Document:

Exhibit 10.16

                          SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

         AGREEMENT, dated as of March 6, 2002, among DirectPlacement, Inc. (the
"Company") and GCA Strategic Investment Fund Limited ("Purchaser").

                                R E C I T A L S:

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to sell and issue to the Purchaser, and
Purchaser desires to purchase from the Company, a $500,000 aggregate principal
amount of the Company's Bridge Note due April 6, 2002 ("Bridge Note"), with
terms and conditions as set forth in the form of Bridge Note attached hereto as
Exhibit A; and

         WHEREAS, in order to induce the Purchaser to enter into the
transactions described in this Agreement, the Company desires to issue to the
Purchaser 100,000 shares of the Company's common stock, $.0001 par value per
share ("Common Stock") on the Closing (the "Shares"); and

         WHEREAS, the Purchaser will have certain registration rights with
respect to the Shares as set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit B; and

         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.                       DEFINITIONS

ARTICLE 1.1       Definitions. The following terms, as used herein, have the
following meanings:

         "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person (the "Subject Person"),
(i) any other Person (a "Controlling Person") that directly, or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries, Controls the Subject Person or (ii) any
other Person (other than the Subject Person or a Consolidated Subsidiary of the
Subject Person) which is Controlled by or is under common Control with a
Controlling Person.

         "Agreement" means this Securities Purchase Agreement, as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its
terms.

         "Asset Sale" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.4.

         "Balance Sheet Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7.

         "Benefit Arrangement" means at any time an employee benefit plan within
the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA which is not a Plan or a Multiemployer Plan
and which is maintained or otherwise contributed to by the Company.

         "Benefit Plans" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.9(b).

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         "Bridge Note" means the Company's Secured Bridge Note substantially in
the form set forth as Exhibit A hereto.

         "Business Day" means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day on
which commercial banks in the City of New York are authorized or required by law
to close.

         "Change in Control" means (i) after the date of this Agreement, any
person or group of persons (within the meaning of Sections 13 and 14 of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission relating to such
sections) other than the Purchaser shall have acquired beneficial ownership
(within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 promulgated by the Commission
pursuant to the Exchange Act) of 33 1/3% or more of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock of the Company; or (ii) individuals constituting the Board of
Directors of the Company on the date hereof (together with any new Directors
whose election by such Board of Directors or whose nomination for election by
the stockholders of the Company was approved by a vote of at least 50.1% of the
Directors still in office who are either Directors as of the date hereof or
whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved), cease for
any reason to constitute at least two-thirds of the Board of Directors of the
Company then in office.

         "Closing Bid Price" shall mean for any security as of any date, the
lowest closing bid price as reported by Bloomberg, L.P. ("Bloomberg") on the
principal securities exchange or trading market where such security is listed or
traded or, if the foregoing does not apply, the lowest closing bid price of such
security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for
such security as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no trading price is reported for
such security by Bloomberg, then the average of the bid prices of any market
makers for such securities as reported in the "Pink Sheets" by the National
Quotation Bureau, Inc. If the lowest closing bid price cannot be calculated for
such security on such date on any of the foregoing bases, the lowest closing bid
price of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually
determined by the Purchaser and the Company for which the calculation of the
closing bid price requires, and in the absence of such mutual determination, as
determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith.

         "Closing Date" means the date on which all of the conditions set forth
in Sections 6.1 and 6.2 shall have been satisfied and the Bridge Note in the
aggregate principal amount of $500,000 and the Shares are issued by the Company
to the Purchaser.

         "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any entity
succeeding to all of its material functions.

         "Common Stock" means the common stock, $.0001 par value per share, of
the Company.

         "Company" means DirectPlacement, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its
successors.

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         "Company Corporate Documents" means the certificate of incorporation
and bylaws of the Company.

         "Consolidated Net Worth" means at any date the total shareholder's
equity which would appear on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company
prepared as of such date.

         "Consolidated Subsidiary" means at any date with respect to any Person
or Subsidiary or other entity, the accounts of which would be consolidated with
those of such Person in its consolidated financial statements if such statements
were prepared as of such date.

         "Control" (including, with correlative meanings, the terms
"Controlling," "Controlled by" and under "common Control with"), as used with
respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the
power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of that
Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise.

         "Debt" of any Person means at any date, without duplication, (i) all
obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations of such
Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, or other similar instruments
issued by such Person, (iii) all obligations of such Person as lessee which (y)
are capitalized in accordance with GAAP or (z) arise pursuant to sale-leaseback
transactions, (iv) all reimbursement obligations of such Person in respect of
letters of credit or other similar instruments, (v) all Debt of others secured
by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Debt is otherwise an
obligation of such Person and (vi) all Debt of others Guaranteed by such Person.

         "Default" means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of
Default or which with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would,
unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

         "Directors" means the individuals then serving on the Board of
Directors or similar such management council of the Company.

         "Environmental Laws" means any and all federal, state, local and
foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders,
decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or other
governmental restrictions relating to the environment or to emissions,
discharges or releases of pollutants, contaminants, petroleum or petroleum
products, chemicals or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes into
the environment, including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water,
ground water, or land, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing,
distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of
pollutants, contaminants, petroleum or petroleum products, chemicals or
industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes or the cleanup or other
remediation thereof.

         "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, or any successor statute.

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         "ERISA Group" means the Company and each Subsidiary and all members of
a controlled group of corporation and all trades or businesses (whether or not
incorporated) under common control which, together with the Company or any
Subsidiary, are treated as a single employer under the Code.

         "Event of Default" has the meaning set forth in Article XII hereof.

         "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

         "Expense Reimbursement Fee" has the meaning set forth in Section 13.4.

         "Financing" means a public or private financing consummated (meaning
closing and funding) through the issuance of debt or equity securities (or
securities convertible into or exchangeable for debt or equity securities) of
the Company for cash, except for the issuance of stock options or warrants to
purchase the Company's Common Stock.

         "Formula Price" shall mean a dollar amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of the Bridge Note then outstanding, together with all accrued
and unpaid interest thereon.

         "GAAP" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.

         "Guarantee" by any Person means any obligation, contingent or
otherwise, of such Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing (whether by virtue
of partnership arrangements, by agreement to keep well, to purchase assets,
goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain a minimum net
worth, financial ratio or similar requirements, or otherwise) any Debt of any
other Person and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any
obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (i) to
purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such
Debt or (ii) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the
holder of such Debt of the payment thereof or to protect such holder against
loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided that the term Guarantee
shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course
of business. The term Guarantee used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

         "Hazardous Materials" means any hazardous materials, hazardous wastes,
hazardous constituents, hazardous or toxic substances or petroleum products
(including crude oil or any derivative or fraction thereof), defined or
regulated as such in or under any Environmental Laws.

         "Intellectual Property" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.

         "Investment" means any investment in any Person, whether by means of
share purchase, partnership interest, capital contribution, loan, time deposit
or otherwise.

         "Lien" means any lien, mechanic's lien, materialmen's lien, lease,
easement, charge, encumbrance, mortgage, conditional sale agreement, title
retention agreement, agreement to sell or convey, option, claim, title
imperfection, encroachment or other survey defect, pledge, restriction, security

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interest or other adverse claim, whether arising by contract or under law or
otherwise (including, without limitation, any financing lease having
substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing, and the filing
of any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code or comparable law
of any jurisdiction in respect of any of the foregoing).

         "Liquidity Event" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.4(b).

         "Listing Applications" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4.

         "Majority Holders" means (i) as of the Closing Date, the Purchaser and
(ii) at any time thereafter, the holders of more than 50% in aggregate principal
amount of the Bridge Note outstanding at such time.

         "Material Plan" means at any time a Plan or Plans having aggregate
Unfunded Liabilities in excess of $500,000.

         "Maturity Date" shall mean the date of maturity of the Bridge Note;
specifically, April 6, 2002.

         "Nasdaq Market" means the Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market System.

         "Net Cash Proceeds" means, with respect to any transaction, the total
amount of cash proceeds received by the Company or any Subsidiary less (i)
reasonable underwriters' fees, brokerage commissions, reasonable professional
fees and other customary out-of-pocket expenses payable in connection with such
transaction, and (ii) in the case of dispositions of assets, (A) actual transfer
taxes (but not income taxes) payable with respect to such dispositions, and (B)
the amount of Debt, if any, secured by a Lien on the asset or assets disposed of
and required to be, and actually repaid by the Company or any Subsidiary in
connection therewith, and any trade payables specifically relating to such asset
or assets sold by the Company or any Subsidiary that are not assumed by the
purchaser of such asset or assets.

         "Non-Recourse Financing" means Debt of the Company or any Subsidiary
which, by its terms, bars the lender thereof from any action against the Company
or any Subsidiary, as borrower or guarantor, if the security value of the
project or asset pledged in respect thereof falls below the amount required to
repay such Debt.

         "Officer's Certificate" shall mean a certificate executed by the
President, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of the Company in
the form of Exhibit D attached hereto.

         "Other Taxes" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(b).

         "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any entity
succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.

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         "Permits" means all domestic and foreign licenses, franchises, grants,
authorizations, permits, easements, variances, exemptions, consents,
certificates, orders and approvals necessary to own, lease and operate the
properties of, and to carry on the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries.

         "Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, trust,
incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, joint stock Company,
government (or any agency or political subdivision thereof) or other entity of
any kind.

         "Plan" means at any time an employee pension benefit plan which is
covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under
the Code and either (i) is maintained, or contributed to, by any member of the
ERISA group for employees of any member of the ERISA group or (ii) has at any
time within the preceding five years been maintained, or contributed to, by any
Person which was at such time a member of the ERISA group for employees of the
Person which was at such time a member of the ERISA Group.

         "Purchase Price" means the purchase price for the Securities set forth
in Section 2.2 hereof.

         "Purchaser" means GCA Strategic Investment Fund Limited and its
successors and assigns, including holders from time to time of the Bridge Note.

         "Registration Rights Agreement" means the agreement between the Company
and the Purchaser dated the date hereof substantially in the form set forth in
Exhibit B attached hereto.

         "Restricted Payment" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any
dividend or other distribution on any shares of capital stock of such Person
(except dividends payable solely in shares of capital stock of the same or
junior class of such Person and dividends from a wholly-owned direct or indirect
Subsidiary of the Company to its parent corporation), (ii) any payment on
account of the purchase, redemption, retirement or acquisition of (a) any shares
of such Person's capital stock or (b) any option, warrant or other right to
acquire shares of such Person's capital stock or (iii) any loan, or advance or
capital contribution to any Person (a "Stockholder") owning any capital stock of
such Person other than relocation, travel or like advances to officers and
employees in the ordinary course of business, and other than reasonable
compensation as determined by the Board of Directors.

         "Sale Event" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4.

         "SEC Reports" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.7.

         "Securities" means the Bridge Note and the Shares.

         "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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         "Solvency Certificate" shall mean a certificate executed by the chief
financial officer of the Company as to the solvency of the Company, the adequacy
of its capital and its ability to pay its debts, all after giving effect to the
issuance and sale of the Bridge Note and the completion of the offering
(including without limitation the payment of any fees or expenses in connection
therewith), which such Solvency Certificate shall be in the from of Exhibit C
attached hereto.

         "Subsidiary Corporate Documents" means the certificates of
incorporation and bylaws of each Subsidiary.

         "Subsidiaries" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.27.

         "Taxes" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

         "Trading Day" shall mean any Business Day in which the Nasdaq Market or
other automated quotation system or exchange on which the Common Stock is then
traded is open for trading for at least four (4) hours.

         "Transaction Agreements" means this Agreement, the Bridge Note and the
Registration Rights Agreement.

         "Transfer" means any disposition of Securities that would constitute a
sale thereof under the Securities Act.

         "Unfunded Liabilities" means, with respect to any Plan at any time, the
amount (if any) by which (i) the present value of all benefits under Plan
exceeds (ii) the fair market value of all Plan assets allocable to such benefits
(excluding any accrued but unpaid contributions), all determined as of the then
most recent valuation date for such Plan, but only to the extent that such
excess represents a potential liability of a member of the ERISA Group to the
PBGC or any other Person under Title IV of ERISA.

ARTICLE 1.2       Accounting Terms and Determinations. Unless otherwise
specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all
accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements
required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time, applied
on a consistent basis (except for changes concurred in by the Company's
independent public accountants) ("GAAP"). All references to "dollars," "Dollars"
or "$" are to United States dollars unless otherwise indicated.

ARTICLE 2.               PURCHASE AND SALE OF SECURITIES

ARTICLE 2.1       Purchase and Sale of Bridge Note.

         (a)      Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the
Company agrees to issue and sell to Purchaser, and Purchaser severally agrees to
purchase from the Company, a Bridge Note in the aggregate principal amount of
$500,000.

         (b)      Purchaser shall acquire the Bridge Note on the Closing Date in
an aggregate principal amount of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000).

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         (c)      In connection with the Purchaser's agreement to purchase the
Bridge Note specified in this Article II, the Company shall issue and deliver to
the Purchaser on the Closing Date, 100,000 shares of Common Stock.

ARTICLE 2.2       Purchase Price. The purchase price for the Bridge Note shall
be $475,000.00 (the "Purchase Price").

ARTICLE 2.3       Closing and Mechanics of Payment.

         (a)      Subject to satisfaction of the conditions set forth in
Sections 6.1 and 6.2 hereof, the Closing Date shall be March 6, 2002.

         (b)      The Bridge Note issued on the Closing Date shall be dated the
date hereof.

ARTICLE 3.                 PAYMENT TERMS OF BRIDGE NOTE

ARTICLE 3.1       Payment of Principal and Interest; Payment Mechanics. The
Company will pay all amounts due on each Bridge Note by the method and at the
address specified for such purpose by the applicable Purchaser in writing,
without the presentation or surrender of any Bridge Note or the making of any
notation thereon, except that upon written request of the Company made
concurrently with or reasonably promptly after payment or prepayment in full of
this Bridge Note, the holder shall surrender the Bridge Note for cancellation,
reasonably promptly after any such request, to the Company at its principal
executive office. Prior to any sale or other disposition of any Bridge Note, the
holder thereof will, at its election, either endorse thereon the amount of
principal paid thereon and the last date to which interest has been paid thereon
or surrender the Bridge Note to the Company in exchange for a new Bridge Note.
The Company will afford the benefits of this Section 3.1 to any direct or
indirect transferee of the Bridge Note purchased under this Agreement and that
has made the same agreement relating to this Bridge Note as the Purchaser has in
this Section 3.1; provided that such transferee is an "accredited investor"
under Rule 501 of the Securities Act.

ARTICLE 3.2       Reserved.

ARTICLE 3.3       Reserved.

ARTICLE 3.4       Mandatory Prepayments.

         (a)      Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company (a
"Sale Event") the Company shall, upon request of the Majority Holders, redeem
this Bridge Note in cash for the Formula Price.

         (b)      Upon the consummation of (i) one or more Financings (ii) a
transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any Person
in a single transaction or series of related transactions, or (iii) a
consolidation, merger or amalgamation of the Company with or into another Person
in which the Company is not the surviving entity (other than a merger which is
effected solely to change the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company and
results in a reclassification, conversion or exchange of outstanding shares of
Common Stock solely into shares of Common Stock), the Company shall use 25% of
the Net Cash Proceeds therefrom (unless, in the case of subclause (i), such Net
Cash Proceeds from each such Financing is less than $250,000) to redeem the
Bridge Note. The redemption price payable upon any such redemption shall be the
Formula Price.

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ARTICLE 3.5       Prepayment Procedures.

         (a)      Any permitted prepayment or redemption of the Bridge Note
pursuant to Section 3.4 above shall be deemed to be effective and consummated
for purposes of determining the Formula Price as follows:

                  (i)      A redemption pursuant to Section 3.4(a), the date of
         consummation of the applicable Sale Event; and

                  (ii)     A redemption pursuant to Section 3.4(b), three (3)
         Business Days following the date of consummation of the applicable
         Financing (meaning closing and funding).

         (b)      On the Maturity Date and on the effective date of a repayment
or redemption of the Bridge Note as specified in Section 3.5(a) above, the
Company shall deliver by wire transfer of funds the repayment/redemption price
to each Purchaser of the Bridge Note subject to redemption. Should any Purchaser
not receive payment of any amounts due on redemption of its Bridge Note by
reason of the Company's failure to make payment at the times prescribed above
for any reason, the Company shall pay to the applicable holder on demand (x)
interest on the sums not paid when due at an annual rate equal to the lesser of
(I) the maximum lawful rate and (II) 18% per annum, compounded at the end of
each thirty (30) days, until the applicable holder is paid in full and (y) all
costs of collection, including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys' fees
and costs, whether or not suit or other formal proceedings are instituted.

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ARTICLE 3.6       Payment of Additional Amounts.

         (a)      Any and all payments by the Company hereunder or under the
Bridge Note to any Purchaser and each "qualified assignee" thereof shall be made
free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any and all present
or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all
liabilities with respect thereto (all such taxes, levies, imposts, deductions,
charges, withholdings and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as "Taxes")
unless such Taxes are required by law or the administration thereof to be
deducted or withheld. If the Company shall be required by law or the
administration thereof to deduct or withhold any Taxes from or in respect of any
sum payable under the Bridge Note (i) the holders of the Bridge Note subject to
such Taxes shall have the right, but not the obligation, for a period of thirty
(30) days commencing upon the day it shall have received written notice from the
Company that it is required to withhold Taxes to transfer all or any portion of
the Bridge Note to a qualified assignee to the extent such transfer can be
effected in accordance with the other provisions of this Agreement and
applicable law; (ii) the Company shall make such deductions or withholdings;
(iii) the sum payable shall be increased as may be necessary so that after
making all required deductions or withholdings (including deductions or
withholdings applicable to additional amounts paid under this Section 3.6) such
Purchaser receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received if no such
deduction or withholding had been made; and (iv) the Company shall forthwith pay
the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant taxation or other authority
in accordance with applicable. A "qualified assignee" of a Purchaser is a Person
that is organized under the laws of (I) the United States or (II) any
jurisdiction other than the United States or any political subdivision thereof
and that (y) represents and warrants to the Company that payments of the Company
to such assignee under the laws in existence on the date of this Agreement would
not be subject to any Taxes and (z) from time to time, as and when requested by
the Company, executes and delivers to the Company and the Internal Revenue
Service forms, and provides the Company with any information necessary to
establish such assignee's continued exemption from Taxes under applicable law.

         (b)      The Company shall forthwith pay any present or future stamp or
documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar
levies (all such taxes, charges and levies hereinafter referred to as "Other
Taxes") which arise from any payment made under any of the Transaction
Agreements or from the execution, delivery or registration of, or otherwise with
respect to, this Agreement other than Taxes payable solely as a result of the
transfer from the Purchaser to a Person of any Security.

         (c)      The Company shall indemnify Purchaser, or qualified assignee,
for the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation, any
Taxes or Other Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this
Section 3.6) paid by each Purchaser, or qualified assignee, and any liability
(including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect
thereto, whether or not such Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally
asserted. Payment under this indemnification shall be made within 30 days from
the date such Purchaser or assignee makes written demand therefor. A certificate
as to the amount of such Taxes or Other Taxes submitted to the Company by such
Purchaser or assignee shall be conclusive evidence of the amount due from the
Company to such party.

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         (d)      Within 30 days after the date of any payment of Taxes, the
Company will furnish to Purchaser the original or a certified copy of a receipt
evidencing payment thereof.

         (e)      Purchaser shall provide to the Company a form W-8, stating
that it is a non-U.S. person, together with any additional tax forms which may
be required under the Code, as amended after the date hereof, to allow interest
payments to be made to it without deduction.

ARTICLE 4.               REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         The Company represents and warrants to the Purchaser as of the Closing
Date, the following:

ARTICLE 4.1       Organization and Qualification.  The Company and each
Subsidiary is a corporation (or other legal entity) duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation, with full power and authority to own, lease, use and operate
its properties and to carry on its business as and where now owned, leased,
used, operated and conducted.  The Company and each Subsidiary is qualified
to conduct business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in every
jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it makes such
qualification necessary, except where such failure would not have a Material
Adverse Effect.  A "Material Adverse Effect" means any material adverse
effect on the operations, results of operations, properties, assets or
condition  (financial or otherwise) of the Company or the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or on the transactions contemplated hereby or
by the agreements or instruments to be entered into in connection herewith.

ARTICLE 4.2       Authorization and Execution.

         (a)      The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to
enter into and perform each Transaction Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and to issue the Securities in
accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

         (b)      The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of each
Transaction Agreement and the issuance by the Company of the Securities have
been duly and validly authorized and no further consent or authorization of the
Company, its Board of Directors or its shareholders is required.

         (c)      This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the
Company.

         (d)      This Agreement constitutes, and upon execution and delivery
thereof by the Company, each of the Transaction Agreements will constitute, a
valid and binding agreement of the Company, in each case enforceable against the
Company in accordance with its respective terms.

ARTICLE 4.3       Capitalization. As of the date hereof, the authorized, issued
and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth on Schedule 4.3
hereto and no other shares of capital stock of the Company will be outstanding
as of the Closing Date. All of such outstanding shares of capital stock are, or
upon issuance will be, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable. No shares of capital stock of the Company are subject to

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preemptive rights or similar rights of the stockholders of the Company or any
liens or encumbrances imposed through the actions or failure to act of the
Company. Other than as set forth on Schedule 4.3 hereto, as of the date hereof,
(i) there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe for,
puts, calls, rights of first refusal, agreements, understandings, claims or
other commitments or rights of any character whatsoever relating to, or
securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of capital
stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or arrangements by which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound to issue additional
shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and (ii)
there are no agreements or arrangements under which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries are obligated to register the sale of any of its or their
securities under the Securities Act (except pursuant to the Registration Rights
Agreement) and (iii) there are no anti-dilution or price adjustment provisions
contained in any security issued by the Company (or in any agreement providing
rights to security holders) that will be triggered by the issuance of the Bridge
Note. The Company has furnished to Purchaser true and correct copies of the
Company's Corporate Documents, and the terms of all securities convertible into
or exercisable for Common Stock and the material rights of the holders thereof
in respect thereto.

ARTICLE 4.4       Governmental Authorization.

ARTICLE 4.5       The execution and delivery by the Company of the Transaction
Agreements does not and will not, the issuance and sale by the Company of the
Securities does not and will not, and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and by the other Transaction Agreements will not, require
any action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or
governmental official except (a) such actions or filings that have been
undertaken or made prior to the date hereof and that will be in full force and
effect (or as to which all applicable waiting periods have expired) on and as of
the date hereof or which are not required to be filed on or prior to the Closing
Date, (b) such actions or filings that, if not obtained, would not result in a
Material Adverse Effect and (c) the filing of a "Form D" as described in Section
7.13 below.

ARTICLE 4.6       Issuance of Shares. The Shares shall be duly and validly
issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of any
Taxes, Liens and charges with respect to issuance and shall not be subject to
preemptive rights or similar rights of any other stockholders of the Company.
Assuming the representations and warranties of the Purchaser herein are true and
correct in all material respects, each of the Securities will have been issued
in material compliance with all applicable U.S. federal and state securities
laws.

ARTICLE 4.7       No Conflicts. The execution and delivery by the Company of the
Transaction Agreements to which it is a party did not and will not, the issuance
and sale by the Company of the Securities did not and will not and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other
Transaction Agreements will not, contravene or constitute a default under or
violation of (i) any provision of applicable law or regulation, (ii) the Company
Corporate Documents, (iii) any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or
other instrument binding upon the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their
respective assets, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any
asset of the Company or any Subsidiary, except those created by the Transaction
Documents. The Company and each Subsidiary is in compliance with and conforms to
all statutes, laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, orders, restrictions and all
other legal requirements of any domestic or foreign government or any
instrumentality thereof having jurisdiction over the conduct of its businesses
or the ownership of its properties, except where such failure would not have a
Material Adverse Effect.

                                       12
<PAGE>

ARTICLE 4.8       Financial Information an SEC Reports. Since January 1, 2001,
the Company has timely filed all forms, reports and documents with the
Commission required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act through the date
hereof (all of the foregoing filed prior to the date hereof and all exhibits
included therein and financial statements and schedules thereto and documents
(other than exhibits) incorporated by reference therein, being referred to
herein collectively as the "SEC Reports"). The Company has delivered or made
available to each Purchaser true and complete copies of the SEC Reports, except
for such exhibits and incorporated documents. Such SEC Reports, at the time
filed, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange
Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder applicable to
such SEC Reports. None of the SEC Reports, including without limitation, any
financial statements or schedules included therein, contains any untrue
statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to in
order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading. There have been no material adverse changes in
the Company's business, properties, results of operations, condition (financial
or otherwise) or prospects since the date of the Company's most recent Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 which have not been disclosed in
the Company's SEC Reports or to the Purchaser in writing. The audited and
unaudited consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its Subsidiaries
contained in the SEC Reports, and the related consolidated statements of income,
changes in stockholders' equity and changes in cash flows for the periods then
ended, including the footnotes thereto, except as indicated therein, (i)
complied in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and
the published rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto and
(ii) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout
the periods indicated, except that the unaudited financial statements do not
contain notes and may be subject to normal audit adjustments and normal annual
adjustments. Such financial statements fairly present the financial condition of
the Company and its Subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the consolidated
results of their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended and,
except as indicated therein, reflect all claims against and all Debts and
liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries, fixed or contingent. Since
December 31, 2000 (the "Balance Sheet Date"), except as disclosed in the SEC
Reports, there has been (x) no material adverse change in the assets or
liabilities, or in the business or condition, financial or otherwise, or in the
results of operations or prospects, of the Company and its Subsidiaries, whether
as a result of any legislative or regulatory change, revocation of any license
or rights to do business, fire, explosion, accident, casualty, labor trouble,
flood, drought, riot, storm, condemnation, act of God, public force or otherwise
and (y) no material adverse change in the assets or liabilities, or in the
business or condition, financial or otherwise, or in the results of operations
or prospects, of the Company and its subsidiaries except in the ordinary course
of business; and no fact or condition exists or is contemplated or threatened
which might cause such a change in the future.

ARTICLE 4.9       Litigation. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, there is
no action, suit or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary, before any court or arbitrator
or any governmental body, agency or official in which there is a reasonable
possibility of an adverse decision which could materially adversely affect the
business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance,
properties or prospects of the Company or which challenges the validity of any
Transaction Agreements.

                                       13
<PAGE>
ARTICLE 4.10      Compliance with ERISA and other Benefit Plans.

         (a)      Each member of the ERISA Group has fulfilled its obligations
under the minimum funding standards of ERISA and the Code with respect to each
Plan and is in compliance in all material respects with the presently applicable
provisions of ERISA and the Code with respect to each Plan. No member of the
ERISA Group has (i) sought a waiver of the minimum funding standard under
Section 412 of the Code in respect of any Plan, (ii) failed to make any required
contribution or payment to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan or in respect of any
Benefit Arrangement, or made any amendment to any Plan or Benefit Arrangement,
which as resulted or could result in the imposition of a Lien or the posting of
a bond or other security under ERISA or the Code or (iii) incurred any liability
under Title IV of ERISA other than a liability to the PBGC for premiums under
Section 4007 of ERISA.

         (b)      The benefit plans not covered under clause (a) above
(including profit sharing, deferred compensation, stock option, employee stock
purchase, bonus, retirement, health or insurance plans, collectively the
"Benefit Plans") relating to the employees of the Company are duly registered
where required by, and are in good standing in all material respects under, all
applicable laws. All required employer and employee contributions and premiums
under the Benefit Plans to the date hereof have been made, the respective fund
or funds established under the Benefit Plans are funded in accordance with
applicable laws, and no past service funding liabilities exist thereunder.

         (c)      No Benefit Plans have any unfunded liabilities, either on a
"going concern" or "winding up" basis and determined in accordance with all
applicable laws and actuarial practices and using actuarial assumptions and
methods that are reasonable in the circumstances. No event has occurred and no
condition exists with respect to any Benefit Plans that has resulted or could
reasonably be expected to result in any pension plan having its registration
revoked or wound up (in whole or in part) or refused for the purposes of any
applicable laws or being placed under the administration of any relevant pension
benefits regulatory authority or being required to pay any taxes or penalties
(in any material amounts) under any applicable laws.

ARTICLE 4.11      Environmental Matters. The costs and liabilities associated
with Environmental Laws (including the cost of compliance therewith) are
unlikely to have a material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial
or otherwise), operations, performance, properties or prospects of the Company
or any Subsidiary. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries conducts its
businesses in compliance in all material respects with all applicable
Environmental Laws.

ARTICLE 4.12      Taxes. All United States federal, state, county, municipality,
local or foreign income tax returns and all other material tax returns
(including foreign tax returns) which are required to be filed by or on behalf
of the Company and each Subsidiary have been filed and all material taxes due
pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company
and each Subsidiary have been paid except those being disputed in good faith and
for which adequate reserves have been established. The charges, accruals and
reserves on the books of the Company and each Subsidiary in respect of taxes and
other governmental charges have been established in accordance with GAAP.

ARTICLE 4.13      Investments, Joint Ventures. Other than as set forth in
Schedule 4.12, the Company has no direct or indirect Investment in any Person,
and the Company is not a party to any partnership, management, shareholders' or
joint venture or similar agreement.

ARTICLE 4.14      Not an Investment Company.

ARTICLE 4.15      Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is an "Investment
Company" within the meaning of Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

                                       14
<PAGE>

ARTICLE 4.16      Full Disclosure. The information heretofore furnished by the
Company to the Purchaser for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement or
any transaction contemplated hereby does not, and all such information hereafter
furnished by the Company or any Subsidiary to the Purchaser will not (in each
case taken together and on the date as of which such information is furnished),
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements contained therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

ARTICLE 4.17      No Solicitation; No Integration with Other Offerings. No form
of general solicitation or general advertising was used by the Company or, to
the best of its actual knowledge, any other Person acting on behalf of the
Company, in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities. Neither the
Company, nor, to its knowledge, any Person acting on behalf of the Company, has,
either directly or indirectly, sold or offered for sale to any Person (other
than the Purchaser) any of the Securities or, within the six months prior to the
date hereof, any other similar security of the Company except as contemplated by
this Agreement, and the Company represents that neither itself nor any Person
authorized to act on its behalf (except that the Company makes no representation
as to the Purchaser and their Affiliates) will sell or offer for sale any such
security to, or solicit any offers to buy any such security from, or otherwise
approach or negotiate in respect thereof with, any Person or Persons so as
thereby to cause the issuance or sale of any of the Securities to be in
violation of any of the provisions of Section 5 of the Securities Act. The
issuance of the Securities to the Purchaser 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 Market.

ARTICLE 4.18      Permits. (a) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has all
material Permits; (b) all such Permits are in full force and effect, and each of
the Company and its Subsidiaries has fulfilled and performed all material
obligations with respect to such Permits; (c) no event has occurred which
allows, or after notice of lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination
by the issuer thereof or which results in any other material impairment of the
rights of the holder of any such Permit; and (d) the Company has no reason to
believe that any governmental body or agency is considering limiting, suspending
or revoking any such Permit.

ARTICLE 4.19      Leases. Other than as disclosed in the SEC Reports, neither
the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to any capital lease obligation with a
value greater than $100,000 or to any operating lease with an aggregate annual
rental greater than $500,000 during the life of such lease.

ARTICLE 4.20      Absence of Any Undisclosed Liabilities or Capital Calls. There
are no liabilities of the Company or any Subsidiary of any kind whatsoever,
whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise,
and there is no existing condition, situation or set of circumstances which
would reasonably be expected to result in such a liability, other than (i) those
liabilities provided for in the financial statements delivered pursuant to
Section 4.7 hereof and (ii) other undisclosed liabilities which, individually or
in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

ARTICLE 4.21      Public Utility Holding Company. Neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary is, or will be upon issuance and sale of the Securities and the use
of the proceeds described herein, subject to regulation under the Public Utility
Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, the Federal Power Act, the Interstate
Commerce Act or to any federal or state statute or regulation limiting its
ability to issue and perform its obligations under any Transaction Agreement.

                                       15
<PAGE>

ARTICLE 4.22      Intellectual Property Rights. Each of the Company and its
Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed under, and has the rights to use, all material
patents, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, technology, know-how and processes
(collectively, "Intellectual Property") used in, or necessary for the conduct of
its business; no claims have been asserted by any Person to the use of any such
Intellectual Property or challenging or questioning the validity or
effectiveness of any license or agreement related thereto. To the best of
Company's and its Subsidiaries' knowledge, there is no valid basis for any such
claim and the use of such Intellectual Property by the Company and its
Subsidiaries will not infringe upon the rights of any Person.

ARTICLE 4.23      Insurance. The Company and its Subsidiaries maintain, with
financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance in at least such
amounts and against such risks such that any uninsured loss would not have a
Material Adverse Effect. All insurance coverages of the Company and its
Subsidiaries are in full force and effect and there are no past due premiums in
respect of any such insurance.

ARTICLE 4.24      Title to Properties. The Company and its Subsidiaries have
good and marketable title to all their respective properties, real and personal,
free and clear of all Liens.

ARTICLE 4.25      Eligibility to Use Form S-3. As of the date hereof, the
Company meets the "registrant eligibility" requirements set forth in the general
instructions applicable to registration statements on Form S-3 covering the
resale of the Registrable Securities.

ARTICLE 4.26      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 Board of Directors, to provide reasonable
assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with managements'
general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary
to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP 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.

ARTICLE 4.27      Reserved.

ARTICLE 4.28      Foreign Practices. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries nor, to the Company's knowledge, any employee or agent of the
Company or any Subsidiary has made any payments of funds of the Company or
Subsidiary, or received or retained any funds, in each case (x) in violation of
any law, rule or regulation or (y) of a character required to be disclosed by
the Company in any of the SEC Reports.

         Section 4.27  Subsidiaries.  Except for the directly and indirectly
owned subsidiaries of the Company as set forth on Schedule 4.27 (the
"Subsidiaries"), the Company does not own or hold any shares of stock or any
other security or interest in any other equity, or any rights to acquire any
such security or interest.  Except for the Subsidiaries disclosed on Schedule
4.27, the Company has never had any subsidiary corporation of which the
securities having a majority of voting power in electing the board of
directors or representing a majority of the economic interests were, at the
time as of which any determination was made, owned by the Company either
directly or indirectly.  The number of authorized, issued and outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Subsidiaries is as set forth on Schedule
4.27.  All outstanding shares of the Subsidiaries capital stock are validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable, are free from, and were not issued in
violation of any preemptive rights, and are owned of record and beneficially
by the Company.

                                       16
<PAGE>

ARTICLE 5.       Intentioanally omitted.

ARTICLE 6.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER

ARTICLE 6.1       Purchaser. Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the
Company that:

         (a)      the Purchaser is an "accredited investor" within the meaning
of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act and the Securities to be acquired by it
pursuant to this Agreement are being acquired for its own account and, as of the
date hereof, not with a view toward, or for sale in connection with, any
distribution thereof except in compliance with applicable United States federal
and state securities law; provided that the disposition of the Purchaser's
property shall at all times be and remain within its control;

         (b)      the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and
the purchase of the Securities pursuant thereto are within the Purchaser's
corporate or partnership powers, as applicable, and have been duly and validly
authorized by all requisite corporate or partnership action;

         (c)      this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the
Purchaser;

         (d)      the execution and delivery by the Purchaser of the Transaction
Agreements to which it is a party does not, and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not, contravene or constitute
a default under or violation of (i) any provision of applicable law or
regulation, or (ii) any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other
instrument binding upon such Purchaser;

         (e)      Purchaser understands that the Securities have not been
registered under the Securities Act and may not be transferred or sold except as
specified in this Agreement or the remaining Transition Agreements;

         (f)      this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of
the Purchaser enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to (i)
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforceability
of creditors rights generally and (ii) equitable principles of general
applicability;

         (g)      the Purchaser has such knowledge and experience in financial
and business matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of
its investment in the Securities and the Purchaser is capable of bearing the
economic risks of such investment;

                                       17
<PAGE>

         (h)      the Purchaser is knowledgeable, sophisticated and experienced
in business and financial matters; the Purchaser has previously invested in
securities similar to the Securities and fully understands the limitations on
transfer described herein; the Purchaser has been afforded access to information
about the Company and the financial condition, results of operations, property,
management and prospects of the Company sufficient to enable it to evaluate its
investment in the Securities; the Purchaser has been afforded the opportunity to
ask such questions as it has deemed necessary of, and to receive answers from,
representatives of the Company concerning the terms and conditions of the
offering of the Securities and the merits and the risks of investing in the
Securities; and the Purchaser has been afforded the opportunity to obtain such
additional information which the Company possesses or can acquire that is
necessary to verify the accuracy and completeness of the information given to
the Purchaser concerning the Company. The foregoing does not in any way relieve
the Company of its representations and other undertakings hereunder, and shall
not limit any Purchaser's ability to rely thereon;

         (i)      no part of the source of funds used by the Purchaser to
acquire the Securities constitutes assets allocated to any separate account
maintained by the Purchaser in which any employee benefit plan (or its related
trust) has any interest; and

         (j)      the Purchaser is a corporation organized under the laws of
Bermuda.

ARTICLE 7.       CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO PURCHASE OF SECURITIES

ARTICLE 7.1       Conditions Precedent to the Purchaser's Obligations to
Purchase. The obligation of Purchaser hereunder to purchase the Bridge Note at
the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, on or before the Closing Date of
each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for
Purchaser's sole benefit and may be waived by Purchaser at any time in its sole
discretion;

         (a)      The Company shall have executed this Agreement and the
Registration Rights Agreement and delivered the same to the Purchaser;

         (b)      The Company shall have delivered to the Purchaser a duly
executed Bridge Note in accordance with Article 2 hereof;

         (c)      The Company shall have delivered the Solvency Certificate;

         (d)      The representations and warranties of the Company contained in
each Transaction Agreement 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 such time
(except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specified date)
and the Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied with all covenants,
agreements and conditions required by such Transaction Agreements to be
performed, satisfied or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing Date. The
Purchaser shall have received an Officer's Certificate executed by the chief
executive officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, to the foregoing
effect and as to such other matters as may be reasonably requested by the
Purchaser, including but not limited to certificates with respect to the Company
Corporate Documents, resolutions relating to the transactions contemplated
hereby and the incumbencies of certain officers and Directors of the Company.
The form of such certificate is attached hereto as Exhibit D;

                                       18
<PAGE>

         (e)      The Company shall have received all governmental, Board of
Directors, shareholders and third party consents and approvals necessary or
desirable in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities;

         (f)      All applicable waiting periods in respect to the issuance and
sale of the Securities shall have expired without any action having been taken
by any competent authority that could restrain, prevent or impose any materially
adverse conditions thereon or that could seek or threaten any of the foregoing;

         (g)      No law or regulation shall have been imposed or enacted that,
in the judgment of the Purchaser, could adversely affect the transactions set
forth herein or in the other Transaction Agreements, and no law or regulation
shall have been proposed that in the reasonable judgment of Purchaser could
reasonably have any such effect;

         (h)      Purchaser shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing
Date, of counsel to the Company;

         (i)      All fees and expenses due and payable by the Company on or
prior to the Closing Date shall have been paid;

         (j)      The Company Corporate Documents and the Subsidiary Corporate
Documents, if any, shall be in full force and effect and no term or condition
thereof shall have been amended, waived or otherwise modified without the prior
written consent of the Purchaser;

         (k)      There shall have occurred no material adverse change in the
business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance,
properties or prospects of the Company or any Subsidiary since December 31,
2000;

         (l)      There shall exist no action, suit, investigation, litigation
or proceeding pending or threatened in any court or before any arbitrator or
governmental instrumentality that challenges the validity of or purports to
affect this Agreement or any other Transaction Agreement, or other transaction
contemplated hereby or thereby or that could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect, or any material adverse effect on the enforceability of
the Transaction Agreements or the Securities or the rights of the holders of the
Securities or the Purchaser hereunder;

         (m)      The Purchaser shall have confirmed receipt of the Bridge Note
to be issued, duly executed by the Company and registered in the name of the
Purchaser specified in Section 2.1;

         (n)      There shall not have occurred any disruption or adverse change
in the financial or capital markets generally, or in the market for the Common
Stock (including but not limited to any suspension or delisting), which the
Purchaser reasonably deems material in connection with the purchase of the
Securities;

         (o)      Immediately before and after the Closing Date, no Default or
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

         (p)      The Purchaser shall have received all other opinions,
resolutions, certificates, instruments, agreements or other documents as they
shall reasonably request.

                                       19
<PAGE>

ARTICLE 7.2       Conditions to the Company's Obligations. The obligations of
the Company to issue and sell the Securities to the Purchaser pursuant to this
Agreement are subject to the satisfaction, at or prior to any Closing Date, of
the following conditions:

         (a)      The representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained
herein shall be true and correct in all material respects on the Closing Date
and the Purchaser shall have performed and complied in all material respects
with all agreements required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with
by the Purchaser at or prior to the Closing Date;

         (b)      The issue and sale of the Securities by the Company shall not
be prohibited by any applicable law, court order or governmental regulation;

         (c)      Receipt by the Company of duly executed counterparts of this
Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement signed by the Purchaser; and

         (d)      The Company shall have received payment of the Purchase Price,
less the Expense Reimbursement Fee.

ARTICLE 8.                    AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

         The Company hereby agrees that, from and after the date hereof for so
long as the Bridge Note remains outstanding and Purchaser holds any of the
Shares, and for the benefit of the Purchaser:

ARTICLE 8.1       Information. The Company will deliver to each holder of the
Bridge Note:

         (a)      promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of (i) all
registration statements (other than the exhibits thereto and any registration
statements on Form S-8 or its equivalent), and (ii) all reports of Forms 10-K,
10-Q and 8-K (or other equivalents) which the Company or any Subsidiary has
filed with the Commission;

         (b)      simultaneously with the delivery of each item referred to in
clause (a) above, a certificate from the chief financial officer of the Company
stating that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or,
if as of the date of such delivery a Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, a certificate from the Company setting forth the details of such
Default or Event of Default and the action which the Company is taking or
proposes to take with respect thereto;

         (c)      within two (2) days after any officer of the Company obtains
knowledge of a Default or Event of Default, or that any Person has given any
notice or taken any action with respect to a claimed Default hereunder, a
certificate of the chief financial officer of the Company setting forth the
details thereof and the action which the Company is taking or proposed to take
with respect thereto;

                                       20
<PAGE>

         (d)      promptly upon the mailing thereof to the shareholders of the
Company generally, copies of all financial statements, reports and proxy
statements so mailed and any other document generally distributed to
shareholders;

         (e)      at least two (2) Business Days prior to the consummation of
any Financing or other event requiring a repayment of the Bridge Note under
Section 3.4, notice thereof together with a summary of all material terms
thereof and copies of all documents and instruments associated therewith; and

         (f)      promptly following the commencement thereof, notice and a
description in reasonable detail of any litigation or proceeding to which the
Company or any Subsidiary is a party in which the amount involved is $250,000 or
more and not covered by insurance or in which injunctive or similar relief is
sought or which the Company is required to disclose in its SEC Reports.

ARTICLE 8.2       Payment of Obligations. The Company will, and will cause each
Subsidiary to, pay and discharge, at or before maturity, all their respective
material obligations, including, without limitation, tax liabilities, except
where the same may be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and
will maintain, in accordance with GAAP, appropriate reserves for the accrual of
any of the same.

ARTICLE 8.3       Maintenance of Property; Insurance. The Company will, and will
cause each Subsidiary to, keep all property useful and necessary in its business
in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted. In
addition, the Company and each Subsidiary will maintain insurance in at least
such amounts and against such risks as it has insured against as of the Closing
Date.

ARTICLE 8.4       Maintenance of Existence. The Company will, and will cause
each Subsidiary to, continue to engage in business of the same general type as
now conducted by the Company and such Subsidiaries, and will preserve, renew and
keep in full force and effect its respective corporate existence and their
respective material rights, privileges and franchises necessary or desirable in
the normal conduct of business.

ARTICLE 8.5       Compliance with Laws. The Company will, and will cause each
Subsidiary to, comply, in all material respects, with all federal, state,
municipal, local or foreign applicable laws, ordinances, rules, regulations,
municipal by-laws, codes and requirements of governmental authorities
(including, without limitation, Environmental Laws and ERISA and the rules and
regulations thereunder) except (i) where compliance therewith is contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings or (ii) where non-compliance therewith
could not reasonably be expected, in the aggregate, to have a material adverse
effect on the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations,
performance, properties or prospects of the Company or such Subsidiary.

ARTICLE 8.6       Inspection of Property, Books and Records. The Company will,
and will cause each Subsidiary to, keep proper books of record and account in
which full, true and correct entries shall be made of all dealings and
transactions in relation to their respective businesses and activities; and will
permit, during normal business hours, the Purchaser's Representative or an
affiliate thereof, as representatives of the Purchaser, to visit and inspect any
of their respective properties, upon reasonable prior notice, to examine and
make abstracts from any of their respective books and records and to discuss
their respective affairs, finances and accounts with their respective executive
officers and independent public accountants (and by this provision the Company
authorizes its independent public accountants to disclose and discuss with the
Purchaser the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company and its
Subsidiaries), all at such reasonable times.

                                       21
<PAGE>

ARTICLE 8.7       Investment Company Act. The Company will not be or become an
open-end investment trust, unit investment trust or face-amount certificate
company that is or is required to be registered under Section 8 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

ARTICLE 8.8       Use of Proceeds. The proceeds from the issuance and sale of
the Bridge Note by the Company shall be used to finance the Company's
[______________]. None of the proceeds from the issuance and sale of the Bridge
Note by the Company pursuant to this Agreement will be used directly or
indirectly for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of
purchasing or carrying any "margin stock" within the meaning of Regulation G of
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

ARTICLE 8.9       Compliance with Terms and Conditions of Material Contracts.
The Company will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, comply, in all respects,
with all terms and conditions of all material contracts to which it is subject.

ARTICLE 8.10      Maintenance of Reporting Status; Supplemental Information. So
long as any of the Securities are outstanding, the Company shall timely file all
reports required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act.
The Company shall not terminate its status as an issuer required to file reports
under the Exchange Act, even if the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations
thereunder would permit such termination. If at anytime the Company is not
subject to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the
Company will promptly furnish at its expense, upon request, for the benefit of
the holders from time to time of Securities, and prospective Purchaser of
Securities, information satisfying the information requirements of Rule 144
under the Securities Act.

ARTICLE 8.11      Form D; Blue Sky Laws. The Company agrees to file a "Form D"
with respect to the Securities as required under Regulation D of the Securities
Act and to provide a copy thereof to each Purchaser promptly after such filing.
The Company shall, on or before the Closing Date, take such action as the
Company shall reasonably determine is necessary to qualify the Securities for
sale to the Purchaser 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 Purchaser on or prior to the First Closing Date.

ARTICLE 9.                     NEGATIVE COVENANTS

         The Company hereby agrees that, from and after the date hereof for so
long as the Bridge Note remains outstanding and for the benefit of the
Purchaser:

ARTICLE 9.1       Intentionally Omitted.

ARTICLE 9.2       Transactions with Affiliates. The Company and each Subsidiary
will not, directly or indirectly, pay any funds to or for the account of, make
any investment (whether by acquisition or stock or indebtedness, by loan,
advance, transfer of property, guarantee or other agreement to pay, purchase or
service, directly or indirectly, and Debt, or otherwise) in, lease, sell,
transfer or otherwise dispose of any assets, tangible or intangible, to, or
participate in, or effect any transaction in connection with any joint
enterprise or other joint arrangement with, any Affiliate, except, (1) pursuant
to those agreements specifically identified on Schedule 8.2 attached hereto
(with a copy of such agreements annexed to such Schedule 8.3) or (2) on terms to
the Company or such Subsidiary no less favorable than terms that could be
obtained by the Company or such Subsidiary from a Person that is not an
Affiliate of the Company upon negotiation at arms' length, as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors of the Company; provided that no determination
of the Board of Directors shall be required with respect to any such
transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business.

                                       22
<PAGE>

ARTICLE 9.3       Merger or Consolidation. Subject to the provisions of Section
3.4(b), the Company will not, in a single transaction or a series of related
transactions without ten days prior written notice to Purchaser, (i) consolidate
with or merge with or into any other Person, or (ii) permit any other Person to
consolidate with or merge into it, unless the Company shall be the survivor of
such merger or consolidation and (x) immediately before and immediately after
given effect to such transaction (including any indebtedness incurred or
anticipated to be incurred in connection with the transaction), no Default or
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and (y) the Company has
delivered to the Purchaser an Officer's Certificate stating that such
consolidation, merger or transfer complies with this Agreement, and that all
conditions precedent in this Agreement relating to such transaction have been
satisfied.

ARTICLE 9.4       Limitation on Asset Sales. Subject to the provisions of
Section 3.4(b), neither the Company nor any Subsidiary will consummate an Asset
Sale of material assets of the Company or any Subsidiary without ten days prior
written notice to Purchaser. As used herein, "Asset Sale" means any sale, lease,
transfer or other disposition (or series of related sales, leases, transfers or
dispositions) or sales of capital stock of a Subsidiary (other than directors'
qualifying shares), property or other assets (each referred to for the purpose
of this definition as a "disposition"), including any disposition by means of a
merger, consolidation or similar transaction other than a disposition of
property or assets at fair market value in the ordinary course of business.

ARTICLE 9.5       Restrictions on Certain Amendments. Neither the Company nor
any Subsidiary will waive any provision of, amend, or suffer to be amended, any
provision of such entity's existing Debt, any material contract or agreement
previously or hereafter filed by the Company with the Commission as part of its
SEC Reports, any Company Corporate Document or Subsidiary Corporate Document if
such amendment, in the Company's reasonable judgment, would materially adversely
affect the Purchaser or the holders of the Securities without the prior written
consent of the Purchaser.

ARTICLE 10.                    RESTRICTIVE LEGENDS

ARTICLE 10.1      Restrictions on Transfer. From and after their respective
dates of issuance, none of the Securities shall be transferable except upon the
conditions specified in this Article IX, which conditions are intended to ensure
compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act in respect of the transfer
of any of such Securities or any interest therein. Purchaser will use its best
efforts to cause any proposed transferee of any Securities held by it to agree
to take and hold such Securities subject to the provisions and upon the
conditions specified in this Article IX.

ARTICLE 10.2      Restrictive Legends.

         (a)      Each certificate for the Shares issued to Purchaser or to a
subsequent transferee shall include a legend in substantially the following
form:

                                       23
<PAGE>

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED
STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT").  THE HOLDER
HEREOF, BY PURCHASING SUCH SECURITIES, AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE
CORPORATION THAT SUCH SECURITIES MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE
TRANSFERRED ONLY (A) TO THE CORPORATION, (B) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM
REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (C) IF REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT.

ARTICLE 10.3      Notice of Proposed Transfers. Prior to any proposed Transfer
of the Securities (other than a Transfer (i) registered or exempt from
registration under the Securities Act, (ii) to an affiliate of a Purchaser which
is an "accredited investor" within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the
Securities Act, provided that any such transferee shall agree to be bound by the
terms of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, or (iii) to be
made in reliance on Rule 144 under the Securities Act), the holder thereof shall
give written notice to the Company of such holder's intention to effect such
Transfer, setting forth the manner and circumstances of the proposed Transfer,
which shall be accompanied by (A) an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to
the Company, confirming that such transfer does not give rise to a violation of
the Securities Act, (B) representation letters in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Company to ensure compliance with the provisions of the
Securities Act and (C) letters in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
the Company from each such transferee stating such transferee's agreement to be
bound by the terms of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement. Such
proposed Transfer may be effected only if the Company shall have received such
notice of transfer, opinion of counsel, representation letters and other letters
referred to in the immediately preceding sentence, whereupon the holder of such
Securities shall be entitled to Transfer such Securities in accordance with the
terms of the notice delivered by the holder to the Company.

ARTICLE 11.          ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES

ARTICLE 11.1      Registration Rights.

         (a)      The Company shall grant the Purchaser registration rights as
set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit B.

ARTICLE 12.                      CERTAIN NOTICES

ARTICLE 12.1      Notice to Purchaser. If the Company shall fix a record date
for:

         (a)      any share reorganization (other than the subdivision of
outstanding Common Stock into a greater number of shares or the consolidation of
outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares),

         (b)      any rights offering,

         (c)      any special distribution,

         (d)      any capital reorganization (other than a reclassification or
redesignation of the Common Stock into other shares),

         (e)      Sale Event; or

         (f)      any cash dividend,

the Company shall, not less than 10 days prior to such record date or, if no
record date is fixed, prior to the effective date of such event, give to the
Purchaser notice of the particulars of the proposed event or the extent that
such particulars have been determined at the time of giving the notice.

                                       24
<PAGE>

ARTICLE 13.                     EVENTS OF DEFAULT

ARTICLE 13.1      Events of Default. If one or more of the following events
(each an "Event of Default") shall have occurred and be continuing:

         (a)      failure by the Company to pay or repay when due, all or any
part of the principal on any of the Bridge Note (whether by virtue of the
agreements specified in this Agreement or the Bridge Note);

         (b)      failure by the Company to pay (i) within five (5) Business
Days of the due date thereof any Default Interest on the Bridge Note or (ii)
within five (5) Business Days following the delivery of notice to the Company of
any fees or any other amount payable (not otherwise referred to in (a) above or
this clause (b)) by the Company under this Agreement or any other Transaction
Agreement;

         (c)      failure on the part of the Company to observe or perform any
covenant contained in Article VIII of this Agreement;

         (d)      the trading in the Common Stock shall have been suspended by
the Commission or by the Nasdaq Market (except for any suspension of trading of
limited duration solely to permit dissemination of material information
regarding the Company and except if, at the time there is any suspension on the
Nasdaq Market, the Common Stock is then listed and approved for trading on
either the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq
Stock market's Small Cap Market, or the Nasdaq National Market or Bulletin Board
within ten (10) Trading Days thereof);

         (e)      the Company shall have its Common Stock delisted from the
Bulletin Board for at least ten (10) consecutive Trading Days and is unable to
obtain a listing on either the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock
Exchange, the Nasdaq Stock market's Small Cap Market, Bulletin Board or the
Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market within such ten (10) Trading Days;

         (f)      the Company or any Subsidiary has commenced a voluntary case
or other proceeding seeking liquidation, winding-up, reorganization or other
relief with respect to itself or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency,
moratorium or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the
appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar
official of it or any substantial part of its property, or has consented to any
such relief or to the appointment of or taking possession by any such official
in an involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against it, or has made a
general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or has failed generally to pay
its debts as they become due, or has taken any corporate action to authorize any
of the foregoing;

                                       25
<PAGE>

         (g)      an involuntary case or other proceeding has been commenced
against the Company or any Subsidiary seeking liquidation, winding-up,
reorganization or other relief with respect to it or its debts under any
bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or other similar law now or hereafter in
effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian
or other similar official of it or any substantial part of its property, and
such involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed
for a period of 60 days, or an order for relief has been entered against the
Company or any Subsidiary under the federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter
in effect;

         (h)      default in any provision (including payment) or any agreement
governing the terms of any Debt of the Company or any Subsidiary in excess of
$1,000,000, which has not been cured within any applicable period of grace
associated therewith;

         (i)      judgments or orders for the payment of money which in the
aggregate at any one time exceed $1,000,000 and are not covered by insurance
have been rendered against the Company or any Subsidiary by a court of competent
jurisdiction and such judgments or orders shall continue unsatisfied and
unstayed for a period of 60 days;

         (j)      any representation, warranty, certification or statement made
by the Company in any Transaction Agreement or which is contained in any
certificate, document or financial or other statement furnished at any time
under or in connection with any Transaction Agreement shall prove to have been
untrue in any material respect when made; or

         (k)      the Company has failed to have title insurance satisfactory to
Purchaser issued in favor of Purchaser with respect to the real property subject
to the Mortgage Agreement with 14 calendar days of Closing;

then, and in every such occurrence, any Purchaser may, with respect to an
Event of Default specified in paragraphs (a) or (b), and the Majority Holders
may, with respect to any other Event of Default, by notice to the Company,
declare the Bridge Note to be, and the Bridge Note shall thereon become
immediately due and payable; provided that in the case of any of the Events
of Default specified in paragraph (f) or (g) above with respect to the
Company or any Subsidiary, then, without any notice to the Company or any
other act by any Purchaser, the entire amount of the Bridge Note shall become
immediately due and payable, provided, further, if any Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, and irrespective of whether any Bridge Note has
been declared immediately due and payable hereunder, any Purchaser of Bridge
Note may proceed to protect and enforce the rights of such Purchaser by an
action at law, suit in equity or other appropriate proceeding, whether for
the specific performance of any agreement contained herein or in any Bridge
Note, or for an injunction against a violation of any of the terms hereof or
thereof, or in aid of the exercise of any power granted hereby or thereby or
by law or otherwise, and provided further, in the case of any Event of
Default, the amount declared due and payable on the Bridge Note shall be the
Formula Price thereof.

                                       26
<PAGE>

ARTICLE 13.2      Powers and Remedies Cumulative. No right or remedy herein
conferred upon or reserved to the Purchaser is intended to be exclusive of any
other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted
by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given
hereunder or now hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The
assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall
not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate
right or remedy. Every power and remedy given by the Bridge Note or by law may
be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by
the Purchaser.

ARTICLE 14.                      MISCELLANEOUS

ARTICLE 14.1      Notices. All notices, demands and other communications to any
party hereunder shall be in writing (including telecopier or similar writing)
and shall be given to such party at its address set forth on the signature pages
hereof, or such other address as such party may hereafter specify for the
purpose to the other parties. Each such notice, demand or other communication
shall be effective (i) if given by telecopy, when such telecopy is transmitted
to the telecopy number specified on the signature page hereof, (ii) if given by
mail, four days after such communication is deposited in the mail with first
class postage prepaid, addressed as aforesaid or (iii) if given by any other
means, when delivered at the address specified in or pursuant to this Section.

ARTICLE 14.2      No Waivers; Amendments.

         (a)      No failure or delay on the part of any party in exercising any
right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall
any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy preclude any
other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or
remedy.

         (b)      Any provision of this Agreement may be amended, supplemented
or waived if, but only if, such amendment, supplement or waiver is in writing
and is signed by the Company and the Majority Holders; provided, that without
the consent of each holder of any Bridge Note affected thereby, an amendment or
waiver may not (a) reduce the aggregate principal amount of Bridge Note whose
holders must consent to an amendment or waiver, (b) reduce the rate or extend
the time for payment of interest on any Bridge Note, (c) reduce the principal
amount of or extend the stated maturity of any Bridge Note or (d) make any
Bridge Note payable in money or property other than as stated in such Bridge
Note. In determining whether the holders of the requisite principal amount of
Bridge Note have concurred in any direction, consent, or waiver as provided in
any Transaction Agreement, Bridge Note which are owned by the Company or any
other obligor on or guarantor of the Bridge Note, or by any Person Controlling,
Controlled by, or under common Control with any of the foregoing, shall be
disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose of any such
determination; and provided further that no such amendment, supplement or waiver
which affects the rights of the Purchaser and their affiliates otherwise than
solely in their capacities as holders of Bridge Note shall be effective with
respect to them without their prior written consent.

                                       27
<PAGE>
ARTICLE 14.3      Indemnification.

         (a)      The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Purchaser, its Affiliates, and each Person, if any, who controls such Purchaser,
or any of its Affiliates, within the meaning of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act (each, a "Controlling Person"), and the respective partners,
agents, employees, officers and Directors of each Purchaser, their Affiliates
and any such Controlling Person (each an "Indemnified Party") and collectively,
the "Indemnified Parties"), from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation and as
incurred, reasonable costs of investigating, preparing or defending any such
claim or action, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto,
provided that the Company shall not be obligated to advance such costs to any
Indemnified Party other than the Purchaser unless it has received from such
Indemnified Party an undertaking to repay to the Company the costs so advanced
if it should be determined by final judgment of a court of competent
jurisdiction that such Indemnified Party was not entitled to indemnification
hereunder with respect to such costs) which may be incurred by such Indemnified
Party in connection with any investigative, administrative or judicial
proceeding brought or threatened that relates to or arises out of, or is in
connection with any activities contemplated by any Transaction Agreement or any
other services rendered in connection herewith; provided that the Company will
not be responsible for any claims, liabilities losses, damages or expenses that
are determined by final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to result
from such Indemnified Party's gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.

         (b)      If any action shall be brought against an Indemnified Party
with respect to which indemnity may be sought against the Company under this
Agreement, such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Company in writing
and the Company, at its option, may, assume the defense thereof, including the
employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party and
payment of all reasonable fees and expenses. The failure to so notify the
Company shall not affect any obligations the Company may have to such
Indemnified Party under this Agreement or otherwise unless the Company is
materially adversely affected by such failure. Such Indemnified Party shall have
the right to employ separate counsel in such action and participate in the
defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the
expense of such Indemnified Party, unless (i) the Company has failed to assume
the defense and employ counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such action
(including any impleaded parties) include such Indemnified Party and the
Company, and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that
there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from
or additional to those available to the Company, in which case, if such
Indemnified Party notifies the Company in writing that it elects to employ
separate counsel at the expense of the Company, the Company shall not have the
right to assume the defense of such action or proceeding on behalf of such
Indemnified Party, provided, however, that the Company shall not, in connection
with any one such action or proceeding or separate but substantially similar or
related actions or proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same
general allegations or circumstances, be responsible hereunder for the
reasonable fees and expenses of more than one such firm of separate counsel, in
addition to any local counsel, which counsel shall be designated by the
Purchaser. The Company shall not be liable for any settlement of any such action
effected without the written consent of the Company (which shall not be
unreasonably withheld) and the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
each Indemnified Party from and against any loss or liability by reason of
settlement of any action effected with the consent of the Company. In addition,
the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Purchaser, settle
or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in or otherwise seek to
terminate any pending or threatened action, claim, suit or proceeding in respect
to which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not
any Indemnified Party is a party thereto) unless such settlement, compromise,
consent or termination includes an express unconditional release of the
Purchaser and the other Indemnified Parties, satisfactory in form and substance
to the Purchaser, from all liability arising out of such action, claim, suit or
proceeding.

                                       28
<PAGE>

         (c)      If for any reason the foregoing indemnity is unavailable
(otherwise than pursuant to the express terms of such indemnity) to an
Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold an Indemnified Party harmless, then in
lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, the Company shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such claims,
labilities, losses, damages, or expenses (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one
hand and by the Purchaser on the other from the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted
under applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only
the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Purchaser
on the other, but also the relative fault of the Company and the Purchaser as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 13.3, the aggregate contribution of all Indemnified
Parties shall not exceed the amount of interest and fees actually received by
the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement. It is hereby further agreed that the
relative benefits to the Company on the one hand and the Purchaser on the other
with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or alleged untrue statement
of material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
related to information supplied by the Company or by the Purchaser and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such statement or omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.

         (d)      The indemnification, contribution and expense reimbursement
obligations set forth in this Section 13.3 (i) shall be in addition to any
liability the Company may have to any Indemnified Party at common law or
otherwise; (ii) shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the other
Transaction Agreements and the payment in full of the Bridge Note and (iii)
shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of the Purchaser or any other Indemnified
Party.

ARTICLE 14.4      Expenses: Documentary Taxes. The Company agrees to pay to
Global Capital Advisors, LLC a fee of $10,000.00 (the "Expense Reimbursement
Fee") in full satisfaction of all obligations of the Company to Purchaser and
its agents in connection with the negotiation and preparation of the Transaction
Agreements, relevant due diligence, and fees and disbursements of legal counsel.
In addition, the Company shall grant Global Capital Advisors, LLC a lifetime
subscription to the Company's proprietary database, Placement Tracker.com. The
Company agrees to pay any and all stamp, transfer and other similar taxes,
assessments or charges payable in connection with the execution and delivery of
any Transaction Agreement or the issuance of the Securities to Purchaser,
excluding their assigns.

ARTICLE 14.5      Payment. The Company agrees that, so long as a Purchaser shall
own any Bridge Note purchased by it from the Company hereunder, the Company will
make payments to such Purchaser of all amounts due thereon by wire transfer by
4:00 P.M. (New York City time).

                                       29
<PAGE>

ARTICLE 14.6      Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon
the Company and upon the Purchaser and their respective successors and assigns;
provided that the Company shall not assign or otherwise transfer its rights or
obligations under this Agreement to any other Person without the prior written
consent of the Majority Holders. All provisions hereunder purporting to give
rights to Purchaser and their affiliates or to holders of Securities are for the
express benefit of such Persons and their successors and assigns.

ARTICLE 14.7      Brokers. Except for a cash fee of three percent (3%) of the
principal amount of Bridge Note issued pursuant to this Agreement to Colony Park
Financial Services, LLC., the Company represents and warrants that it has not
employed any broker, finder, financial advisor or investment banker who would be
entitled to any brokerage, finder's or other fee or commission payable by the
Company or the Purchaser in connection with the sale of the Securities.

ARTICLE 14.8      Delaware Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury
Trial; Appointment of Agent. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY
SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF
DELAWARE AND OF ANY DELAWARE COURT SITTING IN DELAWARE FOR PURPOSES OF ALL LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING
OF THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT AND ANY CLAIM THAT
ANY SUCH PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT
FORUM. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY
JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

ARTICLE 14.9      Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction
of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and
restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall
in no way be affected, impaired, or invalidated unless a failure of
consideration would result thereby.

ARTICLE 14.10     Survival. All provisions contained in this Agreement (unless
specifically noted to the contrary) shall survive the payment in full of the
Bridge Note and shall remain operative and in full force.

ARTICLE 14.11     Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by telecopy
signatures and in any number of counterparts each of which shall be an original
with the same effect as if the signatures there to and hereto were upon the same
instrument.

                        [SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGES]

                                       30
<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed by their respective authorized officers, as of the date first
above written.

                                    DIRECTPLACEMENT, INC.

                                    By: /s/ BRIAN M. OVERSTREET
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                    Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
                                    Address:   3655 Nobel Drive, Suite 540
                                               San Diego, CA 92122

                                    Fax:
                                    Attn:

                                    GCA STRATEGIC INVESTMENT FUND LIMITED

                                    By: /s/ LEWIS N. LESTER
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                    Title:
                                    Address:   Mechanics Building
                                               12 Church Street
                                               Hamilton HM II
                                               Bermuda

                                    Fax:       678-947-6499
                                    Attn:      Mr. Lewis N. Lester

                                       31
<PAGE>

                                LIST OF SCHEDULES

Schedule 4.3  Capitalization................................................12
Schedule 4.12 Investment, Joint Ventures................................15, 17
Schedule 4.27 Subsidiaries..................................................17

                                        i
<PAGE>

                                LIST OF EXHIBITS

Exhibit A Secured Bridge Notes...........................................1, 15
Exhibit B Registration Rights Agreement......................................1
Exhibit C Form of Solvency Certificate.......................................7
Exhibit D Form of Officer's Certificate.....................................19
Exhibit E Escrow Agreement...................................................5

                                       iiExhibit 10.17

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

         REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of
March 6, 2002, between DirectPlacement, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company") and GCA Strategic Investment Fund Limited (the "Fund"), a Delaware
limited partnership.

         1.       Introduction.

                  1.1      Securities Purchase Agreement. The Company and the
Fund have today executed that certain Securities Purchase Agreement (the
"Securities Purchase Agreement"), pursuant to which the Company has agreed,
among other things, to issue a Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00)
(U.S.) principal amount Bridge Note of the Company (the "Note") to the Fund or
its successors, assigns or transferees (collectively, the "Holders"). In
addition, pursuant to the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement and the
transactions contemplated thereby, the Company has agreed to issue to the Fund,
100,000 shares (the "Shares") of common stock of the Company $.0001 par value
per share (the "Common Stock). The Shares are subject to adjustment upon the
occurrence of stock splits, recapitalizations and similar events occurring after
the date hereof.

                  1.2      Definition of Securities. The Shares are sometimes
herein referred to as the "Securities."

         2.       Registration under Securities Act, etc.

                  2.1      Mandatory Registration.

                           (a)      Registration of Registrable Securities.
Beginning on the Closing Date (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement)
and continuing until the first anniversary of the Closing Date, the Fund may
request the Company to register under the Securities Act all or any portion of
the Registrable Securities held by such requesting holder or holders for sale in
the manner specified in such notice. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, the Company shall not be obligated to effect, or to take any
action to effect, any such registration pursuant to this Section 2.1.

                                    (i)      during the period starting with the
date 45 days prior to the Company's good faith estimate of the date of filing
of, and ending on a date 120 days after the effective date of, a
Company-initiated registration; provided that the Company is actively employing
in good faith all reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to
become effective; or

                                    (ii)     if in the good faith judgment of
the Board of Directors of the Company, such registration would be seriously
detrimental to the Company and the Board of Directors of the Company concludes,
as a result, that it is essential to defer the filing of such registration
statement at such time, in which case the Company shall furnish to such holders
a certificate signed by the President of the Company stating that in the good
faith judgment

<PAGE>

of the Board of Directors of the Company, it would be seriously detrimental to
the Company for such registration statement to be filed in the near future and
that it is, therefore, essential to defer the filing of such registration
statement, then the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a
period of not more than 90 days after receipt of the request of the requesting
holders, and, provided further, that the Company shall not defer its obligation
in this manner more than once.

                           (b)      Notification by Company. Following receipt
of any notice under this Section 2.1, the Company shall immediately notify all
holders of Registrable Securities from whom notice has not been received and
shall use its best efforts to register under the Securities Act, for public sale
in accordance with the method of disposition specified in such notice from
requesting holders, the number of shares of Registrable Securities specified in
such notice (and in all notices received by the Company from other holders
within 30 days after the giving of such notice by the Company). If such method
of disposition shall be an underwritten public offering, the holders of a
majority of the shares of Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering may
designate the managing underwriter of such offering, subject to the approval of
the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withhold or delayed. The
Company shall be obligated to register Registrable Securities pursuant to this
Section 2.1 on one occasion only, provided, however, that such obligation shall
be deemed satisfied only when a registration statement covering all shares of
Registrable Securities specified in notices received and not rescinded as
aforesaid, for sale in accordance with the method of disposition specified by
the requesting holders, shall have become effective and, if such method of
disposition is a firm commitment underwritten public offering, all such shares
shall have been sold pursuant thereto.

                           (c)      Participation of Shares. The Company and any
other holders of Common Stock which the Company shall permit to participate
shall be entitled to include in any registration statement referred to in this
Section 2.1, for sale in accordance with the method of disposition specified by
the requesting holders, shares of Common Stock to be sold by the Company or such
other holders for their own account, except as and to the extent that, in the
opinion of the managing underwriter (if such method of disposition shall be an
underwritten public offering), such inclusion would adversely affect the
marketing of the Registrable Securities to be sold. Except for registration
statements on Form S-4, S-8 or any successor thereto, the Company will not file
with the Commission any other registration statement with respect to its Common
Stock, whether for its own account or that of other stockholders, from the date
of receipt of a notice from requesting holders pursuant to this Section 2.1
until the completion of the period of distribution of the registration
contemplated thereby.

                           (d)      Expenses. The Company will pay all
Registration Expenses in connection with any registration required by this
Section 2.1.

                  2.2      Incidental Registration.

                           (a)      Right to Include Registrable Securities. If
at any time after the date hereof but before the second anniversary of the date
hereof, the Company proposes to register any of its securities under the
Securities Act (other than by a registration in connection with an acquisition

                                       2
<PAGE>

in a manner which would not permit registration of Registrable Securities for
sale to the public, on Form S-8, or any successor form thereto, on Form S-4, or
any successor form thereto and other than pursuant to Section 2.1), on an
underwritten basis (either best-efforts or firm-commitment), then, the Company
will each such time give prompt written notice to the Fund of its intention to
do so and of the Fund's rights under this Section 2.2. Upon the written request
of the Fund made within twenty (20) days after the receipt of any such notice
(which request shall specify the Registrable Securities intended to be disposed
of by the Fund and the intended method of disposition thereof), the Company
will, subject to the terms of this Agreement, use its commercially reasonable
best efforts to effect the registration under the Securities Act of the
Registrable Securities, to the extent requisite to permit the disposition (in
accordance with the intended methods thereof as aforesaid) of such Registrable
Securities so to be registered, by inclusion of such Registrable Securities in
the registration statement which covers the securities which the Company
proposes to register, provided that if, at any time after written notice of its
intention to register any securities and prior to the effective date of the
registration statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company
shall determine for any reason either not to register or to delay registration
of such securities, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of
such determination to the Fund and, thereupon, (i) in the case of a
determination not to register, shall be relieved of this obligation to register
any Registrable Securities in connection with such registration (but not from
its obligation to pay the Registration Expenses in connection therewith),
without prejudice, however, to the rights of any holder or holders of
Registrable Securities entitled to do so to request that such registration be
effected as a registration under Section 2.1, and (ii) in the case of a
determination to delay registering, shall be permitted to delay registering any
Registrable Securities, for the same period as the delay in registering such
other securities. No registration effected under this Section 2.2 shall relieve
the Company of its obligation to effect any registration upon request under
Section 2.1, nor shall any such registration hereunder be deemed to have been
effected pursuant to Section 2.1. The Company will pay all Registration Expenses
in connection with each registration of Registrable Securities requested
pursuant to this Section 2.2. The right provided the Fund pursuant to this
Section shall be exercisable at their sole discretion and will in no way limit
any of the Company's obligations to pay the Securities according to their terms.

                           (b)      Priority in Incidental Registrations. If the
managing underwriter of the underwritten offering contemplated by this Section
2.2 shall inform the Company and holders of the Registrable Securities
requesting such registration by letter of its belief that the number of
securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number
which can be sold in such offering, then the Company will include in such
registration, to the extent of the number which the Company is so advised can be
sold in such offering, (i) first securities proposed by the Company to be sold
for its own account, and (ii) second Registrable Securities and securities of
other selling security holders requested to be included in such registration pro
rata on the basis of the number of shares of such securities so proposed to be
sold and so requested to be included; provided, however, the holders of
Registrable Securities shall have priority to all shares sought to be included
by officers and directors of the Company as well as holders of ten percent (10%)
or more of the Company's Common Stock.

                                       3
<PAGE>

                  2.3      Registration Procedures. If and whenever the Company
is required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the
Securities Act as provided in Section 2.1 and, as applicable, 2.2, the Company
shall, as expeditiously as possible:

                           (i)      prepare and file with the Commission the
Registration Statement, or amendments thereto, to effect such registration
(including such audited financial statements as may be required by the
Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) and
thereafter use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cause such
registration statement to be declared effective by the Commission, as soon as
practicable; provided, however, that before filing such registration statement
or any amendments thereto, the Company will furnish to the counsel selected by
the holders of Registrable Securities which are to be included in such
registration, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed;

                           (ii)     with respect to any registration statement
pursuant to Section 2.1, prepare and file with the Commission such amendments
and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in
connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement
effective and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect
to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by such registration
statement until the earlier to occur of three years after the date of this
Agreement(subject to the right of the Company to suspend the effectiveness
thereof for not more than 10 consecutive days or an aggregate of 30 days in such
three years period) or such time as all of the securities which are the subject
of such registration statement cease to be Registrable Securities (such period,
in each case, the "Registration Maintenance Period");

                           (iii)    furnish to each seller of Registrable
Securities covered by such registration statement such number of conformed
copies of such registration statement and of each such amendment and supplement
thereto (in each case including all exhibits), such number of copies of the
prospectus contained in such registration statement (including each preliminary
prospectus and any summary prospectus) and any other prospectus filed under Rule
424 under the Securities Act, in conformity with the requirements of the
Securities Act, and such other documents, as such seller and underwriter, if
any, may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other
disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller;

                           (iv)     use its commercially reasonable best efforts
to register or qualify all Registrable Securities and other securities covered
by such registration statement under such other securities laws or blue sky laws
as any seller thereof shall reasonably request, to keep such registrations or
qualifications in effect for so long as such registration statement remains in
effect, and take any other action which may be reasonably necessary to enable
such seller to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the
securities owned by such seller, except that the Company shall not for any such
purpose be required to qualify generally to do business as a foreign corporation
in any jurisdiction wherein it would not but for the requirements of this
subdivision (iv) be obligated to be so qualified or to consent to general
service of process in any such jurisdiction;

                                       4
<PAGE>

                           (v)      use its commercially reasonable best efforts
to cause all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be
registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities
as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof to consummate the
disposition of such Registrable Securities;

                           (vi)     furnish to each seller of Registrable
Securities a signed counterpart, addressed to such seller, and the underwriters,
if any, of:

                                    (A)      an opinion of counsel for the
Company, dated the effective date of such registration statement (or, if such
registration includes an underwritten public offering, an opinion dated the date
of the closing under the underwriting agreement),reasonably satisfactory in form
and substance to such seller) including that the prospectus and any prospectus
supplement forming a part of the Registration Statement does not contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omits 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, and

                                    (B)      a "comfort" letter (or, in the case
of any Person which does not satisfy the conditions for receipt of a "comfort"
letter specified in Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72, an "agreed upon
procedures" letter), dated the effective date of such registration statement
(and, if such registration includes an underwritten public offering, a letter of
like kind dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement),
signed by the independent public accountants who have certified the Company's
financial statement included in such registration statement, covering
substantially the same matters with respect to such registration statement (and
the prospectus included therein) and, in the case of the accountants' letter,
with respect to events subsequent to the date of such financial statements, as
are customarily covered in opinions of issuer's counsel and in accountants'
letters delivered to the underwriters in underwritten public offerings of
securities (with, in the case of an "agreed upon procedures" letter, such
modifications or deletions as may be required under Statement on Auditing
Standards No. 35) and, in the case of the accountants' letter, such other
financial matters, and, in the case of the legal opinion, such other legal
matters, as such seller (or the underwriters, if any) may reasonably request;

                           (vii)    notify the Sellers' Representative and its
counsel promptly and confirm such advice in writing promptly after the Company
has knowledge thereof:

                                    (A)      when the Registration Statement,
the prospectus or any prospectus supplement related thereto or post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed, and, with respect to the
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same
has become effective;

                                    (B)      of any request by the Commission
for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the prospectus or
for additional information;

                                       5
<PAGE>

                                    (C)      of the issuance by the Commission
of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or
the initiation of any proceedings by any Person for that purpose; and

                                    (D)      of the receipt by the Company of
any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any
Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or blue sky laws of any
jurisdiction or the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose;

                           (viii)   notify each seller of Registrable Securities
covered by such registration statement, at any time when a prospectus relating
thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, upon discovery
that, or upon the happening of any event as a result of which, the prospectus
included in such registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue
statement of a material fact or omits to state any material facts required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the
light of the circumstances then existing, and at the request of any such seller
promptly prepare and furnish to such seller a reasonable number of copies of a
supplement to or an amendment of such prospectus as may be necessary so that, as
thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such securities, such prospectus shall
not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing;

                           (ix)     use its best efforts to obtain the
withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement at the earliest possible moment;

                           (x)      otherwise use its commercially reasonable
best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably
practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve
months, but not more than eighteen months, beginning with the first full
calendar month after the effective date of such registration statement, which
earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder;

                           (xi)     enter into such agreements and take such
other actions as the Sellers' Representative shall reasonably request in writing
(at the expense of the requesting or benefiting sellers) in order to expedite or
facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities; and

                           (xii)    use its commercially reasonable best efforts
to list all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement on any
securities exchange on which any of the Registrable Securities are then listed.

         The Company may require each seller of Registrable Securities as to
which any registration is being effected to furnish the Company such information
regarding such seller and the distribution of such securities as the Company may
from time to time reasonably request in writing.

                                       6
<PAGE>

         The Company will not file any registration statement pursuant to
Section 2.1, or amendment thereto or any prospectus or any supplement thereto
(including such documents incorporated by reference and proposed to be filed
after the initial filing of the Registration Statement) to which the Sellers'
Representative shall reasonably object, provided that the Company may file such
documents in a form required by law or upon the advice of its counsel.

         The Company represents and warrants to each holder of Registrable
Securities that it has obtained all necessary waivers, consents and
authorizations necessary to execute this Agreement and consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby other than such waivers, consents and/or
authorizations specifically contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreement.

         Each Fund agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of
the occurrence of any event of the kind described in subdivision (viii) of this
Section 2.3, such Fund will forthwith discontinue such Fund's disposition of
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement relating to such
Registrable Securities until such Fund's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by subdivision (viii) of this
Section 2.3 and, if so directed by the Company, will deliver to the Company (at
the Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in
such Fund's possession of the prospectus relating to such Registrable Securities
current at the time of receipt of such notice.

                  2.4      Underwritten Offerings.

                           (a)      Incidental Underwritten Offerings. If the
Company at any time proposes to register any of its securities under the
Securities Act as contemplated by Section 2.2 and such securities are to be
distributed by or through one or more underwriters, the Company will, if
requested by any holder of Registrable Securities as provided in Section 2.2 and
subject to the provisions of Section 2.2(a), use its commercially reasonable
best efforts to arrange for such underwriters to include all the Registrable
Securities to be offered and sold by such holder among the securities to be
distributed by such underwriters.

                           (b)      Holdback Agreements. Subject to such other
reasonable requirements as may be imposed by the underwriter as a condition of
inclusion of the Fund's Registrable Securities in the registration statement,
the Fund agrees by acquisition of Registrable Securities, if so required by the
managing underwriter, not to sell, make any short sale of, loan, grant any
option for the purchase of, effect any public sale or distribution of or
otherwise dispose of, except as part of such underwritten registration, any
equity securities of the Company, during such reasonable period of time
requested by the underwriter; provided however, such period shall not exceed the
120 day period commencing 30 days prior to the commencement of such underwritten
offering and ending 90 days following the completion of such underwritten
offering.

                           (c)      Participation in Underwritten Offerings. No
holder of Registrable Securities may participate in any underwritten offering
under Section 2.2 unless such holder of Registrable Securities (i) agrees to
sell such Person's securities on the basis provided in any underwriting
arrangements approved, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, by the
holders of a majority of Registrable Securities to be included in such
underwritten offering and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires,
indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents (other than powers of

                                       7
<PAGE>

attorney) required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no underwriting agreement (or other agreement in
connection with such offering) shall require any holder of Registrable
Securities to make an representations or warranties to or agreements with the
Company or the underwriters other than representations and warranties contained
in a writing furnished by such holder expressly for use in the related
registration statement or representations, warranties or agreements regarding
such holder, such holder's Registrable Securities and such holder's intended
method of distribution and any other representation required by law.

                  2.5      Preparation; Reasonable Investigation. In connection
with the preparation and filing of each registration statement under the
Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will give the holders of
Registrable Securities registered under such registration statement, and their
respective counsel and accountants, the opportunity to participate in the
preparation of such registration statement, each prospectus included therein or
filed with the Commission, and each amendment thereof or supplement thereto, and
will give each of them such access to its books and records and such
opportunities to discuss the business of the Company with its officers and the
independent public accountants who have certified its financial statements as
shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of such holders' and such
underwriters' respective counsel, to conduct a reasonable investigation within
the meaning of the Securities Act.

                  2.6      Reserved.

                  2.7      Indemnification.

                           (a)      Indemnification by the Company. In the event
of any registration of any securities of the Company under the Securities Act,
the Company will, and hereby does agree to indemnify and hold harmless the
holder of any Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement, its
directors and officers, each other Person who participates as an underwriter in
the offering or sale of such securities and each other Person, if any, who
controls such holder or any such underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or
several, to which such holder or any such director or officer or underwriter or
controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or
proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of
or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any
material fact contained in any registration statement under which such
securities were registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus,
final prospectus or summary prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, and the Company will reimburse such holder and each such
director, officer, underwriter and controlling person for any legal or any other

                                       8
<PAGE>

expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, liability, action or proceeding, provided that
the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such
loss, claim, damage, liability, (or action or proceeding in respect thereof) or
expense arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement,
any such preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, summary prospectus, amendment
or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by such holder or underwriter stating that it is for
use in the preparation thereof and, provided further that the Company shall not
be liable to any Person who participates as an underwriter in the offering or
sale of Registrable Securities or to any other Person, if any, who controls such
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, in any such case to the
extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability (or action or proceeding in
respect thereof) or expense arises out of such Person's failure to send or give
a copy of the final prospectus, as the same may be then supplemented or amended,
within the time required by the Securities Act to the Person asserting the
existence of an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of
Registrable Securities to such Person if such statement or omission was
corrected in such final prospectus or an amendment or supplement thereto. Such
indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of such holder or any such director, officer, underwriter
or controlling person and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such
holder.

                           (b)      Indemnification by the Holders. The Company
may require, as a condition to including any Registrable Securities in any
registration statement filed pursuant to this Agreement, that the Company shall
have received an undertaking satisfactory to it from the prospective seller of
such Registrable Securities, to indemnify and hold harmless (in the same manner
and to the same extent as set forth in subdivision (a) of this Section 2.7) the
Company, each director of the Company, each officer of the Company and each
other Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the
Securities Act, with respect to any statement or alleged statement in or
omission or alleged omission from such registration statement, any preliminary
prospectus, final prospectus or summary prospectus contained therein, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, if such statement or alleged statement or
omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company through an instrument duly executed
by such seller specifically stating that it is for use in the preparation of
such registration statement, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, summary
prospectus, amendment or supplement. Any such indemnity shall remain in full
force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the
Company or any such director, officer or controlling person and shall survive
the transfer of such securities by such seller.

                                       9
<PAGE>

                           (c)      Notices of Claims, etc. Promptly after
receipt by an indemnified party of notice of the commencement of any action or
proceeding involving a claim referred to in the preceding subdivisions of this
Section 2.7, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be
made against an indemnifying party, give written notice to the latter of the
commencement of such action, provided that the failure of any indemnified party
to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the indemnifying party of
its obligations under the preceding subdivisions of this Section 2.7, except to
the extent that the indemnifying party is actually prejudiced by such failure to
give notice. In case any such action is brought against an indemnified party,
unless in such indemnified party's reasonable judgment a conflict of interest
between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist in respect of such
claim, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and to assume
the defense thereof, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly
notified, to the extent that the indemnifying party may wish, with counsel
reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from the
indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the
defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified
party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the latter in
connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of
investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the
indemnified party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement
of any such action which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the
giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from
all liability, or a covenant not to sue, in respect to such claim or litigation.
No indemnified party shall consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any
settlement of any such action the defense of which has been assumed by an
indemnifying party without the consent of such indemnifying party.

                           (d)      Other Indemnification. Indemnification
similar to that specified in the preceding subdivisions of this Section 2.7
(with appropriate modifications) shall be given by the Company and each seller
of Registrable Securities (but only if and to the extent required pursuant to
the terms of Section 2.7(b)) with respect to any required registration or other
qualification of securities under any Federal or state law or regulation of any
governmental authority, other than the Securities Act.

                           (e)      Indemnification Payments. The
indemnification required by this Section 2.7 shall be made by periodic payments
of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as and
when bills are received or expense, loss, damage or liability is incurred.

                           (f)      Contribution. If the indemnification
provided for in the preceding subdivision of this Section 2.7 is unavailable to
an indemnified party in respect of any expense, loss, claim, damage or liability
referred to therein, then each indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such
indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such expense, loss, claim, damage or liability
(i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits
received by the Company on the one hand and the holder or underwriter, as the
case may be, on the other from the distribution of the Registrable Securities or
(ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by
applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of
the Company on the one hand and of the holder or underwriter, as the case may
be, on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted
in such expense, loss, damage or liability, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the
one hand and the holder or underwriter, as the case may be, on the other in

                                       10
<PAGE>

connection with the distribution of the Registrable Securities shall be deemed
to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds received by the Company
from the initial sale of the Registrable Securities by the Company to the
purchasers bear to the gain, if any, realized by all selling holders
participating in such offering or the underwriting discounts and commissions
received by the underwriter, as the case may be. The relative fault of the
Company on the one hand and of the holder or underwriter, as the case may be, on
the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the
untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission to state a
material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, by the holder or
by the underwriter and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information supplied by the Company, by the holder or by the underwriter and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such statement or omission, provided that the foregoing
contribution agreement shall not inure to the benefit of any indemnified party
if indemnification would be unavailable to such indemnified party by reason of
the provisions contained in the first sentence of subdivision (a) of this
Section 2.7, and in no event shall the obligation of any indemnifying party to
contribute under this subdivision (f) exceed the amount that such indemnifying
party would have been obligated to pay by way of indemnification if the
indemnification provided for under subdivisions (b) of this Section 2.7 had been
available under the circumstances.

         The Company and the holders of Registrable Securities agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subdivision (f)
were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the holders and any underwriters
were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of
allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred
to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an
indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities
referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include,
subject to the limitations set forth in the preceding sentence and subdivision
(c) of this Section 2.7, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action
or claim.

         Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision (f), no holder of
Registrable Securities or underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount
in excess of the amount by which (i) in the case of any such holder, the net
proceeds received by such holder from the sale of Registrable Securities or (ii)
in the case of an underwriter, the total price at which the Registrable
Securities purchased by it and distributed to the public were offered to the
public exceeds, in any such case, the amount of any damages that such holder or
underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.

                                       11
<PAGE>

         3.       Definitions. As used herein, unless the context otherwise
requires, the following terms have the following respective meanings:

                  "Agreement":  As defined in Section 1.

                  "Commission": The Securities and Exchange Commission or any
other Federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act.

                  "Common Stock":  As defined in Section 1.

                  "Company": As defined in the introductory paragraph of this
Agreement.

                  "Exchange Act": The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

                  "Note": As defined in Section 1, such term to include any
securities issued in substitution of or in addition to such Note.

                  "OTC Bulletin Board":  As defined in Section 1.

                  "Person": A corporation, association, partnership,
organization, business, individual, governmental or political subdivision
thereof or a governmental agency.

                  "Registrable Securities": The Securities and any securities
issued or issuable with respect to such Securities by way of stock dividend or
stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization,
merger, consolidation or other reorganization or otherwise. Once issued such
securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (a) a registration
statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become
effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been disposed
of in accordance with such registration statement, (b) they shall have been
distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 (or any successor provision)
under the Securities Act, (c) they shall have been otherwise transferred, new
certificates for them not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall
have been delivered by the Company and subsequent disposition of them shall not
require registration or qualification of them under the Securities Act or any
similar state law then in force, (d) they shall have ceased to be outstanding,
(e) on the expiration of the applicable Registration Maintenance Period or (f)
any and all legends restricting transfer thereof have been removed in accordance
with the provisions of Rule 144(k) (or any successor provision) under the
Securities Act.

                                       12
<PAGE>

                  "Registration Expenses": All expenses incident to the
Company's performance of or compliance with this Agreement, including, without
limitation, all registration, filing and NASD fees, all stock exchange and OTC
Bulletin Board or other NASD or stock exchange listing fees, all fees and
expenses of complying with securities or blue sky laws, all word processing,
duplicating and printing expenses, messenger and delivery expenses, the fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company and of its independent public
accountants, including the expenses of any special audits or "cold comfort"
letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance, premiums and
other costs of policies of insurance of the Company against liabilities arising
out of the public offering of the Registrable Securities being registered and
any fees and disbursements of underwriters customarily paid by issuers or
sellers of securities, but excluding underwriting discounts and commissions and
transfer taxes, if any, provided that, in any case where Registration Expenses
are not to be borne by the Company, such expenses shall not include salaries of
Company personnel or general overhead expenses of the Company, auditing fees,
premiums or other expenses relating to liability insurance required by
underwriters of the Company or other expenses for the preparation of financial
statements or other data normally prepared by the Company in the ordinary course
of its business or which the Company would have incurred in any event.

                  "Registration Maintenance Period":  As defined in Section 2.3.

                  "Securities Act": The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

                  "Securities Purchase Agreement": As defined in Section 1.

                  "Sellers' Representative": Global Capital Advisors, LLC or
such Person designated by Global Capital Advisors, LLC as of the time of
disposition of the last of the Securities held by the Fund (or subsequent
Sellers' Representative).

         4.       Rule 144. The Company shall timely file the reports required
to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (including but
not limited to the reports under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act
referred to in subparagraph (c) of Rule 144 adopted by the Commission under the
Securities Act) and the rules and regulations adopted by the Commission
thereunder (or, if the Company is not required to file such reports, will, upon
the request of any holder of Registrable Securities, make publicly available
other information) and will take such further action as any holder of
Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from
time to time to enable such holder to sell Registrable Securities without
registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions
provided by (a) Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended
from time to time, or (b) any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by
the Commission. Upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities, the
Company will deliver to such holder a written statement as to whether it has
complied with the requirements of this Section 4.

                                       13
<PAGE>

         5.       Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement may be amended and the
Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein
required to be performed by it, only if the Company shall have obtained the
written consent to such amendment, action or omission to act, of the holder or
holders of the sum of the 51% or more of the shares of (i) Registrable
Securities issued at such time, plus (ii) Registrable Securities issuable upon
exercise or conversion of the Securities then constituting derivative securities
(if such Securities were not fully exchanged or converted in full as of the date
such consent if sought). Each holder of any Registrable Securities at the time
or thereafter outstanding shall be bound by any consent authorized by this
Section 5, whether or not such Registrable Securities shall have been marked to
indicate such consent.

         6.       Nominees for Beneficial Owners. In the event that any
Registrable Securities are held by a nominee for the beneficial owner thereof,
the beneficial owner thereof may, at its election, be treated as the holder of
such Registrable Securities for purposes of any request or other action by any
holder or holders of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement or any
determination of any number of percentage of shares of Registrable Securities
held by a holder or holders of Registrable Securities contemplated by this
Agreement. If the beneficial owner of any Registrable Securities so elects, the
Company may require assurances reasonably satisfactory to it of such owner's
beneficial ownership or such Registrable Securities.

         7.       Notices. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all
notices, requests and other communications to any Person provided for hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be given to such Person (a) in the case of a party
hereto other than the Company, addressed to such party in the manner set forth
in the Securities Purchase Agreement or at such other address as such party
shall have furnished to the Company in writing, or (b) in the case of any other
holder of Registrable Securities, at the address that such holder shall have
furnished to the Company in writing, or, until any such other holder so
furnishes to the Company an address, then to and at the address of the last
holder of such Registrable Securities who has furnished an address to the
Company, or (c) in the case of the Company, at the address set forth on the
signature page hereto, to the attention of its President, or at such other
address, or to the attention of such other officer, as the Company shall have
furnished to each holder of Registrable Securities at the time outstanding. Each
such notice, request or other communication shall be effective (i) if given by
mail, 72 hours after such communication is deposited in the mail with first
class postage prepaid, addressed as aforesaid or (ii) if given by any other
means (including, without limitation, by fax or air courier), when delivered at
the address specified above, provided that any such notice, request or
communication shall not be effective until received.

         8.       Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto. In addition, and
whether or not any express assignment shall have been made, the provisions of
this Agreement which are for the benefit of the parties hereto other than the
Company shall also be for the benefit of and enforceable by any subsequent
holder of any Registrable Securities. Each of the Holders of the Registrable
Securities agrees, by accepting any portion of the Registrable Securities after
the date hereof, to the provisions of this Agreement including, without
limitation, appointment of the Sellers' Representative to act on behalf of such
Holder pursuant to the terms hereof which such actions shall be made in the good
faith discretion of the Sellers' Representative and be binding on all persons
for all purposes.

                                       14
<PAGE>

         9.       Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings of the several
sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for reference only and
shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

         10.      Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAWS
OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF
LAWS.

         11.      Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile and
may be signed simultaneously in any number of counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one
and the same instrument.

         12.      Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement
and understanding between the Company and each other party hereto relating to
the subject matter hereof and supercedes all prior agreements and understandings
relating to such subject matter.

         13.      Severability. If any provision of this Agreement, or the
application of such provisions to any Person or circumstance, shall be held
invalid, the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such provision
to Persons or circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid, shall
not be affected thereby.

                             Signature Page Follows

                                       15
<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be
executed and delivered by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as
of the date first above written.

                                  DIRECTPLACEMENT, INC.

                                  By: /s/ BRIAN M. OVERSTREET
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                  Name:    Brian M. Overstreet
                                  Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

                                  Address:     3655 Nobel Drive
                                               Suite 540
                                               San Diego, CA 92122

                                               Fax:
                                                    ----------------------------
                                               Tel.:
                                                    ----------------------------

                                  GCA STRATEGIC INVESTMENT FUND LIMITED

                                  By: /s/ LEWIS N. LESTER
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                  Name:   Lewis N. Lester
                                  Title:  Director

                                  Address:     Mechanics Building
                                               12 Church Street
                                               Hamilton, Bermuda HMII

                                               Fax:     678-947-6499
                                               Tel.:    678-947-0028

                                                   Registration Rights Agreement

                                       16

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