Document:

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                                                                    Exhibit 10.9

                               INVESTORS AGREEMENT

     This INVESTORS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of July 19, 2002, is
by and among CASTLE DENTAL CENTERS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
"Corporation"), HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Heller"),
MIDWEST MEZZANINE FUND II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Midwest") and,
solely for purposes of Section 5(a) hereof, James M. Usdan ("Usdan").

                                    RECITALS

     A. Pursuant to the terms of that certain Senior Subordinated Note and
Subordinated Convertible Note Exchange Agreement, dated July 19, 2002 among the
Corporation, Heller and Midwest (the "Exchange Agreement"), the Corporation (i)
issued to Heller 119,520 shares of Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock of the
Corporation, par value $.001 per share (the "Series A-1 Preferred Stock"), and
(ii) issued to Midwest 59,760 shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock.

     B. Pursuant to the terms of that certain Senior Subordinated Note and
Warrant Purchase Agreement dated July 19, 2002 among the Corporation, Heller,
Midwest and Usdan (the "Note Purchase Agreement"), the Corporation, among other
things, issued to each of Heller and Midwest senior subordinated convertible
promissory notes of the Corporation (collectively, the "New Money Notes") which
may be converted in the aggregate into 1,826,834 shares of the fully-diluted
common stock of the Corporation, par value $.001 per share (the "Common Stock").

     C. The parties hereto desire to enter into this Agreement to provide for,
among other things, (i) a right of first refusal between Heller and Midwest with
respect to transfers of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock and the New Money Notes,
(ii) special voting rights with respect to the designation and election of
directors of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries and (iii) certain covenants to
be complied with by the Corporation.

                                    AGREEMENT

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the recitals and the mutual agreements
herein set forth, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as
follows:

     Section 1. Definitions. In addition to capitalized terms defined elsewhere
in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the following
respective meanings when used in this Agreement:

     "Affiliate" of any Person shall mean (i) any Person directly or indirectly
controlled by, controlling or under common control with such first Person, (ii)
any director or officer of such first Person or of any Person referred to in
clause (i) above and (iii) if any Person in clause (i) above is an individual,
any member of the immediate family (including parents, spouse and children) of
such individual or any trust whose principal beneficiary is such individual or
one (1)

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or more members of such immediate family and any Person who is controlled by any
such member or trust. For purposes of this definition, any Person which owns
directly or indirectly ten percent (10%) or more of the securities having
ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body of a
corporation or ten percent (10%) or more of the partnership or other ownership
interests of any other Person (other than as a limited partner of such other
Person) will be deemed to "control" (including, with its correlative meanings,
"controlled by" and "under common control with") such corporation or other
Person.

         "Board Options" means options to purchase up to 1,389,747 Common Shares
issued to non-employee directors of the Corporation pursuant to the
Corporation's 2002 Stock Option Plan.

         "Business Day" means any day other than a day on which commercial banks
are authorized or required to close in Chicago, Illinois.

         "Common Shares" means the shares of Common Stock.

         "Debt" means for any Person the sum of the following (without
duplication): (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or evidenced
by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments (including principal,
interest, fees and charges); (ii) all obligations of such Person (whether
contingent or otherwise) in respect of bankers' acceptances, letters of credit,
surety or other bonds and similar instruments; (iii) all obligations of such
Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than
for borrowed money); (iv) all obligations under leases which shall have been, or
should have been, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases in respect
of which such Person is liable (whether contingent or otherwise); (v) all
obligations under leases which require such Person or its Affiliate to make
payments over the term of such lease, including payments at termination, which
are substantially equal to at least eighty percent (80%) of the purchase price
of the property subject to such lease plus interest as an imputed rate of
interest; (vi) all Debt (as described in the other clauses of this definition)
and other obligations of others secured by a lien, claim or other encumbrance on
any asset of such Person, whether or not such Debt is assumed by such Person;
(vii) all Debt (as described in the other clauses of this definition) and other
obligations of others guaranteed by such Person or in which such Person
otherwise assures a creditor against loss of the debtor or obligations of
others; (viii) all obligations or undertakings of such Person to maintain or
cause to be maintained the financial position or covenants of others or to
purchase the Debt or property of others; (ix) obligations to deliver goods or
services in consideration of advance payments; and (x) all obligations of such
Person under Hedging Agreements.

         "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States of America in effect from time to time.

         "Hedging Agreements" means any interest rate swap, cap, floor, collar,
forward agreement or other protection agreements or any option with respect to
any such transaction.

         "Heller Holders" means Heller and its successors and assigns, together
with any transferee(s) of the Securities initially held by Heller.

         "Holders" means collectively the Heller Holders and the Midwest
Holders.

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         "Indebtedness" means any and all amounts owing or to be owing by the
Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries to Note Holders in connection with the
Subordinated Note and Warrant Documents, now or hereafter entered into between
or among the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries and any Note Holder, and all
renewals, extensions and/or rearrangements of any of the above.

         "Management Options" means option to purchase up to 13,897,471 shares
of the Corporation's Common Stock issued to officers, employees or consultants
of the Corporation or its Subsidiaries pursuant to the Corporation's 2002 Stock
Option Plan.

         "Midwest" means Midwest and its successors and assigns, together with
any transferee(s) of the Securities initially held by Midwest.

         "Note Holders" means, collectively, Heller, Midwest and Usdan.

         "Notes" means the New Money Notes issued to Heller and Midwest pursuant
to the Note Purchase Agreement, and any note or notes issued in exchange for
such notes.

         "Person" means any individual, corporation, company, voluntary
association, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust,
unincorporated organization or government or any agency, instrumentality or
political subdivision thereof, or any other form of entity.

         "Preferred Shares" means the Series A-1 Preferred Shares and the Series
A-2 Preferred Shares.

         "Registration Rights Agreement" means that certain Registration Rights
Agreement dated July 19, 2002 by and among the Corporation, the Senior Lenders,
Heller, Midwest, Usdan and certain other stockholders party thereto.

         "Securities" means collectively the Series A-1 Preferred Shares and the
Notes.

         "Senior Bank Warrants" means those certain warrants to purchase Series
A-2 Preferred Shares issued to the Senior Lenders pursuant to the Senior Loan
Agreement.

         "Senior Indebtedness" means "Senior Debt" as such term is defined in
the Subordination Agreement.

         "Senior Lenders" means Banc of America Strategic Solutions, Inc., a
Delaware corporation, Fleet National Bank, a national banking association,
Amsouth Bank, a national banking association, and Heller.

         "Senior Loan Agreement" means that certain Second Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement dated as of July 19, 2002 between the Corporation and the
Senior Lenders.

         "Series A-1 Preferred Shares" means the shares of Series A-1 Preferred
Stock and any shares issued in exchange for such shares (other than Common
Shares).

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         "Series A-2 Preferred Shares" means the shares of Series A-2
Convertible Preferred Stock of the Corporation, par value $.001 per share, and
any shares issued in exchange for such shares (other than Common Shares).

         "Stockholders Agreement" means that certain Stockholders Agreement
dated July 19, 2002 among the Corporation, Heller, Midwest and certain other
holders of the Corporation's capital stock and other securities.

         "Sub-Debt Warrants" means those certain warrants to purchase Common
Shares issued pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement.

         "Subordinated Note and Warrant Documents" means collectively the Note
Purchase Agreement, the Notes, the Sub-Debt Warrants, the Subordinated Guaranty
Agreement entered into pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, the Stockholders
Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and any other agreements,
certificates or instruments executed or delivered pursuant to or entered into in
connection with any of the foregoing.

         "Subordination Agreement" means that certain Subordination and
Intercreditor Agreement dated as of the date hereof among the Corporation,
certain guarantors named therein, Heller, Midwest, and Bank of America, N.A., a
national banking association (together with any duly appointed successor), as
agent for the Senior Lenders.

         "Subsidiary" means any corporation, association or other business
entity of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than
fifty percent (50%) of the ordinary voting power are, at the time as of which
any determination is being made, owned or controlled by the Corporation or one
or more Subsidiaries of the Corporation or by the Corporation and one or more
Subsidiaries of the Corporation.

         "Transfer" means any sale, gift, bequest, assignment, distribution,
conveyance, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance or other transfer or disposition,
whether voluntary or involuntary by operation of law or otherwise, and whether
inter vivos or testamentary.

         Section 2. Right of First Refusal.

        (a) Except for dispositions permitted by Section 3, if a Holder desires
to Transfer any Securities (collectively, the "Offered Securities") to a third
party, such Holder (the "Selling Holder") will, prior to making or offering to
make any such Transfer or accepting any such offer, give written notice (the
"Offer Notice") to the other Holders (the "Non-Selling Holders") and to Usdan
stating (i) the name of the proposed transferee of the Offered Securities (the
"Proposed Transferee"), (ii) the number and type of Offered Securities, (iii)
the purchase price therefor, and (iv) other material terms and conditions upon
which the Selling Holder proposes to sell such Offered Securities to such
proposed transferee and making an offer to sell such Offered Securities (the
"Offer") to each of the Non-Selling Holders pursuant to the terms and conditions
of this Section, at the price and on the other terms described in the Offer
Notice. The date upon which the Offer Notice is given to the Non-Selling Holders
is called the "Offer Notice Date." The Offer shall remain open and irrevocable
for the period of ten (10) Business Days following the Offer Notice Date.

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     (b) Each Non-Selling Holder may accept the offer to purchase all the
Offered Securities by giving written notice thereof (each, a "Holder's
Acceptance Notice") to the Selling Holder within 10 Business Days following the
Offer Notice Date, such notice to set forth the maximum number of Offered
Securities such Non-Selling Holder is willing to purchase. In the event that the
Holder's Acceptance Notice(s) reflect a willingness on the part of Non-Selling
Holders to purchase, in the aggregate, more than the number of Offered
Securities available, the Non-Selling Holders shall be entitled to purchase such
Offered Securities pro rata among themselves on the basis of the number of
Common Shares into which the Series A Preferred Shares and the Notes held by
each such Non-Selling Holder are then convertible.

     (c) In the event after compliance with Section 2(b) above, the Offer has
been accepted in its entirety by the Non-Selling Holders, the Selling Holder
shall sell the Offered Securities to the Non-Selling Holders, and the
Non-Selling Holders shall purchase the Offered Securities, on the terms and
conditions set forth in the Offer Notice and the closing shall take place 25
Business Days after the Offer Notice Date, unless a later date is agreed to by
parties to such transaction.

     (d) In the event after compliance with Section 2(b) above, the Offer has
not been accepted in its entirety by the Non-Selling Holders, the Selling Holder
may, within 25 Business Days thereafter, sell the Offered Securities to the
Proposed Transferee on the terms set forth in the Offer Notice. The Proposed
Transferee, as a condition to such Transfer, shall agree in writing to be bound
by the terms of this Agreement to the same extent as the Selling Holder. If such
sale has not been completed within such 25-Business Day period, such sale may
not be carried out without complying again with the provisions of this Section.
Any Transfer in violation of this Section 2 shall be void and ineffective.

     Section 3. Permitted Transfers. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, a Holder may Transfer its Securities free of the restrictions
contained in Section 2 to the partners, members or Affiliates of such Holder,
provided that such transferee is not engaged in the business of providing dental
services in the United States and provided further that any such transferee
first agrees in a writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement to the same
extent as such transferring Holder.

     Section 4. Voting Agreement; Initial Designation of Directors.

     (a) Each of the Holders acknowledges and agrees to take all action within
their respective power, including, but not limited to, the voting of capital
stock of the Corporation, required to (i) cause the Board of Directors of the
Corporation to at all times consist of up to five (5) members, (ii) cause the
Board of Directors as soon as possible following the execution of this Agreement
to initially consist of James M. Usdan, Eddie Kunz, Paul Kreie, as the Midwest
Designee (as defined below) and Ira Glazer, as one of the Heller Designees (as
defined below), and (iii) thereafter cause to be elected to the Board of
Directors the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation.

     (b) Each of the Holders acknowledges and agrees that the holders of the
Series A-1 Preferred Shares have the exclusive right, pursuant to the terms of
the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, voting separately as a
single class, to elect a majority of the number of the members of the
Corporation's Board of Directors. Each of the Holders agrees

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that, (i) Holders holding a majority of the Series A-1 Preferred Shares
originally acquired by Heller pursuant to the Exchange Agreement shall have the
right to designate, at any time and from time to time, two members of the
Corporation's Board of Directors (the "Heller Designees"), and (ii) Holders
holding a majority of the Series A-1 Preferred Shares originally acquired by
Midwest pursuant to the Exchange Agreement shall have the right to designate, at
any time and from time to time, one member of the Corporation's Board of
Directors (the "Midwest Designee"). Each of the Holders agrees to take all
actions necessary at any time and from time to time including, but not limited
to, the voting of its shares of stock of the Corporation, the execution of
written consents, the calling of special meetings, the removal of directors, the
filling of vacancies in directorships, the waiving of notice, the attending of
meetings and the amendment of the Corporation's by-laws, so as to cause the
Corporation's Board of Directors to include the designees of Heller and Midwest.
Concurrently with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the
Exchange Agreement, Midwest hereby designates Paul Kreie as the initial Midwest
Designee, and Heller hereby designates Ira Glazer as one of its initial Heller
Designees. The Corporation acknowledges that as of the date hereof, there is one
vacancy on the Corporation's Board of Directors, which is a vacancy of a Series
A-1 Director (as defined in the Certificate of Designation of the Series A
Preferred Shares). Heller shall use its reasonable efforts to designate an
additional Heller Designee that is reasonably acceptable to Midwest and Usdan
within 75 days of the date hereof.

     Section 5. Covenants of the Corporation.

     (a) So long as any Series A-1 Preferred Shares are outstanding, the
Corporation shall not, without first obtaining the written consent of (1)
Holders holding a majority of the Series A-1 Preferred Shares originally
acquired by Heller pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, (2) Holders holding a
majority of the Series A-1 Preferred Shares originally acquired by Midwest
pursuant to the Exchange Agreement and (3) Usdan, so long as he holds at least
seventy-five percent (75%) of the principal amount of the Note originally
acquired by him pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement:

          (i) authorize or issue, or enter into any agreement providing for the
     issuance (contingent or otherwise) of, (A) any equity securities of the
     Corporation or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for equity
     securities of the Corporation or permit any Subsidiary to authorize or
     issue, or enter into any agreement providing for the issuance (contingent
     or otherwise) of, any equity securities of such Subsidiary or any
     securities convertible into or exercisable for equity securities of such
     Subsidiary, any notes or debt securities containing equity features,
     including, but not limited to, any notes or debt securities convertible
     into or exchangeable for equity securities, issued in connection with the
     issuance of equity securities or containing profit participation features,
     or (B) any capital appreciation or profit participation rights, except, in
     each case, (w) for the Preferred Shares, Senior Bank Warrants, the
     Management Options, the Board Options, the Sub-Debt Warrants, the Notes and
     the capital stock issuable upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any of
     the foregoing, (x) for profit participation rights issued in the ordinary
     course of business consistent with past practice, (y) for up to 150,000
     Common Shares issued to directors of the Corporation in office on the date
     of this Agreement, and (z) pursuant to customary management compensation
     arrangements approved by the Compensation Committee;

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          (ii) directly or indirectly repurchase, redeem or retire any shares of
     capital stock of the Corporation (or any capital stock of a Subsidiary)
     other than pursuant to (x) the Employment Agreement between the Corporation
     and Usdan, dated as of the date hereof, (y) contractual rights to
     repurchase Common Shares held by employees, directors or consultants of the
     Corporation upon termination of their employment or services or (z)
     cashless exercise provisions;

          (iii) merge or consolidate with any Person or permit any Subsidiary to
     merge or consolidate with any Person (other than a merger of a wholly-owned
     Subsidiary into the Corporation or another wholly-owned Subsidiary);

          (iv) sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all (or
     a substantial portion) of the Corporation's (or its Subsidiaries') assets
     or sell or otherwise dispose of, or permit any Subsidiary to issue, sell or
     otherwise dispose of, any shares of the capital stock of any Subsidiary;

          (v) liquidate, dissolve or effect a recapitalization or reorganization
     (or permit a Subsidiary to liquidate, dissolve or effect a recapitalization
     or reorganization unless the assets of such Subsidiary are transferred to
     the Corporation or another Subsidiary);

          (vi) acquire another company or business (or permit a Subsidiary to
     acquire another company or business);

          (vii) directly or indirectly, declare or pay, any dividends, or make
     any distributions on any of the Corporation's capital stock;

          (viii) establish, acquire or permit to exist any Subsidiary other than
     Subsidiaries existing on the date hereof and other wholly-owned
     Subsidiaries;

          (ix) increase or decrease the size of the Corporation's or any
     Subsidiary's board of directors to a number greater than or less than five
     (5) members;

          (x) change the Corporation's primary business or enter into or permit
     a Subsidiary of the Corporation to enter into, the ownership, management or
     operation of any business other than the business conducted by the
     Corporation on the date hereof;

          (xi) amend the Certificate of Incorporation (including, but not
     limited to, filing or amending any certificate of designations) or by-laws
     of the Corporation (or any Subsidiary);

          (xii) enter into, or permit any Subsidiary to enter into, any
     transaction with any of its or any Subsidiary's Affiliates, except in the
     ordinary course of business and upon fair and reasonable terms no less
     favorable to the Corporation or any Subsidiary than would be obtained by
     the Corporation or any Subsidiary in a comparable arm's length transaction
     with a Person who is not the Corporation's or any Subsidiary's Affiliate;
     provided, however, nothing in this clause (xii) shall be deemed to prohibit
     payments to officers, directors and other agents of the Corporation or any
     Subsidiary pursuant to employment arrangements on customary terms or
     indemnities contained in the

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     Corporation's or any Subsidiary's certificate of incorporation, by-laws or
     any indemnity agreement to which the Corporation or any Subsidiary is a
     party; or

          (xiii) incur, create, assume or permit to exist any Debt, except:

               (A) the Notes, the Indebtedness or any guaranty of or suretyship
          arrangement for the Notes or the Indebtedness;

               (B) material accounts payable (for the deferred purchase price of
          property or services) from time to time incurred in the ordinary
          course of business which, if greater than one hundred twenty (120)
          days past the invoice or billing date, are being contested in good
          faith by appropriate proceedings and reserves adequate under GAAP
          shall have been established therefor;

               (C) debt under capital leases (as required to be reported on the
          financial statements of the Corporation pursuant to GAAP) and purchase
          money Debt incurred after July 19, 2002, in a combined amount not to
          exceed $500,000 per year or $2,000,000 in the aggregate outstanding at
          any one time;

               (D) debt of the Corporation under Hedging Agreements with a
          lender under the Senior Loan Agreement or otherwise approved by the
          Note Holders;

               (E) debt in existence on July 19, 2002 and described in the Note
          Purchase Agreement; and

               (F) Senior Indebtedness.

     (b) The Corporation shall not take any of the following actions without the
affirmative vote of at least three directors of the Corporation:

          (i) make capital expenditures or permit a Subsidiary to make capital
     expenditures in excess of the annual budgeted amount approved by the Board
     of Directors;

          (ii) make, or permit any Subsidiary to make, any loans or advances to,
     or guarantees for the benefit of, any Person, other than loans to employees
     of the Corporation and its affiliated practices not to exceed $25,000 at
     any one time per individual and $200,000 at any one time in the aggregate;

          (iii) make or permit to exist, or permit any Subsidiary to make or
     permit to exist, any investment other than: (A) investments existing on the
     date hereof, (B) investments in short-term obligations issued by, or
     guaranteed by, the United States government, (C) investments in negotiable
     certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances or money market securities
     issued by any bank or branch of a bank having capital and surplus of at
     least $300,000,000 in the aggregate at all times, and (D) investments in
     commercial paper rated P1 or A1 by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or
     Standard & Poor's Corporation, respectively;

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          (iv) approve any budget of the Corporation, or any material amendment
     or modification thereto;

          (v) make, or permit any Subsidiary to make, any material changes in
     accounting methods, practices or principles, except in accordance with
     GAAP; and

          (vi) sell shares of capital stock of the Corporation or any Subsidiary
     of the Corporation to the public or register such a sale, whether for the
     Corporation's own account or the account of another, pursuant to a
     registration statement under the Securities Act, except for registrations
     and sales made pursuant to demand registrations requested pursuant to the
     Registration Rights Agreement.

     (c) The Board of Directors shall have a compensation committee (the
"Compensation Committee"), which shall perform such functions as are customarily
performed by compensation committees, specifically: (i) hiring and firing of
members of management or other significant senior executives and setting or
changing their compensation; and (ii) adoption and administration of any
employee compensation or benefit plan by the Corporation or its Subsidiaries,
including bonus plans, profit sharing arrangements and incentive compensation
programs (other than those plans adopted prior to the date hereof). The
Compensation Committee and any other committee established or empowered by the
Board of Directors shall consist of no more than three (3) members, one of whom
shall be a Heller Designee and one of whom shall be a Midwest Designee.

     (d) The Corporation shall cause the board of directors of each Subsidiary
to at all times be composed of the same members as the Corporation's Board of
Directors.

     (e) Not more than 20 Business Days after the date hereof, the Corporation
shall provide evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Heller Designees and the
Midwest Designee that the Corporation has obtained directors' and officers'
liability insurance in an amount reasonably acceptable to the Heller Designees
and the Midwest Designee (the "D&O Insurance"). The Corporation shall maintain
the D&O Insurance, in amounts reasonably acceptable to the then-current Heller
Designees and the Midwest Designee, at all times that the holders of the Series
A-1 Preferred Shares have the right to designate members to the Corporation's
Board of Directors. Not more than 20 Business Days after the date hereof, the
Corporation shall have entered into indemnification agreements with the Heller
Designees and the Midwest Designee, in form and substance reasonably acceptable
to each such Designee, pursuant to which the Corporation shall agree to
indemnify each such Designee to the fullest extent permitted by law in
connection with such Designees' service on the Corporation's Board of Directors.
The Corporation further agrees to enter into substantially similar
indemnification agreements with the successors to the Heller Designees and the
Midwest Designee.

     Section 6. Term. This Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force
and effect at such time as (a) the Notes have been paid in full or are otherwise
no longer outstanding and (b) there are no Series A-1 Preferred Shares
outstanding.

     Section 7. Legend. The Corporation will cause the Notes and each
certificate representing Series A-1 Preferred Shares governed by this Agreement
to be stamped or otherwise

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imprinted, throughout the term of this Agreement, with a legend in substantially
the following form:

          The securities represented by this certificate are subject to certain
          restrictions on transfer and certain voting agreements all as set
          forth in a certain Investors Agreement of Castle Dental Centers, Inc.,
          dated as of July 19, 2002, a copy of which will be mailed to the
          holder without charge within five days of a written request therefor."

     Section 8. Notices to the Corporation and the Holders. Any notices desired,
required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be delivered personally or
mailed, certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid
or delivered by commercial overnight courier service, charges prepaid to the
following addresses, or such other addresses as shall be given by notice
delivered hereunder, and shall be deemed to have been given upon delivery, if
delivered personally, three Business Days after mailing, if mailed, or one
Business Day after delivery to the overnight courier service, if delivered by
overnight courier service:

         If to the Corporation to:

                  Castle Dental Centers, Inc.
                  3701 Kirby Drive, Suite 550
                  Houston, Texas 77098
                  Attention:  James M. Usdan

         If to Heller to:

                  Heller Financial, Inc.
                  c/o Heller Healthcare Financial Services
                  500 West Monroe Street
                  Chicago, Illinois 60661
                  Attention:  Michael Sznajder

         If to Midwest to:

                  Midwest Mezzanine Fund II, L.P.
                  208 South LaSalle Street
                  10th Floor
                  Chicago, Illinois  60604
                  Attention:  J. Allan Kayler

                  Any party may change the address to which notices to it are to
be sent by giving written notice given pursuant to this Section to the other
parties hereto.

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     Section 9. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement
by or for the benefit of the Corporation shall bind and inure to the benefit of
its respective successors and permitted assigns hereunder.

     Section 10. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract
made under the laws of the State of Illinois and for all purposes shall be
construed in accordance with the internal laws of said State.

     Section 11. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to
be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and
the same instrument.

     Section 12. Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement cannot be amended without the
prior written consent of the Holders and the Corporation. No provision of this
Agreement may be waived except by an instrument in writing signed by the party
to be bound. No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right or remedy
hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, and a waiver of a particular right
or remedy on one occasion shall not be deemed a waiver of any other right or
remedy or a waiver of the same right or remedy on any subsequent occasion.

        [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK. SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS.]

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Investors Agreement
to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

                                 CASTLE DENTAL CENTERS, INC.

                                 By:   /s/ J.P. Keane
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                 Its:  Chief Financial Officer
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                 HELLER FINANCIAL, INC.

                                 By:   /s/  Michael Snajder
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                 Its:  Senior Vice President
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                 MIDWEST MEZZANINE FUND II, L.P.

                                 By: ABN AMRO Mezzanine Management II, L.P., its
                                     General Partner

                                 By: ABN AMRO Mezzanine Management II, Inc., its
                                     General Partner

                                 By:   /s/ Paul Kreie
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                 Its:  Vice President
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                 Solely for purposes of Section 5(a) hereof:

                                  /s/  James M. Usdan
                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                 James M. Usdan

                                       12<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.10

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Registration Rights Agreement
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                  by and among

                           CASTLE DENTAL CENTERS, INC.

                             a Delaware corporation
                                 (the "Company")

                                       and

                        Those persons listed on Exhibit A
                                ("Stockholders")

                                  July 19, 2002

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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE I.  DEFINED TERMS......................................................1
     Section 1.1      Defined Terms............................................1
     Section 1.2      Construction.............................................3
     Section 1.3      References...............................................3
ARTICLE II.  DEMAND REGISTRATION...............................................4
     Section 2.1.     Request..................................................4
     Section 2.2.     Registration Statement Form..............................4
     Section 2.3.     Expenses.................................................4
     Section 2.4.     Effective Registration Statement.........................4
     Section 2.5.     Selection of Underwriters................................5
     Section 2.6.     Priority in Requested Registrations......................5
     Section 2.7.     S-3 Registration.........................................5
ARTICLE III.  "PIGGY BACK" REGISTRATION........................................6
     Section 3.1.     Right to Include Registrable Securities..................6
     Section 3.2.     Priority in Piggy-Back Registrations.....................7
ARTICLE IV.  REGISTRATION PROCEDURES...........................................8
     Section 4.1.     Preparation of Filings...................................8
           (a)        Registration Statement...................................8
           (b)        Amendments...............................................8
           (c)        Copies of Documents......................................8
           (d)        Blue-Sky.................................................9
           (e)        Other Approvals..........................................9
           (f)        Opinions; Comfort Letters................................9
           (g)        Notice of Events........................................10
           (h)        Earnings Statement......................................10
           (i)        Listing.................................................10
           (j)        Transfer Agent..........................................11
           (k)        Access..................................................11
     Section 4.2.     Data from Holders of Registerable Securities............11
     Section 4.3.     Discontinuance of Use of Prospectus.....................11
     Section 4.4.     References to Holders in Registration Statements........11
     Section 4.5.     Underwritten Offerings..................................12
     Section 4.6.     Holdback Agreements.....................................12
     Section 4.7.     Preparation; Reasonable Investigation...................12
ARTICLE V.  INDEMNIFICATION...................................................13
     Section 5.1.     Indemnification by the Company..........................13
     Section 5.2.     Indemnification by the Sellers..........................14
     Section 5.3.     Notices of Claims, etc..................................14
     Section 5.4.     Other Indemnification...................................15
     Section 5.5.     Indemnification Payments................................15
     Section 5.6.     Contributions...........................................15
ARTICLE VI.  RULE 144.........................................................16
     Section 6.1.     Rule 144................................................16

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ARTICLE VII.  MISCELLANEOUS...................................................16
     Section 7.1.     Remedies................................................16
     Section 7.2.     No Inconsistent Agreements..............................16
     Section 7.3.     Adjustments Affecting Registrable Securities............17
     Section 7.4.     Assignment..............................................17
     Section 7.5.     Descriptive Headings....................................17
     Section 7.6.     Governing Law...........................................17
     Section 7.7.     Counterparts............................................17
     Section 7.8.     Entire Agreement........................................17
     Section 7.9.     Severability............................................17
     Section 7.10.    Amendments and Waivers..................................17
     Section 7.11.    Nominees for Beneficial Owners..........................18
     Section 7.12.    Notices.................................................18
     Section 7.13.    Other Registration Rights Agreements....................18

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                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

     This Registration Rights Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into as of this
19th day of July 2002, by and between Castle Dental Centers, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), those persons listed on Exhibit A (individually, a
"Stockholder" and collectively, the "Stockholders") and evidences that for good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                            ARTICLE I. DEFINED TERMS

     Section 1.1    Defined Terms. As used herein, unless the context otherwise
requires, the following terms have the following respective meanings:

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

     Bank Warrants: The warrants to purchase Series A-2 Stock issued to Banc of
America Strategic Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation, FSC Corp., a
Massachusetts corporation, Amsouth Bank, a national banking association, and
Heller Financial, Inc., a Delaware corporation, contemporaneously with the
execution of this Agreement, and any warrants issued upon the partial exercise,
assignment, transfer, sale, exchange or replacement of such warrants.

     Common Stock: The common stock, par value $0.001, of the Company.

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

     Demand Right Holders: Persons with "demand" registration rights pursuant to
a contractual commitment of the Company that have exercised such rights.

     Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and the rules
and regulations of the SEC from time to time in effect thereunder, and shall
include any replacement statute and rules and regulations thereunder.

     Initiating Holders: Any holder or holders of at least 20% of the
Registrable Securities (other than Registrable Securities issued or issuable
upon conversion of Piggyback Stock) by number of shares at the time outstanding
or issuable upon exercise or conversion of the Series A-1 Stock (other than
Piggyback Stock), Series A-2 Stock, the Bank Warrants, the New Money Notes
and/or the New Money Warrants, and initiating a request pursuant to Section 2.1
or Section 2.7 for the registration of all or part of such holder's or holders'
Registrable Securities. Holders of Piggyback Stock or Registrable Securities
issued or issuable upon conversion of Piggyback Stock are specifically excluded
from the definition of Initiating Holder and Registrable Securities issued or
issuable upon conversion of Piggyback Stock shall be excluded from calculations
used in the definition of Initiating Holder.

     Inspectors: As defined in Section 4.1(k) of this Agreement.

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     New Money Notes: The convertible notes issued pursuant to the Note and
Warrant Purchase Agreement between the Company and Heller Financial, Inc., a
Delaware corporation, Midwest Mezzanine Fund II, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership, and James M. Usdan, entered into contemporaneously with the
execution of this Agreement, and any notes issued upon the partial conversion,
assignment, transfer, sale, exchange or replacement of such notes.

     New Money Warrants: The warrants to purchase Common Stock issued pursuant
to the Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement between the Company and Heller
Financial, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Midwest Mezzanine Fund II, L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership, and James M. Usdan, entered into contemporaneously
with the execution of this Agreement, and any warrants issued upon the partial
exercise, assignment, transfer, sale, exchange or replacement of such warrants..

     Person: Any individual, corporation, limited liability company, company,
voluntary association, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated
organization or government or any agency, instrumentality or political
subdivision thereof, or any other form of entity.

     Piggyback Stock: The Series A-1 Stock issued in exchange for the Company's
subordinated notes and other subordinated indebtedness issued to various sellers
of dental practices to the Company in connection with the exchange offer
described in the Company's Confidential Offering Memorandum dated July 5, 2002.

     Records: As defined in Section 4.1(k) of this Agreement.

     Registrable Securities: (a) Any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable
upon conversion of the Series A-1 Stock or Piggyback Stock, (b) any shares of
Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion of the New Money Notes, (c) any
shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon exercise of the New Money
Warrants, (d) any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion of
the Series A-2 Stock issued or issuable upon exercise of the Bank Warrants, and
(e) any securities issued or issuable with respect to the Common Stock referred
to in subdivisions (a), (b), (c), and (d) above by way of stock dividend or
stock split, or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization,
merger, consolidation or other reorganization, or otherwise. As to any
particular Registrable Securities, once issued, such securities shall cease to
be Registrable Securities when (a) a registration statement with respect to the
sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and
such securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with such registration
statement, (b) such securities have been sold to the public pursuant to Rule 144
(or any similar provision then in force promulgated under the Securities Act),
(c) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for
such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have
been delivered by the Company, and subsequent disposition of such securities
shall not require registration or qualification of such securities under the
Securities Act or any similar state law then in force, or (d) such securities
shall have ceased to be outstanding.

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     Registration Expenses: All expenses incident to the Company's performance
of or compliance with Article II or III, including, without limitation, all
registration, filing, listing, and NASD fees, all fees and expenses of complying
with securities or blue sky laws, all word processing, duplicating, printing and
engraving expenses, messenger and delivery expenses, the fees and disbursements
of counsel for the Company and of its independent public accountants, including
the expenses of any special audits or "cold comfort" letters required by or
incident to such performance and compliance, the fees and disbursements of a
single counsel retained by the holder or holders of more than 51% of the
Registrable Securities being registered, premiums and other costs of policies of
insurance against liabilities arising out of the public offering of the
Registrable Securities being registered and any fees and disbursements of
underwriters customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities, but excluding
underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any.

     SEC: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any similar agency then
having jurisdiction to enforce the Securities Act.

     Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations of the SEC from time to time in effect thereunder, and shall include
any replacement statute and rules and regulations thereunder.

     Series A-1 Stock: The Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A-1, of the
Company issued pursuant to the Restructuring Agreement between the Company and
Heller Financial, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and Midwest Mezzanine Fund II,
L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, entered into contemporaneously with the
execution of this Agreement.

     Series A-2 Stock: The Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A-2, of the
Company issuable upon exercise of the Bank Warrants.

     Stockholder: As defined in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

     Section 1.2 Construction. Whenever the context requires, the gender of all
words used herein shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter, and the
number of all words shall include the singular and plural.

     Section 1.3 References. Unless otherwise specified, references in this
Agreement to "Sections", "Subsections" or "Articles" refer to the sections,
subsections or articles in this Agreement.

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                         ARTICLE II. DEMAND REGISTRATION

     Section 2.1.   Request. Upon the written request of one or more Initiating
Holders, requesting that the Company effect the registration under the
Securities Act of all or part of such Initiating Holders' Registrable Securities
and specifying the intended method of disposition thereof, the Company will
promptly give written notice of such requested registration to all registered
holders of Registrable Securities, and thereupon the Company will use its best
efforts to effect as expeditiously as possible the registration under the
Securities Act of the following:

          (a)  the Registrable Securities which the Company has been so
     requested to be registered by such Initiating Holders for disposition in
     accordance with the intended method of disposition stated in such request;

          (b)  all other Registrable Securities the holders of which shall have
     made a written request to the Company for registration thereof within 30
     days after the giving of such written notice by the Company (which request
     shall specify the intended method of disposition of such Registrable
     Securities); and

          (c)  all shares of Common Stock which the Company may elect to
     register in connection with the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant
     to this Article II;

all to the extent requisite to permit the disposition (in accordance with the
intended methods thereof as aforesaid) of the Registrable Securities and the
additional shares of Common Stock, if any, so to be registered; provided, that,
the provisions of this Article II shall not require the Company to effect more
than four registrations of Registrable Securities.

     Section 2.2.   Registration Statement Form. Registrations under this
Article II shall be on an appropriate registration form of the SEC (i) as shall
be selected by the Company and shall be reasonably acceptable to the holders of
more than fifty percent (by number of shares) of the Registrable Securities so
to be registered and (ii) as shall permit the disposition of such Registrable
Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition
specified in their request for such registration. The Company agrees to include
in any such registration statement all information which holders of Registrable
Securities being registered shall reasonably request.

     Section 2.3.   Expenses. The Company will pay all Registration Expenses in
connection with any registrations requested pursuant to this Article II.

     Section 2.4.   Effective Registration Statement. A registration requested
pursuant to this Article II shall not be deemed to have been effected for
purposes of Section 2.1 hereof (i) unless a registration statement with respect
thereto has become effective; provided, that a registration which does not
become effective after the Company has filed a registration statement with
respect thereto solely by reason of the refusal to proceed of

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the Initiating Holders (other than a refusal to proceed based upon the advice of
counsel relating to a matter with respect to the Company) shall be deemed to
have been effected by the Company at the request of such Initiating Holders
unless the Initiating Holders shall have elected to pay all Registration
Expenses in connection with such registration, (ii) if, after it has become
effective, such registration is withdrawn by the Company (other than at the
request of a majority of the Initiating Holders) or interfered with by any stop
order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or other governmental
agency or court for any reason prior to the expiration of a 180 day period
following such registration statement effectiveness, or (iii) if the conditions
to closing specified in any purchase agreement or underwriting agreement entered
into in connection with such registration are not satisfied, other than due
solely to some act or omission by such Initiating Holders.

     Section 2.5.   Selection of Underwriters. If a requested registration
pursuant to this Article II involves an underwritten offering, the underwriter
or underwriters thereof shall be selected by the consent of holders of a
majority (by number of shares) of Registrable Securities and shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Company.

     Section 2.6.   Priority in Requested Registrations. If a requested
registration pursuant to this Article II involves an underwritten offering, and
the managing underwriter shall advise the Company in writing (with a copy to
each holder of Registrable Securities requesting registration) that, in its
opinion, the number of securities requested to be included in such registration
(including securities of the Company which are not Registrable Securities)
exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering within a price range
reasonably acceptable to the Company and to the holders of a majority (by number
of shares) of the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such
registration, the Company will include in such registration, to the extent of
the number which the Company is so advised can be sold in such offering, (i)
first, the securities which have been requested to be included in such
registration by the holders of Registrable Securities (other than holders of
Registrable Securities issued or issuable upon conversion of Piggyback Stock)
pursuant to this Agreement (pro rata based on the amount of securities sought to
be registered by such Persons), (ii) second, provided that no securities sought
to be included by the holders of Registrable Securities have been excluded from
such registration, the securities of other Persons (including holders of
Registrable Securities issued or issuable upon conversion of Piggyback Stock)
entitled to exercise "piggy-back" registration rights pursuant to contractual
commitments of the Company (pro rata based on the amount of securities sought to
be registered by such Persons) and (iii) third, securities the Company proposes
to register.

     Section 2.7.   S-3 Registrations. Upon the written request of one or more
Initiating Holders, requesting that the Company effect the registration under
the Securities Act of all or part of such Initiating Holders' Registrable
Securities on Form S-3 and specifying the intended method of disposition
thereof, the Company will promptly give written notice of such requested
registration to all registered holders of Registrable Securities, and thereupon
the Company will, as expeditiously as possible, use its best efforts to effect
the registration under the Securities Act of the following:

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          (a)  the Registrable Securities which the Company has been so
     requested to be registered by such Initiating Holders for disposition in
     accordance with the intended method of disposition stated in such request;
     and

          (b)  all other Registrable Securities the holders of which shall have
     made a written request to the Company for registration thereof on Form S-3
     within 30 days after the giving of such written notice by the Company
     (which request shall specify the intended method of disposition of such
     Registrable Securities);

all to the extent requisite to permit the disposition (in accordance with the
intended methods thereof as aforesaid) of the Registrable Securities and the
additional shares of Common Stock, if any, so to be registered; provided, that,
the provisions of this Article II shall not require the Company to effect a
registration on Form S-3 if (i) Form S-3 is not available for such offering by
the Initiating Holders, or (ii) the Initiating Holders, together with all other
holders of Registrable Securities that have elected to register such Registrable
Securities, propose to sell Registrable Securities at an aggregate price to the
public of less than $1,000,000. Notwithstanding Section 2.1, the holders of
Registrable Securities are permitted to make an unlimited number of requests for
S-3 registrations pursuant to this Section 2.7.

                     ARTICLE III. "PIGGY BACK" REGISTRATION

     Section 3.1.   Right to Include Registrable Securities. If the Company at
any time proposes to file a registration statement under the Securities Act
covering any of its securities (other than (i) a registration statement on Form
S-4 or S-8 (or any substitute or successor form that may be adopted by the SEC),
(ii) a registration statement filed in connection with an exchange offer or
offering of securities solely to the Company's existing security holders, or
(iii) pursuant to Article II), whether or not for sale for its own account, it
will each such time give prompt written notice to all holders of Registrable
Securities of its intention to do so and of such holders' rights under this
Article III. Upon the written request of any such holder made within 30 days
after the receipt of any such notice (which request shall specify the
Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such holder and the
intended method of disposition thereof), the Company will, as expeditiously as
possible, use its best efforts to effect the registration under the Securities
Act of all Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to
register by the holders thereof, to the extent requisite to permit the
disposition (in accordance with the intended methods thereof as aforesaid) of
the Registrable Securities so to be registered, by inclusion of such Registrable
Securities in the registration statement which covers the securities which the
Company proposes to register; provided, that if, at any time after giving
written notice of its intention to register any securities and prior to the
effective date of the registration statement filed in connection with such
registration, the Company shall determine for any reason either not to register
or to delay registration of such securities, the Company may, at its election,
give written notice of such determination to each holder of Registrable
Securities and, thereupon, (i) in the case of a determination not to register,
shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in
connection with such registration (but not from its obligation to pay the

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Registration Expenses in connection therewith), without prejudice, however, to
the rights of any holder or holders of Registrable Securities entitled to do so
to request that such registration be effected as a registration under Article II
and (ii) in the case of a determination to delay registering, shall be permitted
to delay registering any Registrable Securities, for the same period as the
delay in registering such other securities. No registration effected under this
Article III shall relieve the Company of its obligation to effect any
registration upon request under Article II. The Company will pay all
Registration Expenses incurred by holders by Registrable Securities in
connection with each registration of Registrable Securities requested pursuant
to this Article III.

     Section 3.2.   Priority in Piggy-Back Registrations. If (i) a registration
pursuant to this Article III involves an underwritten offering of the securities
being registered, whether or not for sale for the account of the Company, to be
distributed (on a firm commitment basis) by or through one or more underwriters
of recognized standing under underwriting terms appropriate for such a
transaction, and (ii) the managing underwriter of such underwritten offering
shall inform the Company and holders of the Registrable Securities requesting
such registration by letter of its belief that the distribution of all or a
specified number of such Registrable Securities concurrently with the securities
being distributed by such underwriters would interfere with the successful
marketing of the securities being distributed by such underwriters (such writing
to state the basis of such belief and the approximate number of such Registrable
Securities which may be distributed without such effect), then the Company will
be required to include in such registration only the amount of securities which
it is so advised should be included in such registration. In such event: (x) in
cases initially involving the registration for sale of securities for the
Company's own account, securities shall be registered in such offering in the
following order of priority: (i) first, the securities which the Company
proposes to register, (ii) second, Registrable Securities other than Registrable
Securities issued or issuable upon conversion of Piggyback Stock (pro rata on
the amount of securities sought to be registered by such Persons), and (iii)
third, the securities which have been requested to be included in such
registration by Persons (including holders of Registrable Securities issued or
issuable upon conversion of Piggyback Stock) entitled to exercise "piggy-back"
registration rights pursuant to contractual commitments of the Company (pro rata
on the amount of securities sought to be registered by such Persons); and (y) in
cases not initially involving the registration for sale of securities for the
Company's own account, securities shall be registered in such offering in the
following order of priority: (i) first, the securities of any Person whose
exercise of a "demand" registration right pursuant to a contractual commitment
of the Company is the basis for the registration, (ii) second, Registrable
Securities other than Registrable Securities issued or issuable upon conversion
of Piggyback Stock (pro rata on the amount of securities sought to be registered
by such Persons), (iii) third, the securities which have been requested to be
included in such registration by Persons (including holders of Registrable
Securities issued or issuable upon conversion of Piggyback Stock) entitled to
exercise "piggy-back" registration rights pursuant to contractual commitments of
the Company (pro rata on the amount of securities sought to be registered by
such Persons), and (iv) fourth, the securities which the Company proposes to
register.

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                       ARTICLE IV. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

     Section 4.1.   Preparation of Filings. If and whenever the Company is
required to use its best efforts to effect the registration of any Registrable
Securities under the Securities Act as provided in Articles II or III, the
following shall apply:

          (a)  Registration Statement. The Company shall promptly prepare and
     file (in the case of a registration pursuant to Article II, such filing to
     be made within 90 days after the initial request of one or more Initiating
     Holders of Registrable Securities or in any event as soon after such
     request as possible) with the SEC the requisite registration statement to
     effect such registration (including such audited financial statements as
     may be required by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations
     promulgated thereunder) and thereafter use its best efforts to cause such
     registration statement to become effective as soon as possible and remain
     effective thereafter; provided, however, that the Company may withdraw any
     registration of its securities which are not Registrable Securities (and,
     under the circumstances specified in Section 3.2, its securities which are
     Registrable Securities) at any time prior to the effective date of the
     registration statement relating thereto; provided further, that before
     filing such registration statement or any amendments thereto, the Company
     will furnish to the holders of Registrable Securities that are to be
     included in such registration and their counsel copies of all such
     documents proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the
     review and reasonable approval of such holders and their counsel.

          (b)  Amendments. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such
     amendments, post effective amendments and supplements to such registration
     statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be
     necessary to keep such registration statement effective and to comply with
     the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all
     securities covered by such registration statement for the following time
     periods: (i) in the case of a S-3 registration pursuant to Section 2.7, 180
     days or such shorter period as all Registrable Securities have been sold in
     accordance with the intended methods of disposition specified by the
     holders thereof; (ii) in the case of a registration under Article II other
     than a S-3 registration pursuant to Section 2.7, 90 days or such shorter
     period as all Registrable Securities have been sold in accordance with the
     intended methods of disposition specified by the holders thereof; and (iii)
     in the case of a registration under Article III, such period of time as the
     Company determines.

          (c)  Copies of Documents. The Company shall furnish to each seller of
     Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement and each
     underwriter, if any, of the securities being sold by such seller such
     number of conformed copies of such registration statement and of each
     amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits to
     such Registration Statement), such number of copies of the prospectus
     contained in such registration statement (including each preliminary
     prospectus and any summary prospectus) and

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     any other prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act
     and such other documents, as such seller and underwriter, if any, may
     reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other
     disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller (it being
     understood that the Company consents to the use of the prospectus and any
     amendments or supplement thereto by each holder of Registrable Securities
     covered by the Registration Statement and the underwriter or underwriters,
     if any, in connection with the offering and sale of Registrable Securities
     covered by the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto).

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

          (e)  Other Approvals. The Company will use its best efforts to cause
     all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be
     registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or
     authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof to
     consummate the intended disposition of such Registrable Securities.

          (f)  Opinions; Comfort Letters. The Company shall furnish to each
     seller of Registrable Securities a signed counterpart, addressed to such
     seller, (and the underwriters, if any) of:

                    (i)   an opinion of counsel for the Company, dated the
     effective date of such registration statement (and, if such registration
     includes an underwritten public offering, an opinion dated the date of the
     closing under the underwriting agreement), reasonably satisfactory in form
     and substance to such seller, and

                    (ii)  a "comfort" letter, dated the effective date of such
     registration statement (and, if such registration includes an underwritten
     public offering, a letter dated the date of the closing under the
     underwriting agreement), signed by the independent public accountants who
     have certified the Company's financial statements included in such
     registration statement,

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     covering substantially the same matters with respect to such registration
     statement (and the prospectus included therein) and, in the case of the
     accountants' letter, with respect to events subsequent to the date of such
     financial statements, as are customarily covered in opinions of issuer's
     counsel and in accountants' letters delivered to the underwriters in
     underwritten public offerings of securities and, in the case of the
     accountants' letter, such other financial matters, and, in the case of the
     legal opinion, such other legal matters, as such seller (or the
     underwriters, if any) may reasonably request.

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

          (h)  Earnings Statement. The Company will otherwise use its best
     efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and
     make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable,
     an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve months, but
     not more than eighteen months, beginning with the first full calendar month
     after the effective date of such registration statement, which earnings
     statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities
     Act, and will furnish to each such seller at least five business days prior
     to the filing thereof a copy of any amendment or supplement to such
     registration statement or prospectus and shall not file any thereof to
     which any such seller shall have reasonably objected on the grounds that
     such amendment or supplement does not comply in all material respects with
     the requirements of the Securities Act or of the rules or regulations
     thereunder.

          (i)  Listing. The Company will cause all Registrable Securities
     covered by the registration statement to be listed on each securities
     exchange or traded or quoted on each market on which the same class of
     securities issued by the Company are then listed, traded or quoted.

                                       10

<PAGE>

          (j)  Transfer Agent. The Company will provide a transfer agent,
     registrar and a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities no later than
     the effective date of such Registration Statement.

          (k)  Access. The Company will make available for inspection by any
     holder of Registrable Securities included in such registration statement,
     any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such
     registration statement, and any attorney, accountant or other agent
     retained by any such seller or underwriter (collectively, the
     "Inspectors"), all financial and other records, pertinent corporate
     documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the "Records"), as
     shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise their due
     diligence responsibility, and cause the Company's officers, directors and
     employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such
     Inspector in connection with such registration statement.

     Section 4.2.   Data from Holders of Registrable Securities. The Company may
require each seller of Registrable Securities as to which any registration is
being effected to furnish the Company such information regarding such seller and
the distribution of such securities as the Company may from time to time
reasonably request in writing.

     Section 4.3.   Discontinuance of Use of Prospectus. Each holder of
Registrable Securities agrees by acquisition of such Registrable Securities
that, upon receipt of any written notice from the Company of the occurrence of
any event of the kind described in Section 4.1(g), such holder will forthwith
discontinue such holder's offer of Registrable Securities pursuant to the
registration statement relating to such Registrable Securities until such
holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus
contemplated by Section 4.1(g) and, if so directed by the Company, will deliver
to the Company (at the Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file
copies, then in such holder's possession of the prospectus relating to such
Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice. In the
event the Company shall give any such notice, the period mentioned in Section
4.1(b) shall be extended by the length of the period from and including the date
when each seller of any Registrable Securities covered by such registration
statement shall have received such notice to the date on which each such seller
has received the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated
by Section 4.1(g).

     Section 4.4.   References to Holders in Registration Statements. If any
registration or comparable statement refers to any holder of Registrable
Securities by name or otherwise as the holder of any securities of the Company
then such holder shall have the right to require (i) the insertion therein of
language, in form and substance satisfactory to such holder, to the effect that
the holding by such holder of such securities is not to be construed as a
recommendation by such holder of the investment quality of the Company's
securities covered thereby and that such holding does not imply that such holder
will assist in meeting any future financial requirements of the Company, or (ii)
in the event that such reference to such holder by name or otherwise is not
required by the

                                       11

<PAGE>

Securities Act or any similar federal statute then in force, the deletion of the
reference to such holder.

     Section 4.5.   Underwritten Offerings. If requested by the underwriters for
any underwritten offering by holders of Registrable Securities pursuant to a
registration requested under Article II, the Company will enter into an
underwriting agreement with such underwriters for such offering, such agreement
to be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Company, each such
holder and the underwriters, and to contain such representations and warranties
by the Company and such other terms as are generally prevailing in agreements of
this type, including, without limitation, indemnities to the effect and to the
extent provided in Section 5.1. The holders of the Registrable Securities will
cooperate with the Company in the negotiation of the underwriting agreement and
will give consideration to the reasonable suggestions of the Company regarding
the form thereof; provided, that nothing herein contained shall diminish the
foregoing obligations of the Company. The holders of Registrable Securities to
be distributed by such underwriters shall be parties to such underwriting
agreement and may, at their option, require that any or all of the
representations and warranties by, and the other agreements on the part of, the
Company to and for the benefit of such underwriters shall also be made to and
for the benefit of such holders of Registrable Securities and that any or all of
the conditions precedent to the obligations of such underwriters under such
underwriting agreement be conditions precedent to the obligations of such
holders of Registrable Securities. Any such holder of Registrable Securities
shall not be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements
with the Company or the underwriters other than representations, warranties or
agreements regarding such holder, such holder's Registrable Securities and such
holder's intended method of distribution and any other representation required
by law.

     Section 4.6.   Holdback Agreements. The Company agrees if so required by a
managing underwriter of an offering of Registrable Securities, not to effect any
public sale or distribution of its equity securities or securities convertible
into or exchangeable or exercisable for any of such securities during the seven
days prior to and the 90 days after any underwritten registration pursuant to
Articles II or III has become effective, except as part of such underwritten
registration and except pursuant to registrations on Form S-8, or any successor
or similar forms thereto.

     Section 4.7.   Preparation; Reasonable Investigation. In connection with
the preparation and filing of each registration statement under the Securities
Act pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will give the holders of Registrable
Securities registered under such registration statement, their underwriters, if
any, and their respective counsel and accountants, the opportunity to
participate in the preparation of such registration statement, each prospectus
included therein or filed with the SEC, and each amendment thereof or supplement
thereto, and will give each of them such access to its books and records and
such opportunities to discuss the business of the Company with its officers and
the independent public accountants who have certified its financial statements
as shall be necessary, in the opinion of such holders' and such underwriters'
respective counsel, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of
the Securities Act.

                                       12

<PAGE>

                           ARTICLE V. INDEMNIFICATION

     Section 5.1.   Indemnification by the Company. In the event of any
registration of any securities of the Company under the Securities Act, the
Company will, and hereby does, indemnify and hold harmless (i) in the case of
any registration statement filed pursuant to Articles II and III, the holder of
any Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement, its directors
and officers, each other Person who participates as an underwriter in the
offering or sale of such securities and each other Person, if any, who controls
such holder or any such underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act,
and (ii) in the case of any registration statement of the Company, any holder of
Registrable Securities that is selling Registrable Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement, its directors and officers and each other Person, if
any, who controls such holder of Registrable Securities within the meaning of
the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or
several, to which such holder or any such director or officer or underwriter or
controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or
proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of
or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any
material fact contained in any registration statement under which such
securities were registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus,
final prospectus or summary prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, and the Company will reimburse such holder and each such
director, officer, underwriter and controlling person for any legal or any other
expenses and costs reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating
or defending any such loss, claim, liability, action or proceeding; provided
that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any
such loss, claim, damage, liability (or action or proceeding in respect thereof)
or expense or cost arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such registration
statement, any such preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, summary
prospectus, amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by such holder expressly for use in
the preparation thereof and, provided further that the Company shall not be
liable to any Person who participates as an underwriter, in the offering or sale
of Registrable Securities or to any other Person, if any, who controls such
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, in any such case to the
extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability (or action or proceeding in
respect thereof) or expense arises out of such Person's failure to send or give
a copy of the final prospectus, as the same may be then supplemented or amended,
within the time required by the Securities Act to the Person asserting an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission at or
prior to the written confirmation of the sale of Registrable Securities to such
Person if such statement or omission was corrected in such final prospectus.
Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of such holder or any such director, officer,
underwriter or controlling person and shall survive the transfer of such
securities by such holder.

                                       13

<PAGE>

     Section 5.2.   Indemnification by the Sellers. The Company may require,
as a condition to including any Registrable Securities in any registration
statement filed pursuant to Article II or III, that the Company shall have
received an undertaking satisfactory to it from each prospective seller of
Registrable Securities, severally but not jointly, to indemnify and hold
harmless (in the same manner and to the same extent as set forth in Section 5.1)
the Company, each director of the Company, each officer of the Company and each
other person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the
Securities Act, with respect to any statement or alleged statement in or
omission or alleged omission from such registration statement, any preliminary
prospectus, final prospectus or summary prospectus contained therein, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, if such statement or alleged statement or
omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company through an instrument duly executed
by such seller specifically stating that it is for use in the preparation of
such registration statement, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, summary
prospectus, amendment or supplement; provided, that such sellers' liability
under such indemnification shall be limited to the net sales proceeds actually
received by such seller from the sale of the Company's securities pursuant to
such Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, summary
prospectus, amendment or supplement. Such indemnity shall remain in full force
and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company
or any such director, officer or controlling person and shall survive the
transfer of such securities by such seller.

     Section 5.3.   Notices of Claims, etc. Promptly after receipt by an
indemnified party of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding
involving a claim referred to in Sections 5.1 or 5.2, such indemnified party
will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party,
give written notice to the latter of the commencement of such action, provided
that the failure of any indemnified party to give notice as provided herein
shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations under Sections 5.1
or 5.2, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is actually prejudiced
by such failure to give notice. In case any such action is brought against an
indemnified party, unless in such indemnified party's reasonable judgment a
conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist
in respect of such claim, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to
participate in and to assume the defense thereof, jointly with any other
indemnifying party similarly notified, to the extent that the indemnifying party
may wish, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and
after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its
election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be
liable to such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses subsequently
incurred by the latter in connection with the defense thereof other than
reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the
consent of the indemnified party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into
any settlement of any such action which does not include as an unconditional
term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party
of a release from all liability, or a covenant not to sue, in respect to such
claim or litigation. No indemnified party shall consent to entry of any judgment
or enter into any

                                       14

<PAGE>

settlement of any such action the defense of which has been assumed by an
indemnifying party without the consent of such indemnifying party.

     Section 5.4.   Other Indemnification. Indemnification similar to that
specified in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 (with appropriate modifications) shall be
given by the Company and each seller of Registrable Securities with respect to
any required registration or other qualification of securities under any federal
or state law or regulation of any governmental authority, other than the
Securities Act.

     Section 5.5.   Indemnification Payments. The indemnification required by
this Article V shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during
the course of the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or
expense, loss, damage or liability is incurred.

     Section 5.6.   Contributions. If the indemnification provided for in
Sections 5.1 and 5.2 of this Agreement is unavailable or insufficient to hold
harmless an indemnified party under such Sections, then each indemnifying party
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in Section 5.1
or Section 5.2 of this Agreement in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand, and the
indemnified party on the other, in connection with statements or omissions which
resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as
any other relevant equitable considerations, including, without limitation, the
relative benefits received by each party from the offering of the securities
covered by such registration statement, the parties' relative knowledge and
access to information concerning the matter with respect to which the claim was
asserted and the opportunity to correct and prevent any statement or omission.
The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the indemnifying party or the indemnified party and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such untrue statements or omission. The parties hereto agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 5.6
were to be determined by pro rata or per capita allocation (even if the
underwriters, if any, were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any
other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in the first sentence of this Section 5.6. The amount
paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or
liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this Section 5.6 shall be
deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or
claim (which shall be limited as provided in Section 5.3 of this Agreement if
the indemnifying party has assumed the defense of any such action in accordance
with the provisions thereof) which is the subject of this Section 5.6. Promptly
after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5.6 of notice of the
commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim for
contribution may be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 5.6,
such indemnified party shall notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement thereof if the notice specified in

                                       15

<PAGE>

Section 5.3 of this Agreement has not been given with respect to such action;
provided, that the omission to so notify the indemnifying party shall not
relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may otherwise have to
any indemnified party under this Section 5.6, except to the extent that the
indemnifying party is actually materially prejudiced by such failure to give
notice. The Company and each holder of Registrable Securities agrees with each
other and the underwriters of the Registrable Securities, if requested by such
underwriters, that (i) the underwriters' portion of such contribution shall not
exceed the underwriting discount and (ii) that the amount of such contribution
shall not exceed an amount equal to the net proceeds actually received by such
indemnifying party from the sale of Registrable Securities in the offering to
which the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of the indemnified
parties relate. 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.

                              ARTICLE VI. RULE 144

     Section 6.1.   Rule 144. The Company shall timely file the reports required
to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (including but
not limited to the reports under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act
referred to in subparagraph (c)(1) of Rule 144 adopted by the SEC under the
Securities Act) and the rules and regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder (or,
if the Company is not required to file such reports, will, upon the request of
any holder of Registrable Securities, make publicly available other information)
and will take such further action as any holder of Registrable Securities may
reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such
holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities
Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (a) Rule 144 under the
Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or (b) any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the request of any
holder of Registrable Securities, the Company will deliver to such holder a
written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

                           ARTICLE VII. MISCELLANEOUS

     Section 7.1.   Remedies. The Company agrees that monetary damages would not
be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of such a breach and
hereby agrees to waive the defense in any action for specific performance of
such an obligation that a remedy at law would be adequate.

     Section 7.2.   No Inconsistent Agreements. Without the written consent of
the holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities, the
Company will not on or after the date of this Agreement enter into any agreement
with respect to its securities which is inconsistent with the rights granted to
the holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts
with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the holders of Registrable
Securities hereunder do not in any way conflict with

                                       16

<PAGE>

and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company's
securities under any agreements previously entered into by the Company.

     Section 7.3.   Adjustments Affecting Registrable Securities. The Company
will not take any action, or permit any change to occur, with respect to the
Registrable Securities which would adversely affect the ability of the holders
of Registrable Securities to include such Registrable Securities in a
registration undertaken pursuant to this Agreement.

     Section 7.4.   Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns. In addition, and whether or not any express assignment
shall have been made, the provisions of this Agreement which are for the benefit
of the parties hereto other than the Company shall also be for the benefit of
and enforceable by any subsequent holder of any Registrable Securities.

     Section 7.5.   Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings of the
several sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for reference
only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

     Section 7.6.   Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND
ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY,
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE PRINCIPLES OF
CONFLICTS OF LAWS.

     Section 7.7.   Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously
in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but
all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

     Section 7.8.   Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire
agreement and understanding between the Company and each other party hereto and
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject
matter hereof.

     Section 7.9.   Severability. In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and
enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining
provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

     Section 7.10.  Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement may be amended and
the Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act
herein required to be performed by it, only if the Company shall have obtained
the written consent to such amendment, action or omission to act, of the holder
or holders of 51% or more of the shares of Registrable Securities; provided,
however, no amendment, modification or waiver can be effected if, by its terms,
such amendment, modification or

                                       17

<PAGE>

waiver adversely affects one holder without having the same adverse effect on
all other holders without the prior written consent of the adversely affected
holder. Each holder of any Registrable Securities at the time or thereafter
outstanding shall be bound by any consent authorized by this Section 7.10,
whether or not such Registrable Securities shall have been marked to indicate
such consent.

     Section 7.11.  Nominees for Beneficial Owners. In the event that any
Registrable Securities are held by a nominee for the beneficial owner thereof,
the beneficial owner thereof may, at its election, be treated as the holder of
such Registrable Securities for purposes of any request or other action by any
holder or holders of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement or any
determination of any number or percentage of shares of Registrable Securities
held by any holder or holders of Registrable Securities contemplated by this
Agreement. If the beneficial owner of any Registrable Securities so elects, the
Company may require assurances reasonably satisfactory to it of such owner's
beneficial ownership of such Registrable Securities.

     Section 7.12.  Notices. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all
communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, and (a) if addressed to a party to this
Agreement other than the Company, addressed to the address of such party listed
in Exhibit A or at such other address as such party shall have furnished to the
Company in writing, or (b) if addressed to any other holder of Registrable
Securities, at the address that such holder shall have furnished to the Company
in writing, or, until any such other holder so furnishes to the Company an
address, then to and at the address of the last holder of such Registrable
Securities who has furnished an address to the Company, or (c) if addressed to
the Company 3701 Kirby Drive, Suite 550, Houston, Texas 77098 to the attention
of its Chief Financial Officer or at such other address, or to the attention of
such other officer, as the Company shall have furnished to each holder of
Registrable Securities at the time outstanding.

     Section 7.13.  Other Registration Rights Agreements. Without the approval
of the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities, the Company will
neither enter into any new registration rights agreements that conflict with the
terms of this Agreement nor permit the exercise of any other registration rights
in a manner that conflicts with the terms of the registration rights granted
under this Agreement.

                                       18

<PAGE>

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

                                     COMPANY

                                     Castle Dental Centers, Inc.

                                     By:  /s/ J.P. Keane
                                        -----------------------------------
                                     Name:  J.P. Keane
                                          ---------------------------------
                                     Title:  Chief Financial Officer
                                           --------------------------------

                                     STOCKHOLDERS:

                                     Heller Financial, Inc.

                                     By:  /s/ Michael Snajder
                                        -----------------------------------
                                     Name:  Michael Snajder
                                          ---------------------------------
                                     Title:  Senior Vice President
                                           --------------------------------

                                     Midwest Mezzanine Fund II, L.P.

                                     By:   ABN AMRO Mezzanine Management
                                     II, L.P., its general partner

                                     By:   ABN AMRO Mezzanine Management
                                     II, Inc., its general partner

                                     By:  /s/ Paul Kreie
                                        -----------------------------------
                                     Name:  Paul Kreie
                                          ---------------------------------
                                     Title:  Vice President
                                           --------------------------------

                                     Banc of America Strategic Solutions,
                                     Inc.

                                     By:  /s/ Mark Henze
                                        -----------------------------------
                                     Name:  Mark Henze
                                          ---------------------------------
                                     Title:  Senior Vice President
                                           --------------------------------

<PAGE>

                                     FSC Corp.

                                     By:  /s/  John J. Quintal
                                        -----------------------------------
                                     Name:  John J. Quintal
                                          ---------------------------------
                                     Title:  Vice President
                                           --------------------------------

                                     Amsouth Bank

                                     By:  /s/  Tim McCarthy
                                        -----------------------------------
                                     Name:  Tim McCarthy
                                          ---------------------------------
                                     Title: Vice President
                                           --------------------------------
                                       /s/ James M. Usdan
                                     --------------------------------------
                                     James M. Usdan

                                     PIGGYBACK STOCKHOLDERS

                                     By: James M. Usdan
                                        -----------------------------------
                                     James M. Usdan, Attorney-in-Fact for
                                     each of the Piggyback Stockholders listed
                                     below

<PAGE>

                                    Exhibit A

                                       to

                          Registration Rights Agreement
                               dated July 19, 2002

Name and address of stockholder:

Name:  Heller Financial, Inc.

Address for notice:

Heller Financial, Inc.
500 West Monroe
Chicago, Illinois 60661
Attention:    Michael Sznajder
Telecopy:     (312) 441-7598

Number of shares of Series A-1 Stock owned:  119,520
Principal amount of New Money Notes owned:   $500,000
Number of New Money Warrants owned:  5,286,489
Number of Bank Warrants owned:       10,984

Name and address of stockholder:

Name:  Midwest Mezzanine Fund II, L.P.

Address for notice:

Midwest Mezzanine Fund II, L.P.
208 South LaSalle, Tenth Floor
Chicago, Illinois
Attention:        Paul Kreie
Telecopy:         (312) 553-6647

Number of shares of Series A-1 Stock owned:  59,760
Principal amount of New Money Notes owned:   $500,000
Number of New Money Warrants owned:  5,286,489

Name and address of stockholder:

                             Exhibit A - Page 1 of 1

<PAGE>

Name:  Banc of America Strategic Solutions, Inc.

Address for notice:

Banc of America Strategic Solutions, Inc.
901 Main St., 11th Floor
TX1-492-11-05
Dallas, Texas 75202-3714
Attention:        Mark Henze
Telecopy:         214-209-3444

Number of Bank Warrants owned: 25,161

Name and address of stockholder:

Name:  FSC Corp.

Address for notice:

FSC Corp.
c/o Banc Boston Capital Ins.
175 Federal Street, 10th Floor
Boston, MA 02110
Attention:        John J. Quintal
Telecopy:         (617) 434-7891

Number of Bank Warrants owned: 16,476

Name and address of stockholder:

Name:  Amsouth Bank

Address for notice:

Amsouth Bank
315 Deaderick Street, 8th Floor
Nashville, TN 37021
Attention:        Tim McCarthy
Telecopy:         (615) 736-6633

Number of Bank Warrants owned: 8,238

                             Exhibit A - Page 1 of 1

<PAGE>

Name and address of stockholder:

Name:  James M. Usdan

Address for notice:

James M. Usdan
3701 Kirby Dr., Suite 550
Houston, Texas  77098
Telecopy: (713) 490-8420

Number of New Money Warrants owned:   7,401,084
Principal amount of New Money Notes owned: $700,000

Name and address of stockholder:

Name:

Address for notice:

Number of shares of Piggyback Stock owned:  32,002

                             Exhibit A - Page 1 of 1

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