Document:

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   Exhibit 10.57

                            APPLIEDTHEORY CORPORATION
                            1500 BROADWAY, 3RD FLOOR
                               NEW YORK, NY 10036

                                 January 9, 2001

To the Investors on the Attached Schedule I:

         RE:      LETTER AGREEMENT RE DISTRIBUTION OF NEW DOCUMENTS
                   (THE "DISTRIBUTION")

         Enclosed please find the following documents (together with this letter
agreement, the "NEW TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS") in connection with that certain
Purchase Agreement (the "ORIGINAL PURCHASE AGREEMENT") entered into as of June
5, 2000 between AppliedTheory Corporation (the "COMPANY") and the investors on
the attached distribution list (the "INVESTORS"):

                  (a) an Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement dated as of
June 5, 2000 between the Investors and the Company (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT")
executed by the Company and to be signed by the Investors and which shall, upon
full execution, supersede the Original Purchase Agreement;

                  (b) an Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement
dated as of June 5, 2000 between the Investors and the Company (the
"REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT") executed by the Company and to be signed by the
Investors which shall, upon full execution, supersede the original Registration
Rights Agreement of even date (the "ORIGINAL REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT");

                  (c) new Initial Warrants issued by the Company which shall,
upon each Investor's acceptance, replace the Initial Warrants issued to each
such Investor (collectively, the "ORIGINAL INITIAL WARRANTS"); and

                  (d) new Debentures issued by the Company which shall, upon
each Investor's acceptance, replace the Debentures issued to each such Investor
(the "ORIGINAL DEBENTURES" and collectively with the Original Purchase
Agreement, the Original Registration Rights Agreement and the Original Initial
Warrants, the "ORIGINAL TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS").

In addition, enclosed is an original of the legal opinion issued by independent
counsel of the Company in connection with the issuance of the New Transaction
Documents, in the form and substance as agreed to by your counsel, and an
officer's certificate from the Company, in form and substance substantially
similar to Exhibit 4.2(g) of the original Purchase Agreement.

Unless expressly provided to the contrary, undefined terms contained herein
shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement, the Debentures or
the Initial Warrants.

         1. WAIVER OF RIGHTS AND REMEDIES. Each of the Investors severally and
not jointly, and the Company, acknowledges that the closing of the transactions
contemplated by the New
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January 9, 2001

Transaction Documents (the "New Closing") shall constitute a waiver of any of
such party's rights and remedies under any of the Original Transaction
Documents, including but not limited to, remedies available to the Investors in
connection with the Company's failure to cause the Registration Statement to
become effective on or before the time periods (October 3, 2000 and November 2,
2000) set forth in paragraphs (A) and (B) of Section 2(b)(i) of the Original
Registration Rights Agreement. In no event shall the foregoing be construed in
any way to limit the rights and remedies available to any Investor under any of
the New Transaction Documents, even in the event that such rights and remedies
are duplicative of the rights and remedies that were once available under the
Old Transaction Documents. The Company acknowledges that the Investors have paid
the Purchase Price in full.

         2. PRICES. The Company and the Investors agree on the following: (a) in
the new Debentures, the Closing Price is referred to as being equal to $13.35
and the Initial Conversion Price is referred to as being equal to $16.69 and (b)
in the Initial Warrants, the Exercise Price is referred to as being equal to
$6.00, in each case subject to adjustment. Except for the Exercise Price, such
prices are based on the Closing Date of June 5, 2000.

         3. 144 HOLDING PERIOD. Upon receipt of a legal opinion from the
Investors' counsel to the Company, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A or
in such other form that is reasonably acceptable to the Company, the Company
acknowledges that, consistent with the Investors' belief, the Company will
recognize that all of the Initial Warrants and Debentures have a Rule 144
holding period under the Securities Act that commenced on June 5, 2000 for all
purposes and further acknowledges that the Company will act in accordance with
that position.

         4. PRESS RELEASE AND FORM 8-K. Promptly following the New Closing, the
Company shall issue a press release in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Investors. If the Company fails to issue a press release
within two (2) business days of the New Closing, the Investors may issue a press
release covering the New Closing and complying with any legal requirements
applicable to one or more of the Investors. In addition, within 17 calendar days
of the New Closing, the Company shall file a Form 8-K with the SEC which
discloses the transactions contemplated by the New Transaction Documents. The
Investors shall have the opportunity to review such Form 8-K prior to its
filing.

         5. TRANSFER. The Company hereby recognizes the transfer of all of the
rights, title, obligations and interest of Gleneagles Fund Company
("GLENEAGLES") in connection with the Original Transaction Documents to DeAM
Convertible Arbitrage Fund, Ltd. ("DeAM"), which occurred subsequent to the
Closing Date. For convenience purposes, the Company has agreed to issue the new
Initial Warrants and new Debentures to DeAM (rather than Gleneagles) and to have
DeAM (rather than Gleneagles) be a party to the Purchase Agreement and
Registration Rights Agreement, all as of June 5, 2000.

         6. SEC FILING. The Company shall file the amended Registration
Statement prepared in connection with the New Transaction Documents within 17
calendar days of the date hereof.

         7. INDEMNITY. The Company shall indemnify each of the Investors and
Gleneagles against any loss, cost or damages (including reasonable attorney's
fees and expenses but excluding consequential damages) incurred as a result of
the Company's breach of any
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January 9, 2001

representation, warranty, covenant or agreement in this letter agreement; or
incurred as a result of the enforcement of this indemnity.

         8. EVENT OF DEFAULT. The Company hereby agrees that a breach of or
default under this letter agreement by the Company shall constitute an Event of
Default (as defined in the Debentures) under the Debentures.

         9. PERMITTED INTERIM INVESTMENTS. As of September 30, 2000, Permitted
Interim Investments equal approximately $11,800,000.

         10. DUE AUTHORIZATION. The Company hereby represents and warrants to
each of the Investors as of the date hereof that the Company has all requisite
corporate power and authority to enter into and perform this letter agreement,
the other New Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby. The Company further represents and warrants that this letter agreement
and the other New Transaction Documents constitute valid and binding obligations
of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms,
except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to,
or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors' rights and remedies or by
other equitable principles of general application.

         11. MISCELLANEOUS.

                  a. The Company hereby represents that all of the Company's
representations and warranties contained in the New Transaction Documents were
true and correct as of June 5, 2000 and, except as set forth on Schedule 1
hereto, are true and correct as of the date hereof (except for representations
and warranties made as of an earlier date, which shall be true and correct as of
such date).

                  b. The Company hereby represents that it has performed all
agreements and satisfied all conditions required to be performed or satisfied
prior to the date hereof by the New Transaction Documents when and as required.

                  c. The Company hereby represents that no Event of Default (as
defined in the Debentures) shall have occurred, be likely to occur or be
threatened, and no event shall have occurred which constitutes or would
constitute an Event of Default with notice or the passage of time or both, as of
the date hereof.

                  d. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that it has no
pending claims against any of the Investors and hereby releases, acquits and
forever discharges each of the Investors and Gleneagles from any and all
actions, causes of action, claims, demands, damages, judgments, debts, dues and
suits of every kind, nature and description whatsoever, which the Company ever
had, now has or may have against any Investor or Gleneagles on or by reason of
any matter, cause or thing whatsoever through the date hereof (immediately prior
to the execution of this letter agreement and the other New Transaction
Documents).

                  e. Each of the Investors and Gleneagles hereby acknowledges
and agrees that it has no pending claims against the Company and hereby
releases, acquits and forever
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January 9, 2001

discharges the Company from any and all actions, causes of action, claims,
demands, damages, judgments, debts, dues and suits of every kind, nature and
description whatsoever, which such Investor or Gleneagles, as the case may be,
ever had, now has or may have against the Company on or by reason of any matter,
cause or thing whatsoever through the date hereof (immediately prior to the
execution of this letter agreement and the other New Transaction Documents).

                  f. Article 6 of the Purchase Agreement (except for Section 6.5
thereof) is hereby incorporated herein by reference and shall apply to this
letter agreement with such changes as may be necessary mutatis mutandis to
conform to this letter agreement.

         By signing this letter agreement and signing, delivering and/or
accepting, as the case may be, the New Transaction Documents, each of the
Investors (severally and not jointly) and the Company agree to the terms hereof
and thereof, respectively, and each of the Investors (severally and not jointly)
agrees to promptly return a copy of this letter agreement bearing each of your
signatures and the Original Initial Warrants and Original Debentures to the
Company.

         This letter agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts,
including electronically transmitted counterparts, and each of such counterparts
shall for all purposes be deemed original, and all such counterparts shall
together constitute but one and the same instrument.

                                   Very truly yours,

                                   APPLIEDTHEORY CORPORATION

                                   By:      /s/ David A. Buckel
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                            Name:  David A. Buckel
                                            Title: Senior Vice President / CFO

                  *** Signatures continue on the next page ***
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January 9, 2001

ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO AS OF
THE DATE FIRST ABOVE WRITTEN:

INVESTORS:

HALIFAX FUND, L.P.
By: The Palladin Group, L.P., as Attorney-in-Fact

         By:  /s/ Steven W. Weiner
             ----------------------------------------
                  Name: Steven W. Weiner
                  Title:  Managing Director

PALLADIN PARTNERS I, L.P.
By: The Palladin Group, L.P., as Attorney-in-Fact

         By:  /s/ Steven W. Weiner
             ----------------------------------------
                  Name: Steven W. Weiner
                  Title:  Managing Director

PALLADIN OVERSEAS FUND LTD.
By: The Palladin Group, L.P., as Attorney-in-Fact

         By:  /s/ Steven W. Weiner
             ----------------------------------------
                  Name: Steven W. Weiner
                  Title:  Managing Director

DeAM CONVERTIBLE ARBITRAGE FUND, LTD.
By: The Palladin Group, L.P., as Attorney-in-Fact

         By:  /s/ Steven W. Weiner
             ----------------------------------------
                  Name: Steven W. Weiner
                  Title:  Managing Director

LANCER SECURITIES (CAYMAN) LTD.
By: The Palladin Group, L.P., as Attorney-in-Fact

         By:  /s/ Steven W. Weiner
             ----------------------------------------
                  Name: Steven W. Weiner
                  Title:  Managing Director
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January 9, 2001

THE GLENEAGLES FUND COMPANY
By: The Palladin Group, L.P., as Attorney-in-Fact

         By: /s/  Steven W. Weiner
             ----------------------------------------
                  Name: Steven W. Weiner
                  Title:  Managing Director

ELLIOTT ASSOCIATES, L.P.

By:      /s/ Paul E. Singer
    -------------------------------------------------
         Name: Paul E. Singer
         Title:   General Partner

ELLIOTT INTERNATIONAL, L.P.
By: Elliott International Capital Advisors Inc., as Attorney-in-Fact

By:      /s/ Paul E. Singer
    -------------------------------------------------
         Name: Paul E. Singer
         Title:   General Partner<PAGE>   1
                                                                   Exhibit 10.58

                     AMENDED AND RESTATED PURCHASE AGREEMENT

         AMENDED AND RESTATED PURCHASE AGREEMENT dated as of June 5, 2000
between APPLIEDTHEORY CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and
each person or entity listed as an investor on SCHEDULE I attached hereto (each
individually an "INVESTOR" and collectively the "INVESTORS"). Undefined terms
contained herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Debentures.

                              PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

         1. Effective June 5, 2000, the Company and the Investors entered into a
Purchase Agreement; and

         2. The Company and the Investors desire to amend as of June 5, 2000,
and to restate, as amended, such Purchase Agreement as this Amended and Restated
Purchase Agreement (this "AGREEMENT");

         3. The Company and the Investors hereby agree to amend and restate the
Purchase Agreement so that, as amended and restated, it reads as follows:

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to sell and issue to the Investors, and
the Investors wish to purchase from the Company, 5% Convertible Debentures due
June 5, 2003 (the "DEBENTURES" and, collectively with the Warrants, as defined
below, the "SECURITIES"), in the aggregate principal amount of $30,000,000 at an
aggregate purchase price of $30,000,000, having the rights and privileges set
forth in the Debentures in the form of EXHIBIT 1.1A attached hereto (the
"INITIAL ISSUANCE"), on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

         WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Debentures, the Debentures will
be convertible into shares ("COMMON SHARES") of common stock, par value $.01 of
the Company ("COMMON STOCK") and/or, pursuant to Section 7 of the Debenture,
warrants ("FORCED CONVERSION WARRANTS") exercisable for Common Shares pursuant
to Section 7(b) of the Debentures;

         WHEREAS, to induce the Investors to purchase the Debentures, the
Company has agreed to issue to the Investors (a) warrants (the "INITIAL
WARRANTS" and, together with the Forced Conversion Warrants, the "WARRANTS")
exercisable on or before June 5, 2005 for shares of Common Stock ("WARRANT
SHARES");

         WHEREAS, the Investors will have registration rights with respect to
such Common Shares and the Warrant Shares pursuant to the terms of that certain
Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement to be entered into between
the Company and the Investors substantially in the form of EXHIBIT 4.2(e) hereto
("REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT");
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         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the
covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto
agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE 1
           PURCHASE AND SALE OF DEBENTURES AND INITIAL WARRANTS, ETC.

         Section 1.1 Initial Issuance. Upon the following terms and conditions,
the Company shall issue and sell to each Investor severally, and each Investor
severally shall purchase from the Company, the outstanding principal amount of
Debentures and the number of Initial Warrants indicated next to such Investor's
name on SCHEDULE I attached hereto.

         Section 1.2 Purchase Price. The purchase price for the Debentures and
Initial Warrants to be acquired by each Investor (the "PURCHASE PRICE") shall be
the Purchase Price set forth next to such Investor's name on SCHEDULE I.

         Section 1.3 The Closing.

                  (a) The closing of the purchase and sale of the Debentures and
the Initial Warrants (the "CLOSING") in the Initial Issuance, shall take place
at the offices of Kleinberg, Kaplan, Wolff & Cohen, P.C. ("INVESTORS' COUNSEL")
or at such other place as is mutually agreeable, at 10:00 am., local time on
June 5, 2000 (the "CLOSING DATE").

                  (b) As of the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver to each
Investor (x) one or more debentures (with the number of and outstanding
principal amount of each debenture to be as reasonably requested by such
Investor) representing the aggregate Debentures purchased hereunder by such
Investor at the Closing registered in the name of such Investor or its nominee
and (y) the Initial Warrants registered in the name of Investor or its nominee
in such denominations as reasonably requested by such Investor, and such
Investor shall deliver to the Company the Purchase Price for the Debentures
purchased by such Investor hereunder by wire transfer in immediately available
funds to an account designated in writing by the Company. The delivery of
payment by each Investor of the Purchase Price applicable to it as set forth in
this paragraph shall constitute a payment delivered to the Company in
satisfaction of such Investor's obligation to pay the Purchase Price hereunder.
In addition, each party shall deliver all documents, instruments and writings
required to be delivered by such party pursuant to this Agreement at or prior to
the Closing. In addition, at the Closing, the Company shall pay to the
Investors' counsel its legal fees and disbursements as set forth in Section 3.4.

                                   ARTICLE 2
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         Section 2.1 Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company
hereby makes the following representations and warranties to each of the
Investors as of the date hereof and on the Closing Date:

                  (a) Organization and Qualification; Material Adverse Effect.
The Company is a corporation duly incorporated and existing in good standing
under the laws of the State of

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Delaware and has the requisite corporate power to own its properties and to
carry on its business as now being conducted. The Company does not have any
direct or indirect subsidiaries (defined as any entity of which the Company
owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the equity or voting power) other
than the subsidiaries listed on SCHEDULE 2.1(a) attached hereto. Except where
specifically indicated to the contrary, all references in this Agreement to
subsidiaries shall be deemed to refer to all direct and indirect subsidiaries of
the Company. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries is duly qualified as a
foreign corporation to do business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction
in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such
qualification necessary other than those in which the failure so to qualify
would not have a Material Adverse Effect. "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means any
adverse effect on the business, operations, properties or financial condition of
the entity with respect to which such term is used and which is (either alone or
together with all other adverse effects) material to such entity and other
entities controlling or controlled by such entity taken as a whole, and any
material adverse effect on the transactions contemplated under this Agreement,
the Debentures, the Warrants, the Registration Rights Agreement or any other
agreement or document contemplated hereby or thereby.

                  (b) Authorization; Enforcement. (i) The Company has all
requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform this
Agreement, the Debentures, the Warrants and the Registration Rights Agreement
and to issue the Debentures and the Warrants in accordance with the terms hereof
and thereof, (ii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Debentures,
the Initial Warrants and the Registration Rights Agreement by the Company and
the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby,
including the issuance of the Forced Conversion Warrants, Common Shares and the
Warrant Shares, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and
no further consent or authorization of the Company or its Board of Directors (or
any committee or subcommittee thereof) or stockholders is required, (iii) this
Agreement, the Initial Warrants, the Debentures and the Registration Rights
Agreement have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, upon
issuance, if any, the Forced Conversion Warrants shall be duly executed and
delivered by the Company, and (iv) this Agreement, the Initial Warrants, the
Debentures and the Registration Rights Agreement constitute, and, if issued, the
Forced Conversion Warrants shall constitute, valid and binding obligations of
the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms,
except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to,
or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors' rights and remedies or by
other equitable principles of general application.

                  (c) Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of the
Company consists of 90,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 1,000,000 shares of
preferred stock; as of June 4, 2000 there were 24,291,594 shares of Common Stock
and no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding; and, except as set
forth on Schedule 2.1(c), no shares of Common Stock and no shares of preferred
stock were reserved for issuance to persons other than the Investors. All of the
outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock and preferred stock have been
validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. No shares of capital stock
are entitled to preemptive rights and there are no outstanding options and
outstanding warrants for shares of Common Stock (excluding the Warrants). Except
as set forth on Schedule 2.1(c)(i), there are no other scrip, rights to
subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or

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securities or rights exchangeable for or convertible into, any shares of capital
stock of the Company, or contracts, commitments, understandings, or arrangements
by which the Company is or may become bound to issue additional shares of
capital stock of the Company or options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe
to, or commitments to purchase or acquire, any shares, or securities or rights
convertible or exchangeable into shares, of capital stock of the Company.
Attached hereto as EXHIBIT 2.1(c)(i) is a true and correct copy of the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation (the "CHARTER"), as in effect on the date hereof,
and attached hereto as EXHIBIT 2.1(c)(ii) is a true and correct copy of the
Company's By-Laws, as in effect on the date hereof (the "BY-LAWS").

                  (d) Issuance of Common Shares. The Common Shares and the
Warrant Shares are duly authorized and reserved for issuance and, upon
conversion in accordance with the Debentures and/or exercise in accordance with
the Warrants such Common Shares and Warrant Shares, as the case may be, will be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of any and all
liens, claims and encumbrances, and (subject to the registration of such shares
in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "SECURITIES ACT" or the "ACT") and the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT") entitled to be traded on the Nasdaq
National Market System (or the American Stock Exchange or the New York Stock
Exchange, collectively with the Nasdaq National Market System, the "APPROVED
MARKETS"), and the holders of such Common Shares and Warrant Shares shall be
entitled to all rights and preferences accorded to a holder of Common Stock. The
outstanding shares of Common Stock are currently listed on the Nasdaq National
Market System.

                  (e) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Warrants by the
Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby and the issuance of the Debentures and the Warrants do not
and will not (i) result in a violation of the Company's Charter or By-Laws or
(ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or
lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any
rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any
agreement, indenture, patent, patent license or instrument to which the Company
or any of its subsidiaries is a party (collectively, "COMPANY AGREEMENTS"), or
(iii) result in a violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law, rule,
regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities
laws and regulations) applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or by
which any property or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound
or affected, except (other than in the case of clause (i) above) where such
violation would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
The business of the Company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries is being
conducted in material compliance with (i) its Charter and By-Laws, (ii) all
Company Agreements and (iii) all applicable laws, ordinances or regulations of
any governmental entity, except (other than in the case of clause (i) above)
where such violation would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. Except for filings, consents and approvals required under applicable
state and federal securities laws or the rules and regulations of the Approved
Markets and covered by the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company is not
required under federal, state, local or foreign law, rule or regulation to
obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or
registration with, any court or governmental agency in order for it to execute,
deliver or perform any of its obligations under this Agreement, the Registration
Rights Agreement, the Debentures and the Warrants or to issue and sell the
Securities or the Common

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Shares and Warrants Shares upon conversion or exercise thereof or for the
registration provisions provided in the Registration Rights Agreement.

                  (f) SEC Documents; No Non-Public Information; Financial
Statements. The Common Stock of the Company is registered pursuant to Section
12(b) of the Exchange Act and the Company and its subsidiaries have filed all
reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed
by it with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") pursuant to the
reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, including all such proxy
information, solicitation statement and registration statements, and any
amendments thereto required to have been filed (all of the foregoing including
filings incorporated by reference therein being referred to herein as the "SEC
DOCUMENTS"). The Company has not directly or indirectly provided, and will not
directly or indirectly provide, to the Investors any material non-public
information or any information which, according to applicable law, rule or
regulation, should have been disclosed publicly by the Company but which has not
been so disclosed. As of their respective dates, the SEC Documents complied in
all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules
and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder and other federal, state and
local laws, rules and regulations applicable to such SEC Documents, and none of
the SEC Documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. The SEC Documents contain all material information
concerning the Company and its subsidiaries, and no event or circumstance has
occurred prior to the date hereof or will have occurred on the Closing Date
which would require the Company to disclose such event or circumstance in order
to make the statements in the SEC Documents not misleading but which has not, or
will have not, been so disclosed.

                  (g) Financial Statements. The financial statements of the
Company and its subsidiaries included in the SEC Documents comply as to form and
substance in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and
the published rules and regulations of the SEC or other applicable rules and
regulations with respect thereto. Such financial statements have been prepared
in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles
applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except (i) as may be
otherwise indicated in such financial statements or the notes thereto or (ii) in
the case of unaudited interim statements, to the extent they may not include
footnotes, may be condensed or summary statements) and fairly present in all
material respects the financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as
of the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the
periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal
year-end audit adjustments). The audited financial statements of each of the
Company and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1999 have
been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except (i)
as may be otherwise indicated in such financial statements or the notes thereto
or (ii) in the case of unaudited interim statements, to the extent they may not
include footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements) and fairly present
in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its
subsidiaries, as the case may be, as of the dates thereof and the results of
operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of
unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments).

                                       5
<PAGE>   6
                  (h) Principal Exchange/Market. The principal market on which
the Common Stock is currently traded is the Nasdaq National Market System.

                  (i) No Material Adverse Change. Since March 31, 2000, no
Material Adverse Effect has occurred or exists, and no event or circumstance has
occurred that with notice or the passage of time or both is reasonably likely to
result in a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company or its
subsidiaries, except that, subsequent to March 31, 2000, the Company experienced
negative cash flow of approximately the same dollar amount per month that it
experienced during the calendar quarter ending March 31, 2000.

                  (j) No Undisclosed Liabilities. The Company and its
subsidiaries have no liabilities or obligations not disclosed in the
Pre-Agreement SEC Documents (as defined below), other than those liabilities
incurred in the ordinary course of the Company's or its subsidiaries' respective
businesses since December 31, 1999, which liabilities, individually or in the
aggregate, do not or would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or
its direct or indirect subsidiaries.

                  (k) No Undisclosed Events or Circumstances. To the best
knowledge of the Company, no material event or circumstance has occurred or
exists with respect to the Company or its direct or indirect subsidiaries or
their respective businesses, properties, prospects, operations or financial
condition, which, under applicable law, rule or regulation, requires public
disclosure or announcement by the Company but which has not been so publicly
announced or disclosed.

                  (l) No General Solicitation. Neither the Company, nor any of
its affiliates, or, to its knowledge, any person acting on its or their behalf
has engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within
the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act in connection with the
offer or sale of the Debentures or Common Shares.

                  (m) No Integrated Offering. Neither the Company, nor any of
its affiliates, nor to its knowledge any person acting on its or their behalf
has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or
solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would require
registration of the Securities, the Common Shares or Warrant Shares under the
Act.

         The issuance of the Debentures, Warrants, Common Shares or Warrant
Shares to the Investors will not be integrated with any other issuance of the
Company's securities (past, current or future) which requires stockholder
approval under the rules of the NASDAQ National Market System.

                  (n) Form S-3. The Company is eligible to file the Registration
Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) on Form S-3 under
the Act and rules promulgated thereunder, and Form S-3 is permitted to be used
for the transactions contemplated hereby under the Act and rules promulgated
thereunder.

                  (o) Intellectual Property. The Company and/or its wholly-owned
subsidiaries owns or has licenses to use certain patents, copyrights and
trademarks ("INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY") associated with its business. The Company
and its subsidiaries have all intellectual property

                                       6
<PAGE>   7
rights which are needed to conduct the business of the Company and its
subsidiaries as it is now being conducted or as proposed to be conducted as
disclosed in the SEC Documents. The Company and its subsidiaries have no reason
to believe that the material intellectual property rights which it owns are
invalid or unenforceable or that the use of such intellectual property by the
Company or its subsidiaries infringes upon or conflicts with any right of any
third party, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received
notice of any such infringement or conflict, which individually or in the
aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The
Company and its subsidiaries have no knowledge of any infringement of its
intellectual property by any third party.

                  (p) Poison Pill Provisions. Neither Company nor its
wholly-owned subsidiaries have a stockholder rights plan. None of the
acquisition of Debentures, Warrants, Common Shares or Warrant Shares nor the
deemed beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock prior to, or the
acquisition of such shares pursuant to, the conversion of Debentures or the
exercise of the Warrants will in any event under any circumstance trigger the
poison pill provisions of any other or subsequently adopted plan or agreement,
or a substantially similar occurrence under any successor or similar plan.

                  (q) No Litigation. Except as set forth in the reports or
documents filed at least 5 Trading Days prior to the Closing Date by the Company
pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(c) of the Exchange Act (the "PRE-AGREEMENT SEC
DOCUMENTS"), no litigation or claim (including those for unpaid taxes) against
the Company or any of its subsidiaries is pending or, to the Company's
knowledge, threatened, and no other event has occurred, which if determined
adversely could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company or could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the
transactions contemplated hereby. There is no legal proceeding described in the
Pre-Agreement SEC Documents that could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company.

                  (r) Brokers. Except as set forth on Schedule 2.1(v), the
Company has taken no action which would give rise to any claim by any person for
brokerage commissions, finder's fees or similar payments by the Company or any
Investor relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The
Company shall be responsible for any payments contemplated by Schedule 2.1(v).

                  (s) Acknowledgement of Dilution. The number of shares of
Common Stock constituting Common Shares or Warrant Shares may increase
substantially in certain circumstances, including the circumstance where the
trading price of the Common Stock declines. The Company acknowledges that its
obligation to issue Common Shares upon conversion of Debentures and shares of
Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrants is absolute and unconditional,
regardless of the dilution that such issuance may have on other shareholders of
the Company.

                  (t) Other Investors. Except as set forth on Schedule
2.1(t)(i), there are no outstanding securities issued by the Company that are
entitled to registration rights under the Act. Except as set forth on Schedule
2.1(t)(ii), there are no outstanding securities issued by the Company that are
directly or indirectly convertible into, exercisable into, or exchangeable for,
shares of Common Stock of the Company, or that have anti-dilution or similar
rights that would

                                       7
<PAGE>   8
be affected by the issuance of the Debentures, the Common Shares, the Warrants
or the Warrant Shares.

                  (u) Certain Transactions. Except as disclosed in the
Pre-Agreement SEC Documents, none of the officers, directors, or key employees
of the Company is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or any
of its subsidiaries (other than for services as employees, officers and
directors), including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for
the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal
property to or from, or otherwise requiring payments to or from any officer,
director or such employee or, to the knowledge of the Company, any corporation,
partnership, trust or other entity in which any officer, director, or any such
employee has a substantial interest or is an officer, director, trustee or
partner.

                  (v) Permits; Compliance. The Company and each of its
subsidiaries is in possession of all franchises, grants, authorizations,
licenses, permits, easements, variances, exemptions, consents, certificates,
approvals and orders necessary to own, lease and operate its properties and to
carry on its business as it is now being conducted (collectively, the "COMPANY
PERMITS"), except where failure to possess such Company Permits would not have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company and there is no action pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened regarding suspension or cancellation of any
of the Company Permits except for such Company Permits the failure of which to
possess, or the cancellation or suspension of which, would not, individually or
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. To the best of
its knowledge, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in material
conflict with, or in material default or material violation of, any of the
Company Permits. Since December 31, 1999, neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has received any notification with respect to possible material
conflicts, material defaults or material violations of applicable laws.

                  (w) Insurance. The Company and each of its subsidiaries are
insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses
and risks and in such amounts as management of the Company believes to be
prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and its direct and
indirect subsidiaries are engaged. Neither the Company nor any such subsidiary
has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing
insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar
coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business
without a significant increase in cost.

                  (x) Internal Accounting Controls. The Company and each of its
subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient, in
the judgment of the Company's management, to provide reasonable assurance that
(i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or
specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to
assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific
authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with
the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with
respect to any differences.

                                       8
<PAGE>   9
                  (y) Environmental Matters. Except as otherwise disclosed in
the Pre-Agreement SEC Documents, the Company and each of its subsidiaries is in
compliance in all respects with all applicable state and federal environmental
laws except where any such non-compliance would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and no event or condition has
occurred that may interfere with the compliance by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries with any environmental law or that may give rise to any liability
under any environmental law that, individually or in the aggregate, would have a
Material Adverse Effect.

                  (z) Solvency.

                           (i) Based on the financial condition of the Company
                  as of the Closing Date, the Company's fair saleable value of
                  its assets exceeds the amount that will be required to be paid
                  on or in respect of the Company's existing debts and other
                  liabilities (including known contingent liabilities) as they
                  mature.

                           (ii) Based on the financial condition of the Company
                  as of the Closing Date, the Company's assets do not constitute
                  unreasonably small capital to carry out its business for the
                  year 2000 as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted
                  including the Company's year 2000 capital needs taking into
                  account the particular capital requirements of the business
                  conducted by the Company, and projected capital requirements
                  and capital availability thereof.

                           (iii) The Company does not intend to incur debts
                  beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature (taking
                  into account the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on
                  or in respect of its debt). Based on the financial condition
                  of the Company as of the Closing Date, the current cash flow
                  of the Company, together with the proceeds the Company would
                  receive, were it to liquidate all of its assets, after taking
                  into account all anticipated uses of the cash, would be
                  sufficient to pay all amounts on or in respect of its debt
                  when such amounts are required to be paid.

                           (iv) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
                  is subject to any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar
                  proceeding.

                  (aa) Taxes. All federal, state, city and other tax returns,
reports and declarations required to be filed or extended by or on behalf of the
Company and each of its subsidiaries have been filed or extended and all such
filed returns are complete and accurate and disclose all taxes (whether based
upon income, operations, purchases, sales, payroll, licenses, compensation,
business, capital, properties or assets or otherwise) required to be paid in the
periods covered thereby. All taxes required to be withheld by or on behalf of
the Company or any such subsidiary in connection with amounts paid or owing to
any employees, independent contractor, creditor or other party have been
withheld, and such withheld taxes have either been duly and timely paid to the
proper governmental authorities or set aside in accounts for such purposes.

                                       9
<PAGE>   10
                  (bb) Title to Properties; Encumbrances. SCHEDULE 2.1(bb)
contains a complete and accurate list of all material real property, leaseholds,
or other interests therein owned by the Company and its subsidiaries. Each of
the Company and its subsidiaries owns (with good and marketable title in the
case of real property) all the properties and assets (whether real, personal, or
mixed and whether tangible or intangible ("COMPANY PROPERTY")) that it purports
to own. All material Company Property is free and clear of all encumbrances and
are not, in the case of real property (which, for this purpose, shall not
include the Company's interest as tenant in leaseholds), subject to any rights
of way, building use restrictions, exceptions, variances, reservations or
limitations of any nature, except, with respect to all such properties and
assets, (a) mortgages, liens or security interests shown on SCHEDULE 2.1(bb) as
securing specified liabilities or obligations, with respect to which no default
(or event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a
default) exists, (b) liens for current taxes not yet due, and (c) with respect
to real property, (i) minor imperfections of title, if any, none of which is
substantial in amount, materially detracts from the value or impairs the use of
the property subject thereto, or impairs the operations of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, and (ii) zoning laws and other land use restrictions
(including, but not limited to, easements of records) that do not impair the
present or anticipated use of the property subject thereto. All buildings,
plans, and structures owned by the Company or any of its subsidiaries lie wholly
within the boundaries of the real property owned by the Company or such
subsidiaries, and do not encroach upon the property of, or otherwise conflict
with the property rights of, any other person.

                  (cc) No Reliance on Investors. The Company acknowledges and
agrees that each Investor is acting solely in the capacity of an arm's length
purchaser with respect to this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement
and the performance under the Debentures and the Warrants and the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby. The Company further acknowledges that no
Investor is acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company (or in any
similar capacity) with respect to this Agreement and the Registration Rights
Agreement and the performance under the Debentures and the Warrants and the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The Company further represents to
the Investor that the Company's decision to enter into this Agreement and the
Registration Rights Agreement and the performance under the Debentures and the
Warrants has been based solely on the independent evaluation by the Company and
its representatives.

         Section 2.2 Representations and Warranties of the Investors. Each of
the Investors, severally (as to itself) and not jointly hereby makes the
following representations and warranties to the Company as of the date hereof
and on the Closing Date:

                  (a) Organization and Qualification. Such Investor is duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its organization and is duly qualified to do business and in
good standing in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted
by it makes such qualification necessary except where the failure to be so
qualified or in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on such Investor.

                  (b) Authorization; Enforcement. (i) Such Investor has the
requisite power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and the
Registration Rights Agreement to purchase the Debentures and to acquire the
Warrants being sold to it hereunder and to acquire the

                                       10
<PAGE>   11
Common Shares and the Warrant Shares, (ii) the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement by such Investor and the
consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate or partnership action, and (iii) this
Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement constitute valid and binding
obligations of such Investor enforceable against such Investor in accordance
with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws
relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors' rights and
remedies or by other equitable principles of general application.

                  (c) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and the performance under
the Debentures and Warrants and the consummation by such Investor of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not (i) result in a
violation of such Investor's organizational documents, or (ii) conflict with any
agreement, indenture or instrument to which such Investor is a party, or (iii)
result in a material violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or any order,
judgment or decree of any court or governmental agency applicable to such
Investor. Such Investor is not required to obtain any consent or authorization
of any governmental agency in order for it to perform its obligations under this
Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Warrants or the Debentures.

                  (d) Investment Representations.

                           (i) Access to Other Information. Such Investor
                  acknowledges that the Company has made available to such
                  Investor the opportunity to examine such additional documents
                  from the Company and to ask questions of, and receive full
                  answers from, the Company concerning, among other things, the
                  Company, its financial condition, its management, its prior
                  activities and any other information which such Investor
                  considers relevant or appropriate in connection with entering
                  into this Agreement.

                           (ii) Risks of Investment. Such Investor acknowledges
                  that the Securities and the Common Shares and Warrant Shares
                  issuable upon conversion and/or exercise of the Securities
                  have not been registered under the Act. Such Investor is
                  familiar with the provisions of Rule 144 and understands that
                  in the event all of the applicable requirements of Rule 144
                  are not satisfied, registration under the Act or some other
                  exemption from the registration requirements of the Act will
                  be required in order to dispose of the Securities and the
                  Common Shares and Warrant Shares issuable upon conversion
                  and/or exercise of the rights granted in the Securities, and
                  that such Investor may be required to hold the Securities and
                  the Common Shares and Warrant Shares issuable upon conversion
                  and/or exercise of the Securities received under this
                  Agreement for a significant period of time prior to reselling
                  them, subject to the Company successfully registering the
                  Common Shares, and Warrant Shares pursuant to the Registration
                  Rights Agreement. Such Investor is capable of assessing the
                  risks of an investment in the Securities and is fully aware of
                  the economic risks thereof.

                                       11
<PAGE>   12
                           (iii) Investment Representation. Such Investor is
                  purchasing the Debentures and the Initial Warrants and may
                  purchase the Forced Conversion Warrants, Common Shares and
                  Warrants Shares, in each case, for its own account and not
                  with a view to distribution in violation of any securities
                  laws. Such Investor has no present intention to sell the
                  Debentures, Warrants, Common Shares or Warrant Shares in
                  violation of federal or state securities laws and such
                  Investor has no present arrangement (whether or not legally
                  binding) to sell the Debentures, Warrants, Common Shares or
                  Warrant Shares to or through any person or entity; provided,
                  however, that by making the representations herein, such
                  Investor does not agree to hold the Debentures, Warrants,
                  Common Shares or Warrant Shares for any minimum or other
                  specific term and reserves the right to dispose of the
                  Debentures, Warrants, Common Shares or Warrant Shares at any
                  time in accordance with federal and state securities laws
                  applicable to such disposition.

                           (iv) Restricted Securities. It acknowledges and
                  understands that the terms of issuance have not been reviewed
                  by the SEC or by any state securities authorities and that the
                  Securities have been issued in reliance on the certain
                  exemptions for non-public offerings under the Act, which
                  exemptions depend upon, among other things, the
                  representations made and information furnished by such
                  Investor, including the bona fide nature of such Investor's
                  investment intent as expressed above.

                           (v) Ability to Bear Economic Risk. It is an
                  "accredited" investor as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D,
                  as amended, under the Act, and that it (i) is able to bear the
                  economic risk of its investment in the Debentures, (ii) is
                  able to hold the Debentures for an indefinite period of time,
                  (iii) can afford a complete loss of its investment in the
                  Debentures and (iv) has adequate means of providing for its
                  current needs.

                           (vi) No Public Solicitation. At no time was such
                  Investor presented with or solicited by any general mailing,
                  leaflet, public promotional meeting, newspaper or magazine
                  article, radio or television advertisement, or any other form
                  of general advertising or general solicitation in connection
                  with the issuance.

                           (vii) Reliance by the Company. Such Investor
                  understands that the Debentures and Warrants are being or will
                  be, as the case may be, offered and sold and that the Common
                  Shares or Warrant Shares, as the case may be, will be issued,
                  in reliance on a transactional exemptions from the
                  registration requirements of federal and state securities laws
                  and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of
                  the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments
                  and understandings of such Investor set forth herein in order
                  to determine the applicability of such exemptions and the
                  suitability of such Investor to acquire the Debentures and
                  Warrants.

                  (e) Brokers. Except with respect to Schedule 2.1(v), such
Investor has taken no action which would give rise to any claim by any person
for brokerage commissions, finder's

                                       12
<PAGE>   13
fees or similar payments by the Company relating to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby.

                                    ARTICLE 3
                                    COVENANTS

         Section 3.1 Registration and Listing; Effective Registration. For so
long as the Securities are outstanding, the Company will cause the Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of the Securities to continue at all times to be
registered under Section 12(b) or Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, will comply
in all respects with its reporting and filing obligations under the Exchange
Act, and will not take any action or file any document (whether or not permitted
by the Exchange Act or the rules thereunder) to terminate or suspend such
reporting and filing obligations. Until such time as no Securities are
outstanding, the Company shall continue the listing or trading of the Common
Stock on the Nasdaq National Market System or one of the other Approved Markets
and comply in all respects with the Company's reporting, filing and other
obligations under the bylaws or rules of the Approved Market on which the Common
Stock is listed. The Company shall cause the Common Stock to be listed on the
Nasdaq National Market System no later than the registration of the Common Stock
under the Act, and at all times shall continue such listing(s) on one of the
Approved Markets. As used herein and in the Registration Rights Agreement, the
Debenture and the Warrants, the term "EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION" shall mean: (i)
the Company is in compliance with this Agreement, the Registration Rights
Agreement, the Warrants and the Debentures; (ii) the resale of Registrable
Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) is covered by an
effective registration statement and such registration statement is not subject
to any suspension or stop orders; (iii) the resale of such securities may be
effected pursuant to a current and deliverable prospectus that is not subject to
any blackout or similar circumstance; (iv) the securities are listed on an
Approved Market (as defined below) and are not subject to any trading
suspension; (v) no Interfering Event (as described in the Registration Rights
Agreement) then exists; and (vi) none of the Company or any direct or indirect
subsidiary of the Company is subject to any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar
proceeding.

         Section 3.2 Debentures on Conversion and Warrants on Exercise.

                  (a) Upon any conversion by an Investor (or then holder of
Debentures) of the Debentures pursuant to the terms thereof, the Company shall
issue and deliver to such Investor (or holder) on the Acceptable Delivery Date
(as defined in the Debentures) or as otherwise provided in the Debentures, a new
debenture for the principal amount of Debentures which such Investor (or holder)
has not yet elected to convert but which is evidenced in part by the
debenture(s) submitted to the Company in connection with such conversion (with
the number of and denomination of such new debenture(s) designated by such
Investor or holder).

                  (b) Upon any partial exercise by an Investor (or then holder
of the Warrants) of the Warrants, the Company shall issue and deliver to such
Investor (or holder) within three (3) days of the date on which such Warrants
are exercised, a new Warrant or Warrants representing the number of adjusted
Warrant Shares and/or Common Shares, as the case may be, in accordance with the
terms of Section 3 of such Warrants.

                                       13
<PAGE>   14
         Section 3.3 Replacement Debentures and Warrants.

                  (a) The Debentures held by any Investor (or then holder) may
be exchanged by such Investor (or such holder) at any time and from time to time
for Debentures with different denominations representing an equal aggregate
principal amount of Debentures, as requested by such Investor (or such holder)
upon surrendering the same. No service charge will be made for such registration
or transfer or exchange.

                  (b) The Warrants will be exchangeable at the option of the
Investor (or then holder of the Warrants) at the office of the Company for other
Warrants of different denominations entitling the holder thereof to purchase in
the aggregate the same number of Warrant Shares and/or Common Shares, as the
case may be, as are purchasable under such Warrants. No service charge will be
made for such transfer or exchange.

         Section 3.4 Expenses. The Company shall pay in immediately available
funds, at the Closing and promptly upon receipt of any further invoices relating
to same, all reasonable due diligence fees and expenses and reasonable
attorneys' fees and expenses of the Investors' Counsel, incurred by the
Investors in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution and
delivery of this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Debentures,
the Warrants and the related agreements and documents and the transactions
contemplated hereunder and thereunder; provided, however, that the Company shall
not be obligated to pay fees and expenses in excess of $40,000 unless the
Investors have obtained the prior written approval of the Company with respect
to any such excess. At Closing, the Company shall pay the amount estimated to be
due for such fees and expenses (which may include fees and expenses estimated to
be incurred for completion of the transaction including post-closing matters).
In the event such amount is ultimately less than the actual fees and expenses,
the Company shall promptly pay such deficiency upon receipt of an invoice
regarding same. In the event such amount is ultimately greater than the actual
fees and expenses, such excess shall promptly be returned to the Company.

         Section 3.5 Securities Compliance. The Company shall notify the SEC, in
accordance with their requirements, of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, the Debenture, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Warrants,
and shall take all other necessary action and proceedings as may be required and
permitted by applicable law, rule and regulation, for the legal and valid
issuance of the Debentures hereunder, the Common Shares issuable upon conversion
thereof, the Warrants and the Warrant Shares and Common Shares, as the case may
be, issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.

         Section 3.6 Dividends or Distributions; Purchases of Equity Securities.

                  (A) Except as provided in this Section 3.6 to the contrary,
for so long as any Debentures or Warrants remain outstanding, the Company agrees
that it shall not (a) declare or pay any dividends or make any distributions to
any holder or holders of Common Stock (other than dividends payable in Common
Stock) in their capacity as shareholders, or (b) purchase or otherwise acquire
for value, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or other equity
security of the Company; provided that the Company may purchase or acquire
shares of Common Stock (x) so long as the Company (i) purchases or acquires such
shares on the open

                                       14
<PAGE>   15
market or pursuant to a tender offer directed to all of the Company's
shareholders other than during a Reset Pricing Period, and (ii) does not utilize
the proceeds of the issuances of the Debentures for such purpose, (y) that are
hereafter issued to employees pursuant to employment, stock repurchase or other
similar agreements or (z) that are thereby being redeemed pursuant to that
certain Put Option Agreement between the Company and the former shareholders of
CRL Network Services, Inc. dated as of January 5, 2000 (the "Put Option
Agreement") and referred to on Schedule 3.6, with a redemption price not to
exceed $5,000,000 in any 12-month period and not to exceed $10,000,000 in the
aggregate, provided that at the time of redemption no event or occurrence or
state of facts exists that, with the giving of notice or the passage of time or
both, would constitute an Event of Default under the Debentures, and the
following conditions are satisfied: (i) the redemption is to be effective on or
before July 11, 2002, and as of the date immediately preceding such redemption
(A) the sum of (1) the Company's total unrestricted cash, and cash equivalents
(as defined in the Company's financial statements) and restricted cash or cash
equivalents which is restricted solely due to serving as security or collateral
for the Company's Short Term Debt and (2) fair value of the Company's "Permitted
Interim Investments" (as defined below) less (B) the sum of (3) the Company's
Short Term Debt (as defined below) and (4) the Company's proposed payment under
the Put Option Agreement, is greater than 300% of the absolute value of the
Company's EBITDA (as defined below) for the previous fiscal quarter for which
financial statements have been publicly filed (provided such fiscal quarter
ended not more than 105 days prior to the date of notice described in the
following sentence), or (ii) the redemption is to be effected after July 11,
2002. The Company shall notify each Investor in writing not less than 10 Trading
Days nor more than 20 Trading Days prior to any proposed redemption pursuant to
clause (z)(i) above, which notice shall state the total redemption price to be
paid by the Company in connection therewith, and shall provide each Investor
with a certificate, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Investors, signed by
each of the chief executive officer and chief financial officer certifying that
the planned redemption comports with clause (z) (i) above and containing
computations in reasonable detail demonstrating same. Any payments by the
Company under the Put Option Agreement or any related agreement in direct or
indirect contravention of clause (z) above shall constitute an "Event of
Default" under the Debentures.

                  (B) As set forth above, "Permitted Interim Investments" shall
be limited to corporate debt obligations with fixed maturities of less than one
year having an investment grade rating from either Moody's Investor Services,
Inc. or Standard & Poor's.

                  (C) As set forth above, "Short Term Debt" shall mean any
indebtedness or monetary obligation or capital lease obligation which (a) has a
maturity within twelve months of the date of determination, or (b) provides the
holder thereof with a right to accelerate the Company's obligation to repay the
indebtedness, monetary obligation or capital lease obligation or redeem such
indebtedness or monetary obligation, in whole or in part, within twelve months
of the date of determination, based upon facts which exist on the date of the
determination as to whether such indebtedness, monetary obligation or capital
lease is "Short Term Debt".

                  (D) As set forth above, "EBITDA" shall mean (a) the sum of (i)
earnings (losses) from operations (ii) depreciation and (iii) amortization,
minus (b) the sum of (iv) other income (but not other expenses) and (v) any
other non-recurring income that may be included in

                                       15
<PAGE>   16
loss from operations. The foregoing items shall be taken from the Company's
financial statements referred to in Section 3.6(A), clause (b), sub-clause (z),
above.

                  Section 3.7 Notices. The Company agrees to provide all holders
of Debentures and Warrants with copies of all notices and information, including
without limitation notices and proxy statements in connection with any meetings,
that are provided to the holders of shares of Common Stock, contemporaneously
with the delivery of such notices or information to such Common Stock holders.

                  Section 3.8 Use of Proceeds. The Company agrees that the
proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Debentures hereunder shall
be used for working capital purposes.

                  Section 3.9 Notification of Additional Financings;
Adjustments. The Company agrees that until the three (3) month anniversary of
the Closing Date, the Investors shall have a right of first refusal with respect
to all non-public capital raising transactions as set forth in this Section 3.9.
The Company shall give advance written notice to the Investors prior to any
offer or sale of any of its equity securities or any securities convertible into
or exchangeable or exercisable for such securities in a non-public capital
raising transaction ("FINANCING TRANSACTION"). The Investors shall have ten (10)
Trading Days from receipt of such notice to deliver a written notice to the
Company that one or more of such Investors elects to exercise its right of first
refusal with respect to the entire issuance. If, subsequent to the Company
giving notice to the Investors hereunder, the terms and conditions of the
proposed Financing Transaction are changed in any way, the Company shall be
required to provide a new notice to the Investors hereunder and the Investors
shall have the right of refusal again to purchase all of the securities in the
offering on such changed terms and conditions as provided hereunder. In such
event, if such other Financing Transaction provides for non-cash consideration,
in whole or in part, from such other potential investor(s), the Investors shall
still have the right to participate in the Financing Transaction as provided
herein, provided that cash or cash equivalents may be substituted by the
Investors for such non-cash consideration. This right of first refusal shall
continue even if the Investors elect not to participate in one or more Financing
Transactions.

         Section 3.10 Reservation of Stock Issuable.

                  (a) The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available
out of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock, solely for the
purpose of effecting the conversion of the Debentures and the exercise of the
Warrants, such number of its shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time
be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding Debentures and the
full exercise of the Warrants and if at any time the number of authorized but
unissued shares of Common Stock shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion
of all the then outstanding Debentures and the full exercise of the Warrants,
the Company will take such corporate action as may, in the opinion of its
counsel, be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued shares of Common
Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purpose,
including without limitation engaging in best efforts to obtain the requisite
shareholder approval. The Company covenants that all shares of Common Stock that
shall be so issuable shall upon issue, be duly and validly authorized, issued
and fully paid and nonassessable.

                                       16
<PAGE>   17
                  (b) Without in any way limiting the foregoing, to the extent
that any Debenture may still be converted or any Warrant may still be exercised,
the Company agrees to reserve and at all times keep available solely for
purposes of conversion of Debentures and the exercise of the Warrants, free from
preemptive rights or any other present or contingent purchase rights of persons
other than the holders of the Debentures and Warrants, such number of authorized
but unissued shares of Common Stock that is at least equal, in the aggregate, to
the sum of (i) 18,000,000, which number shall be appropriately adjusted for
adjustments under Sections 8 of the Debenture and (ii) 200% of the aggregate
shares issuable on exercise of the Warrants (whether or not such Warrants have
been issued), which number shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock split,
reverse split, stock dividend or reclassification of the Common Stock. If the
Company falls below the reserves specified in the immediately preceding
sentences and does not cure such non-compliance within 30 days, then (subject to
paragraph (d) below) the Investors will be entitled to the default payments
specified in Section 2(b)(i) of the Registration Rights Agreement. If at any
time the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock is not
sufficient to effect the conversion of all the then outstanding Debentures or
the full exercise of the Warrants, the Investors shall be entitled to, inter
alia, the premium price redemption rights provided in the Registration Rights
Agreement.

                  (c) Each Investor shall be entitled to receive up to its pro
rata share of the authorized but unissued shares referred to in paragraph (b)
above in connection with the conversion of its Debentures and/or exercise of its
Warrants. If an Investor has converted all of its Debentures and redeemed all of
its Warrants, but has not depleted the total number of pro rata shares allocated
to it, its remaining pro rata shares shall be reallocated amongst the Investors
still holding Debentures and/or Warrants on a pro rata basis.

                  (d) If the Company does not have a sufficient number of shares
of Common Stock available to satisfy the Company's obligations to a holder of
Debentures upon receipt of a Conversion Notice (as defined in the Debentures) or
is otherwise unable to issue shares of Common Stock in accordance with the terms
of this Debenture such holder shall be entitled to the rights and remedies set
forth in the Registration Rights Agreement and the Debenture, subject to the
Company's right (if any) to cure as set forth thereunder and pursuant to the
next sentence. The holder shall not be entitled to such rights and remedies to
the extent that the Company does not have a sufficient number of shares
available due solely to its having an insufficient number of authorized shares
as a result of an adjustment or Reset (as defined in the Debentures) of the
conversion price referred to in the Conversion Notice which occurred less than
ninety days preceding the Acceptable Delivery Date (as defined in the
Debentures), provided that, on or before the ninetieth day following such
adjustment or Reset, the Company has authorized such shares and issued them to
the holder in accordance with the Conversion Notice.

         Section 3.11 Best Efforts. The parties shall use their best efforts to
satisfy timely each of the conditions described in Article 4 of this Agreement.

         Section 3.12 Limitations on Issuance of Equity and Transfers

                  (a) So long as any Debentures remain outstanding, the Company
agrees that neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall (i) create,
incur, assume, guarantee, secure or in any manner become liable in respect of
any debt financing that has an equity component

                                       17
<PAGE>   18
associated therewith, including but not limited to convertible securities and
debt with warrants ("DEBT-EQUITY FINANCING"), which is senior to the Debentures;
or (ii) create, incur or permit to exist any security interest, lien or other
encumbrance on or with respect to any of the assets of the Company or its
subsidiaries in connection with any Debt-Equity Financing. No subsidiary of the
Company shall have any liability for any obligations under any Debt-Equity
Financing.

                  (b) The Company shall not contribute or transfer its assets to
any of its subsidiaries, other than a subsidiary that has delivered its
guarantee to the Investor in form and substance satisfactory to the Investors.

         Section 3.13 Form D; Blue Sky Laws. The Company agrees to file a Form D
with respect to the Debentures, Warrants, Common Shares and Warrant Shares, as
required under Regulation D and to provide a copy thereof to each Investor
promptly after such filing. The Company shall, on or before each Closing Date,
take such action as the Company shall have reasonably determined is necessary to
qualify the Debentures, Warrants, Common Shares and Warrant Shares for sale to
the Investors at the Closing pursuant to this Agreement under applicable
securities or "blue sky" laws of the states of the United States (or to obtain
an exemption from such qualification), and shall provide evidence of any such
action so taken to each Investor on or prior to the Closing Date.

         Section 3.14 Nasdaq Rule. The Investors shall, in the aggregate, be
entitled to convert Debentures into a total of 4,855,889 Common Shares (19.99%
of the Common Stock issued and outstanding on the date hereof, which number
shall be subject to readjustment for any stock split, stock dividend or
reclassification of the Common Stock) (the "20% CAP"). Each Investor shall be
entitled to convert that amount of its Debentures into such total number of
Common Shares equal to such Investor's pro rata share of the 20% Cap. Once an
Investor has received its total pro rata share upon conversion of its
Debentures, it may request that the Company redeem its remaining Debentures at a
price equal to the greater of (a) the cash value that the Investor would receive
upon conversion of the Debenture at the Conversion Price and subsequent sale of
the Common Shares received thereupon at the Market Price for Shares of Common
Stock in existence on such date and (b) 130% of the "OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT" (as defined in the Debentures) plus accrued but unpaid interest and
default payments in effect at that time. If an Investor has converted all of its
Debentures, but has not depleted the total number of pro rata shares allocated
to it, its remaining pro rata shares shall be reallocated amongst the Investors
still holding Debentures on a pro rata basis. The restrictions and redemption
obligations set forth in this Section 3.14 shall cease to apply if (a) the
Company obtains approval of the Company's shareholders other than the Investors
(if applicable), to issue Common Shares in excess of the 20% Cap pursuant to
Nasdaq Rule 4460 or (b) the Company provides the Investors with irrevocable
written notice, based upon the advice of its counsel, that any such issuance of
Common Shares upon conversion of the Debentures is not subject to the 20% Cap
pursuant to Nasdaq Rule 4460. The Company will use its best efforts promptly to
obtain either the shareholder approval or the irrevocable notice described in
the preceding sentence and to provide the Investors with a copy of same: without
limiting the foregoing, the Company shall solicit the aforementioned shareholder
approval at the next shareholders meeting (for whatever purpose it may be
called) which, in any event, shall not be later than May 31, 2001 in which the
Company will solicit the aforementioned shareholder approval, will solicit
proxies in favor of issuing Common Shares in excess of the 20% Cap and will use
its best efforts to have all affiliates of the

                                       18
<PAGE>   19
Company which own or control shares of Common Stock to vote their shares in
favor of such resolution. For purposes of this Section 3.14 only, conversion of
Debentures into Forced Conversion Warrants shall be deemed to be conversion of
Debentures into the Common Shares into which such Forced Conversion Warrants are
exercisable.

         Section 3.15 Transactions With Affiliates. The Company agrees that any
transaction or arrangement between it or any of its subsidiaries and any
affiliate or employee of the Company shall be effected on an arms' length basis
in accordance with customary commercial practice and, except with respect to
grants of options and stock to service providers, including employees, shall be
approved by a majority of the Company's outside directors.

         Section 3.16 Press Release. Immediately following the Closing, the
Company shall issue a press release in the form set forth in Schedule 3.16
hereto. Investors shall have the opportunity to review such press release prior
to its issuance. No press release shall name the Investors except as shall be
required by law. If the Company fails to issue a press release within 1 business
day of the Closing, the Investors may issue a press release covering the Closing
and complying with any legal requirement applicable to the Investors.

         Section 3.17 Trading.

                  (a) An Investor may not effect, on any day during any Reset
Pricing Period (as defined in the Debentures), sales of Common Stock (including
short sales) in excess of 10% of the trading volume on such day. The foregoing
restriction shall not apply (i) if an Event of Default (as defined in the
Debentures) shall have occurred and be continuing during any day during a Reset
Pricing Period (as defined in the Debentures) or (ii) at any time after a Change
in Control Transaction has occurred pursuant to the Debentures. In addition,
notwithstanding the foregoing restrictions, if the Company delivers a Redemption
Notice pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Debentures, then an Investor shall be
permitted to sell (including sell short) during any Reset Pricing Period, in
addition to the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise permitted above, a
number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Common Stock
issued or to be issued pursuant to one or more Conversion Notices that are
submitted or to be submitted by such Investor prior to the Redemption Date.

                  (b) An Investor shall not effect, on any Trading Day during a
Conversion Pricing Period (as defined in the Debentures) initiated by such
Investor, sales of Common Stock (including short sales) in excess of its pro
rata share of 24% of the trading volume on such Trading Day. In the event that
the Investor does so effect sales of Common Stock (including short sales) in
excess thereof, and provided that the Investor acts in accordance with the
following, the sole remedy therefor shall be to reduce the maximum number of
shares that the Investor may sell (including sell short) on each of the
immediately subsequent 3 Trading Days during such Conversion Pricing Period by
an amount equal to 1/3 of such excess sales. The foregoing restriction shall not
apply (i) if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing during
any day during such Conversion Pricing Period; (ii) at any time after a Change
in Control Transaction has occurred as defined in the Debentures; or (iii) in
the event that the Company has delivered a Redemption Notice to such Investor
pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Debentures and the Investor elects, by providing
the Company with notice via facsimile, to truncate the Conversion Pricing Period
as of the date such notice was delivered to the Company;

                                       19
<PAGE>   20
provided that if the foregoing restriction does not apply due solely to the
application of clause (iii) above, such restriction will become effective,
subject to clauses (i) and (ii) above (and subject to clause (iii) above as to a
subsequent Redemption Notice), upon the delivery of a subsequent Conversion
Notice by the Holder in accordance with Section 5(c)(i) of the Debenture. In the
event that the Investor elects to truncate the Conversion Pricing Period on a
Holder Conversion Date, the full amount of the Debentures otherwise to be
converted on such Holder Conversion Date shall be so converted pursuant to the
terms of the Debentures. In the event that the Investor elects to truncate the
Conversion Pricing Period other than on a Holder Conversion Date, a "PRO RATA
AMOUNT" (as defined below) of the Debentures which would otherwise be converted
on the immediately subsequent Holder Conversion Date shall be converted into
shares of Common Stock at a price equal to the average of the VWAP for each of
the Trading Days immediately following the last Holder Conversion Date up to and
including the date upon which the notice to truncate was delivered to the
Company (the "TRUNCATED PERIOD"). The Pro Rata Amount shall equal the number of
Trading Days in the Truncated Period multiplied by one-fifth (1/5) multiplied by
the Outstanding Principal Amount (plus accrued but unpaid interest and default
payments (not previously added to principal)) otherwise to be converted on the
Holder Conversion Date immediately following the Truncated Period. Except as set
forth above, in the event that the Investor elects to so truncate a Conversion
Pricing Period, unless a new Conversion Notice is thereafter submitted by the
Investor, there shall be no further conversions in such Conversion Pricing
Period.

         Section 3.18 Form 8-K. Within 15 calendar days of the Closing, the
Company shall file a Form 8-K with the SEC which discloses the transactions
contemplated hereby and by the Registration Rights Agreement, Warrants and
Debentures. Investors shall have the opportunity to review such Form 8-K prior
to its filing.

                                   ARTICLE 4
                             CONDITIONS TO CLOSINGS

         Section 4.1 Conditions Precedent to the Obligation of the Company to
Sell the Debentures. The obligation hereunder of the Company to issue and/or
sell the Debentures to the Investors at the Closing (unless otherwise specified)
is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing, of each of the
applicable conditions set forth below. These conditions are for the Company's
sole benefit and may be waived by the Company at any time in its sole
discretion.

                  (a) Accuracy of the Investors' Representations and Warranties.
The representations and warranties of each Investor will be true and correct in
all material respects as of the date when made and as of the Closing Date as
though made at that time (except for representations and warranties as of an
earlier date, which will be true and correct as of such date).

                  (b) Performance by the Investors. Each Investor shall have
performed all agreements and satisfied all conditions required to be performed
or satisfied by such Investor at or prior to the Closing.

                                       20
<PAGE>   21
                  (c) No Injunction. No statute, rule, regulation, executive
order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered,
promulgated or endorsed by any court or governmental authority of competent
jurisdiction which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement or the
Debentures or the Warrants.

                  (d) Purchase Price. The Company shall have received the
aggregate Purchase Price from the Investors.

         Section 4.2 Conditions Precedent to the Obligation of the Investors to
Purchase the Debentures. The obligation hereunder of each Investor to acquire
and pay for the Debentures at the Closing (unless otherwise specified) is
subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing, of each of the applicable
conditions set forth below. These conditions are for each Investor's benefit and
may be waived by each Investor at any time in its sole discretion.

                  (a) Accuracy of the Company's Representations and Warranties.
The representations and warranties of the Company shall be true and correct in
all material respects as of the date when made and as of the Closing Date as
though made at that time (except for representations and warranties as of an
earlier date, which shall be true and correct as of such date).

                  (b) Performance by the Company. The Company shall have
performed all agreements and satisfied all conditions required to be performed
or satisfied by the Company at or prior to the Closing.

                  (c) No Injunction. No statute, rule, regulation, executive,
judicial or administrative order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been
enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or governmental authority
of competent jurisdiction which prohibits the consummation of any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement
or the Debenture or the Warrants.

                  (d) Opinion of Counsel. At the Closing, the Investors shall
have received an opinion of the independent counsel of the Company, in the form
attached hereto as EXHIBIT 4.2(d) and such other opinions, certificates and
documents as the Investors or their counsel shall reasonably require incident to
the Closing.

                  (e) Registration Rights Agreement. The Company and the
Investors shall have executed and delivered the Registration Rights Agreement in
the form and substance of EXHIBIT 4.2(e) attached hereto.

                  (f) Adverse Changes. No event which had or is likely to have,
in the reasonable judgment of the Investors, a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries shall have occurred.

                  (g) Officer's Certificate. The Company shall have delivered to
the Investors a certificate in form and substance of EXHIBIT 4.2(g) attached
hereto, executed by an officer of the Company, certifying as to satisfaction of
closing conditions, incumbency of signing officers, and

                                       21
<PAGE>   22
the true, correct and complete nature of the Charter, By-Laws, good standing and
authorizing resolutions of the Company.

                  (h) Debentures and Initial Warrants. As of the Closing, the
Investors shall have received certificates representing the Debentures and
Initial Warrants in the form and substance of EXHIBIT 1.1A and EXHIBIT 1.1B
hereto.

                  (i) Due Diligence. Each Investor shall have completed its
financial, accounting, operational and legal due diligence in a manner
satisfactory to such Investor in its sole discretion.

                                   ARTICLE 5
                                LEGEND AND STOCK

         The Company will issue one or more certificates representing the
Debentures and the Initial Warrants in the name of the Investor and in such
denominations to be specified by the Investor prior to (or from time to time
subsequent to) Closing. Each certificate representing the Debentures and the
Initial Warrants and any shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion or
exercise thereof initially shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend
substantially in the following form:

         THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
         1933 OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THEY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED,
         ASSIGNED, SOLD OR OFFERED FOR SALE EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE
         REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SAID ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE
         SECURITIES LAW OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE
         REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED
         BECAUSE OF AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS.

         The Company agrees to reissue Debentures and reissue or issue Warrants,
as the case may be, without the legend set forth above at such time as (i) the
holder thereof is permitted to dispose of such Debentures and/or Warrants and
Common Stock issuable upon conversion or exercise thereof pursuant to Rule 144
under the Act, or (ii) such Debentures and/or Warrants are sold to a purchaser
or purchasers who (in the opinion of counsel to the seller or such purchaser(s),
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company and its counsel)
are able to dispose of such shares publicly pursuant to an Effective
Registration or exemption.

         Prior to the Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration
Rights Agreement) being declared effective, any Common Shares issued pursuant to
conversion of Debentures or Warrant Shares or Common Shares issued upon exercise
of the Warrants shall bear a legend in the same form as the legend indicated
above. Upon such Registration Statement becoming effective, the Company agrees
to promptly, but no later than the later of three (3) Trading Days thereafter or
the date upon which certificates representing such Common Shares and Warrant
Shares containing such legend are delivered to the Company, issue new
certificates representing such Common Shares and Warrant Shares without such
legend. Except as provided in Section 2(f) of the Registration Rights Agreement,
any Common Shares issued pursuant to conversion of Debentures or shares of
Common Stock issued upon exercise of the Warrants after the

                                       22
<PAGE>   23
Registration Statement has become effective shall be free and clear of any
legends, transfer restrictions and stop orders. Notwithstanding the removal of
such legend, each Investor agrees to sell the Common Shares and Warrant Shares
represented by the new certificates in accordance with the applicable prospectus
delivery requirements (if copies of a current prospectus are provided to such
Investor by the Company) or in accordance with an exemption from the
registration requirements of the Act.

         Nothing herein shall limit the right of any holder to pledge these
securities pursuant to a bona fide margin account or lending arrangement.

                                    ARTICLE 6
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         Section 6.1 Stamp Taxes. The Company shall pay all stamp and other
taxes and duties levied in connection with the issuance of the Securities and
the shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion or exercise thereof.

         Section 6.2 Specific Performance; Consent to Jurisdiction; Jury Trial.

                  (a) The Company and the Investors acknowledge and agree that
irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this
Agreement, the Debentures, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Warrants
were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise
breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an
injunction or injunctions to prevent or cure breaches of the provisions of this
Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, this
being in addition to any other remedy to which any of them may be entitled by
law or equity.

                  (b) THE COMPANY AND EACH OF THE INVESTORS (I) HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT
COURT, THE NEW YORK STATE COURTS AND OTHER COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES SITTING
IN NEW YORK COUNTY, NEW YORK FOR THE PURPOSES OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND (II) HEREBY WAIVES, AND AGREES
NOT TO ASSERT IN ANY SUCH SUIT ACTION OR PROCEEDING, ANY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT
PERSONALLY SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURT, THAT THE SUIT, ACTION OR
PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM OR THAT THE VENUE OF THE SUIT,
ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS IMPROPER. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE
COMPANY AND EACH OF THE INVESTORS CONSENTS TO PROCESS BEING SERVED IN ANY SUCH
SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF TO SUCH PARTY AT THE
ADDRESS IN EFFECT FOR NOTICES TO IT UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND AGREES THAT SUCH
SERVICE SHALL CONSTITUTE GOOD AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE OF PROCESS AND NOTICE
THEREOF. NOTHING IN THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL AFFECT OR LIMIT ANY RIGHT TO SERVE
PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

                  (c) THE COMPANY AND EACH INVESTOR HEREBY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO
A TRIAL BY JURY.

         Section 6.3 Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement, together with
the Registration Rights Agreement, the Warrants, the Debentures and the
agreements and documents

                                       23
<PAGE>   24
executed in connection herewith and therewith, contains the entire understanding
of the parties with respect to the matters covered hereby and thereby,
supercedes any prior understanding, memoranda or other written or oral
agreements between or among any of them respecting the matters covered hereby
and thereby and, except as specifically set forth herein or therein, neither the
Company nor any Investor makes any representation, warranty, covenant or
undertaking with respect to such matters. No provision of this Agreement may be
waived or amended other than by a written instrument signed by the party against
whom enforcement of any such amendment or waiver is sought.

         Section 6.4 Notices. Any notice or other communication required or
permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing by mail, facsimile or
personal delivery and shall be effective upon actual receipt of such notice.
Notices may (and, in some cases, as may expressly provided herein or in the
Purchase Agreement, Warrants or Debentures, shall) also be delivered via e-mail
in addition to the foregoing. However, in no case will notice by e-mail by
itself constitute adequate notice. The addresses for such communications shall
be:

                  to the Company:

                                1500 Broadway, 3rd Floor
                                New York, New York  10036
                                Attn:  Chief Financial Officer
                                Facsimile: (212) 398-5985
                                E-mail:     dbuckel@appliedtheory.com

                  with copies to:

                                224 Harrison Street, 8th Floor
                                Syracuse, New York  13202
                                Attn:  General Counsel
                                Facsimile: (315) 479-0824
                                E-mail:     rmechur@appliedtheory.com

                  to the Investors:

                                To each Investor at the address and/or fax
                                number set forth on SCHEDULE I of this
                                Agreement.

                  with copies to:

                                Kleinberg, Kaplan, Wolff & Cohen, P.C.
                                551 Fifth Avenue, 18th Floor
                                New York, New York 10176
                                Attention:     Stephen M. Schultz, Esq.
                                Facsimile:     (212) 986-8866
                                E-mail:        sschultz@kkwc.com

Any party hereto may from time to time change its address for notices by giving
at least 10 days' written notice of such changed address to the other parties
hereto.

                                       24
<PAGE>   25
         Section 6.5 Indemnity. Each party shall indemnify each other party
against any loss, cost or damages (including reasonable attorney's fees but
excluding consequential damages) incurred as a result of such parties' breach of
any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement in this Agreement; or
incurred as a result of the enforcement of this indemnity.

         Section 6.6 Waivers. No waiver by any party of any default with respect
to any provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to
be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any other provision,
condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of any party to
exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right
accruing to it thereafter.

         Section 6.7 Headings. The headings herein are for convenience only, do
not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or
affect any of the provisions hereof.

         Section 6.8 Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise provided
herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties and their successors and permitted assigns. The parties hereto may amend
this Agreement without notice to or the consent of any third party. The Company
may not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the
prior written consent of all Investors (which consent may be withheld for any
reason in their sole discretion), except that the Company may assign this
Agreement in connection with the sale of all or substantially all of its assets
provided that (a) the Company is not released from any of its obligations
hereunder, (b) such assignee assumes all obligations of the Company hereunder,
(c) appropriate adjustment of the provisions contained in this Agreement, the
Registration Rights Agreement, the Debentures and the Warrants is made, in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Investors, to place the Investors
in the same position as they would have been but for such assignment, in
accordance with the terms of the Debentures and the Warrants, and (d) such
transaction does not constitute an Event of Default under the Debentures. No
Investor may assign this Agreement (in whole or in part) or any rights or
obligations hereunder without the consent of the Company (which shall not be
unreasonably withheld), except that an Investor may assign its rights hereunder
in connection with an assignment of Debentures or Warrants.

         Section 6.9 No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is intended
for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors
and assigns and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be
enforced by, any other person.

         Section 6.10 Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS EXECUTED AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH
STATE.

         Section 6.11 Survival. The representations and warranties and the
agreements and covenants of the Company and each Investor contained herein shall
survive the Closing.

         Section 6.12 Execution. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, it
being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart.

                                       25
<PAGE>   26
         Section 6.13 Publicity. The Company agrees that it will not disclose,
and will not include in any public announcement, the name of any Investor
without the express written agreement of such Investor, unless and until such
disclosure is required by law or applicable regulation, and then only to the
extent of such requirement. The Company agrees that it will deliver a copy of
any public announcement regarding the matters covered by this Agreement or any
agreement and document executed herewith to each Investor and any public
announcement including the name of an Investor to such Investor, reasonably in
advance of the release of such announcements.

         Section 6.14 Severability. The parties acknowledge and agree that the
Investors are not agents, affiliates or partners of each other, that all
representations, warranties, covenants, obligations, agreements and all actions
of the Investor hereunder are several and not joint, that no Investor shall have
any responsibility or liability for the representations, warrants, agreements,
acts or omissions of any other Investor, and that any rights granted to
"Investors" hereunder shall be enforceable by each Investor hereunder.

         Section 6.15 Like Treatment of Holders; Redemption. Neither the Company
nor any of its affiliates shall, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid
any consideration (immediate or contingent), whether by way of interest, fee,
payment for the redemption or conversion of Debentures or exercise of Warrants,
or otherwise, to any holder of Debentures or Warrants, for or as an inducement
to, or in connection with the solicitation of, any consent, waiver or amendment
of any terms or provisions of the Debenture or this Agreement or the
Registration Rights Agreement or the Warrants, unless such consideration is
required to be paid to all holders of Debentures and Warrants bound by such
consent, waiver or amendment whether or not such holders so consent, waive or
agree to amend and whether or not such holders tender their Debentures or
Warrants for redemption, conversion or exercise. The Company shall not, directly
or indirectly, (a) redeem any Debentures pursuant to Section 6(a) thereof,
unless an offer of such redemption is made on identical terms pro rata to all
holders of Debentures that have identical Conversion Pricing Periods or
Post-Conversion Periods, or (b) redeem any Debentures pursuant to Section 6(b)
thereof, unless an offer of such redemption is made pro rata to all holders of
Debentures on identical terms.

         Section 6.16 No Strict Construction. The language used in this
Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express
their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against
any party.

                             Signature Page Follows

                                       26
<PAGE>   27
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date first above written.

                                 COMPANY:

                                 APPLIEDTHEORY CORPORATION

                                 By:      /s/ David A Buckel
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name: David A Buckel
                                          Title: Senior Vice President / CFO

                                 INVESTORS:

                                 HALIFAX FUND, L.P.
                                 By:      THE PALLADIN GROUP, L.P.
                                          Attorney-in-Fact

                                 By:      /s/ Steven W. Weiner
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name: Steven W. Weiner
                                          Title:  Managing Director

                                 PALLADIN PARTNERS I, L.P.
                                 By:      THE PALLADIN GROUP, L.P.
                                           Attorney-in-Fact

                                 By:      /s/ Steven W. Weiner
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name: Steven W. Weiner
                                          Title:  Managing Director

                                 PALLADIN OVERSEAS FUND LTD.
                                 By:        THE PALLADIN GROUP, L.P.
                                            Attorney-in-Fact

                                 By:      /s/ Steven W. Weiner
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name: Steven W. Weiner
                                          Title:  Managing Director

                                 DeAM CONVERTIBLE ARBITRAGE FUND, LTD.
                                 By:        THE PALLADIN GROUP, L.P.
                                            Attorney-in-Fact

                                 By:      /s/ Steven W. Weiner
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name: Steven W. Weiner
                                          Title:  Managing Director

    SIGNATURE PAGE TO APPLIEDTHEORY CORPORATION DEBENTURE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                       27
<PAGE>   28
                                 LANCER SECURITIES (CAYMAN) LTD.
                                 By:        THE PALLADIN GROUP, L.P.
                                            Attorney-in-Fact

                                 By:      /s/ Steven W. Weiner
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name: Steven W. Weiner
                                          Title:  Managing Director

                                 ELLIOTT ASSOCIATES, L.P.

                                 By:      /s/ Paul E. Singer
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name:  Paul E. Singer
                                          Title:  General Partner

                                 ELLIOTT INTERNATIONAL, L.P.
                                 By:        ELLIOTT INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL
                                            ADVISORS INC.
                                            Attorney-in-Fact

                                 By:      /s/ Paul E. Singer
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name:  Paul E. Singer
                                          Title:  General Partner

    SIGNATURE PAGE TO APPLIEDTHEORY CORPORATION DEBENTURE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
<PAGE>   29
                             EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

Schedule 1               List of Investors
Exhibit 1A               Form of Debenture
Exhibit 1B               Form of Initial Warrant
Schedule 2.1(a)          List of Subsidiaries
Schedule 2.1(c)          Authorization; Enforcement
Schedule 2.1(c)(i)       Authorization; Enforcement
Exhibit 2.1(c)(i)        Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
Exhibit 2.1(c)(ii)       By-Laws of the Company
Schedule 2.1(v)          Brokers
Schedule 2.1(t)(i)       Outstanding securities entitled to registration rights
Schedule 2.1(t)(ii)      Outstanding securities affected by the issuance of
                           Debentures, etc.
Schedule 2.1(bb)         Real Property
Schedule 3.6             Dividends and distributions
Schedule 3.16            Press Release
Exhibit 4.2(d)           Opinion of Company Counsel
Exhibit 4.2(e)           Registration Rights Agreement
Schedule 4.2(f)          Officer's Certificate
<PAGE>   30
                                   SCHEDULE I

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL
                                                          AMOUNT
                                                       OF DEBENTURES          INITIAL WARRANTS    PURCHASE PRICE    PRO RATA SHARE
                                                   ---------------------      ----------------    --------------    --------------
<S>                                                <C>                        <C>                 <C>               <C>
INVESTOR
HALIFAX FUND, L.P.                                      $15,000,000               1,083,333        $15,000,000             50%
c/o The Palladin Group, L.P.
Investment Manager
195 Maplewood Avenue
Maplewood, New Jersey  07040
Attn:  Steve Weiner
Tax  I.D. No.:
Facsimile: (973) 313-6491
E-mail: sweiner@palladingroup.com

PALLADIN PARTNERS I, L.P.                               $ 1,200,000                  86,667        $ 1,200,000              4%
c/o The Palladin Group L.P.
195 Maplewood Avenue
Maplewood, New Jersey 07040
Attn:  Steve Weiner
Tax  I.D. No.:
Facsimile: (973) 313-6491
E-mail: sweiner@palladingroup.com
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   31
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL
                                                          AMOUNT
                                                       OF DEBENTURES          INITIAL WARRANTS    PURCHASE PRICE    PRO RATA SHARE
                                                   ---------------------      ----------------    --------------    --------------
<S>                                                <C>                        <C>                 <C>               <C>
INVESTOR
PALLADIN OVERSEAS FUND LTD.                             $ 1,500,000                 108,333        $ 1,500,000              5%
c/o Citco Fund Services (Cayman Islands) Ltd.
Corporate Centre, West Bay Road
P.O. Box 31106 SMB
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Tax  I.D. No.:
Facsimile:  (345) 949-3877
Telephone: (345) 949-3977
E-mail: sweiner@palladingroup.com

DeAM CONVERTIBLE ARBITRAGE FUND, LTD.                   $ 2,700,000                 195,000        $ 2,700,000              9%
c/o The Palladin Group L.P.
195 Maplewood Avenue
Maplewood, New Jersey 07040
Attn:  Steve Weiner
Tax  I.D. No.:
Facsimile: (973) 313-6491
E-mail: sweiner@palladingroup.com

LANCER SECURITIES (CAYMAN) LTD.                         $ 2,100,000                 151,667        $ 2,100,000              7%
c/o The Palladin Group L.P.
195 Maplewood Avenue
Maplewood, New Jersey 07040
Attn:  Steve Weiner
Tax  I.D. No.:
Facsimile: (973) 313-6491
E-mail: sweiner@palladingroup.com
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   32
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL
                                                          AMOUNT
                                                       OF DEBENTURES          INITIAL WARRANTS    PURCHASE PRICE    PRO RATA SHARE
                                                   ---------------------      ----------------    --------------    --------------
<S>                                                <C>                        <C>                 <C>               <C>
INVESTOR
ELLIOTT ASSOCIATES, L.P.                                $ 3,750,000                 270,833        $ 3,750,000           12.5%
c/o Elliott Management Corporation
712 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York  10019
Telephone:        (212) 974-6000
Facsimile:        (212) 586-9429
Attention:        Norbert Lou
E-mail:           nlou@elliott-assoc.com

ELLIOTT INTERNATIONAL, L.P.                             $ 3,750,000                 270,833        $ 3,750,000           12.5%
c/o Elliott Management Corporation
712 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York  10019
Telephone:        (212) 974-6000
Facsimile:        (212) 586-9429
Attention:        Norbert Lou
E-mail:           nlou@elliott-assoc.com
</TABLE>

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