Document:

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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2

                      TANGRAM ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS, INC.

                           INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT
                           -------------------------

     THIS INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is entered into as of
February 20, 2001, by Tangram Enterprise Solutions, Inc., a Pennsylvania
corporation (the "Company") and Safeguard Scientifics, Inc., a Pennsylvania
corporation (the "Investor").

                                    RECITALS

     WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Securities Conversion Agreement (the
"Conversion Agreement") dated as of the date hereof, between the Investor and
the Company, the Investor is converting $3,000,000 of the aggregate amount of
principal outstanding under that certain Second Amended Revolving Note dated
September 11, 1997 issued by the Company in favor of the Investor (the "Existing
Note") into 3,000 shares of Series F Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Series F
Preferred Stock"), and the Company and the Investor are amending the Existing
Note to reduce the amount available thereunder (the "Note Amendment"); and

     WHEREAS, as a condition of entering into the Conversion Agreement, the
Investor has requested that the Company enter into this Agreement.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, representations,
warranties, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement and in the
Conversion Agreement, the parties mutually agree as follows:

SECTION 1. GENERAL

     1.1  Definitions. As used in this Agreement the following terms shall have
the following respective meanings:

          "Affiliate" shall mean any person who is an "affiliate" as defined in
Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, but with
respect to the Investor, the Company nor any of its directors and officers, in
such capacities, shall not be considered affiliates hereunder.

          "Conversion Shares" means shares of Common Stock into which shares of
Series F Preferred Stock are converted.

          "Common Stock" means shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share.

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          "Designations" shall mean the Statement of Designations, Preferences
and Rights of the Company's Series F Convertible Preferred Stock filed with the
Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on or before the date
hereof.

          "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

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

          "Holder" means any person owning of record Registrable Securities that
have not been sold to the public or any assignee of record of such Registrable
Securities in accordance with Section 2.10 hereof.

          "Person" shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, firm,
joint venture, association, limited liability company, limited liability
partnership, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or
governmental entity.

          "Register," "registered," and "registration" refer to a registration
effected by preparing and filing a registration statement in compliance with the
Securities Act, and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such
registration statement or document.

          "Registrable Securities" means (a) Common Stock of the Company issued
or issuable upon conversion of the Shares and (b) any Common Stock of the
Company issued as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant,
right or other security which is issued as) a dividend or other distribution
with respect to, or in exchange for or in replacement of, such above-described
securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Registrable Securities shall not
include any securities sold by a person to the public either pursuant to a
registration statement declared effective pursuant to the Securities Act or Rule
144 or sold in a private transaction in which the transferor's rights under
Section 2 of this Agreement are not assigned.

          "Registrable Securities then outstanding" shall be the number of
shares determined by calculating the total number of shares of the Company's
Common Stock that are Registrable Securities and either (a) are then issued and
outstanding or (b) are issuable pursuant to then exercisable or convertible
securities.

          "Registration Expenses" shall mean all expenses incurred by the
Company in complying with Sections 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4 hereof, including, without
limitation, all registration and filing fees, printing expenses, fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company, blue sky fees and expenses and the
expense of any special audits incident to or required by any such registration
(but excluding the compensation of regular employees of the Company which shall
be paid in any event by the Company).

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          "Rule 144" shall mean Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.

          "Safeguard" shall mean Safeguard Scientifics, Inc., a Pennsylvania
corporation.

          "SEC" or "Commission" means the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission.

          "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

          "Selling Expenses" shall mean all underwriting discounts and selling
commissions applicable to the sale.

          "Shares" shall mean the shares of the Company's Series F Preferred
Stock issued pursuant to the Conversion Agreement and held by the Investor and
its permitted assigns.

          "Subsidiaries" shall mean with respect to any Person (including the
Company), any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association
or other business entity of which is controlled by (as defined in Rule 405 of
the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act) such Person, by one
or more Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more
Subsidiaries of such Person.

SECTION 2. REGISTRATION; RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER

     2.1  Restrictions on Transfer.

          (a)  Each Holder agrees not to make any disposition of all or any
portion of the Shares or the Registrable Securities unless and until:

               (i)  There is then in effect a registration statement under the
Securities Act covering such proposed disposition and such disposition is made
in accordance with such registration statement; or

               (ii) (A) Such Holder shall have notified the Company of the
proposed disposition and shall have furnished the Company with a detailed
statement of the circumstances surrounding the proposed disposition and (B) if
reasonably requested by the Company, such Holder shall have furnished the
Company with an opinion of counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that
such disposition will not require registration of such shares under the
Securities Act. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, it is agreed
that the Company will not require opinions of counsel for transactions made
pursuant to Rule 144 unless, after consultation with the Holder, the Company has
a reasonable basis for believing that such disposition may not be made pursuant
to Rule 144.

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               (iii) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (i) and (ii)
above, no such registration statement or opinion of counsel shall be necessary
for a transfer by a Holder which is (A) a partnership, to its partners or former
partners in accordance with partnership interests, (B) a corporation, to its
shareholders in accordance with their interest in the corporation, (C) a limited
liability company, to its members or former members in accordance with their
interest in the limited liability company, (D) natural person, to such Holder's
family member or trust for the benefit of such Holder or such Holder's family
member; provided that in each case the transferee will be subject to the terms
of this Agreement to the same extent as if he were an original Holder hereunder.

          (b)  Each certificate representing Shares or Registrable Securities
shall (unless otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Agreement) be
stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend substantially similar to the
following (in addition to any legend required under applicable state securities
laws):

          THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
          UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE "ACT") AND MAY NOT BE
          OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR
          HYPOTHECATED UNLESS AND UNTIL REGISTERED UNDER THE ACT OR
          UNLESS THE COMPANY HAS RECEIVED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL
          SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL THAT SUCH
          REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

          (c)  The Company shall be obligated to reissue promptly unlegended
certificates at the request of any holder thereof if the holder shall have
obtained an opinion of counsel (which counsel may be counsel to the Company)
reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that the securities proposed
to be disposed of may lawfully be so disposed of without registration,
qualification or legend.

          (d)  Any legend endorsed on an instrument pursuant to applicable state
securities laws and the stop-transfer instructions with respect to such
securities shall be removed upon receipt by the Company of an order of the
appropriate blue sky authority authorizing such removal.

     2.2  Demand Registration.

          (a)  Subject to the conditions of this Section 2.2, if the Company
shall receive a written request from the holders of the Registrable Securities
(the "Initiating Holders") that the Company file a registration statement under
the Securities Act covering the registration of Registrable Securities owned by
such Holder and its Affiliates, then the Company shall, within fifteen (15) days
after the receipt thereof, give written notice of such request to all Holders,
and subject to the limitations of this Section 2.2, use its best efforts to
effect, as soon as practicable, the registration under the Securities Act of all
Registrable Securities that the Initiating Holders requests to be registered and
all Registrable Securities owned by any other Holder which notifies

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the Company in writing, within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the Company's
notice contemplated by this paragraph, that it intends to participate in the
demand registration contemplated herein (such notification to include the number
of Registrable Securities sought to be included and the intended method or
methods of distribution for such Registrable Securities), subject to and in
accordance with the terms, conditions, procedures and limitations contained in
this Agreement.

          (b)  If the Initiating Holders intend to distribute the Registrable
Securities covered by its request by means of an underwriting, they shall so
advise the Company as a part of their request made pursuant to this Section 2.2,
or any request pursuant to Section 2.4, and the Company shall include such
information in the written notice referred to in Section 2.2(a) or Section
2.4(a), as applicable. In such event, the right of any Holder to include its
Registrable Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon such
Holder's participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder's
Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All
Holders proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting shall
enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or
underwriters selected by a majority in interest of the Initiating Holders).
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.2 or Section 2.4, if the
underwriter advises the Company that marketing factors require a limitation of
the number of securities to be underwritten (including Registrable Securities)
then the Company shall so advise all Holders of Registrable Securities which
would otherwise be underwritten pursuant hereto, and the number of Registrable
Securities that may be included in the underwriting shall be allocated first
among the Holders on a pro rata basis based on the number of Registrable
Securities held by all such Holders (including the Initiating Holders) and then
second to any other shareholders of the Company (other than the Holders) on a
pro rata basis. The number of shares of Registrable Securities to be included in
any underwriting and registration covered by this Section 2.2 shall not be
reduced unless all other securities of the Company are first entirely excluded
from the underwriting and registration. Any Registrable Securities excluded or
withdrawn from any underwriting pursuant to this Section 2.2(b) shall be
withdrawn from the registration.

          (c)  The Company shall not be required to effect a registration
pursuant to this Section 2.2:

               (i)   within ninety (90) days following a previously effected
registration pursuant to Section 2.2 or Section 2.3;

               (ii)  after the Company has effected two (2) registrations
initiated by the Holders pursuant to this Section 2.2, and such registrations
have been declared or ordered effective;

               (iii) if within thirty (30) days after receipt of a written
request from the Holder pursuant to Section 2.2(a), the Company gives notice to
the Holders of the Company's intention to make a public offering of its Common
Stock within one hundred twenty (120) days; provided that such offering is, and
remains, likely to be completed within such one hundred twenty (120) day period;

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               (iv)  if the Company shall furnish to the Holders requesting a
registration statement pursuant to this Section 2.2 a certificate signed by the
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company stating that in the good faith
judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, it would be seriously
detrimental to the Company for such registration statement to be effected at
such time, in which event the Company shall have the right to defer such filing
for a period of not more than one hundred twenty (120) days after receipt of the
request of the Initiating Holders; provided that such right to delay a request
shall be exercised by the Company not more than twice in any twelve (12) month
period;

               (v)   if the total Registrable Securities for which registration
has been requested is for less than 500,000 shares of Common Stock or the
reasonably anticipated aggregate price to the public of such offering would be
less than $1,500,000;

               (vi)  if the Initiating Holders propose to dispose of shares of
Registrable Securities that may be immediately registered on Form S-3 pursuant
to a request made pursuant to Section 2.4 below; or

               (vii) in any particular jurisdiction in which the Company would
be required to qualify to do business or to execute a general consent to service
of process in effecting such registration, qualification or compliance.

     2.3  Piggyback Registrations. If, at any time or from time to time, the
Company proposes to file a registration statement under the Securities Act for
its own account or for the account of any of its shareholders excluding (i) a
registration statement on Form S-4 relating solely to an SEC Rule 145
transaction, (ii) a registration statement on Form S-1 or S-8 relating to
employee stock option or purchase plans, or (iii) a registration statement on
any successor to such forms, then the Company shall notify all Holders of
Registrable Securities in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to the filing
of any such registration and will afford each such Holder an opportunity to
include in such registration statement all or part of such Registrable
Securities held by such Holder. Each Holder desiring to include in any such
registration statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities held by it
shall, within thirty (30) days after the above-described notice from the
Company, so notify the Company in writing. Such notice shall state the intended
method of disposition of the Registrable Securities by such Holder. If a Holder
decides not to include all of its Registrable Securities in any registration
statement thereafter filed by the Company, such Holder shall nevertheless
continue to have the right to include any Registrable Securities in any
subsequent registration statement or registration statements as may be filed by
the Company with respect to offerings of its securities, all upon the terms and
conditions set forth herein.

          (a)  Underwriting. If the registration statement under which the
Company gives notice under this Section 2.3 is for an underwritten offering, the
Company shall so advise the Holders of Registrable Securities. In such event,
the right of any such Holder to be included in a registration pursuant to this
Section 2.3 shall be conditioned upon such Holder's participation in such
underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder's Registrable Securities in

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the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to
distribute their Registrable Securities through such underwriting shall enter
into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or
underwriters selected for such underwriting by the Company. Notwithstanding any
other provision of the Agreement, if the underwriter determines in good faith
that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be
underwritten, the number of shares that may be included in the underwriting
shall be allocated, first, to the Company and to the Holders on a pro rata basis
based on the number of securities the Company and the Holders seek to include in
such registration and second, to any other shareholder of the Company (other
than a Holder) on a pro rata basis. In no event will shares of any shareholder
of the Company (other than a Holder) be included in such registration which
would reduce the number of shares which may be included by Holders without the
written consent of Holders of not less than a majority of the Registrable
Securities proposed to be sold in the offering. If any Holder disapproves of the
terms of any such underwriting, such Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by
written notice to the Company and the underwriter, delivered at least ten (10)
business days prior to the effective date of the registration statement. Any
Registrable Securities excluded or withdrawn from such underwriting shall be
excluded and withdrawn from the registration. For any Holder which is a
partnership or corporation, the partners, retired partners and shareholders of
such Holder, or the estates and family members of any such partners and retired
partners and any trusts for the benefit of any of the foregoing persons shall be
deemed to be a single "Holder," and any pro rata reduction with respect to such
"Holder" shall be based upon the aggregate amount of shares carrying
registration rights owned by all entities and individuals included in such
"Holder," as defined in this sentence.

          (b)  Right to Terminate Registration. The Company shall have the right
to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section 2.3
prior to the effectiveness of such registration whether or not any Holder has
elected to include securities in such registration. The Registration Expenses of
such withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Company in accordance with
Section 2.5 hereof.

     2.4  Form S-3 Registration. In case the Company shall receive from any
Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities a written request or requests that
the Company effect a registration on Form S-3 (or any successor to Form S-3) or
any similar short-form registration statement and any related qualification or
compliance with respect to all or a part of the Registrable Securities owned by
such Holder or Holders, the Company will:

          (a)  promptly give written notice of the proposed registration, and
any related qualification or compliance, to all other Holders of Registrable
Securities; and

          (b)  as soon as practicable, effect such registration and all such
qualifications and compliances as may be so requested and as would permit or
facilitate the sale and distribution of all or such portion of such Holder's or
Holders' Registrable Securities as are specified in such request, together with
all or such portion of the Registrable Securities of any other Holder or Holders
joining in such request as are specified in a written request given within
thirty (30) days after receipt of such written notice from the Company;
provided, however, that

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the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such registration,
qualification or compliance pursuant to this Section 2.4:

               (i)   if Form S-3 (or any successor or similar form) is not
available for such offering by the Holders, or

               (ii)  if the Holders, together with the holders of any other
securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such registration, propose to
sell Registrable Securities and such other securities (if any) at an aggregate
price to the public of less than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000), or

               (iii) if within thirty (30) days after receipt of a written
request from Initiating Holders pursuant to this Section 2.4, the Company gives
notice to the Holders of the Company's intention to make a public offering
within one hundred twenty (120) days; provided, that such offering remains
likely to be completed within such one hundred twenty (120) day period, or

               (iv)  if the Company shall furnish to the Holders a certificate
signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company stating that in
the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, it would be
seriously detrimental to the Company and its shareholders for such Form S-3
registration to be effected at such time, in which event the Company shall have
the right to defer the filing of the Form S-3 registration statement for a
period of not more than one hundred twenty (120) days after receipt of the
request of the Holder or Holders under this Section 2.4; provided, that such
right to delay a request shall be exercised by the Company not more than twice
in any twelve (12) month period, or

               (v)   in any particular jurisdiction in which the Company would
be required to qualify to do business or to execute a general consent to service
of process in effecting such registration, qualification or compliance.

Subject to the foregoing, the Company shall file a Form S-3 registration
statement covering the Registrable Securities and other securities so requested
to be registered as soon as practicable after receipt of the request or requests
of the Holders. Registrations effected pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall not be
counted as demands for registration or registrations effected pursuant to
Sections 2.2 or 2.3, respectively.

     2.5  Expenses of Registration. Except as specifically provided herein, all
Registration Expenses incurred in connection with any registration,
qualification or compliance pursuant to Section 2.2 or any registration under
Section 2.3 or Section 2.4 herein shall be borne by the Company. All Selling
Expenses incurred in connection with any registrations pursuant to this
Agreement, shall be borne by the holders of the securities so registered pro
rata on the basis of the number of shares so registered. The Company shall not,
however, be required to pay for expenses of any registration proceeding begun
pursuant to Sections 2.2 or 2.4, the request of which has been subsequently
withdrawn by the Initiating Holders unless the withdrawal is based upon material
adverse information concerning the Company of which the Initiating Holders were

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not aware at the time of such request. If the Holders are required to pay the
Registration Expenses, then such expenses shall be borne by the holders of
securities (including Registrable Securities) requesting such registration in
proportion to the number of shares for which registration was requested.

     2.6  Obligations of the Company. Whenever required to effect the
registration of any Registrable Securities, the Company shall, as expeditiously
as reasonably possible:

          (a)  Prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement with
respect to such Registrable Securities and use all reasonable efforts to cause
such registration statement to become effective and keep such registration
statement effective for up to ninety (90) days (or two hundred seventy (270)
days if the registration statement is on Form S-3) or, if earlier, until the
Holder or Holders have completed the distribution related thereto;

          (b)  Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to
such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection with such
registration statement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the
Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such
registration statement for the period set forth in paragraph (a) above;

          (c)  Furnish to the Holders such number of copies of a prospectus,
including a preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the
Securities Act, and such other documents as they may reasonably request in order
to facilitate the disposition of Registrable Securities owned by them;

          (d)  Use its reasonable best efforts to register and qualify the
securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or
Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the
Holders; provided that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith
or as a condition thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent
to service of process in any such states or jurisdictions;

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

          (f)  Notify each Holder 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 of the happening of any event
as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement, as
then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then
existing; and

          (g)  Use its best efforts to furnish, on the date that such
Registrable Securities are delivered to the underwriters for sale, if such
securities are being sold through underwriters,

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(i) an opinion, dated as of such date, of the legal counsel representing the
Company for the purposes of such registration, in form and substance as is
customarily given to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed
to the underwriters, if any, and (ii) a letter dated as of such date, from the
independent certified public accountants of the Company, in form and substance
as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to
underwriters in an underwritten public offering addressed to the underwriters.

     2.7  Termination of Registration Rights. A Holder's registration rights
shall expire if all Registrable Securities held by and issuable to such Holder
(and its Affiliates, partners, former partners, members and former members) may
be sold under Rule 144 during any ninety (90) day period.

     2.8  Delay of Registration; Furnishing Information.

          (a) No Holder shall have any right to obtain or seek an injunction
restraining or otherwise delaying any such registration as the result of any
controversy that might arise with respect to the interpretation or
implementation of this Section 2.

          (b) It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the
Company to take any action pursuant to Sections 2.2, 2.3 or 2.4 that the selling
Holders shall furnish to the Company such information regarding themselves, the
Registrable Securities held by them and the intended method of disposition of
such securities as shall be required to effect the registration of their
Registrable Securities.

     2.9  Indemnification. In the event any Registrable Securities are included
in a registration statement under Sections 2.2, 2.3 or 2.4:

          (a) To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify and
hold harmless each Holder and its Affiliates, the partners, directors, officers
of each Holder and its Affiliates, any underwriter (as defined in the Securities
Act) for such Holder and each person, if any, who controls such Holder or
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act,
against any losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (joint or several) to which
they may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other
federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any of the following
statements, omissions or violations (collectively a "Violation") by the Company:
(i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in such registration statement, including any preliminary prospectus
or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto,
(ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, or (iii) any violation or alleged violation of the Securities Act,
the Exchange Act, any state securities law or any rule or regulation promulgated
under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any state securities law in
connection with the offering covered by such registration statement; and the
Company will pay as incurred to each such Holder or its Affiliates, partner,
officer, director, underwriter or controlling person any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any

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such loss, claim, damage, liability or action, including amounts paid in
settlement thereof; provided however, that the indemnity agreement contained in
this Section 2.9(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such
loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without
the written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld, nor shall the Company be liable to an indemnified party in any such
case for any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action to the extent that it
arises out of or is based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished expressly for use in connection
with such registration by such indemnified party.

          (b) To the extent permitted by law, each Holder will, if Registrable
Securities held by such Holder are included in the securities as to which such
registration qualification or compliance is being effected, indemnify and hold
harmless the Company and its Affiliates, each of their directors, their officers
and each person, if any, who controls the Company and its Affiliates within the
meaning of the Securities Act, any underwriter and any other Holder selling
securities under such registration statement or any of such other Holder's
partners, directors or officers or any person who controls such Holder, against
any losses, claims, damages or liabilities joint or several) to which the
Company and its Affiliates or any such director, officer, controlling person,
underwriter or other such Holder, or partner, director, officer or controlling
person of such other Holder, may become subject under the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act or other federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon any Violation, in each case to the extent (and only to the extent) that
such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished by such Holder under an instrument duly executed by such
Holder and stated to be specifically for use in connection with such
registration; and each such Holder will pay as incurred any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such director, officer,
controlling person, underwriter or other Holder, or partner, officer, director
or controlling person of such other Holder in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if it is judicially
determined that there was such a Violation; provided, however, that the
indemnity agreement contained in this Section 2.9(b) shall not apply to amounts
paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such
settlement is effected without the written consent of the Holder, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided further, that in no event shall any
indemnity with respect to a specified Holder under this Section 2.9 exceed the
net proceeds from the offering received by such Holder.

          (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section
2.9 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any governmental
action), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be
made against any indemnifying party under this Section 2.9, deliver to the
indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof; provided,
however, that the failure to give prompt notice shall not: (i) limit the
indemnification obligations of the indemnifying party hereunder except to the
extent that the delay in giving, or failure to give, prompt notice prejudices
the ability of the indemnifying party to defend against such action, or (ii)
relieve the indemnifying party of any liability that it may have to any
indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 2.9. The indemnifying party
shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying
party so desires, jointly

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with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume the defense
thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties; provided, however,
that an indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, with
the reasonable fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if
representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the
indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing
interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such
counsel in such proceeding.

          (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 2.9 is held by
a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified party with
respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to herein, the
indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder,
shall to the extent permitted by applicable law contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or
liability in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of
the indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party on the other
in connection with the Violation(s) that resulted in such loss, claim, damage or
liability, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined
by a court of law by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material
fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the
indemnified party and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission;
provided, that in no event shall any contribution by a Holder hereunder exceed
the net proceeds from the offering received by such Holder. The parties hereto
agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this
Section 2.9(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of
allocation which does not take account of the equitable consideration referred
to in this paragraph.

          (e) The obligations of the Company and Holders under this Section 2.9
shall survive completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in a
registration statement and the termination of this agreement and shall be in
lieu of the obligations set forth in Section 3.7 hereof. No indemnifying party,
in the defense of any such claim or litigation, shall, except with the consent
of each indemnified Party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any
settlement 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 in respect to such claim or litigation.

     2.10 Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights to cause the Company to
register Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 2 may be assigned by a
Holder; provided, however, that (i) the transferor shall, within ten (10) days
after such transfer, furnish to the Company written notice of the name and
address of such transferee or assignee and the securities with respect to which
such registration rights are being assigned and (ii) such transferee shall agree
in writing to be subject to all restrictions, terms and conditions set forth in
this Agreement.

     2.11 Amendment of Registration Rights. Any provision of this Section 2 may
be amended and the observance thereof may be waived (either generally or in a
particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only with the
written consent of the Company and the

                                      12
<PAGE>

holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities held by all Holders. Any
provision of this Section 2 and the observance thereof may be waived (either
generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively)
by any party so waiving in writing. Any amendment or waiver effected in
accordance with this Section 2.11 shall be binding upon each Holder and the
Company. By acceptance of any benefits under this Section 2, Holders of
Registrable Securities hereby agree to be bound by the provisions hereunder.

      2.12 Limitation on Subsequent Registration Rights. After the date of this
Agreement, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of a
majority of the Registrable Securities held by all Holders, enter into any
agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company
that would grant such holder registration rights pari passu or senior to those
granted to the Holders hereunder.

      2.13 Rule 144 Reporting. With a view to making available to the Holders
the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC which may permit the
sale of the Registrable Securities to the public without registration, the
Company agrees that it will use its best efforts to:

           (a) make and keep public information available at all time, as those
terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 or any similar or analogous rule
promulgated under the Securities Act;

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

           (c) so long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish to
such Holder forthwith upon request: a written statement by the Company as to its
compliance with the reporting requirements of said Rule 144 of the Securities
Act and of the Exchange Act; a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly
report so filed of the Company; and such other reports and documents as a Holder
may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the SEC
allowing it to sell any such securities without registration.

SECTION 3. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

      3.1  Basic Financial Information and Reporting.

           (a) The Company and its Subsidiaries shall maintain true books and
records of account in which full and correct entries shall be made of all their
business transactions pursuant to a system of accounting established and
administered in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied, and shall set aside on their books all such proper
accruals and reserves as shall be required under generally accepted accounting
principles consistently applied.

           (b) As soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year of the
Company, and in any event within one hundred twenty (120) days thereafter, the
Company shall furnish the

                                      13
<PAGE>

Investor a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as at
the end of such fiscal year, and a consolidated statement of income and a
consolidated statement of cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries, for
such year, all prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles consistently applied and setting forth in each case in comparative
form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail (the
"Audited Financial Statements"). Such financial statements shall be accompanied
by a report and opinion thereon by a "Big 5" firm of independent public
accountants of national standing selected by the Company's Board of Directors
(the "Audit Report") and a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer (or
principal operating officer) of the Company certifying that no information
inconsistent with that set forth in the information in the Audited Financial
Statements and the Audit Report has been filed with any governmental agency or
given to the Company's or its Subsidiaries' lenders.

          (c) The Company shall furnish the Investor, as soon as practicable
after the end of the first, second and third quarterly accounting periods in
each fiscal year of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and in any event within
forty-five (45) days thereafter, a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and
its Subsidiaries as of the end of each such quarterly period, and a consolidated
statement of income and a consolidated statement of cash flows of the Company
and its Subsidiaries for such period and for the current fiscal year to date,
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, with the
exception that no notes need be attached to such statements and year-end audit
adjustments may not have been made.

          (d) The Company shall furnish the Investor, as soon as practicable
after the end of each calendar month in each fiscal year of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, and in any event within thirty (30) days thereafter, a
consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of
each such monthly period, and a consolidated statement of income and a
consolidated statement of cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for
such period and for the current fiscal year to date, prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles, with the exception that no notes need
be attached to such statements and year-end audit adjustments may not have been
made.

          (e) The Company shall furnish to the Investor, within five (5)
business days after an executive officer of the Company or its Subsidiaries, as
the case may be, has knowledge of: (i) the occurrence of a material default
hereunder, or under any material agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries,
including without limitation any loan or financing agreement, (ii) the
commencement of any material legal proceeding against the Company or the
occurrence of any event which is reasonably likely (with or without the passage
of time) to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries,
or (iii) any effect, condition, event, or circumstance that has resulted in a
material and adverse effect on the business, properties, assets, condition
(financial or otherwise), results of operations, prospects or liabilities of the
Company or its Subsidiaries, a statement from the Chief Executive Officer (or
the principal operating officer) of the Company describing such occurrence and
management's anticipated response.

          (f) The Company shall furnish to the Investor such other financial and
other information of the Company and its Subsidiaries as the Investor may
reasonably request.

                                      14
<PAGE>

          (g) The Company shall furnish to the Investor within five (5) days
after the date of filing or delivery, copies of all materials of whatsoever
nature filed or delivered by the Company or its Subsidiaries thereof (i) with
the SEC; (ii) with any national or foreign securities exchange or quotation
bureau; and (iii) to holders of any class of its capital stock or other
securities.

          (h) In the event the Company or its Subsidiaries fail to timely
provide the Investor with the reports required by Sections 3.1(b), (c) or (d)
above, the Investor may, after thirty (30) days after providing written notice
of such failure to the Company and its Subsidiaries, during which period the
Company shall have the opportunity to cure such deficiency, request that the
accounting firm of its choice audit the Company and its Subsidiaries, at the
Company's expense, in order to produce such reports in a manner satisfactory to
the Holders, in their reasonable discretion. The Company and its Subsidiaries
shall cooperate in any such audit.

     3.2  Inspection Rights. The Investor shall have the right to visit and
inspect any of the properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
(including books of account, reports and other papers), to make extracts
therefrom, and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company or
any of their subsidiaries with their officers, employees and accountants (and by
this provision the Company and its Subsidiaries authorizes their accountants to
discuss such finances and affairs with the Investor's representatives), and to
review such information as is reasonably requested all upon reasonable prior
notice at such normal business hour times and as often as may be reasonably
requested, but not in a manner therein that unreasonably disrupts normal
business operations; provided, however, that the Company and its Subsidiaries
shall not be obligated under this Section 3.2 with respect to a competitor of
the Company or its Subsidiaries or with respect to information which the Board
of Directors determines in good faith is confidential and should not, therefore,
be disclosed or which is subject to non-disclosure obligations which, in the
Company's opinion, would be violated by permitting inspection pursuant thereto.

     3.3  Confidentiality of Records. Investor agrees to: (a) use, and to use
its commercially reasonable efforts to insure that its authorized
representatives use, the same degree of care as Investor uses to protect its own
confidential information to keep confidential any information furnished to it
(so long as such information is not in the public domain), (b) comply with the
non-disclosure provisions of any agreement between the Company and any third
party relating to proprietary or confidential information disclosed to the
Investor by the Company (provided that the Company informs the Investor of such
non-disclosure provisions), and (c) use the proprietary or confidential
information only for evaluating its investment, except that Investor may
disclose such proprietary or confidential information to any partner, subsidiary
or parent of the Investor for the purpose of evaluating its investment in the
Company and its Subsidiaries as long as such partner, subsidiary or parent is
advised of the confidentiality provisions of this Section 3.3.

     3.4  Reservation of Common Stock. The Company and its shareholders shall
take any and all action necessary to reserve for issuance the number of shares
of Common Stock into

                                      15
<PAGE>

which all of the shares of Series F Preferred Stock are convertible, and shall
take such further action from time to time thereafter to increase the number of
shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance as required by any increase in the
number of shares of Common Stock into which the Series F Preferred Stock may
then be converted.

     3.5  Indemnification and Advancement.

          (a) To the extent permitted by law, the Company and its Subsidiaries,
jointly and severally, hereby agree to hold harmless and indemnify the Investor,
the Investor's direct and indirect Affiliates, and each of their partners,
officers, directors, employees, shareholders, agents, and representatives
(collectively, referred to as the "Indemnitees") against any and all expenses
(including reasonable attorneys' fees), damages, judgments, fines, amounts paid
in settlements, or any other amounts that an Indemnitee incurs as a result of
any claim or claims made against it in connection with any threatened, pending
or completed action, suit, arbitration, investigation or other proceeding
arising out of, or relating to the Indemnitee's performance of its obligations
or the exercise of its rights in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,
including actions taken in their capacity as directors or shareholders of the
Company; provided, however, that no Indemnitee shall be entitled to be held
harmless or indemnified by the Company for acts, conduct or omissions by any
Indemnitee involving gross negligence, intentional misconduct or knowing and
culpable violation of the law.

          (b) The Company or its Subsidiaries shall reimburse, promptly
following request therefor, all reasonable expenses incurred by an Indemnitee in
connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration,
investigation or other proceeding arising out of, or relating to, the
Indemnitees' actions in connection with any transaction undertaken in connection
with this Agreement, but only to the extent permitted under Section 3.5(a)
above.

          (c) The Company's and its Subsidiaries' indemnity obligations set
forth above are subject to Section 2.9 above and to the Indemnitees providing
prompt written notice of a claim. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall control
the defense of any such action and, at its discretion, may enter into a
stipulation of discontinuance or settlement thereof; provided that the Company
and its Subsidiaries may not discontinue any action or settle any claim in a
manner that does not unconditionally release the Indemnitee or requires an
admission by an Indemnitee or payment by an Indemnitee without such Indemnitee's
prior written approval. The Indemnitees shall, at the Company's and its
Subsidiaries' expense and reasonable request, cooperate with the Company and its
Subsidiaries in any such defense and shall make available to the Company and its
Subsidiaries at the Company's and its Subsidiaries' expense all those persons,
documents (excluding attorney/client or attorney work product materials)
reasonably required by the Company and its Subsidiaries in the defense of any
such action. The Indemnitees may, at their expense, assist in such defense.

     3.6  Real Property Holding Corporation. The Company covenants that it will
operate in a manner such that it will not become a "United States real property
holding corporation" as that term is defined in Section 897(c)(2) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986,

                                      16
<PAGE>

as amended, and the regulations thereunder (a "USRPHC"). The Company agrees to
make determinations as to its status as a USRPHC, and will file statements
concerning those determinations with the Internal Revenue Service, in the manner
and at the times required under Reg. (S) 1.897-2(h), or any supplementary or
successor provision thereto. Within 30 days of a request from the Investor or
any of its partners, the Company will inform the requesting party, in the manner
set forth in Reg. (S) 1.897- 2(h)(1)(iv) or any supplementary or successor
provision thereto, whether that party's interest in the Company constitutes a
United States real property interest (within the meaning of Internal Revenue
Code Section 897(c)(1) and the regulations thereunder) and whether the Company
has provided to the Internal Revenue Service all required notices as to its
USRPHC status.

     3.7  Termination of Covenants. Except for the covenants set forth in
Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.7 and 3.9, all covenants of the Company and its
Subsidiaries contained in Section 3 of this Agreement shall expire and terminate
as to the Investor upon the earlier of (a) the acquisition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company or (b) an acquisition of the
Company by another corporation or entity by consolidation, merger or other
reorganization in which the holders of the Company's outstanding voting stock
immediately prior to such transaction own, immediately after such transaction,
securities representing less than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the
corporation or other entity surviving such transaction (a "Change in Control");
provided, however, that with respect to the Investor or any particular assignee,
all covenants contained in Section 3 shall terminate solely with respect to the
Investor or such assignee immediately upon such time as all Registrable
Securities held by the Investor or such Assignee, as the case may be, are freely
transferable under Rule 144(k).

     3.8  Investor's Special Voting Rights. As long as any of the shares of
Series F Preferred Stock are outstanding, without limiting the rights of the
holders of shares of Common Stock to vote on any matter set forth in this
Section, the holders of Series F Preferred Stock shall vote as a separate voting
group on, and the affirmative vote of the holders of Series F Preferred Stock
who own at least a majority of the Series F Preferred Stock then outstanding
(whether by written consent or by a duly called meeting) shall be required to
authorize, any action by the Company or its Subsidiaries which would:

          (a) in any manner (A) authorize, create, amend or issue any class or
series of capital stock ranking, either as to payment of dividends, distribution
of assets upon liquidation or otherwise, or redemption, prior to or on parity
with the Series F Preferred Stock or (B) authorize, create, amend or issue any
shares of any class or series or any bonds, debentures, notes or other
obligations convertible into or exchangeable for, or having optional rights to
purchase, any shares having any such priority or on parity with the Series F
Preferred Stock;

          (b) in any manner alter or change the designation or the powers,
preferences or rights or the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of the
Series F Preferred Stock;

          (c) reclassify shares of Common Stock, or any other shares of any
class or series of capital stock hereinafter created junior to the Series F
Preferred Stock into shares of any class or series of capital stock ranking,
either as to payment of dividends, distribution of assets

                                       17
<PAGE>

upon liquidation or otherwise, or redemption, prior to or on a parity with the
Series F Preferred Stock;

          (d) increase the authorized number of shares of Series F Preferred
Stock, issue additional shares of Series F Preferred Stock or authorize any
other class or series of capital stock of the Company or its Subsidiaries;

          (e) result in any material change in the nature of the business
engaged in by the Company;

          (f) create, authorize, reserve or involve the issuance of shares of
Common Stock which in the aggregate exceeds 3,323,700 in connection with options
or other rights to purchase shares of Common Stock hereafter issued to officers,
employees, directors or consultants of the Company pursuant to any plan,
agreement or other arrangements, including without limitation, options granted
pursuant to the Company's 1998 Stock Option Plan, the Company's Stock Option
Plan for Directors and the Company's 1997 Equity Compensation Plan adopted by
the Company on May 21, 1997 each as amended or restated from time to time;

          (g) result in the redemption, repurchase or other acquisition by the
Company of capital stock or other securities of the Company or its Subsidiaries,
except for (i) redemption of the Series F Preferred Stock as set forth in the
Designations and (ii) repurchases or other acquisitions of capital stock of the
Company at a purchase price not in excess of the original purchase price of such
capital stock, from employees of the Company upon such employees' termination of
employment from the Company pursuant to the terms and conditions of agreements
which provide the Company the right to repurchase such capital stock upon such
termination of employment;

          (h) result in (i) any liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or similar
transaction of the Company or its Subsidiaries, (ii) a sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries or a merger,
consolidation, sale of capital stock or other transaction in which the holders
of capital stock of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in the aggregate,
immediately prior to such transaction will hold, immediately after such
transaction, less than 50% of the aggregate voting power of outstanding capital
stock of the surviving company, or (iii) any acquisition by the Company or its
Subsidiaries of another corporation or other business entity, or the assets
thereof, in which the aggregate consideration paid, or to be paid, by the
Company equals or exceeds $10,000,000 (including, without limitation, all
assumed debt, all cash payments, and the fair market value of all securities or
other property issued as consideration);

          (i) result in the creation of indebtedness of the Company or its
Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, any loan agreement, promissory note
(or other evidence of indebtedness), mortgage, security agreement or lease, such
that after such transaction the aggregate indebtedness of the Company and its
Subsidiaries to all parties would exceed $3,500,000 (other than indebtedness
relating to that certain lease under the Master Equipment

                                       18
<PAGE>

Lease Agreement dated July 23, 1997 by and between the Company and Triangle
Technology Leasing); or

           (j) that would in any way amend, alter, restate or otherwise change
the Company's Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, or the organizational
documents of the Company's Subsidiaries, as they are currently in effect.

      3.9  Restrictive Agreements. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries will enter into or become obligated under any agreement or contract
(excluding sales agreements executed in the ordinary course of business)
including, without limitation, any loan agreement, promissory note (or other
evidence of indebtedness), mortgage, security agreement or lease, which by its
terms prevents or restricts the Company or its Subsidiaries from performing its
obligations under this Agreement, any related agreements or under the terms of
the Series F Preferred Stock.

SECTION 4. MISCELLANEOUS

      4.1  Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, notwithstanding the
conflicts of laws principals of any jurisdiction.

      4.2  Survival. The representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements
made herein shall survive any investigation made by any Holder and the closing
of the transactions contemplated hereby. All statements as to factual matters
contained in any certificate or other instrument delivered by or on behalf of
the Company or its Subsidiaries or the Investor pursuant hereto in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to be representations
and warranties by the Company or its Subsidiaries or the Investor, as
applicable, hereunder solely as of the date of such certificate or instrument.

      4.3  Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided
herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding
upon, the successors, assigns, heirs, executors, and administrators of the
parties hereto and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each
person who shall be a holder of Registrable Securities from time to time;
provided, however, that prior to the receipt by the Company of adequate written
notice of the transfer of any Registrable Securities specifying the full name
and address of the transferee, the Company may deem and treat the person listed
as the holder of such shares in its records as the absolute owner and holder of
such shares for all purposes, including the payment of dividends or any
redemption price.

      4.4  Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Exhibits and Schedules hereto,
the Conversion Agreement, the Note Amendment, the Designations and the other
documents delivered pursuant thereto constitute the full and entire
understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects
hereof and no party shall be liable or bound to any other in any manner by any
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements except as specifically set
forth herein and therein.

                                       19
<PAGE>

     4.5  Severability. In case any provision of the Agreement shall be invalid,
illegal, or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the
remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

     4.6  Amendment and Waiver.

          (a) Except as otherwise expressly provided, this Agreement may be
amended or modified only upon the written consent of the Company and the
Investor.

          (b) Except as otherwise expressly provided, the obligations of the
Company, its Subsidiaries and the rights of the Holders under this Agreement may
be waived only with the written consent of the Investor.

          (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended with
only the written consent of the Company and its Subsidiaries to include
additional purchasers of Shares as "Investors," "Holders" and parties hereto in
accordance with the provisions hereof, except that a Holder may assign the
rights hereunder without such consent pursuant to the provisions set forth in
Section 2.10 hereof.

     4.7  Delays or Omissions. It is agreed that no delay or omission to
exercise any right, power, or remedy accruing to any Holder, upon any breach,
default or noncompliance of the Company under this Agreement shall impair any
such right, power, or remedy, nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any
such breach, default or noncompliance, or any acquiescence therein, or of any
similar breach, default or noncompliance thereafter occurring. It is further
agreed that any waiver, permit, consent, or approval of any kind or character on
any Holder's part of any breach, default or noncompliance under the Agreement or
any waiver on such Holder's part of any provisions or conditions of this
Agreement must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent
specifically set forth in such writing. All remedies, either under this
Agreement, by law, or otherwise afforded to Holders, shall be cumulative and not
alternative.

     4.8  Notices. All notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon personal delivery to the
party to be notified, (b) when sent by confirmed telex or facsimile if sent
during normal business hours of the recipient; if not, then on the next business
day, (c) five (5) days after having been sent by registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (d) one (1) day after deposit with
a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with
written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to the party
to be notified at the address as set forth on the signature pages hereof or
Exhibit A hereto or at such other address as such party may designate by ten
(10) days advance written notice to the other parties hereto.

     4.9  Titles and Subtitles. The titles of the sections and subsections of
this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be
considered in construing this Agreement.

                                       20
<PAGE>

     4.10  Counterparts. This Agreement and any amendment or supplement hereto
may be executed by the parties in separate counterparts, whether originally or
by facsimile, each of which when so executed and delivered, shall be an
original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same
agreement.

                        [SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE]

                                       21
<PAGE>

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Investor
Rights Agreement as of the date set forth in the first paragraph hereof.

COMPANY:                                     SAFEGUARD:

TANGRAM ENTERPRISE
SOLUTIONS, INC.                              SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS, INC.

By: /s/ John N. Nelli                        By: /s/ N. Jeffrey Klauder
   ---------------------------------            --------------------------------
Title: Senior Vice President                 Title: Executive Vice President
       and Chief Financial Officer                  and General Counsel

Address: 11000 Regency Parkway               Address: 800 The Safeguard Bldg.
         Suite 401                                    435 Devon Park Drive
         Cary, North Carolina 27511-8504              Wayne, PA 19087-1945

                                       22<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.3

                       TANGRAM ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS, INC.

                        SECURITIES CONVERSION AGREEMENT
                        -------------------------------

THIS SECURITIES CONVERSION AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is entered into as of
February 20, 2001 by and between Tangram Enterprise Solutions, Inc., a
Pennsylvania corporation (the "Company") and Safeguard Scientifics, Inc., a
Pennsylvania corporation ("Safeguard").

                                   RECITALS

     WHEREAS, Safeguard agreed on September 11, 1997 to lend to the Company on a
revolving basis up to $6,000,000 (the "Debt Financing").  The Debt Financing was
evidenced by a Second Amended Revolving Note with a principal amount of
$6,000,000 dated September 11, 1997, which is attached hereto as Exhibit A (the
                                                                 ----------
"Existing Note"). As of the date hereof and prior to the Conversion (as defined
below), the outstanding principal and interest under the Note is $3,581,867.38.

     WHEREAS, the Company and Safeguard desire to exchange $3,000,000 of the
aggregate amount of principal outstanding under the Existing Note for shares of
Series F Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company ("Series F Preferred Stock")
on the terms set forth herein (the "Conversion").

     WHEREAS, in connection with the Conversion, the Company desires to amend
the Existing Note to reduce the amount which may be borrowed thereunder to
$3,000,000, of which $500,000 of principal and $81,867.38 of accrued but unpaid
interest will be outstanding immediately after the Conversion.

     WHEREAS, the Company and Safeguard desire to enter into an Investors'
Rights Agreement (the "Investor Rights Agreement").

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the mutual
promises hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                       1
<PAGE>

                         1.  CONVERSION / NEW NOTE

     2.   Conversion. Safeguard hereby converts $3,000,000 of the aggregate
          ----------
amount of principal outstanding under the Exising Note as of the date hereof
into 3,000 shares of Series F Preferred Stock (the "Shares"), the receipt of
certificates representing the Shares which is hereby acknowledged by Safeguard.
The stated value of each share of Series F Preferred Stock shall be equal to
$1,000 per share. The shares of Series F Preferred Stock shall have the rights,
preferences, privileges and restrictions set forth in the Statement of
Designations, Preferences and Rights of the Company's Series F Convertible
Preferred Stock, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the "Designations").
                                                ---------

     3.   Amendment of Exising Note. Contemporaneously with the execution
          -------------------------
hereof, Safeguard and the Company shall enter into the First Amendment to the
Second Amended Revolving Note, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the
                                                              ---------
"Note Amendment").

     4.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.

            Except as set forth on the disclosure schedules hereby delivered by
the Company to Safeguard (the "Schedules"), the Company represents and warrants
to Safeguard as of the date hereof as follows:

     5.   Organization, Good Standing and Qualification. The Company is a
          ---------------------------------------------
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Company has all requisite corporate
power and authority to own and operate its properties and assets, to execute and
deliver this Agreement, the Investor Rights Agreement, the Note Amendment and
any other agreements to be delivered by the Company that are contemplated herein
or delivered pursuant hereto (collectively, the "Related Agreements"), and, to
the extent applicable, to issue the Shares and to carry out the provisions of
this Agreement, the Related Agreements and the Designations and to carry on its
business as currently conducted and as currently proposed to be conducted. The
Company is duly qualified, is authorized to do business and is in good standing
as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its
activities and of its properties (both owned and leased) makes such
qualification necessary, except for those jurisdictions in which failure to do
so would not have a material adverse effect on the Company or the Company's
business.

     6.   Capitalization; Voting Rights. The authorized capital stock of the
          -----------------------------
Company consists of 50,000,000 shares, such shares being designated as follows:
(i) 48,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common
Stock") of which (a) 16,405,548 are issued and outstanding and (b) (1) 3,323,700
shares are reserved for future issuance to employees pursuant to the Company's
1997 Equity Compensation Plan adopted by the Company on May 21, 1997, the
Company's 1988 Stock Option Plan and the Company's Stock Option Plan for
Directors (the "Stock Option Plans") and (2) 3,000,000 shares are reserved for
issuance pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated February 13, 2001 by
and among the Company, Axial Technology Holding AG and Wyzdom Solutions, Inc.
(the "Asset Purchase Agreement"); (ii) 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par
value $.01 per share, consisting of 500,000 shares of Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock, par value $.10 per share, of which no shares are issued and
outstanding, 200,000 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par value
$.01 per share, of which no shares are issued and outstanding, 250,000 shares of
Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of which no
shares are issued and outstanding, 9,500 shares of Series D Convertible
Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of which no shares are issued and

                                       2
<PAGE>

outstanding, 1,800 shares of Series E Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $.01
per share, of which no shares are issued and outstanding, and 3,000 shares of
Series F Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Series F
Preferred Stock"), of which 3,000 shares will be upon consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby issued and outstanding. The Shares have been
duly authorized, and upon consummation of the Conversion, will be fully paid and
non-assessable and issued in compliance with all applicable state and federal
laws concerning the issuance of securities. All issued and outstanding shares of
the Common Stock and the Shares (i) have been duly authorized and validly
issued, (ii) are fully paid and nonassessable and (iii) were issued in
compliance with all applicable state and federal laws concerning the issuance of
securities. The rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the Shares
are as stated in the Designations, which was accepted for filing by the
Pennsylvania Department of State prior to the date hereof. The shares of Common
Stock issuable upon conversion of the Shares pursuant to the terms of the
Designations (the "Conversion Shares") have been duly and validly reserved for
issuance. Other than the 3,323,700 shares reserved for issuance under the Stock
Option Plans and 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the
Asset Purchase Agreement, there are no outstanding options, warrants, rights
(including conversion or preemptive rights and rights of first refusal), proxy
or shareholder agreements, or agreements of any kind for the purchase or
acquisition from the Company of any of its securities. The Shares are free of
any liens or encumbrances; provided, however, that the Shares may be subject to
restrictions on transfer under state and/or federal securities laws. When issued
in compliance with the provisions of the Designations, the Conversion Shares
will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and will be free of any
liens or encumbrances other than liens and encumbrances; provided, however, that
the Conversion Shares may be subject to restrictions on transfer under state
and/or federal securities laws.

     7.   Authorization; Binding Obligations. All action (corporate or
          ----------------------------------
otherwise) on the part of the Company, and its officers, directors and
shareholders, necessary for the authorization of this Agreement and the Related
Agreements, the performance of all obligations of the Company hereunder and
thereunder and the authorization, issuance and delivery of the Shares pursuant
hereto and the Conversion Shares pursuant to the Designations have been taken.
Upon their execution and delivery, this Agreement and the Related Agreements
will be valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance
with their terms, except (a) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other laws of general application affecting
enforcement of creditors' rights; (b) general principles of equity that restrict
the availability of equitable remedies; and (c) to the extent that the
enforceability of the indemnification provisions in Sections 2.9 or 3.5 of the
Investor Rights Agreement may be limited by applicable laws. The issuance of the
Shares and the subsequent conversion of the Shares into Conversion Shares are
not and will not be subject to any preemptive rights or rights of first refusal
that have not been properly waived or complied with. Neither the execution and
delivery of this Agreement or the Related Agreements, nor the performance of any
of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby will, directly or indirectly,
with or without notice or lapse of time, contravene, conflict with or result in
a material violation or breach of, or give any person or entity the right to
declare a default or exercise any remedy under, or to accelerate the maturity or
performance of, or to cancel, terminate or modify any applicable contract
legally binding on the Company.

                                       3
<PAGE>

     8.   SEC Documents. The Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms,
          -------------
statements and other documents required to be filed by it with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") pursuant to the reporting
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules
or regulations promulgated thereunder (the "Exchange Act"), on a timely basis
(all of the foregoing, together with all reports, schedules, forms, statements
and other documents filed by Company's subsidiaries with the SEC, and all
exhibits included therein and financial statements and schedules thereto and
documents (other than exhibits) incorporated by reference therein, being
hereinafter referred to herein as the "SEC Documents"). As of their respective
dates, the SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements
of the Exchange Act applicable to the SEC Documents, and none of the SEC
Documents, at the time they were filed with the SEC, contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of the date
hereof, the information contained in the SEC Documents, when viewed in the
context of the total mix of information publicly available concerning the
Company, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.

     9.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SAFEGUARD.
     Safeguard hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows (such
representations and warranties do not lessen or obviate the representations and
warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement):

                                       4
<PAGE>

     10.  Requisite Power and Authority. Safeguard has all necessary power and
          -----------------------------
authority under all applicable provisions of law to execute and deliver this
Agreement and the Related Agreements and to carry out their provisions. Upon
their execution and delivery, this Agreement and the Related Agreements will be
valid and binding obligations of Safeguard, enforceable in accordance with their
terms, except (a) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other laws of general application affecting
enforcement of creditors' rights, (b) general principles of equity that restrict
the availability of equitable remedies, and (c) to the extent that the
enforceability of the indemnification provisions of Sections 2.9 or 3.5 of the
Investor Rights Agreement may be limited by applicable laws.

     11.  Investment Representations. Safeguard understands that neither the
          --------------------------
Shares nor the Conversion Shares have been registered under the Securities Act.
Safeguard also understands that the Shares (and the Conversion Shares) are being
offered and sold pursuant to an exemption from registration contained in the
Securities Act based in part upon Safeguard's representations contained in this
Agreement. Safeguard hereby represents and warrants as follows:

     12.  Safeguard Bears Economic Risk. Safeguard has substantial experience in
          -----------------------------
evaluating and investing in private placement transactions of securities in
companies similar to the Company so that it is capable of evaluating the merits
and risks of its investment in the Company and has the capacity to protect its
own interests. Safeguard must bear the economic risk of this investment
indefinitely unless the Shares (or the Conversion Shares) are registered
pursuant to the Securities Act, or an exemption from registration is available.
Safeguard also represents it has not been organized for the purpose of acquiring
the Shares (or the Conversion Shares).

     13.  Acquisition for Own Account. Safeguard is acquiring the Shares and the
          ---------------------------
Conversion Shares for Safeguard's own account, not as nominee or agent, for
investment only, and not with a view towards their resale or distribution or any
part thereof, and Safeguard has no present intention of selling, granting any
participation in or otherwise distributing the same. By executing this
Agreement, Safeguard further represents that Safeguard does not have any
contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any person to sell,
transfer or grant participations to such person or to any third person, with
respect to any of the Shares or the Conversion Shares.

     14.  Safeguard Can Protect Its Interest. Safeguard represents that by
          ----------------------------------
reason of its, or of its management's, business or financial experience,
Safeguard has the capacity to protect its own interests in connection with the
transactions contemplated in this Agreement, and the Related Agreements.
Further, Safeguard is aware of no publication of any advertisement in connection
with the transactions contemplated in the Agreement.

     15.  Accredited Safeguard. Safeguard represents that it is an "accredited
          --------------------
investor" within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

     16.  Company Information. Safeguard has received and read all information
          -------------------
of the Company requested by Safeguard and has had an opportunity to discuss the
Company's business, management and financial affairs with directors, officers
and management of the Company and has had the opportunity to review the
Company's operations and facilities. Safeguard has also had the opportunity to
ask questions of and receive answers from, the Company and its management
regarding the terms and conditions of this investment.

     17.  MISCELLANEOUS.

     18.  Further Assurances. After the date hereof, consistent with the terms
          ------------------
and conditions hereof, each party hereto will execute and deliver such other
documents and take such other

                                       5
<PAGE>

actions as reasonably requested by the other party to in order to carry out this
Agreement, the Related Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby.

     19.  Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the
          -------------
laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania without regard to the conflicts of laws
principals of any jurisdiction.

     20.  Survival. The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
          --------
made herein shall survive the execution of this Agreement. All statements as to
factual matters contained in any certificate or other instrument delivered by or
on behalf of the Company pursuant hereto in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be deemed to be representations and warranties by the
Company hereunder solely as of the date of such certificate or instrument.

     21.  Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein,
          ----------------------
the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the
successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators of the parties hereto
and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each person who shall be
a holder of the Shares and the Conversion Shares from time to time.

     22.  Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Exhibits and Schedules hereto,
          ----------------
the Related Agreements, the Designations and the other documents delivered
pursuant hereto constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement
between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and no party shall be
liable or bound to any other in any manner by any representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements except as specifically set forth herein and therein.

     23.  Severability. In case any provision of the Agreement shall be invalid,
          ------------
illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

     24.  Amendment and Waiver.
          --------------------

     25.  This Agreement may be amended or modified only upon the written
consent of the Company and the holders of at least a majority of the Shares
(treated as if converted and including any Conversion Shares into which the
Shares have been converted).

     26.  The obligations of the Company and the rights of the holders of the
Shares and the Conversion Shares under the Agreement may be waived only with the
written consent of the holders of at least a majority of the Shares (treated as
if converted and including any Conversion Shares into which the Shares have been
converted).

     27.  Delays or Omissions. No delay or omission to exercise any right, power
          -------------------
or remedy accruing to any party, upon any breach, default or noncompliance by
another party under this Agreement, the Related Agreements or the Designations,
shall impair any such right, power or remedy, nor shall it be construed to be a
waiver of any such breach, default or noncompliance, or any acquiescence
therein, or of or in any similar breach, default or noncompliance thereafter
occurring. Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on
Safeguard's part of any breach, default or noncompliance under this Agreement,
the Related Agreements or under the Designations or any waiver on such party's
part of any provisions or conditions of the Agreement, the Related Agreements,
or the Designations must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent
specifically set forth in such writing. All remedies, either under this
Agreement, the Related Agreements, the Designations, by law, or otherwise
afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

     28.  Notices. All notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in
          -------
writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon personal delivery to the
party to be notified; (b) when sent by

                                       6
<PAGE>

confirmed telex or facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the
recipient, and if not, then on the next business day; (c) five (5) days after
having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested,
postage prepaid; or (d) one (1) day after deposit with a nationally recognized
overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of
receipt. All communications shall be sent to the Company at the address as set
forth on the signature page hereof and to Safeguard at the address set forth on
the signature page hereof attached hereto or at such other address as the
Company or Safeguard may designate by ten (10) days advance written notice to
the other parties hereto.

     29.  Expenses. Each party shall pay all costs and expenses that it incurs
          --------
with respect to the negotiation, execution, delivery and performance of the
Agreement; provided, however, that the Company shall reimburse Safeguard
Scientifics, Inc. or its designees for its reasonable legal fees and expenses,
not to exceed $10,000, incurred in connection with the negotiation, execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby.

     30.  Titles and Subtitles. The titles of the sections and subsections of
          --------------------
the Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered
in construing this Agreement.

     31.  Counterparts. This Agreement and any amendment or supplement hereto
          ------------
may be executed by the parties in separate counterparts, whether originally or
by facsimile, each of which when so executed and delivered, shall be an
original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same
agreement.

     32.  Broker's Fees. Each party hereto represents and warrants that no
          -------------
agent, broker, investment banker, person or firm acting on behalf of or under
the authority of such party hereto is or will be entitled to any broker's or
finder's fee or any other fee or commission directly or indirectly in connection
with the transactions contemplated herein. Each party hereto further agrees to
indemnify each other party for any claims, losses or expenses incurred by such
other party as a result of the representation in this Section 4.13 being untrue.

    33.  Pronouns. All pronouns contained herein, and any variations thereof,
         --------
shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine or neutral, singular or
plural, as to the identity of the parties hereto may require.

                           [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

                                       7
<PAGE>

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Securities
Conversion Agreement as of the date set forth in the first paragraph hereof.

COMPANY:                                      SAFEGUARD:

TANGRAM ENTERPRISE
SOLUTIONS, INC.                               SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS, INC.

By: /s/ John N. Nelli                         By: /s/ N. Jeffrey Klauder
   --------------------------------              -----------------------------

Title: Senior Vice President and              Title: Executive Vice President
       Chief Financial Officer                       and General Counsel

Address: 11000 Regency Parkway                Address: 800 Safeguard Bldg.
         Suite 401                                     435 Devon Park Drive
         Cary, North Carolina 27511-8504               Wayne, PA  19087-1945

                                       8

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