Document:

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

      This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement"), dated November 7,
2006, is entered into by and between EPOCH HOLDING CORPORATION, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company") and GENERAL AMERICAN INVESTORS COMPANY, INC., a
Delaware corporation (the "Purchaser"), as a material inducement for the
Purchaser to purchase 10,000 of shares of convertible preferred stock, stated
value $1,000.00 per share (the "Series A Preferred Stock") in accordance with
the terms of that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated on or about the
date hereof (the "Purchase Agreement"). All capitalized terms used but not
defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Purchase
Agreement.

      NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:

      1. Definitions. In addition to those terms defined elsewhere in this
Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings wherever used
in this Agreement:

            "Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any
successor statute from time to time.

            "Effective Date" shall mean, with respect to a particular
Registration Statement, the date on which the SEC declares such Registration
Statement effective.

            "Excluded Registration Statement" shall mean a registration
statement relating solely to the registration of the sale of securities (i)
other than for cash, (ii) to participants in a Company stock plan or employee
benefit plan, agreement or arrangement, and (iii) in a transaction covered by
Rule 145 under the Act or the resale of securities issued in such a transaction.

            "Registrable Securities" shall mean all shares of Common Stock
underlying the Series A Preferred Stock held from time to time by the Purchaser
and any other securities distributed to or received by the Purchaser, whether by
dividend, upon conversion or otherwise, in respect of the Series A Preferred
Stock or in respect of any Registrable Securities; provided, however, that such
Registrable Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities at such time as
all such Registrable Securities (i) are sold pursuant to any registration
statement filed by the Company with the SEC or, pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated
under the Act or are publicly sold pursuant to any other exemption from
registration under the Act or (ii) may be sold, without any volume limitation or
the requirement for the seller to file any notice or other instrument with the
SEC, in open market transactions pursuant to any applicable exemption from the
registration requirements of the Act, including, without limitation, Rule 144(k)
promulgated thereunder (or any successor thereto).

            "Registration" shall mean any registration or proposed registration
of Registrable Securities under Section 5 of the Act pursuant to a Registration
Statement in respect to the sale of any Registrable Securities.

<PAGE>

            "Registration Period" shall mean with respect to a particular
Registration Statement the period (i) beginning upon the declaration of
effectiveness of such Registration Statement provided for in Section 2 hereof
and (ii) ending on the date that all Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement have ceased to be Registrable Securities.

            "Registration Statement" shall mean any registration statement filed
or to be filed by the Company with the SEC under the Act.

            "SEC" shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any successor agency or agencies performing the functions
thereof.

      2. Registration.

            (a) Mandatory Registration. The Company shall prepare, and, within
sixty (60) calendar days after the Closing Date (the "Filing Date"), file with
the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the resale of the
Registrable Securities, which Registration Statement, to the extent allowable
under the Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including
Rule 416), shall state that such Registration Statement also covers such
indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock as may become issuable
upon conversion of or otherwise pursuant to the Preferred Stock to prevent
dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
The number of shares of Common Stock initially included in such Registration
Statement shall be no less than an amount equal to the number of shares of
Common Stock that on the Filing Date are issuable upon conversion of the
Preferred Stock (based on the Conversion Price in effect on the Filing Date),
without regard to any limitation on the Purchaser's ability to convert the
Preferred Stock. The Company acknowledges that the number of shares initially
included in the Registration Statement will represent a good faith estimate of
the maximum number of shares issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock;

            (b) Eligibility for Form S-3. The Company represents and warrants
that it meets the requirements for the use of Form S-3 for registration of the
resale by the Purchaser. The Company agrees to file all reports required to be
filed by the Company with the SEC in a timely manner so as to remain eligible,
and thereafter to maintain its eligibility, for the use of Form S-3;

            (c) Opinion of Counsel. Within three (3) business days of the
Effective Date, the Company shall cause its counsel to issue an opinion, subject
to such counsel's reliance on reasonable assumptions and certificates of the
appropriate parties hereto, to the transfer agent stating that the shares are
subject to an effective registration statement and can be reissued free of
restrictive legend, provided that the Company has not advised the transfer agent
orally or in writing that the opinion has been withdrawn;

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<PAGE>

            (d) Compliance with Prospectus Delivery Requirements. The Purchaser
agrees that any sale by the Purchaser of Registrable Securities pursuant to a
particular Registration Statement shall be sold in a manner described in the
plan of distribution set forth in the related prospectus and, if the prospectus
delivery requirements cannot be satisfied by compliance with Rule 153 or 172
under the Act, (i) if such sale is made through a broker, the Purchaser shall
instruct its broker to deliver the prospectus to the buyer or buyers (or the
broker or brokers therefor) in connection with such sale, shall supply copies of
the prospectus to its broker or brokers and shall instruct its broker or brokers
to deliver such prospectus to the buyer in such sale or such buyer's broker,
(ii) if such sale is made in a transaction directly with a buyer and not through
the facilities of any securities exchange or market, the Purchaser shall
deliver, or cause to be delivered, the prospectus to such buyer, and (iii) if
such sale is made by any means other than those described in the immediately
preceding clauses (i) and (ii), the Purchaser shall otherwise comply with the
prospectus delivery requirements of the Act applicable to such sale;

            (e) Allowed Suspension. If, after the Registration Statement is
declared effective, (i) there is material non-public information regarding the
Company which the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") reasonably
determines not to be in the Company's best interest to disclose and which the
Company is not required to disclose for reasons other than disclosure required
in connection with the Registration Statement and the related prospectus, or
(ii) there is a significant business opportunity (including, but not limited to,
the acquisition or disposition of assets (other than in the ordinary course of
business) or any merger, consolidation, tender offer or other similar
transaction) available to the Company which the Board reasonably determines not
to be in the Company's best interest to disclose and which the Company would be
required to disclose for purposes of the Registration Statement, then the
Company may suspend effectiveness of such Registration Statement for a period
not to exceed ten (10) consecutive Trading Days, provided that the Company may
not suspend effectiveness of the Registration Statement under this Section 2(e)
for more than twenty (20) days in the aggregate during any twelve (12) month
period;

            (f) If at any time or from time to time after the Closing Date the
Purchaser shall hold, or be the beneficial owner of, any Registrable Securities,
other than the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement
that the Company is required to file under Section 2(a), which Registrable
Securities are not covered by a Registration Statement, then promptly following
the written demand of the Purchaser following the issuance of such additional
Registrable Securities or the issuance of any securities convertible into,
exchangeable for, or otherwise entitling the Purchaser to acquire, such
additional Registrable Securities, and in any event within thirty (30) calendar
days following such demand, the Company or the issuer of such additional
Registrable Securities shall prepare and file with the SEC a new Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (or, if Form S-3 is not then available to the Company or
such issuer, as the case may be, on such form of registration statement as is
then available to effect a registration for resale of such additional
Registrable Securities) covering the resale by the Purchaser of such additional
Registrable Securities. Such Registration Statement also shall cover, to the
extent permitted by the Act and the rules promulgated thereunder (including Rule
416), such indeterminate number of additional securities resulting from stock
splits, stock dividends or similar transactions with respect to such additional
Registrable Securities. Nothing herein shall limit the Company's obligations or
the Purchaser's rights under the Certificate of Designations; and

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<PAGE>

            (g) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause each
Registration Statement to become effective as promptly as possible after the
filing thereof with the SEC and to keep such Registration Statement effective at
all times during the Registration Period. The Company shall submit to the SEC,
within three (3) business days after the Company learns that no review of such
Registration Statement will be made by the Staff of the SEC or that the Staff of
the SEC has no further comments on such Registration Statement, as the case may
be, a request for acceleration of effectiveness of such Registration Statement
to a time and date not later than forty-eight (48) hours after the submission of
such request. The Company represents and warrants to the Purchaser that (i) each
Registration Statement (including any amendment or supplement thereto and
prospectus relating thereto), at the time it is first filed with the SEC, at the
time it is ordered effective by the SEC and at all times during which it is
required to be effective hereunder (and each such amendment and supplement at
the time it is filed with the SEC and at all times during which it is required
hereby to be available for use in connection with the offer and sale of the
Registrable Securities covered thereby) shall not contain any 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 and (ii) each
prospectus, at the time the related Registration Statement is declared effective
by the SEC and at all times that such prospectus is required by this Agreement
to be available for use by the Purchaser and, in accordance with Section 2(g),
the Purchaser is entitled to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to such
prospectus, shall not contain any 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, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not
misleading.

      3. Registration Procedures. In the case of each Registration effected by
the Company in which Registrable Securities are to be sold, the Company shall:

            (a) furnish to Law Offices of Brian W Pusch (counsel to the
Purchaser) copies of all Registration Statements or prospectuses or any
amendments or supplements thereto proposed to be filed with the SEC, which
documents will be subject to review by such counsel before filing solely with
regard to any information contained therein which pertains either to the
transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents or the Purchaser;

            (b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to
such Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as
may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective and such
prospectus available for use by the Purchaser for the offer and sale of the
Registrable Securities covered thereby during the applicable Registration Period
and to comply with the provisions of the Act with respect to the disposition of
all securities covered by such Registration Statement during such period;

            (c) furnish to the Purchaser electronic copies of such Registration
Statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the prospectus included in
such Registration Statement (including each preliminary prospectus) and such
other documents as the Purchaser may reasonably require in order to facilitate
the disposition of the Registrable Securities held by the Purchaser;

            (d) notify the Purchaser and its legal counsel within three (3)
business days after the same is filed with the SEC, or received by the Company,
of the filing or receipt of each letter written by or on behalf of the Company
to the SEC or the Staff of the SEC, and each item of correspondence from the SEC
or the Staff of the SEC, in each case relating to such Registration Statement
(other than any portion of any thereof which contains information for which the
Company has sought confidential treatment);

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<PAGE>

            (e) register or qualify such Registrable Securities under such other
securities or blue sky laws of such states as may be reasonably required and do
any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable
to enable the Purchaser to consummate the disposition of the Registrable
Securities in such jurisdictions (provided that the Company will not be required
to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not
otherwise be required to qualify but for this subparagraph, (ii) subject itself
to taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (iii) consent to general service of
process in any such jurisdiction);

            (f) notify the Purchaser, at any time when a prospectus relating to
a Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Act, of the
happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus relating to a
Registration Statement contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits
to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, and as promptly as practicable prepare a supplement or amendment to
such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchaser(s) of
Registrable Securities, such prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading;

            (g) effective not later than the effectiveness of a particular
Registration Statement, cause all Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement to be listed for trading on the Trading Market on which
the Common Stock (or securities of such other class or series of Registrable
Securities, if any) is then listed, if any;

            (h) as promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event,
notify the Purchaser of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order or other
suspension of effectiveness of any Registration Statement and shall use its best
efforts to cause such Registration Statement to once again become effective at
the earliest possible time;

            (i) cooperate with the Purchaser who holds Registrable Securities
being offered pursuant to a particular Registration Statement to facilitate the
timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive
legends) representing Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to such
Registration Statement and enable such certificates to be in such denominations
or amounts as the Purchaser may reasonably request and registered in such names
as the Purchaser may request; and

            (j) advise the Purchaser in writing as promptly as practical on the
date that a particular Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC
(i) that the form of prospectus contained in the Registration Statement at the
time of effectiveness meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Act or (ii)
that it intends to file a prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) that meets the
requirements of Section 10(a) of the Act.

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<PAGE>

      4. Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall indemnify and hold
harmless the Purchaser and each of its respective directors, legal counsel and
accountants, and any underwriter (as defined in the Act) for any expenses,
claims, losses, costs, charges or liabilities of any kind, including amounts
paid in settlement and reasonable and documented attorneys' fees (collectively,
the "Losses") to which the Purchaser or any other such indemnified person
becomes subject, under the Act or any rule or regulation thereunder, insofar as
such Losses (a) are caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of any material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus (if used prior to
the Effective Date of the Registration Statement), or contained, on the
Effective Date thereof, in any Registration Statement of which Registrable
Securities were the subject, the prospectus contained therein, any amendment or
supplement thereto, or (b) arise out of or are based upon the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (c) arise out of
any violation by the Company of the Act or any rule or regulation thereunder
applicable to the Company and relating to actions or omissions otherwise
required of the Company in connection with such Registration Statement. The
Company shall reimburse the Purchaser and any such other indemnified person for
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Purchaser or such other
indemnified person in connection with investigating, defending or settling any
such Loss; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable to any such
Persons in any such case to the extent that any such Loss arises out of or is
based upon (a) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished to the Company in writing by such person expressly for inclusion in
any of the foregoing documents or (b) the use by the Purchaser of an outdated or
defective prospectus after the delivery to the Purchaser of written notice from
the Company that the prospectus is outdated or defective. This indemnity shall
not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such Loss if such settlement is
effected without the consent of the Company.

      5. Indemnification by the Purchaser. The Purchaser shall indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who has
signed a Registration Statement, legal counsel and accountants for the Company,
each person (if any) who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act and
any underwriter (as defined in the Act) for the Company, against any Losses to
which the Company or any other such indemnified person may become subject under
the Act or any rule or regulation thereunder or otherwise to the extent that
such Losses (or related actions) (a) are caused solely by any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any preliminary
prospectus (if used prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement),
or contained, on the Effective Date thereof, in any Registration Statement of
which the Purchaser's Registrable Securities were the subject, the prospectus
contained therein, any amendment or supplement thereto, or (b) arise out of or
are based solely upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that
such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished
to the Company by the respective Purchaser, in writing, expressly for inclusion
in any of the foregoing documents; provided, however, that the aggregate
liability of the Purchaser shall not be greater than the net proceeds received
by the Purchaser upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such
indemnification obligation. This indemnity shall not apply to amounts paid in
settlement of any such Loss or related Action if such settlement is effected
without the consent of the Purchaser.

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<PAGE>

      6. Additional Provisions.

            (a) The Purchaser and each other person indemnified pursuant to
Section 4 above shall, in the event that it receives notice of the commencement
of any Action against it which is based upon an alleged act or omission which,
if proven, would result in the Company's having to indemnify it pursuant to
Section 4 above, promptly notify the Company, in writing, of the commencement of
such Action and permit the Company, if the Company so notifies the Purchaser or
other indemnified person within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of
notice of the commencement of the Action, to assume the defense of such Action
with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser; provided, however, that
the Purchaser or other indemnified person shall be entitled to retain its own
counsel at its own expense. The omission to notify the Company promptly of the
commencement of any such Action shall not relieve the Company of any liability
to indemnify the Purchaser or such other indemnified person, as the case may be,
under Section 4 above, from and after the Company's receipt of such notice,
except to the extent that the Company shall suffer any Losses by reason of such
failure to give notice, and shall not relieve the Company of any other
liabilities which it may have under this or any other agreement.

            (b) The Company and each other person indemnified pursuant to
Section 5 above shall, in the event that it receives notice of the commencement
of any Action against it which is based upon an alleged act or omission which,
if proven, would result in the Purchaser having to indemnify it pursuant to
Section 5 above, promptly notify the Purchaser or other indemnified person, in
writing, of the commencement of such Action and permit the Purchaser, if the
Purchaser so notifies the Company within thirty (30) days after receipt by the
Purchaser of notice of the commencement of the Action, to assume the defense of
such Action with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company; provided,
however, that the Company or other indemnified person shall be entitled to
retain its own counsel at the Company's expense. The omission to notify the
Purchaser promptly of the commencement of any such Action shall not relieve the
Purchaser of liability to indemnify the Company or such other indemnified
person, as the case may be, under Section 5 above, from and after the
Purchaser's receipt of such notice, except to the extent that the Purchaser
shall suffer any Losses by reason of such failure to give notice, and shall not
relieve the Purchaser of any other liabilities which it may have under this or
any other agreement.

            (c) No indemnifying party, in the defense of any such Action, shall,
except with the consent of each indemnified party, consent to entry of any
judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional
term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party
of a release from all liability in respect to such Action. Each indemnified
party shall furnish such information regarding itself or the Action in question
as an indemnifying party may reasonably request in writing and as shall be
reasonably required in connection with defense of such Action resulting
therefrom.

            (d) If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that the
foregoing indemnity provided under Sections 4 and 5 above is unavailable, or is
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party, then the indemnifying party
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a
result of such Losses (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative benefits received by the indemnifying party on the one hand and the
indemnified party on the other, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i)
above is not permitted by applicable law, or provides a lesser sum to the
indemnified party than the amount hereinafter calculated, in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits received by the
indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other, but
also the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations. No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.

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<PAGE>

      7. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
required or permitted under this Agreement shall be given in accordance with
Section 5.2 of the Purchase Agreement.

      8. Waiver and Amendment. No waiver, amendment or modification of this
Agreement or of any provision hereof shall be valid unless evidenced by a
writing duly executed by the Company and the Purchaser. No waiver of any default
hereunder shall be deemed a waiver of any other, prior or subsequent default
hereunder.

      9. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, construed under and
interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York,
without giving effect to principles of choice of law. Any Action arising out of
or relating to this Agreement shall be commenced in a federal or state court
having competent jurisdiction in the State of New York, and for the purpose of
any such Action, each of the parties and any assignees thereof submits to the
personal jurisdiction of the State of New York. The parties hereby irrevocably
consent to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of any state or federal court for
New York County in the State of New York or the Southern District of New York.
The parties hereby waive any objection to venue and any objection based on a
more convenient form in any Action instituted under this Agreement.

      10. Captions. The captions and Section headings used in this Agreement are
for convenience only, and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of
this Agreement or any of the provisions hereof.

      11. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Purchase Agreement
and the Certificate of Designations, constitutes the sole and entire agreement
and understanding between the parties hereto as to the subject matter hereof,
and supersedes all prior discussions, agreements and understandings of every
kind and nature between them as to such subject matter.

      12. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as expressly provided herein,
this Agreement is not intended to confer upon any person other than the Company,
the Purchaser and their respective permitted successors, assigns and transferees
any rights or remedies hereunder.

      13. Successors and Assigns. The Company may not sell, assign, transfer or
otherwise convey any of its rights or delegate any of its duties under this
Agreement, except to a corporation which has succeeded to substantially all of
the business and assets of the Company and has assumed in writing its
obligations under this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be binding on the
Company and such successor. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of and be enforceable by the Purchaser and its successors and
assigns. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any transferee of
Registrable Securities or who becomes a beneficial owner of Registrable
Securities shall have the rights set forth in this Agreement with respect to
such Registrable Securities, and such rights shall be enforceable against the
Company by such transferee, as if it were the Purchaser, from and after the date
the Purchaser or such transferee notifies the Company of such transfer. In
connection with any such transfer by the Purchaser, the Company shall confirm to
such assignee or transferee by written instrument, in such form as reasonably
requested by the Purchaser, that the Company accepts such assignment and
transfer and will perform its obligations under this Agreement for the benefit
of such transferee.

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<PAGE>

      14. Execution. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more
counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the
same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by
each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both
parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is
delivered by facsimile transmission, such signature shall create a valid and
binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is
executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature page
were an original thereof.

      15. Term. This Agreement shall terminate upon the expiration of the
Registration Period; provided, however, that the parties' rights and obligations
under Sections 4 and 5 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

                            (Signature Page Follows)

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<PAGE>

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of
the 7th day of November 2006.

                                    EPOCH HOLDING CORPORATION

                                    By:__/s/ William W. Priest________________

                                    Name:  William W. Priest

                                    Title: Chief Executive Officer

                                    GENERAL AMERICAN INVESTORS COMPANY, INC.

                                    By:__/s/ Spencer Davidson___________________

                                    Name:  Spencer Davidson

                                    Title: President and Chief Executive OfficerExhibit 10.49

                          SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

      This Securities Purchase Agreement (this "Agreement") is dated as of
November 6, 2006, between Epoch Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and General American Investors Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Purchaser").

      WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement
and in accordance with and in reliance upon the exemption from securities
registration afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder (the
"Securities Act"), including Regulation D ("Regulation D"), and/or upon such
other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act as may
be available with respect to any or all of the investments to be made hereunder,
the Company desires to issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser
desires to purchase from the Company 10,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock
(the "Preferred Shares") on the Closing Date for an aggregate purchase price of
$10,000,000 (the "Purchase Price");

      WHEREAS, the Company has authorized the Series A Preferred Stock, having
the rights, privileges and preferences set forth in the Certificate of
Designations, Rights and Preferences attached hereto as Exhibit A (the
"Certificate of Designations");

      WHEREAS, the Preferred Shares are convertible into shares of common stock,
par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in the Certificate of Designations; and

      WHEREAS, contemporaneous with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the parties hereto are executing and delivering a Registration Rights
Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the "Registration Rights
Agreement"), pursuant to which the Company has agreed to provide certain
registration rights under the Securities Act;

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this
Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and
adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Purchaser agrees
as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I.
                                   DEFINITIONS

      1.1 Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this
Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the
meanings indicated in this Section 1.1:

            "Action" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
3.1(j).

<PAGE>

            "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person
      that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries,
      controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person.
      For the purposes of this definition, "control" means, when used with
      respect to any Person, the possession, directly or indirectly, of the
      power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of
      such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
      contract, or otherwise, and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have
      correlative meanings.

            "Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

            "Certificate of Designations" shall have the meaning set forth in
      the Recitals.

            "Closing" means the closing of the purchase and sale of the
      Preferred Shares pursuant to Section 2.1.

            "Closing Date" means the date on which all of the Transaction
      Documents have been executed and delivered by the applicable parties
      thereto, and all conditions precedent to (i) the Purchaser's obligation to
      pay the Purchase Price and (ii) the Company's obligations to deliver the
      Preferred Shares, in each such case in the preceding clause (i) and clause
      (ii) as set forth in Section 2.3, have been satisfied or waived.

            "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

            "Common Stock" shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

            "Common Stock Equivalents" means any securities of the Company or
      the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any
      time Common Stock, including without limitation, any debt, preferred
      stock, rights, options, warrants or other instrument that is at any time
      convertible into or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder
      thereof to receive, Common Stock.

            "Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

            "Company Counsel" means Greenberg Traurig, LLP with offices located
      at The Met Life Building, 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166.

            "Conversion Shares" means the 1,666,667 shares (subject to
      adjustment as provided in the Certificate of Designations) of Common Stock
      of the Company issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Shares.

            "Disclosure Schedules" means the disclosure schedules of the Company
      delivered concurrently herewith.

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

                                       2
<PAGE>

            "Exempt Issuance" means the issuance of (a) shares of Common Stock
      or options to employees, officers or directors of the Company pursuant to
      any stock or option plan duly adopted by a majority of the non-employee
      members of the Board of Directors of the Company or a majority of the
      members of a committee of non-employee directors established for such
      purpose, (b) securities upon the exercise of or conversion of any
      convertible securities, options or warrants issued and outstanding on the
      date of this Agreement and disclosed in the SEC Reports or set forth on
      the Disclosure Schedules, provided that such securities have not been
      amended since the date of this Agreement, and (c) the Securities issued or
      issuable hereunder.

            "GAAP" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(h)

            "Intellectual Property Rights" shall have the meaning ascribed to
      such term in Section 3.1(o).

            "Liens" means a lien, charge, security interest, encumbrance, right
      of first refusal, preemptive right or other restriction.

            "Margin Stock" shall have the meaning provided in Regulation U of
      the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (12 C.F.R. Part 221).

            "Material Adverse Effect" shall have the meaning ascribed to such
      term in Section 3.1(b).

             "Material Permits" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
      Section 3.1(m).

            "OFAC" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(bb).

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

            "Preferred Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

            "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

            "Purchaser" shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

            "Purchaser Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.7.

            "Registration Rights Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in
      the Recitals.

            "Regulation D" shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

                                       3
<PAGE>

             "Required Approvals" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term
      in Section 3.1(e).

            "Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
      the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
      similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
      substantially the same effect as such Rule.

            "Sarbanes-Oxley" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(r).

            "SEC Reports" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
      Section 3.1(h).

            "Securities" means, collectively, the Preferred Shares and the
      Conversion Shares.

            "Securities Act" shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

            "Series A Preferred Stock" shall mean the Series A Convertible
      Preferred Stock, stated value $1,000 per share.

            "Subsidiaries" shall mean the subsidiaries of the Company set forth
      on Schedule 3.1(a).

            "Trading Day" means a day on which the Common Stock is traded on a
      Trading Market.

            "Trading Market" means the following markets or exchanges on which
      the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question:
      the American Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq
      Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or the Nasdaq Capital
      Market.

             "Transaction Documents" means this Agreement, the Certificate of
      Designations, the Registration Rights Agreement and any other documents or
      agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated
      hereunder.

                                   ARTICLE II.
                                PURCHASE AND SALE

      2.1 Closing. On the Closing Date, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Purchaser shall purchase from the
Company, and the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser, 10,000 shares of
Series A Preferred Stock for the Purchase Price. Upon satisfaction of the
conditions set forth in Section 2.2, the Closing shall occur at the offices of
Company Counsel or such other location as the parties shall mutually agree.

                                       4
<PAGE>

      2.2 Closing Deliveries.

            (a) On the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver or cause to be
      delivered to the Purchaser or its designee the following:

                  (i) the certificate evidencing the Preferred Shares registered
            in the name of the Purchaser; and

                  (ii) the Registration Rights Agreement duly executed by the
            Company.

            (b) On the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall deliver or cause to be
      delivered to the Company the following:

                  (i) the Registration Rights Agreement duly executed by the
            Purchaser; and

                  (ii) once the Purchaser's custodian shall have acknowledged
            receipt of the certificate for the Preferred Shares as provided in
            Section 2.2(a)(i), the Purchase Price by wire transfer of
            immediately available funds to such account as specified in writing
            by the Company.

      2.3   Closing Conditions.

            (a) The Company's obligation to sell the Preferred Shares to the
      Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement is conditioned upon satisfaction of
      the following conditions precedent at or before the Closing on the Closing
      Date (any or all of which may be waived by the Company in its sole
      discretion):

                  (i) On the Closing Date, no Action shall be pending or
            threatened which seeks to restrain or prohibit the transactions
            contemplated by this Agreement; and

                  (ii) The representations and warranties of the Purchaser
            contained in this Agreement shall have been true and correct on the
            date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date as if made on the
            Closing Date and on or before the Closing Date the Purchaser shall
            have performed all covenants and agreements of the Purchaser
            contained in this Agreement and required to be performed by the
            Purchaser on or before the Closing Date.

            (b) The Purchaser's obligation to purchase the Preferred Shares
      pursuant to this Agreement is conditioned upon satisfaction of the
      following conditions precedent on or before the Closing Date (any or all
      of which may be waived by the Purchaser in its sole discretion):

                  (i) No Action shall be pending or threatened which seeks to
            restrain or prohibit the transactions contemplated by this
            Agreement;

                                       5
<PAGE>

                  (ii) The representations and warranties of the Company
            contained in this Agreement shall have been true and correct on the
            date of this Agreement and shall be true and correct on the Closing
            Date as if given on and as of the Closing Date, and on or before the
            Closing Date the Company shall have performed all covenants and
            agreements of the Company contained herein or in any of the other
            Transaction Documents required to be performed by the Company on or
            before the Closing Date;

                  (iii) The Certificate of Designations shall have been duly
            filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the
            Purchaser shall have received satisfactory existence of such filing;

                  (iv) The Company shall have delivered to the Purchaser a
            certificate, dated the Closing Date, duly executed by its Chief
            Executive Officer, to the effect set forth in subparagraphs (i) and
            (ii) of this Section 2.3(b);

                  (v) The Company shall have delivered to the Purchaser a
            certificate, dated the Closing Date, of the Secretary of the Company
            certifying (1) the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the
            Company as in effect on the Closing Date, (2) all resolutions of the
            Board of Directors (and committees thereof) of the Company relating
            to this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the
            transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (3) the incumbency and
            signature of all officers executing any Transaction Document or
            investment delivered pursuant to this Section 2.3(b) and (4) such
            other matters as reasonably requested by the Purchaser;

                  (vi) On the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall have received an
            opinion of Company Counsel, dated the Closing Date, addressed to the
            Purchaser, in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to
            the Purchaser; and

                  (vii) From the date hereof to the Closing Date, trading in the
            Common Stock shall not have been suspended by the Commission, and,
            at any time from the date hereof to the Closing Date, trading in
            securities generally on the relevant Trading Market shall not have
            been suspended or limited, or minimum prices shall not have been
            established on securities listed or traded on any such market or
            exchange nor shall a banking moratorium have been declared either by
            the United States or New York State authorities nor shall there have
            occurred any material outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other
            national or international calamity of such magnitude in its effect
            on, or any material adverse change in, any financial market which,
            in each case, in the reasonable judgment of the Purchaser, makes it
            impracticable or inadvisable to purchase the Preferred Shares at the
            Closing.

                                       6
<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE III.
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

      3.1 Representations and Warranties of the Company. Except as set forth in
the SEC Reports or as otherwise set forth under any corresponding section of the
Disclosure Schedules which Disclosure Schedules shall be deemed a part hereof,
the Company hereby makes the representations and warranties as of the date
hereof and as of the Closing Date to the Purchaser as follows:

            (a) Subsidiaries. All of the Subsidiaries of the Company are set
      forth on Schedule 3.1(a). The Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of
      the capital stock or other equity interests of each Subsidiary free and
      clear of any Liens, and all the issued and outstanding shares of capital
      stock of each Subsidiary are validly issued and are fully paid,
      non-assessable and free of rights of first offer, rights of first refusal
      and similar rights to subscribe for or purchase such shares.

            (b) Organization and Qualification. Each of the Company and the
      Subsidiaries is an entity duly incorporated or otherwise organized,
      validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction
      of its incorporation or organization (as applicable), with the requisite
      power and authority to own and use its properties and assets and to carry
      on its business as currently conducted. Neither the Company nor any
      Subsidiary is in violation or default of any of the provisions of its
      respective certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other
      organizational or charter documents. Each of the Company and the
      Subsidiaries is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing
      as a foreign corporation or other entity in each jurisdiction in which the
      nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such
      qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in
      good standing, as the case may be, could not have or reasonably be
      expected to result in a material adverse effect on (i) the legality,
      validity or enforceability of any Transaction Document, (ii) the results
      of operations, assets, business, properties, prospects or condition
      (financial or otherwise) of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a
      whole, or (iii) the Company's ability to perform in any material respect
      on a timely basis its obligations under any Transaction Document (any of
      (i), (ii) or (iii), a "Material Adverse Effect") and no Action has been
      instituted in any such jurisdiction revoking, limiting or curtailing or
      seeking to revoke, limit or curtail such power and authority or
      qualification.

                                       7
<PAGE>

            (c) Authorization; Enforcement. The Company has the requisite
      corporate power and authority to file and perform its obligations under
      the Certificate of Designations and to enter into and perform this
      Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and to consummate the
      transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and to issue the Preferred
      Shares, in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. The execution and
      delivery of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation
      by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including,
      without limitation, the issuance of the Conversion Shares) have been duly
      authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company and no
      further action is required by the Company in connection therewith other
      than in connection with the Required Approvals. Each Transaction Document
      has been (or upon delivery and filing, as the case may be, will have been)
      duly executed by the Company and, assuming this Agreement constitutes the
      valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser and when delivered in
      accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute the valid and binding
      obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance
      with its terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by
      bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium
      or similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors'
      generally and by general equitable principles (regardless of whether such
      enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and by
      an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

            (d) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of the
      Transaction Documents by the Company, the issuance and sale of the
      Preferred Shares and the consummation by the Company of the other
      transactions contemplated thereby (including, without limitation, the
      filing of the Certificate of Designations and the issuance and reservation
      for issuance, as applicable, of the Preferred Shares and the Conversion
      Shares) do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any provision of
      the Company's or any Subsidiary's certificate or articles of
      incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents, or
      (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice
      or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in the
      creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company
      or any Subsidiary, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment,
      acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or
      both) of, any agreement, credit facility, debt or other instrument
      (evidencing a Company or Subsidiary debt or otherwise) or other
      understanding to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by
      which any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or
      affected, or (iii) subject to the Required Approvals, conflict with or
      result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment,
      injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or governmental
      authority to which the Company or a Subsidiary is subject (including
      federal and state securities laws and regulations), or by which any
      property or asset of the Company or a Subsidiary is bound or affected, or
      (iv) conflict with or violate the terms of any agreement by which the
      Company or any Subsidiary is bound or to which any property or asset of
      the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or affected; except in the case of
      each of clauses (ii) and (iii), such as could not have or reasonably be
      expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                                       8
<PAGE>

            (e) Filings, Consents and Approvals. The Company is not required to
      obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to,
      or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal,
      state, local or other governmental authority or other Person in connection
      with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the
      Transaction Documents, other than (i) filings required pursuant to Section
      4.4 of this Agreement, (ii) the filing with the Commission of the
      Registration Statement, (iii) application to the applicable Trading Market
      for the listing of the Conversion Shares for trading thereon in the time
      and manner required thereby, (iv) the filing of the Certificate of
      Designations with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and (v)
      the filing of Form D with the Commission and such other filings as are
      required to be made under applicable state securities laws (collectively,
      the "Required Approvals").

            (f) Issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock. The Series A Preferred
      Stock is duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with
      the Transaction Documents, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and
      non-assessable, free and clear of all Liens (other than restrictions
      generally imposed on securities under U.S. federal, state or foreign
      securities laws or any restrictions on transfer provided for in the
      Transaction Documents). The Conversion Shares, when issued in accordance
      with the terms of the Transaction Documents, will be validly issued, fully
      paid and non-assessable, free and clear of all Liens (other than
      restrictions generally imposed on securities under U.S. federal, state or
      foreign securities laws or any restrictions on transfer provided for in
      the Transaction Documents). The Company has reserved from its duly
      authorized capital stock the maximum number of Preferred Shares and
      Conversion Shares issuable pursuant to this Agreement and the other
      Transaction Documents. The terms, designations, powers, preferences and
      relative, participating and optional or special rights, and the
      qualifications, limitations and restrictions of each series of preferred
      stock of the Company (other than the Series A Preferred Stock) are as
      stated in the Company's certificate of incorporation, filed prior to the
      date hereof, and its bylaws. The terms, designations, powers, preferences
      and relative, participating and optional or special rights, and the
      qualifications, limitations and restrictions of the Series A Preferred
      Stock are as stated in the Certificate of Designations.

                                       9
<PAGE>

            (g) Capitalization. The capitalization of the Company is as
      described in the Company's most recent periodic report filed with the
      Commission. The Company has not issued any capital stock since such filing
      other than pursuant to the exercise of stock options under the Company's
      stock option plans and the issuance of shares of Common Stock to employees
      pursuant to the Company's employee stock plan. No Person has any right of
      first refusal, preemptive right, right of participation, or any similar
      right to participate in the transactions contemplated by the Transaction
      Documents. Except as a result of the purchase and sale of the Preferred
      Shares, there are no outstanding options, warrants, script rights to
      subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating
      to, or securities, rights or obligations convertible into or exchangeable
      for, or giving any Person any right to subscribe for or acquire, any
      shares of Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock or securities or rights
      convertible or exchangeable into shares of Common Stock or Series A
      Preferred Stock, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements
      by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to issue
      additional shares of Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock or
      securities or rights convertible or exchangeable into shares of Common
      Stock or Series A Preferred Stock. The issuance and sale of Preferred
      Shares will not obligate the Company to issue shares of Common Stock,
      Series A Preferred Stock or other securities to any Person (other than the
      Purchaser) and will not result in a right of any holder of Company
      securities to adjust the exercise, conversion, exchange or reset price
      under such securities. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of
      the Company are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, have been
      issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws, and none
      of such outstanding shares was issued in violation of any preemptive
      rights or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities. No
      further approval or authorization of any stockholder, the Board of
      Directors of the Company or any other Person is required for the issuance
      and sale of the Preferred Shares. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports,
      there are no stockholders agreements, voting agreements or other similar
      agreements with respect to the Company's capital stock to which the
      Company is a party or, to the knowledge of the Company, between or among
      any of the Company's stockholders.

            (h) SEC Reports; Financial Statements. The Company has filed all
      reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the
      Exchange Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, for
      the two years preceding the date hereof (or such shorter period as the
      Company was required by law to file such material) (the foregoing
      materials, including the exhibits thereto, being collectively referred to
      herein as the "SEC Reports") on a timely basis or has received a valid
      extension of such time of filing and has filed any such SEC Reports prior
      to the expiration of any such extension. As of their respective dates, the
      SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the requirements of the
      Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and none of the SEC Reports, when
      filed, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
      state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order
      to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
      they were made, not misleading. The financial statements of the Company
      included in the SEC Reports comply in all material respects with
      applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the
      Commission with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing. Such
      financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States
      generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis
      during the periods involved ("GAAP"), except as may be otherwise specified
      in such financial statements or the notes thereto and except that
      unaudited financial statements may not contain all footnotes required by
      GAAP, and fairly present in all material respects the financial position
      of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of and for the dates
      thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then
      ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal,
      immaterial, year-end audit adjustments.

                                       10
<PAGE>

            (i) Material Changes. Since the date of the latest financial
      statements included within the SEC Reports, except as specifically
      disclosed in the SEC Reports, (i) there has been no event, occurrence or
      development that has had or that could reasonably be expected to result in
      a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the Company has not incurred any
      liabilities (contingent or otherwise) other than (A) trade payables and
      accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent
      with past practice and (B) liabilities not required to be reflected in the
      Company's financial statements pursuant to GAAP or required to be
      disclosed in filings made with the Commission, (iii) the Company has not
      altered its method of accounting, (iv) the Company has not declared or
      made any dividend or distribution of cash or other property to its
      stockholders or purchased, redeemed or made any agreements to purchase or
      redeem any shares of its capital stock and (v) the Company has not issued
      any equity securities to any officer, director or Affiliate, except
      pursuant to existing Company stock plans. The Company does not have
      pending before the Commission any request for confidential treatment of
      information.

            (j) Litigation. There is no action, suit, inquiry, notice of
      violation, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the
      Company, threatened against or affecting the Company, any Subsidiary or
      any of their respective properties before or by any court, arbitrator,
      governmental or administrative agency or regulatory authority (federal,
      state, county, local or foreign) (collectively, an "Action") which (i)
      adversely affects or challenges the legality, validity or enforceability
      of any of the Transaction Documents or the Securities or (ii) could, if
      there were an unfavorable decision, have or reasonably be expected to
      result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any
      Subsidiary, nor any director or officer thereof, is or has been the
      subject of any Action involving a claim of violation of or liability under
      federal or state securities laws or a claim of breach of fiduciary duty.
      There has not been, and to the knowledge of the Company, there is not
      pending or contemplated, any investigation by the Commission involving the
      Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company. The
      Commission has not issued any stop order or other order suspending the
      effectiveness of any registration statement filed by the Company or any
      Subsidiary under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act.

            (k) Labor Relations. No material labor dispute exists or, to the
      knowledge of the Company, is imminent with respect to any of the employees
      of the Company which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material
      Adverse Effect.

            (l) Compliance. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary (i) is in
      default under or in violation of (and no event has occurred that has not
      been waived that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a
      default by the Company or any Subsidiary under), nor has the Company or
      any Subsidiary received notice of a claim that it is in default under or
      that it is in violation of, any indenture, loan or credit agreement or any
      other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any
      of its properties is bound (whether or not such default or violation has
      been waived), (ii) is in violation of any order of any court, arbitrator
      or governmental body, or (iii) is or has been in violation of any statute,
      rule or regulation of any governmental authority, including without
      limitation all foreign, federal, state and local laws applicable to its
      business except in each case as could not have a Material Adverse Effect.

                                       11
<PAGE>

            (m) Regulatory Permits. The Company and the Subsidiaries possess all
      certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate
      federal, state, local or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to
      conduct their respective businesses as described in the SEC Reports,
      except where the failure to possess such permits could not have or
      reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect ("Material
      Permits"), and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any
      notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any
      Material Permit.

            (n) Title to Assets. The Company and the Subsidiaries have good and
      marketable title in fee simple to all real property owned by them that is
      material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries and good and
      marketable title in all Personal property owned by them that is material
      to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries, in each case free and
      clear of all Liens, except for Liens as do not materially affect the value
      of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and
      proposed to be made of such property by the Company and the Subsidiaries
      and Liens for the payment of federal, state or other taxes, the payment of
      which is neither delinquent nor subject to penalties. Any real property
      and facilities held under lease by the Company and the Subsidiaries are
      held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases of which the
      Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance.

            (o) Patents and Trademarks. The Company and the Subsidiaries have,
      or have rights to use, all patents, patent applications, trademarks,
      trademark applications, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses
      and other similar rights necessary or material for use in connection with
      their respective businesses as described in the SEC Reports and which the
      failure to so have could have a Material Adverse Effect (collectively, the
      "Intellectual Property Rights"). Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary
      has received a written notice that the Intellectual Property Rights used
      by the Company or any Subsidiary violates or infringes upon the rights of
      any Person. To the knowledge of the Company, all such Intellectual
      Property Rights are enforceable and there is no existing infringement by
      another Person of any of the Intellectual Property Rights of others.

            (p) Insurance. The Company and the Subsidiaries are insured by
      insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and
      risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses
      in which the Company and the Subsidiaries are engaged. To the best of
      Company's knowledge, such insurance contracts and policies are accurate
      and complete. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any reason to
      believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage
      as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from
      similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business without a
      significant increase in cost.

                                       12
<PAGE>

            (q) Transactions With Affiliates and Employees. Except as set forth
      in the SEC Reports, none of the officers or directors of the Company and,
      to the knowledge of the Company, none of the employees of the Company is
      presently a party to any transaction with the Company or any Subsidiary
      (other than for services as employees, officers and directors), including
      any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing
      of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal property to
      or from, or otherwise requiring payments to or from any officer, director
      or such employee or, to the knowledge of the Company, any entity in which
      any officer, director, or any such employee has a substantial interest or
      is an officer, director, trustee or partner, in each case in excess of
      $60,000 in any twelve (12) month period other than (i) for payment of
      salary or consulting fees for services rendered, (ii) reimbursement for
      expenses incurred on behalf of the Company and (iii) for other employee
      benefits, including stock agreements under any stock plan of the Company.

            (r) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company is in substantial compliance
      with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the
      "Sarbanes-Oxley Act"), and the rules and regulations promulgated
      thereunder, that are effective and intends to comply substantially with
      other applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the rules and
      regulations promulgated thereunder, upon the effectiveness of such
      provisions.

            (s) Certain Fees. No brokerage or finder's fees or commissions are
      or will be payable by the Company to any broker, financial advisor or
      consultant, finder, placement agent, investment banker, bank or other
      Person with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
      The Purchaser shall have no obligation with respect to any fees or with
      respect to any claims made by or on behalf of other Persons for fees of a
      type contemplated in this Section that may be due in connection with the
      transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

            (t) Private Placement. Assuming the accuracy of the Purchaser's
      representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2, no registration
      under the Securities Act is required for the offer and sale of the
      Securities by the Company to the Purchaser as contemplated hereby. The
      issuance and sale of the Securities hereunder does not contravene the
      rules and regulations of the Trading Market.

            (u) Investment Company. The Company is not, and is not an Affiliate
      of, and immediately after receipt of payment for the Shares, will not be
      or be an Affiliate of, an "investment company" within the meaning of the
      Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Company shall conduct its
      business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment
      Company Act.

                                       13
<PAGE>

            (v) Registration Rights. No Person has any right to cause the
      Company to effect the registration under the Securities Act of any
      securities of the Company.

            (w) Listing and Maintenance Requirements. The Company's Common Stock
      is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and the
      Company has taken no action designed to, or which to its knowledge is
      likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common
      Stock under the Exchange Act nor has the Company received any notification
      that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration. The
      Company has not, in the 12 months preceding the date hereof, received
      notice from any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is or has been
      listed or quoted to the effect that the Company is not in compliance with
      the listing or maintenance requirements of such Trading Market. The
      Company is, and has no reason to believe that it will not in the
      foreseeable future continue to be, in compliance with all such listing and
      maintenance requirements.

            (x) Application of Takeover Protections. The Company and its Board
      of Directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render
      inapplicable any control share acquisition, business combination, poison
      pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or other
      similar anti-takeover provision under the Company's Certificate of
      Incorporation (or similar charter documents) or the laws of its state of
      incorporation that is or could become applicable to the Purchaser as a
      result of the Purchaser and the Company fulfilling their obligations or
      exercising their rights under the Transaction Documents, including without
      limitation the Company's issuance of the Securities and the Purchaser's
      ownership of the Securities. The Company does not have in effect any
      stockholder rights plan or similar plan or arrangement that would be
      triggered by accumulation of shares of the Company's capital stock or
      voting power or an offer to purchase shares of the Company's capital
      stock.

            (y) No Integrated Offering. Assuming the accuracy of the Purchaser's
      representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2, neither the
      Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any Person acting on its or their
      behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any
      security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances
      that would cause this offering of the Series A Preferred Stock to be
      integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of the
      Securities Act or any applicable shareholder approval provisions,
      including, without limitation, under the rules and regulations of any
      Trading Market on which any of the securities of the Company are listed or
      designated.

            (z) Taxes. Except for matters that would not, individually or in the
      aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
      Effect, the Company and each Subsidiary has filed all necessary federal,
      state and foreign income and franchise tax returns and has paid or accrued
      all taxes shown as due thereon, and the Company has no knowledge of a tax
      deficiency which has been asserted or threatened against the Company or
      any Subsidiary.

                                       14
<PAGE>

            (aa) General Solicitation. Neither the Company nor any Person acting
      on behalf of the Company has offered or sold any of the Series A Preferred
      Stock by any form of general solicitation or general advertising. The
      Company has offered the Series A Preferred Stock for sale only to the
      Purchaser and certain other "accredited investors" within the meaning of
      Rule 501 under the Securities Act.

            (bb) Foreign Corrupt Practices. Neither the Company, nor to the
      knowledge of the Company, any agent or other person acting on behalf of
      the Company, has (i) directly or indirectly, used any corrupt funds for
      unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses
      related to foreign or domestic political activity, (ii) made any unlawful
      payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to any
      foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds,
      (iii) failed to disclose fully any contribution made by the Company (or
      made by any person acting on its behalf of which the Company is aware)
      which is in violation of law, or (iv) violated in any material respect any
      provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
      Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director,
      officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company is currently subject
      to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control
      of the U.S. Treasury Department ("OFAC"); and the Company will not
      directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend,
      contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary,
      joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of
      financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S.
      sanctions administered by OFAC.

            (cc) Acknowledgment Regarding Purchaser's Purchase of Preferred
      Shares. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Purchaser is acting
      solely in the capacity of an arm's length purchaser with respect to the
      Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby. The
      Company further acknowledges that the Purchaser is not acting as a
      financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company (or in any similar capacity)
      with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby
      and any advice given by the Purchaser or any of its respective
      representatives or agents in connection with this Agreement and the
      transactions contemplated hereby is merely incidental to the Purchaser's
      purchase of the Preferred Shares. The Company further represents to the
      Purchaser that the Company's decision to enter into this Agreement has
      been based solely on the independent evaluation of the transactions
      contemplated hereby by the Company and its representatives.

            (dd) Acknowledgment of Dilution. The Company understands and
      acknowledges the potentially dilutive effect to the Common Stock upon the
      issuance of the Conversion Shares upon conversion of or otherwise pursuant
      to the Preferred Shares. The Company further acknowledges that its
      obligation to issue the Conversion Shares upon conversion of or otherwise
      pursuant to the Preferred Shares in accordance with the Transaction
      Documents is absolute, subject only to the terms and conditions set forth
      in the Transaction Documents, regardless of the dilutive effect that such
      issuance may have on the ownership interests of other stockholders of the
      Company.

                                       15
<PAGE>

            (ee) Disclosures. None of the representations or warranties made by
      the Company under any of the Transaction Documents and no written
      information furnished by the Company pursuant hereto, or in any other
      document, certificate or written statement furnished by the Company to the
      Purchaser or any authorized representative of the Purchaser pursuant to
      the Transaction Documents or in connection therewith, contains any untrue
      statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary
      in order to make the statements contained herein and therein, in light of
      the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

      3.2 Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser. The Purchaser hereby
represents and warrants as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date to the
Company as follows:

            (a) Organization; Authority. The Purchaser is an entity duly
      organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
      jurisdiction of its organization with full right, corporate or partnership
      power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions
      contemplated by the Transaction Documents and otherwise to carry out its
      obligations thereunder. The execution, delivery and performance by the
      Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been
      duly authorized by all necessary corporate or similar action on the part
      of the Purchaser. Each Transaction Document to which it is a party has
      been duly executed by the Purchaser, and, assuming this Agreement
      constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company and when
      delivered by the Purchaser in accordance with the terms hereof, will
      constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of the Purchaser,
      enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as the
      enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
      fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating
      to or affecting the rights of creditors' generally and by general
      equitable principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is
      considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and by an implied covenant
      of good faith and fair dealing.

            (b) Circumstances of Purchase. The Purchaser understands that the
      Securities are "restricted securities" and have not been registered under
      the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law and is acquiring
      the Securities as principal for its own account and not with a view to or
      for distributing or reselling such Securities or any part thereof, has no
      present intention of distributing any of such Securities and has no
      arrangement or understanding with any other Persons regarding the
      distribution of such Securities (this representation and warranty not
      limiting the Purchaser's right to sell the Securities pursuant to the
      Registration Statement or otherwise in compliance with applicable federal
      and state securities laws). The Purchaser is acquiring the Securities
      hereunder in the ordinary course of its business. The Purchaser does not
      have any agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any
      Person to distribute any of the Securities.

                                       16
<PAGE>

            (c) Rule 144. The Purchaser understands that the Securities must be
      held indefinitely unless such Securities are registered under the
      Securities Act or an exemption from registration is available. The
      Purchaser acknowledges that it is familiar with Rule 144, and that the
      Purchaser has been advised that Rule 144 permits resales only under
      certain circumstances. The Purchaser understands that to the extent that
      Rule 144 is not available, the Purchaser will be unable to sell any
      Securities without either registration under the Securities Act or the
      existence of another exemption from such registration requirement.

            (d) Purchaser Status. At the time the Purchaser was offered the
      Securities, it was, and at the date hereof it is, and on each date on
      which it converts any Preferred Shares, it will be either: (i) an
      "accredited investor" as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(7)
      or (a)(8) under the Securities Act or (ii) a "qualified institutional
      buyer" as defined in Rule 144A(a) under the Securities Act. The Purchaser
      is not required to be registered as a broker-dealer under Section 15 of
      the Exchange Act.

            (e) General. The Purchaser understands that the Securities are being
      offered and sold in reliance on a transactional exemption from the
      registration requirements of federal and state securities laws and the
      Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of the representations,
      warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of the
      Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the applicability of such
      exemptions and the suitability of the Purchaser to acquire the Securities.
      The Purchaser understands that no United States federal or state agency or
      any government or governmental agency has passed upon or made any
      recommendation or endorsement of the Securities.

            (f) General Solicitation. The Purchaser is not purchasing the
      Securities as a result of any advertisement, article, notice or other
      communication regarding the Securities published in any newspaper,
      magazine or similar media or broadcast over television or radio or
      presented at any seminar or any other general solicitation or general
      advertisement.

                                       17
<PAGE>

            (g) Patriot Act. If the Purchaser is an individual, the Purchaser
      certifies that he or she is not nor to his or her knowledge has been
      designated, a "suspected terrorist" as defined in Executive Order 13224.
      If the Purchaser is a corporation, trust, partnership, limited liability
      company or other organization, the Purchaser certifies that, to the best
      of the Purchaser's knowledge, the Purchaser has not been designated, and,
      to the knowledge of the Purchaser after due inquiry, is not owned or
      controlled, by a "suspected terrorist" as defined in Executive Order
      13224. The Purchaser hereby acknowledges that the Company seeks to comply
      with all applicable laws concerning money laundering and related
      activities. In furtherance of those efforts, the Purchaser hereby
      represents, warrants and agrees that: (i) to its knowledge after due
      inquiry, none of the cash or property that the Purchaser will pay or will
      contribute to the Company has been or shall be derived from, or related
      to, any activity that is deemed criminal under United States law; and (ii)
      to its knowledge, no contribution or payment by the Purchaser to the
      Company, to the extent that they are within the Purchaser's control shall
      cause the Company to be in violation of the United States Bank Secrecy
      Act, the United States International Money Laundering Control Act of 1986
      or the United States International Money Laundering Abatement and
      Anti-Terrorist Financing Act of 2001. The Purchaser understands and agrees
      that if at anytime while the Purchaser holds any of the Securities it is
      discovered that any of the foregoing representations are incorrect, it
      shall promptly notify the Company.

            (h) Information. The Purchaser and its advisors, if any, have been
      furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and
      operations of the Company and materials relating to the offer and sale of
      the Securities which have been requested by the Purchaser and its
      advisors, if any. The Purchaser and its advisors, if any, have been
      afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company.

      The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Purchaser does not make or
has not made any representations or warranties with respect to the transactions
contemplated hereby other than those specifically set forth in this Section 3.2.

                                   ARTICLE IV.
                         OTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES

      4.1 Transfer Restrictions. (a) The Securities may only be sold in
compliance with state and federal securities laws. In connection with any
transfer of Securities, other than pursuant to an effective registration
statement or Rule 144, to the Company or to an Affiliate of the Purchaser and
other than in connection with any pledge of Securities, the Company may require
the transferor thereof to provide to the Company an opinion of counsel selected
by the transferor and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the form and
substance of which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to
the effect that such transfer does not require registration of such transferred
Securities under the Securities Act. As a condition of transfer, any such
transferee shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement
with respect to the Securities so transferred and shall have the rights of the
Purchaser under this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement with
respect to such Securities.

            (b) The Purchaser agrees to the imprinting, so long as is required
by this Section 4.1(b), of a legend on any of the Securities in the following
form:

                                       18
<PAGE>

            "THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND
            EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN
            RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES
            ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND, ACCORDINGLY,
            MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE
            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN
            AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE
            REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AS EVIDENCED BY A
            LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE TRANSFEROR TO SUCH EFFECT, THE
            SUBSTANCE OF WHICH SHALL BE REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY AND
            IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS ."

Once the registration statement required to be filed by the Company with the
Commission pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement has been declared
effective or particular Securities are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule
144(k) under the Securities Act, thereafter (a) upon request of the Purchaser
the Company will substitute certificates without restrictive legend for
certificates for any such Securities issued prior to the effective date of such
registration statement or prior to the time of such eligibility, as the case may
be, which bear such restrictive legend and remove any stop-transfer restriction
relating thereto in each case promptly, but in no event later than three (3)
Trading Days after surrender of such certificates by the Purchaser and (b) the
Company shall not place any restrictive legend on certificates for any
Securities issued upon conversion or transfer of the Preferred Shares or impose
any stop-transfer restriction thereon.

      4.2 Furnishing of Information. As long as the Purchaser owns any
Securities, the Company covenants to timely file (or obtain extensions in
respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports
required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to the
Exchange Act. As long as the Purchaser owns any Securities, if the Company is
not required to file reports pursuant to the Exchange Act, it will prepare and
furnish to the Purchaser and make publicly available in accordance with Rule
144(c) such information as is required for the Purchaser to sell the Securities
under Rule 144. The Company further covenants that it will take such further
action as any holder of Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent
required from time to time to enable such Person to sell such Securities without
registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions
provided by Rule 144.

      4.3 Integration. The Company shall not sell, offer for sale or solicit
offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in
Section 2 of the Securities Act) that would be integrated with the offer or sale
of the Securities in a manner that would require the registration under the
Securities Act of the sale of the Securities to the Purchaser or that would be
integrated with the offer or sale of the Securities for purposes of the rules
and regulations of any Trading Market such that it would require shareholder
approval of such other transaction unless shareholder approval is obtained
before the closing of such subsequent transaction.

                                       19
<PAGE>

      4.4 Securities Laws Disclosure; Publicity. The Company and the Purchaser
shall consult with each other in issuing any press releases with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereby, and neither the Company nor the Purchaser
shall issue any such press release or otherwise make any such public statement
without the prior consent of the Company, with respect to any press release of
the Purchaser, or without the prior consent of the Purchaser, with respect to
any press release of the Company, which consent shall not unreasonably be
withheld, except if such disclosure is required by law, in which case the
disclosing party shall promptly provide the other party with prior notice of
such public statement or communication. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company shall not publicly disclose the name of the Purchaser, or include the
name of the Purchaser in any filing with the Commission or any regulatory agency
or Trading Market, without the prior written consent of the Purchaser (which
consent shall not unreasonably be withheld) except (a) as required by federal
securities law in connection with the registration statement contemplated by the
Registration Rights Agreement and (b) to the extent such disclosure is required
by law (including, without limitation, any reporting obligations under the
Securities Act or Exchange Act) or Trading Market regulations, in which case the
Company shall provide the Purchaser with prior notice of such disclosure
permitted under subclause (a) or (b).

      4.5 Non-Public Information. The Company covenants and agrees that neither
it nor any other Person acting on its behalf will provide the Purchaser or its
agents or counsel with any information that the Company believes constitutes
material non-public information, unless prior thereto the Purchaser shall have
executed a written agreement regarding the confidentiality and use of such
information. The Company understands and confirms that the Purchaser shall be
relying on the foregoing representations in effecting transactions in securities
of the Company.

      4.6 Use of Proceeds. The Company shall use the net proceeds from the sale
of the Preferred Shares hereunder for working capital and general corporate
purposes. The Company represents and warrants to the Purchaser, and covenants
and agrees with the Purchaser, that: (a) the Company does not own or have any
present intention of acquiring any Margin Stock; (b) none of the proceeds of
sale of the Preferred Shares will be used for the purpose, whether immediate,
incidental or ultimate, of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock or for the
purpose of maintaining, reducing or retiring any indebtedness which was
originally incurred to purchase or carry any stock that is currently a Margin
Stock or for any other purpose which might constitute the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement a "purpose credit" within the meaning of
Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; and (c)
neither the Company nor any agent acting on its behalf has taken or will take
any action which might cause this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby to violate Regulation T, Regulation U or any other regulation of the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or to violate the Exchange Act,
in each case as in effect now or as the same may hereafter be in effect.

                                       20
<PAGE>

      4.7 Indemnification of Purchaser. Subject to the provisions of this
Section 4.7, the Company will indemnify and hold the Purchaser and its
directors, officers, shareholders, partners, employees and agents (each, a
"Purchaser Party") harmless from any and all losses, liabilities, obligations,
claims, contingencies, damages, costs and expenses, including all judgments,
amounts paid in settlements, court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees and
costs of investigation that any the Purchaser Party may suffer or incur as a
result of or relating to (a) any breach of any of the representations,
warranties, covenants or agreements made by the Company in this Agreement or in
the other Transaction Documents or (b) any action instituted against the
Purchaser, or any of them or their respective Affiliates, by any stockholder of
the Company who is not an Affiliate of the Purchaser, with respect to any of the
transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (unless such action is
based upon a breach of the Purchaser's representation, warranties or covenants
under the Transaction Documents or any agreements or understandings the
Purchaser may have with any such stockholder or any violations by the Purchaser
of state or federal securities laws or any conduct by the Purchaser which
constitutes fraud, gross negligence, willful misconduct or malfeasance). If any
action shall be brought against any Purchaser Party in respect of which
indemnity may be sought pursuant to this Agreement, the Purchaser Party shall
promptly notify the Company in writing, and the Company shall have the right to
assume the defense thereof with counsel of its own choosing. Any Purchaser Party
shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and
participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall be at the expense of the Purchaser Party except to the extent that (a) the
employment thereof has been specifically authorized by the Company in writing,
(b) the Company has failed after a reasonable period of time to assume such
defense and to employ counsel or (c) in such action there is, in the reasonable
opinion of such separate counsel, a material conflict on any material issue
between the position of the Company and the position of the Purchaser Party. The
Company will not be liable to any Purchaser Party under this Agreement (a) for
any settlement by an Purchaser Party effected without the Company's prior
written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; or (b) to
the extent, but only to the extent that a loss, claim, damage or liability is
attributable to any Purchaser Party's breach of any of the representations,
warranties, covenants or agreements made by the Purchasers in this Agreement or
in the other Transaction Documents.

      4.8 Reservation of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, the Company has
reserved, and the Company shall continue to reserve and keep available at all
times, free of preemptive rights, a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock
for the purpose of enabling the Company to issue the Conversion Shares.

      4.9 Listing of Common Stock. The Company hereby agrees to use commercially
reasonable efforts to maintain the listing of its Common Stock on a Trading
Market, and to list all of the Conversion Shares on such Trading Market as
promptly as possible after the Closing. The Company further agrees, if the
Company applies to have the Common Stock traded on any other Trading Market, it
will include in such application all of the Conversion Shares, and will take
such other action as is necessary to cause all of the Conversion Shares to be
listed on such other Trading Market as promptly as possible. The Company will
take all action reasonably necessary to continue the listing and trading of its
Common Stock on a Trading Market and will comply in all respects with the
Company's reporting, filing and other obligations under the bylaws or rules of
the Trading Market.

                                       21
<PAGE>

      4.11 No Shorting. Since the Securities were first offered to the
Purchaser, the Purchaser has not engaged and, so long as the Purchaser directly
or indirectly beneficially owns any of the Securities, the Purchaser will not
engage, in any "short sales" (as defined in Regulation SHO under the Exchange
Act) of the Common Stock.

                                   ARTICLE V.
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

      5.1 Entire Agreement. The Transaction Documents, together with the
exhibits and schedules thereto, contain the entire understanding of the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements
(including, without limitation, that certain Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement
dated August 15, 2006) and understandings, oral or written, with respect to such
matters, which the parties acknowledge have been merged into such documents,
exhibits and schedules.

      5.2 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be
deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by a
nationally recognized overnight delivery service, by fax or by certified mail
(postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the
following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be
specification notice given in accordance with this Section 5.2:

            If to the Company:

                    Epoch Holding Corporation
                    640 Fifth Avenue
                    18th Floor
                    New York, New York  10019
                    Attention:Adam Borak, Chief Financial Officer
                    Fax No.:  (212) 937-4660

                    with a copy to:

                   Greenberg Traurig, LLP
                   200 Park Avenue
                   New York, New York  10166
                   Attention: Alan I. Annex, Esq.
                   Fax No.:   (212) 801-6400

                                       22
<PAGE>

            If to the Purchaser:

                    General American Investors Company, Inc.
                    450 Lexington Avenue
                    33rd Floor
                    New York, New York  10017
                    Attention:President and Chief Executive Officer
                    Fax No.:  (212) 916-8491

                    with a copy to:

                    Law Offices of Brian W Pusch
                    29 West 57th Street
                    Penthouse Suite
                    New York, New York  10023
                    Fax No.:  (212) 980-7055

      5.3 Amendments; Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be waived or
amended except in a written instrument signed, in the case of an amendment, by
the Company and the Purchaser or, in the case of a waiver, by the party against
whom enforcement of any such waiver is sought. No waiver of any default with
respect to any provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be
deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent
default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor
shall any delay or omission of either party to exercise any right hereunder in
any manner impair the exercise of any such right.

      5.4 Construction. The headings herein are for convenience only, do not
constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect
any of the provisions hereof. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed
to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no
rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.

      5.5 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted assigns. The
Company may not sell, assign, transfer or otherwise convey any of its rights or
delegate any of its duties under this Agreement, except to a Person which has
succeeded to substantially all of the business and assets of the Company and has
assumed in writing its obligations, if any, under this Agreement, and this
Agreement shall be binding on the Company and such successor. The Purchaser may
assign any or all of its rights under this Agreement to any Person to whom the
Purchaser assigns or transfers any Securities; provided such assignment or
transfer is in compliance with applicable law and; provided, further such
transferee agrees in writing to be bound, with respect to the transferred
Securities, by the provisions hereof that apply to the "Purchaser." In
connection with any such assignment by the Purchaser, the Company shall confirm
to such assignee or transferee by written instrument, in such form as reasonably
requested by the Purchaser, that the Company accepts such assignment and
transfer and will perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents for
the benefit of such assignee or transferee.

                                       23
<PAGE>

      5.6 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is intended for the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted
assigns and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced
by, any other Person, except as otherwise set forth in Section 4.7.

      5.7 Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity,
enforcement and interpretation of the Transaction Documents shall be governed by
and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of
New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each
party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and
federal courts sitting in the City of New York, borough of Manhattan for the
adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any
transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to
the enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents), and hereby irrevocably
waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim
that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that
such suit, action or proceeding is improper or inconvenient venue for such
proceeding. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and
consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by
mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery
(with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices
to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good
and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein
shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner
permitted by law. The parties hereby waive all rights to a trial by jury in any
action arising from or relating to this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby. If either party shall commence an action or proceeding to
enforce any provisions of the Transaction Documents, then the prevailing party
in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its
attorneys' fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation,
preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.

      5.8 Survival. The representations and warranties herein shall survive for
eighteen (18) months after the Closing and delivery of the Preferred Shares.

      5.9 Execution. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more
counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the
same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by
each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both
parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is
delivered by facsimile transmission, such signature shall create a valid and
binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is
executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature page
were an original thereof.

      5.10 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be
invalid or unenforceable in any respect, the validity and enforceability of the
remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be
affected or impaired thereby and the parties will attempt to agree upon a valid
and enforceable provision that is a reasonable substitute therefor, and upon so
agreeing, shall incorporate such substitute provision in this Agreement.

                                       24
<PAGE>

      5.11 Rescission and Withdrawal Right. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in (and without limiting any similar provisions of) the
Transaction Documents, whenever the Purchaser exercises a right, election,
demand or option under a Transaction Document and the Company does not timely
perform its related obligations within the periods therein provided, then the
Purchaser may rescind or withdraw, in its sole discretion from time to time upon
written notice to the Company, any relevant notice, demand or election in whole
or in part without prejudice to its future actions and rights.

      5.12 Replacement of Securities. If any certificate or instrument
evidencing any Securities is mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company
shall issue or cause to be issued in exchange and substitution for and upon
cancellation thereof, or in lieu of and substitution therefor, a new certificate
or instrument, but only upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the
Company of such loss, theft or destruction and customary and reasonable
indemnity, if requested. The applicants for a new certificate or instrument
under such circumstances shall also pay any reasonable out-of-pocket third-party
costs associated with the issuance of such replacement Securities.

      5.13 Remedies. In addition to being entitled to exercise all rights
provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages, the Purchaser
and the Company will be entitled to specific performance under the Transaction
Documents, including, without limitation, specific performance by the Company of
the issuance of Conversion Shares upon conversion of the Preferred Shares in
accordance with the Certificate of Designations. The parties agree that monetary
damages may not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of any
breach of obligations described in the foregoing sentence and hereby agrees to
waive, in any action for specific performance of any such obligation, the
defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

      5.14 Payment Set Aside. To the extent that the Company makes a payment or
payments to the Purchaser pursuant to any Transaction Document or the Purchaser
enforces or exercises its rights thereunder, and such payment or payments or the
proceeds of such enforcement or exercise or any part thereof are subsequently
invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside, recovered
from, disgorged by or are required to be refunded, repaid or otherwise restored
to the Company, a trustee, receiver or any other Person under any law
(including, without limitation, any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common
law or equitable cause of action), then to the extent of any such restoration
the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be
revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been
made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred.

      5.15 Liquidated Damages. The Company's obligations to pay any partial
liquidated damages or other amounts owing under the Transaction Documents is a
continuing obligation of the Company and shall not terminate until all unpaid
partial liquidated damages and other amounts have been paid notwithstanding the
fact that the instrument or security pursuant to which such partial liquidated
damages or other amounts are due and payable shall have been canceled.

                            (Signature Page Follows)

                                       25
<PAGE>

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

                                 EPOCH HOLDING CORPORATION

                                 By:__/s/ William W. Priest____________

                                 Name:  William W. Priest

                                 Title: Chief Executive Officer

                                 GENERAL AMERICAN INVESTORS COMPANY, INC.

                                 By:__/s/ Spencer Davidson_____________

                                 Name:  Spencer Davidson

                                 Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

                                       26
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

   CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS OF SERIES A CONVERTIBLE
                                 PREFERRED STOCK

                                 See Exhibit 4.2

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT B

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                                 See Exhibit 4.3

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