. The Company has no Liability for the
Taxes of any other person or entity as a transferee or successor, or by contract
or otherwise. The Company has no Liability for the Taxes of any Person pursuant
to Section 1.1502-6 of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under the Code or
comparable provisions of any taxing authority in respect of any consolidated,
combined or unitary Tax Return. There are no Tax Liens on any assets of the
Company, other than Liens for current Taxes not yet due and payable and Liens
for Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings. No
claim has ever been made by a Governmental Entity in a jurisdiction where the
Company does not file Tax Returns that it is or may be subject to taxation by
that jurisdiction.

            (g) No consent under Section 341(f) of the Code has been filed with
respect to the Company.

            (h) There are no Tax sharing agreements or similar arrangements with
respect to or involving the Company. The Company is in compliance with the terms
and conditions of any applicable Tax exemptions, Tax agreements or Tax orders of
any government to which it may be subject or which it may have claimed, and the
Transactions will not have any adverse effect on such compliance.

            (i) The Company has not been, and will not be, required to include
any adjustment in taxable income for any Tax period (or portion thereof)
pursuant to any Tax laws as a result of transactions or events occurring, or
accounting methods employed by the Company, prior to the Closing.

            (j) The Company is not and has never been a United States Real
Property Holding Corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code
during the applicable periods specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code.

            (k) The Company has not entered into any transactions that are
"reportable" under Section 6011, 6111 or 6112 of the Code or similar provision
of state or local law.

      SECTION 3.12. Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

            (a) The Company has delivered to Parent copies of its consolidated
balance sheet as of December 31, 2003 and 2004 and statements of income and cash
flow for the financial years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004, together
with the corresponding auditor's reports to the Company prepared by Bollani,
Sheedy, Torani & Co. LLP/McGladrey. The Company has also delivered to Parent
copies of its unaudited consolidated financial statements as of, and for the
quarter ended March 31, 2005 (including a statement of income, balance sheet and
statement of cash flows). These annual financial statements and interim
financial statements (the "Financial Statements") have been prepared in
accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the period
indicated and present fairly in all material

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

respects the Company's consolidated financial position as of the specified date
and results of the Company's consolidated operations and cash flows, and comply
with accounting and regulatory requirements and Applicable Law subject, in the
case of the interim financial statements, to normal recurring year-end audit
adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

            (b) Since December 31, 2004, there has not been any Material Adverse
Effect.

            (c) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting and other
controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) material
transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific
authorizations, (ii) material transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain
accountability for assets, (iii) access to material assets is permitted only in
accordance with management's general or specific authorization, and (iv) the
recorded accounting for material assets is compared with the existing material
assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to
any material differences.

      SECTION 3.13. No Undisclosed Liabilities. To the Company's knowledge: (i)
the Company does not have any liabilities or obligations of any nature, whether
known or unknown, absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether due or
to become due, and (ii) there is no existing condition, situation or set of
circumstances which could reasonably be expected to result in such liabilities
or obligations, except for liabilities and obligations that:

            (a) were specifically disclosed or reserved against on the balance
sheet included in the Financial Statements for the financial year ended December
31, 2004, or specifically disclosed in the notes to that balance sheet (but, in
either case, only to the extent so disclosed or reserved against); or

            (b) were incurred after December 31, 2004, in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice, and individually or in the aggregate
have not had, and could not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse
Effect.

      SECTION 3.14. Contracts. Schedule 3.14 lists the effective agreements,
contracts and commitments (and any subsequent renewal and/or amendment) to which
the Company is a party or by which any of its properties is bound of the
following types (collectively, "Contracts"):

            (a) agreements and arrangements for performing services (including
current fee schedules);

            (b) employment, consulting, severance, agency and other compensation
agreements and arrangements;

            (c) bonus, profit-sharing, stock option, pension, retirement,
deferred compensation or other plans, trusts, funds, agreements or arrangements
for the benefit of Plan Employees, officers, directors, managers, sales
representatives or agents;

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

            (d) mortgages, indentures, security agreements, letters of credit,
loan agreements and other agreements, guarantees and instruments relating to
borrowing money or extending credit, or which create or authorize a Lien;

            (e) licenses and arrangements under which (x) the Company is
permitted by any Person to use Intellectual Property ("Licensed Intellectual
Property"), other than ordinary course off-the-shelf licenses that are not
material to the Company, or (y) the Company permits a Person to use the
Company's Intellectual Property;

            (f) agreements or arrangements involving payments based on the
Company's profits or revenues;

            (g) joint venture, partnership and similar agreements;

            (h) stock purchase agreements, asset purchase agreements and other
acquisition or divestiture agreements;

            (i) agreements or legally binding commitments between the Company on
the one hand and any Affiliate of the Company on the other hand, not otherwise
covered by Section 3.19;

            (j) any restrictive covenant contained in any leased real property
leased by the Company that materially restricts the use, transferability or
value of such property;

            (k) any restrictive covenant contained in any deed to real property
owned by the Company;

            (l) leases of real property and other leases involving annual rental
payments in excess of $25,000;

            (m) service agreements material to the Company's business, including
agreements (A) to develop proprietary software and (B) for duplication, document
production and other office services; in each case, with annual payments in
excess of $25,000;

            (n) agreements for the sharing or capping of fees or other payments
the Company receives from another person, or the sharing of another person's
expenses;

            (o) any contract or agreement that restricts the Company or would
restrict the Company, following the consummation of the Transactions, from
competing in any line of business with any person or using or employing the
services of any person;

            (p) any agreement to acquire equipment or any commitment to make
capital expenditures of $10,000 or more;

            (q) any indemnification agreement;

            (r) any other agreements, contracts and commitments that (A) involve
payment obligations of more than $25,000 or are not cancelable at will without
penalty, or (B)

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

are material to the business, operations, results of operations, condition
(financial or otherwise), assets or properties of the Company; and

            (s) any fee applications submitted to any United States Bankruptcy
Court and any objections filed to such fee applications.

The Company has delivered to the Parent a copy of each written Contract, and a
summary of the material provisions of each other Contract. Each Contract has
been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, to the
Company's knowledge, each other party to it. Each Contract is in full force and
effect and constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of the Company
and, to the Company's knowledge, each other party to it, enforceable against the
Company and, to the Company's knowledge, each other party to it in accordance
with its terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to
general principles of equity, regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a
proceeding in equity or at law). There is no event of default or event or
condition that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an event
of default under a Contract on the part of the Company or, to the Company's
knowledge, on the part of any other party to it. No party to a Contract has
advised the Company, either orally or in writing, that it intends to terminate,
or, where applicable, not renew, the Contract.

      SECTION 3.15. Intellectual Property.

            (a) Schedule 3.15(a) lists the Intellectual Property owned by the
Company ("Owned Intellectual Property"). The Owned Intellectual Property and the
Licensed Intellectual Property (collectively, the "Company Intellectual
Property") constitute all Intellectual Property used or held for use by the
Company in connection with, necessary for the conduct of, or otherwise material
to the Company's business as currently conducted or as contemplated to be
conducted. The Owned Intellectual Property and the licenses and arrangements
described in Section 3.14(e) have been duly registered with, filed in or issued
by, as the case may be, the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the
United States Copyright Office or other filing offices, domestic or foreign, to
the extent necessary to ensure full protection under Applicable Law. Such
registrations, filings or issuances remain in full force and effect.

            (b) The Company owns, or has a valid license to use, the Company
Intellectual Property, free from Liens and free from requirements of past,
present or future royalty payments, license fees, charges or other payments, or
conditions or restrictions (except for Permitted Liens).

            (c) The use of the Company Intellectual Property in the Company's
business as currently conducted does not infringe or misappropriate any third
party's right, and no claim or demand has been made or threatened to that
effect. No third party is infringing the Company's rights with respect to the
Company Intellectual Property. The consummation of the Transactions will not
impair the Company's right to use the Company Intellectual Property on the same
terms and conditions as in effect before the Closing.

            (d) To the knowledge of the Company, there are no defects or Viruses
in the Company's proprietary software that prevent or would prevent such
software from performing in

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

all material respects the tasks and functions that it is intended to perform.
For purposes of this Section 3.15, "Viruses" means any (i) program code or
programming instruction or set of instructions intentionally designed to
disrupt, disable, harm, interfere with, or otherwise adversely affect computer
programs, data files or operations; or (ii) other software typically described
as a virus, information gathering program or by similar terms, including Trojan
horse, worm, time bomb, bot or back door.

            (e) The Company has established and maintains a commercially
reasonable security program, including the use of technology, practices,
procedures and processes meeting or exceeding industry standards that are
designed to protect the integrity of the data, communications and transactions
(i) processed by and executed through its systems and (ii) stored on its
systems, including using encryption and/or other security protocols and
techniques when appropriate.

            (f) To the Company's knowledge, there has been no material violation
of the trade secrets contained within the Owned Intellectual Property. There
have been no unauthorized disclosures of such trade secrets and all disclosures
of trade secrets have been made pursuant to confidentiality agreements
commercially reasonable in form and substance and effective to protect the
proprietary nature of such trade secrets. There have been no breaches of any
such confidentiality agreements. All Employees of the Company (whether or not
presently employed by the Company) have agreed in writing to confidentiality and
intellectual property provisions substantially in the form included in Schedule
3.15(f).

            (g) All Employees of the Company who have contributed to or
participated in the conception and development of any Owned Intellectual
Property constituting software, or any documentation related thereto, on behalf
of the Company are bound by a "work-for-hire" arrangement or agreement with the
Company, in accordance with applicable federal and state law, that has accorded
and/or assigned the Company full, effective, exclusive, and original ownership
of all tangible and intangible property thereby arising, and have executed all
instruments of assignment in favor of the Company necessary to convey to the
Company full, effective, and exclusive ownership of all tangible and intangible
property thereby arising. Schedule 3.15(g) identifies all such agreements or
instruments referenced in the preceding sentence as well as all employment,
consulting or other agreements with any individuals who have contributed to or
participated in the conception and development of such Intellectual Property
rights of the Company.

            (h) None of the Owned Intellectual Property constitutes software.

      SECTION 3.16. Environmental Matters.

            (a) The Company is in compliance and has at all times complied with
the Environmental Laws relating to its business and to its properties and assets
(including properties and assets currently or formerly owned, leased or used)
and the use and ownership of those properties and assets, except where the
failure to so comply would not have a Material Adverse Effect. No violation of
such Environmental Laws by the Company has been alleged or, to the Company's
knowledge, threatened by a Governmental Entity or other Person.

                                      -15-
<PAGE>

            (b) To the Company's knowledge, neither the Company nor any other
Person has caused or taken any action that will result in, and the Company is
not subject to, any Liability or obligation (including indemnification
obligations) in connection with environmental conditions relating to the
Company's business, its properties and assets (including those currently or
formerly owned, leased or used), use of those properties and assets, or in
connection with Hazardous Substances or any violation of Environmental Law.

            (c) The Company has given Parent copies of all information
(including any environmental site assessments, compliance audits, studies,
allegations of noncompliance or Liability) in its (or a representative's)
possession, custody or control relating to environmental conditions relating to
its business, properties and assets (including those currently or formerly
owned, leased or used), use of those properties and assets, or relating to
Hazardous Substances.

      SECTION 3.17 Litigation.

            (a) Except as stated in Schedule 3.17, there is, and within the past
five years has been, no judicial, arbitral or administrative action, suit,
proceeding or investigation pending, or to the Company's knowledge threatened,
against the Company, any of its respective Affiliates, directors, officers or
Employees relating to the performance of their duties in such capacities or
against or affecting the properties of the Company. There are, and within the
past five years have been, no outstanding judgments, decrees, stipulations or
orders in favor of or naming any Person relating to the Company, any of its
respective Affiliates, directors, officers or Employees relating to the
performance of their duties in such capacities or against or affecting their
properties. There are no consent decrees or similar arrangements entered into
with a Governmental Entity or other Person by, or relating to, the Company, any
of its respective Affiliates, directors, officers or Employees relating to the
performance of their duties in such capacities or against or affecting their
properties, that are still in effect, or were in effect within the past five
years.

            (b) There are no controversies pending or threatened between the
Company and, to the Company's knowledge, any of the Employees.

      SECTION 3.18 Compliance with Laws, etc.

            (a) The Company is not or has not been in violation of Applicable
Law applying to it or any of its properties or business, except where such
violation would not have a Material Adverse Effect. To the Company's knowledge,
it has been in compliance with, and has not received written notice of a
material violation of, the laws, regulations, ordinances and rules (including
those of any non-governmental self-regulatory agencies) applying to it or its
respective operations.

            (b) The Company is not or has not been in default under its bylaws,
certificate of incorporation or other organizational documents.

            (c) The Governmental Approvals needed to conduct the Company's
business has been duly obtained and is in full force and effect. The Company has
received no written notice of the commencement of any formal proceedings (and,
to the Company's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened) that would
reasonably be expected to result in the revocation,

                                      -16-
<PAGE>

cancellation or suspension, or any adverse modification, of a Governmental
Approval which the Company has received.

            (d) The information provided by the Company in any filing or
submission to obtain a Governmental Approval in connection with the Transactions
is accurate and complete in all material respects and does not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to make the statements in the filing, submission or notice, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

      SECTION 3.19 Affiliate Transactions. Except as stated in Schedule 3.19,
the Company:

            (a) is not a party to an agreement, arrangement, understanding,
transfer or other commitment or transaction, whether or not in the ordinary
course of business, with or for the benefit of an Affiliate, or of an Associated
Person of the Company or an Affiliate; or

            (b) does not otherwise receive any services from any Affiliate, or
from any Associated Person of the Company or an Affiliate, whether or not for
compensation.

      SECTION 3.20 Insurance.

            (a) Schedule 3.20 lists the Liability, property and casualty,
workers' compensation, directors' and officers' Liability, key man, surety
bonds, and other insurance contracts ("Policies") that insure the Company's
business or the managers, officers, Employees, trustees or directors of the
Company.

            (b) Since May 29, 2001, the Company has not made any insurance claim
under any Policies (or other insurance contracts or bonds in effect at the
time).

            (c) The Policies are valid and binding, in full force and effect,
and enforceable according to their terms, and no material default has been
committed under any of the Policies. All premiums due and payable under the
Policies have been paid, the policyholders are otherwise in compliance with the
terms and conditions of those Policies, and the policyholders have no reason to
believe that any insurer would not renew a Policy on substantially the same
terms and conditions (or would not do so if it knew of an event known to the
Company but not to the insurer).

      SECTION 3.21 Conduct of the Business. Since December 31, 2004, the
Company, including the LLC, has carried on its business in the usual, regular
and ordinary course, consistent with past practice.

      SECTION 3.22 Competitive Restrictions. Neither the Company, nor, to the
Company's knowledge, any of its directors, officers or Employees, is restricted
under an agreement or understanding from competing with any person in any
respect related to the Company's business, from carrying out the business of the
Company or otherwise providing advisory services of the type provided by the
Company.

      SECTION 3.23 Accounts Receivables; Escheat Property.

                                      -17-
<PAGE>

            (a) Accounts Receivable. Subject to any reserves in the Financial
Statements for the financial year ended 2004, the accounts receivable shown on
those Financial Statements and all accounts receivable arising subsequent to
such date:

                  (i) are valid;

                  (ii) have arisen solely out of bona fide performance of
services and other business transactions in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice; and

                  (iii) to the knowledge of the Company, (a) are not subject to
any prior Lien and are not subject to valid defenses, set-offs or counterclaims,
and (b) there are no refunds, discounts or other adjustments payable in respect
of such accounts receivable.

                  (iv) The accounts receivable are collectable in accordance
with their terms at their recorded amounts, subject only to any reserve for
doubtful accounts on the Financial Statements. All accounts receivable which are
thirty (30) days or more past due as of the Closing Date are identified on
Schedule 3.23.

            (b) Escheat Property. The Company has no Liability under any
Applicable Law pertaining to abandoned property, escheat or other similar laws
with respect to return of fees, outstanding payables, unclaimed checks or other
similar matters.

      SECTION 3.24 Third Parties' Business Operations. The Company has not
allowed any other person to use its assets, properties or other resources to
conduct any type of business.

      SECTION 3.25 Corrupt Practices.

            (a) Neither the Company, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any
of the senior managers of the Company, has been convicted of any criminal
offense or found guilty of any civil offense in either case involving fraud,
misrepresentation, dishonesty, breach of fiduciary duty, substantive violation
of banking or corporate Tax laws, embezzlement or other fraudulent conversion or
misappropriation of property.

            (b) The Company has not made any contribution or expenditure,
whether in the form of money, products, services or facilities, in connection
with any election for political office or to any public official, except to the
extent permitted by Applicable Law. The Company has not offered or provided any
unlawful remuneration, entertainment or gifts to any Person, including any
official of a Governmental Entity or any fiduciary of a client.

            (c) Since December 31, 2001, the Company (including, for this
purpose, the LLC) has been in compliance in all material respects with all
requirements applicable to it regarding anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist
rules and regulations, and the Company maintains documentation adequate to
verify the accurate contact information, including identity and street address,
for all its customers as required by the USA Patriot Act, formerly known as the
Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to
Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, as amended from time to time, and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the "Patriot Act").

                                      -18-
<PAGE>

            (d) The Company has supplied or made available to Parent all
identification and basic background information with respect to clients and
customers in its possession, including any information describing the client's
source of wealth and line of business or regarding references, referrals or
potential "red-flags" or suspicious transactions.

      SECTION 3.26 Corporate Records. The minute books of the Company accurately
reflect all material actions taken to the date hereof by the respective members,
managers, shareholders, board of directors and committees of the Company
(including, for this purpose, the LLCs; provided that such records reflect only
those actions that the operating agreement of the respective LLC or Applicable
Law requires to be taken by a meeting or written action of the managers or
members of such entity).

      SECTION 3.27 Offices. Schedule 3.27 lists the headquarters location of the
Company and the location of each of the other offices maintained and operated by
the Company. Except as stated in Schedule 3.27, the Company does not maintain
any other office or conduct business at any other location, and the Company has
not applied for or received permission to open any additional offices or operate
at any other location.

      SECTION 3.28 Safe Deposit Boxes and Bank Accounts. Schedule 3.28 lists the
names and locations of all banks, trust companies, savings and loan associations
and other financial institutions at which the Company maintains safe deposit
boxes or lock boxes or bank accounts and the names of all persons authorized to
have access to such boxes and accounts.

      SECTION 3.29 Power of Attorney. The Company has not granted any person a
power of attorney or similar authorization that is presently in effect or
outstanding.

      SECTION 3.30 Omitted.

      SECTION 3.31 Indemnification. Other than pursuant to the provisions of its
certificate of incorporation or bylaws, the Company is not a party to any
indemnification agreement with any of its present managers, officers, directors,
Employees, agents or other Persons who serve or served in any other capacity
with any other enterprise at the request of the Company (a "Covered Person"),
and there are no claims for which any Covered Person would be entitled to
indemnification by the Company if such provisions were deemed in effect.

      SECTION 3.32 Real Property. Schedule 3.32 includes a detailed list of all
Real Property owned or leased by the Company or whose lease is guaranteed by the
Company (collectively, the "Company Real Property"), indicating: (a) in the case
of owned Company Real Property, (i) the name of the owner and (ii) location and
(b) in the case of leased Company Real Property, (i) the name of the tenant (and
guarantor, if any); (ii) location; (iii) term; (iv) monthly base rent as of June
1, 2005 and (v) landlord. Schedule 3.32 also includes a list of all of the
Company's branch offices. The Company does not own any Company Real Property.
The Company has good and marketable leasehold title to all of the Company Real
Property leased by it, free and clear of any Lien, except Permitted Liens. None
of the Company Real Property, nor the possession, occupancy, maintenance or use
thereof, is (or will be after giving effect to the Merger) in violation of, or
breach or default under, any Contract to which the Company is a party or any
Applicable Law relating to the Company's ownership, possession, occupancy,

                                      -19-
<PAGE>

maintenance or use of the Company Real Property, except for any such violation,
breach or default, other than violations of Applicable Law, which would not have
a Material Adverse Effect. The consummation of the Merger will not result in any
transfer tax becoming due with respect to any Company Real Property. No notice
or threat from any lessor, Governmental Entity or other Person has been received
by the Company relating to the condemnation or expropriation of any Company Real
Property claiming any violation of, or breach, default or Liability under, any
Contract to which the Company is a party or any Applicable Law, including
Environmental Laws, relating to the Company's ownership, possession, occupancy,
maintenance or use of the Company Real Property, or requiring or calling
attention to the need for any work, repairs, construction, alterations,
installations or environmental remediation by the Company.

      SECTION 3.33 Corporate Governance.

            (a) The Company has disclosed to the Company's outside auditors any
fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other Employees who
have a significant role in the Company's internal control over financial
reporting. A summary of any of those disclosures made by management to the
Company's auditors has been made available to Parent.

            (b) Since December 31, 2003, (x) neither the Company nor, to the
knowledge of the officers of the Company, any director, officer, Employee,
auditor, accountant or representative of the Company has received or otherwise
had or obtained knowledge of any material complaint, allegation, assertion or
claim, whether written or oral, regarding the accounting or auditing practices,
procedures, methodologies or methods of the Company or its respective internal
accounting controls, including any material complaint, allegation, assertion or
claim that the Company has engaged in questionable accounting or auditing
practices, and (y) no attorney representing the Company, whether or not employed
by the Company, has reported evidence of a material violation of securities
laws, breach of fiduciary duty or similar violation by the Company or any of its
officers, directors, Employees or agents to the Board of Directors of the
Company or any committee thereof or to any director or officer of the Company.

      SECTION 3.34 Disclosure. No representation or warranty by the Company, nor
any statement or certificate furnished or to be furnished by or on behalf of the
Company, or any Person acting on behalf of such a Person, to Parent or its
representatives in this Agreement or in any schedule or attachment hereto,
contains any untrue statement of a material fact, or omits to state any material
fact required to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading. The following documents provided to
Parent or its representatives in connection with the Transactions are true,
complete and correct in all material respects: (i) the annotated due diligence
checklist and accompanying package of materials provided by the Company to
Parent and its counsel by letter dated May 16, 2005, as supplemented by (A) the
May 27, 2005 email from Soph Sophocles to John Garber, (B) the June 1, 2005
email from Soph Sophocles to Amarah Sedreddine, (C) the June 2, 2005 email from
Rod Rodriguez to John Garber, (D) the June 6, 2005 email from Soph Sophocles to
John Hempill, (E) the June 8, 2005 email from Soph Sophocles to Richard Pero,
(G) the June 17, 2005 email from Soph Sophocles to Amarah Sedreddine, (H) the
June 20, 2005 email from Soph Sophocles to Amarah Sedreddine, and (I) the June
21, 2005 email from Soph Sophocles to Amarah Sedreddine; and (ii) the Financial
Statements.

                                      -20-
<PAGE>

      SECTION 3.35 Industry Specific Representations and Warranties. Neither the
Company nor any of its Employees has conducted any business on behalf of the
Company which would have required it to be registered as a broker/dealer or an
investment advisor under applicable laws and regulations.

                                   ARTICLE IV

               Representations and Warranties of the Stockholders

      Each Stockholder hereby, severally, represents, warrants, and agrees that:

      SECTION 4.01 Organization; Authority.

            (a) Power to Enter into the Agreement. Each Stockholder has the
power and authority, and with respect to individuals, the competency, to execute
and deliver this Agreement and each other document to be executed and delivered
by it under this Agreement, to perform its obligations under such documents, and
to consummate the Merger and any other Transactions contemplated by or pursuant
to this Agreement.

            (b) Authorization of the Agreement. Each Stockholder has, by
requisite action, authorized the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and each other document to be executed and delivered by it under this
Agreement, and the consummation of the Transactions to which it is a party in
accordance with Applicable Law. Each Stockholder has given Parent evidence of
such approval in a form reasonably satisfactory to Parent.

            (c) Execution of the Agreement. Each Stockholder has duly executed
and delivered this Agreement and each other document to be executed and
delivered by it under this Agreement.

      SECTION 4.02 Agreement Binds the Stockholders. This Agreement and each
other document to be executed and delivered by each Stockholder under this
Agreement constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of the
Stockholder, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms (subject to
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws
affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of equity,
regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at
law).

      SECTION 4.03 No Conflicts. Each Stockholder's execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement, and of each other document to be executed and
delivered by it under this Agreement, and the consummation of the Transactions,
will not:

            (a) conflict with, or result in a breach of, a provision of a
contract, agreement or undertaking to which the Stockholder is a party, or by
which it or any of its assets or properties is bound;

            (b) give rise to a right of termination, cancellation, amendment or
acceleration of an obligation or loss of a benefit affecting, or result in the
imposition of any Liens on, any of its assets; or

                                      -21-
<PAGE>

            (c) violate Applicable Law.

      SECTION 4.04 Consents; Governmental Approvals. The Stockholders do not
need any Consent or Governmental Approval in connection with:

            (a) executing and delivering this Agreement and each other document
to be executed and delivered by them under this Agreement;

            (b) performing any of their obligations under this Agreement and
each other document to be executed and delivered by them under this Agreement;
and

            (c) consummating the Transactions.

      SECTION 4.05 Title of Company Stock. Each Stockholder is the record and
beneficial owner of the Company Common Stock being conveyed, and each
Stockholder holds title to the common stock free and clear of all Encumbrances.

      SECTION 4.06 Investment Representations.

            (a) Each Stockholder is an Accredited Investor.

            (b) Each Stockholder, by reason of his or her business and financial
experience has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in financial and
business matters and in making investment decisions of this type that he/she is
capable of (i) evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Parent
Common Stock and making an informed investment decision, (ii) protecting his or
her own interest and (iii) bearing the economic risk of such investment. No
Stockholder has retained a purchaser's representative with respect to the
investment in Parent Common Stock.

            (c) Each Stockholder is acquiring Parent Common Stock for investment
for the Stockholder's own account, not as a nominee or agent and not with the
view to, or any intention of, a resale or distribution thereof, in whole or in
part.

            (d) Each Stockholder understands that the Parent Common Stock will
be characterized as "restricted securities" under U.S. federal and state
securities laws and that under such laws and applicable regulations the Parent
Common Stock cannot be sold or otherwise disposed of without registration under
the Securities Act and applicable state laws, except pursuant to an applicable
exemption under the Securities Act and applicable state laws and that
stop-transfer instructions may be issued for securities of the Parent Common
Stock.

      SECTION 4.07 Acknowledgement of Stockholders. Each Stockholder
acknowledges that:

            (a) no securities commission or similar regulatory authority has
reviewed or passed on the merits of the Parent Common Stock;

            (b) there are risks associated with acquiring the Parent Common
Stock;

                                      -22-
<PAGE>

            (c) there are restrictions on the Stockholder's ability to resell
the Parent Common Stock; and

            (d) no Person has made to the Stockholders any written or oral
representations: (i) that any Person will resell or repurchase the Parent Common
Stock, (ii) that any Person will refund the consideration paid for the Parent
Common Stock, (iii) as to the future price or value of the Parent Common Stock,
(iv) that application has been made to list the Parent Common Stock on any stock
exchange, or (v) that Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act ("Rule 144")
or any other Securities Act or U.S. state securities law exemption is or will be
available for resale of the Parent Common Stock.

            (e) Securities and Exchange Commission Restrictions. The
Stockholders will not offer to sell, exchange, transfer, pledge or otherwise
dispose of any of the Parent Common Stock unless at such time the Parent Common
Stock is registered for resale pursuant to the registration rights agreement
between the Stockholders and Parent in substantially the form of Exhibit C (the
"Registration Rights Agreement"), or pursuant to a valid exemption from the
relevant registration requirements (which may include Rule 144 of the Securities
Act), which in the case of any such exempt transaction (other than a transaction
pursuant to Rule 144), shall be subject to the reasonable approval of and
reasonable conditions imposed by Parent.

      SECTION 4.08 Brokers. No Broker is entitled to any brokerage, finder's or
other fee or commission in connection with the Transactions based upon
arrangements made by or on behalf of any Stockholder.

      SECTION 4.09 Disclosure. No representation or warranty by any of the
Stockholders, nor any statement or certificate furnished or to be furnished by
or on behalf of the Stockholders, or any Person acting on their behalf, to
Parent or its representatives in this Agreement or in any attachment or schedule
hereto, contains any untrue statement of a material fact, or omits to state any
material fact required to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

                                    ARTICLE V

                Representations and Warranties of Parent and Sub

      Except as set forth in the disclosure schedules delivered by Parent to the
Company on the date hereof (the "Parent Disclosure Schedule") or as disclosed in
the Parent SEC Reports (as defined in Section 5.06), with such disclosure being
specifically referenced in the Parent Disclosure Schedules, Parent and Sub
represent and warrant to the Company as follows:

      SECTION 5.01 Organization; Authority.

            (a) Power to Enter into the Agreement. Each of Parent and Sub and
their Subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Each of Parent and Sub has the
power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each other
document to be executed and delivered by them under this Agreement, to perform
their obligations under such documents, and to consummate the Merger and any
other transactions contemplated by it pursuant to this Agreement. Prior to the
date of

                                      -23-
<PAGE>

this Agreement, each of Parent and Sub has delivered to the Company a complete
and correct copy of the organizational documents of Parent and Sub, as amended
to such date, and such organizational documents are in full force and effect.

            (b) Authorization of Agreement. Each of Parent and Sub and their
Subsidiaries, by requisite corporate action, authorized the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and each other document to be executed and delivered
by them under this Agreement, and the consummation of the Transactions to which
they are a party in accordance with Applicable Law. Each of Parent and Sub has
given the Company evidence of such approval in a form reasonably satisfactory to
the Company.

            (c) Execution of Agreement. Each of Parent and Sub has duly executed
and delivered this Agreement and each other document to be executed and
delivered by it under this Agreement.

            (d) Agreement Binds the Parent and Sub. This Agreement and each
other document to be executed and delivered by each of Parent and Sub under this
Agreement constitutes (or, when executed and delivered, will constitute) the
valid and legally binding obligations of each of Parent and Sub and their
Subsidiaries, enforceable against them in accordance with their terms (subject
to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other
similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of
equity, regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or
at law).

      SECTION 5.02 Sub.

            (a) Since the date of its incorporation, Sub has not carried on any
business or conducted any operations other than the execution of this Agreement,
the performance of its obligations hereunder and matters ancillary thereto.

            (b) The authorized capital stock of Sub consists of 300 shares of
common stock, par value $.01 per share, 300 of which have been validly issued,
are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned directly by Parent free and clear
of any Lien.

      SECTION 5.03 No Conflicts. Except as stated in Schedule 5.03, each of
Parent and Sub's execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and of
each other document to be executed and delivered by them under this Agreement,
and the consummation of the Transactions, will not:

            (a) conflict with, or result in a breach of, a provision of each
Parent and Sub's organizational documents;

            (b) conflict with, or result in a breach of, a provision of a
contract, agreement or undertaking to which the Parent or Sub is a party, or by
which it or any of its assets or properties is bound;

            (c) give rise to a right of termination, cancellation, amendment or
acceleration of an obligation or loss of a benefit affecting, or result in the
imposition of any Liens on, any of its assets; or

                                      -24-
<PAGE>

            (d) violate Applicable Law.

      SECTION 5.04 Consents; Governmental Approvals. Except for any Consents
listed in Schedule 5.04, Parent and Sub do not need any Consent or Governmental
Approval in connection with the Parent and Sub:

            (a) executing and delivering this Agreement and each other document
to be executed and delivered by them under this Agreement;

            (b) performing their obligations under this Agreement and each other
document to be executed and delivered by them under this Agreement; and

            (c) consummating the Transactions.

      SECTION 5.05 Disclosure. No representation or warranty by Parent or Sub,
nor any statement or certificate furnished or to be furnished by or on behalf of
the Parent, Sub, or any Person acting on their behalf, to the Company, the
Stockholders or their representatives in connection with or under this
Agreement, contains any untrue statement of a material fact, or omits to state
any material fact required to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

      SECTION 5.06 SEC Filings; Financial Statements.

            (a) Parent has timely filed or otherwise transmitted all forms,
reports, statements, certifications and other documents (including all exhibits,
amendments and supplements thereto) required to be filed by it with the SEC
since June 1, 2004 (all such forms, reports, statements, certificates and other
documents filed by Parent with the SEC, whether or not required to be filed,
collectively, the "Parent SEC Reports"). Each of Parent's SEC Reports, as
amended, complied as to form in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the "Exchange Act"), each as in
effect on the date so filed and with then applicable accounting standards. None
of Parent SEC Reports, when filed as amended, contained any untrue statement of
a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated or
incorporated by reference therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.

            (b) Each of the consolidated financial statements of Parent and its
Subsidiaries (including the related notes and schedules) included in Parent SEC
Reports comply as to form in all material respect with the published rules and
regulations of the SEC applicable thereto and have been prepared in accordance
with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except
as may be indicated in the notes thereto). Each of the consolidated balance
sheets of Parent and its Subsidiaries included in Parent SEC Reports (including
the related notes and schedules) fairly presents, in all material respects, the
consolidated financial position of Parent and its Subsidiaries at the respective
dates thereof and each of the related consolidated statements of operations,
cash flows and changes in stockholders' equity included in Parent SEC Reports
(including any related notes and schedules) fairly presents, in all material
respects, the results of operations and cash flows of Parent and its
Subsidiaries for the periods indicated (subject, in the case of unaudited
statements, to normal period-end adjustments).

                                      -25-
<PAGE>

      SECTION 5.07 Availability of Merger Consideration. Shares of Parent Common
Stock shall have been duly authorized and, when issued at Closing, will be
validly issued, fully paid and nonassesable. Parent shall have sufficient funds
to enable it to consummate the Transactions.

      SECTION 5.08 No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as specifically disclosed
in Schedule 5.08, to Parent's knowledge: (i) Parent (including, without
limitation by reason of any activities of, or relating to, any of its
Subsidiaries) and Sub do not have any liabilities or obligations of any nature,
whether known or unknown, absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether
due or to become due, and (ii) there is no existing condition, situation or set
of circumstances which could reasonably be expected to result in such
liabilities or obligations, except for liabilities and obligations that:

            (a) were specifically disclosed or reserved against on the balance
sheet included in the financial statements of Parent for the financial year
ended December 31, 2004 or specifically disclosed in the notes to that balance
sheet (but, in either case, only to the extent so disclosed or reserved
against); or

            (b) were incurred after December 31, 2004, in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice, and individually or in the aggregate
have not had, and could not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse
Effect on Parent.

      SECTION 5.09 Brokers. No Broker is entitled to any brokerage, finder's or
other fee or commission in connection with the Transactions based upon
arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent.

      SECTION 5.10 Compliance with Laws, etc.

            (a) None of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is or has been in
violation of Applicable Law applying to it or any of its properties or business,
except where such violation would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as
disclosed in the Parent SEC Reports, to Parent's knowledge, each of Parent and
each of its Subsidiaries has been in compliance with, and has not received
written notice of a material violation of, the laws, regulations, ordinances and
rules (including those of any non-governmental self-regulatory agencies)
relating to broker-dealer activities.

            (b) The Governmental Approvals needed to conduct Parent's and its
Subsidiaries' business has been duly obtained and is in full force and effect.
Parent has received no written notice of the commencement of any formal
proceedings (and, to Parent's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened)
that would reasonably be expected to result in the revocation, cancellation or
suspension, or any adverse modification, of a Governmental Approval which Parent
or any if its Subsidiaries has received.

      SECTION 5.11 No Material Adverse Effect. Since March 31, 2005, Parent has
not experienced any Material Adverse Effect.

      SECTION 5.12 Capitalization. As of the date hereof, the authorized capital
stock of Parent consists of 30,000,000 shares of Parent Common Stock, of which
there are 4,700,713

                                      -26-
<PAGE>

shares of Parent Common Stock issued and outstanding. There are 1,808,835 shares
of Parent Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options, and
200,000 shares of Parent Common Stock are issuable in conjunction with
convertible debt outstanding. All outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock are
duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                              Additional Agreements

      SECTION 6.01 Commercially Reasonable Efforts. (a) Upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, each of the parties
agrees to use all commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken,
all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with
the other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable to
consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the
Merger and the other Transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including (i)
the obtaining of all necessary actions or nonactions, waivers, consents and
approvals from Governmental Entities and the making of all necessary
registrations and filings and the taking of all steps as may be necessary to
obtain an approval or waiver from, or to avoid an action or proceeding by, any
Governmental Entity, (ii) the obtaining of all necessary consents, approvals or
waivers from third parties, (iii) the defending of any lawsuits or other legal
proceedings, whether judicial or administrative, challenging this Agreement or
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including
seeking to have any stay or temporary restraining order entered by any court or
other Governmental Entity vacated or reversed, and (iv) the execution and
delivery of any additional instruments necessary to consummate the transactions
contemplated by, and to fully carry out the purposes of, this Agreement.

      SECTION 6.02 Consents and Approvals. The Company and the Stockholders
shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be delivered to Parent
all consents and approvals necessary from the independent certified public
accountants of the Company to allow Parent to incorporate, utilize, publish or
otherwise disclose the Company Financial Statements in order to facilitate
Parent's reporting requirements with any Governmental Entity in accordance with
Applicable Law, including the SEC.

      SECTION 6.03 Resignation of the Company Board of Directors. The Company
shall obtain written letters of resignation from each of the current members of
the Company Board of Directors, in each case effective immediately upon the
Effective Time, and the successor directors listed in Section 1.06(a) hereof
shall be elected to the Company's Board of Directors on the Closing Date.

      SECTION 6.04 Board of Directors. On the closing date, the Board of
Directors of Parent shall consist of the following seven (7) directors: John
Gorman, Chairman of the Board; William Ingelhart, Director; Charles Mayer,
Director; Dennis Punches, Director; Barry Williamson, Director; Clark N. Wilson,
Director; and Jared E. Abbruzzese, Sr., Vice Chairman of the Board.

                                      -27-
<PAGE>

      SECTION 6.05 Directors and Officers Insurance Continuation. Parent shall
use all commercially reasonable efforts to maintain directors and officers
liability insurance in amounts and on terms at least as favorable as are
presently provided to the Board of Directors of Parent.

      SECTION 6.06 Key Man Insurance. Promptly after the Closing Date, the
Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to
obtain, in favor of Parent, life, disability, accident and other insurance
covering Jared E. Abbruzzese, Sr. and Wayne Barr, Jr. in an amount equivalent to
forty five million dollars ($45 million) and five million dollars ($5 million),
respectively. Jared E. Abbruzzese, Sr. and Wayne Barr, Jr. shall have no right,
title or interest in or to such insurance.

                                  ARTICLE VII .

                              Conditions Precedent

      SECTION 7.01 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation To Effect the Merger.
The respective obligations of each party to effect the Merger and the
Transactions related thereto shall be subject to the satisfaction at or prior to
the Effective Time of the following conditions, any or all of which may be
waived in writing by a party with respect only to itself, in whole or in part,
to the extent permitted by Applicable Law:

            (a) No Litigation. No judgment, order, decree, statute, law,
ordinance, rule or regulation, entered, enacted, promulgated, enforced or issued
by any court or other Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction or other
legal restraint or prohibition (collectively, "Restraints") shall be in effect,
and there shall not be pending any suit, action or proceeding by any
Governmental Entity (i) preventing the consummation of the Merger or (ii) which
otherwise is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company
or Parent, as applicable; provided, however, that each of the parties shall have
used its reasonable efforts to prevent the entry of any such Restraints and to
appeal as promptly as possible any such Restraints that may be entered.

            (b) Government Approvals. All necessary Government Approvals shall
have been obtained.

            (c) Certificate of Merger. The Company and Sub shall have executed
and delivered the Certificate of Merger in accordance with Section 1.03.

      SECTION 7.02 Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Sub. The obligation
of Parent and Sub to effect the Merger is further subject to satisfaction or
waiver of the following conditions:

            (a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties of the Company and the Stockholders set forth herein shall be true
and correct.

            (b) Agreements and Covenants. The Company and each Stockholder shall
have performed and complied with all of their covenants hereunder in all
material respects through the Closing.

                                      -28-
<PAGE>

            (c) Consents and Approvals. All Consents, waivers, notices,
authorizations and approvals set forth on Schedules 3.06 and 4.04 shall have
been duly obtained in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Parent
and shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date.

            (d) Employment Agreements. The Company shall have caused Jared E.
Abbruzzese, Sr. to enter into an employment arrangement, and shall have caused
Wayne Barr, Jr. and Shawn O'Donnell to enter into an employment agreement with
Parent (collectively, the "Employment Agreements" ) at or before the Effective
Time. Wayne Barr, Jr.'s and Shawn O'Donnell's Employment Agreements shall be
substantially in the form of Exhibits D-1 and D-2 hereto.

            (e) Affiliate Letters. The Company shall have prepared and caused to
be delivered to Parent, prior to the Effective Time, a list identifying all
Stockholders of the Company who the Company deems to be Affiliates and shall
have caused each such Stockholder to execute and deliver to Parent an agreement
substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto (the "Affiliate Letters").

            (f) Escrow Agreement. Parent shall have received the Escrow
Agreement executed and delivered by Parent, the Escrow Agent and the Holders,
prior to the Effective Time.

            (g) Opinion of Counsel. Parent shall have received an opinion,
addressed to it and dated the Closing Date, of Day, Berry & Howard LLP, special
counsel to the Company and the Holders, in the form of Exhibit F hereto.

            (h) Opinion of Financial Advisor. Parent shall have received an
opinion of C.E. Unterberg, Towbin, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that,
as of such date, the Merger Consideration to be paid by Parent is fair from a
financial point of view.

            (i) Resignation of the Company Board of Directors. Parent shall have
received written letters of resignation from each of the current members of the
Company Board of Directors, in each case effective immediately upon the
Effective Time.

            (j) Delivery of Shareholder Shares. Shareholders shall have
delivered to Parent the Certificates representing the Total Outstanding Company
Shares at or prior to the Effective Time.

            (k) Registered Investment Adviser. The Company shall be duly
registered as an investment adviser with the Investment Advisor Registration
Depository sponsored by the SEC with the states of Virginia and New York.

            (l) Insider Trading Policy. Each Employee of the Company shall have
executed Parent's insider trading and blackout period policy, in each case at or
before the Effective Time.

            (m) Non-Compete Agreements. Each of John Gorman, Wayne Barr, Jr. and
Jared E. Abbruzzese, Sr (collectively, the "Non-Compete Parties") shall have
entered a non-

                                      -29-
<PAGE>

compete and non-solicit agreement with Parent substantially in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit G (the "Non-Compete").

            (n) Stockholder Spousal Consent. Any Stockholder whose interest in
the Company Common Stock may be subject to community or marital property at the
Effective Time shall obtain and deliver to Parent an executed consent of spouse
in the form of Exhibit H hereto, in each case effective at or before the
Effective Time.

            (o) Good Standing Certificates. The Company shall deliver to Parent
certificates of good standing or existence from the Secretaries of State of
Delaware and every other state of the United States in which the conduct of its
business or the ownership of its properties and assets requires it to be so
qualified dated as of the Closing Date.

      SECTION 7.03 Conditions to Obligations of the Company. The obligation of
the Company to effect the Merger is further subject to satisfaction or waiver of
the following conditions:

            (a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties of Parent and Sub set forth herein shall be true and correct.

            (b) Agreements and Covenants. The Parent and Sub shall have
performed and complied with all of their covenants hereunder in all material
respects through the Closing.

            (c) Consents and Approvals. All Consents, waivers, notices,
authorizations and approvals set forth on Schedule 5.04 shall have been duly
obtained in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent and shall be in
full force and effect on the Closing Date.

            (d) Registration Rights Agreement. Parent shall have, prior to the
Effective Time, prepared and caused to be delivered to the Stockholders the
Registration Rights Agreements in connection with the resale of the Parent
Common Stock.

            (e) Closing Payments. Parent shall have delivered to the
Stockholders the Merger Consideration required to be paid in exchange for the
Total Outstanding Company Shares pursuant to Article II.

            (f) Employment Agreements. Parent shall have entered into an
Employment Agreement with each of Jared E. Abbruzzese, Sr., Wayne Barr, Jr. and
Shawn O'Donnell at or before the Effective Time.

            (g) Board of Directors. The board of directors of Parent shall be
constituted as specified in Section 6.05 hereof, and the board of directors of
the Surviving Company shall be constituted as specified in Section 1.06(a)
hereof.

            (h) Stockholder Approval of Increased Authorized Capital. The
stockholders of Parent shall have approved the amendment to the certificate of
incorporation of Parent increasing the authorized capital stock of Parent, as
specified in the definitive proxy statement of Parent filed with the SEC on May
2, 2005.

                                      -30-
<PAGE>

            (i) Non-Compete. Each of the Non-Compete Parties shall have signed
the Non-Compete.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                 Indemnification

      SECTION 8.01 Indemnification of Parties.

            (a) Subject to the limitations set forth in this Article VIII, the
Holders shall, jointly and severally, indemnify, defend and hold harmless
Parent, Sub, the Company and their respective officers, directors, Employees,
Affiliates, and agents (the "Tejas Indemnified Parties") from any and all
losses, costs, expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys'
and independent accountants' fees and disbursements), liabilities, damages
(excluding incidental, consequential or punitive damages), fines, penalties,
charges, assessments, judgments, settlements, claims, causes of action and other
obligations of any nature whatsoever (individually, a "Loss" and collectively,
"Losses") that the Tejas Indemnified Parties suffer related to, arising out of,
or in connection with:

                  (i) Any breach of any representation, warranty or covenant of
the Company;

                  (ii) Any Liability related to the operation of the Company's
business and the LLCs' business up to and including the Closing Date;

                  (iii) Any Liability to any other Stockholder or member of the
LLCs;

                  (iv) Any Liability for Taxes (and all damages arising from
such Liability) owed in any jurisdiction relating to transaction effected or
activities conducted by the Company (including the LLCs) at or prior to the
Effective Time;

                  (v) Any Liability incurred in connection with the making or
performance of this Agreement and the Transactions; and

                  (vi) Any Liability arising as a result of any legal or
equitable action or judicial or administrative proceeding initiated at any time,
to the extent related to any matter covered by subsections (i) through (v)
above;

provided, however, that subject to any shorter survival period set forth in
Section 8.02 hereof and subject to the exception stated in Section 8.02 for
fraud or willful malfeasance, no claim may be brought under this Section 8.01
after the fourth anniversary from the Closing Date.

            (b) Subject to the limitations set forth in this Article VIII, the
Holders, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless
the Tejas Indemnified Parties from any and all Losses that Tejas Indemnified
Parties suffer related to, arising out of, or in connection with any breach of
any representation, warranty or covenant of such Stockholder.

                                      -31-
<PAGE>

      SECTION 8.02 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All
representations and warranties of the Company and of the Stockholders in this
Agreement or any other Transaction agreement shall survive the Closing until the
second anniversary of the Closing Date, provided, however, that (a) all the
Company representations and warranties relating to Taxes and Environmental
matters shall survive for the period of the statute of limitations with respect
to the respective claim and those in Section 3.01, Section 3.03, Section 3.06,
Section 3.13, Section 3.18, Section 4.01, Section 4.04, Section 4.05 through
Section 4.07 shall survive the Closing until the fourth anniversary of the
Closing Date (provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
in this Agreement, a claim for indemnity which is related to a Liability which
results from intentional fraud or willful malfeasance shall not have the benefit
of any of the limitations set forth herein); and (b) all covenants of the
Company and the Stockholders in this Agreement or any other Transaction
agreement shall survive for the life of such covenant. The right to
indemnification, payment or other remedy based on the representations,
warranties, covenants or obligations contained in this Agreement (and any right
to indemnification for breach thereof) shall not be affected by any
investigation, verification or examination conducted by any party hereto or by
any representative of any such party, or by any such party's knowledge acquired
(or capable of being acquired) at any time, whether before or after the
Effective Time, with respect to the accuracy or inaccuracy of or compliance
with, any such representation, warranty, covenant or obligation.

      SECTION 8.03 Procedures for Indemnification. Promptly after receipt by a
Tejas Indemnified Party of written notice of the assertion or the commencement
of any proceeding by a third-party with respect to any matter referred to in
Section 8.01, the Tejas Indemnified Party shall give written notice thereof to
the Holders, and thereafter shall keep the Holders reasonably informed with
respect thereto; provided, however, that failure of the Tejas Indemnified Party
to give the Holders notice as provided herein shall not relieve the Holders of
their obligations hereunder, except to the extent that the Holders are
prejudiced thereby. A claim for indemnification for any matter not involving a
third-party proceeding may be asserted by notice to the Holders and shall be
paid promptly after such notice.

      If the facts pertaining to a Loss arise out of the claim of any third
party, or if there is any claim against a third party available by virtue of the
circumstances of the Loss, the Holders may assume the defense or the prosecution
thereof by prompt written notice to the Tejas Indemnified Party, including the
employment of counsel or accountants, at its sole cost and expense. In
connection therewith, the Holders shall acknowledge that such claim is the
proper subject of indemnification under Section 8.01; provided, however, that
the foregoing shall not foreclose the Holders from taking the position that the
Loss is governed by Section 8.06 hereof. The Tejas Indemnified Party shall have
the right to employ counsel separate from counsel employed by the Holders in any
such action and to participate therein, but the fees and expenses of such
counsel employed by the Tejas Indemnified Party shall be at its sole cost and
expense. Neither the Holders nor the Tejas Indemnified Party shall be liable for
any settlement of any such claim effected without their respective prior written
consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided that if the Holders
do not assume the defense or prosecution of a claim as provided above within
thirty (30) days after notice thereof from the Tejas Indemnified Party, the
Tejas Indemnified Party may settle such claim without the Holders' consent.
Whether or not the Holders choose to so defend or prosecute such claim, all the
parties hereto shall cooperate in the defense or prosecution thereof and shall
furnish such records, information and testimony, and

                                      -32-
<PAGE>

attend such conferences, discovery proceedings, hearings, trials and appeals, as
may be reasonably requested in connection therewith.

      SECTION 8.04 Escrow Amount. To secure the Holders' obligations pursuant to
the provisions of this Article VIII, and notwithstanding each Holder's several
and not joint liability in Section 8.01(b), the Holders have agreed, as
described in Section 2.02(a) and Section 2.02(d), to place the Escrow Amount in
escrow with the Escrow Agent, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Escrow
Agreement. Nothing in this Section 8.04 shall be construed as limiting the
Holders' Liability to the Tejas Indemnified Parties to the Escrow Amount, nor
shall payments from the Escrow Amount be considered as liquidated damages for
any breach under this Agreement or any other Transaction agreement.

      SECTION 8.05 Limitations on Indemnification. Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary;

            (a) the Holders shall not be obligated to indemnify the Tejas
Indemnified Parties under this Article VIII unless the aggregate of all the
Tejas Indemnified Parties' Losses exceeds Two Hundred Thousand Dollars
($200,000) (the "Holders' Basket"), in which case the Tejas Indemnified Party
shall be entitled to recover all Tejas Indemnified Parties' Losses, including
the amount equal to the Holders' Basket. Each Holder's obligations under this
Article VIII shall not exceed the Share Merger Consideration held by such Holder
as of the date of the claim brought by the Tejas Indemnified Party (such
amounts, the "Holder's Shares"), and any indemnification payable pursuant to
this Article VIII shall be paid only in Holder's Shares, based on their Fair
Market Value. Indemnity obligations hereunder shall first be satisfied through
the release of the Parent Common Stock pursuant to the Escrow Agreement and then
directly against the Holders in an amount limited to each Holder's Shares.

      SECTION 8.06 Contribution. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, the following provisions shall govern the obligations of the
parties hereto relating to Losses arising out of any transaction that is the
subject of any agreements (individually, a "Prior Agreement" and, collectively,
the "Prior Agreements") executed between the Company and either Parent or any
Subsidiary of Parent (the "Parent Entities"), other than this Agreement, the
Letter of Intent dated May 9, 2005 between the Company and Parent, as amended on
June 16, 2005, or any of the Transaction agreements. Parent and the Holders
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable in respect of any such Loss
relating to any transaction that is the subject of a Prior Agreement in
proportion to the amount paid to the Parent Entities under or relating to such
Prior Agreement and the amount paid to the Company (including, for such
purposes, the LLCs and any Affiliate of the Company or the LLCs) (collectively,
the "Seller Parties") under or relating to such Prior Agreement; provided,
however, that in the event it is found by a court of final determination that
such Loss resulted from the fault (either partial or entire) of any of the
Parent Entities or Seller Parties, then such contribution shall be in proportion
as is appropriate under equitable considerations to reflect the relative fault
of each such party, determined by reference to, among other considerations, the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such Loss from occurring.

      SECTION 8.07 Reduction for Insurance Coverage and Tax Benefits. Each Tejas
Indemnified Party shall take all reasonable steps to mitigate any Losses for
which such person

                                      -33-
<PAGE>

may be entitled to indemnification hereunder, including by submitting to the
applicable insurance carrier any claim eligible for coverage under any insurance
policy available to such Indemnified Party. The amount of Losses shall be
reduced by the amount of insurance benefits and proceeds received by the Tejas
Indemnified Party in respect of the Losses, if any. Further, the amount of
Losses shall be reduced (retroactively, if necessary) by any tax benefits
actually recovered by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party in relation to the
claim giving rise to such Losses.

      SECTION 8.08 Sole Remedy. After the Closing, (x) the rights and remedies
set forth in this Article VIII shall constitute the sole and exclusive rights
and remedies of the Tejas Indemnified Parties hereto following the Closing under
or with respect to any breach of a representation and warranty, covenant or
other obligation of this Agreement, except that Parent shall be entitled to seek
remedies outside of this Article VIII for breaches by Stockholders, other than
the Holders, of any of their representations, warranties or covenants, up to the
value of the Merger Consideration such Stockholder received pursuant to the
Merger valued, in the case of Share Merger Consideration, on the Fair Market
Value thereof, and (y) the rights and remedies set forth in Section 8.06 shall
constitute the sole and exclusive rights and remedies of any Party to this
Agreement following the Closing under or with respect to a Prior Agreement
between one or more Parent Entities and one or more Seller Parties, except for
Losses attributable to fraud or intentional malfeasance, in which case the
aggrieved party shall have recourse to all remedies at law or in equity,
including but not limited to the Escrow Amount. If it shall be judicially
determined by final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction that any claim
of indemnification pursuant to the terms of this Agreement is unenforceable or
is otherwise to be limited, then the Tejas Indemnified Party shall be entitled
to contribution from the Holders under just and equitable principles, which
shall in no event exceed the amount they would have been entitled to pursuant to
the indemnification provisions of this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                   Definitions

      SECTION 9.01 Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:

            (a) "Affiliate" of any Person means another Person that directly or
indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, control, is controlled by, or is
under common control with, such first Person, where "control" means the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management policies of a Person, whether through the ownership
of voting securities, by contract, as trustee or executor, or otherwise;

            (b) "Applicable Law" means all provisions applying to a Person or
its property of (i) constitutions, treaties, statutes, laws (including the
common law), rules, regulations, ordinances or orders of a Governmental Entity
(including the SEC) having jurisdiction over the Person; (ii) Governmental
Approvals; (iii) orders, decisions, injunctions, judgments, awards and decrees
of or agreements with a Governmental Entity having jurisdiction over the Person;
(iv) Applicable Securities Law; and (v) GAAP.

                                      -34-
<PAGE>

            (c) "Applicable Securities Law" means the Investment Advisers Act of
1940, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Exchange Act, the Securities Act,
ERISA, applicable blue sky laws and securities regulations and the other
Applicable Laws relating to securities, investment companies, investment
advisers or employee benefits.

            (d) "Associated Person" of a Person means (i) his or her Affiliate;
(ii) his or her immediate family member; (iii) an Affiliate of his or her
immediate family member; and (iv) a trust which is solely or primarily for the
benefit of that Person or his or her Associated Persons.

            (e) "Business Day" means any day other than (i) a Saturday or a
Sunday or (ii) a day on which banking and savings and loan institutions are
authorized or required by law to be closed in New York.

            (f) "Consent" means any consent, approval, authorization, waiver,
permit, grant, franchise, concession, agreement, license, exemption or order of,
registration, declaration or filing with, or report or notice to, a Person.

            (g) "Encumbrances" means any lien, pledge, hypothecation, charge,
mortgage, security interest, encumbrance, charge, adverse claim, preferential
arrangement, order, condition or restriction of any nature (including any
restriction on the voting of any security, any restriction on the transfer of
any security or other asset, any restriction on the receipt of any income
derived from any asset, any restriction on the use of any asset and any
restriction on the possession, exercise or transfer of any other attribute of
ownership of any asset).

            (h) "Environmental Law" means an Applicable Law or related
requirement regulating or relating to human health or safety or the protection
of natural resources or the indoor or outdoor environment (including Applicable
Laws relating to pollution, contamination or the handling, release or disposal
of Hazardous Substances).

            (i) "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the DOL and
the IRS promulgated under it.

            (j) "ERISA Affiliate" means any entity that is, or at any relevant
time was, required to be treated with the Company as a single employer under
Code Section 414 or ERISA Section 4001 or the regulations under such sections.

            (k) "Fair Market Value" means the average of the closing prices of a
share of Parent Common Stock for (x) the fifteen trading days preceding the date
of claim by the Tejas Indemnified Party, (y) the date of such claim (if a
trading day) and (z) the fourteen or fifteen (if the date of the claim under
this Article VIII is not a trading day) trading days after the date of such
claim on the principal national securities exchange on which the Parent Common
Stock is listed at such time or, if not so listed or quoted, the mean between
the closing bid and asked prices of publicly traded shares of Parent Common
Stock in the over-the counter market or, if such bid and asked prices shall not
be available, as reported by any nationally recognized quotation service
selected by the Parent or if not so reported, the Closing Price.

                                      -35-
<PAGE>

            (l) "Governmental Approval" means a Consent of, with or to a
Governmental Entity (including the expiration of any waiting or other time
period required to pass before governmental consent or acquiescence may be
assumed or relied on).

            (m) "Governmental Entity" means any federal, state, local or foreign
government, any court, administrative, regulatory or other governmental agency,
commission or authority or any non-governmental self-regulatory, commission or
authority.

            (n) "Hazardous Substances" means substances, materials, chemicals,
compounds, products, pollutants or contaminants that (i) are or contain
asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls,
petroleum, petroleum products or petroleum-derived substances or wastes, radon
gas or related materials; or (ii) may require remedial action or preventative
action (including performing studies, monitoring or testing) under an
Environmental Law, or are defined, listed or identified as a "hazardous waste"
or "hazardous substance" or words of similar import under an Environmental Law;
or (iii) are toxic, explosive, corrosive, flammable, infectious, radioactive,
carcinogenic, mutagenic, or otherwise hazardous and are regulated by any
Governmental Entity or Environmental Law.

            (o) "Intellectual Property" means (i) registered and unregistered
United States and foreign trademarks, service marks, trade names, trade dress,
copyrights, Internet domain names, web sites, email addresses, telephone numbers
(including 800/888 or similar numbers) and similar rights (including
registrations and applications to register, or renew the registration of, any of
these); (ii) United States and foreign patents and patent applications; (iii)
inventions, processes, designs, formulae, trade secrets, know-how, and
confidential information; (iv) computer software, data and documentation; (v)
similar intellectual property rights; (vi) all rights to sue for and remedies
against past, present and future infringements of any of the above, and rights
of priority and protection of interests in any of the above under Applicable
Law; (vii) tangible embodiments of any of the above (in any medium including
electronic media); and (ix) licenses of any of the above.

            (p) "Liability" means any debt, obligation, duty or liability of any
nature (including any unknown, undisclosed, unmatured, unaccrued, unasserted,
contingent, indirect, conditional, implied, vicarious, derivative, joint,
several or secondary liability), regardless of whether such debt, obligation,
duty or liability would be required to be disclosed on a balance sheet prepared
in accordance with GAAP and regardless of whether such debt, obligation, duty or
liability is immediately due and payable.

            (q) "Lien" means a mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, right of others,
claim, security interest, encumbrance, title defect, title retention agreement,
voting trust agreement, interest, equity, option, lien, charge, restriction on
transfer or assignment, or other restriction or limitation of any nature.

            (r) "Material Adverse Effect" means, when used in connection with
the Company (including, for purposes of this definition, the LLCs) or Parent,
any change, effect, circumstance, development, event, occurrence or state of
facts that, individually or in the aggregate, (a) is or could reasonably be
expected to be, materially adverse to the business, prospects, Employee
relations, properties (including intangible properties), assets, profits,

                                      -36-
<PAGE>

liabilities (contingent or otherwise), condition (financial or otherwise) or
results of operations, taken as a whole, except to the extent that any such
change, event, condition or effect directly results from: (A) changes in general
economic conditions (provided that such changes do not affect such entity
disproportionately as compared to such entity's competitors); or (B) changes
affecting the industry generally in which such entity operates (provided that
such changes do not affect such entity disproportionately as compared to such
entity's competitors), or (b) that could impair the ability to perform its
obligations hereunder.

            (s) "Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated
organization or other entity;

            (t) a "Subsidiary" of any Person means another Person, an amount of
the voting securities, other voting ownership or voting partnership interests of
which is sufficient to elect at least a majority of its Board of Directors or
other governing body (or, if there are no such voting interests, fifty percent
(50%) or more of the equity interests of which) which is owned directly or
indirectly by such first Person;

            (u) "Taxes" means taxes, levies or other like assessments, charges
or fees (including estimated taxes, charges and fees), including income,
corporation, add-on minimum, ad valorem, advance corporation, gross receipts,
transfer, excise, property, sales, use, value-added, license, payroll,
employment, severance, withholding, social security and franchise or other
governmental taxes, imposed by the United States or any state, local or foreign
government or subdivision or agency of any of these, and also including interest
and penalties attributable to any of these, and additions to them and any
obligations under any agreements or arrangements with any other person with
respect to such amounts and including any Liability for taxes of a predecessor
entity.

            (v) "Tax Return" means a report, return, statement or other written
information required to be supplied to a Tax authority in connection with Taxes.

                                    ARTICLE X

                               General Provisions

      SECTION 10.01 Dispute Resolution. Resolution of any dispute arising from
or in connection with this Agreement, including but not limited to any disputes
relating to indemnification pursuant to Article VIII, shall be exclusively
governed by and settled in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10.01.
The parties shall make a good faith attempt to resolve any dispute arising out
of or relating to this Agreement through informal negotiation between
appropriate representatives of the Stockholders and Parent. If at any time
either party contends that such negotiations are not leading to a resolution of
the dispute, such party may request a meeting of the senior executives from each
party. Within ten (10) business days after such notice of a dispute is given,
each party shall select appropriate senior executives of each party who shall
have the authority to resolve the matter and shall meet to attempt in good faith
to negotiate a resolution of the dispute prior to pursuing other available
remedies. Discussions and correspondence among the senior executives for
purposes of these negotiations shall be treated as confidential information and
may not be disclosed without the prior written consent of both

                                      -37-
<PAGE>

parties. In the event that any dispute arising out of or related to this
Agreement is not settled by the parties within thirty (30) days after the first
meeting of the negotiating senior executives, the dispute will be settled by
arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American
Arbitration Association ("AAA") then in effect, and judgment upon the award
rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court of competent
jurisdiction. Any such arbitration shall be conducted in New York City. Unless
otherwise agreed, the arbitration will be presided over by a single arbitrator.
The arbitrator shall control the scheduling so as to process the matter
expeditiously. The arbitrator may not make any ruling, finding or award that
does not conform to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Either party,
before or during any arbitration, may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction
for a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction where such relief is
necessary to protect its interests pending completion of the arbitration
proceedings. Neither party nor the arbitrators may disclose the evidence or
result of any arbitration hereunder without the prior written consent of both
parties. Before arbitration or any other form of legal or equitable proceeding,
the aggrieved party shall give the other party written notice describing the
dispute and amount as to which it intends to initiate action and the prior
effort it has made to resolve such dispute. The parties agree that this
Agreement involves interstate commerce and, notwithstanding any choice of law
provisions in this Agreement, any arbitration hereunder shall be governed by the
Federal Arbitration Act (or any successor thereto). A party seeking discovery
shall reimburse the responding party the cost of production of documents. The
arbitrator shall award attorney's fees, the fees of the arbitration and the fees
of the arbitrator to the party prevailing in the arbitration. If no party has
clearly prevailed, fees and expenses shall be allocated in accordance with the
arbitrator's determination based on equitable considerations. In no event shall
either party be liable to the other party for any punitive damages.

      SECTION 10.02 Expenses. Except as set forth in the Escrow Agreement, each
of the parties shall bear its own costs and expenses (including legal fees and
expenses) incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions
contemplated hereby. The Stockholders shall bear all such costs of the Company.

      SECTION 10.03 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall not
confer any rights or remedies upon any Person other than the parties and their
respective successors and permitted assigns.

      SECTION 10.04 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including the Company
Disclosure Schedules, Parent Disclosure Schedules and Exhibits attached hereto,
constitute the entire agreement among the parties and supersedes any prior
understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties, written
or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof.

      SECTION 10.05 Incorporation of Exhibits and Schedules. The Company
Disclosure Schedules and Parent Disclosure Schedules and the Exhibits attached
hereto are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. Any
information or matter disclosed in any schedule of the Company Disclosure
Schedules or Parent Disclosure Schedules shall be deemed disclosed in each and
every other schedule of such disclosure schedules, if, by the nature of the
disclosure, a reasonable Person would believe that such disclosure should be
repeated, regardless of whether a specific cross reference is made.

                                      -38-
<PAGE>

      SECTION 10.06 Succession and Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the parties named herein and their respective
successors and permitted assigns. No party may assign either this Agreement or
any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written
approval of Parent and the Company.

      SECTION 10.07 Counterparts and Facsimile Signatures. This Agreement may be
executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
The counterparts of this Agreement may be executed and delivered by facsimile
signature by any of the parties to any other party and the receiving party may
rely on the receipt of such document so executed and delivered by facsimile as
if the original had been received.

      SECTION 10.08 Headings. The section headings contained in this Agreement
are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.

      SECTION 10.09 Notices. All notices, requests, demands, claims, and other
communications hereunder will be in writing. Any notice, request, demand, claim,
or other communication hereunder shall be deemed properly delivered, given and
received when delivered (by hand, by registered mail, by courier or express
delivery services or by facsimile); provided that if delivered on a date that is
not a Business Day or after 5:00 p.m. on a Business Day (in each case at the
place of delivery), such notice, request, demand, claim or other communication
shall be deemed delivered on the next succeeding Business Day; provided, further
that such notice, request, demand, claim or other communication is delivered to
the applicable party at the party's address or facsimile number as set forth
below,

                      (a)  If to Parent, addressed to it at:

                           Tejas Incorporated
                           2700 Via Fortuna, Suite 400
                           Austin, TX 78746
                           Attention: Kurt J. Rechner
                           Fax: 512-306-1528

                           With a copy to:

                           Morrison & Foerster LLP
                           1290 Avenue of the Americas
                           New York, NY 10104
                           Fax:  212-468-7900
                           Attention:  John R. Hempill, Esq.

                                      -39-
<PAGE>

            (b)   If to the Company prior to the Effective Time, addressed to it
                  at:

                  Capital & Technology Advisors, Inc.
                  18 Corporate Woods Boulevard
                  Third Floor
                  Albany, NY 12211
                  Attention: Wayne Barr, Jr.

                  with a copy to:

                  Day, Berry & Howard LLP
                  260 Franklin Street
                  Boston, MA 02110
                  Attention: Andrea M. Teichman, Esq.
                          Sabino Rodriguez III, Esq.
                  Fax: 617-345-4745

      Any party may change the address to which notices, requests, demands,
claims, and other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the
other parties notice in the manner herein set forth.

      SECTION 10.10. Governing Law and Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the domestic laws of the State of
New York without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or
rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction) that would
cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of
New York. Each party hereby consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of any New
York state or United States Federal court sitting in the City of New York with
respect to all disputes between the parties that are permitted to be brought in
a court of law pursuant to Section 10.01 above.

      SECTION 10.11. Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement may be amended by
the parties. No amendment of any provision of this Agreement shall be valid
unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties. No waiver by any
party of any provision of this Agreement or any default, misrepresentation, or
breach of warranty or covenant hereunder, whether intentional or not, shall be
valid unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the party making such
waiver, nor shall such waiver be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent
default, misrepresentation, or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder or
affect in any way any rights arising by virtue of any prior or subsequent such
occurrence.

      SECTION 10.12. Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that
is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions
hereof or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in
any other situation or in any other jurisdiction.

      SECTION 10.13. Construction. The parties have participated jointly in the
negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or
question of intent or

                                      -40-

<PAGE>

interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly
by the parties and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or
disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of
this Agreement. The words "including," "include" or "includes" shall mean
"including without limitation." The parties intend that each representation,
warranty and covenant contained herein shall have independent significance. Any
reference in this Agreement to a statute shall be to such statute, as amended
from time to time, and to the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

      SECTION 10.14. Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that if, on
or prior to the Closing Date, any of the provisions of this Agreement or any
other document contemplated by this Agreement were not performed in accordance
with their specific terms or were otherwise breached, irreparable damage would
occur, no adequate remedy at law would exist and damages would be difficult to
determine, and, therefore, prior to the Closing Date, the parties shall be
entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof and thereof, in addition to
any other remedy at law or in equity.

                            [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

                                      -41-

<PAGE>

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

                                                CAPITAL & TECHNOLOGY ADVISORS,
                                                INC.:

                                                By: /s/ Wayne Barr, Jr.
                                                    ---------------------------
                                                Name: Wayne Barr, Jr
                                                Title: Authorized Signatory

                                                TEJAS INCORPORATED:

                                                By: /s/ Kurt J. Rechner
                                                    ---------------------------
                                                Name: Kurt J. Rechner
                                                Title: Authorized Signatory

                                                TEJAS ACQUISITION CORP.:

                                                By: /s/ Kurt J. Rechner
                                                    ---------------------------
                                                Name: Kurt J. Rechner
                                                Title: Authorized Signatory

                                                STOCKHOLDERS:

                                                NISKAYUNA DEVELOPMENT LLC

                                                By: /s/ Jared E. Abbruzzese, Sr.
                                                    ---------------------------
                                                Name: Jared E. Abbruzzese, Sr.
                                                Title: Authorized Signatory

                                      -42-

<PAGE>

                                                  WAYNE BARR, JR.

                                                      /s/ Wayne Barr, Jr.
                                                  ------------------------------

                                                  SHAWN O'DONNELL

                                                      /s/ Shawn O'Donnell
                                                  ------------------------------

                                                  PATRICK DOYLE

                                                      /s/ Patrick Doyle
                                                  ------------------------------

                                                  JOHN P. BADE

                                                      /s/ John P. Bade
                                                  ------------------------------

                                      -43-

<PAGE>

                             Index of Defined Terms

<TABLE>
<S>                                                   <C>
Accredited Investor................................    6
Affiliate..........................................   35
Affiliate Letters..................................   29
Agreement..........................................    1
Applicable Law.....................................   35
Applicable Securities Law..........................   35
Associated Person..................................   35
Average Per Share Closing Price....................    3
Business Day.......................................   35
Certificate........................................    4
Certificate of Merger..............................    2
Closing............................................    2
Closing Date.......................................    2
Code...............................................    1
Company............................................    1
Company Common Stock...............................    1
Company Disclosure Schedules.......................    5
Company Intellectual Property......................   14
Company Real Property..............................   20
Consent............................................   35
Contracts..........................................   13
Covered Person.....................................   19
DGCL...............................................    1
Effective Time.....................................    2
Employee...........................................    8
Employment Agreements..............................   29
Encumbrances.......................................   36
Environmental Law..................................   36
ERISA..............................................   36
ERISA Affiliate....................................   36
Escrow.............................................    4
Escrow Agent.......................................    4
Escrow Amount......................................    4
Escrow Shares......................................    4
Exchange Act.......................................   26
Fair Market Value..................................   36
Financial Statements...............................   12
GAAP...............................................    7
Governmental Approval..............................   36
Governmental Entity................................   36
Hazardous Substances...............................   36
Holders............................................    4
Holders' Basket....................................   33
Intellectual Property..............................   37
Liability..........................................   37
Licensed Intellectual Property.....................   13
Lien...............................................   37
LLC................................................    6
LLCs...............................................    6
Loss...............................................   31
Losses.............................................   31
Material Adverse Effect............................   37
Merger.............................................    1
Merger Consideration...............................    3
Non-Compete........................................   30
Non-Compete Parties................................   30
Option Payment.....................................    3
Owned Intellectual Property........................   14
Parent.............................................    1
Parent Common Stock Closing Price..................    3
Parent Disclosure Schedule.........................   24
Parent Entities....................................   34
Parent SEC Reports.................................   26
Patriot Act........................................   19
Person.............................................   37
Policies...........................................   17
Prior Agreements...................................   34
Prohibited Transaction.............................    9
Registration Rights Agreement......................   23
Restraints.........................................   29
Rule 144...........................................   23
Securities Act.....................................    6
Seller Parties.....................................   34
Share Merger Consideration.........................    3
Stockholder........................................    1
Sub................................................    1
Subsidiary.........................................   38
Surviving Corporation..............................    1
Tax Return.........................................   38
Taxes..............................................   38
Tejas Indemnified Parties..........................   31
Third Party Interest...............................    6
Total Outstanding Company Shares...................    3
Transactions.......................................    5
Viruses............................................   15
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 2.02

                        DELIVERY OF MERGER CONSIDERATION

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       SHAREHOLDER                    NUMBER OF SHARES OF PARENT COMMON STOCK
       -----------                    ---------------------------------------
<S>                                   <C>
Niskayuna Development LLC                            2,366,026

Wayne Barr, Jr.                                        417,814

Shawn O'Donnell                                         24,947

Patrick Doyle                                           19,896

John P. Bade                                            19,896

HSBC Bank USA, National Association                    309,316
</TABLE><PAGE>

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                                ESCROW AGREEMENT

      ESCROW AGREEMENT dated as of July 1, 2005 (this "Agreement"), by and among
Tejas Incorporated, a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), Capital & Technology
Advisors Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Target"), the persons and entities
listed on the Signature page hereto as "Sellers" (individually a "Seller" and
collectively, the "Sellers" and, with Parent, the "Parties") and HSBC Bank USA,
National Association, as escrow agent (the "Escrow Agent").

      WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger among the
Parties dated the date hereof (the "Merger Agreement"), Tejas Acquisition Corp.,
a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, has been merged with and into Target; and

      WHEREAS, a portion of the consideration received by the former
stockholders of Target under the Merger Agreement is 3,157,895 shares (the
"Consideration") of Parent's common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the
"Common Stock"); and

      WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Merger Agreement, ten percent
(10%) of the Consideration received by the Sellers (the "Escrowed Stock") is to
be deposited by the Sellers in escrow pursuant to the terms of this Agreement
(together with any dividends or other distributions relating thereto and any
proceeds from the sale of the Escrowed Stock as herein provided held under this
Agreement, the "Escrowed Property"); and

      WHEREAS, the Sellers, the Target and Parent desire the Escrow Agent to
receive, hold and dispose of the Escrowed Property in accordance with the terms,
conditions and provisions of this Agreement, and the Escrow Agent is willing to
do so.

      NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

      1. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall
have the meanings assigned to those terms in the Merger Agreement.

      2. The Escrow Agent agrees to hold and dispose of the Escrowed Stock and
any other Escrowed Property upon receipt of the same, and all interest earned
thereon, and to act as Escrow Agent, all in accordance with all of the terms,
conditions and provisions of this Agreement.

      3. The Escrowed Stock and all other Escrowed Property, if any, received by
the Escrow Agent shall be deposited in an account (the "Escrow Account") at an
office of the Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent agrees to invest and reinvest any
cash in the Escrow Account, in (i) obligations issued or guaranteed by the
United States Government, its agencies or instrumentalities or (ii) a money
market account managed by HSBC Bank USA or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates
with a stated investment objective of investing only in the foregoing overnight
deposits, as the Escrow Agent shall be advised from time to time in writing by
the Parent and Sellers provided. The earnings realized from investments and all
interest, if any,

                                       1
<PAGE>

accruing on monies held in Escrow Account shall be added to the Escrow Account.
Any loss incurred from an investment, including all costs of investment or
liquidation, including without limitation all withholding and other taxes, will
be borne by the Escrow Account. The Sellers agree to furnish to the Escrow Agent
upon execution of this Agreement and as subsequently required all appropriate
U.S. tax forms and information in order for the Escrow Agent to comply with U.S.
tax regulations. The Escrow Agent shall not be accountable or liable for any
losses resulting from the sale or depreciation in the market value of such
investments thereof.

      4.    (a) The Sellers shall have all the rights of a stockholder with
respect to the Escrowed Stock held in their names (including without limitation
the right to vote such shares and the right to receive dividends and
distributions thereon), except

                  (i) the right of possession thereof,

                  (ii) the right to sell, assign, pledge, hypothecate or
otherwise dispose of such shares or any interest therein, and

                  (iii) the right to possession of any dividends or other
distributions (including any stock split, share exchange, or consideration
distributed in connection with any merger, consolidation or similar
recapitalization) received in respect thereof which shall become additional
Escrowed Property, provided, that in the event of any tender offer for the
equity of Parent that would result in a Change of Control, the Sellers shall
have the right to elect to accept the offer made in connection with such bid,
and the Escrow Agent, upon the written direction of the Sellers, together with
appropriate stock powers endorsed in blank, shall deliver up pursuant to such
written direction such shares of Escrowed Stock then in its possession for
delivery upon acceptance of such offer, and the shares or other consideration
provided in exchange therefore shall be held by the Escrow Agent on the same
basis as the Escrowed Stock, as provided for herein.

            (b) The following sets forth beside the name of each Seller such
Seller's percentage interest of the Escrow Property (the "Pro Rata Interest"):

<TABLE>
<S>                  <C>
Niskayuna
Development LLC      85%

Wayne Barr, Jr.      15%
</TABLE>

      5.   (a) The Escrow Agent is authorized to liquidate in accordance with
its customary procedures any portion of the Escrowed Property to provide for
payments required to be made under this Agreement and shall not be liable for
any fluctuation in market value.

            (b) Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Parent may have a
claim against the Escrowed Property following the Closing (as defined in the
Merger Agreement) under certain circumstances (a "Claim"). The Escrow Agent need
not inquire into or consider whether a Claim complies with the requirements of
the Merger Agreement.

                                       2
<PAGE>

            (c) From time to time on or before the date that is two (2) years
after the Closing Date, the Parent may give a notice (a "Notice") to the Sellers
and the Escrow Agent specifying in reasonable detail the facts, circumstances
and basis of the Claim, as well as the dollar amount of any Claim it may have
under the Merger Agreement. The Parent may make more than one Claim with respect
to any underlying state of facts. If the Sellers give a Notice to the Parent and
the Escrow Agent disputing any Claim (a "Counter Notice") within 30 days
following receipt by the Escrow Agent of the Notice regarding such Claim, the
Escrow Agent shall proceed as provided in paragraph (d) below. If no Counter
Notice is received by the Escrow Agent and the Parent within such 30-day period
with respect to a Claim on the Escrowed Property, then the dollar amount of
damages claimed by the Parent as set forth in its Notice shall be deemed
established for purposes of this Agreement and, at the end of such 30-day
period, the Escrow Agent shall deliver to the Parent shares, valued for such
purposes at the Fair Market Value (as hereinafter defined), as specified in the
notice, in the aggregate dollar amount claimed in the Notice from the Escrowed
Property. Escrow Agent shall deliver the certificate representing the Escrowed
Property to Corporate Stock Transfer (the "Transfer Agent"), at 3200 Cherry
Creek Drive South, Suite 430, Denver CO. 80209 (telephone: 303-282-4800; fax:
303-282-5800) and the Escrow Agent shall direct the Transfer Agent to pay the
Parent the full amount of such Claim by delivery of Escrowed Stock equal to the
amount of the Claim. Following any such payment, the Escrow Agent shall receive
a new stock certificate representing the remaining Escrowed Stock represented by
the certificate originally delivered to the Transfer Agent. Escrow Agent shall
have no obligation hereunder to confirm that such stock certificate represents
the amount of the remaining Escrowed Stock. In the event that the Escrowed Stock
has a Fair Market Value that is less than a Claim (or if there is no Escrowed
Stock in the Escrow Account) (such difference, or if there is no Escrowed Stock
in the Escrow Account the amount of such Claim, in each case, the "Claim
Balance"), if there is any cash in the Escrow Account at the time such Claim is
to be paid, all such cash shall be paid to Parent, up to the amount of the Claim
Balance, together with all remaining Escrowed Stock, if any. For purposes of
this Agreement, "Fair Market Value" of the Escrowed Stock means the average of
the closing prices of a share of Common Stock for (x) the fifteen trading days
preceding the date of such Claim, (y) the date of such Claim (if a trading day)
and (z) the fourteen or fifteen (if the date of the Claim is not a trading day)
trading days after the date of such Claim on the principal national securities
exchange on which the Common Stock is listed at such time or, if not so listed
or quoted, the mean between the closing bid and asked prices of publicly traded
shares of Common Stock in the over-the counter market or, if such bid and asked
prices shall not be available, as reported by any nationally recognized
quotation service selected by the Parent or if not so reported, the Closing
Price. Such Fair Market Value shall be set forth in a notice from Parent to the
Escrow Agent.

            (d) If a Counter Notice is given with respect to a Claim, the Escrow
Agent shall make payment with respect thereto only in accordance with (i) joint
written instructions of the Parent and the Sellers, or (ii) the decision of an
arbitrator, provided and certified to the Escrow Agent by the Parent, if the
Parties (other than the Escrow Agent) agree to submit to arbitration, pursuant
to Section 10.01 of the Merger Agreement. The Escrow Agent shall act on (i) and
(ii) in the preceding sentence without further question.

            (e) Unless sooner terminated by distribution of the entire amount of
the Escrowed Property, the earlier of (x) on the date that is two (2) years
after the date hereof, or the

                                       3
<PAGE>

first business day thereafter (the "Termination Date"), or (y) upon notice
provided by Parent and the Sellers of a Change of Control, the Escrow Agent
shall pay, deliver and distribute certificates and cash representing the
remaining amount of the Escrowed Property to the Sellers (pro rata in accordance
with the number of shares of Escrowed Stock delivered into the Escrow Account on
behalf of each such Seller), unless any Claims on the remaining Escrowed
Property are then pending, in which case an amount equal to the aggregate dollar
amount of such Claims (as mutually determined by Parent and the Sellers within
30 days prior to the Termination Date using the procedures outlined in
subsections (b) through (d) above) shall be retained by the Escrow Agent in the
Escrowed Property (and the balance so delivered to the Sellers) until it
receives any of the items set forth in subsection (d) above. For purposes of
determining the number of shares of Escrowed Stock to be so retained, the shares
shall be valued at the Fair Market Value. Nothing in this Agreement shall be
construed as limiting the Sellers' liability to the Parent or the Target to the
value of the Escrowed Property. For the purposes of this Agreement "Change of
Control" means (i) the sale, conveyance or other disposition by Parent of all or
substantially all of its property or business or Parent's merger with or into or
consolidation with any other corporation (other than a wholly-owned subsidiary
corporation), (ii) the consummation of any other transaction or series of
related transactions in which more than 50% of the voting power of Parent is
disposed of, (iii) the execution by Parent of any binding agreement providing
for any of the foregoing transactions or (iv) the change in a majority of
Parent's board of directors (unless such successor directors' nomination for
election to the board of directors is recommended by a majority of the directors
existing on the date hereof).

      6. The Escrow Agent shall have no duties or obligations hereunder except
those specifically set forth herein and no duties shall be implied, and such
duties and obligations shall be determined solely by the express provisions of
this Agreement. In connection with its duties hereunder, the Escrow Agent shall
be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any written notice,
request, consent, certificate, order, affidavit, letter, telegram or other
document furnished to it hereunder and believed by it to be genuine and to have
been signed or sent by the proper party or parties; and the Escrow Agent shall
not be liable for anything it may do or refrain from doing in connection with
its duties hereunder, except to the extent that a court of competent
jurisdiction determines that the Escrow Agent's gross negligence or willful
misconduct was the primary cause of any loss to the Parties. The Escrow Agent
may consult counsel and shall be protected in respect of any action taken or
omitted to be taken by it in good faith on the written advice of such counsel.

      7. In the event the Escrow Agent shall be uncertain as to its duties or
rights under this Agreement or shall receive any instruction, claim or demand
which, in the opinion of the Escrow Agent, is in conflict with the provisions of
this Agreement (any of the foregoing, a "Dispute"), the Escrow Agent shall be
entitled to refrain from taking any action with respect to such Dispute and its
sole obligation shall be to keep safely all property held in escrow until it
shall be directed otherwise by an instrument in writing signed by the Sellers
and the Parent.

      8. The Escrow Agent shall be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses,
including, without limitation, reasonable counsel fees and compensation in the
form of legal fees and disbursements, reasonably incurred by the Escrow Agent in
connection with the performance of its duties and obligations under this
Agreement, which amounts shall be paid by the non-

                                       4
<PAGE>

prevailing party, as set forth in the final determination. The Sellers (pro rata
based on their respective Pro Rata Interests) and the Parent shall each pay
one-half of the fees of the Escrow Agent set forth on Schedule A hereto.

      9. Anything in this Escrow Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in
no event shall the Escrow Agent be liable for special, indirect or consequential
loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost
profits), even if the Escrow Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such
loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

      10. The Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify, defend and save
harmless the Escrow Agent and its directors, officers, agents and employees (the
"indemnitees") from all loss, liability or expense (including the fees and
expenses of in house or outside counsel) arising out of or in connection with
(i) the Escrow Agent's execution and performance of this Escrow Agreement,
except in the case of any indemnitee to the extent that such loss, liability or
expense is due to the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such indemnitee,
or (ii) its following any instructions or other directions from the Parties. The
parties hereto acknowledge that the foregoing indemnities shall survive the
resignation or removal of the Escrow Agent or the termination of this Escrow
Agreement. The parties hereby grant the Escrow Agent a lien on, right of set-off
against and security interest in the Escrow Fund for the payment of any claim
for indemnification, compensation, expenses and amounts due hereunder.

      11. Each of the Sellers represents that its correct Taxpayer
Identification or Social Security Number ("TIN") assigned by the Internal
Revenue Service ("IRS") or any other taxing authority is set forth on the
signature page hereof.

      12. The Escrow Agent may resign at any time by giving at least 30 days'
prior written notice to the Sellers and the Parent, such resignation to be
effective upon the acceptance of appointment by the successor Escrow Agent as
hereinafter provided. The resigning Escrow Agent may appoint a successor Escrow
Agent, reasonably acceptable to the Sellers and the Parent, or either the
Sellers (acting unanimously) or the Parent may appoint a successor Escrow Agent,
reasonably acceptable to the other party. If a successor Escrow Agent shall not
have been appointed within 20 days after such notice of resignation, either the
Sellers (acting unanimously) or the Parent may apply to any court of competent
jurisdiction to appoint a successor Escrow Agent. Any successor Escrow Agent,
however appointed, shall execute and deliver to the predecessor Escrow Agent an
instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon such Successor Escrow Agent
shall, without further act, become fully vested with all the rights, powers,
obligations and duties of the predecessor Escrow Agent with respect to the
Escrowed Property with the same effect as if originally named the Escrow Agent.

      13. All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally or four
(4) Business Days after mailing by certified mail, postage paid, return receipt
requested, to the parties or their successors in interest at the following
addresses, or at such other addresses as the parties may designate by written
notice in the manner aforesaid:

      If to the Parent or Target:

                                       5
<PAGE>

            Kurt J. Rechner
            Tejas Incorporated
            2700 Via Fortuna, Suite 400
            Austin, TX  78746

      with a copy to:

            John R. Hempill, Esq.
            Morrison & Foerster LLP
            1290 Avenue of the Americas
            New York, NY  10104-0050

      If to the Sellers, to their respective addresses set forth on the
signature page of this Agreement.

      If to Escrow Agent:

            HSBC Bank USA, National Association
            452 Fifth Avenue
            New York, NY  10018
            Fax: 212-525-1300
            Phone: 212-526-1343

      or to such other address as may have been furnished in writing to the
party giving notice by the party to whom notice is to be given.

      14. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE
PERFORMED THEREIN, WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY LAWS OR RULES WHICH WOULD RESULT IN THE
APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, OR
ANY PRESUMPTION OR CONSTRUCTION AGAINST THE PARTY CAUSING THIS AGREEMENT TO BE
DRAFTED.

      15. This Agreement shall not be assignable, except that Target shall
assign all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any affiliate
of Parent to which it has transferred all or substantially all of its assets or
which is a successor by merger and such assignment shall not require the consent
of any party hereto. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors,
administrators, personal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.

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

      17. This Agreement, the Merger Agreement and the other agreements referred
to in such agreements embody the entire agreement between any of the parties as
to the subject matter

                                       6
<PAGE>

hereof and there have been and no agreements, representations or warranties,
oral or written, between the parties other than those set forth or provided for
in this Agreement and the Merger Agreement and the other agreements referred to
in such agreements. This Agreement may not be added, modified, changed or
waived, in whole or in part, except in an instrument in writing signed by each
of the parties hereto.

TAX CERTIFICATION: Taxpayer ID or Social Security #:  _______________

Customer is a (check one):

___Corporation ___ Municipality __ Partnership ___ Non-profit or Charitable Org
___ Individual ___ REMIC ___ Trust ___ Other _________________

Under the penalties of perjury, the undersigned certifies that:

(1)   if an entity, is organized under the laws of the United States

(2)   the number shown above is its or his correct Taxpayer Identification or
      Social Security Number (or it is waiting for a number to be issued to it
      or him); and

(3)   it is not subject to backup withholding because: (a) it is exempt from
      backup withholding or (b) it has not been notified by the Internal Revenue
      Service (IRS) that it is subject to backup withholding as a result of
      failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has notified
      it that it is no longer subject to backup withholding.

(If the certifier is subject to backup withholding, cross out the words after
the (3) above.)

Investors who do not supply a tax identification or social security number will
be subject to backup withholding in accordance with IRS regulations.

NOTE: THE IRS DOES NOT REQUIRE YOUR CONSENT TO ANY PROVISION OF THIS DOCUMENT
OTHER THAN THE CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED TO AVOID BACKUP WITHHOLDING.

                                       7
<PAGE>

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Escrow Agreement on the
date and year first above written.

TEJAS INCORPORATED
By:   /s/ Kurt J. Rechner
    ---------------------
    Name:
    Title:

CAPITAL & TECHNOLOGY ADVISORS, INC.
By:   /s/ Wayne Barr, Jr
    --------------------
    Name:
    Title:
    Address:

NISKAYUNA DEVELOPMENT LLC
   By: /s/ Jared E.Abbruzzese, Sr.
       --------------------------
   Name: Jared E. Abbruzzese, Sr.
   Title: Managing Member
   Address:

WAYNE BARR, JR.
    /s/ Wayne Barr, Jr
----------------------
   Address:

HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

By:  /s/ Lisa J. Price
    ------------------
     Name: Lisa J. Price
     Title: Vice President

                                       8
<PAGE>

SCHEDULE A

ESCROW AGENT'S COMPENSATION: ANNUAL ADMINISTRATION FEE: THREE THOUSAND FIVE
HUNDRED DOLLARS ($3,500) WITHOUT PRORATION OF PARTIAL YEAR

                                       9

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00087-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00087-of-00352.parquet"}]]