Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.29

                            APEX ONLINE LEARNING INC.

                   AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT

      This Agreement dated as of December 16, 1999, is entered into by and among
Apex Online Learning Inc., a Washington corporation (the "Company"), the
entities listed on Exhibit A attached hereto (the "Purchasers") and the existing
Shareholders of the Company listed on Exhibit B attached hereto (the "Existing
Shareholders") (the Purchaser and the Existing Shareholders are referred to
collectively herein as the "Shareholders").

                                    Recitals

      WHEREAS, the Company and the Shareholders desire to provide for certain
arrangements with respect to (i) the registration of shares of capital stock of
the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, (ii) the Shareholders' right of
first refusal with respect to certain issuances of securities of the Company,
(iii) certain negative covenants of the Company; and (iv) the continuing
representation of the Shareholders on the Board of Directors of the Company.

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants
contained in this Agreement, the parties hereto agree as follows:

      1. Certain Definitions.

      As used in Section 2 of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following respective meanings:

            1.1 "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or
any other federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act.

            1.2 "Common Stock" means the common stock, $0.001 par value per
share, of the Company.

            1.3 "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission issued under such Act, as they each may, from time to time, be in
effect.

            1.4 "Initiating Holders" means the Shareholders initiating a request
for registration pursuant to Section 2.1(a), 2.1(b), 2.1(c), or 2.1(d) as the
case may be.

            1.5 "Initial Public Offering" means the initial underwritten public
offering of shares of Common Stock pursuant to an effective Registration
Statement.

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            1.6 "Prospectus" means the prospectus included in any Registration
Statement, as amended or supplemented by an amendment or prospectus supplement,
including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference
or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

            1.7 "Registration Statement" means a registration statement filed by
the Company with the Commission for a public offering and sale of securities of
the Company (other than a registration statement on Form S-8 or Form S-4, or
their successors, or any other form for a similar limited purpose, or any
registration statement covering only securities proposed to be issued in
exchange for securities or assets of another corporation).

            1.8 "Registration Expenses" means the expenses described in Section
2.4.

            1.9 "Registrable Shares" means (i) the shares of Common Stock issued
or issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Shares, (ii) any shares of Common
Stock, and any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the conversion or
exercise of any other securities, acquired by the Purchasers pursuant to Section
3 of this Agreement and (iii) any other shares of Common Stock issued in respect
of such shares (because of stock splits, stock dividends, reclassifications,
recapitalizations, or similar events); provided, however, that shares of Common
Stock which are Registrable Shares shall cease to be Registrable Shares upon (i)
any sale pursuant to a Registration Statement or Rule 144 under the Securities
Act or (ii) any sale in any manner to a person or entity which, by virtue of
Section 5 of this Agreement, is not entitled to the rights provided by this
Agreement. Wherever reference is made in this Agreement to a request or consent
of holders of a certain percentage of Registrable Shares, the determination of
such percentage shall include shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of
the Shares even if such conversion has not been effected.

            1.10 "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission issued under such Act, as they each may, from time to time, be in
effect.

            1.11 "Selling Shareholder" means any Shareholder owning Registrable
Shares included in a Registration Statement.

            1.12 "Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6 below.

      2. Registration Rights.

            2.1 Required Registrations.

                  (a) At any time after the earlier of (x) July 2, 2002, or six
months after the closing of the Initial Public Offering, a Shareholder or
Shareholders holding in the aggregate at least 35% of the Registrable Shares
then outstanding may request, in writing, that the Company effect the
registration on Form S-1 or Form S-2 (or any successor form) of Registrable
Shares

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owned by such Shareholder or Shareholders having an aggregate value of at least
$5,000,000 (based on the then current market price or fair value).

                  (b) At any time after the earlier of (x) July 2, 2002, or six
months after the closing of the Initial Public Offering, a Shareholder or
Shareholders holding in the aggregate at least 50% of the Series B Preferred
Shares then outstanding may request, in writing, that the Company effect the
registration on Form S-1 or Form S-2 (or any successor form) of Registrable
Shares owned by such Shareholder or Shareholders having an aggregate value of at
least $5,000,000 (based on the then current market price or fair value).

                  (c) At any time after the earlier of (x) July 2, 2002, or six
months after the closing of the Initial Public Offering, a Shareholder or
Shareholders holding in the aggregate at least 50% of the Series C Preferred
Shares then outstanding may request, in writing, that the Company effect the
registration on Form S-1 or Form S-2 (or any successor form) of Registrable
Shares owned by such Shareholder or Shareholders having an aggregate value of at
least $5,000,000 (based on the then current market price or fair value).

                  (d) At any time after the Company becomes eligible to file a
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or any successor form relating to secondary
offerings), a Shareholder or Shareholders holding in the aggregate at least
1,000,000 of the Registrable Shares then outstanding (as adjusted for stock
splits, stock dividends and similar recapitalizations) may request, in writing,
that the Company effect the registration on Form S-3 (or such successor form),
of Registrable Shares having an aggregate value of at least $1,000,000 (based on
the then current public market price); provided, that if a Shareholder requests
registration at least one year after the Initial Public Offering and the Company
is not then eligible to use Form S-3 (or such successor form), the Company shall
effect such registration on Form S-1 or Form S-2 (or any successor form).

                  (e) Upon receipt of any request for registration pursuant to
this Section 2, the Company shall promptly give written notice of such proposed
registration to all other Shareholders. Such Shareholders shall have the right,
by giving written notice to the Company within 30 days after the Company
provides its notice, to elect to have included in such registration such of
their Registrable Shares as such Shareholders may request in such notice of
election, subject in the case of an underwritten offering to the approval of the
managing under-writer as provided in Section 2.1(f) below. Thereupon, the
Company shall, as expeditiously as possible, use its best efforts to effect the
registration on an appropriate registration form of all Registrable Shares which
the Company has been requested to so register.

                  (f) If the Initiating Holders intend to distribute the
Registrable Shares covered by their request by means of an underwriting, they
shall so advise the Company as a part of their request made pursuant to Section
2.1(a), (b), (c) or (d), as the case may be, and the Company shall include such
information in its written notice referred to in Section 2.1(e). The right of
any other Shareholder to include its Registrable Shares in such registration
pursuant to Section 2.1(a), (b), (c) or (d), as the case may be, shall be
conditioned upon such other Shareholder's participation in such underwriting on
the terms set forth herein. If the managing underwriter determines that the
marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares to

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be underwritten, the number of Registrable Shares to be included in a
Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.1, shall be reduced pro
rata among the requesting Shareholders based on the quotient of (1) the total
Registrable Shares to be included in the Registration Statement, divided by (2)
the total number of Registrable Shares that requested registration.

                  (g) The Initiating Holders shall have the right to select the
managing underwriter(s) for any underwritten offering requested pursuant to
Section 2.1(a), (b), (c) or (d), subject to the approval of the Company, which
approval will not be unreasonably withheld.

                  (h) The Company shall not be required to effect more than two
registrations pursuant to Section 2.1(a), one registration pursuant to Section
2.1(b) or 2.1(c)or more than three registrations pursuant to Section 2.1(d),
provided that, if a registration is effected pursuant to Section 2.1(a),
Sections 2.1(b) and 2.1(c) shall terminate immediately. In addition, the Company
shall not be required to effect any registration (other than on Form S-3 or any
successor form relating to secondary offerings) within six months after the
effective date of any other Registration Statement of the Company. For purposes
of this Section 2.1(h), a Registration Statement shall not be counted until such
time as such Registration Statement has been declared effective by the
Commission (unless the Initiating Holders withdraw their request for such
registration (other than as a result of information concerning the business or
financial condition of the Company which is made known to the Shareholders after
the date on which such registration was requested) and elect not to pay the
Registration Expenses therefor pursuant to Section 2.4).

                  (i) If at the time of any request to register Registrable
Shares by Initiating Holders pursuant to this Section 2.1, the Company is
engaged or has plans to engage in a registered public offering or is engaged in
any other activity which, in the good faith determination of the Company's Board
of Directors, would be adversely affected by the requested registration, then
the Company may at its option direct that such request be delayed for a period
not in excess of 90 days from the date of such request, such right to delay a
request to be exercised by the Company not more than once in any 12-month
period.

            2.2 Incidental Registration.

                  (a) Whenever the Company proposes to file a Registration
Statement (other than a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2.1) at
any time and from time to time, it will, prior to such filing, give written
notice to all Shareholders of its intention to do so; provided, that no such
notice need be given if no Registrable Shares are to be included therein as a
result of a determination of the managing underwriter pursuant to Section
2.2(b). Upon the written request of a Shareholder or Shareholders given within
20 days after the Company provides such notice (which request shall state the
intended method of disposition of such Registrable Shares), the Company shall
use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Shares which the Company has been
requested by such Shareholder or Shareholders to register to be registered under
the Securities Act to the extent necessary to permit their sale or other
disposition in accordance with the intended methods of distribution specified in
the request of such Shareholder or Shareholders; provided that the Company shall
have the right to postpone or

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withdraw any registration effected pursuant to this Section 2.2 without
obligation to any Shareholder.

                  (b) If the registration for which the Company gives notice
pursuant to Section 2.2(a) is a registered public offering involving an
underwriting, the Company shall so advise the Shareholders as a part of the
written notice given pursuant to Section 2.2(a). In such event, the right of any
Shareholder to include its Registrable Shares in such registration pursuant to
Section 2.2 shall be conditioned upon such Shareholder's participation in such
underwriting on the terms set forth herein. All Shareholders proposing to
distribute their securities through such underwriting shall enter into an
underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters
selected for the underwriting by the Company, provided that such underwriting
agreement shall not provide for indemnification or contribution obligations on
the part of Shareholders materially greater than the obligations of the
Shareholders pursuant to Section 2.5. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Section 2.2, if the managing underwriter determines that the inclusion of
all shares requested to be registered would adversely affect the offering, the
Company may limit the number of Registrable Shares to be included in the
registration and underwriting. The Company shall so advise all holders of
Registrable Shares requesting registration, and the number of shares that are
entitled to be included in the registration and underwriting shall be allocated
in the following manner. The securities of the Company held by holders other
than Shareholders shall be excluded from such registration and underwriting to
the extent deemed advisable by the managing underwriter, and, if a further
limitation on the number of shares is required, the number of shares that may be
included in such registration and underwriting shall be allocated among all
Shareholders requesting registration in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to
the respective number of shares of Common Stock (on an as-converted basis) which
they held at the time the Company gives the notice specified in Section 2.2(a),
provided that the number of Registrable Shares permitted to be included therein
shall in any event be at least 50% of the securities included therein (based on
aggregate market values). If any Shareholder would thus be entitled to include
more securities than such holder requested to be registered, the excess shall be
allocated among other requesting Shareholders pro rata in the manner described
in the preceding sentence. If any holder of Registrable Shares or any officer or
director disapproves of the terms of any such underwriting, such person may
elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company, and any
Registrable Shares or other securities excluded or withdrawn from such
underwriting shall be withdrawn from such registration.

            2.3 Registration Procedures.

                  (a) If and whenever the Company is required by the provisions
of this Agreement to use its best efforts to effect the registration of any
Registrable Shares under the Securities Act, the Company shall:

                        (i) file with the Commission a Registration Statement
with respect to such Registrable Shares and use its best efforts to cause that
Registration Statement to become effective as soon as possible;

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                        (ii) as expeditiously as possible prepare and file with
the Commission any amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement and
the prospectus included in the Registration Statement as may be necessary to
comply with the provisions of the Securities Act (including the anti-fraud
provisions thereof) and to keep the Registration Statement effective for 12
months from the effective date or such lesser period until all such Registrable
Shares are sold;

                        (iii) as expeditiously as possible furnish to each
Selling Shareholder such reasonable numbers of copies of the Prospectus,
including any preliminary Prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the
Securities Act, and such other documents as such Selling Shareholder may
reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition
of the Registrable Shares owned by such Selling Stockholder;

                        (iv) as expeditiously as possible use its best efforts
to register or qualify the Registrable Shares covered by the Registration
Statement under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such states as the Selling
Shareholders shall reasonably request, and do any and all other acts and things
that may be necessary or desirable to enable the Selling Shareholders to
consummate the public sale or other disposition in such states of the
Registrable Shares owned by the Selling Shareholder; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required in connection with this paragraph (iv) to qualify
as a foreign corporation or execute a general consent to service of process in
any jurisdiction;

                        (v) as expeditiously as possible, cause all such
Registrable Shares to be listed on each securities exchange or automated
quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then
listed;

                        (vi) promptly provide a transfer agent and registrar for
all such Registrable Shares not later than the effective date of such
registration statement;

                        (vii) promptly make available for inspection by the
Selling Shareholders, any managing underwriter participating in any disposition
pursuant to such Registration Statement, and any attorney or accountant or other
agent retained by any such underwriter or selected by the Selling Shareholders,
all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of
the Company and cause the Company's officers, directors, employees and
independent accountants to supply all information reasonably requested by any
such seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such
Registration Statement;

                        (viii) as expeditiously as possible, notify each Selling
Shareholder, promptly after it shall receive notice thereof, of the time when
such Registration Statement has become effective or a supplement to any
Prospectus forming a part of such Registration Statement has been filed; and

                        (ix) as expeditiously as possible following the
effectiveness of such Registration Statement, notify each seller of such
Registrable Shares of any request by the Commission for the amending or
supplementing of such Registration Statement or Prospectus.

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                  (b) If the Company has delivered a Prospectus to the Selling
Shareholders and after having done so the Prospectus is amended to comply with
the requirements of the Securities Act, the Company shall promptly notify the
Selling Shareholders and, if requested, the Selling Shareholders shall
immediately cease making offers of Registrable Shares and return all
Prospectuses to the Company. The Company shall promptly provide the Selling
Shareholders with revised Prospectuses and, following receipt of the revised
Prospectuses, the Selling Shareholders shall be free to resume making offers of
the Registrable Shares.

                  (c) In the event that, in the judgment of the Company, it is
advisable to suspend use of a Prospectus included in a Registration Statement
due to pending material developments or other events that have not yet been
publicly disclosed and as to which the Company believes public disclosure would
be detrimental to the Company, the Company shall notify all Selling Shareholders
to such effect, and, upon receipt of such notice, each such Selling Shareholder
shall immediately discontinue any sales of Registrable Shares pursuant to such
Registration Statement until such Selling Shareholder has received copies of a
supplemented or amended Prospectus or until such Selling Shareholder is advised
in writing by the Company that the then current Prospectus may be used and has
received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated
or deemed incorporated by reference in such Prospectus. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary herein, the Company shall not exercise its rights under this
Section 2.3(c) to suspend sales of Registrable Shares for a period in excess of
60 days in any 365-day period.

            2.4 Allocation of Expenses. The Company will pay all Registration
Expenses for all registrations under this Agreement; provided, however, that if
a registration under Section 2.1 is withdrawn at the request of Initiating
Holders holding at least a majority of the Registrable Shares as to which
registration was requested (other than as a result of information concerning the
business or financial condition of the Company which is made known to the
Shareholders after the date on which such registration was requested) and if
such Initiating Holders elect not to have such registration counted as a
registration requested under Section 2.1, the requesting Shareholders shall pay
the Registration Expenses of such registration pro rata in accordance with the
number of their Registrable Shares included in such registration. For purposes
of this Section, the term "Registration Expenses" shall mean all expenses
incurred by the Company in complying with this Agreement, including, without
limitation, all registration and filing fees, exchange listing fees, printing
expenses, fees and expenses of counsel for the Company and the fees and expenses
of one counsel selected by the Selling Shareholders to represent the Selling
Shareholders, state Blue Sky fees and expenses, and the expense of any special
audits incident to or required by any such registration, but excluding
underwriting discounts, selling commissions and the fees and expenses of Selling
Shareholders' own counsel (other than the counsel selected to represent all
Selling Shareholders).

            2.5 Indemnification and Contribution.

                  (a) In the event of any registration of any of the Registrable
Shares under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will
indemnify and hold harmless the seller of such Registrable Shares, each
underwriter of such Registrable Shares, and each other

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person, if any, who controls such seller 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 such seller, underwriter or controlling
person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, state
securities or Blue Sky laws or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions 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 Registrable Shares were
registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus or final
prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment or
supplement to such Registration Statement, or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and the
Company will reimburse such seller, underwriter and each such controlling person
for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred by such seller,
underwriter or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending
any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the
Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss,
claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement
or omission made in such Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or
prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished to the Company, in writing, by or on
behalf of such seller, underwriter or controlling person specifically for use in
the preparation thereof.

                  (b) In the event of any registration of any of the Registrable
Shares under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement, each seller of
Registrable Shares, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless
the Company, each of its directors and officers and each underwriter (if any)
and each person, if any, who controls the Company or any such underwriter within
the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which the Company, such
directors and officers, underwriter or controlling person may become subject
under the Securities Act, Exchange Act, state securities or Blue Sky laws or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement
under which such Registrable Shares were registered under the Securities Act,
any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained in the Registration
Statement, or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, or
arise out of or are based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, if the statement or omission was made in reliance upon
and in conformity with information relating to such seller furnished in writing
to the Company by or on behalf of such seller specifically for use in connection
with the preparation of such Registration Statement, prospectus, amendment or
supplement; provided, however, that the obligations of a Shareholder hereunder
shall be limited to an amount equal to the net proceeds to such Shareholder of
Registrable Shares sold in connection with such registration.

                  (c) Each party entitled to indemnification under this Section
(the "Indemnified Party") shall give notice to the party required to provide
indemnification (the "Indemnifying Party") promptly after such Indemnified Party
has actual knowledge of any claim as to which indemnity may be sought, and shall
permit the Indemnifying Party to assume the

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defense of any such claim or any litigation resulting therefrom; provided, that
counsel for the Indemnifying Party, who shall conduct the defense of such claim
or litigation, shall be approved by the Indemnified Party (whose approval shall
not be unreasonably withheld); and, provided, further, that the failure of any
Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the
Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Section except to the extent
that the Indemnifying Party is adversely affected by such failure. The
Indemnified Party may participate in such defense at such party's expense;
provided, however, that the Indemnifying Party shall pay such expense 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 the Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such
counsel in such proceeding; provided further that in no event shall the
Indemnifying Party be required to pay the expenses of more than one law firm per
jurisdiction as counsel for the Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party also
shall be responsible for the expenses of such defense if the Indemnifying Party
does not elect to assume such defense. 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
of such claim or litigation, and no Indemnified Party shall consent to entry of
any judgment or settle such claim or litigation without the prior written
consent of the Indemnifying Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.

                  (d) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in
circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in this Section 2.5 is
due in accordance with its terms but for any reason is held to be unavailable to
an Indemnified Party in respect to any losses, claims, damages and liabilities
referred to herein, then the Indemnifying Party shall, in lieu of indemnifying
such Indemnified Party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
Indemnified Party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities to
which such party may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Shareholders on the
other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the Shareholders shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of material fact related to information supplied by the Company
or the Shareholders and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company and the Shareholders agree that it would not be just and equitable
if contribution pursuant to this Section 2.5 were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of
the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions
of this paragraph of Section 2.5, (a) in no case shall any one Shareholder be
liable or responsible for any amount in excess of the net proceeds received by
such Shareholder from the offering of Registrable Shares and (b) the Company
shall be liable and responsible for any amount in excess of such proceeds;
provided, however, that 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. Any party entitled to contribution will, promptly after
receipt of notice of commencement of any action, suit or proceeding against such
party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made against another
party or parties under this Section, notify

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such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission so
to notify such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought shall not
relieve such party from any other obligation it or they may have thereunder or
otherwise under this Section. No party shall be liable for contribution with
respect to any action, suit, proceeding or claim settled without its prior
written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

            2.6 Other Matters with Respect to Underwritten Offerings. In the
event that Registrable Shares are sold pursuant to a Registration Statement in
an underwritten offering pursuant to Section 2.1, the Company agrees to (a)
enter into an underwriting agreement containing customary representations and
warranties with respect to the business and operations of the Company and
customary covenants and agreements to be performed by the Company, including
without limitation customary provisions with respect to indemnification by the
Company of the underwriters of such offering; (b) use its best efforts to cause
its legal counsel to render customary opinions to the underwriters and the
Selling Shareholders with respect to the Registration Statement; and (c) use its
best efforts to cause its independent public accounting firm to issue customary
"cold comfort letters" to the underwriters and the Selling Shareholders with
respect to the Registration Statement.

            2.7 Information by Holder. Each holder of Registrable Shares
included in any registration shall furnish to the Company such information
regarding such holder and the distribution proposed by such holder as the
Company may reasonably request in writing and as shall be required in connection
with any registration, qualification or compliance referred to in this
Agreement.

            2.8 "Stand-Off" Agreement; Confidentiality of Notices. Each
Shareholder, if requested by the Company and the managing underwriter of an
underwritten public offering by the Company of Common Stock, shall not sell or
otherwise transfer or dispose of any Registrable Shares or other securities of
the Company held by such Shareholder for a period of 180 days following the
effective date of a Registration Statement; provided, that:

                  (a) such agreement shall only apply to the Initial Public
Offering; and

                  (b) any Shareholder of the Company then beneficially owning
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended) at least a majority of the outstanding Common Stock (on an as-converted
basis) and all officers and directors of the Company enter into similar
agreements.

      The Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the
Registrable Shares or other securities subject to the foregoing restriction
until the end of such 180-day period.

      Any Shareholder receiving any written notice from the Company regarding
the Company's plans to file a Registration Statement shall treat such notice
confidentially and shall not disclose such information to any person other than
as necessary to exercise its rights under this Agreement.

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            2.9 Limitations on Subsequent Registration Rights. The Company shall
not, without the prior written consent of Shareholders holding at least a
majority of the Registrable Shares then held by all Shareholders, enter into any
agreement (other than this Agreement) with any holder or prospective holder of
any securities of the Company which grant such holder or prospective holder
rights to include securities of the Company in any Registration Statement,
unless (a) such rights to include securities in a registration initiated by the
Company or by Shareholders are not more favorable than the rights granted to
Other Holders under Sections 2.1 and 2.2 of this Agreement, and (b) no rights
are granted to initiate a registration, other than registration pursuant to a
registration statement on Form S-3 (or its successor) in which Shareholders are
entitled to include Registrable Shares on a pro rata basis with such holders
based on the number of shares of Common Stock (on an as-converted basis) owned
by Shareholders and such holders.

            2.10 Rule 144 Requirements. After the earliest of (i) the closing of
the sale of securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration Statement, (ii)
the registration by the Company of a class of securities under Section 12 of the
Exchange Act, or (iii) the issuance by the Company of an offering circular
pursuant to Regulation A under the Securities Act, the Company agrees to:

                  (a) make and keep current public information about the Company
available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144;

                  (b) use its best efforts to file with the Commission in a
timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to
such reporting requirements); and

                  (c) furnish to any holder of Registrable Shares upon request
(i) a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting
requirements of Rule 144 and of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any
time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements), (ii) a copy of
the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and (iii) such other
reports and documents of the Company as such holder may reasonably request to
avail itself of any similar rule or regulation of the Commission allowing it to
sell any such securities without registration.

            2.11 Termination. All of the Company's obligations to register
Registrable Shares under Sections 2.1 and 2.2 of this Agreement shall terminate
seven (7) years after the closing of the Initial Public Offering.

      3. Right Of First Refusal.

                  (a) The Company shall not issue, sell or exchange, agree to
issue, sell or exchange, or reserve or set aside for issuance, sale or exchange,
(i) any shares of its Common Stock, (ii) any other equity securities of the
Company, including, without limitation, shares of preferred stock, (iii) any
option, warrant or other right to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire
any equity securities of the Company, or (iv) any debt securities convertible
into capital stock of the Company (collectively, the "Offered Securities"),
unless in each such case the

                                      -11-
<PAGE>   12
Company shall have first complied with this Section 3. The Company shall deliver
to the Shareholders a written notice of any proposed or intended issuance, sale
or exchange of Offered Securities (the "Offer"), which Offer shall (i) identify
and describe the Offered Securities, (ii) describe the price and other terms
upon which they are to be issued, sold or exchanged, and the number or amount of
the Offered Securities to be issued, sold or exchanged, (iii) identify the
persons or entities (if known) to which or with which the Offered Securities are
to be offered, issued, sold or exchanged and (iv) offer to issue and sell to or
exchange with each Shareholder (A) a pro rata portion of the Offered Securities
determined by dividing the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock then held
by such Shareholder (giving effect to the conversion of all shares of
convertible preferred stock then held) by the total number of shares of Common
Stock then outstanding (giving effect to the conversion of all outstanding
shares of convertible preferred stock) (the "Basic Amount"), and (B) any
additional portion of the Offered Securities attributable to the Basic Amounts
of other Shareholders as such Shareholder shall indicate it will purchase or
acquire should the other Shareholders subscribe for less than their Basic
Amounts (the "Undersubscription Amount").

                  (b) To accept an Offer, in whole or in part, each Shareholder
must deliver a written notice to the Company prior to the end of the 30-day
period of the Offer, setting forth the portion of such Shareholder's Basic
Amount that such Shareholder elects to purchase and, if such Shareholder shall
elect to purchase all of its Basic Amount, the Undersubscription Amount (if any)
that such Shareholder elects to purchase (the "Notice of Acceptance"). If the
Basic Amounts subscribed for by all Shareholders are less than the total of all
of the Basic Amounts available for purchase, then each Shareholder who has set
forth an Undersubscription Amount in its Notice of Acceptance shall be entitled
to purchase, in addition to the Basic Amounts subscribed for, the
Undersubscription Amount it has subscribed for; provided, however, that if the
Undersubscription Amounts subscribed for exceed the difference between the total
of all of the Basic Amounts available for purchase and the Basic Amounts
subscribed for (the "Available Undersubscription Amount"), the Shareholder who
has subscribed for any Undersubscription Amount shall be entitled to purchase
only that portion of the Available Undersubscription Amount as the
Undersubscription Amount subscribed for by such Shareholder bears to the total
Undersubscription Amounts subscribed for by all Shareholders, subject to
rounding by the Board of Directors to the extent it deems reasonably necessary.

                  (c) The Company shall have 90 days from the expiration of the
period set forth in Section 3(b) above to issue, sell or exchange all or any
part of such Offered Securities as to which a Notice of Acceptance has not been
given by a Shareholder (the "Refused Securities"), but only to the offerees or
purchasers described in the Offer (if so described therein) and only upon terms
and conditions (including, without limitation, unit prices and interest rates)
which are not more favorable, in the aggregate, to the acquiring person or
persons or less favorable to the Company than those set forth in the Offer.

                  (d) In the event the Company shall propose to sell less than
all the Refused Securities (any such sale to be in the manner and on the terms
specified in Section 3(c) above), then each Shareholder may, at its sole option
and in its sole discretion, reduce the number or amount of the Offered
Securities specified in its Notice of Acceptance to an amount that shall be not
less than the number or amount of the Offered Securities that the Shareholder

                                      -12-
<PAGE>   13
elected to purchase pursuant to Section 3(b) above multiplied by a fraction, (i)
the numerator of which shall be the number or amount of Offered Securities the
Company actually proposes to issue, sell or exchange (including Offered
Securities to be issued or sold to Shareholders pursuant to Section 3(b) above
prior to such reduction) and (ii) the denominator of which shall be the original
amount of the Offered Securities. In the event that the Shareholders so elect to
reduce the number or amount of Offered Securities specified in the Notices of
Acceptance, the Company may not issue, sell or exchange more than the reduced
number or amount of the Offered Securities unless and until such securities have
again been offered to the Shareholders in accordance with Section 3(a) above.

                  (e) Upon the closing of the issuance, sale or exchange of all
or less than all of the Refused Securities, each Shareholder shall acquire from
the Company, and the Company shall issue to each Shareholder, the number or
amount of Offered Securities specified in the Notices of Acceptance, as reduced
pursuant to Section 3(d) above if the Shareholders have so elected, upon the
terms and conditions specified in the Offer. The purchase by the Shareholders of
any Offered Securities is subject in all cases to the preparation, execution and
delivery by the Company and the Shareholders of a purchase agreement relating to
such Offered Securities reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the
Shareholders and their counsel.

                  (f) Any Offered Securities not acquired by the Shareholders or
other persons in accordance with Section 3(c) above may not be issued, sold or
exchanged until they are again offered to the Shareholders under the procedures
specified in this Agreement.

                  (g) The rights of the Shareholders under this Section 3 shall
not apply to:

                        (1) Common Stock issued as a stock dividend to holders
of Common Stock or upon any subdivision or combination of shares of Common
Stock;

                        (2) the issuance of any shares of Common Stock upon
conversion of shares of convertible preferred Stock;

                        (3) the issuance of up to the greater of (i) 4,441,208
shares (such number to be proportionately adjusted in the event of any stock
splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations or similar events occurring on or
after the date of this Agreement) or (ii) 25% of the capital stock of the
Company on a fully-diluted basis (assuming the conversion to Common Stock of all
convertible securities and the exercise of all outstanding options and
warrants), or the grant of options or warrants therefor, including shares issued
upon exercise of options outstanding on the date of this Agreement to officers,
directors, consultants and employees of the Company or any subsidiary pursuant
to the Stock Option Plan or any other plan, agreement or arrangement approved by
a vote of not less than a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company (it
being understood that any shares subject to options that expire or terminate
unexercised shall not count towards the maximum number set forth in this clause
(3));

                        (4) securities issued solely in consideration for the
bona fide acquisition (whether by merger or otherwise) by the Company or any of
its subsidiaries of all or

                                      -13-
<PAGE>   14
a majority of the stock or substantially all of the assets or a discrete product
line of any other entity;

                        (5) securities issued in connection with bona fide
technology licensing, distribution or similar corporate partnering arrangements,
provided that any such arrangements are approved by the Company's Board of
Directors and are not for equity financing purposes, and further provided, that
any options or warrants issued pursuant to such arrangements shall count towards
the maximum number set forth in clause (3) above; or

                        (6) shares of Common Stock sold by the Company in an
underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement
under the Securities Act.

      4. Restrictions on Transfer.

            4.1 General.

                  (a) Any sale, transfer or other disposition, whether
voluntarily or by operation of law ("Transfer") of any of the Shares, as defined
in Section 6 below, by a Shareholder, other than according to the terms of this
Agreement, shall be void and transfer no right, title, or interest in or to any
of such Shares to the purported transferee. For purposes of calculating a
Shareholder's pro rata ownership of Shares, all shares of Preferred Stock of the
Company shall be deemed to have been converted into Common Stock of the Company.

                  (b) Each Shareholder agrees to present the certificates
representing the Shares presently owned or hereafter acquired by him to the
Secretary of the Company and cause the Secretary to stamp on the certificate in
a prominent manner the following legend:

                  "The sale or other disposition of any of the shares
                  represented by this certificate is restricted by a
                  Shareholders Agreement, as amended from time to time, among
                  certain of the shareholders of this corporation and this
                  corporation (the "Agreement"). A copy of the Agreement is
                  available for inspection during normal business hours at the
                  principal executive office of this corporation."

            4.2 Transfer Not Subject to Restrictions.

                  (a) Any Shareholder may Transfer Shares to his spouse or
children or to a trust established for the benefit of his spouse, children or
himself, or dispose of them under his will, without compliance with Sections 4.3
through 4.6 hereof provided that the transferee delivers to the Company and the
Shareholders a written instrument agreeing to be bound by the terms of this
Agreement as if it were a Shareholder.

                  (b) The rights of the Company and the Shareholders under
Sections 4.4 and 4.5 hereof shall not apply to any pledge of Shares by a
Shareholder which creates a mere

                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15
security interest, provided the pledgee provides the Company and the
Shareholders with a written agreement to be bound hereby to the same extent as
the pledging Shareholder.

            4.3 Offer of Sale: Notice of Proposed Sale.

      If any Shareholder desires to Transfer any of its Shares, or any interest
in such Shares, in any transaction other than pursuant to Section 4.2 of this
Agreement, such Shareholder (the "Selling Shareholder") shall first deliver
written notice of its desire to do so (the "Notice") to the Company and the
other Shareholders, in the manner prescribed in Section 9(d) of this Agreement.
The Notice must specify: (i) the name and address of the party to which the
Selling Shareholder proposes to sell or otherwise dispose of the Shares or an
interest in the Shares (the "Offeror"), (ii) the number of Shares the Selling
Shareholder proposes to sell or otherwise dispose of (the "Offered Shares"),
(iii) the consideration per Share to be delivered to the Selling Shareholder for
the proposed sale, transfer or disposition, and (iv) all other material terms
and conditions of the proposed transaction.

            4.4 Company's Option to Purchase.

                  (a) Subject to Section 4.6, the Company shall have the first
option to purchase all or any part of the Offered Shares for the consideration
per share and on the terms and conditions specified in the Notice. The Company
must exercise such option, no later than 15 days after such Notice is deemed
under Section 9(d) hereof to have been delivered to it, by written notice to the
Selling Shareholder.

                  (b) In the event the Company does not exercise its option
within such 15-day period with respect to all of the Offered Shares, the Company
shall, by the last day of such period, give written notice of that fact (the
"Shareholder Notice") to the other Shareholders (the "Eligible Shareholders").
The Shareholder Notice shall specify the number of Offered Shares not purchased
by the Company (the "Remaining Shares").

                  (c) In the event the Company duly exercises its option to
purchase all or part of the Offered Shares, the closing of such purchase shall
take place at the offices of the Company on the later of (i) the date five days
after the expiration of such 15-day period or (ii) the date that the Eligible
Shareholders consummate their purchase of Remaining Shares under Section 4.5(c)
hereof.

                  (d) To the extent that the consideration proposed to be paid
by the Offeror for the Offered Shares consists of property other than cash or a
promissory note, the consideration required to be paid by the Company and/or the
Eligible Shareholders exercising their options under Sections 4.4 and 4.5 hereof
may consist of cash equal to the value of such property, as determined in good
faith by agreement of the Selling Shareholder and the Company and/or the
Eligible Shareholders acquiring such Offered Shares.

                  (e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, neither
the Company nor the Eligible Shareholders shall have any right to purchase any
of the Offered Shares

                                      -15-
<PAGE>   16
hereunder unless the Company and/or the Eligible Shareholders exercise their
option or options to purchase all of the Offered Shares.

            4.5 Shareholder Option to Purchase.

                  (a) Subject to Section 4.6, the Eligible Shareholders shall
have an option, exercisable for a period of 15 days from the date of delivery of
the Shareholder Notice, to purchase the Remaining Shares for the consideration
per share and on the terms and conditions set forth in the Notice. Such option
shall be exercised by delivery by each Eligible Shareholder of written notice to
the Secretary of the Company. Alternatively, an Eligible Shareholder may within
the same 15-day period, notify the Secretary of the Company of its desire to
participate in the sale of the Shares on the terms set forth in the Notice, and
the number of Shares it wishes to sell.

                  (b) In the event options to purchase have been exercised by
the Eligible Shareholders with respect to some but not all of the Remaining
Shares, those Eligible Shareholders who have exercised their options within the
15-day period specified in Section 4.5(a) shall have an additional option, for a
period of five days next succeeding the expiration of such 15-day period, to
purchase all or any part of the balance of such Remaining Shares on the terms
and conditions set forth in the Notice, which option shall be exercised by the
delivery of written notice to the Secretary of the Company. In the event there
are two or more such Eligible Shareholders that choose to exercise the
last-mentioned option for a total number Remaining Shares in excess of the
number available, the Remaining Shares available for each such Eligible
Shareholder's options shall be allocated to such Eligible Shareholder pro rata
based on the number of Shares owned by the Eligible Shareholder so electing.

                  (c) If the option to purchase the Remaining Shares is
exercised in full by the Purchaser, the closing of the purchase of the Remaining
Shares shall take place at the offices of the Company no later than five days
after the date of such notice to the Purchaser.

            4.6 Failure to Fully Exercise Options; Co-Sale.

                  (a) If the Company and the Eligible Shareholders do not
exercise their options to purchase all of the Offered Shares within the periods
described in this Agreement (the "Option Period"), then all options of the
Company and the Eligible Shareholders to purchase the Offered Shares, whether
exercised or not, shall terminate, but each Eligible Shareholder has, pursuant
to Section 4.5, expressed a desire to sell Shares in the transaction (a
"Participating Shareholder"), shall be entitled to do so pursuant to this
Section. The Company shall promptly, on expiration of the Option Period, notify
the Selling Shareholder of the aggregate number of Shares the Participating
Shareholders wish to sell. The Selling Shareholder shall use its best efforts to
interest the Offeror in purchasing, in addition to the Offered Shares, the
Shares the Participating Shareholders wish to sell. If the Offeror does not wish
to purchase all of the Shares made available by the Selling Shareholder and the
Participating Shareholders, then the Participating Shareholders and the Selling
Shareholder shall be entitled to sell, at the price and on the terms and
conditions set forth in the Notice, a portion of the Shares being sold to the
Offeror, in the same proportion as such Selling Shareholder or Participating
Shareholders'

                                      -16-
<PAGE>   17
ownership of Shares bears to the aggregate number of Shares owned by the Selling
Shareholder and the Participating Shareholders. The transaction contemplated by
the Notice shall be consummated not later than 60 days after the expiration of
the Option Period.

                  (b) If the Participating Shareholders do not elect to sell the
full number of Shares which they are entitled to sell pursuant to Section
4.6(a), the Selling Shareholder shall be entitled to sell to the Offeror,
according to the terms set forth in the Notice, that number of its own Shares
which equals the difference between the number of Shares desired to be purchased
by the Offeror and the number of Shares the Participating Shareholders are
entitled to sell pursuant to Section 4.6(a). If the Selling Shareholder wishes
to Transfer any such Shares at a price per Share which differs from that set
forth in the Notice, upon terms different from those previously offered to the
Company and the Eligible Shareholders, or more than 60 days after the expiration
of the Option Period, then, as a condition precedent to such transaction, such
Shares must first be offered to the Company and the Eligible Shareholders on the
same terms and conditions as given the Offeror, and in accordance with the
procedures and time periods set forth above.

                  (c) The proceeds of any sale made by the Selling Existing
Shareholder without compliance with the provisions of this Section 4 shall be
deemed to be held in constructive trust in such amount as would have been due
the Participating Shareholders if the Selling Shareholder had complied with this
Agreement.

      5. Transfers of Rights; Additional Shareholders. This Agreement, and the
rights and obligations of each Shareholder hereunder, may be assigned by such
Shareholder to (i) any person or entity to which at least 200,000 Shares
(subject to appropriate adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends,
recapitalizations and other similar events) are transferred by such Shareholder
or (ii) to any partner or stockholder of a Shareholder, and such transferee
shall be deemed a "Shareholder" for purposes of this Agreement; provided, that
the transferee provides written notice of such assignment to the Company and
agrees in writing to be bound hereby. The Purchaser shall have the right to
require that the Company, as a term of the issuance of stock of the Company to
any additional shareholder, require such shareholder to agree to the terms of
Section 5 of this Agreement to the same extent as if such shareholder were a
"Shareholder" hereunder; provided, that any party to whom securities are issued
pursuant to a transaction described in Section 3(g) above shall not be required
to enter into this Agreement if such issuance does not result in a majority of
the capital stock of the Company on a fully-diluted basis (assuming the
conversion to Common Stock of all convertible securities and the exercise of all
outstanding options and warrants) being held by parties other than the
Shareholders.

      6. Shares. As used in this Agreement, the term "Shares" shall mean all
shares of capital stock of the Company held by a Shareholder, whether now owned
or subsequently acquired.

      7. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate in its entirety on the
earliest of (a) the closing of the Company's initial public offering of shares
of Common Stock pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, resulting in at least $30,000,000 of gross
proceeds to the Company at a minimum price to the public of $10.00 per share
(subject to appropriate adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends,
recapitalizations and

                                      -17-
<PAGE>   18
other similar events), or (b) the sale of all or substantially of the assets or
business of the Company, by merger, sale of assets or otherwise.

      8. Voting of Shares.

                  (a) The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that Vulcan
Ventures Incorporated has the right to elect a director of the Company in
accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Designation establishing
the Series A Preferred.

                  (b) The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that Edison
Schools Inc. has the right to designate and elect a director of the Company in
accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Designation establishing
the Series B Preferred.

                  (c) The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that Warburg,
Pincus Equity Partners. L.P. and its affiliates (as defined in Section 7.9 of
the Certificate of Designation establishing the Series C Preferred) has the
right to designate and elect a director of the Company in accordance with the
provisions of the Certificate of Designation establishing the Series C
Preferred.

      9. General.

                  (a) Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
any other provision of this Agreement.

                  (b) Specific Performance. In addition to any and all other
remedies that may be available at law in the event of any breach of this
Agreement, the Purchaser shall be entitled to specific performance of the
agreements and obligations of the Company hereunder and to such other injunctive
or other equitable relief as may be granted by a court of competent
jurisdiction.

                  (c) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Washington
(without reference to the conflicts of law provisions thereof).

                  (d) Notices. All notices, requests, consents, and other
communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed
delivered (i) two business days after being sent by registered or certified
mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid or (ii) one business day after
being sent via a reputable nationwide overnight courier service guaranteeing
next business day, delivery, in each case to the intended recipient as set forth
below:

      If to the Company, at 110 110th Avenue N.E., Suite 210, Bellevue,
Washington 98004, Attention: President, Facsimile: (425) 468-6501, or at such
other address or addresses as may have been furnished in writing by the
Company to the Purchaser, with a copy to Lawrence J.

                                      -18-
<PAGE>   19
Steele, Esq., Foster Pepper & Shefelman PLLC, 1111 Third Avenue, Suite 3400,
Seattle, Washington 98101, Facsimile: (206) 749-1957; or

      If to a Shareholder, at its address set forth on Exhibit A, or at such
other address or addresses as may have been furnished to the Company in writing
by the Shareholder.

      Any party may give any notice, request, consent or other communication
under this Agreement using any other means (including, without limitation,
personal delivery, messenger service, telecopy, first class mail or electronic
mail), but no such notice, request, consent or other communication shall be
deemed to have been duly given unless and until it is actually received by the
party for whom it is intended. Any party may change the address to which
notices, requests, consents or other communications hereunder are to be
delivered by giving the other parties notice in the manner set forth in this
Section.

                  (e) Complete Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject
matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to
such subject matter including, without limitation, the Shareholders Agreement,
dated as of July 2, 1999, by and among the Company and the Existing
Shareholders.

                  (f) Amendments and Waivers. Any term of this Agreement may be
amended or terminated and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be
waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or
prospectively), with the written consent of the Company and all of the
Shareholders. No waivers of or exceptions to any term, condition or provision of
this Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be, or
construed as, a further or continuing waiver of any such term, condition or
provision.

                  (g) Pronouns. Whenever the context may require, any pronouns
used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or
neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns and pronouns shall include the
plural, and vice versa.

                  (h) Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures. This Agreement may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same document.
This Agreement may be executed by facsimile signatures.

                  (i) Section Headings. The section headings are for the
convenience of the parties and in no way alter, modify, amend, limit or restrict
the contractual obligations of the parties.

                            [Signature pages follow.]

                                      -19-
<PAGE>   20
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this AMENDED AND
RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT as of the date set forth in the first paragraph
hereof.

                                    COMPANY:

                                    APEX ONLINE LEARNING INC.

                                    By      /s/ Sally G. Narodick
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Sally G. Narodick, President

                                      -20-
<PAGE>   21
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this AMENDED AND
RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT as of the date set forth in the first paragraph
hereof.

                                    SHAREHOLDERS:

                                    VULCAN VENTURES INCORPORATED

                                    By:     /s/ William D. Savoy
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Name:  William D. Savoy
                                        Title:  Vice President

                                      -21-
<PAGE>   22
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this AMENDED AND
RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT as of the date set forth in the first paragraph
hereof.

                                    SHAREHOLDERS:

                                    EDISON SCHOOLS INC.

                                    By:     /s/ H. Christopher Whittle
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        H. Christopher Whittle,
                                        President

                                      -22-
<PAGE>   23
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this AMENDED AND
RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT as of the date set forth in the first paragraph
hereof.

                                    SHAREHOLDERS:

                                        /s/ Paul G. Allen
                                    -------------------------------------
                                    Paul G. Allen

                                      -23-
<PAGE>   24
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this AMENDED AND
RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT as of the date set forth in the first paragraph
hereof.

                                    SHAREHOLDERS:

                                    WARBURG, PINCUS EQUITY PARTNERS, L.P.

                                    By:     /s/ Stephen Distler
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                    WARBURG, PINCUS NETHERLANDS EQUITY
                                    PARTNERS I, C.V.

                                    By:     /s/ Stephen Distler
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                    WARBURG, PINCUS NETHERLANDS EQUITY
                                    PARTNERS II, C.V.

                                    By:     /s/ Stephen Distler
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                    WARBURG, PINCUS NETHERLANDS EQUITY
                                    PARTNERS III, C.V.

                                    By:     /s/ Stephen Distler
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                      -24-
<PAGE>   25
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this AMENDED AND
RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT as of the date set forth in the first paragraph
hereof.

                                    SHAREHOLDERS:

                                    MAVERON EQUITY PARTNERS, L.P.
                                    By MAVERON GENERAL PARTNER, LLC, its
                                    general partner

                                    By:     /s/ Dan Levitan
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Name:  Dan Levitan
                                        Title:  Manager

                                      -25-
<PAGE>   26
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this AMENDED AND
RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT as of the date set forth in the first paragraph
hereof.

                                    SHAREHOLDERS:

                                    KAPLAN EDUCATIONAL CENTERS, INC.

                                    By:     /s/ Robert Greenberg
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Name:  Robert Greenberg
                                        Title:  Executive Vice President

                                      -26-
<PAGE>   27
                                    EXHIBIT A

                                   PURCHASERS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Investor Name and Address                        Number of Shares    Purchase Price
-------------------------                        ----------------    --------------
<S>                                              <C>                 <C>
Warburg, Pincus Equity Partners, L.P.                2,170,750        $14,174,998
466 Lexington Avenue
New York, N.Y.  10017
Attention:  Stephen Distler
Facsimile:  (212) 878-9351

      with a copy to:

Willkie Farr & Gallagher
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, N.Y.  10019
Attention:  Steven J. Gartner
Facsimile:  (212) 728-8111

Warburg, Pincus Netherlands Equity Partners I,          68,913        $   450,002
C.V.
466 Lexington Avenue
New York, N.Y.  10017
Attention: Stephen Distler
Facsimile:  (212) 878-9351

      with a copy to:

Willkie Farr & Gallagher
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, N.Y.  10019
Attention:  Steven J. Gartner
Facsimile:  (212) 728-8111

Warburg, Pincus Netherlands Equity Partners II,         45,942        $   300,001
C.V.
466 Lexington Avenue
New York, N.Y.  10017
Attention: Stephen Distler
Facsimile:  (212) 878-9351

      with a copy to:

Willkie Farr & Gallagher
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, N.Y.  10019
Attention:  Steven J. Gartner
Facsimile:  (212) 728-8111

Warburg, Pincus Netherlands Equity Partners             11,485        $    74,997
III, C.V.
466 Lexington Avenue
New York, N.Y.  10017
Attention: Stephen Distler
Facsimile:  (212) 878-9351

      with a copy to:

Willkie Farr & Gallagher
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, N.Y.  10019
Attention:  Steven J. Gartner
Facsimile:  (212) 728-8111
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   28
<TABLE>
<S>                                              <C>                 <C>
Maveron Equity Partners, L.P.                          306,279        $ 2,000,000
By Maveron General Partner, LLC
800 Fifth Avenue, Suite 4100
Seattle, Washington 98104
Attention:  Dan Levitan, Manager
Facsimile:  (206) 470-1150

Vulcan Ventures Incorporated                           306,279        $ 2,000,000
110 - 100th Avenue N.E., Suite 550
Bellevue, Washington 98004
Attention:  Bert Hogue
Facsimile:  (425) 453-1985

Kaplan Educational Center, Inc.                        153,139        $ 1,000,000
888 Seventh Avenue
New York, N.Y.  10106
Attn:  Robert Greenberg with a copy to
Veronica Dillon
Telephone:  212-492-5825
Facsimile:  212-489-2301
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   29
                                    EXHIBIT B

                                  SHAREHOLDERS

Paul G. Allen                 110 110th Avenue N.E.
                              Suite 550
                              Bellevue, WA 98004
                              Attention: Ed Harris
                              Telecopy: (425) 453-1985

Vulcan Ventures Incorporated  110 110th Avenue N.E.
                              Suite 550
                              Bellevue, WA 98004
                              Attention: Ed Harris
                              Telecopy: (425) 453-1985

Edison Schools Inc.           521 Fifth Avenue
                              15th Floor
                              New York, NY 10175
                              Attention:  Christopher Cerf, Esq.
                              Telecopy: (212) 419-1604<PAGE>   1
                                                                   Exhibit 10.30

                                                                      Lease 4-95

                         STANDARD FORM OF OFFICE LEASE
                    The Real Estate Board of New York, Inc.

AGREEMENT OF LEASE, dated as of the 4th day of April, 1995 between 521 FIFTH
AVENUE ASSOCIATES, a New York limited partnership, having an office at 521 Fifth
Avenue, New York, New York 10175, party of the first part, hereinafter referred
to as OWNER or LANDLORD, and THE EDISON PROJECT, L.P., a New York limited
partnership, having an office at 529 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, party of
the second part, hereinafter referred to as TENANT,

WITNESSETH: Owner hereby leases to Tenant and Tenant hereby hires from Owner
that portion of the sixteenth (16th) floor as shown shaded on Exhibit "A",
annexed hereto and made a part hereof (the "demised premises) in the building
known as 521 Fifth Avenue (the "building") in the Borough of Manhattan, City of
New York, for the term of TWO (2) YEARS AND THREE (3) MONTHS (or until such term
shall sooner cease and expire as hereinafter provided) to commence on the 1st
day of May, nineteen hundred and ninety-five, and to end on the 31st day of
July, nineteen hundred and ninety-seven, both dates inclusive, at an annual
rental rate of ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY-THREE AND
80/100 ($166,273.80) DOLLARS per annum, commencing on the Commencement Date,
which Tenant agrees to pay in lawful money of the United States which shall be
legal tender in payment of all debts and dues, public and private, at the time
of payment, in equal monthly installments in advance on the first day of each
month during said term, at the office of Owner or such other place as Owner may
designate, without any set off or deduction whatsoever, except that Tenant shall
pay the first __________ monthly installment(s) on the execution hereof (unless
this lease be a renewal).

         In the event that, at the commencement of the term of this lease, or
thereafter, Tenant shall be in default in the payment of rent to Owner pursuant
to the terms of another lease with Owner or with Owner's predecessor in
interest, Owner may at Owner's option and without notice to Tenant add the
amount of such arrears to any monthly installment of rent payable hereunder and
the same shall be payable to Owner as additional rent.

         The parties hereto, for themselves, their heirs, distributees,
executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns, hereby
covenant as follows:
<PAGE>   2
Rent Occupancy:

         1. Tenant shall pay the rent as above and as hereinafter provided.

         2. Tenant shall use and occupy demised premises for executive and
administrative offices in connection with Tenant's business and consistent with
a first-class office building, and for no other purpose.

Tenant Alternations:

         3. Tenant shall make no changes in or to the demised premises of any
nature without Owner's prior written consent. Subject to the prior written
consent of Owner, and to the provisions of this article, Tenant at Tenant's
expense, may make alterations, installations, additions or improvements which
are nonstructural and which do not affect utility services or plumbing and
electrical lines, in or to the interior of the demised premises by using
contractors or mechanics first approved by Owner. Tenant shall, before making
any alterations, additions, installations or improvements, at its expense,
obtain all permits, approvals and certificates required by any governmental or
quasi-governmental bodies and (upon completion) certificates of final approval
thereof and shall deliver promptly duplicates of all such permits, approvals and
certificates to Owner and Tenant agrees to carry and will cause Tenant's
contractors and sub-contractors to carry such workman's compensation, general
liability, personal and property damage insurance as Owner may require. If any
mechanic's lien is filed against the demised premises, or the building of which
the same forms a part, for work claimed to have been done for, or materials
furnished to, Tenant, whether or not done pursuant to this article, the same
shall be discharged by Tenant within thirty days thereafter, at Tenant's
expense, by filing the bond required by law. All fixtures and all paneling,
partitions, railings and like installations, installed in the premises at any
time, either by Tenant or by Owner in Tenant's behalf, shall, upon installation,
become the property of Owner and shall remain upon and be surrendered with the
demised premises unless Owner, by notice to Tenant no later than twenty days
prior to the date fixed as the termination of this lease, elects to relinquish
Owner's right thereto and to have them removed by Tenant, in which event the
same shall be removed from the premises by Tenant prior to the expiration of the
lease, at Tenant's expense. Nothing in this Article shall be construed to give
Owner title to or to prevent Tenant's removal of trade fixtures, moveable office
furniture and equipment, but upon removal of any such from the premises or upon
removal of other installations as may be required by Owner, Tenant shall
immediately and at its expense, repair and restore the premises to the condition
existing prior to installation and repair any damage to the demised premises or
the building due to such removal. All property permitted or required to be
removed, by Tenant at the end of the term remaining in the premises after
Tenant's removal shall be deemed abandoned and may, at the election of Owner,
either be retained as

                                      - 2 -
<PAGE>   3
Owner's property or may be removed from the premises by Owner, at Tenant's
expense.  (See Article 42)

Maintenance and Repairs:

         4. Tenant shall, throughout the term of this lease, take good care of
the demised premises and the fixtures and appurtenances therein. Tenant shall be
responsible for all damage or injury to the demised premises or any other part
of the building and the systems and equipment thereof, whether requiring
structural or nonstructural repairs caused by or resulting from carelessness,
omission, neglect or improper conduct of Tenant. Tenant's subtenants, agents,
employees, invitees or licensees, or which arise out of any work, labor, service
or equipment done for or supplied to Tenant or any subtenant or arising out of
the installation, use or operation of the property or equipment of Tenant or any
subtenant. Tenant shall also repair all damage to the building and the demised
premises caused by the moving of Tenant's fixtures, furniture and equipment.
Tenant shall promptly make, at Tenant's expense, all repairs in and to the
demised premises for which Tenant is responsible, using only the contractor for
the trade or trades in question, selected from a list of at least two
contractors per trade submitted by Owner. Any other repairs in or to the
building or the facilities and systems thereof for which Tenant is responsible
shall be performed by Owner at the Tenant's expense. Owner shall maintain in
good working order and repair the exterior and the structural portions of the
building, including the structural portions of its demised premises, and the
public portions of the building interior and the building plumbing, electrical,
heating and ventilating systems (to the extent such systems presently exist)
serving the demised premises. Tenant agrees to give prompt notice of any
defective condition in the premises for which Owner may be responsible
hereunder. There shall be no allowance to Tenant for diminution of rental value
and no liability on the part of Owner by reason of inconvenience, annoyance or
injury to business arising from Owner or others making repairs, alterations,
additions or improvements in or to any portion of the building or the demised
premises or in and to the fixtures, appurtenances or equipment thereof. It is
specifically agreed that Tenant shall not be entitled to any setoff or reduction
of rent by reason of any failure of Owner to comply with the covenants of this
or any other article of this Lease. Tenant agrees that Tenant's sole remedy at
law in such instance will be by way of an action for damages for breach of
contract. The provisions of this Article 4 shall not apply in the case of fire
or other casualty which are dealt with in Article 9 hereof.

Window Cleaning:

         5. Tenant will not clean nor require, permit, suffer or allow any
window in the demised premises to be cleaned from the outside in violation of
Section 202 of the Labor Law or any other applicable law or of the Rules of the
Board of Standards and Appeals, or of any other Board or body having or
asserting jurisdiction.

                                      - 3 -
<PAGE>   4
Requirements of Law, Fire Insurance, Floor Loads:

         6. Prior to the commencement of the lease term, if Tenant is then in
possession, and at all times thereafter, Tenant, at Tenant's sole cost and
expense, shall promptly comply with all present and future laws, orders and
regulations of all state, federal, municipal and local governments, departments,
commissions and boards and any direction of any public officer pursuant to law,
and all orders, rules and regulations of the New York Board of Fire
Underwriters, Insurance Services Office, or any similar body which shall impose
any violation, order or duty upon Owner or Tenant with respect to the demised
premises, whether or not arising out of Tenant's use of manner or use thereof,
(including Tenant's permitted use) or, with respect to the building if arising
out of Tenant's use or manner of use of the premises or the building (including
the use permitted under the lease). Nothing herein shall require Tenant to make
structural repairs or alterations unless Tenant has, by its manner of use of the
demised premises or method of operation therein, violated any such laws,
ordinances, orders, rules, regulations or requirements with respect thereto.
Tenant may, after securing Owner to Owner's satisfaction against all damages,
interest, penalties and expenses, including, but not limited to, reasonably
attorney's fees, by cash deposit or by surety bond in an amount and in a company
satisfactory to Owner, contest and appeal any such laws, ordinances, orders,
rules, regulations or requirements provided same is done with all reasonable
promptness and provided such appeal shall not subject Owner to prosecution for a
criminal offense or constitute a default under any lease or mortgage under which
Owner may be obligated, or cause the demised premises or any part thereof to be
condemned or vacated. Tenant shall not do or permit any act or thing to be done
in or to the demised premises which is contrary to law, or which will invalidate
or be in conflict with public liability, fire or other policies of insurance at
any time carried by or for the benefit of Owner with respect to the demised
premises or the building of which the demised premises form a part, or which
shall or might subject Owner to any liability or responsibility to any person or
for property damage. Tenant shall not keep anything in the demised premises
except as now or hereafter permitted by the Fire Department, Board of Fire
Underwriters, Fire Insurance Rating Organization or other authority having
jurisdiction, and then only in such manner and such quantity so as not to
increase the rate for fire insurance applicable to the building, nor use the
premises in a manner which will increase the insurance rate for the building or
any property located therein over that in effect prior to the commencement of
Tenant's occupancy. Tenant shall pay all costs, expenses, fines, penalties, or
damages, which may be imposed upon Owner by reason of Tenant's failure to comply
with the provisions of this article and if by reason of such failure the fire
insurance rate shall, at the beginning of this lease or at any time thereafter,
be higher than it otherwise would be, then Tenant shall reimburse Owner, as
additional rent hereunder, for that portion of all fire insurance premiums
thereafter paid by Owner which shall have been charged because of such failure
by Tenant. In any action or proceeding wherein

                                      - 4 -
<PAGE>   5
Owner and Tenant are parties, a schedule or "make-up" of rate for the building
or demised premises issued by the New York Fire Insurance Exchange, or other
body making fire insurance rates applicable to said premises shall be conclusive
evidence of the facts therein stated and of the several items and charges in the
fire insurance rates then applicable to said premises. Tenant shall not place a
load upon any floor of the demised premises exceeding the floor load per square
foot area which it was designed to carry and which is allowed by law. Owner
reserves the right to prescribe the weight and position of all safes, business
machines and mechanical equipment. Such installations shall be placed and
maintained by Tenant, at Tenant's expense, in settings sufficient, in Owner's
judgment, to absorb and prevent vibration, noise and annoyance. (See Article 47)

Subordination:

         7. This lease is subject and subordinate to all ground or underlying
leases and to all mortgages which may now or hereafter affect such leases or the
real property of which demised premises are a part and to all renewals,
modifications, consolidations, replacements and extensions of any such
underlying leases and mortgages. This clause shall be self-operative and no
further instrument of subordination shall be required by any ground or
underlying lessor or by any mortgagee, affecting any lease or the real property
of which the demised premises are a part. In confirmation of such subordination,
Tenant shall execute promptly any certificate that Owner may request.

Property-Loss, Damage, Reimbursement, Indemnity:

         8. Owner or its agents shall not be liable for any damage to property
of Tenant or of others entrusted to employees of the building, nor for loss of
or damage to any property of Tenant by theft or otherwise, nor for any injury or
damage to persons or property resulting from any cause of whatsoever nature,
unless caused by or due to the negligence of Owner, its agents, servants or
employees. Owner or its agents will not be liable for any such damage caused by
other tenants or persons in, upon or about said building or caused by operations
in construction of any private, public or quasi public work. If at any time any
windows of the demised premises are temporarily closed, darkened or bricked up
(or permanently closed, darkened or bricked up, if required by law for any
reason whatsoever including, but not limited to Owner's own acts. Owner shall
not be liable for any damage Tenant may sustain thereby and Tenant shall not be
entitled to any compensation therefor nor abatement or diminution of rent nor
shall the same release Tenant from its obligations hereunder nor constitute an
eviction. Tenant shall indemnify and save harmless Owner against and from all
liabilities, obligations, damages, penalties, claims, costs and expenses for
which Owner shall not be reimbursed by insurance, including reasonable attorneys
fees, paid, suffered or incurred as a result of any breach by Tenant, Tenant's
agents, contractors, employees, invitees, or licensees, of any covenant

                                      - 5 -
<PAGE>   6
or condition of this lease, or the carelessness, negligence or improper conduct
of the Tenant, Tenant's agents, contractors, employees, invitees or licensees.
Tenant's liability under this lease extends to the acts and omissions of any
sub-tenant, and any agent, contractor, employee, invitee or licensee of any
sub-tenant. In case any action or proceeding is brought against Owner by reason
of any such claim, Tenant, upon written notice from Owner, will, at Tenant's
expense, resist or defend such action or proceeding by counsel approved by Owner
in writing, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld.

Destruction, Fire and Other Casualty:

         9. (a) If the demised premises or any part thereof shall be damaged by
fire or other casualty, Tenant shall give immediate notice thereof to Owner and
this lease shall continue in full force and effect except as hereinafter set
forth. (b) If the demised premises are partially damaged or rendered partially
unusable by fire or other casualty, the damages thereto shall be repaired by and
at the expense of Owner and the rent, until such repair shall be substantially
completed, shall be apportioned from the day following the casualty according to
the part of the premises which is usable. (c) If the demised premises are
totally damaged or rendered wholly unusable by fire or other casualty, then the
rent shall be proportionately paid up to the time of the casualty and
thenceforth shall cease until the date when the premises shall have been
repaired and restored by Owner, subject to Owner's right to elect not to restore
the same as hereinafter provided. (d) If the demised premises are rendered
wholly unusable or (whether or not the demised premises are damaged in whole or
in part) if the building shall be so damaged that Owner shall decide to demolish
it or to rebuild it, then, in any of such events, Owner may elect to terminate
this lease by written notice to Tenant, given within 90 days after such fire or
casualty, specifying a date for the expiration of the lease, which date shall
not be more than 60 days after the giving of such notice, and upon the date
specified in such notice the term of this lease shall expire as fully and
completely as if such date were the date set forth above for the termination of
this lease and Tenant shall forthwith quit, surrender and vacate the premises
without prejudice however, to Landlord's rights and remedies against Tenant
under the lease provisions in effect prior to such termination, and any rent
owing shall be paid up to such date and any payments of rent made by Tenant
which were on account of any period subsequent to such date shall be returned to
Tenant. Unless Owner shall serve a termination notice as provided for herein,
Owner shall make the repairs and restorations under the conditions of (b) and
(c) hereof, with all reasonable expedition, subject to delays due to adjustment
of insurance claims, labor troubles and causes beyond Owner's control. After any
such casualty, Tenant shall cooperate with Owner's restoration by removing from
the premises as promptly as reasonably possible, all of Tenant's salvageable
inventory and movable equipment, furniture, and other property. Tenant's
liability for rent shall resume five (5) days after written notice from Owner
that the premises are substantially ready for Tenant's occupancy. (e) Nothing
contained hereinabove shall

                                      - 6 -
<PAGE>   7
relieve Tenant from liability that may exist as a result of damage from fire or
other casualty. Notwithstanding anything contained to the contrary contained in
subdivisions (a) through (e) hereof, each party shall look first to any
insurance in its favor before making any claim against the other party for
recovery for loss or damage resulting from fire or other casualty, and to the
extent that such insurance is in force and collectible and to the extent
permitted by law, Owner and Tenant each hereby releases and waives all right of
recovery against the other or any one claiming through or under each of them by
way of subrogation or otherwise. The foregoing release and waiver shall be in
force only if both releasors' insurance policies contain a clause providing that
such a release or waiver shall not invalidate the insurance. If, and to the
extent, that such waiver can be obtained only by the payment of additional
premiums, then the party benefitting from the waiver shall pay such premium
within ten days after written demand or shall be deemed to have agreed that the
party obtaining insurance coverage shall be free of any further obligation under
the provisions hereof with respect to waiver of subrogation. Tenant acknowledges
that Owner will not carry insurance on Tenant's furniture and/or furnishings or
any fixtures or equipment, improvements, or appurtenances removable by Tenant
and agrees that Owner will not be obligated to repair any damage thereto or
replace the same. (f) Tenant hereby waives the provisions of Section 227 of the
Real Property Law and agrees that the provisions of this article shall govern
and control in lieu thereof.

Eminent Domain:

         10. If the whole or any part of the demised premises shall be acquired
or condemned by Eminent Domain for any public or quasi public use or purpose,
then and in that event, the term of this lease shall cease and terminate from
the date of title vesting in such proceeding and Tenant shall have no claim for
the value of any unexpired term of said lease and assigns to Owner, Tenant's
entire interest in any such award.

Assignment, Mortgage, Etc.:

         11. Tenant, for itself, its heirs, distributees, executors,
administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns, expressly
covenants that it shall not assign, mortgage or encumber this agreement, nor
underlet, or suffer or permit the demised premises or any part thereof to be
used by others, without the prior written consent of Owner in each instance.
Transfer of the majority of the stock of a corporate Tenant shall be deemed an
assignment. If this lease be assigned, or if the demised premises or any part
thereof be underlet or occupied by anybody other than Tenant, Owner may, after
default by Tenant, collect rent from the assignee, under-tenant or occupant, and
apply the net amount collected to the rent herein reserved, but no such
assignment, underletting, occupancy or collection shall be deemed a waiver of
this covenant, or the acceptance of the assignee, under-tenant or occupant as
tenant, or a

                                      - 7 -
<PAGE>   8
release of Tenant from the further performance by Tenant of covenants on the
part of Tenant herein contained. The consent by Owner to an assignment or
underletting shall not in any wise be construed to relieve Tenant from obtaining
the express consent in writing of Owner to any further assignment or
underletting. (See Article 41).

Electric Current:

         12. Rates and conditions in respect to submetering or rent inclusion,
as the case may be, to be added in RIDER attached hereto. Tenant covenants and
agrees that at all times its uses of electric current shall not exceed the
capacity of existing feeders to the building or the risers or wiring
installation and Tenant may not use any electrical equipment which, in Owner's
opinion, reasonably exercised, will overload such installations or interfere
with the use thereof by other tenants of the building. The change at any time of
the character of electric service shall in no wise make Owner liable or
responsible to Tenant, for any loss, damages or expenses which Tenant may
sustain. (See Article 46)

Access to Premises:

         13. Owner or Owner's agents shall have the right (but shall not be
obligated) to enter the demised premises in any emergency at any time, and, at
other reasonable times, to examine the same and to make such repairs,
replacements and improvements as Owner may deem necessary and reasonably
desirable to the demised premises or to any other portion of the building or
which Owner may elect to perform. Tenant shall permit Owner to use and maintain
and replace pipes and conduits in and through the demised premises and to erect
new pipes and conduits therein provided they are concealed within the walls,
floor, or ceiling. Owner may, during the progress of any work in the demised
premises, take all necessary materials and equipment into said premises without
the same constituting an eviction nor shall the Tenant be entitled to any
abatement of rent while such work is in progress nor to any damages by reason or
loss or interruption of business or otherwise. Throughout the term hereof Owner
shall have the right to enter the demised premises at reasonable hours for the
purpose of showing the same to prospective purchasers or mortgagees of the
building, and during the last six months of the term for the purpose of showing
the same to prospective tenants. If Tenant is not present to open and permit an
entry into the premises, Owner or Owner's agents may enter the same whenever
such entry may be necessary or permissible by master key or forcibly and
provided reasonable care is exercised to safeguard Tenant's property, such entry
shall not render Owner or its agents liable therefor, nor in any event shall the
obligations of Tenant hereunder be affected. If during the last month of the
term Tenant shall have removed all or substantially all of Tenant's property
therefrom, Owner may immediately enter, alter, renovate or redecorate the
demised premises without limitation or abatement of rent, or incurring liability
to Tenant for

                                      - 8 -
<PAGE>   9
any compensation and such act shall have no effect on this lease or Tenant's
obligations hereunder.

Vault, Vault Space, Area:

         14. No Vaults, vault space or area, whether or not enclosed or covered,
not within the property line of the building is leased hereunder, anything
contained in or indicated on any sketch, blue print or plan, or anything
contained elsewhere in this lease to the contrary notwithstanding. Owner makes
no representation as to the location of the property line of the building. All
vaults and vault space and all such areas not within the property line of the
building, which Tenant may be permitted to use and/or occupy, is to be used
and/or occupied under a revocable license, and if any such license be revoked,
or if the amount of such space or area be diminished or required by any federal,
state or municipal authority or public utility, Owner shall not be subject to
any liability nor shall Tenant be entitled to any compensation or diminution or
abatement of rent, nor shall such revocation, diminution or requisition be
deemed constructive or actual eviction. Any tax, fee or charge of municipal
authorities for such vault or area shall be paid by Tenant.

Occupancy:

         15. Tenant will not at any time use or occupy the demised premises in
violation of the certificate of occupancy issued for the building of which the
demised premises are a part. Tenant has inspected the premises and accepts them
as is, subject to the riders annexed hereto with respect to Owner's work, if
any. In any event, Owner makes no representations as to the condition of the
premises and Tenant agrees to accept the same subject to violations, whether or
not of record.

Bankruptcy:

         16. (a) Anything elsewhere in this lease to the contrary
notwithstanding, this lease may be cancelled by Owner by the sending of a
written notice to Tenant within a reasonable time after the happening of any one
or more of the following events: (1) the commencement of a case in bankruptcy or
under the laws of any state naming Tenant as the debtor; or (2) the making by
Tenant of an assignment or any other arrangement for the benefit of creditors
under any state statute. Neither Tenant nor any person claiming through or under
Tenant, or by reason of any statute or order of court, shall thereafter be
entitled to possession of the premises demised but shall forthwith quit and
surrender the premises. If this lease shall be assigned in accordance with its
terms, the provisions of this Article 16 shall be applicable only to the party
then owning Tenant's interest in this lease. (b) It is stipulated and agreed
that in the event of the termination of this lease pursuant to (a) hereof, Owner
shall forthwith, notwithstanding any other provisions of this lease to the
contrary, be entitled to recover from Tenant as and for liquidated damages an
amount equal to

                                      - 9 -
<PAGE>   10
the difference between the rent reserved hereunder for the unexpired portion of
the term demised and the fair and reasonable rental value of the demised
premises for the same period. In the computation of such damages the difference
between any installment of rent becoming due hereunder after the date of
termination and the fair and reasonable rental value of the demised premises for
the period for which such installment was payable shall be discounted to the
date of termination at the rate of four percent (4%) per annum. If such premises
or any part thereof be relet by the Owner for the unexpired term of said lease,
or any part thereof, before presentation of proof of such liquidated damages to
any court, commission or tribunal, the amount of rent reserved upon such
reletting shall be deemed to be the fair and reasonable rental value for the
part or the whole of the premises so re-let during the term of the re-letting
shall be deemed to be the fair and reasonable rental value for the part or the
whole of the premises so re-let during the term of the re-letting. Nothing
herein contained shall limit or prejudice the right of the Owner to prove for
and obtain as liquidated damages by reason of such termination, an amount equal
to the maximum allowed by any statute or rule of law in effect at the time when,
and governing the proceedings in which, such damages are to be proved, whether
or not such amount be greater, equal to, or less than the amount of the
difference referred to above. (See Article 55)

Default:

         17. (1) If Tenant defaults in fulfilling any of the covenants of this
lease other than the covenants for the payment of rent or additional rent; or if
the demised premises becomes vacant or deserted; or if any execution or
attachment shall be issued against Tenant or any of Tenant's property whereupon
the demised premises shall be taken or occupied by someone other than Tenant; or
if this lease be rejected under Section 365 of Title 11 of the U.S. Code
(bankruptcy code); or if Tenant shall fail to move into or take possession of
the premises within fifteen (15) days after the commencement of the term of this
lease or if Tenant shall be in default under any other lease for space in the
building, then, in any one or more of such events, upon Owner serving a written
five (5) days notice upon Tenant specifying the nature of said default and upon
the expiration of said five (5) days, if Tenant shall have failed to comply with
or remedy such default, or if the said default or omission complained of shall
be of a nature that the same cannot be completely cured or remedied within said
five (5) day period, and if Tenant shall not have diligently commenced during
such default within such five (5) day period, and shall not thereafter with
reasonable diligence and in good faith, proceed to remedy or cure such default,
then Owner may serve a written three (3) days' notice of cancellation of this
lease upon Tenant, and upon the expiration of said three (3) days this lease and
the term thereunder shall end and expire as fully and completely as if the
expiration of such three (3) day period were the day herein definitely fixed for
the end and expiration of this lease and the term thereof and Tenant shall then
quit and surrender the demised premises to Owner but Tenant shall remain liable
as hereinafter provided.

                                     - 10 -
<PAGE>   11
                  (2) If the notice provided for in (1) hereof shall have been
given, and the term shall expire as aforesaid; or if Tenant shall make default
in the payment of the rent reserved herein or any item of additional rent herein
mentioned or any part of either or in making any other payment herein required,
then and in any of such events Owner may without notice, re-enter the demised
premises either by force or otherwise, and dispossess Tenant by summary
proceedings or otherwise, and the legal representative of Tenant or other
occupant of demised premises and remove their effects and hold the premises as
if this lease had not been made, and Tenant hereby waives the service of notice
of intention to re-enter or to institute legal proceedings to that end. If
Tenant shall make default hereunder prior to the date fixed as the commencement
of any renewal or extension of this lease, Owner may cancel and terminate such
renewal or extension agreement by written notice.

Remedies of Owner and Waiver of Redemption:

         18. In case of any such default, re-entry, expiration and/or dispossess
by summary proceedings or otherwise, (a) the rent shall become due thereupon and
be paid up to the time of such re-entry, dispossess and/or expiration, (b) Owner
may re-let the premises or any part or parts thereof, either in the name of
Owner or otherwise, for a term or terms, which may at Owner's option be less
than or exceed the period which would otherwise have constituted the balance of
the term of this lease and may grant concessions or free rent or charge a higher
rental than that in this lease, and/or (c) Tenant or the legal representatives
of Tenant shall also pay Owner as liquidated damages for the failure of Tenant
to observe and perform said Tenant's covenants herein contained, any deficiency
between the rent hereby reserved and/or covenanted to be paid and the net
amount, if any, of the rents collected on account of the lease or leases of the
demised premises for each month of the period which would otherwise have
constituted the balance of the term of this lease. The failure of Owner to
re-let the premises or any part or parts thereof shall not release or affect
Tenant's liability for damages. In computing such liquidated damages there shall
be added to the said deficiency such expenses as Owner may incur in connection
with re-letting, such as legal expenses, attorneys' fees, brokerage, advertising
and for keeping the demised premises in good order or for preparing the same for
re-letting. Any such liquidated damages shall be paid in monthly installments by
Tenant on the rent day specified in this lease and any suit brought to collect
the amount of the deficiency for any month shall not prejudice in any way the
rights of Owner to collect the deficiency of any subsequent month by a similar
proceeding. Owner, in putting the demised premises in good order or preparing
the same for re-rental may, at Owner's option, make such alterations, repairs,
replacements, and/or decorations in the demised premises as Owner, in Owner's
sole judgment, considers advisable and necessary for the purpose of re-letting
the demised premises, and the making of such alterations, repairs, replacements,
and/or decorations shall not operate or be construed to release Tenant from
liability

                                     - 11 -
<PAGE>   12
hereunder as aforesaid. Owner shall in no event be liable in any way whatsoever
for failure to re-let the demised premises, or in the event that the demised
premises are re-let, for failure to collect the rent thereof under such
re-letting, and in no event shall Tenant be entitled to receive any excess, if
any, of such net rents collected over the sums payable by Tenant to Owner
hereunder. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Tenant of any of the
covenants or provisions hereof, Owner shall have the right of injunction and the
right to invoke any remedy allowed at law or in equity as if re-entry, summary
proceedings and other remedies were not herein provided for. Mention in this
lease of any particular remedy, shall not preclude Owner from any other remedy,
in law or in equity. Tenant hereby expressly waives any and all rights of
redemption granted by or under any present or future laws in the event of Tenant
being evicted or dispossessed for any cause, or in the event of Owner obtaining
possession of demised premises, by reason of the violation by Tenant of any of
the covenants and conditions of this lease, or otherwise.

Fees and Expenses:

         19. If Tenant shall default in the observance or performance of any
term or covenant on Tenant's part to be observed or performed under or by virtue
of any of the terms or provisions in any article of this lease, then, unless
otherwise provided elsewhere in this lease, Owner may immediately or at any time
thereafter and without notice perform the obligation of Tenant thereunder. If
Owner, in connection with the foregoing or in connection with any default by
Tenant in the covenant to pay rent hereunder, makes any expenditures or incurs
any obligations for the payment of money, including but not limited to
attorney's fees, in instituting, prosecuting or defending any action or
proceeding, then Tenant will reimburse Owner for such sums so paid or
obligations incurred with interest and costs. The foregoing expenses incurred by
reason of Tenant's default shall be deemed to be additional rent hereunder and
shall be paid by Tenant to Owner within five (5) days of rendition of any bill
or statement to Tenant therefor. If Tenant's lease term shall have expired at
the time of making of such expenditures or incurring of such obligations, such
sums shall be recoverable by Owner as damages.

Building Alterations and Management:

         20. Owner shall have the right at any time without the same
constituting an eviction and without incurring liability to Tenant therefor to
change the arrangement and/or location of public entrances, passageways, doors,
doorways, corridors, elevators, stairs, toilets or other public parts of the
building and to change the name, number or designation by which the building may
be known. There shall be no allowance to Tenant for diminution of rental value
and no liability on the part of Owner by reason of inconvenience, annoyance or
injury to business arising from Owner or other Tenants making any repairs in the
building or any such alterations, additions and improvements. Furthermore,
Tenant shall not have any claim against

                                     - 12 -
<PAGE>   13
Owner by reason of Owner's imposition of such controls of the manner of access
to the building by Tenant's social or business visitors as the Owner may deem
necessary for the security of the building and its occupants.

No Representations by Owner:

         21. Neither Owner nor Owner's agents have made any representations or
promises with respect to the physical condition of the building, the land upon
which it is erected or the demised premises, the rents, leases, expenses of
operation or any other matter or thing affecting or related to the premises
except as herein expressly set forth and no rights, easements or licenses are
acquired by Tenant by implication or otherwise except as expressly set forth in
the provisions of this lease. Tenant has inspected the building and the demised
premises and is thoroughly acquainted with their condition and agrees to take
the same "as is" and acknowledges that the taking of possession of the demised
premises by Tenant shall be conclusive evidence that the said premises and the
building of which the same form a part were in good and satisfactory condition
at the time such possession was so taken, except as to latent defects. All
understandings and agreements heretofore made between the parties hereto are
merged in this contract, which alone fully and completely expresses the
agreement between Owner and Tenant and any executory agreement hereafter made
shall be ineffective to change, modify, discharge or effect an abandonment of it
in whole or in part, unless such executory agreement is in writing and signed by
the party against whom enforcement of the change, modification, discharge or
abandonment is sought.

End of Term:

         22. Upon the expiration or other termination of the term of this lease,
Tenant shall quit and surrender to Owner the demised premises, broom clean, in
good order and condition, ordinary wear and damages which Tenant is not required
to repair as provided elsewhere in this lease excepted, and Tenant shall remove
all its property. Tenant's obligation to observe or perform this covenant shall
survive the expiration or other termination of this lease. If the last day of
the term of this Lease or any renewal thereof, falls on Sunday, this lease shall
expire at noon on the preceding Saturday unless it be a legal holiday in which
case it shall expire at noon on the preceding business day.

Quiet Enjoyment:

         23. Owner covenants and agrees with Tenant that upon Tenant paying the
rent and additional rent and observing and performing all the terms, covenants
and conditions, on Tenant's part to be observed and performed, Tenant may
peaceably and quietly enjoy the premises hereby demised, subject, nevertheless,
to the terms

                                     - 13 -
<PAGE>   14
and conditions of this lease including, but not limited to, Article 31 hereof
and to the ground leases, underlying leases and mortgages hereinbefore
mentioned.

Failure to Give Possession:

         24. If Owner is unable to give possession of the demised premises on
the date of the commencement of the term hereof, because of the holding-over or
retention of possession of any tenant, undertenant or occupants or if the
demised premises are located in a building being constructed, because such
building has not been sufficiently completed to make the premises ready for
occupancy or because of the fact that a certificate of occupancy has not been
procured or for any other reason, Owner shall not be subject to any liability
for failure to give possession on said date and the validity of the lease shall
not be impaired under such circumstances, nor shall the same be construed in any
wise to extend the term of this lease, but the rent payable hereunder shall be
abated (provided Tenant is not responsible for Owner's inability to obtain
possession) until after Owner shall have given Tenant written notice that the
premises are substantially ready for Tenant's occupancy. If permission is given
to Tenant to enter into the possession of the demised premises or to occupy
premises other than the demised premises prior to the date specified as the
commencement of the term of this lease, Tenant covenants and agrees that such
occupancy shall be deemed to be under all the terms, covenants, conditions and
provisions of this lease, except as to the covenant to pay rent. The provisions
of this article are intended to constitute "an express provision to the
contrary" within the meaning of Section 223-a of the New York Real Property Law.

No Waiver:

         25. The failure of Owner to seek redress for violation of, or to insist
upon the strict performance of any covenant or condition of this lease or of any
of the Rules or Regulations, set forth or hereafter adopted by Owner, shall not
prevent a subsequent act which would have originally constituted a violation
from having all the force and effect of an original violation. The receipt by
Owner of rent with knowledge of the breach of any covenant of this lease shall
not be deemed a waiver of such breach and no provision of this lease shall be
deemed to have been waived by Owner unless such waiver be in writing signed by
Owner. No payment by Tenant or receipt by Owner of a lesser amount than the
monthly rent herein stipulated shall be deemed to be other than on account of
the earliest stipulated rent, nor shall any endorsement or statement of any
check or any letter accompanying any check or payment as rent be deemed an
accord and satisfaction, and Owner may accept such check or payment without
prejudice to Owner's right to recover the balance of such rent or pursue any
other remedy in this lease provided. No act or thing done by Owner or Owner's
agents during the term hereby demised shall be deemed an acceptance of a
surrender of said premises, and no agreement to accept such surrender shall be
valid unless in writing signed by Owner. No employee of

                                     - 14 -
<PAGE>   15
Owner or Owner's agent shall have any power to accept the keys of said premises
prior to the termination of the lease and the delivery of keys to any such agent
or employee shall not operate as a termination of the lease or a surrender of
the premises.

Waiver of Trial by Jury:

         26. It is mutually agreed by and between Owner and Tenant that the
respective parties hereto shall and they hereby do waive trial by jury in any
action, proceeding or counterclaim brought by either of the parties hereto
against the other (except for personal injury or property damage) on any matters
whatsoever arising out of or in any way connected with this lease, the
relationship of Owner and Tenant, Tenant's use of or occupancy of said premises,
and any emergency statutory or any other statutory remedy. It is further
mutually agreed that in the event Owner commences any summary proceeding for
possession of the premises, Tenant will not interpose any counterclaim of
whatever nature or description in any such proceeding including a counterclaim
under Article 4.

Inability to Perform:

         27. This Lease and the obligation of Tenant to pay rent hereunder and
perform all of the other covenants and agreements hereunder on part of Tenant to
be performed shall in no wise be affected, impaired or excused because Owner is
unable to fulfill any of its obligations under this lease or to supply or is
delayed in supplying any service expressly or impliedly to be supplied or is
unable to make, or is delayed in making any repair, additions, alterations or
decorations or is unable to supply or is delayed in supplying any equipment or
fixtures if Owner is prevented or delayed from so doing by reason of strike or
labor troubles or any cause whatsoever including, but not limited to, government
preemption in connection with a National Emergency or by reason of any rule,
order or regulation of any department or subdivision thereof of any government
agency or by reason of the conditions of supply and demand which have been or
are affected by war or other emergency.

Bills and Notices:

         28. Except as otherwise in this lease provided, a bill, statement,
notice or communication which Owner may desire or be required to give to Tenant,
shall be deemed sufficiently given or rendered if, in writing, delivered to
Tenant personally or sent by registered or certified mail addressed to Tenant at
the building of which the demised premises form a part or at the last known
residence address or business address of Tenant or left at any of the aforesaid
premises addressed to Tenant, and the time of the rendition of such bill or
statement and of the giving of such notice or communication shall be deemed to
be the time when the same is delivered to Tenant, mailed, or left at the
premises as herein provided. Any notice by Tenant to Owner

                                     - 15 -
<PAGE>   16
must be served by registered or certified mail addressed to Owner at the address
first hereinabove given or at such other address as Owner shall designate by
written notice.

Services Provided by Owners:

         29. As long as Tenant is not in default under any of the covenants of
this lease, Owners shall provide: (a) necessary elevator facilities on business
days from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and have one elevator subject to call at all other
times; (b) heat to the demised premises when and as required by law, on business
days from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; (c) water for ordinary lavatory purposes, but if
Tenant uses or consumes water for any other purposes or in unusual quantities
(of which fact Owner shall be the sole judge), Owner may install a water meter
at Tenant's expense which Tenant shall thereafter maintain at Tenant's expense
in good working order and repair to register such water consumption and Tenant
shall pay for water consumed as shown on said meter as additional rent as and
when bills are rendered; (d) cleaning service for the demised premises on
business days at Owner's expense provided that the same are kept in order by
Tenant. If, however, said premises are to be kept clean by Tenant, it shall be
done at Tenant's sole expense, in a manner satisfactory to Owner and no one
other than persons approved by Owner shall be permitted to enter said premises
or the building of which they are a part for such purpose. Tenant shall pay
Owner the cost of removal of any of Tenant's refuse and rubbish from the
building; (e) If the demised premises is serviced by Owner's air
conditioning/cooling and ventilating system, air conditioning/cooling will be
furnished to tenant from May 15th through September 30th on business days
(Mondays through Fridays, holidays excepted) from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and
ventilation will be furnished on business days during the aforesaid hours except
when air conditioning/cooling is being furnished as aforesaid. If Tenant
requires air conditioning/cooling or ventilation for more extended hours or on
Saturdays, Sundays or on holidays, as defined under Owner's contract with
Operating Engineers Local 94-94A, Owner will furnish the same at Tenant's
expense. RIDER to be added in respect to rates and conditions for such
additional service; (f) Owner reserves the right to stop services of the
heating, elevators, plumbing, air-conditioning, power systems or cleaning or
other services, if any, when necessary by reason of accident or for repairs,
alterations, replacements or improvements necessary or desirable in the judgment
of Owner for as long as may be reasonably required by reason thereof. If the
building of which the demised premises are a part supplies manually-operated
elevator service. Owner at any time may substitute automatic-control elevator
service and upon ten days' written notice to Tenant, proceed with alterations
necessary therefor without in any wise affecting this lease or the obligation of
Tenant hereunder. The same shall be done with a minimum of inconvenience to
Tenant and Owner shall pursue the alteration with due diligence.

                                     - 16 -
<PAGE>   17
Captions:

         30. The Captions are inserted only as a matter of convenience and for
reference and in no way define, limit or describe the scope of this lease nor
the intent of any provisions thereof.

Definitions:

         31. The term "office", or "offices", wherever used in this lease, shall
not be construed to mean premises used as a store or stores, for the sale or
display, at any time, of goods, wares or merchandise, of any kind, or as a
restaurant, shop, booth, bootblack or other stand, barber shop, or for other
similar purposes or for manufacturing. The term "Owner" means a landlord or
lessor, and as used in this lease means only the owner, or the mortgagee in
possession, for the time being of the land and building (or the owner of a lease
of the building or of the land and building) of which the demised premises form
a part, so that in the event of any sale or sales of said land and building or
of said lease, or in the event of a lease of said building, or of the land and
building, the said Owner shall be and hereby is entirely freed and relieved of
all covenants and obligations of Owner hereunder, and it shall be deemed and
construed without further agreement between the parties or their successors in
interest, or between the parties and the purchaser, at any such sale, or the
said lessee of the building, or of the land and building, that the purchaser or
the lessee of the building has assumed and agreed to carry out any and all
covenants and obligations of Owner, hereunder. The words "re-enter" and
"re-entry" as used in this lease are not restricted to their technical legal
meaning. The term "business days" as used in this lease shall exclude Saturdays,
Sundays and all days observed by the State or Federal Government as legal
holidays and those other designated as holidays by the applicable building
service union employees service contract or by the applicable Operating
Engineers contract with respect to HVAC service.

Adjacent Excavation -- Shoring:

         32. If an excavation shall be made upon land adjacent to the demised
premises, or shall be authorized to be made, Tenant shall afford to the person
causing or authorized to cause such excavation, license to enter upon the
demised premises for the purpose of doing such work as said person shall deem
necessary to preserve the wall or the building of which demised premises form a
part from injury or damage and to support the same by proper foundations without
any claim for damages or indemnity against Owner, or diminution or abatement of
rent.

Rules and Regulations:

         33. Tenant and Tenant's servants, employees, agents, visitors, and
licensees shall observe faithfully, and comply strictly with, the Rules and
Regulations and such

                                     - 17 -
<PAGE>   18
other and further reasonable Rules and Regulations as Owner or Owner's agents
may from time to time adopt. Notice of any additional rules or regulations shall
be given in such manner as Owner may elect. In case Tenant disputes the
reasonableness of any additional Rule or Regulation hereafter made or adopted by
Owner or Owner's agents, the parties hereto agree to submit the question of the
reasonableness of such Rule or Regulation for decision to the New York office of
the American Arbitration Association, whose determination shall be final and
conclusive upon the parties hereto. The right to dispute the reasonableness of
any additional Rule or Regulation upon Tenant's part shall be deemed waived
unless the same shall be asserted by service of a notice, in writing upon Owner
within ten (10) days after the giving of notice thereof. Nothing in this lease
contained shall be construed to impose upon Owner any duty or obligation to
enforce the Rules and Regulations or terms, covenants or conditions in any other
lease, as against any other tenant and Owner shall not be liable to Tenant for
violation of the same by any other tenant, its servants, employees, agents,
visitors or licensees.

Security:

         34. Tenant has deposited with Owner the sum of $27,712.30 as security
for the faithful performance and observance by Tenant of the terms, provisions
and conditions of this lease; it is agreed that in the event Tenant defaults in
respect of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this lease, including,
but not limited to, the payment of rent and additional rent, Owner may use,
apply or retain the whole or any part of the security so deposited to the extent
required for the payment of any rent and additional rent or any other sum as to
which Tenant is in default or for any sum which Owner may expend or may be
required to expend by reason of Tenant's default in respect of any of the terms,
covenants and conditions of this lease, including but not limited to, any
damages or deficiency in the re-letting of the premises, whether such damages or
deficiency accrued before or after summary proceedings or other re-entry by
Owner. In the event that Tenant shall fully and faithfully comply with all of
the terms, provisions, covenants and conditions of this lease, the security
shall be returned to Tenant after the date fixed as the end of the Lease and
after delivery of entire possession of the demised premises to Owner. In the
event of a sale of the land and building or leasing of the building, of which
the demised premises form a part, Owner shall have the right to transfer the
security to the vendee or lessee and Owner shall thereupon be released by Tenant
from all liability for the return of such security; and Tenant agrees to look to
the new Owner solely for the return of said security, and it is agreed that the
provisions hereof shall apply to every transfer or assignment made of the
security to a new Owner. Tenant further covenants that it will not assign or
encumber or attempt to assign or encumber the monies deposited herein as
security and that neither Owner nor its successors or assigns shall be bound by
any such assignment, encumbrance, attempted assignment or attempted encumbrance.

                                     - 18 -
<PAGE>   19
Estoppel Certificate:

         35.      (See Article 43)

Successors and Assigns:

         36. The covenants, conditions and agreements contained in this lease
shall bind and inure to the benefit of Owner and Tenant and their respective
heirs, distributees, executors, administrators, successors, and except as
otherwise provided in this lease, their assigns.

              SEE RIDER PAGES ANNEXED HERETO AND MADE A PART HEREOF
                           CONTAINING ARTICLES 37 - 56

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Owner and Tenant have respectively signed and
sealed this lease as of the day and year first above written.

                                             521 FIFTH AVENUE ASSOCIATES,

                                             Owner

                                             By: /s/ Larry A. Silverstein
                                                -------------------------------
                                                               General Partner

Witness for Owner:

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

Witness for Tenant:                          THE EDISON PROJECT, L.P., Tenant

                                             By: /s/ Christopher Whittle
------------------------                         -------------------------------
                                                      Name: Christopher Whittle
                                                      Title: General Partner

                                     - 19 -
<PAGE>   20

                            FIRST AMENDMENT OF LEASE

     AGREEMENT, dated as of the 6th day of June, 1996, by and between 521 FIFTH
AVENUE ASSOCIATES ("LANDLORD"), a New York limited partnership, with its
principal place of business at 521 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10175, and
THE EDISON PROJECT, L.P. ("TENANT"), a New York limited partnership, having an
office at 521 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10175.

                               STATEMENT OF FACTS

     By Lease dated as of April 4, 1995 (the "ORIGINAL LEASE"), by and between
Landlord and Tenant, Landlord leased to Tenant and Tenant hired from Landlord
certain premises in the building (the "BUILDING") known as 521 Fifth Avenue, New
York, New York, consisting of a portion of the sixteenth (16th) floor (the
"ORIGINAL PREMISES").

     The Original Lease and any and all amendments and modifications thereof are
hereinafter collectively referred to as the "LEASE". Landlord and Tenant now
desire to amend the Lease upon the terms hereinafter contained.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the Lease and the mutual covenants
herein contained, Landlord and Tenant hereby agree as follows:

          1. DEFINED TERMS:

             A. Unless the context otherwise clearly indicates a contrary intent
or unless specifically otherwise provided herein, each term used in this
Agreement which is defined in the Lease shall be deemed to have the meaning set
forth in the Lease.

          2. EXTENSION OF LEASE TERM:

             A. The term of the Lease is hereby extended for a period of five
(5) months, commencing on AUGUST 1, 1997 and expiring on DECEMBER 31, 1997 (the
"EXPIRATION DATE"), or shall expire on such earlier date upon which said term
may expire or be cancelled or terminated pursuant to any of the conditions or
covenants of the Lease as hereby amended or pursuant to law.

          3. ADDITIONAL PREMISES:

             A. For the purposes of this Agreement, the "ADDITIONAL PREMISES"
shall mean that certain portion of the sixteenth (16th) floor of the Building as
<PAGE>   21
indicated by cross-hatch markings on the floor plan annexed hereto as EXHIBIT A
and made a part hereof.

             B. Effective throughout the period (the "ADDITIONAL PREMISES TERM")
commencing on JULY 1, 1996 (the "ADDITIONAL PREMISES COMMENCEMENT DATE") and
ending on the Expiration Date, both dates inclusive:

                i. the Lease is hereby amended by adding the Additional
             Premises to the Demised Premises; and

                ii. Tenant shall use and occupy the Additional Premises under
             the same terms, covenants and conditions provided in the Lease,
             except as otherwise herein amended.

          4. FIXED RENT:

             A. Effective throughout the period commencing on the Additional
Premises Commencement Date and ending on the Expiration Date, both dates
inclusive, the fixed rent payable pursuant to the Lease shall, subject to
adjustment as provided in the Lease, be increased by the annual amount of
Fifty-Seven Thousand Two Hundred Sixty-Two and 45/100 ($57,262,.45) Dollars
($4,771.84 per month) (which increase shall herein be referred to as the "FIXED
A/P RENT").

             B. Effective as of the Additional Premises Commencement Date and
provided Tenant is not then in default under the terms, covenants and conditions
of this Agreement and/or the Lease, Tenant is herewith granted a fixed rent
concession solely in connection with the Fixed A/P Rent payable as set forth in
Paragraph 4.A of this Agreement for the Additional Premises, solely for the two
(2) month period (the "FREE FIXED A/P RENT PERIOD") commencing on the Additional
Premises Commencement Date and ending on the day next preceding the two (2)
month anniversary of the Additional Premises Commencement Date; provided,
however, Tenant shall nevertheless be obligated to pay to Landlord all
additional rents and other charges payable under the terms of this Agreement
(including electricity charges) during the Free Fixed A/P Rent Period, and
provided further that Tenant shall pay to Landlord all of the fixed rent with
respect to the Original Premises and all additional rents and other charges
payable under the Lease during the Free Fixed A/P Rent Period. Except for the
Fixed A/P Rent concession as herein provided, Tenant shall use and occupy the
Demised Premises pursuant to all of the other terms, covenants and conditions of
the Lease.

                                       2
<PAGE>   22
          5. TENANT'S PROPORTIONATE SHARE:

             A. Effective as of the Additional Premises Commencement Date and
ending on the Expiration Date, Sections 39.A.4 and 40.A.2 of the Original Lease
shall be amended so as to increase the "Tenant's Proportionate Share" by adding
the percentage "0.73%" thereto.

          6. ELECTRIC CURRENT:

             A. Effective as of the Additional Premises Commencement Date and
ending on the Expiration Date, the provisions of Article 46 of the Original
Lease (which is captioned "Electric Current") shall be amended by the deletion
of the number "8,052" from Paragraph 46.B.2. and the insertion of the number
"10,825" in lieu thereof.

          7. LAYOUT AND FINISH:

             A. Any and all provisions of the Lease which provide for the
performance by Landlord of any work in the Original Premises (such as, by way of
example, the "Tenant's Initial Work" pursuant to Article 50 of the Original
Lease) shall apply solely to the Original Premises and shall not apply to the
Additional Premises. Accordingly, Tenant acknowledges that Landlord shall have
no obligation to perform in the Additional Premises any of the Landlord's work
required in connection with the Original Premises, and there shall be no
contribution or allowance payable by Landlord with respect to all or any portion
of the Additional Premises.

          8. AS-IS POSSESSION/TENANT'S A/P WORK:

             A. Tenant acknowledges that it has fully inspected the Additional
Premises and Tenant agrees to accept possession thereof in its then "as-is"
physical condition as of the Additional Premises Commencement Date. It is
understood and agreed that Landlord shall not be obligated to make any
improvements, alterations or repairs to the Additional Premises or incur any
expense to prepare the Additional Premises for Tenant's occupancy thereof. The
taking of possession of the Additional Premises by Tenant for the term herein
demised shall be conclusive evidence as against Tenant that the Additional
Premises and the Building were in good and satisfactory condition as of the time
such possession was taken. Tenant acknowledges that Landlord and Landlord's
agent have made no representations or promises in regard to the Additional
Premises for the term herein demised.

             B. Tenant shall, at Tenant's sole cost and expense, and as part of
Tenant's Changes (as defined in Article 42), perform all of the work (the
"TENANT'S A/P WORK") in the entire Additional Premises necessary to demise the
Additional Premises

                                       3
<PAGE>   23
such that the Demised Premises and the Additional Premises shall together
constitute a single, self-contained rental unit and for Tenant's occupancy
thereof, subject to the provisions of this Agreement and the Lease. Tenant
agrees with respect to its activities and work that it will conform to all of
Landlord's labor regulations and shall not do or permit anything to be done that
might create any work stoppage, picketing or other labor disruption or dispute.
Tenant agrees that it will, prior to the commencement of any work in the
Additional Premises, deliver to Landlord all policies of insurance required to
be supplied to Landlord by Tenant pursuant to the terms of the Lease.

              C. Tenant, at Tenant's sole cost and expense, shall prepare a
final plan or final set of plans (which said final plan or final set of plans,
as the case may be, is hereinafter called the "A/P PLANS") which shall contain
complete information (including engineering required) and dimensions necessary
and sufficient for the construction and finishing of the Additional Premises.
The A/P Plans shall be submitted by Tenant to Landlord for Landlord's review and
approval on or before the date (the "PLANS DELIVERY DATE") of the execution and
delivery of this Agreement by Tenant. Any revisions to the A/P Plans required by
Landlord shall be performed by Tenant within three (3) days after demand by
landlord.

              D. Tenant agrees to utilize Landlord's designated general
contractor for the performance of the Tenant's A/P Work. Tenant further agrees
that the Tenant's A/P Work shall be completed on or before the date which shall
be sixty (60) days after the Additional Premises Commencement Date.

          9.  DELIVERY OF POSSESSION:

              If Landlord is unable to give possession of the Additional
Premises to Tenant on the Additional Premises to Tenant on the Additional
Premises Commencement Date because of the holding-over or retention of
possession of any tenant, undertenant or occupants, or for any other reason
beyond Landlord's reasonable control, Landlord shall not be subject to any
liability for failure to give possession on said date and the validity of this
Agreement and the Lease shall not be impaired under such circumstances, nor
shall the same be construed in any way to extend the Additional Premises Term or
the term of the Lease, but the Additional Premises Commencement Date shall be
deemed extended until the date on which Landlord shall have delivered possession
thereof to Tenant (provided Tenant is not responsible for the inability to
obtain possession). The provisions of this Paragraph are intended to constitute
"an express provision to the contrary" within the meaning of Section 223-a of
the New York Real Property Law.

          10. SECURITY DEPOSIT:

                                       4
<PAGE>   24
              A. In addition to the security previously deposited with Landlord
pursuant to the provisions of Article 34 of the Original Lease, concurrently
with Tenant's execution of this Agreement, Tenant shall deposit with Landlord
the sum of Nine Thousand Five Hundred Forty-Four and 00/100 ($9,544.00) Dollars,
as additional security for the full and punctual performance by Tenant of all of
the terms of the Lease (including this Agreement), by check (subject to
collection).

              B. Effective as of the Additional Premises Commencement Date,
Article 34 of the Original Lease (which is captioned "Security") is hereby
amended by increasing the amount of the security deposit by adding the amount of
Nine Thousand Five Hundred Forty-Four and 00/100 ($9,544.00) Dollars thereto.

          11. BROKER:

              Tenant represents and warrants that it neither consulted nor
negotiated with any broker or finder with regard consummating this Agreement.
Tenant agrees to indemnify and hold Landlord harmless from any damages, costs
and expenses suffered by Landlord by reason of any breach of the foregoing
representation.

          12. MISCELLANEOUS:

              A. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, all of the
terms, provisions, covenants and conditions of the Lease shall remain and
continue unmodified and in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and
confirmed in all respects.

              B. This Agreement shall not be changed, modified or cancelled
orally. This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties hereto, their
respective heirs, administrators, successors and, as permitted, assigns.

              C. This Agreement shall in all respects and in all events be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York
(excluding, however, its conflict of laws provisions).

              D. This Agreement is being tendered to Tenant without obligation
on Landlord's part and in no event shall it be deemed to be binding upon
Landlord or give Tenant any rights unless and until Landlord shall have executed
the same and delivered a copy to Tenant.

                                       5
<PAGE>   25
              IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Landlord and Tenant have respectively executed
this First Amendment of Lease as of the day and year first above written.

                                  521 FIFTH AVENUE ASSOCIATES, Landlord

                                  By: /s/ Larry A. Silverstein
                                      -------------------------------------
                                      Larry A. Silverstein, General Partner

                                  THE EDISON PROJECT, L.P.,  Tenant

                                  By: /s/ H. Christopher Whittle
                                      -------------------------------------
                                      Name: H. Christopher Whittle
                                      Title:  General Partner

                                      Tenant's Federal Employer
                                      I.D. Number: 621 488 748

                                       6
<PAGE>   26

                            SECOND AMENDMENT OF LEASE

         AGREEMENT, dated as of the 8th day of December, 1997, between 521 FIFTH
AVENUE ASSOCIATES, a New York limited partnership, having an office at 521 Fifth
Avenue, New York, New York 10175 (hereinafter called "LANDLORD"), and THE EDISON
PROJECT, L.P., a New York limited partnership, having an office at 521 Fifth
Avenue, New York, New York 10175 (hereinafter called "TENANT").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS:

         1. Landlord and Tenant executed that certain lease dated as of April 4,
1995 (said lease as amended by First Amendment of Lease dated as of June 6, 1996
(the "FIRST AMENDMENT") is hereinafter called the "ORIGINAL LEASE"), covering a
certain portion of the sixteenth (16th) floor, as more particularly described in
the Original Lease (hereinafter called the "PRESENT PREMISES") , in the building
known as 521 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York (hereinafter called the
"BUILDING"), for a term expiring on December 31, 1997;

         2. The Original Lease and any and all amendments and modifications
thereof are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "LEASE"; and

         3. The parties now desire to amend the Lease by extending the term
thereof, adding additional space to the Present Premises, and in other respects
as hereinafter provided.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained, it is agreed as follows:

         FIRST: The term of the Lease is hereby extended for a period of TEN
(10) YEARS (hereinafter called the "EXTENDED TERM") commencing on January 1,
1998 (hereinafter called the "EXTENDED TERM COMMENCEMENT DATE") and expiring on
December 31, 2007 (hereinafter called the "EXTENDED TERM EXPIRATION DATE"),
unless sooner terminated pursuant to any of the terms, covenants and conditions
contained in the Lease or pursuant to law, upon all the terms, covenants and
conditions contained in the Lease, except as expressly provided herein.

         SECOND: The Lease is hereby amended, effective from the Additional
Premises Commencement Date (as defined in Article FIFTH of this Agreement), so
that the Present Premises shall include that portion of the fifteenth (15th)
floor of the Building as approximately shown by the diagonal markings on the
rental plan annexed hereto as Exhibit "A" and made a part hereof (hereinafter
called the "ADDITIONAL PREMISES"). Tenant shall use and occupy the Additional
Premises from and after the Additional Premises Commencement Date under the same
terms, covenants and conditions as provided in the Lease.
<PAGE>   27
         THIRD:  Effective from the Extended Term Commencement Date:

                  1. The "fixed rent" as said term is defined in the Lease shall
         be the sum of (i) TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE
         AND 00/100 ($270,625. 00) DOLLARS per annum during the period
         commencing on the Extended Term Commencement Date and ending on
         December 31, 2004, both dates inclusive, and (ii) TWO HUNDRED
         NINETY-TWO THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE AND 00/100 ($292,275.00)
         DOLLARS per annum during the balance of the Extended Term.

                           The fixed rent as modified shall be paid in
         accordance with the terms of the Lease, in equal monthly installments
         in advance on the first day of each month during the Extended Term,
         without any set off or deduction whatsoever.

                  2. Article 6 of the lease captioned "REQUIREMENTS OF LAW, FIRE
         INSURANCE, FLOOD INSURANCE" is hereby amended by deleting (i) the words
         "use or" set forth in the beginning of the thirteenth line thereof and
         (ii) the parenthetical "(including the use permitted under the lease)"
         commencing in the thirteenth line thereof.

                  3. Article 13 of the Lease captioned "ACCESS TO PREMISES" is
         hereby amended by (i) inserting the following parenthetical after the
         word "times" in the fourth line thereof: "(upon reasonable prior notice
         to Tenant which may be given orally)", and (ii) inserting the following
         text at the end of such Article: "Landlord agrees that while performing
         such repairs, replacements or improvements under the terms and
         provisions of this Article, Landlord shall use reasonable efforts to
         minimize interfering with Tenant's business or disrupting the same,
         provided the foregoing shall not increase the cost thereof to Landlord
         or cause Landlord to incur additional costs for labor at overtime or
         premium rates."

                  4. Article 20 of the Lease captioned "BUILDING ALTERATIONS AND
         MANAGEMENT" is hereby amended by inserting the following text after the
         word "known" in the seventh line thereof: "provided use of, or access
         to, the demised premises or the building is not materially adversely
         affected thereby."

                  5. Article 39 to the Lease captioned "ESCALATION FOR INCREASE
         IN REAL ESTATE TAXES" is hereby amended by (i) inserting the following
         text after the word "Landlord" in the sixteenth line thereof: "and
         imposed on owners of similar commercial real property as a class," and
         (ii) deleting Paragraph A.3 thereof in its entirety and inserting the
         following in lieu thereof:

                                       -2-
<PAGE>   28
                  "3. 'Base Tax' shall mean the average of the Taxes for the Tax
         Years ending June 30, 1998 and June 30, 1999 (the 'Base Tax Year')."

                  6. Article 40 of the Lease captioned "ESCALATION FOR OPERATING
         EXPENSES" is hereby deleted in its entirety and the following shall be
         inserted in lieu thereof:

                  "40.     ESCALATION FOR WAGE RATES:

                           A.       For the purposes of this lease:

                                    1. The term "Escalation Year" shall mean
         each calendar year which shall include any part of the term of this
         lease.

                                    2. The term "R.A.B." shall mean the Realty
         Advisory Board on Labor Relations, Incorporated, or its successor.

                                    3. The term "Local 32B" shall mean Local
         32B-32J of the Building Service Employees International Union, AFL-CIO,
         or its successor.

                                    4. The term "Class A Office Buildings" shall
         mean office buildings in the same class or category as the building
         under any building operating agreement between R.A.B. and Local 32B,
         regardless of the designation given to such office buildings in any
         such agreement.

                                    5. The term "Wage Rates" with respect to any
         Escalation Year shall mean the regular average hourly wage rate
         required to be paid to Porters in Class A Office Buildings pursuant to
         any agreement between R.A.B. and Local 32B in effect during such
         Escalation Year, provided that if any such agreement shall require
         Porters to be regularly employed on days or during hours when overtime
         or other premium pay rates are in effect, then the term "regular
         average hourly wage rate" shall mean the regular average hourly wage
         rate for the hours in a calendar week which Porters are required to be
         regularly employed (whether or not actually at work in the building),
         e.g., if, for example, an agreement between R.A.B. and Local 32B would
         require the regular employment of Porters for forty (40) hours during a
         calendar week at a regular hourly wage rate of $4.00 for the first
         thirty (30) hours and at an overtime hourly average wage of $5.00 for
         the remaining ten (10) hours, then the regular average hourly wage rate
         under this subsection would be the sum arrived at by dividing the total
         weekly average wages of $170.00 by the total number of required hours
         of employment which is forty (40) and resulting in a regular average
         hourly wage rate of $4.25. The computation of the regular average
         hourly wage rate shall be on the same basis whether based on an hourly
         or other pay scale but predicated on the number of hours in such

                                       -3-
<PAGE>   29
         respective work weeks, whether paid by landlord or any independent
         contractor. If there is no such agreement in effect as of the date of
         Landlord's statement on which such regular average hourly wage rate is
         determinable, the computations shall be made on the basis of the
         regular average hourly wage rate being paid by Landlord or by the
         contractor performing porter or cleaning services for Landlord as of
         the date of such Landlord's statement and appropriate retroactive
         adjustments shall be made when the regular average hourly wage rate
         paid as of such Landlord's statement is finally determined. If length
         of service shall be a factor in determining any element of wages, it
         shall be conclusively presumed that all employees have five (5) years
         of service.

                                    6. The term "Porters" shall mean that
         classification of employee engaged in the general maintenance and
         operation of Class A Office Buildings most nearly comparable to the
         classification now applicable to porters in the current agreements
         between R.A.B. and Local 32B (which classification is presently termed
         "others" in said agreement).

                           B. 1. For each Escalation Year commencing during the
         term of this lease following December 1998, Tenant shall pay ("Tenant's
         Operating Payment") a sum equal to 10,825 multiplied by 100% times the
         number of cents (inclusive of any fractions of a cent) of any increase
         in Wage Rates above those in effect as of December 1998. Any such
         payment shall be effective as of, and retroactive to, if necessary, the
         date of such increase in Wage Rates.

                                    2. Landlord shall furnish to Tenant, prior
         to the commencement of each Escalation Year, a written statement
         setting forth Landlord's reasonable estimate of Tenant's Operating
         Payment for such Escalation Year. Tenant shall pay to Landlord on the
         first day of each month during such Escalation Year an amount equal to
         one-twelfth (1/12th) of Landlord's estimate of Tenant's Operating
         Payment for such Escalation Year. If, however, Landlord shall furnish
         any such estimate for an Escalation Year subsequent to the commencement
         thereof, then (a) until the first day of the month following the month
         in which such estimate is furnished to Tenant, Tenant shall pay to
         Landlord on the first day of each month an amount equal to the monthly
         sum payable by Tenant to Landlord under this Paragraph B in respect of
         the last month of the preceding Escalation Year; (b) promptly after
         such estimate is furnished to Tenant or together therewith, Landlord
         shall give notice to Tenant stating whether the installments of
         Tenant's Operating Payment previously made for such Escalation Year
         were greater or less than the installments of the Tenant's Operating
         Payment to be made for such Escalation Year in accordance with such
         estimate, and (i) if there shall be a deficiency, Tenant shall pay the
         amount thereof within ten (10) days after demand therefor, or (ii) if
         there shall have been an overpayment, Landlord

                                       -4-
<PAGE>   30
         shall either refund to Tenant the amount thereof or permit Tenant to
         credit the amount thereof against the next subsequent payments of rent
         under this lease; and (c) on the first day of the month following the
         month in which such estimate is furnished to Tenant, and monthly
         thereafter throughout the remainder of such Escalation Year, Tenant
         shall pay to Landlord an amount equal to one-twelfth (1/12th) of
         Tenant's Operating Payment shown on such estimate. Landlord may at any
         time or from time to time furnish to Tenant a revised statement of
         Landlord's estimate of Tenant's Operating Payment for such Escalation
         Year; and in such case, Tenant's Operating Payment for such Escalation
         Year shall be adjusted and paid or refunded, as the case may be,
         substantially in the same manner as provided in the preceding sentence.

                                    3. After the end of each Escalation Year
         Landlord shall furnish to Tenant a Landlord's statement for such
         Escalation Year. If the Landlord statement shall show that the sums
         paid by Tenant under this Section exceeded Tenant's Operating Payment
         paid by Tenant for such Escalation Year, Landlord shall either refund
         to Tenant the amount of such excess or permit Tenant to credit the
         amount of such excess against subsequent payments of rent; and if the
         Landlord's statement for such Escalation Year shall show that the sums
         so paid by Tenant were less than Tenant's Operating Payment paid by
         Tenant for such Escalation Year, Tenant shall pay the amount of such
         deficiency within ten (10) days after demand therefor. Landlord shall
         use reasonable efforts to furnish a Landlord's Statement for any
         Escalation Year pursuant to this Paragraph 3 within three (3) months
         following the end of each Escalation Year, provided Tenant shall have
         delivered a separate written request for each such Landlord's
         Statement. Landlord's failure to furnish Landlord's Statement pursuant
         to the immediately preceding sentence shall not affect Tenant's
         obligations to make payments pursuant to this Article.

                                    4. The computation under this Article is
         intended to constitute a formula for an agreed rental escalation and
         may or may not constitute an actual reimbursement to Landlord for its
         costs and expenses paid by Landlord with respect to the building.

                                    5. If the Commencement Date or the
         Expiration Date shall occur on a date other than January 1 or December
         31, respectively, any additional rent under this Article for the
         Escalation Year in which such Commencement Date or Expiration Date
         shall occur shall be apportioned in that percentage which the number of
         days in the period from the Commencement Date to December 31 or from
         January 1 to the Expiration Date, as the case may be, both inclusive,
         shall bear to the total number of days in such Escalation Year. In the
         event of a termination of this lease, any additional rent under this
         Article shall be paid or adjusted within thirty (30) days after
         submission of a Landlord's Statement. In no event shall fixed rent

                                       -5-
<PAGE>   31
         ever be reduced by operation of this Article and the rights and
         obligations of Landlord and Tenant under the provisions of this Article
         with respect to any additional rent shall survive the termination of
         this lease.

                           C. Landlord's failure to render Landlord's statements
         with respect to any Escalation Year shall not prejudice Landlord's
         right to thereafter render a Landlord's statement with respect thereto
         or with respect to any subsequent Escalation Year. Nothing herein
         contained shall restrict Landlord from issuing Landlord's statements at
         any time there is an increase in Wage Rates during any Escalation Year
         or any time thereafter."

                  7. Article 41 of the Lease captioned "AMENDING ARTICLE 11" is
         hereby amended by (i) deleting the following text set forth in the
         first two lines of Paragraphs D.1 and D.2 thereof: "Tenant may, with
         Landlord's prior written consent, which consent shall not be
         unreasonably withheld" and inserting the following text in lieu
         thereof: "Tenant may, without Landlord's consent, but upon not less
         than fifteen (15) days' prior written notice to Landlord", and (ii)
         deleting the words "so much, if any" set forth in the sixth line of
         Paragraph H thereof and inserting the phrase "an amount equal to fifty
         (50%) percent" (x) in lieu thereof and (y) after the word "rent" in the
         twenty-sixth line thereof.

                  8. Article 43 of the Lease captioned "CERTIFICATES FOR TENANT"
         is hereby amended by deleting said Article in its entirety and
         inserting the following in lieu thereof:

                           "43.     CERTIFICATES:

                           Each party hereto covenants and agrees, at any time
                  and from time to time, as requested by the other party, upon
                  not less than ten (10) business days' prior notice to execute,
                  acknowledge and deliver to the other a statement in writing
                  certifying that this lease is unmodified and in full force and
                  effect (or if there have been modifications, that the same is
                  in full force and effect as modified and stating the
                  modifications), certifying the dates to which the fixed rent
                  and additional rent and other charges, if any, have been paid,
                  and stating whether or not, to the best knowledge of the
                  signer, the other party is in default in performance of any of
                  its obligations under this lease, and, if so, specifying each
                  such default of which the signer may have knowledge, it being
                  intended that any such statement delivered pursuant hereto may
                  be relied upon by others with whom the party requesting such
                  certificate may be dealing."

                                       -6-
<PAGE>   32
                  9. Article 46 of the Lease captioned "ELECTRIC CURRENT" is
         hereby amended by (i) adding the following words after the word "lamps"
         set forth in the seventh line of Paragraph C.2 thereof: "personal
         computers, photocopy machines, facsimile machines,", and (ii) adding
         the following text as Paragraph C.9. thereof: "Landlord represents that
         the building is equipped with risers, feeders and wiring so as to
         furnish electric service (connected load) of up to six (6) watts per
         usable square foot for lighting and power, including the building HVAC
         fans on each floor of the demised premises."

                  10. Article 47 of the Lease captioned "ADDENDA TO ARTICLE 6 --
         REQUIREMENTS OF LAW" is hereby amended by adding the following text at
         the end of such Article:

                  "If at any time during the term of this lease, Landlord
         expends any sums for alterations or capital improvements to the
         building which are required to be made pursuant to any law, ordinance
         or governmental regulation (or amendment of any existing or future law,
         ordinance or governmental regulation) first becoming effective after
         the date of this lease, Tenant shall pay to Landlord, as additional
         rent, Tenant's Proportionate Share (as said term is defined in Article
         39 hereof) of all of such sums, within ten (10) days after demand
         therefor. If, however, the cost of any such alterations or capital
         improvements may be amortized over a period of time pursuant to
         generally applied accounting principles, consistently applied, Tenant
         shall pay to Landlord, as additional rent, during each year in which
         occurs any part of the term of this lease, Tenant's Proportionate Share
         of the reasonable annual amortization (based upon the useful life of
         each such improvement in accordance with generally accepted accounting
         principles, consistently applied), with interest, of the cost of such
         alterations or improvements. For purposes of this Article, the cost of
         any such alterations or improvements shall be deemed to include the
         cost of preparing any necessary plans and the fees for filing such
         plans. The cost of such alterations or improvements shall be reasonably
         substantiated by Landlord to Tenant."

                  11. Article 52 of the Lease captioned "MISCELLANEOUS" is
         hereby amended by (i) deleting Paragraph I thereof in its entirety,
         (ii) deleting the words "three times" set forth in the twentieth line
         of Paragraph 0 thereof and inserting the words "two times" in lieu
         thereof, and (iii) adding the following provisions as Paragraphs X and
         Y thereof:

                           "X. Subject to Landlord's security requirements,
                  Tenant shall have access to the demised premises twenty-four
                  (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week, three hundred
                  sixty-five (365) days per year, throughout the term of this
                  lease.

                                       -7-
<PAGE>   33
                           Y. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
                  in this lease (including Article 42), Tenant shall not be
                  required to remove any Tenant's Changes performed by Tenant or
                  on behalf of Tenant, except to the extent (x) any such
                  Tenant's Changes are in the nature of safes, vaults, raised
                  flooring, internal staircases, executive bathrooms, marble
                  installation, and/or other installations or improvements which
                  are atypical of a building standard office installation in a
                  first-class office building located in Midtown Manhattan, and
                  (y) Landlord notified Tenant at the time of Owner granting
                  consent to the performance of such Tenant's Changes that
                  Tenant would or may be required to remove same at the end of
                  the term of the Lease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tenant
                  shall not be required to remove the Internal Staircase (as
                  hereinafter defined) at the end of the term of this lease
                  unless this lease is terminated prior to the Extended Term
                  Expiration Date, in which event, at Landlord's option,
                  exercisable on notice to Tenant, given to Tenant at any time
                  during the term of this lease and within six (6) months
                  following the termination of this lease, Landlord may, at
                  Tenant's sole cost and expense remove the entire Internal
                  Staircase (as hereinafter defined) or such portion thereof so
                  desired by Landlord and fully repair and restore the demised
                  premises to the condition existing prior to the installation
                  of the Internal Staircase (collectively, the "STAIRCASE
                  REMOVAL AND RESTORATION"), provided, however, that if Tenant
                  terminates this lease pursuant to Article NINTH of this Second
                  Amendment, then the cost to Tenant of the Staircase Removal
                  and Restoration shall not exceed an amount equal to forty
                  (40%) percent of the total cost of the Staircase Removal and
                  Restoration. If Tenant is required to pay for all or a portion
                  of the Staircase Removal and Restoration pursuant to the
                  provisions of this Paragraph, Landlord may retain the security
                  provided in Article 34 hereof for such period of time
                  following the termination of this lease as Landlord may solely
                  determine to insure Tenant's payment for Landlord of such
                  removal and restoration. If any portion of the security is in
                  the form of the Letter (as hereinafter defined), then
                  notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph H.3 of Article 52
                  of the lease (as added in Paragraph SEVENTH of this Second
                  Amendment), the term of the last Letter shall expire no
                  earlier than one (1) year following the Extended Term
                  Expiration Date and Tenant's failure to comply with the
                  provisions of the immediately preceding sentence shall be
                  deemed a material default hereunder entitling Landlord, among
                  other things, to draw on the existing Letter up to its full
                  amount."

                                       -8-
<PAGE>   34
                 FOURTH: Effective from the Additional Premises Commencement
         Date:

                  1. The "demised premises", as said term is defined in the
         Lease, shall mean collectively the Present Premises together with the
         Additional Premises, except as hereinafter provided;

                  2. The "fixed rent", as said term is defined in the Lease
         shall be further increased such that the fixed rent payable under the
         Lease shall be as follows:

                           a) the sum of FIVE HUNDRED FORTY-EIGHT THOUSAND ONE
                  HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE AND 00/100 ($548,175.00) DOLLARS per
                  annum for the period commencing on the Additional Premises
                  Commencement Date and ending on December 31, 2004, both dates
                  inclusive;

                           b) the sum of FIVE HUNDRED NINETY-TWO THOUSAND
                  TWENTY-NINE AND 00/100 ($592,029.00) DOLLARS per annum for the
                  balance of the Extended Term; and

                           c) the fixed rent as increased shall be paid in
                  accordance with the terms of the Lease, in equal monthly
                  installments in advance on the first day of each month during
                  the Extended Term, without any set off or deduction
                  whatsoever.

                  3. Paragraph A.4 of Article 39 of the Lease captioned
         "ESCALATION FOR INCREASE IN REAL ESTATE TAXES" is hereby amended by
         deleting the percentage "2.86%" set forth therein and inserting the
         percentage "5.81%" in lieu thereof.

                  4. Paragraph B.1 of Article 40 of the Lease captioned
         "ESCALATION FOR WAGE RATES" is hereby amended by deleting the figure
         "10,825" set forth therein and inserting the figure "21,927" in lieu
         thereof.

                  5. Article 41 of the Lease captioned "AMENDING ARTICLE 11" is
         hereby amended by (i) inserting the following parenthetical after the
         word "premises" in the second line of Paragraph B.1 thereof: "(or such
         portion thereof proposed to be sublet)", (ii) inserting the following
         parenthetical after the word "lease" in the second line of Paragraph
         B.1 thereof: "(or the deletion of such portion proposed to be sublet
         from the demised premises)", (iii) inserting the following sentence
         after the word "Date" in the seventh line of Paragraph B.2 thereof: "If
         Landlord shall elect to require Tenant to surrender a portion of the
         demised premises and delete said portion from the demised premises
         under this lease, then effective from the Termination Date, such

                                       -9-
<PAGE>   35
         portion of the demised premises shall be deleted from the demised
         premises and the fixed and additional rent pursuant to Articles 39 and
         40 shall be equitably adjusted from and after the Termination Date",
         (iv) inserting the following parenthetical after the word "lease" in
         the ninth line of Paragraph B.2 thereof: "(or delete any portion of the
         demised premises)", and (v) inserting the following text after the word
         "premises" in the fourth line of Paragraph C. thereof: ", the entire
         Present Premises, or the entire Additional Premises;"

                  6. Section B.2 of Article 46 of the Lease captioned "ELECTRIC
         CURRENT" is hereby amended by deleting the figure "10,825" set forth
         therein and inserting the figure "21,927" in lieu thereof; and

                  7. The following provision shall be added as Paragraph Z of
         Article 52 of the Lease:

                  "Z. Landlord, at its expense, and on Tenant's request, shall
maintain listings on the building directory of the name of Tenant and the names
of its partners, associates, officers, and employees provided that the names so
listed shall not take up more than Forty (40) spaces on the building's
directory. Any modifications to Tenant's directory listing requested by Tenant
subsequent to its initial listing shall be performed by Landlord at Tenant's
expense."

                  FIFTH: Article 50 of the Original Lease and Paragraph 7 of the
First Amendment shall be of no force or effect with respect to the Additional
Premises and the following shall govern with respect to the Additional Premises:

                  "LAYOUT AND FINISH:

                  A. Tenant, at Tenant's expense shall prepare a final plan or
final set of plans (which said final plan or final set of plans, as the case may
be, is hereinafter called the "PLANS") which shall contain complete information
(including engineering required) and dimensions necessary and sufficient for the
construction and finishing of the Additional Premises. The Plans shall include
the installation of an internal staircase (the "INTERNAL STAIRCASE") between the
Present Premises and the Additional Premises. The Plans shall be submitted by
Tenant to Landlord no later than February 2, 1998. Any revisions to the Plans
required by Landlord shall be performed by Tenant within three (3) days after
demand by Landlord.

                  In accordance with the Plans (as said Plans may be revised by
Tenant as required by Landlord), Landlord, at Landlord's expense, subject to the
Cap (as hereinafter defined in Paragraph I of this Article) and except as
otherwise expressly specified in this Agreement, will cause its designated
contractor to make and complete in and to the Additional Premises the work and
installations (hereinafter called "TENANT'S INITIAL WORK") specified in the
Plans. If Tenant shall not utilize the

                                      -10-
<PAGE>   36
services of Landlord's designated architect in connection with the preparation
of the Plans, Landlord may submit the Plans (and any revisions thereof) to
Landlord's designated architect and/or engineer for review and Tenant shall pay
to Landlord, upon demand as additional rent hereunder, the reasonable fees
charged by said architect and/or engineer for such review. Landlord will use
reasonable efforts under the circumstances (based on the nature, scope and
complexity of the plans and specifications provided by Tenant) to review such
plans and specifications without retaining the services of an outside architect
and/or engineer; it being agreed, in any event, that any plans or specifications
addressing any structural portions of the demised premises or the Building
(including the Internal Staircase) or affecting the Building systems shall merit
the services of an outside architect and/or engineer, provided that Landlord
shall not retain the services of an outside architect or engineer if Tenant
utilized Landlord's designated architect and/or engineer to prepare the Plans.

         Notwithstanding any provision of the Lease to the contrary, any
requests for revisions to the Plans or other notices to be given to Tenant by
Landlord pursuant to this Article may be given to Tenant's designated
representative, Richard McNealus, either (i) delivered personally or (ii) sent
by certified mail, return receipt requested, or overnight courier, with receipt
acknowledged, to: Tuller McNealus Feld & Chu, 596 Broadway, 10th Floor, New
York, New York 10012.

                  B. The term "Work Cost" as used in this Article shall mean the
actual cost (including the cost of applicable insurance premiums and the cost of
engineering if any) to Landlord of furnishing and installing Tenant's Initial
Work. Landlord shall require its general contractor to obtain not less than
three (3) bids from each major trade and Tenant's architect may designate the
acceptable bid.

                  C. In all instances where Tenant is required to supply
information or authorizations with regard to Tenant's Initial Work, Tenant shall
supply the same within three (3) business days after written request therefor by
Landlord.

                  D. Except as provided in this Article, Landlord shall not be
required to spend any money or to do any work to prepare the Additional Premises
for Tenant's occupancy. The specification of Tenant's Initial Work represents
the limit of Landlord's responsibilities in connection with the preparation of
the Additional Premises and except as so provided, Tenant shall take the
Additional Premises and Present Premises "as-is", except that Landlord shall,
once and only once repair any broken windows existing in the Additional Premises
on the date that Landlord has substantially completed Tenant's Initial Work
(excluding any windows that are broken as a result of the acts or negligence of
Tenant, its employees, agents, contractors, subcontractors, servants or
invitees). Any other improvements, alterations or additions shall be performed
by Tenant, but subject to all of the terms, conditions and covenants of the
Lease.

                                      -11-
<PAGE>   37
                  E. Landlord has made and makes no representation of the date
on which it will complete Tenant's Initial Work, and Landlord shall be under no
penalty or liability to Tenant whatsoever by reason of any delay in such
performance and the Lease shall not be affected thereby. Landlord shall be given
whatever time may be necessary to complete Tenant's Initial Work and the
Additional Premises commencement date (the "ADDITIONAL PREMISES COMMENCEMENT
DATE") shall be the date that is three (3) days after notice is given to Tenant
of the substantial completion of Tenant's Initial Work. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary contained in the Lease, the failure of Landlord to substantially
complete any work in the Present Premises which is part of Tenant's Initial Work
shall in no way affect or delay the Additional Premises Commencement Date. If
Tenant shall dispute whether Tenant's Initial Work has been substantially
completed, then, pending the resolution of such dispute, the Additional Premises
Commencement Date shall nevertheless be deemed to have occurred three (3) days
after Landlord's notice of substantial completion of Tenant's Initial Work and
Tenant shall be obligated to pay fixed rent and additional rent as and when
provided in the Lease. In no event shall the Extended Term Expiration Date be
postponed beyond December 31, 2007. Landlord agrees that it will use reasonable
efforts to obtain contracts for the performance of the work required to be
performed by it and to arrange to have all such work commenced without delay and
prosecuted without unnecessary interruption until completion.

                  F. Tenant may be permitted to enter into the Additional
Premises for installation of its machinery, equipment and fixtures and
performance of its work, all as permitted by and subject to the terms and
conditions of the Lease prior to the Additional Premises Commencement Date at
its sole risk, provided that such entry and work do not interfere in any way
with Landlord's performance of the work to be done by Landlord. At any time
during such period of prior entry, if Landlord notifies Tenant that Tenant's
entry or work is interfering with or delaying Landlord's performance of Tenant's
Initial Work, Tenant shall forthwith discontinue any further work and shall
remove from the Additional Premises and shall cause its workmen or contractors
to remove therefrom, any equipment, materials or installations which are the
subject of Landlord's notice.

                  G. Subject to the provisions of Article 3, all work performed
by Landlord, including the building air conditioning installation, if any,
shall, upon installation, become Landlord's property and shall be surrendered at
the expiration or sooner termination of the Extended Term, in good condition,
reasonable wear and tear excepted.

                  H.1. For the purposes of this Article, Tenant's Initial Work
shall be deemed to be substantially completed when all major construction is
completed (or when all major construction would have been completed but for
delays caused by Tenant as provided in this Paragraph H or otherwise) although
minor items and/or Additional work (hereinafter defined) are not substantially
completed. Such

                                      -12-
<PAGE>   38
unfinished work shall include, but not be limited to, any incompleted
construction or improvements which do not materially interfere with Tenant's use
and occupancy of the Additional Premises. Tenant shall promptly submit to
Landlord a "punch-list" of such minor unfinished work which punch-list items,
after approval by Landlord, will be diligently completed. Tenant shall
periodically inspect Tenant's Initial Work and make any objections thereto, if
called for, without delay, so as to mitigate changes, delays and costs.

                  2. Tenant specifically acknowledges and agrees that the Work
Cost will increase and there will be delay in completion of Tenant's Initial
Work by reason of (i) Tenant's failure or unreasonable delay to consult with
Landlord or to prepare plans or specifications and deliver same to Landlord by
February 2, 1998; (ii) unreasonable delay or failure by Tenant in supplying
information, approving estimates or giving authorizations; (iii) Tenant's making
changes or additions in the plans or specifications or materials originally
approved; (iv) interference by Tenant or Tenant's contractors with the
performance of Tenant's Initial Work; (v) delay or failure of any special or
additional new materials selected by Tenant; (vi) intentionally omitted (vii)
any resubmissions or revisions of Tenant's Plans (without regard to any time
periods granted to Tenant hereunder for making such resubmissions or revisions);
or (viii) work, materials, components and other items specified by Tenant which
are not building standard, and/or are not readily available to Landlord or
Landlord's designated contractor, or require special manufacturing, fabrication
or installation, or require additional time to obtain or install thereby
delaying the date that Tenant's Initial Work would otherwise be substantially
completed, including but not limited to, special wallcoverings, light fixtures,
entrance doors, woodwork, glass, stairways, door hardware, floor coverings and
security and communications devices. Landlord shall advise Tenant with
reasonable promptness after Landlord has knowledge of any items specified by
Tenant pursuant to subdivisions (v) or (viii) of this Paragraph 2 which will
result in delay in the completion of Tenant's Initial Work. Landlord shall not
be responsible for any of the delays set forth in this Article, and, at
Landlord's option, the Additional Premises Commencement Date shall commence
three (3) days after the date on which Tenant's Initial Work would have been
substantially completed if not for the occurrence of any such delays. In
addition, Tenant shall reimburse Landlord, as additional rent, for any and all
actual out-of-pocket losses, costs and damages suffered by Landlord to the
extent caused by any such delays.

         I. Notwithstanding anything contained to the contrary in the Lease (but
subject to the provisions of Paragraph E of this Article), the total cost of
Tenant's Initial Work which Landlord shall provide Tenant without charge
performed prior to the Additional Premises Commencement Date shall be FOUR
HUNDRED THIRTY-EIGHT THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED FORTY AND 00/100 ($438,540.00)
DOLLARS (the "Cap"). Tenant's Initial Work may include work to be performed in
the Present Premises provided that the entire Additional Premises is completely
finished in a

                                      -13-
<PAGE>   39
manner that is at least consistent with the standard for the building. Tenant
shall remain in occupancy of the Present Premises during the performance of
Tenant's Initial Work in accordance with the provisions of the Lease. If the
Work Cost shall exceed the Cap, Tenant may accept Landlord's estimate of such
excess cost only by countersigning and delivering same to Landlord, together
with a sum equal to twenty (20%) percent thereof, within three (3) days after
Landlord's rendition of such estimate. At Landlord's option, such payment by
Tenant shall be made from time to time during the performance of Tenant's
Initial Work and in no event shall the balance be paid later than the completion
of Tenant's Initial Work.

                  J. If Tenant shall fail to make timely payment of any sums
payable to Landlord pursuant this Article, then, in addition to all other rights
and remedies afforded Landlord in the event of such non-payment, Landlord may,
without notice to Tenant, discontinue the performance of Tenant's Initial Work
and/or additional work (or any items thereof) until such time as Tenant makes
payment to Landlord of all such past due sums and provides Landlord with
adequate assurance of the timely payment of all additional sums which may or
shall be payable by Tenant pursuant to this Article. Any delay resulting from
the discontinuance of Tenant's Initial Work pursuant to this Paragraph shall be
deemed a delay caused by Tenant.

                  K. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 42 of the Lease,
the fee equal to five (5%) percent of the total cost of Tenant's Changes payable
by Tenant shall not apply (and Tenant shall have no obligation to pay such fee)
with respect to Tenant's Initial Work.

                  SIXTH: Tenant represents and warrants that it neither
consulted nor negotiated with any broker or finder in connection with the rental
of the Additional Premises from Landlord or the extension of the term of the
Lease set forth herein other than Insignia/Edward S. Gordon Co., Inc. Tenant
agrees to indemnify and hold Landlord harmless from and against any damages,
costs and expenses suffered by reason of any breach of the foregoing
representation.

                  SEVENTH: A. In addition to the cash security in the amount of
$37,256.30 (the "ORIGINAL SECURITY") previously deposited with Landlord pursuant
to the Original Lease, Tenant shall deposit with Landlord, upon Tenant's
execution of this Agreement, the sum of ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY-TWO THOUSAND THIRTEEN
AND 00/100 ($182,013.00) DOLLARS as additional security (the "Additional
Security") for the faithful performance and observance by Tenant of the terms,
provisions and conditions of the Lease to be held by Landlord pursuant to
Article 34 and Paragraph H of Article 52 of the Lease.

                  B. The following shall be added as Paragraphs H.3 and H.4 of
Article 52 of the Lease:

                                      -14-
<PAGE>   40
                           "3. Notwithstanding anything contained in Article 34
                  hereof or this Section 52.H to the contrary, provided Tenant
                  is not then in default under the terms, covenants and
                  conditions of this lease beyond the expiration of the
                  applicable notice and cure period, Tenant named herein may in
                  lieu of said cash security, deliver to Landlord, as security
                  pursuant to Article 34 hereof, an irrevocable, clean,
                  commercial letter of credit in the amount of $219,270.00 (the
                  "LETTER"), issued by a bank which is authorized by the State
                  of New York to conduct banking business in New York State and
                  is a member of the New York Clearing House Association, which
                  shall permit Landlord (a) to draw thereon up to the full
                  amount of the credit evidenced thereby in the event of any
                  default by Tenant in the terms, provisions, covenants or
                  conditions of this lease or (b) to draw the full amount
                  thereof to be held as cash security pursuant to Article 34 of
                  this lease if for any reason the Letter is not renewed within
                  sixty (60) days prior to its expiration date. The Letter (and
                  each renewal thereof) shall (i) be for a term of not less than
                  one (1) year (except that the last Letter shall be for a term
                  expiring sixty (60) days after the Extended Term Expiration
                  Date); (ii) expressly provide for the issuing bank to notify
                  Landlord in writing not less than sixty (60) days prior to its
                  expiration as to its renewal or non-renewal, as the case may
                  be, and if not so renewed each year (or later period of
                  expiration) shall be immediately available for Landlord to
                  draw up to the full amount of such credit (to be held as cash
                  security pursuant to Article 34 of this lease); (iii) be fully
                  transferable by the beneficiary thereof (and its successors
                  and assigns) without charge; and (iv) be in form and substance
                  approved by Landlord. Not less than forty-five (45) days prior
                  to the expiration date of each Letter (and every renewal
                  thereof), Tenant shall deliver to Landlord a renewal or new
                  Letter subject to all of the conditions aforesaid, all to the
                  intent and purposes, that a Letter in the sum of not less than
                  $219,270.00 shall be in effect during the entire Extended Term
                  if Landlord shall draw on all or any portion of the Letter,
                  Tenant shall, upon demand by Landlord, provide Landlord with a
                  new Letter, subject to all of the conditions aforesaid, in the
                  sum of $219,270.00. Failure by Tenant to comply with the
                  provisions of this Article shall be deemed a material default
                  hereunder entitling Landlord to exercise any and all remedies
                  as provided in this lease for default in the payment of fixed
                  rent and, to draw on the existing Letter up to its full
                  amount.

                           "4. Provided Tenant is not then in default under the
                  terms, covenants and conditions of this lease, Tenant shall
                  have the right, upon not less than five (5) days' prior notice
                  to Landlord, to reduce the security (or Letter) after the
                  dates and to the amounts as follow:

                                      -15-
<PAGE>   41
       (i)      After the 12th month of the Extended Term to $197,343.00;
       (ii)     After the 24th month of the Extended Term to $175,416.00;
       (iii)    After the 36th month of the Extended Term to $153,489.00;
       (iv)     After the 48th month of the Extended Term to $131,562.00;
       (v)      After the 60th month of the Extended Term to $109,635.00;
       (vi)     After the 72nd month of the Extended Term to $87,708.00;
       (vii)    After the 84th month of the Extended Term to $65,781.00;
       (viii)   After the 96th month of the Extended Term to $43,854.00;
       (ix)     After the 108th month and for the balance of the Extended Term,
                to $36,545.00."

                  C. If, upon Tenant's execution of this Agreement, Tenant
provides Landlord with the Letter in accordance with the provisions of this
Article, Landlord shall thereafter refund the Original Security to Tenant. If
Tenant shall initially deliver the Additional Security in the form of cash to
Landlord, Tenant shall have the right at any time thereafter provided Tenant is
not then in default beyond applicable notice and cure periods, if any, under
this lease, to replace the total cash security with the Letter in accordance
with the provisions of this Article, whereupon, Landlord shall thereafter refund
the total cash security to Tenant.

                  EIGHTH: Paragraph 4B of the First Amendment shall be of no
force or effect with respect to the Extended Term. Provided Tenant is not in
default under the terms, covenants and conditions of the Lease, (i) Tenant shall
have the right to use and occupy the demised premises free solely of fixed rent
for the period commencing on the Extended Term Commencement Date and ending on
March 31, 1998 (the "FREE RENT PERIOD"), and (ii) Landlord shall waive solely
that portion of the fixed rent equal to the sum of TWENTY-THREE THOUSAND ONE
HUNDRED TWENTY-NINE AND 17/100 ($23,129.17) DOLLARS per month payable for the
period (the "PARTIAL FREE RENT PERIOD") commencing on the Additional Premises
Commencement Date and ending on the day immediately preceding the three (3)
month anniversary of the Additional Premises Commencement Date, except that
Tenant shall pay to Landlord all additional rent and other charges payable under
the Lease during the Free Rent Period and Partial Free Rent Period, including,
without limitation, charges payable pursuant to Article 46 hereof. Except for
the free and partial fixed rent allowance as hereinabove provided, Tenant's use
and occupancy of the demised premises during the Free Rent Period and Partial
Free Rent Period shall be pursuant to all of the other terms, covenants and
conditions of the Lease.

                                      -16-
<PAGE>   42
                  NINTH: A. For purposes of this Article:

                      1. "Cancellation Effective Date" shall mean December 31,
2004.

                      2. "Cancellation Period" shall mean the period commencing
on the date the Cancellation Notice (defined hereinafter) is given and expiring
on the Cancellation Effective Date, both dates inclusive.

                  B. 1. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the
contrary and provided that both at the time of delivery of the Cancellation
Notice and on the Cancellation Effective Date, Tenant shall not be in default of
any of the terms, covenants and conditions of the Lease (which condition may be
waived by Landlord in its sole discretion), Tenant shall have the option (the
"CANCELLATION OPTION") to cancel the unexpired term of the Lease following the
Cancellation Effective Date. If Tenant shall desire to exercise the Cancellation
Option, Tenant shall (i) send written notice thereof (the "CANCELLATION NOTICE")
to Landlord by certified mail, return receipt requested, on or before the date
which is one (1) year prior to the Cancellation Effective Date (the "C/N OUTSIDE
DATE"), and (ii) pay to Landlord, on or before the C/N Outside Date, by
certified check, the Cancellation Fee. For purposes of the Lease, the term
"Cancellation Feel" shall mean the then unamortized portion of the aggregate
cost to Landlord of (a) all amounts expended by Landlord in connection with any
work to be performed by Landlord pursuant to the terms of this Agreement,
Tenant's Initial Work and preparing the Additional Premises (or the entire
demised premises if any work is performed by Landlord in the Present Premises)
for Tenant's initial occupancy, (b) the fixed rent abated during the Free Rent
Period and Partial Free Rent Period, and (c) the amount of any real estate
broker's commission(s) paid by Landlord in connection with this Agreement. The
amounts calculated pursuant to subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) of the preceding
sentence shall be based upon the amortization thereof over the period commencing
on the Extended Term Commencement Date and ending on the Extended Term
Expiration Date (as if this lease had not been terminated pursuant to this
Article), both dates inclusive, calculated on a straight-line basis, plus
interest at the rate then payable by Landlord. In the event Tenant shall send
the Cancellation Notice to Landlord as hereinabove provided and comply with all
of the terms of this Article, (a) the term of this lease shall cease and expire
as of the Cancellation Effective Date as if such date were expressly set forth
herein as the Extended Term Expiration Date and (b) Tenant shall vacate and
surrender the demised premises to Landlord on the Cancellation Effective Date in
the condition provided in this lease for the surrender of the demised premises
to Landlord on the Extended Term Expiration Date. The fixed rent, additional
rent and other charges payable to Landlord during the Cancellation Period shall
be paid by Tenant to Landlord as and when provided in the Lease. If Tenant fails
to deliver the Cancellation Notice on or before the C/N Outside Date (as to
which date time shall be of the essence), or if Tenant fails to pay the
Cancellation

                                      -17-
<PAGE>   43
Fee in the manner set forth hereinabove, Tenant's rights and options under this
Article shall be null and void and of no force or effect.

                      2. If all of the foregoing conditions set forth in this
Article shall be timely fulfilled, this lease shall be deemed canceled as of the
Cancellation Effective Date, and from and after said date, Tenant shall, subject
to the provisions of this Paragraph B and subject to any other actual or
contingent liabilities of Tenant to Landlord accrued to such date, have no
further obligations to Landlord with respect to this lease. If any of the
conditions set forth in this Paragraph B shall not be timely fulfilled, the
Cancellation Option shall be null and void and of no further force or effect,
and Tenant shall have no further right to cancel any unexpired portion of the
term of the Lease.

         TENTH: A. For purposes of this Article TENTH, the term "Negotiation
Space" shall mean those portions of the fifteenth (15th) and sixteenth (16th)
floors of the building as approximately shown by the areas labeled "Leased" on
Exhibits "A" and "B" annexed hereto. As of the date hereof, the Negotiation
Space is affected by leases with Overbrook Management as to the fifteenth (15th)
floor and Langelot Foundation as to the sixteenth (16th) floor for terms to
expire respectively on June 30, 2001 and April 30, 2003.

                      B. Provided that (i) Tenant is not then in default under
any of the terms, covenants and conditions of the Lease to be observed and
performed after applicable grace periods, if any, and (ii) Tenant in writing
(the "NEGOTIATION SPACE NOTICE") notifies Landlord, on or prior to the date
which is five (5) days after Landlord shall have notified Tenant that the
Negotiation Space is (or will become) available for occupancy, that Tenant
desires to lease the Negotiation Space, then Landlord agrees that at least ten
(10) days before Landlord executes a lease or other occupancy agreement with any
tenant (other than any existing tenant(s) or other occupant(s) of the
Negotiation Space) for all or any portion of the Negotiation Space, Landlord
will first offer to negotiate to lease such space to Tenant upon such terms,
covenants and conditions as Landlord in its sole judgment may determine, by
written notice (the "TERMS OFFER") given to Tenant. Tenant shall, within five
(5) days after receipt of the Terms Offer, notify Landlord as to whether Tenant
accepts the Terms Offer and, if Tenant shall elect to accept the Terms Offer,
Tenant shall execute and deliver to Landlord, within five (5) days after
Tenant's receipt thereof, an additional space agreement ("NEGOTIATION SPACE
AGREEMENT"), in form and substance satisfactory to Landlord and Landlord's
counsel, wherein the Negotiation Space referred to in the Terms Offer shall be
added to the demised premises upon all of the terms set forth in the Terms
Offer. Nothing herein contained shall require Landlord to reach any agreement or
understanding with Tenant or to execute the Negotiation Space Agreement or to
require Tenant to match any prior or subsequent offer by any other proposed
tenant, and Landlord shall be free, if no agreement is reached with Tenant
within said five (5) day period, to lease all or any portion of the Negotiation

                                      -18-
<PAGE>   44
Space on any terms Landlord may desire, whether more favorable than that set
forth in the Terms Offer or not. Any new lease with any existing occupant of the
Negotiation Space, or extension or renewal of the term of any existing
occupant's lease, shall not be deemed to be covered by the provisions of this
Article. If Tenant (a) fails to timely deliver the Negotiation Space Notice, (b)
declines the Terms Offer, (c) fails to reply to the Terms Offer within said
first five (5) day period, or (d) fails to execute and deliver the Negotiation
Space Agreement within said second five (5) day period, Tenant shall thereafter
have no further rights with respect to the leasing of all or any portion of the
Negotiation Space.

                  Notwithstanding the foregoing provision of this Article, if
Landlord and Tenant for any reason are unable to arrive at an agreement for the
leasing of the Negotiation Space as aforesaid, Landlord and Tenant agree that
neither the validity of this lease nor Tenant's obligations hereunder shall be
affected thereby and Tenant shall have no claim against Landlord by reason
thereof.

                  ELEVENTH: If in connection with Tenant's Initial Work any
accessible asbestos-containing materials ("ACM") is located in the Additional
Premises by Landlord, Landlord shall, at Landlord's expense, remove or deal with
such ACM to the extent required by law. Thereafter, provided the legal
requirement therefor shall not be due to Tenant's acts, omissions, negligence or
Tenant's Changes, if any legal requirement shall require that ACM in the
Additional Premises be removed or dealt with in any particular manner, Landlord
shall, at Landlord's expense, remove or so deal with such ACM in accordance with
such legal requirement, provided that Tenant shall reasonably cooperate with
Landlord to minimize the expense therefor.

                  TWELFTH: If a Submeter does not currently exist in the
Additional Premises, Landlord shall, at Landlord's sole cost and expense,
install a Submeter or Submeters at a location designated by Landlord. All other
provisions of Article 46 of the Lease shall apply with respect to the furnishing
of electric current to the Additional Premises.

                  THIRTEENTH: Unless the context otherwise clearly indicates a
contrary intent or unless specifically provided herein, all capitalized terms
used in this Agreement and not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed
to such terms in the original Lease.

                  FOURTEENTH: This Agreement is being tendered to Tenant without
obligation on Landlord's part and in no event shall be deemed to be binding upon
Landlord or give Tenant any rights unless and until Landlord shall have executed
and unconditionally delivered this Agreement to Tenant.

                  FIFTEENTH: This Agreement may not be changed, modified or
cancelled orally. Except as hereinabove modified and amended, and as so modified

                                      -19-
<PAGE>   45
and amended, the Lease is hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects and
shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and
assigns.

                  SIXTEENTH: Supplementing the provisions of subdivision (e) of
Article 29 of the Lease captioned "Services Provided By Owner", the building
heating ventilation and airconditioning system shall provide air circulation to
(i) the Present Premises at a rate of 11,000 cubic feet per minute and (ii) the
Additional Premises at a rate of 12,500 cubic feet per minute.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto set their
hand and seals as of the day and year first above written.

                         521 FIFTH AVENUE ASSOCIATES,
                                            Landlord

                         By:  Silverstein Properties, Inc. As Agent

                         By:_______________________________________
                                Senior Executive Vice President

                         THE EDISON PROJECT, L.P., Tenant

                         By: /s/ H. Christopher Whittle
                            _______________________________________
                         Name:   H. Christopher Whittle
                         Title:  President

                                      -20-
<PAGE>   46

                            THIRD AMENDMENT OF LEASE

         THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of February 23, 2000, between 521 FIFTH AVENUE
PARTNERS, LLC, a New York limited liability company, having an address at c/o
RFR Holding LLC, 400 Park Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, New York 10022
("Landlord"), and EDISON SCHOOLS, INC., a Delaware corporation, having an office
at 521 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10175 ("Tenant").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, Tenant is the tenant under a lease dated April 4, 1995 between
Landlord's predecessor-in-interest, 521 Fifth Avenue Associates ("521") and
Tenant's predecessor-in-interest, The Edison Project, L.P. ("Edison"), as
amended by (i) First Amendment of Lease dated June 6, 1996, between 521 and
Edison and (ii) Second Amendment of Lease (the "Second Amendment") dated as of
December 8, 1997 between 521 and Edison (as so amended, the "Lease"), for
portions of the fifteenth and sixteenth floors (collectively, the "Original
Premises") of the building located at 521 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York (the
"Building");

         WHEREAS, Landlord and Tenant desire to amend the Lease to (i) add to
the Original Premises the entire eleventh floor of the Building, (ii) extend the
term of the Lease and (iii) otherwise amend the Lease, all on the terms and
conditions provided in this Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in
this Agreement, Landlord and Tenant agree as follows:

     1. Capitalized Terms. All capitalized terms used in this Agreement which
are not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the
Lease.

     2. Additional Premises; Extension of Term. The area consisting of the
entire eleventh floor of the Building (the "Additional Premises"), is hereby
added to, and shall be considered a part of, the Original Premises effective
upon the date of this Agreement (the "Additional Premises Commencement Date"),
upon all of the terms, conditions and provisions of the Lease, except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement. The Expiration Date of the Lease is hereby
extended until the date that is ten years and four months after the Additional
Premises Commencement Date.

     3. Condition of Premises. (a) Tenant shall accept possession of the
Additional Premises in its "as is" but "broom-clean" condition on the Additional
Premises Commencement Date. As a condition of the occurrence of the Commencement
Date, Landlord shall deliver the Additional Premises vacant and free of
occupancies. Landlord shall have no obligation to perform any work or make any
installations in order to prepare the Original Premises or the Additional
Premises for Tenant's occupancy. Except as provided herein, the taking of
occupancy of the whole
<PAGE>   47
or any part of the Additional Premises by Tenant shall be conclusive evidence,
as against Tenant, that Tenant accepts possession of the same and that the
Additional Premises and the Building were in good and satisfactory condition at
the time such occupancy was so taken and that the Additional Premises were
substantially as shown on Schedule A annexed to this Agreement. Article 50 of
the Lease shall be inapplicable to the Additional Premises.

         (b) If Landlord shall be unable to deliver possession of the Additional
Premises on any specific date for any reason whatsoever (including the holdover
of existing occupants of the Additional Premises), Landlord shall not be subject
to any liability therefor and the validity of the Lease for the Additional
Premises shall not be impaired thereby, but the Additional Premises Commencement
Date shall be postponed until three (3) calendar days following notice from
Landlord that the Additional Premises are available for occupancy by Tenant.
Tenant expressly waives any right to rescind the Lease with respect to the
Additional Premises under Section 223-a of the New York Real Property Law or
under any present or future statute of similar import then in force and further
expressly waives the right to recover any damages that may result from
Landlord's failure to deliver possession of the Additional Premises on any
specific date designated for the commencement of the term with respect to the
Additional Premises. Tenant agrees that the provisions of this subparagraph (b)
are intended to constitute "an express provision to the contrary" within the
meaning of said Section 223-a.

         (c) Any Tenant's Changes to the Additional Premises shall be performed
by Tenant pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Lease, including the
obligation to pay Landlord a fee equal to five (5%) percent of the cost of any
Tenant's Changes. Tenant acknowledges that Landlord has furnished to Tenant a
current list of the approved contractors for the Building to perform Tenant's
Changes. Landlord shall respond to Tenant's request for approval of Tenant's
plans and specifications to Tenant's Changes to the Additional Premises within
fifteen days after submission, provided that Landlords failure to respond within
such fifteen day period shall not be deemed an approval by Landlord of such
plans and specifications.

     4. Fixed Rent; Electricity. (a) Effective on the Additional Premises
Commencement Date, the fixed rent shall be increased by the following amounts on
account of the Additional Premises:

                  (i) $756,200 per annum ($63,016.67 per month) from the
Additional Premises Commencement Date through the day preceding the first
anniversary of the Additional Premises Commencement Date;

                  (ii) $775,105 per annum ($64,592.08 per month) from the first
anniversary of the Additional Premises Commencement Date

                                       -2-
<PAGE>   48
through the day preceding the second anniversary of the Additional Premises
Commencement Date;

                  (iii) $794,482.62 per annum ($66,206.89 per month) from the
second anniversary of the Additional Premises Commencement Date through the day
preceding the third anniversary of the Additional Premises Commencement Date;

                  (iv) $874,044.68 per annum ($72,837.06 per month) from the
third anniversary of the Additional Premises Commencement Date through the day
preceding the fourth anniversary of the Additional Premises Commencement Date;

                  (v) $895,895.79 per annum ($74,657.98 per month) from the
fourth anniversary of the Additional Premises Commencement Date through the day
preceding the fifth anniversary of the Additional Premises Commencement Date;

                  (vi) $918,293.18 per annum ($76,524.43 per month) from the
fifth anniversary of the Additional Premises Commencement Date through the day
preceding the sixth anniversary of the Additional Premises Commencement Date;

                  (vii) $941,250.50 per annum ($78,437.54 per month) from the
sixth anniversary of the Additional Premises Commencement Date through the day
preceding the seventh anniversary of the Additional Premises Commencement Date;

                  (viii) $1,004,581.70 per annum ($83,715.14 per month) from the
seventh anniversary of the Additional Premises Commencement Date through the day
preceding the eighth anniversary of the Additional Premises Commencement Date;

                  (ix) $1,029,696.20 per annum ($85,808.02 per month) from the
eighth anniversary of the Additional Premises Commencement Date through the day
preceding the ninth anniversary of the Additional Premises Commencement Date;

                  (x) $1,055,438.60 per annum ($87,953.22 per month) from the
ninth anniversary of the Additional Premises Commencement Date through the day
preceding the tenth anniversary of the Additional Premises Commencement Date;
and

                  (xi) $1,081,824.50 per annum ($90,152.04 per month) from the
tenth anniversary of the Additional Premises Commencement Date through the
Expiration Date.

         On the execution of this Agreement, Tenant shall pay Landlord the sum
of $63,016.67 representing the first monthly installment of fixed rent with
respect to the Additional Premises. Fixed rent for a partial month shall be
prorated on a per diem basis.

         (b) Landlord shall initially supply electricity to the Additional
Premises pursuant to Article 46B.1 of the Lease,

                                       -3-
<PAGE>   49
through one or more submeters located in the Additional Premises, except that
the Overhead Charge referred to in such section shall be changed to ten (10%)
percent with respect to the Additional Premises. If Tenant installs a
supplemental air conditioning unit in the Additional Premises, the electricity
required to operate such unit shall be measured either by the existing submeters
located in the Additional Premises or by a separate meter installed by Landlord,
at Tenant's expense. In addition, the figure "21,927" appearing in Section B.2
of Article 46 of the Lease shall be deleted and the figure "41,827" shall be
substituted therefor.

         (c) From and after January 1, 2008 through and including the new
Expiration Date, Tenant shall pay Landlord fixed rent for the original Premises
in an annual amount equal to the product of (i) 21,927 and (ii) the annual fixed
rent per rentable square foot then payable by Tenant for the Additional Premises
under the Lease, as such fixed rent per rentable square foot shall be increased
pursuant to Section 4(a) above.

         (d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Agreement, provided that there shall not then be existing a default under the
Lease, which continues after the expiration of any applicable grace period,
Tenant shall be entitled to an abatement of fixed rent for the Additional
Premises only, to be applied against the second, third, fourth, fifth,
thirteenth and fourteenth monthly installments of fixed rent payable for the
Additional Premises.

     5. Escalations. Effective upon the Additional Premises Commencement Date,
(a) Tenant's Proportionate Share for the Additional Premises shall be 5.31% and
(b) the Base Tax for the Additional Premises (and for the Original Premises from
and after January 1, 2008) shall be the average of the Taxes for the Tax Years
ending June 30, 2000 and June 30, 2001. In addition, Article 40 of the Lease, as
modified by the Second Amendment, shall be inapplicable to the Additional
Premises and shall be deleted for any obligations accruing from and after
January 1, 2008 with respect to the Original Premises.

     6. Brokers. Landlord and Tenant each represents and warrants to the other
that it has not dealt with any broker in connection with this Agreement other
than RFR Realty LLC and Insignia/ESG, Inc. (collectively, "Brokers"). The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Tenant shall be conclusive evidence
that Tenant acknowledges that Landlord has relied upon the foregoing
representation and warranty by Tenant. Landlord and Tenant shall indemnify and
hold harmless the other party from and against any and all claims for
commission, fee or other compensation by any person or entity (other than
Brokers with respect to Tenant's indemnity to Landlord), who claims to have
dealt with the indemnitor in connection with this Agreement and the leasing of
the Additional Premises and for any and all costs incurred by the indemnitee in
connection with such claims, including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and
disbursements.

                                       -4-
<PAGE>   50
This provision shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of the Lease.

     7. Deletions. Effective on the date of this Agreement, in addition to the
other provisions of the Lease which have been deleted or amended by this
Agreement (or by prior amendments), Exhibit B of the original lease and
Paragraphs EIGHTH and SIXTEENTH of the Second Amendment shall be inapplicable to
the Additional Premises.

     8. Notices. Article 28 of the Lease is deleted in its entirety and the
following is substituted therefor:

                                  "ARTICLE 28

                                BILLS AND NOTICES

         Section 28.1.

     (A) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Lease, any bills,
statements, consents, notices, demands, requests or other communications given
or required to be given under this Lease ("Notice(s)") shall be in writing and
shall be deemed sufficiently given or rendered if delivered by hand or by
nationally-recognized overnight courier (against a signed receipt) or if
deposited in a securely fastened, postage prepaid envelope in a depository that
is regularly maintained by the U.S. Postal Service, sent by registered or
certified mail (return receipt requested) and in any of such cases addressed:

                  if to Tenant at the Building or at any place where Tenant or
         any agent or employee of Tenant may be found if given subsequent to
         Tenant's vacating, deserting, abandoning or surrendering the demised
         premises, or

                  if to Landlord, at Landlord's address set forth in this Lease,
         Attn: General Counsel, with a copy to each of (i) RFR Realty LLC, 400
         Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022, Attn: President, (ii) Corbin
         Silverman & Sanseverino LLP, 805 Third Avenue, New York, New York
         10022, Attention: Raymond A. Sanseverino, Esq., and (iii) any mortgagee
         or superior lessor who may have requested the same, by Notice given in
         accordance with the provisions of this Article 28 at the address
         designated by such mortgagee or superior lessor, or

to such other address(es) as either Landlord or Tenant may designate as its new
address(es) for such purpose by notice given to the other in accordance with the
provisions of this Article 28.

         (B) Notices shall be deemed to have been rendered or given (a) on the
date delivered, if delivered by hand or by nationally recognized overnight
courier, or (b) on the date mailed, if mailed as provided in Section 28.1(A).
Notice given by counsel for either party on behalf of such party or by the

                                       -5-
<PAGE>   51
managing agent on behalf of Landlord shall be deemed valid notices if addressed
and sent in accordance with the provisions of this Article.

         Section 28.2. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 28.1, Notices
requesting services during overtime periods may be given by delivery to the
Building superintendent or any other person in the Building designated by
Landlord to receive such Notices, and bills may be rendered by delivering them
to the demised premises without the necessity of a receipt."

     9. Non-Disturbance Agreement. Landlord shall use reasonable efforts to
obtain from the holders, as of the date of this Agreement, of any mortgage
affecting the Building, an agreement (a "Non-Disturbance Agreement") in
recordable form that provides in substance that, so long as Tenant shall not
then be in default in the performance of any of its obligations under the Lease
beyond any period provided for in the Lease for the cure of such default,
Tenant's possession of the Premises in accordance with the Lease shall not be
disturbed by such person giving the Non-Disturbance Agreement or any successor
or purchaser at a foreclosure sale (as the case may be) which shall succeed to
the rights of Landlord under the Lease. Tenant shall be required to pay any fee
or other expense (including, without limitation, payment of any attorneys' fees)
to obtain the Non-Disturbance Agreement. Such agreement shall be in such form as
is customarily used by the holders of such mortgages. Reasonable efforts shall
mean Landlord shall make the request for the Non-Disturbance Agreement in
writing with one follow-up telephone call to the holders of such mortgages.

     10. Assignment and Subletting. Article 41 of the Lease is amended as
follows:

         (i) by adding the following paragraph 3 before the last paragraph of
Section 41B:

                  "3. Landlord may sublet (in its own name or that of its
designee) such portion of the demised premises (the "Recapture Space") from
Tenant on the terms and conditions set forth in the proposed assignment or
sublease, effective as of the day preceding the proposed assignment or
sublease."

         (ii) by adding the following after the words "take an assignment
thereof" in the sixth line of the last paragraph of Section 41B:

                  "or to sublet such portion of the demised premises from
Tenant"

         (iii) by changing the word "either" to "any" in the first line of
Section 41C and

         (iv) by adding the following to the end of Section 41B:

                                       -6-
<PAGE>   52
         "If Landlord shall exercise its option to sublet the Recapture Space,
then, notwithstanding the terms contained in the sublease or assignment, such
sublease (a "Recapture Sublease") to Landlord or its designee as subtenant (the
"Recapture Subtenant") or assignee shall:

         (a) be at a rate, at all times throughout the term of the Recapture
Sublease, equal to (if Tenant had proposed to sublet the demised premises) the
rate set forth in the sublease or assignment;

         (b) otherwise be upon the same terms and conditions as those contained
in the sublease or assignment (other than, in the case of an assignment, payment
of consideration therefor to Tenant) and (except as modified by the sublease or
assignment) the terms and conditions contained in this Lease, except such as are
irrelevant or inapplicable and except as otherwise expressly set forth herein to
the contrary;

         (c) give the Recapture Subtenant the unqualified and unrestricted
right, without Tenant's permission, to assign such sublease and to further
sublet the Recapture Space or any part thereof and to make any and all changes,
alterations, and improvements in and to the Recapture Space; and

         (d) provide that (i) the parties to such Recapture Sublease expressly
negate any intention that any estate created under the Recapture Sublease be
merged with any estate held by either of said parties, (ii) prior to the
commencement of the term of the Recapture Sublease, Tenant, at its expense,
shall make such alterations as may be required or reasonably deemed necessary by
the Recapture Subtenant to physically separate the Recapture Space from the
balance of the demised premises and to provide appropriate means of access
thereto and to the public portions of the balance of the floor such as toilets,
janitor's closets, telephone and electrical closets, fire stairs, elevator
lobbies, etc., and (iii) at the expiration of the term of such Recapture
Sublease, Tenant will accept the Recapture Space in its then existing condition,
broom clean.

    Until the termination of a Recapture Sublease, performance by Recapture
Subtenant under a Recapture Sublease shall be deemed performance by Tenant of
any similar obligation under this Lease and Tenant shall not be liable for any
default under this Lease or deemed to be in default hereunder if such default is
occasioned by or arises from any act or omission of Recapture Subtenant under
the Recapture Sublease or is occasioned by or arises from any act or omission of
any occupant under the Recapture Sublease."

    (v) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 41 of the Lease, Landlord's
agreement to act reasonably in connection with a subletting shall include a
subletting of a portion of the demised premises, provided that each such portion
of the demised

                                      -7-
<PAGE>   53
premises comprises at least 25% of the aggregate rentable square footage of the
demised premises. Any such sublease shall be subject to Landlord's right to
recapture such portion of the demised premises, as set forth in Article 41 of
the Lease.

    11. Late Charge: Section 52F of the Lease is deleted in its entirety and the
following substituted therefor:

    "If Tenant shall fail to pay any installment of fixed rent, additional rent
or any other item of rental for a period longer than five (5) days after the
same shall have become due, Tenant shall pay to Landlord, in addition to such
installment of fixed rent, additional rent or other item of rental, as the case
may be, as a late charge and as additional rent, a sum equal to three (3%) of
the amount unpaid. If Tenant shall fail to pay any installment of fixed rent,
additional rent or any other item of rental for a period longer than 10 days
after the same shall have become due, Tenant shall pay to Landlord, in addition
to such installment of fixed rent, additional rent or other item of rental, as
the case may be, and in addition to the late charge payable by Tenant pursuant
to the preceding sentence, as a late charge and as additional rent, a sum equal
to interest at the lesser of (i) three percentage points above the rate of
interest publicly announced from time to time by Citibank, N.A., or its
successor, as its "base rate" (or such other term as may be used by Citibank,
N.A. from time to time, for the rate presently referred to as its "base rate")
and (ii) the maximum rate permitted by applicable law, on the amount unpaid. All
late charges payable by Tenant hereunder shall be computed from the date such
payment was due, without regard to any grace period set, forth in this Section
52F, to and including the date of payment."

    12. Security Deposit. Article 52 of the Lease is amended by increasing the
Security Deposit by the sum of $811,368.37, either by cash or by letter of
credit as described in the Lease (the "Additional Security Deposit"). If the
Additional Security Deposit is in the form of cash, Landlord shall hold such
Additional Security Deposit in accordance with Section 52H.1. of the Lease. On
the date on which Landlord shall have received 24 monthly installments of fixed
rent for the Additional Premises, the amount of the Additional Security Deposit
shall be reduced by the sum of $90,152.04, unless on such date there exists a
default, under the Lease which is continuing after notice and the expiration of
the applicable grace period. On the date on which Landlord shall have received
36 monthly installments of fixed rent for the Additional Premises, the amount of
the Additional Security Deposit shall be further reduced by the sum of
$90,152.04, unless on such date there exists a default under the Lease which is
continuing after notice and the expiration of the applicable grace period. on
the date on which Landlord shall have received 60 monthly installments of fixed
rent for the Additional Premises, the amount of the Additional Security Deposit
shall be further reduced by the sum of $180,304.08, unless on such date there
exists a default under the Lease which

                                      -8-
<PAGE>   54
is continuing after notice and the expiration of the applicable grace period.

    13. Cancellation option. Effective on the date of this Agreement, Article
NINTH of the Second Amendment is deleted in its entirety and shall be of no
further force and effect.

    14. Negotiation Space. Article TENTH of the Second Amendment grants Tenant a
right to lease certain additional space in the Building. Effective on the
Additional Premises Commencement Date, the term "Negotiation Space" shall mean
those portions of the fifteenth and sixteenth floors of the Building specified
in Article TENTH and all of the fourteenth floor of the Building, which is
presently affected by leases with Pakistan Airlines and Kreitzman Mortens, each
for terms to expire on September 30, 2001. All of the provisions of Article
TENTH, as modified by this Section 14 to include the fourteenth floor, shall
continue to apply, except that Landlord agrees to notify Tenant of the
availability of the Negotiation Space and Tenant may exercise its rights with
respect to the Negotiation Space in accordance with the provisions of Article
TENTH of the Second Amendment, prior to Landlord's negotiating a renewal or
extension of the lease with an existing occupant of the Negotiation Space.

    If Tenant leases the fourteenth floor of the Building, Tenant, at its sole
cost and expense, may install an internal staircase connecting the portions of
the demised premises on the fourteenth and fifteenth floors of the Building,
provided, at Landlord's option, exercisable on notice to Tenant, which notice
may be given to Tenant at any time during the term of the Lease and within six
months following the expiration or termination of the Lease, Landlord may
require Tenant, at its expense, to remove the staircase and repair and restore
the demised premises to the condition existing prior to the installation of the
staircase (including sealing the slab) at the end of the term of the Lease (or
thereafter, if Landlord's notice to Tenant is given after the term of the
Lease).

    15. 529 Fifth Avenue. Tenant has advised Landlord that Tenant may wish to
connect the Additional Premises with premises that Tenant leases on the eleventh
floor of the building located at 529 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York ("529
Fifth Avenue"). Tenant may construct an opening in the exterior wall of the
Building to make such connection pursuant to plans and specifications approved
in writing by Landlord. Landlord shall cooperate, without expense to Landlord,
with Tenant in connection, with such work (including endeavoring to obtain, at
Tenant's expense, all necessary approvals, including those of the New York City
Buildings Department and Fire Department), subject to the following conditions:

         (i)      Landlord, Tenant and the owner of 529 Fifth Avenue shall enter
                  into a separate agreement granting appropriate cross-easements
                  to permit entry between the Building and 529 Fifth Avenue;

                                      -9-
<PAGE>   55
         (ii)     Tenant, at its expense, shall be required to restore the
                  interior and exterior of the Building to the condition
                  existing immediately prior to the performance of such work,
                  upon the earlier to occur of the expiration or termination
                  date of the Lease and Tenant's lease at 529 Fifth Avenue.

         (iii)    All of such work shall be performed in accordance with
                  applicable provisions of the Lease and all applicable laws,
                  rules and regulations;

         (iv)     Tenant, at its expense, shall maintain and repair the
                  connecting passageway between the Building and 529 Fifth
                  Avenue;

         (v)      No Building-wide systems or shared facilities shall be
                  required between the Building and 529 Fifth Avenue in
                  connection with such work or the occupancy of the connecting
                  passageway; and

         (vi)     Tenant shall indemnify and hold Landlord harmless from and
                  against any loss, cost, damage and expense (including
                  reasonable attorneys, fees) suffered or incurred by Landlord
                  in connection with Tenant's installation, removal, repair,
                  maintenance or occupancy of the connecting passageway.

    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above, Tenant
acknowledges that the foregoing work shall require the written approval of the
holders of all mortgages encumbering the Building, and may require the written
approval of the holder of any mortgage encumbering 529 Fifth Avenue, and
Landlord's approval of the performance of such work is conditioned upon
obtaining such mortgagees' approvals. Landlord has made no representation that
it shall be able to obtain such approvals and shall have no liability to Tenant
if Landlord is unable to obtain such approvals nor shall it otherwise affect
this Lease. All of Tenant's obligations under this Section 15 shall survive the
expiration or termination of the Lease.

    16. No Oral Modification. This Agreement may not be changed or terminated
orally, but only by an agreement in writing signed by Landlord and Tenant.

    17. No Offer. This Agreement is offered for signature by Tenant and it is
understood that this Agreement shall not be binding upon Landlord unless and
until Landlord shall have executed and delivered a fully executed copy of this
Agreement to Tenant.

    18. Ratification. Except as modified by this Agreement, the provisions of
the Lease are confirmed and approved and shall continue in full force and
effect.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>   56
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Landlord and Tenant have executed this Agreement as of
the day and year first above written.

                                    521 FIFTH AVENUE PARTNERS, LLC, a
                                    Delaware limited liability company

                                    By: 521 Fifth Avenue, LLC, a New York
                                    limited liability company, Managing Member

                                    By: 521 Fifth Avenue Corp., a Delaware
                                    corporation, Managing Member

                                    By: [Sig]
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Name:
                                              ----------------------------------
                                        Title:
                                               ---------------------------------

                                    EDISON  IN

                                    By: /s/Chris Cerf
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Name: Chris Cerf
                                        Title: COO

                                    Tenant's Federal Employer
                                    Identification Number: 13-3915075

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