Document:

<PAGE>   1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 4(e)

================================================================================

                             CMS ENERGY CORPORATION

                                       and

                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK

                                   as Trustee

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

                  7 1/4% Subordinated Deferrable Notes due 2004

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

                          FOURTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

                           Dated as of August 22, 2000

================================================================================

<PAGE>   2

                               Table of Contents

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                  Page
                                                                                                  ----
<S>                                                                                               <C>
ARTICLE I  DEFINITIONS..............................................................................2
         Section 1.1       Definition of Terms......................................................2

ARTICLE II  TERMS AND ISSUANCE OF THE SUBORDINATED NOTES............................................4
         Section 2.1       Issue of Subordinated Notes..............................................4
         Section 2.2       Maturity.................................................................4
         Section 2.3       Global Subordinated Notes................................................5
         Section 2.4       Interest.................................................................6
         Section 2.5       Redemption...............................................................6
         Section 2.6       Events of Default.......................................................10
         Section 2.7       Paying Agent; Security Registrar........................................10
         Section 2.8       Extension of Interest Payment Period....................................10
         Section 2.9       Notice of Extension.....................................................11
         Section 2.10      Place of Payment........................................................12

ARTICLE III  EXPENSES..............................................................................12
         Section 3.1       Payment of Expenses.....................................................12

ARTICLE IV  COVENANTS..............................................................................13
         Section 4.1       Covenants in the Event of an Event of Default...........................13
         Section 4.2       Additional Covenants Relating to the Trust..............................13

ARTICLE V  ORIGINAL ISSUE OF SUBORDINATED NOTES....................................................14
         Section 5.1       Original Issue of Subordinated Notes....................................14

ARTICLE VI  RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF PREFERRED SECURITIES..............................................15
         Section 6.1       Preferred Security Holders' Rights......................................15
         Section 6.2       Direct Action...........................................................15
         Section 6.3       Payments Pursuant to Direct Actions.....................................15
         Section 6.4       Modifications...........................................................15

ARTICLE VII  REMARKETING...........................................................................16
         Section 7.1       Effectiveness of this Article...........................................16

ARTICLE VIII  ACCELERATION OF MATURITY.............................................................16
         Section 8.1       Automatic Acceleration..................................................16

ARTICLE IX  MISCELLANEOUS..........................................................................16
</TABLE>

                                       i

<PAGE>   3

<TABLE>

<S>                        <C>                                                                    <C>
         Section 9.1       Execution of Fourth Supplemental Indenture..............................16
         Section 9.2       Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.......................................16
         Section 9.3       Effect of Headings......................................................17
         Section 9.4       Successors and Assigns..................................................17
         Section 9.5       Separability Clause.....................................................17
         Section 9.6       Benefits of Fourth Supplemental Indenture...............................17
         Section 9.7       Governing Law...........................................................17

EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF FACE OF SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE NOTE]....................................................A-1

EXHIBIT B
[FORM OF FACE OF SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE NOTE]....................................................B-1
</TABLE>

                                       ii
<PAGE>   4

             THIS FOURTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of August 22, 2000,
(herein called the "Fourth Supplemental Indenture"), between CMS Energy
Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the
State of Michigan (hereinafter called the "Company"), party of the first part,
and The Bank of New York, a New York banking corporation, as Trustee under the
Indenture referred to below (hereinafter called the "Trustee"), party of the
second part.

                                   WITNESSETH:

             WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the
Trustee an Indenture, dated as of June 1, 1997 (hereinafter called the
"Indenture"), to provide for the issuance from time to time of certain of its
unsecured notes (hereinafter called the "Securities"), the form and terms of
which are to be established as set forth in Sections 2.1 and 2.3 of the
Indenture; and

             WHEREAS, Section 8.1 of the Indenture provides, among other things,
that the Company and the Trustee may enter into indentures supplemental to the
Indenture for, among other things, the purpose of establishing the form or terms
of the Securities of any series as permitted in Sections 2.1 and 2.3 of the
Indenture; and

             WHEREAS, the Company desires to create a series of the Securities
in an aggregate principal amount of up to $257,731,975 to be designated the "7
1/4% Subordinated Deferrable Notes due 2004" (the "Subordinated Notes"), and all
action on the part of the Company necessary to authorize the issuance of the
Subordinated Notes under the Indenture and this Fourth Supplemental Indenture
has been duly taken; and

             WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make the Subordinated
Notes when executed by the Company and completed, authenticated and delivered by
the Trustee as in the Indenture and this Fourth Supplemental Indenture provided,
the valid and binding obligations of the Company and to constitute these
presents a valid and legally binding supplemental indenture and agreement
according to its terms, have been done and performed; and

             WHEREAS, Section 8.1 of the Indenture provides, among other things,
that the Company and the Trustee may enter into indentures supplemental to the
Indenture to, among other things, add to the covenants of the Company for the
benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities; and

             WHEREAS, CMS Energy Trust III, a Delaware statutory business trust
(the "Trust"), has offered to the public up to $250,000,000 in aggregate

<PAGE>   5

liquidation amount of its 7 1/4% Trust Preferred Securities (the "Preferred
Securities") and, in connection therewith, the Company has agreed to purchase up
to $7,731,975 in value of the aggregate liquidation amount of the Trust's common
securities (the "Common Securities" and together with the Preferred Securities,
the "Trust Securities"), each representing an undivided beneficial interest in
the assets of the Trust, and proposes to invest the proceeds from such offerings
in up to $257,731,975 aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Notes;

             NOW, THEREFORE, THIS FOURTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

             That in consideration of the premises, the Company covenants and
agrees with the Trustee, for the equal benefit of holders of the Subordinated
Notes, as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I
                                   DEFINITIONS

             Section 1.1     Definition of Terms.  Unless the context otherwise
requires:

                  (a)   a term not defined herein that is defined in the
Indenture has the same meaning when used in this Fourth Supplemental Indenture;

                  (b)   a term defined anywhere in this Fourth Supplemental
Indenture has the same meaning throughout;

                  (c)   the singular includes the plural and vice versa;

                  (d)   a reference to a Section or Article is to a Section or
Article of this Fourth Supplemental Indenture;

                  (e)   headings are for convenience of reference only and do
not affect interpretation;

                  (f)   the following terms have the meanings given to them in
the Declaration: (i) Applicable Margin; (ii) Applicable Principal Amount; (iii)
Cash Merger Event Payment; (iv) Cash Merger Redemption; (v) Cash Merger
Redemption Date; (vi) Common Securities; (vii) Delaware Trustee; (viii) Failed
Remarketing; (ix) Guarantee; (x) Majority in Liquidation Amount; (xi) Preferred
Securities; (xii) Preferred Security Certificate; (xiii) Property Trustee; (xiv)

                                       2
<PAGE>   6

Redemption Amount; (xv) Redemption Price; (xvi) Regular Trustees; (xvii)
Remarketing Agreement; (xviii) Tax Event; (xix) Remarketing Date; (xx) Reset
Rate; (xxi) Tax Event Redemption; (xxii) Treasury Portfolio; and (xxiii)
Two-Year Benchmark Treasury Rate;

                  (g)   the following terms have the meanings given to them in
the Purchase Contract Agreement: (i) Cash Merger Early Settlement; (ii) Cash
Merger Event; (iii) Cash Settlement; (iv) Early Settlement Week; (v) PEPS Units;
(vi) Pledge Agreement; (vii) Purchase Contract and (viii) Purchase Contract
Settlement Date; (ix) Treasury PEPS Unit; (x) Global Certificate;

                  (h)   the following terms have the meanings given to them in
this Section 1.1(h):

                  "Business Day" means a day on which banking institutions in
             New York, New York or Delaware are not authorized or required by
             law to close.

                  "Declaration" means the Amended and Restated Declaration of
             Trust of the Trust, dated as of August 22, 2000, as amended and
             restated from time to time.

                  "Direct Action" has the meaning specified in Section 6.2.

                  "Primary Treasury Dealer" means a primary U.S. government
             securities dealer in New York City.

                  "Purchase Contract Agreement" means the Purchase Contract
             Agreement dated as of August 22, 2000 between the Company and The
             Bank of New York, as Purchase Contract Agent.

                  "Quotation Agent" means (i) Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
             and its respective successors, provided that if Morgan Stanley &
             Co. Incorporated ceases to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the
             Company will substitute another Primary Treasury Dealer therefor,
             or (ii) any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Company.

                                       3

<PAGE>   7

                  "Remarketing" means (i) as long as the Trust has not been
             liquidated, the operation of the procedures for remarketing
             specified in Section 7.13 of the Declaration and (ii) if the Trust
             has been liquidated, the operation of the procedures for
             remarketing specified in Section 5.02 of the Purchase Contract
             Agreement.

                  "Remarketing Agent" shall mean Morgan Stanley & Co.
             Incorporated or any successor remarketing agent selected by the
             Company.

                                   ARTICLE II
                  TERMS AND ISSUANCE OF THE SUBORDINATED NOTES

             Section 2.1    Issue of Subordinated Notes. A series of Securities
which shall be designated the "7 1/4% Subordinated Deferrable Notes due 2004"
shall be executed, authenticated and delivered in accordance with the provisions
of, and shall in all respects be subject to, the terms, conditions and covenants
of the Indenture and this Fourth Supplemental Indenture (including the form of
Subordinated Note set forth as Exhibits A and B hereto). The aggregate principal
amount of Subordinated Notes of the series created hereby which may be
authenticated and delivered under the Indenture shall not, except as permitted
by the provisions of the Indenture, exceed $257,731,975. The Subordinated Notes
shall be initially issued in certificated form to the Trust (the "Initial
Subordinated Notes") and shall be substantially in the Form of Exhibit B
attached hereto. The terms of such Subordinated Notes are herein incorporated by
reference and are part of the Fourth Supplemental Indenture.

             Section 2.2     Maturity. Unless a Tax Event Redemption or Cash
Merger Early Redemption occurs, the entire principal amount of the Subordinated
Notes will mature and become due and payable together with any accrued and
unpaid interest thereon, on August 18, 2004 (the "Maturity Date").

             Section 2.3     Global Subordinated Notes.  If distributed to
holders of Preferred Securities in connection with the involuntary or voluntary
liquidation and dissolution of the Trust:

                  (a)   If the Preferred Securities are held in book-entry form,
the Initial Subordinated Notes may be presented to the Trustee by the Property
Trustee in exchange for a Global Security in the form of Exhibit A in an
aggregate principal amount equal to all Outstanding Subordinated Notes (a
"Global

                                       4

<PAGE>   8

Subordinated Note"). The Depositary for the Global Subordinated Note will be The
Depository Trust Company. The Global Subordinated Note will be registered in the
name of the Depositary or its nominee, Cede & Co., and delivered by the Trustee
to the Depositary or a custodian appointed by the Depositary for crediting to
the accounts of its participants pursuant to the instructions of the Property
Trustee. The Company upon any such presentation shall execute a Global
Subordinated Note in such aggregate principal amount and deliver the same to the
Trustee for authentication and delivery in accordance with the Indenture and
this Fourth Supplemental Indenture. Payments on the Subordinated Notes issued as
a Global Subordinated Note will be made to the Depositary or its nominee.

                  (b)   If any Preferred Securities are held in non book-entry
certificated form ("Non Book-Entry Preferred Securities"), the Initial
Subordinated Notes may be presented to the Trustee by the Property Trustee, and
such Non Book-Entry Preferred Securities will be deemed to represent beneficial
interests in Subordinated Notes presented to the Trustee by the Property Trustee
having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount
of the Non Book-Entry Preferred Securities until the Preferred Security
Certificates representing such Non Book-Entry Preferred Securities are presented
to the Security Registrar for transfer or reissuance, at which time such
Preferred Security Certificates will be canceled and a Subordinated Note
registered in the name of the holder of the Preferred Security Certificate or
the transferee of the holder of such Preferred Security Certificate, as the case
may be, with an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation
amount of the Preferred Security Certificate canceled will be executed by the
Company and delivered to the Trustee for authentication and delivery in
accordance with the Indenture and this Fourth Supplemental Indenture. On issue
of such Subordinated Notes, Subordinated Notes with an equivalent aggregate
principal amount that were presented by the Property Trustee to the Trustee will
be deemed to have been canceled.

             Section 2.4     Interest. (a) Each Subordinated Note will bear
interest at the rate of 7.25% per annum from August 22, 2000 until the Purchase
Contract Settlement Date, and at the Reset Rate thereafter, payable quarterly in
arrears on August 18, November 18, February 18 and May 18 of each year,
commencing November 18, 2000 (the "Interest Payment Dates").

                  (b)   The Regular Record Dates for the payment of interest on
the Subordinated Notes on any Interest Payment Date, shall be (i) as long as the
Subordinated Notes are represented by a Global Subordinated Note or the Initial
Subordinated Notes, the Business Day preceding each Interest Payment Date or
(ii) if

                                       5

<PAGE>   9

the Subordinated Notes are issued pursuant to Section 2.3(b) above, the
fifteenth Business Day prior to each Interest Payment Date.

                  (c)   The interest rate on the Subordinated Notes outstanding
on and after the Remarketing Date will be reset to the Reset Rate. The Reset
Rate will be equal to the rate per annum that results from the Remarketing,
provided that if a Failed Remarketing occurs, the Reset Rate will be equal to
(i) the Two-Year Benchmark Treasury Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Margin.

                  (d)  The amount of interest payable on the Subordinated Notes
for any period will be computed (i) for any full quarterly period on the basis
of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and (ii) for any period shorter than a
full quarterly period, on the basis of a 30-day month and, for any period less
than a month, on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed per 30-day
month. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on the
Subordinated Notes is not a Business Day, then payment of the interest payable
on such date will be made on the next day that is a Business Day (and without
interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such
Business Day is in the next calendar year, then such payment will be made on the
preceding Business Day.

             Section 2.5     Redemption. (a) If a Tax Event occurs and is
continuing, the Company may, at its option and upon not less than 30 nor more
than 60 days' notice to the Holders of the Subordinated Notes, redeem the
Subordinated Notes in whole (but not in part) within 90 days following the
occurrence of such Tax Event, at a price equal to, for each Subordinated Note,
the applicable Redemption Price. The aggregate Redemption Price shall be paid
prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date of redemption (the "Tax
Event Redemption Date") or such earlier time as the Company determines, provided
that the Company shall have deposited with the Trustee an amount sufficient to
pay the aggregate Redemption Price by 10:00 a.m. on the Tax Event Redemption
Date. Such redemption shall otherwise be in accordance with the provisions of
Article XI of the Indenture.

                  (b)   (i) In connection with a Cash Merger Event so long as
the Subordinated Notes are held by the Trust, then the Company shall on or
before 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the applicable Cash Merger Redemption
Date, redeem Subordinated Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
aggregate liquidation amount of Preferred Securities to be redeemed in a Cash
Merger Redemption at a price per Subordinated Note equal to the applicable
Redemption Price (the "Cash Merger Event Redemption Price").

                                       6
<PAGE>   10

             (ii)  In connection with a Cash Merger Event, in the event the
Trust has been dissolved or liquidated and the Subordinated Notes have been
distributed to Holders other than the Trust, each Holder of Subordinated Notes
shall have the right to require the Company to redeem all or any part (equal to
$25 or an integral multiple thereof) of such Holder's Subordinated Notes
pursuant to the offer described below (the "Cash Merger Event Offer") at an
offer price in cash equal to the applicable Redemption Price had Preferred
Securities been outstanding at the time and a Cash Merger Redemption right been
triggered in respect of such Preferred Securities (also, the "Cash Merger Event
Redemption Price").

             No later than the day of the Cash Merger Event, the Company shall
mail or cause to be mailed a notice of a pending Cash Merger Event to each
Holder (at its last registered address with a copy to the Trustee and the Paying
Agent) offering to repurchase the Subordinated Notes held by such Holder
pursuant to the procedures specified in such notice. The Cash Merger Event Offer
shall remain open from the time of mailing until at least 5:00 p.m. on the
Business Day immediately preceding the Notes Cash Merger Redemption Date (as
such term is defined below). The notice, which shall govern the terms of the
Cash Merger Event Offer, shall contain all instructions and materials necessary
to enable the Holders to tender Subordinated Notes pursuant to the Cash Merger
Event Offer and shall state:

             (A)  that the Cash Merger Event Offer is being made pursuant to
                  this Section 2.5(b)(ii) and that all Subordinated Notes
                  tendered will be accepted for payment;

             (B)  the applicable Cash Merger Event Redemption Price and the
                  Notes Cash Merger Redemption Date, which date shall be no
                  earlier than 20 business days from the date such notice is
                  mailed;

             (C)  that any Subordinated Note not tendered will continue to
                  accrue interest in accordance with the terms of this Fourth
                  Supplemental Indenture and the Indenture;

             (D)  that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the
                  applicable Cash Merger Event Redemption Price, all
                  Subordinated Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Cash
                  Event Merger Offer will cease to accrue interest after the
                  Notes Cash Merger Redemption Date;

                                       7
<PAGE>   11

             (E)  that Holders electing to have a Subordinated Note purchased
                  pursuant to any Cash Event Merger Offer will be required to
                  surrender the Subordinated Note, with the form entitled
                  "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the
                  Subordinated Note completed, to the Company, a depositary, if
                  appointed by the Company, or a Paying Agent at the address
                  specified in the notice prior to the 5:00 p.m. on the Business
                  Day immediately preceding the Notes Cash Merger Redemption
                  Date;

             (F)  that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if
                  the Company, depositary or Paying Agent, as the case may be,
                  receives, not later than 5:00 p.m. on the Business Day
                  immediately preceding the Notes Cash Merger Redemption Date, a
                  facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the
                  Holder, the principal amount of the Subordinated Note the
                  Holder delivered for purchase, and a statement that such
                  Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Subordinated
                  Note purchased;

             (G)  that Holders whose Subordinated Notes are being purchased only
                  in part will be issued new Subordinated Notes equal in
                  principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the
                  Subordinated Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion must
                  be equal to $25 in principal amount or an integral multiple
                  thereof; and

             (H)  the circumstances and relevant facts regarding such Cash
                  Merger Event and any other information that would be material
                  to a decision as to whether to tender a Subordinated Note
                  pursuant to the Cash Merger Event Offer.

             On the Notes Cash Merger Redemption Date, the Company shall, to the
extent lawful, (i) accept for payment all Subordinated Notes or portions thereof
properly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Cash Merger Event Offer,
(ii) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Cash Merger Event
Payment in respect of all Subordinated Notes or portions thereof so tendered and
(iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Subordinated Notes so
accepted together with an Officers' Certificate stating the aggregate principal
amount of Subordinated Notes or portions thereof being purchased by the Company.
The Paying Agent shall promptly mail to each Holder of Subordinated Notes so
tendered the Cash Merger

                                       8
<PAGE>   12

Event Redemption Price for each such Subordinated Note, and the Trustee shall
promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to
each Holder a new Subordinated Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased
portion of the Subordinated Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each such
new Subordinated Note shall be in a principal amount of $25 or an integral
multiple thereof. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Cash
Merger Event Offer on or as soon as practicable after the applicable Notes Cash
Merger Redemption Date.

             The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under
the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the
extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the
redemption of Subordinated Notes as a result of a Cash Merger Event.

             The aggregate Redemption Price to be paid in connection with this
Section 2.5(b) shall be paid prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the
Business Day immediately following the last day of the corresponding Early
Settlement Week (the "Notes Cash Merger Redemption Date") or such earlier time
as the Company determines, provided that the Company shall have deposited with
the Trustee an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate Redemption Price by 10:00
a.m. on the Notes Cash Merger Redemption Date.

                  (c)   Except as provided in Sections 2.5(a) and 2.5(b), the
Company will have no right to redeem the Subordinated Notes.

                  (d)   The Subordinated Notes will not be subject to a sinking
fund provision.

             Section 2.6     Events of Default. So long as the Subordinated
Notes are held by the Trust, it shall be an Event of Default with respect to the
Subordinated Notes if the Trust shall have voluntarily or involuntarily
dissolved, wound up its business or otherwise terminated its existence except in
connection with (i) the distribution of the Subordinated Notes held by the Trust
to the holders of the Preferred Securities and Common Securities in liquidation
of their interests in the Trust, (ii) the redemption of all of the outstanding
Preferred Securities and Common Securities or (iii) a consolidation, conversion,
amalgamation, merger or other transaction involving the Trust that is permitted
under Section 3.15 of the Declaration.

                                       9

<PAGE>   13

             Section 2.7     Paying Agent; Security Registrar. If the
Subordinated Notes are issued in certificated form, the Paying Agent and the
Security Registrar for the Subordinated Notes shall be the Property Trustee.

             Section 2.8     Extension of Interest Payment Period. The Company
shall have the right at any time and from time to time, prior to August 18,
2003, to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment period of
such Subordinated Notes for a period not exceeding 12 consecutive quarters or
extending beyond August 18, 2003 (the "Extension Period"), during which
Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable. To the extent permitted
by applicable law, interest, the payment of which has been deferred because of
the extension of the interest payment period pursuant to this Section 2.8, will
bear interest thereon at the rate of 7.25% compounded quarterly for each quarter
of the Extension Period ("Compounded Interest"). At the end of the Extension
Period, the Company shall pay all interest accrued and unpaid on the
Subordinated Notes and Compounded Interest (together, "Deferred Interest") that
shall be payable to the Holders of the Subordinated Notes in whose names the
Subordinated Notes are registered in the Security Register on the first Regular
Record Date after the end of the Extension Period. So long as Preferred
Securities are outstanding, the Company shall not (i) declare or pay any
dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock (which
includes common and preferred stock), (ii) make any payment of principal,
interest or premium, if any, on or repay or repurchase or redeem any debt
securities of the Company that rank pari passu with or junior in right of
payment to the Subordinated Notes or (iii) make any guarantee payments with
respect to any guarantee by the Company of any securities of any subsidiary of
the Company if such guarantee ranks pari passu or junior in right of payment to
the Subordinated Notes (other than in the case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii),
(a) dividends or distributions in shares of, or options, warrants or rights to
subscribe for or purchase shares of, common stock of the Company, (b) any
declaration of a dividend in connection with the implementation of a
stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of stock under any such plan in the
future, or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, (c)
payments under the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement, dated as of August
22, 2000, by and between the Company, as guarantor, and The Bank of New York, as
guarantee trustee (the "Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement"), (d) as a
result of a reclassification of the Company's capital stock solely into shares
of one or more classes or series of the Company's capital stock or the exchange
or the conversion of one class or series of the Company's capital stock for
another class or series of the Company's capital stock, (e) the purchase of
fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the
conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being
converted or exchanged and (f) purchases of

                                       10

<PAGE>   14

the Company's common stock in connection with the satisfaction by the Company of
its obligations (including purchases related to the issuance of such common
stock or rights) under any of the Company's benefit plans for its and its
subsidiaries' directors, officers or employees or any of the Company's dividend
reinvestment plans), (x) if at such time an Event of Default or an "Event of
Default," as defined in the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement, shall have
occurred and be continuing or (y) during any Extension Period. Prior to the
expiration of any Extension Period, the Company may further extend such period,
provided that such period together with all such previous and further extensions
thereof shall not exceed 12 quarters or extend beyond August 18, 2003. Upon
termination of any Extension Period and the payment of all Deferred Interest
then due, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the
foregoing requirements. No interest shall be due and payable during an Extension
Period except at the end thereof, but the Company, at its option, may prepay on
any Interest Payment Date all or any portion of the interest accrued during the
then elapsed portion of an Extension Period.

             Section 2.9     Notice of Extension. The Company shall give written
notice to the Trustee of its election of any Extension Period (or any further
extension thereof) at least five Business Days before the earlier of (i) the
date the interest on the Subordinated Notes would have been payable except for
the election to begin or extend the Extension Period; (ii) the date the Trustee
is required to give notice to any securities exchange or to Holders of
Subordinated Notes of the Record Date or the Interest Payment Date, and (iii)
the Record Date.

             Section 2.10    Place of Payment. The Place of Payment will be
initially the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee which, at the date
hereof, is located at 101 Barclay, 21 West, New York, New York 10286, Attention:
Corporate Trust Administration Department.

                                   ARTICLE III
                                    EXPENSES

             Section 3.1     Payment of Expenses. In connection with the
offering, sale and issuance of the Subordinated Notes to the Trust in connection
with the sale of the Preferred Securities and Common Securities by the Trust,
the Company will:

                  (a)   pay for all costs and expenses relating to the offering,
sale and issuance of the Subordinated Notes, including compensation of the
Trustee under the Indenture; and

                                       11
<PAGE>   15

                  (b)   pay for all costs and expenses of the Trust, including,
but not limited to, costs and expenses relating to the organization of the
Trust, the offering, sale and issuance of the Trust Securities; the fees and
expenses of the Property Trustee (including, without limitation, those incurred
in connection with the enforcement by the Property Trustee of the rights of the
holders of the Preferred Securities), the Delaware Trustee and the Regular
Trustees; the costs and expenses relating to the operation of the Trust
(including, without limitation, costs and expenses of accountants, attorneys,
statistical or bookkeeping services, expenses for printing and engraving and
computing or accounting equipment, paying agent(s), registrar(s), transfer
agent(s), duplicating, travel and telephone and other telecommunications
expenses); and costs and expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition,
financing and disposition of Trust assets;

                  (c)   be primarily liable for any indemnification obligations
arising with respect to the Declaration; and

                  (d)   pay any and all taxes (other than United States
withholding taxes attributable to the Trust or its assets) and all liabilities,
costs and expenses with respect to such taxes of the Trust.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                                    COVENANTS

             Section 4.1     Covenants in the Event of an Event of Default. As
long as Preferred Securities are outstanding, if an Event of Default occurs and
is continuing, then the Company may not:

                  (a)   declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or
redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of
the Company's capital stock (which includes common and preferred stock);

                  (b)   make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if
any, on or repay or repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company that
rank pari passu with or junior in right of payment to the Subordinated Notes; or

                  (c)   make any guarantee payments with respect to any
guarantee by the Company of any securities of any subsidiary of the Company if
such guarantee ranks pari passu or junior in right of payment to the
Subordinated Notes (other than in the case of clauses (a), (b) and (c), (i)
dividends or distributions in shares of, or options, warrants or rights to
subscribe for or purchase shares of, common stock of the Company, (ii) any
declaration of a dividend in connection with

                                       12
<PAGE>   16

the implementation of a stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of stock
under any such plan in the future, or the redemption or repurchase of any such
rights pursuant thereto, (iii) payments under the Preferred Securities Guarantee
Agreement, (iv) as a result of a reclassification of the Company's capital stock
solely into shares of one or more classes or series of the Company's capital
stock or the exchange or the conversion of one class or series of the Company's
capital stock for another class or series of the Company's capital stock, (v)
the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock
pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the
security being converted or exchanged and (vi) purchases of the Company's common
stock in connection with the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations
(including purchases related to the issuance of such common stock or rights)
under any of the Company's benefit plans for its and its subsidiaries'
directors, officers or employees or any of the Company's dividend reinvestment
plans).

             Section 4.2     Additional Covenants Relating to the Trust.  For as
long as the Preferred Securities remain outstanding, the Company will:

                  (a)   maintain, directly or indirectly, 100% ownership of the
Common Securities;

                  (b)   cause the Trust to remain a statutory business trust and
not to voluntarily dissolve, wind up, liquidate or be terminated, except as
permitted by the Declaration;

                  (c)   use its commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that
the Trust will not be an "investment company" required to be registered under
the Investment Company Act of 1940;

                  (d)   not take any action that would be reasonably likely to
cause the Trust to be classified as an association or a publicly traded
partnership taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax
purposes; and

                  (e)   pay all of the debts and obligations of the Trust (other
than with respect to the securities issued by the Trust) and all costs and
expenses of the Trust (including, but not limited to, all costs and expenses
relating to the organization of the Trust, the fees and expenses of the trustees
and all costs and expenses relating to the operation of the Trust) and any and
all taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature (other
than withholding taxes) imposed on the Trust by the United States, or any other
taxing authority, so that the net amounts received and retained by the Trust
after paying such expenses

                                       13
<PAGE>   17

will be equal to the amounts the Trust would have received had no such costs or
expenses been incurred by or imposed on the Trust.

                                    ARTICLE V
                      ORIGINAL ISSUE OF SUBORDINATED NOTES

             Section 5.1     Original Issue of Subordinated Notes. Subordinated
Notes in an aggregate principal amount of up to $257,731,975 may, upon execution
of this Fourth Supplemental Indenture, be executed by the Company and delivered
to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate
and deliver said Subordinated Notes upon receipt of a Company Order for
authentication and delivery, without any further action by the Company.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                    RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF PREFERRED SECURITIES

             Section 6.1     Preferred Security Holders' Rights. Notwithstanding
Section 5.6 of the Indenture, if the Property Trustee fails to enforce its
rights under the Subordinated Notes after a holder of Preferred Securities has
made a written request, the holder of Preferred Securities may, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, institute a legal proceeding directly against the
Company to enforce the Property Trustee's rights under the Indenture without
first instituting any legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other
Person.

             Section 6.2     Direct Action. Notwithstanding any other provision
of the Indenture, for as long as any Preferred Securities remain outstanding, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, if an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay
interest or principal on the Subordinated Notes on the date such interest or
principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption, the redemption
date), then a holder of Preferred Securities may institute a proceeding directly
against the Company (a "Direct Action") to enforce payment to such holder of the
principal or interest on Subordinated Notes having an aggregate principal amount
equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such
holder.

             Section 6.3     Payments Pursuant to Direct Actions. The Company
will have the right to set off against its obligations to the Trust, as Holder
of the Subordinated Notes, any payment made to a holder of Preferred Securities
in connection with a Direct Action.

                                       14
<PAGE>   18

             Section 6.4     Modifications. So long as any Preferred Securities
remain outstanding, (i) no amendment to this Indenture shall be made that
adversely affects the holders of the Preferred Securities in any material
respect, and no termination of this Indenture shall occur, and no waiver of any
Event of Default or compliance with any covenant under this Indenture shall be
effective, without the prior consent of the holders of at least a Majority in
Liquidation Amount (as defined in the Declaration) of the Preferred Securities
then outstanding unless and until the principal of (and premium, if any, on) the
Subordinated Note and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon have been paid in
full, and (ii) no amendment shall be made to this Article VI of this Fourth
Supplemental Indenture that would impair the rights of the holders of the
Preferred Securities without the prior consent of the holders of each Preferred
Security then outstanding unless and until the principal of (and premium, if
any, on) the Subordinated Note and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon have
been paid in full.

                                   ARTICLE VII
                                   REMARKETING

             Section 7.1     Effectiveness of this Article. Upon a distribution
of the Subordinated Notes upon the liquidation and dissolution of the Trust
which occurs prior to the Remarketing of the Preferred Securities pursuant to
the Declaration, the Subordinated Notes shall be Remarketed in accordance with
the Remarketing procedures of the Declaration where all references in the
Remarketing procedures to Preferred Securities shall be read as references to
the Subordinated Notes, unless the context requires otherwise. Until such a
distribution, or if such distribution occurs after the Remarketing of the
Preferred Securities pursuant to the Declaration, this Article VII will have no
effect.

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                            ACCELERATION OF MATURITY

             Section 8.1     Automatic Acceleration. Notwithstanding Section 5.1
of the Indenture, if an Event of Default with respect to the Subordinated Notes
specified in clauses (e) or (f) of Section 5.1 of the Indenture occurs and is
continuing, the principal of the Subordinated Notes shall become due and payable
immediately, without any declaration, notice or other act on the part of the
Trustee or any holder thereof.

                                       15
<PAGE>   19

                                   ARTICLE IX
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

             Section 9.1     Execution of Fourth Supplemental Indenture. This
Fourth Supplemental Indenture is executed and shall be construed as an indenture
Fourth Supplemental to the Indenture and, as provided in the Indenture, this
Fourth Supplemental Indenture forms a part thereof.

              Section 9.2    Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. If any provision
hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof which is
required to be included in this Fourth Supplemental Indenture by any of the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall control.

              Section 9.3    Effect of Headings. The Article and Section
headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction
hereof.

              Section 9.4    Successors and Assigns. All covenants and
agreements in this Fourth Supplemental Indenture by the Company shall bind its
successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

              Section 9.5    Separability Clause. In case any provision in this
Fourth Supplemental Indenture or in the Subordinated Notes shall be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

              Section 9.6    Benefits of Fourth Supplemental Indenture. Nothing
in this Fourth Supplemental Indenture or in the Subordinated Notes, express or
implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their
successors hereunder and the holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable
right, remedy or claim under this Fourth Supplemental Indenture.

              Section 9.7    Governing Law. This Fourth Supplemental Indenture
and each Subordinated Note shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws
of the State of Michigan, and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of said State, except as may otherwise be
required by mandatory provisions of law, provided, however, that the rights,
duties and obligations of the Trustee are governed and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York.

                                       16
<PAGE>   20

              IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Fourth
Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the day and year first
above written.

                                       CMS ENERGY CORPORATION

                                       By: /s/ Alan M. Wright
                                          --------------------------------------
                                           Name:  Alan M. Wright
                                           Title: Senior Vice President
                                                    and Chief Financial Officer

                                       THE BANK OF NEW YORK
                                        as Trustee

                                       By: /s/ Terence Rawlins
                                          --------------------------------------
                                           Name:  Terence Rawlins
                                           Title: Assistant Vice President

                                      S-1
<PAGE>   21
                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                 [FORM OF FACE OF SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE NOTE]

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE
HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A
NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY. THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES
REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY
IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES HEREINAFTER DESCRIBED AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED
EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A
NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY
OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A
NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR.

REGISTERED                                                            REGISTERED
[CUSIP No. _______]

                             CMS ENERGY CORPORATION

                  7 1/4% SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE NOTE DUE 2004

                                                                    $___________

                  CMS ENERGY CORPORATION, a corporation duly organized and
existing under the laws of Michigan (herein called the "Company", which term
includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to),
for value received, hereby promises to pay CMS Energy Trust III, or registered
assigns, the principal sum of _______________________ Dollars on August 18,
2004, and to pay interest on said principal sum from August 22, 2000, or from
the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly
provided for, quarterly in arrears on August 18, November 18, February 18 and
May 18 of each year (an "Interest Payment Date") commencing November 18, 2000,
at the rate of 7.25% per

<PAGE>   22

annum until August 18, 2003, and at the Reset Rate thereafter, until the
principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and on any overdue principal
and premium, if any, and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of
such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of
interest at the same rate per annum compounded quarterly. Any deferred interest
shall accrue interest at the rate set forth in the Fourth Supplemental
Indenture. The amount of interest payable for any period will be computed (1)
for any full quarterly period on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months and (2) for any period shorter than a full quarterly period, on the basis
of a 30-day month and, for any period less than a month, on the basis of the
actual number of days elapsed per 30-day month. In the event that any date on
which interest is payable is not a Business Day, then payment of the interest
payable on such date will be made on the next day that is a Business Day (and
without any interest or other payment in respect of such delay), except that, if
such Business Day is in the next calendar year, then such payment will be made
on the preceding Business Day. The interest installment so payable, and
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as
provided in the Indenture, referred to on the reverse side hereof, be paid to
the Holder in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities,
as defined in said Indenture) is registered at the close of business on the
Regular Record Date for such interest installment, which, shall be the close of
business on the Business Day preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such
interest installment not punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith
cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date, and may be paid
to the Holder in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor
Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date to
be fixed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse side hereof for the payment
of such defaulted interest, notice whereof shall be given to the Holders of the
Security not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or may be paid
at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of
any securities exchange on which the Security may be listed, and upon such
notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the
Indenture.

                  Payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest
on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Trustee maintained
for that purpose in such coin or currency of the United States of America that
at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.
The Company may pay principal and interest by check payable in such money mailed
to the Holder's registered address or by wire transfer to a dollar account
designated by the Holder.

                  Interest on the Securities is deferrable in accordance with
the terms of the Fourth Supplemental Indenture.

                                      A-2
<PAGE>   23

                  This Security is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, a
subordinated, unsecured obligation of the Company, subject in right to the prior
payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness (as such term is defined in the
Indenture).

                  Unless the Certificate of Authentication hereon has been
executed by or on behalf of the Trustee, this Security shall not be entitled to
any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. The
provisions of this Security are continued on the reverse side hereof, and such
continued provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully
set forth at this place.

                                      A-3
<PAGE>   24

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to
be duly executed under its corporate seal.

                                          CMS ENERGY CORPORATION

Dated:                                    By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                          Attest:

                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                     (FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION)

                          CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

                  This is one of the Securities of the series referred to in the
within-mentioned Indenture.

Dated:                                       THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as
                                             Trustee

                                             By:
                                                --------------------------------
                                                      Authorized Signatory

                                      A-4
<PAGE>   25

                (FORM OF REVERSE OF SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE NOTE)

                             CMS ENERGY CORPORATION

                  7 1/4% SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE NOTE DUE 2004

                  This Subordinated Deferrable Note is one of a duly authorized
series of securities of the Company (herein called the "Securities"), issued and
to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of June 1, 1997,
as amended and supplemented (as amended and supplemented, the "Indenture"),
between the Company and The Bank of New York as Trustee (herein called the
"Trustee", which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to
which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made
for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and
immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the
Securities and the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be,
authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on
the face hereof, limited in aggregate principal amount to $___________.

                  All terms used in this Security that are defined in the
Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

                  This Security is not subject to any sinking fund, nor may this
Security be redeemed at the option of the Company prior to the Maturity Date
except upon the occurrence of a Tax Event as described below.

                  The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time
of the entire indebtedness of this Security upon compliance by the Company with
certain conditions set forth therein.

                  If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this
series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this
series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect
provided in the Indenture.

                  If a Tax Event occurs and is continuing, the Company may, at
its option and upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice to the
Holders of the Securities, redeem the Securities in whole (but not in part)
within 90 days following the occurrence of such Tax Event at the applicable
Redemption Price. The Redemption Price shall be paid prior to 12:00 noon, New
York City time, on the Tax

                                      A-5

<PAGE>   26

Event Redemption Date, by check or wire transfer in immediately available funds
at such place and to such account as may be designated by each such Holder.

                  If a Cash Merger Event occurs, then the Company shall redeem
Subordinated Notes as set forth in the Fourth Supplemental Indenture.

                  The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein
provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and
obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of
each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and
the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities at the time of all series to be
affected (voting as a class). The Indenture also contains provisions permitting
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of each series at the time, on behalf of the Holders of all
Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain
provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and
their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security
shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of
this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer
hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such
consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

                  No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this
Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the
Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and
premium, if any, and interest, if any, on this Security at the times, place and
rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

                  This Security shall be exchangeable for Securities registered
in the names of Persons other than the Depositary with respect to such series or
its nominee only as provided in this paragraph. This Security shall be so
exchangeable if (a) the Depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to
continue as Depositary for such series, and the Company fails to appoint a
successor depositary within 90 days, (b) the Depositary has ceased to be a
Clearing Agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, (c) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order
providing that this Security shall be so exchangeable or (d) there shall have
occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of
such series. Securities so issued in exchange for this Security shall be of the
same series, having the same interest rate, if any, and maturity and having the
same terms as this Security, in authorized denominations and in the aggregate
having

                                      A-6
<PAGE>   27

the same principal amount as this Security and registered in such names as the
Depositary for such Global Security shall direct.

                  As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain
limitations therein set forth, the transfer of a Security of the series of which
this Security is a part is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender
of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the
Company in any place where the principal of and premium, if any, and interest,
if any, on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a
written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the
Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly
authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series,
of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be
issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

                  The Securities of the series of which this Security is a part
are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $25 and
in integral multiples thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to
certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are
exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series
and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the
Holder surrendering the same.

                  No service charge shall be made for any such registration of
transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

                  Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of
transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee
may treat the Holder in whose name this Security is registered as the owner
hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither
the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the
contrary.

                  This Security shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of Michigan, and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of said State, except as otherwise may be
required by mandatory provisions of law, provided, however, that the rights,
duties and obligations of the Trustee are governed and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York.

                  All terms used in this Security which are defined in the
Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

                                      A-7
<PAGE>   28

                       OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

         This form is to be used to make an election in the event of a Cash
Merger Event Offer, as set forth in Section 2.5(b)(ii) of the Fourth
Supplemental Indenture. If you want to have only part of the Security purchased
by the Company pursuant to Section 2.5(b)(ii) of the Declaration, state the
amount you elect to have purchased:

$_______________________

Date:___________________

                                Your Signature:_________________________________
                                              (Sign exactly as your name appears
                                              on the face of this Security)

Signature Guarantee

                                      A-8
<PAGE>   29
                                                                       EXHIBIT B

                 [FORM OF FACE OF SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE NOTE]

No. _______                                                           REGISTERED

                             CMS ENERGY CORPORATION

                  7 1/4% SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE NOTE DUE 2004

                                                                    $___________

                  CMS ENERGY CORPORATION, a corporation duly organized and
existing under the laws of Michigan (herein called the "Company", which term
includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to),
for value received, hereby promises to pay CMS Energy Trust III, or registered
assigns, the principal sum of _______________________ Dollars on August 18,
2004, and to pay interest on said principal sum from August 22, 2000, or from
the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly
provided for, quarterly in arrears on August 18, November 18, February 18 and
May 18 of each year (an "Interest Payment Date") commencing August 22, 2000, at
the rate of 7.25% per annum until August 18, 2003, and at the Reset Rate
thereafter, until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and on
any overdue principal and premium, if any, and (without duplication and to the
extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any
overdue installment of interest at the same rate per annum compounded quarterly.
Any deferred interest shall accrue interest at the rate set forth in the Fourth
Supplemental Indenture. The amount of interest payable for any period will be
computed (1) for any full quarterly period on the basis of a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months and (2) for any period shorter than a full quarterly
period, on the basis of a 30-day month and, for any period less than a month, on
the basis of the actual number of days elapsed per 30-day month. In the event
that any date on which interest is payable is not a Business Day, then payment
of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next day that is a
Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of such
delay), except that, if such Business Day is in the next calendar year, then
such payment will be made on the preceding Business Day. The interest
installment so payable, and

                                      B-1
<PAGE>   30

punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as
provided in the Indenture, referred to on the reverse side hereof, be paid to
the Holder in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities as
defined in said Indenture) is registered at the close of business on the Regular
Record Date for such interest installment, which, shall be the close of business
on the Business Day preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest
installment not punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be
payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date, and may be paid to the Holder
in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is
registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date to be fixed by the
Trustee referred to on the reverse side hereof for the payment of such defaulted
interest, notice whereof shall be given to the Holders of the Security not less
than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or may be paid at any time in
any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities
exchange on which the Security may be listed, and upon such notice as may be
required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.

                  Payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest
on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Trustee maintained
for that purpose in such coin or currency of the United States of America that
at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.
The Company may pay principal and interest by check payable in such money mailed
to the Holder's registered address or by wire transfer to a dollar account
designated by the Holder

                  Interest on the Securities is deferrable in accordance with
the terms of the Fourth Supplemental Indenture.

                  This Security is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, a
subordinated, unsecured obligation of the Company, subject in right to the prior
payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness (as such term is defined in the
Indenture).

                  Unless the Certificate of Authentication hereon has been
executed by or on behalf of the Trustee, this Security shall not be entitled to
any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. The
provisions of this Security are continued on the reverse side hereof, and such
continued provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully
set forth at this place.

                                      B-2
<PAGE>   31

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to
be duly executed under its corporate seal.

                                            CMS ENERGY CORPORATION

Dated:                                      By:
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Name:
                                               Title:

                                            Attest:

                                            By:
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Name:
                                               Title:

                     (FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION)

                          CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

                  This is one of the Securities of the series referred to in the
within-mentioned Indenture.

Dated:                                      THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
                                            as Trustee

                                            By:
                                               ---------------------------------
                                                    Authorized Signatory

                                      B-3
<PAGE>   32

                (FORM OF REVERSE OF SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE NOTE)

                             CMS ENERGY CORPORATION

                  7 1/4% SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE NOTE DUE 2004

                  This Subordinated Deferrable Note is one of a duly authorized
series of securities of the Company (herein called the "Securities"), issued and
to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of June 1, 1997,
as amended and supplemented (as amended and supplemented, the "Indenture"),
between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (herein called the
"Trustee", which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to
which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made
for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and
immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the
Securities and the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be,
authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on
the face hereof, limited in aggregate principal amount to $___________.

                  All terms used in this Security that are defined in the
Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

                  This Security is not subject to any sinking fund, nor may this
Security be redeemed at the option of the Company prior to the Maturity Date
except upon the occurrence of a Tax Event as described below.

                  The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time
of the entire indebtedness of this Security upon compliance by the Company with
certain conditions set forth therein.

                  If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this
series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this
series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect
provided in the Indenture.

                  If a Tax Event occurs and is continuing, the Company may, at
its option and upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice to the
Holders of the Securities, redeem the Securities in whole (but not in part)
within 90 days following the occurrence of such Tax Event at the applicable
Redemption Price. The Redemption Price shall be paid prior to 12:00 noon, New
York City time, on the Tax

                                      B-4
<PAGE>   33

Event Redemption Date, by check or wire transfer in immediately available funds
at such place and to such account as may be designated by each such Holder.

                  If a Cash Merger Event occurs, then the Company shall redeem
Subordinated Notes as set forth in the Fourth Supplemental Indenture.

                  The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein
provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and
obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of
each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and
the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities at the time of all series to be
affected (voting as a class). The Indenture also contains provisions permitting
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of each series at the time, on behalf of the Holders of all
Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain
provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and
their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security
shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of
this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer
hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such
consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

                  No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this
Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the
Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and
premium, if any, and interest, if any, on this Security at the times, place and
rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

                  As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain
limitations therein set forth, the transfer of a Security of the series of which
this Security is a part is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender
of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the
Company in any place where the principal of and premium, if any, and interest,
if any, on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a
written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the
Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly
authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series,
of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be
issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

                  The Securities of the series of which this Security is a part
are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $25 and
in integral

                                      B-5
<PAGE>   34

multiples thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain
limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a
like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor
of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering
the same.

                  No service charge shall be made for any such registration of
transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

                  Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of
transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee
may treat the Holder in whose name this Security is registered as the owner
hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither
the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the
contrary.

                  This Security shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of Michigan, and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of said State, except as otherwise may be
required by mandatory provisions of law, provided, however, that the rights,
duties and obligations of the Trustee are governed and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York.

                  All terms used in this Security which are defined in the
Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

                                      B-6<PAGE>   1

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.40

                          SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                   ----------

                                  DRIVE GP LLC

                          DRIVE FINANCIAL SERVICES L.P.

                                   ----------

                                 AUGUST __ 2000

                                   ----------

                       Acquisition of Membership Interests

                                       by

                            IFA Drive GP Holdings LLC

                                   ----------

                  Acquisition of Limited Partnership Interests

                                       by

                            IFA Drive LP Holdings LLC

                                   ----------

                                      from

                     FirstCity Consumer Lending Corporation

<PAGE>   2

                                Table of Contents

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                Page
                                                                                                                ----
<S>                                                                                                              <C>
1.  Sale of Securities............................................................................................2
         1.1  Description of Securities...........................................................................2
         1.2  Purchase and Sale...................................................................................2
         1.3  Closings............................................................................................2
2.  Representations and Warranties Concerning the Auto Entities...................................................2
         2.1  Organization and Business; Power and Authority......................................................2
         2.2  Financial Information...............................................................................4
         2.3  Changes in Condition................................................................................5
         2.4  Title to Properties; Leases.........................................................................5
         2.5  Compliance with Private Authorizations..............................................................6
         2.6  Compliance with Governmental Authorizations and Applicable Law......................................6
         2.7  Related Transactions................................................................................7
         2.8  Insurance...........................................................................................8
         2.9  Tax Matters.........................................................................................8
         2.10  ERISA..............................................................................................8
         2.11  Employee Relations.................................................................................9
         2.12  Material Contracts.................................................................................9
         2.13  Ordinary Course of Business.......................................................................10
         2.14  Disclosure........................................................................................12
         2.15  Broker or Finder..................................................................................12
         2.16  Environmental Matters.............................................................................12
         2.17  Capital Stock.....................................................................................12
         2.18  Y2K...............................................................................................12
         2.19  Inapplicability of Specified Statutes.............................................................12
         2.20  Notices to Creditors..............................................................................13
         2.21  Other Representations.............................................................................13
3.  Representations and Warranties of IFA Entities...............................................................13
         3.1  Of IFA-GP..........................................................................................13
         3.2  Of IFA-LP..........................................................................................13
4.  Conditions of Closing........................................................................................14
         4.1  No Default, etc....................................................................................14
         4.2  Officers' Certificates; Supporting Documents.......................................................14
         4.3  Charter Documents..................................................................................15
         4.4  Financial Statements...............................................................................15
         4.5  Fairness Letter....................................................................................16
         4.6  Reports............................................................................................16
         4.7  Acquisition........................................................................................16
         4.8  Approvals and Consents.............................................................................17
         4.9  Absence of Liens...................................................................................17
         4.10  Employees.........................................................................................17
         4.11  Existing Loan Agreements..........................................................................17
         4.12  Loans to Drive Entities...........................................................................18
         4.13  Option Warrants...................................................................................18
         4.14  Shareholders Agreement............................................................................18
         4.15  Services Agreements...............................................................................18
         4.16  Employment Agreement..............................................................................19
         4.17  [intentionally deleted]...........................................................................19
</TABLE>

                                       i
<PAGE>   3

                                Table of Contents
                                   (continued)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                               Page
                                                                                                               ----
<S>                                                                                                             <C>
         4.18  Assignment and Assumption; Certificates...........................................................19
         4.19  Adverse Change....................................................................................19
         4.20  Capital Note......................................................................................19
         4.21  Legal Opinions....................................................................................19
         4.22  Change in Law; Litigation.........................................................................20
         4.23  All Proceedings to be Satisfactory................................................................20
         4.24  Fees and Expenses.................................................................................20
5.  Special Covenants............................................................................................20
         5.1  Prompt Payment of Indebtedness.....................................................................21
         5.2  Conduct of Business................................................................................21
         5.3  Distributions......................................................................................21
6.  Definitions..................................................................................................21
7.  Miscellaneous Provisions.....................................................................................33
         7.1  Termination........................................................................................33
         7.2  Stamp and Other Taxes..............................................................................33
         7.3  Expenses...........................................................................................33
         7.4  Indemnification....................................................................................34
         7.5  Survival of Covenants; Assignment..................................................................34
         7.6  Notices............................................................................................34
         7.7  Amendment; Waiver..................................................................................35
         7.8  Governing Law......................................................................................35
         7.9  Entire Agreement...................................................................................35
         7.10  Jurisdiction......................................................................................36
         7.11  Business Days.....................................................................................36
         7.12  Headings; Counterparts............................................................................36
         7.13  Severability......................................................................................36
         7.14  Further Acts......................................................................................37
         7.15  Mutual Drafting...................................................................................37
         7.16  No Third-Party Beneficiaries......................................................................37
         7.17  Jury Waiver.......................................................................................37

<CAPTION>
                                                   SCHEDULES

Schedule 2.1(a).....................................................................Entities; Foreign Qualification
Schedule 2.1(c)....................................................................Subsidiaries of Auto and Auto-GP
Schedule 2.1(d).............................................................Governmental and Private Authorizations
Schedule 2.2.................................................................................Additional Liabilities
Schedule 2.3..........................................................................................Recent Events
Schedule 2.4.........................................................................................Existing Liens
Schedule 2.5...................................................................................Existing Defaults(1)
Schedule 2.6(a)....................................................................................Missing Licenses
Schedule 2.6(c)..........................................................................................Litigation
Schedule 2.7................................................................................Affiliated Transactions
Schedule 2.8..............................................................................................Insurance
</TABLE>

----------
     (1) see Sections 2.5 and 2.12

                                       ii
<PAGE>   4

                               Table of Contents
                                  (continued)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                               Page
                                                                                                               ----
<S>                                                                                                             <C>
Schedule 2.11....................................................................................Salary Schedule(2)
Schedule 2.12....................................................................................Material Contracts
Schedule 2.13...........................................................................Non-Ordinary Interim Events
Schedule 2.13(e) ...........................................................................Recent Salary Increases
Schedule 2.13(m)................................................................................Assumed Liabilities
Schedule 2.17..........................................................................Capitalization; Subsidiaries
Schedule 6..............................................................................Securitization Transactions

                                                  EXHIBITS

Exhibit A-1...............................................................................Opinion of Haynes & Boone
Exhibit A-2............................................................................Opinion of Cowles & Thompson
Exhibit A-3................................................................................Opinion of Bell Nunnally
</TABLE>

--------
     (2) see Sections 2.1(c) and 2.17

                                      iii
<PAGE>   5

         SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT ("Agreement") dated as of August 18, 2000
by and among FirstCity Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("FCFC "or
"FC"), FirstCity Consumer Lending Corporation, a Texas corporation ("CLC"),
FirstCity Funding, L.P., a Texas limited partnership ("Auto"), FirstCity Funding
GP Corp., a Texas corporation ("Auto-GP"), IFA Drive GP Holdings LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company ("IFA-GP"), and IFA Drive LP Holdings LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company ("IFA-LP").

                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, Auto will shortly be transferring substantially all of its
assets to Drive Financial Services L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Drive"
or "Drive-LP");

         WHEREAS, CLC is currently the owner of 80% of the shares of Auto's
general partner (Auto-GP) and of approximately 79.2% of the limited partnership
interests in Auto;

         WHEREAS, immediately upon consummation of the Acquisition, CLC will be
the owner of 80% of the membership interests in Drive's general partner,
Drive-GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability corporation ("Drive-GP"), and
(beneficially) of approximately 81% of the limited partnership interests in
Drive (45.43% of which CLC will own of record);

         WHEREAS, immediately following the Acquisition, CLC wishes to sell to
IFA-GP, and IFA-GP wishes (subject to the terms and conditions below) to
purchase from CLC, approximately 60% of CLC's membership interests in Drive-GP
(i.e., 49% of the outstanding membership interests in Drive-GP) so that,
immediately following such sale, IFA-GP will own 49% of the outstanding
membership interests in Drive-GP, CLC will own 31% of the outstanding membership
interests in Drive-GP and MG-LP (as hereafter defined) will own 20% of the
outstanding membership interests in Drive-GP;

         WHEREAS, immediately following the Acquisition, CLC wishes to sell to
IFA-LP, and IFA-LP wishes (subject to the terms and conditions below) to
purchase from CLC, all of CLC's limited partnership interests in Drive-LP (i.e.,
45.43% of the outstanding limited partnership interests in Drive) so that,
immediately following such sale, (i) IFA-LP's interest in Drive-LP (45.43% of
record), when combined with its beneficial interest in Drive-LP through its
indirect equity interest in Auto and with IFA-GP's beneficial interest in
Drive-LP by virtue of IFA-GP's equity interest in Drive-GP, will constitute 49%
of the partnership interests in Drive (ii) CLC will beneficially own 31% of the
partnership interests in Drive (0% directly and the balance through CLC's
limited partnership interest in Auto, which will own of record 35.93% of the
limited partnership interests in Drive), and (iii) MG-LP will beneficially own
20% of the partnership interests in Drive (18.54% directly and the balance
through (x) its indirect equity interest in Auto and its equity interest in
Drive-GP, which itself will hold an approximately 0.1% interest in Drive); and

         WHEREAS, FCFC owns all of the outstanding capital stock in CLC, thus
making Auto and Auto-GP indirectly-owned subsidiaries of FCFC;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

<PAGE>   6

         1. Sale of Securities.

         1.1 Description of Securities. On the terms hereinafter provided, CLC
has duly authorized the sale:

         (a) to IFA-GP, of such Membership Interests in Drive-GP owned by CLC so
that, immediately after giving effect to such sale, IFA-GP will own 49% of
Drive-GP's Membership Interests; and

         (b) to IFA-LP, of such Limited Partnership Interests owned by CLC so
that, immediately after giving effect to such sale and when combined with
IFA-GP's beneficial interest in Drive-LP by virtue of holding (i) its Membership
Interests in Drive-GP, and (ii) 100% of the membership interests in Drive
Holdings LLC, which itself will own a 20% limited partnership interest in Auto
(which will own a 35.93% limited partnership interest in Drive), the aggregate
percentage of equity in Drive-LP beneficially owned by IFA-LP and IFA-GP will
constitute 49% of the outstanding equity interests in Drive-LP.

As used herein, "Subject Securities" shall mean the Membership Interests in
Drive-GP to be sold by CLC to IFA-GP and the Limited Partnership Interests in
Drive-LP to be sold by CLC to IFA-LP, in each case pursuant to this Section 1.1,
or such of them as are to be purchased by the relevant IFA Entity, as the
context shall indicate.

         1.2 Purchase and Sale. On the basis of the representations and
warranties (and on the terms and subject to the conditions) set forth in this
Agreement, CLC agrees to sell and deliver to (i) IFA-GP, and IFA-GP agrees to
purchase from CLC, the Membership Interests (49% of outstandings) referred to in
Section 1.1(a) above for a purchase price of $490 (the "Purchase Price (MI)"),
and (ii) IFA-LP, and IFA-LP agrees to purchase from CLC, the Limited Partnership
Interests referred to in Section 1.1(b) above for a purchase price of
$14,999,510 (the "Purchase Price (LPI)"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the
extent any of the conditions to purchase of the Subject Securities set forth in
Section 4 shall not have been met to the satisfaction of the IFA Entities (or
waived by them) on or before August 25, 2000 (or such later date as the
respective IFA Entities may agree to) then the obligation of the IFA Entities to
purchase such securities shall (at the option of either IFA Entity) expire on
such date.

         1.3 Closings. The closing ("Closing") of the purchase by the IFA
Entities of the Subject Securities to be purchased by each shall be held at the
offices of Sullivan & Worcester LLP in New York, New York (or such other place
as the parties hereto shall agree) at such time and on such date (but in any
event within three business days after the satisfaction (or, at the relevant IFA
Entity's discretion, waiver) of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4
hereof) as CLC and the IFA Entities shall agree (the date on which the Closing
occurs, the "Closing Date"). At the Closing, the relevant IFA Entity shall
purchase from CLC the relevant Subject Securities to be purchased by such IFA
Entity and pay the Purchase Price therefor to CLC by wire transfer or as
otherwise agreed between the relevant seller and the relevant purchaser.

         2. Representations and Warranties Concerning the Auto Entities. FC,
CLC, Auto and Auto-GP hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to IFA
Parent and each IFA Entity (which representations and warranties shall survive
the execution and delivery of this Agreement to the extent set forth in Section
7.5 below) as of the date hereof and (if different) as of the Closing Date)
that:

         2.1 Organization and Business; Power and Authority.

         (a) Each of the FC Parties, each of the Auto Entities and each of the
Drive Entities (i) is an organization of the type specified opposite its name on
Schedule 2.1(a) hereto, (ii) is duly organized,

                                      -2-
<PAGE>   7

validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction under
which it is organized (as specified in such schedule), (iii) has all requisite
power and authority (corporate or other) to own or hold under lease its
properties and to conduct its business as now conducted (in the case of the FC
Parties and the Auto Entities) and as proposed to be conducted (in the case of
the Drive Entities), and (iv) except as set forth in Schedule 2.1(a) hereto, is
duly qualified and is in good standing as a foreign organization authorized to
do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or its
ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except where the
failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on such
Person. Except as stated in Schedule 2.1(c) or Schedule 2.17, each of the Auto
Subsidiaries is wholly owned by Auto. Each of the Securitization Subsidiaries is
owned as set forth on Schedule 2.17 hereto. References in this Agreement to "as
proposed to be conducted," when used with respect to the business proposed to be
conducted by the Drive Entities on or after Acquisition Effectiveness, shall be
considered to mean "as proposed to be conducted by the Drive Entities in
substantially the same manner and in the same jurisdictions as the Auto Entities
were conducting such business prior to Acquisition Effectiveness."

         (b) Other than licenses identified on Schedule 2.6(a), each Relevant
Entity has the necessary power and authority (corporate or otherwise, as
applicable), and all necessary franchises, permits, licenses and other rights
and privileges, to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement
and each other Related Document to which it is a party, and (in the case of CLC)
to sell the Subject Securities. The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and each of the other Related Documents to which a Relevant Entity is
a party (including without limitation the transfer of assets (including, without
limitation, the assets transferred to CLC by Auto-FCA and FC Consumer Finance),
the Residuals and the Securitization Shares by CLC to Drive pursuant to the
Residuals Agreement (CLC), the transfer of Residuals by Auto-ABS to Auto
pursuant to the Residuals Agreement (ABS), (iii) the transfer of assets by (A)
Auto-FCA and Auto-Servicing to Auto, (B) FC Consumer Finance and Auto-FCA to
CLC, and (C) FC Consumer Finance to CLC pursuant to the Assignment Agreements,
(iv) the transfer of the Auto Assets (including without limitation (x) the
Residuals transferred to Auto pursuant to the Residuals Agreement (ABS) and (y)
the assets transferred by Auto-FCA, Auto-Servicing and FC Consumer Finance to
Auto pursuant to the Assignment Agreements) by Auto to Drive pursuant to the
Asset Acquisition Agreement (Auto), and (v) the transfer of the aforementioned
Residuals by Drive to Drive-ABS pursuant to the Residuals Agreement (Drive) and
the sale of the Subject Securities by CLC to the IFA Entities pursuant to this
Agreement) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other
applicable action; no Government Authorization or Private Authorization that has
not been obtained is required for the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement and the other Related Documents by any Relevant Entity. No
approval of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or by any of the
other Related Documents, individually or as a whole, is required from FC's
stockholders. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by
each of the Relevant Entities party hereto and constitutes, and each other
Related Document to which each is a party when executed and delivered by such
Person will have been duly and validly executed and delivered by such Person and
will constitute, legal, valid and binding obligations of the Relevant Entities
party hereto and thereto (as the case may be), enforceable in accordance with
their respective terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency reorganization and similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally (the "Enforceability Exceptions").

         (c) Prior to giving effect to the Acquisition, neither Auto nor Auto-GP
owns any voting shares or other equitable interest in any Person, however
organized and however such interest may be denominated or evidenced, except as
set forth in Schedule 2.1(c) hereto. All of the assets held by each of the
Persons listed on Schedule 2.1(c) as owned by Auto or Auto-GP (other than
Auto-FCAR), and all of the equity interests in each of the Securitization
Subsidiaries, in whole or in part, have been transferred (directly or

                                      -3-
<PAGE>   8

indirectly) to one or more of the Drive Entities except for CLC's shares in
Auto-FCA and FC Consumer Finance and Auto's shares in Auto-Servicing, Auto-FCA
and Auto-ABS.

         (d) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any of the
other Related Documents to which any Relevant Entity is a party, nor the sale or
delivery by CLC of any or all of the Subject Securities, nor the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by any of the foregoing, nor compliance with the
terms, conditions and provisions of any of the foregoing by any Relevant Entity:

                  (i) will conflict with, or result in a breach or violation of
         or constitute a default in the performance, observance or fulfillment
         of, any obligation, covenant or condition contained in, or permit the
         acceleration of any obligation or liability in, or constitute, or but
         for any requirement of giving of notice or passage of time or both
         would constitute, a default or an event of default by any of the
         Relevant Entities under, any Applicable Law, Charter Document, Private
         Authorization, Governmental Authorization or Contractual Obligation,
         except to the extent (x) such conflicts, breaches, violations or
         defaults would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
         Adverse Effect on such Relevant Entity or (y) where the Contractual
         Obligation in connection with which such default or event of default
         would occur is, or the requirement for a Private Authorization exists
         is from the lenders under, the IFA Subordinated Loan Agreement or the
         Senior BOS Loan Agreement, in respect of which FC expects to obtain
         appropriate consents or waivers or (z) listed, and as listed, on
         Schedule 2.1(d) hereto as to Governmental Authorizations and Private
         Authorizations, all of which will be obtained on or prior to the
         Closing Date (except with respect to notifications specified on such
         schedule as not being required to be made until after the Closing
         Date.)

                  (ii) will result in the creation or imposition of any Lien
         upon any of the properties of any Relevant Entity (except liens in
         favor of BOS, BOS-UK or IFA Parent pursuant to one or more of the Loan
         Agreements); or

                  (iii) will require any approval or action of, or filing with
         or notification to, any Authority, except as set forth in Schedule
         2.1(d).

         (e) No approval by the shareholders of FC is required for the
execution, delivery or performance of any of this Agreement or any of the
Related Documents or any of the transactions contemplated by any of the
foregoing, whether pursuant to any of the Charter Documents of FC, any
agreements to which FC or any of its Affiliates is a party or otherwise bound or
by which any of their respective assets are subject, or any provision of US,
Texas or Delaware law or otherwise.

         2.2 Financial Information.

         (a) FC, CLC and Auto have heretofore furnished to the IFA Entities (i)
the Projections and (ii) the Specified Financial Statements. The Specified
Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a
consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby and fairly present the
financial condition and results of operations (and, for those relating to full
fiscal years, cash flow, if any) of the Auto Entities on the bases therein
stated, as of the respective dates thereof and for the respective periods
covered thereby subject, in the case of unaudited financial statements, to
normal year-end audit adjustments. Except as set forth in the most recent
balance sheet constituting a part of the Specified Financial Statements (the
"Most Recent Balance Sheet"), no Auto Entity has any Indebtedness for Money
Borrowed.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>   9

         (b) Except as disclosed in Schedule 2.2, at the date of the Most Recent
Balance Sheet (the "Balance Sheet Date"), no Auto Entity had any material
obligations or liabilities, past, present or deferred, accrued or unaccrued,
fixed, absolute, contingent or other, except as disclosed in the Most Recent
Balance Sheet and (ii) since the Balance Sheet Date, no Auto Entity has incurred
any such obligation or liability other than obligations and liabilities incurred
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice of the relevant
Auto Entity, which in the case of clause (ii) could not reasonably be expected
to, in the aggregate, have an material adverse effect on such Auto Entity or
(after the Acquisition) any Drive Entity.

         (c) Upon Acquisition Effectiveness and thereafter, no Drive Entity
shall have any liability or responsibility for any pension or like obligations
of any member of the FC Group or any Auto Entity except as specifically set
forth in the Services Agreement (FC) and the Services Agreement (Moore).

         (d) The Projections have been prepared and compiled in good faith with
due care and attention on the basis of the past business of the Auto Entities
and other information and assumptions which the FC Parties and the Auto Entities
believe to be reasonable. Neither FC, CLC, Auto-GP, or Auto nor any executive
officer of any of the foregoing has any reason to believe that any of the
assumptions used as a basis for any of the Projections is incorrect in any
material respect.

         2.3 Changes in Condition. During the period from the Balance Sheet Date
through the Closing Date, except as specifically set forth in Schedule 2.3, no
Event has occurred that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or (so far as
the FC Parties and Auto Entities party hereto reasonably can foresee) likely
will have any material adverse effect on any Auto Entity or the Acquisition
Assets or (after the Acquisition) any Drive Entity.

         2.4 Title to Properties; Leases.

         (a) No Auto Entity owns any real property.

         (b) One or more of the Auto Entities has good and marketable title to,
or a valid leasehold interest in, all assets, tangible and intangible, reflected
on the Most Recent Balance Sheet, or used by one or more of the Auto Entities in
its business if not so reflected, or purported to have been acquired by an Auto
Entity since the Balance Sheet Date, except inventory or receivables sold, or
property, plant and other equipment used up or retired, since the Balance Sheet
Date, in each case in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice of the relevant Auto Entity, free and clear of all Liens, except
Permitted Liens.

         (c) Except for financing statements evidencing Permitted Liens (a true,
correct and complete list and description of which is set forth in Schedule 2.4
hereto), no financing statements under the Uniform Commercial Code and no other
filing which names any Auto Entity as debtor or which covers or purports to
cover any of the property of any Auto Entity is on file in any state or other
jurisdiction, and no Auto Entity has signed or agreed to sign any such financing
statement or filing or any security agreement authorizing any secured party
thereunder to file any such financing statement or filing.

         (d) Each lease under which any Auto Entity holds real or personal
property (other than miscellaneous office equipment and the like with a fair
market value of less than $15,000) constituting a part of the assets and
property of any such Auto Entity is in full force and effect, has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the relevant Auto Entity, and, to its
knowledge, each of the other parties thereto, and is a legal, valid and binding
obligation of the relevant Auto Entity, and, to its knowledge, each of the other
parties thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such

                                      -5-
<PAGE>   10

enforceability may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions. One or more of
the Auto Entities has (and, upon Acquisition Effectiveness, one or more of the
Drive Entities will have) a valid leasehold interest in and enjoys (and, upon
and immediately after Acquisition Effectiveness, one or more of the Drive
Entities will enjoy) peaceful and undisturbed possession under all leases
pursuant to which any Auto Entity now holds any such real property or tangible
personal property, subject to the terms of each lease and Applicable Law. All of
such leases are valid and subsisting and in full force and effect; no Auto
Entity nor, to its knowledge, any other party thereto, is in default in the
performance, observance or fulfillment in any material respects of any
obligation, covenant or condition contained in any such lease.

         (e) Upon Acquisition Effectiveness, Drive will be entitled to use in
its business and that of the other Drive Entities all software currently used by
Auto and the other Auto Entities in their respective businesses, including
without limitation the right to use all software and other services provided by
PeopleSoft.

         2.5 Compliance with Private Authorizations. Upon Acquisition
Effectiveness, each Drive Entity will have obtained all Private Authorizations
that are necessary for the ownership or operation by the relevant Drive Entities
of the assets and property owned or otherwise held by the Auto Entities
immediately prior to Acquisition Effectiveness or necessary or advisable for the
conduct of the business and operations of Drive Entities in the same manner and
to the same extent after Acquisition Effectiveness as was conducted by the Auto
Entities before Acquisition Effectiveness (or, with respect to Private
Authorizations which the FC Parties do not consider material, that are able to
be obtained without undue delay and at nominal cost by Drive in the ordinary
course of its business). All of such Private Authorizations are valid and in
good standing and are in full force and effect and will be in good force and
effect after Acquisition Effectiveness with respect to the Drive Entities (or
will promptly be replaced, at nominal cost, on or within 30 Business Days after
Acquisition Effectiveness, by substantially identical Private Authorizations for
the Drive Entities). No Auto Entity is in breach or violation of, or in default
in the performance, observance or fulfillment of, any such Private
Authorization, and no Event exists or has occurred which constitutes, or but for
any requirement of giving of notice or passage of time or both would constitute,
such a breach, violation or default, under any such Private Authorization, in
each case except as listed on Schedule 2.5; as of Acquisition Effectiveness, all
such breaches, violations and defaults will have been cured or duly and properly
waived in writing by the required Persons. No such Private Authorization is the
subject of any pending (or, to the knowledge of the FC Parties and Auto
Entities, threatened) attack, revocation or termination.

         2.6 Compliance with Governmental Authorizations and Applicable Law.

         (a) Except as set forth on Schedule 2.6(a) hereto, each Drive Entity by
the Closing Date will have obtained all Governmental Authorizations that are
necessary or advisable for the ownership of the assets and property of Drive
Entities or the conduct of the business and operations of the Drive Entities as
now conducted by Auto and proposed to be conducted after the Closing Date by
Drive. None of any Auto Entity's Governmental Authorizations is (and none of any
Drive Entity's Governmental Authorities will be) subject to any restriction or
condition that would limit in any material respect the ownership or operations
of the assets and property of the Auto Entities (or, after the Closing, the
Drive Entities) or the conduct of the business and operations of the Auto
Entities (or, after the Closing, the Drive Entities), as currently conducted by
Auto and proposed to be conducted by Drive, except for restrictions and
conditions generally applicable to Governmental Authorizations of such type.
Each of the Auto Entities' Governmental Authorizations are (and, upon
Acquisition Effectiveness, each of the Drive Entities' Governmental
Authorizations, except those listed on Schedule 2.6(a), will be) valid and in
good standing, in full force and effect and not impaired in any material respect
by any act or omission of any Auto Entity or Drive Entity or any of their
respective officers, directors, employees or, to the Relevant Entities'

                                      -6-
<PAGE>   11

knowledge, their respective agents, and the ownership and operation of the
assets and property of the Auto Entities (and, after Acquisition Effectiveness,
the Drive Entities), and the conduct of the business and operations of the Auto
Entities as currently conducted and the conduct of the business and operations
of the Drive Entities as currently conducted by the Auto Entities and proposed
to be conducted by the Drive Entities, are in accordance in all material
respects with the Governmental Authorizations. All material reports, forms and
statements required to be filed by the Auto Entities with all Authorities have
been filed and are true, complete and accurate in all material respects. No
Governmental Authorization in favor of any of the Auto Entities or any of the
Drive Entities is the subject of any pending (or, to the Relevant Entities'
knowledge, threatened) challenge or proceeding to revoke or terminate any such
Governmental Authorization. No Relevant Entity has any reason to believe that
any such Governmental Authorization will not be renewed in the name of Auto (if
requested) or reissued (at reasonable cost and without significant restriction)
in the name of Drive by the granting Authority in the ordinary course. With
respect to each Governmental Authorization listed on Schedule 2.6(a), no
Relevant Party has any reason not to expect that such Governmental
Authorizations, satisfactory in form and substance to the Relevant Entities,
will not be duly issued to the appropriate Drive Entity, at reasonable cost, (A)
on or within 30 Business Days with respect to material Governmental
Authorizations, and (B) on or within 120 Business Days with respect to
immaterial Governmental Authorizations, after Acquisition Effectiveness (or such
later date specified alongside such permit's description on said schedule).

         (b) No Auto Entity is in, or charged by any Authority with, or, to the
knowledge of the FC Parties and the Auto Entities, threatened or under
investigation by any Authority with respect to, breach or violation of, or
default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of, any Applicable Law
relating to the ownership of the assets and property of the Auto Entities or the
conduct of the business or operations of the Auto Entities. No Event exists or
has occurred which constitutes, or but for any requirement of giving of notice
or passage of time or both would constitute, such a breach, violation or default
under any Governmental Authorization or any Applicable Law.

         (c) Except as set forth in Schedule 2.6(c) hereto (and except for Legal
Actions involving collection efforts, repossessions, foreclosures, bankruptcy
actions of obligors under retail installment sales contracts owned by an Auto
Entity, related counterclaims and like litigation), there are no Legal Actions
of any kind pending or, to the knowledge of the FC Parties and the Auto
Entities, threatened at Law, in equity or before any Authority, against any of
the Relevant Entities or any of their respective officers or directors, relating
to the assets or property of any of the Auto Entities or Drive Entities or the
conduct of the business or operations or proposed business or operations of any
of the Auto Entities or Drive Entities. No such Legal Action (whether listed on
said schedule or excluded by virtue of the foregoing parenthetical or
otherwise), if determined adversely to the relevant Relevant Entity, will
(individually or in the aggregate) have a material adverse effect on any of the
Auto Entities or Drive Entities.

         (d) No notification to, filing with or consent from the Department of
Justice or the Federal Trade Commission or any other Authority is required by
any Relevant Entity in connection with the Acquisition, the sale of the Subject
Securities or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
the other Related Documents (other than a filing with the SEC on Form 10-Q, Form
8-K or a similar form).

         2.7 Related Transactions. No Auto Entity is, and upon Acquisition
Effectiveness no Drive Entity will be, a party or subject to any Contractual
Obligation relating to the assets or property of any of the Auto Entities or
Drive Entities, or the conduct of the business or operations of any of the Auto
Entities or Drive Entities, between any of the Auto Entities or Drive Entities
and any of the officers, directors or stockholders of any Auto Entity or Drive
Entity or, to the knowledge of the FC Parties and the Auto Entities, any member
of the Immediate Family of any thereof, or any Affiliate of any of the
foregoing,

                                      -7-
<PAGE>   12

including without limitation any Contractual Obligation providing for the
furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of property, real,
personal or mixed, to or from, or providing for the lending or borrowing of
money to or from or otherwise requiring payments to or from, or guaranteed any
obligation or liability of, any such Person, other than (i) the Related
Documents, (ii) transactions with FC or CLC previously disclosed by either in
writing to IFA Parent or BOS, or (iii) or as specifically set forth in Schedule
2.7 hereto. With the IFA Entities' consent, the representations and warranties
in this paragraph are given based solely on the knowledge of Messrs. Sartain,
Hawkins, Moore, Vander Woude and (based solely on a certificate to the same
effect delivered to FC by the Management Members) the Management Members.

         2.8 Insurance. At Acquisition Effectiveness, all properties, assets,
business and operations of the Drive Entities will be, adequately insured as set
forth on Schedule 2.8 attached hereto.

         2.9 Tax Matters. The Auto Entities have in accordance with all
Applicable Laws filed all Tax Returns which are required to be filed, and have
paid, or made adequate provision for the payment of, all Taxes which have or may
become due and payable pursuant to said Tax Returns and all other governmental
charges and assessments received to date other than those Taxes being contested
by appropriate proceedings in good faith for which adequate provision has been
made on the Most Recent Balance Sheet; (b) the Tax Returns of the Auto Entities
have been prepared in all material respects in accordance with all Applicable
Laws; (c) all Taxes which the Auto Entities are required by Law to withhold and
collect have been duly withheld and collected, and have been paid over, in a
timely manner, to the proper Authorities to the extent due and payable; and (d)
adequate provision has been made on the Most Recent Balance Sheet for all Taxes
(if any) accrued through the date of such balance sheet of any kind, including
interest and penalties in respect thereof, whether disputed or not, and whether
past, current or deferred, accrued or unaccrued, fixed, contingent, absolute or
other, and there are, to the knowledge of the FC Parties and the Auto Entities,
no past transactions or matters which could result in additional Taxes of a
material nature to the Auto Entities or any Drive Entity for which an adequate
reserve has not been provided on such balance sheet. No Relevant Entity is a
"consenting corporation" within the meaning of Section 341(f) of the Code. No
Drive Entity is, or upon Acquisition Effectiveness will be, a party to any Tax
sharing agreement or arrangement.

         2.10 ERISA.

         (a) Upon Acquisition Effectiveness, all employees of the Drive Entities
who were employees of each Auto Entity shall remain participants in the relevant
employee benefits plans and programs previously provided by FC and/or the Auto
Entities to employees of the Auto Entities and no Drive Entity shall incur any
obligation to any such individual under any such plan or program, or under
applicable Law, for any period prior to August 1, 2000.

         (b) (i) All Plans and Benefit Arrangements maintained by any Auto
Entity or FC Entity for which any of the Drive Entities shall be in any way
responsible comply and have been administered in form and in operation, in all
material respects, in accordance with their respective terms and with all
Applicable Laws and no Auto Entity or any FC Party has received any written
notice from any Authority disputing or investigating such compliance. None of
the assets of any such Plan or Benefit Arrangement are invested in employer
securities or employer real property. There are no claims (other than routine
claims for benefits or actions seeking qualified domestic relations orders)
pending or, to any Relevant Entity's knowledge, threatened involving such Plans
or Benefit Arrangements or the assets of such Plans, and, to the Relevant
Entities' knowledge, no facts exist which are reasonably likely to give rise to
any such claims (other than routine claims for benefits or actions seeking
qualified domestic relations orders);

                                      -8-
<PAGE>   13

                  (ii) All material contributions to, and material payments
         from, such Plans and Benefit Arrangements that may have been required
         to be made in accordance with the terms of such Plans and Benefit
         Arrangements, and any applicable collective bargaining agreement, have
         been made. All such contributions to, and payments from, such Plans and
         Benefit Arrangements, except those payments to be made from a trust
         qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, for any period ending
         before the Closing Date that are not yet, but will be, required to be
         made, will be properly accrued and reflected on the financial books and
         records of an FC Party or an Auto Entity;

                  (iii) No Event has occurred which would result in imposition
         on any Auto Entity or Drive Entity of (A) any breach of fiduciary duty
         liability damages under Section 409 of ERISA, (B) a civil penalty
         assessed pursuant to subsections (c), (i) or (l) of Section 502 of
         ERISA or (C) a tax imposed pursuant to Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the
         Code; and

                  (iv) No current or former employee of any Auto Entity will be
         entitled to any additional benefits or any acceleration of the time of
         payment or vesting of any benefits under any such Plan or Benefit
         Arrangement as a result of the transactions contemplated by this
         Agreement or any Related Document other than, upon any termination of
         the employment of any employee of such Auto Entity, any vesting that
         may be required pursuant to Section 411 of the Code or health care
         continuation coverage required pursuant to Section 4980B of the Code.
         All 401(k) benefits have been funded through July 31, 2000.

         (c) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the
Relevant Entities party hereto and the execution, delivery and performance of
the other Related Documents by the Relevant Entities party thereto will not
involve any prohibited transaction within the meaning of ERISA or Section 4975
of the Code with respect to such Plan or Benefit Agreement.

         2.11 Employee Relations.

         (a) No Auto Entity is party to any written Contract with any of its
officers, directors or employees other than for an employment contract with
Thomas Brower that is to terminate on the Closing Date. There are no commitments
to have any employment contract between any Drive Entity and any individual
other than Thomas Brower. None of any Auto Entity's employees ("Auto
Employees"), as such, is now, or in the past five years has been, represented by
any labor union or other employee collective bargaining organization, and no
Auto Entity is, or ever has been, a party to any labor or other collective
bargaining agreement with respect to any of their respective employees. There
are no pending grievances, disputes or controversies with any union or any other
employee or collective bargaining organization of such employees, or any threats
of strikes, work stoppages or slowdowns by any Auto Employees, or any pending
demands for collective bargaining by any union or other organization. No Auto
Entity is now, nor in the last five years has been, subject to or involved in
or, to the knowledge of the FC Parties and the Auto Entities, threatened with,
any union elections, petitions therefor or other organizational or recruiting
activities, in each case with respect to its employees. No Auto Employee who is
material to the conduct of the business or operations of any Auto Entity has
notified any officer of any FC Party or Auto Entity that he or she does not
intend to continue employment, if requested, with the Drive Entities.

         (b) Schedule 2.11 sets forth the per annum salaries, bonuses and other
remuneration for each Management Member (other than Thomas Brower) payable by
the Auto Entities as of the Closing Date.

         2.12 Material Contracts. Listed on Schedule 2.12 hereto are all
Contracts material to the business, assets, operations, financial condition or
results of operation of each Auto Entity (each a

                                      -9-
<PAGE>   14

"Material Contract") to which any Auto Entity is a party or to which it is bound
or which any of the assets or property of any Auto Entity is subject. True,
accurate and complete copies of each of such Material Contracts have been made
available by the Auto Entities to IFA Parent, and Auto has provided IFA Parent
with photocopies of all such Material Contracts requested by IFA Parent. All
such Material Contracts (other than those of Auto-FCAR and the Securitization
Subsidiaries) are being assigned to Drive or another Drive Entity as part of the
Acquisition or, if currently owned by a Subsidiary of Auto or a Securitization
Subsidiary which after the Closing Date will be a Subsidiary of Drive, will
continue to be owned by such Subsidiary. No Material Contract is terminable, by
its terms or at the option of any other party thereto, by virtue of the
Acquisition (or, if any is so terminable at another's option, that Person's
consent to its assignment has been obtained and a copy thereof provided to
IFA-GP or IFA Parent). All of the Material Contracts are valid, binding and
legally enforceable obligations of the Auto Entities party thereto and, to the
knowledge of the FC Parties and the Auto Entities, all other parties thereto,
except as such enforceability may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions.
No Auto Entity nor, to the knowledge of the FC Parties and the Auto Entities,
any other party thereto, has failed to duly comply with all of the terms and
conditions of each such Material Contract or has done or performed, or failed to
do or perform (and no claim is pending or, to the knowledge of the FC Parties
and the Auto Entities, threatened in writing to the effect that an Auto Entity
has not so complied, done and performed or failed to do and perform) any act
which would invalidate or provide grounds for the other party thereto to
terminate (with or without notice, passage of time or both) such Material
Contract or impair the rights or benefits, or materially increase the costs, of
the Auto Entities (or, after the Acquisition, of the Drive Entities) under any
such Material Contract, except where the failure to so comply or perform would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on any
Auto Entity or any Drive Entity. No Auto Entity is in breach or violation of, or
in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of, any such Material
Contract, and no Event exists or has occurred which constitutes, or but for any
requirement of giving of notice or passage of time or both would constitute,
such a breach, violation or default, under any such Material Contract, in each
case except as listed on Schedule 2.12; as of Acquisition Effectiveness, all
such breaches, violations and defaults will have been cured or duly and properly
waived in writing by the required Persons.

         2.13 Ordinary Course of Business. Each Auto Entity, from the Balance
Sheet Date to the date hereof and through the Closing Date (and each Drive
Entity, from the Closing Date and through the date of the IFA Entities purchase
of the Subject Securities hereunder, if different), except (i) as may be
described in Schedule 2.13 hereto, or (ii) as may be required or expressly
contemplated by the terms of this Agreement and the Related Documents:

         (a) has operated its business in all material respects in the normal,
usual and customary manner in the ordinary and regular course of business,
consistent with the prior practice of the Auto Entities;

         (b) except (in each case) as disclosed to IFA Parent:

                  (i) has not incurred any obligation or liability (fixed,
         contingent or other) (x) in excess of $50,000, or (y) if less than that
         amount, in the ordinary course of business consistent with prior
         practice;

                  (ii) has not sold or otherwise disposed of or contracted to
         sell or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets (x) with a
         fair market value in excess of $50,000 or (y) if less than that amount,
         in the ordinary course of business consistent with prior practice;

                                      -10-
<PAGE>   15

                  (iii) has not entered into any individual material commitments
         in excess of $50,000 or (other than in the ordinary course of business
         consistent with prior practice) any material commitments in excess of
         $50,000 in the aggregate; and

                  (iv) has not canceled any material debts or claims except in
         the ordinary course of business consistent with prior practice.

         (c) has not created or permitted to be created any Lien on any of the
assets or property of any of the Auto Entities or any of the Drive Entities,
except for Permitted Liens;

         (d) has not made or committed to make any additions to its property or
any purchases of equipment, except in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice or for normal maintenance and replacements;

         (e) has not increased the compensation payable or to become payable to
any of its employees (other than Management Members) other than nonmaterial
increases in the ordinary course of business, or otherwise materially altered,
modified or changed the terms of their employment, in each case other than (x)
as set forth in Schedule 2.13(e) or (y) as previously disclosed in writing by FC
to IFA Parent;

         (f) has not suffered any material damage, destruction or loss (whether
or not covered by insurance) or any acquisition or taking of property by any
Authority;

         (g) has not waived any rights of material value without fair and
adequate consideration;

         (h) has not experienced any work stoppage;

         (i) has not entered into, amended or terminated any Contract or
arrangement with any Affiliate of any of the FC Parties or Auto Entities or,
except in the ordinary course of business, has not entered into, amended or
terminated any Governmental Authorization, Private Authorization, or material
Plan or Benefit Arrangement;

         (j) (as to the Drive Entities only, and from their respective dates of
organization through the date of the IFA Entities purchase of the Subject
Securities hereunder) has not issued or sold, or agreed to issue or sell, any
equity interests (whether capital stock, membership interests, partnership
interests, convertible securities, Option Securities or otherwise) except (1)
the issuance of 80% of Drive GP's Membership Interests to CLC and 20% to MG-LLC,
the issuance of approximately 81% (directly and indirectly) of the Limited
Partnership Interests in Drive-LP to CLC and Auto and approximately 18.5% to
MG-LP;

         (k) has not made, paid or declared any Distribution, other than a cash
distribution in an amount between five and seven million dollars contemplated to
be made on the Closing Date by Auto to CLC from the proceeds of a loan in the
same amount to be made by CLC to Auto on such date;

         (l) has not entered into any transaction or series of related
transactions which individually or in the aggregate is material to the assets
and property of any of the Auto Entities or any of the Drive Entities or the
conduct of the business or operations of any of the foregoing, other than the
Related Documents and the transactions contemplated by the Related Documents;
and

         (m) has not assumed any liability of any third party, except (x) by
subsidiaries of Auto, liabilities in connection with securitized receivables in
the ordinary course of business consistent with prior practice, (y) liabilities
of Auto Entities assumed by Drive Entities pursuant to Transfer Agreements and

                                      -11-
<PAGE>   16

listed on Schedule 2.13(m) hereto; and (z) as may be required or expressly
contemplated by the terms of this Agreement and the Related Documents.

         2.14 Disclosure. Neither this Agreement nor any certificate, document
or schedule furnished by or on behalf of any Relevant Entity in connection
herewith (but excluding the Projections), taken as a whole, contains any untrue
statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be
stated herein or therein or necessary in order to make the statements contained
herein or therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not
misleading.

         2.15 Broker or Finder. No Person assisted in or brought about the
negotiation of this Agreement or the purchase and sale of any of the Subject
Securities in the capacity of broker, agent or finder or in any similar capacity
on behalf of any Relevant Entity or Affiliate thereof or any of the officers,
directors or equity holders of any of the foregoing.

         2.16 Environmental Matters. Each Auto Entity is in compliance in all
material respects with all Environmental Laws, and is not the subject of or, to
the knowledge of the FC Parties and the Auto Entities, threatened with any Legal
Action involving a demand for damages or other potential liability, including
any Lien, with respect to violations or breaches of any Environmental Law.

         2.17 Capital Stock. The authorized capital structure of each Auto
Entity and each Drive Entity is as set forth in Schedule 2.17 hereto. All such
outstanding equity interests have been duly authorized, validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable; none is subject to any preemptive or similar rights and
are owned of record and as shown in said Schedule. No Drive Entity has granted
or issued, or agreed to grant or issue, any equity interests (capital stock,
membership interests, partnership interests, Option Securities, Convertible
Securities or otherwise) other than as listed in clauses (1) and (2) of Section
2.13(j), and no Drive Entity is party to or bound by any agreement, put or
commitment pursuant to which it is obligated to purchase, redeem or otherwise
acquire any such equity interest (except as set forth in Section 2.13(j)). No
Drive Entity, FC Party or Auto Entity is, nor to the knowledge of the foregoing
no other equity holder in any Drive Entity is, party to any stockholders or
similar agreement or other Contract relating to the pledge, disposition or
voting of any equity interests in any of the Drive Entities, other than the
Shareholders Agreement, and (except for the foregoing two Contracts) there are
no voting trusts or voting agreements with respect to any such equity interests.
All of the issued and outstanding Membership Interests, Limited Partnership
Interests, general partnership interest and shares of capital stock of the Drive
Entities were issued in compliance with Applicable Laws and not in violation of
any preemptive or similar rights. Neither Auto nor Auto-GP has any Subsidiaries
except as listed on Schedule 2.17 hereto, and neither Drive-GP nor Drive-LP has
any Subsidiaries except as listed on such schedule. Schedules 2.1(c) and 2.17,
collectively, accurately set forth the equity owners of record of each of the
Auto Entities.

         2.18 Y2K. No Auto Entity has had any Y2K Problem that has not been
fully resolved, nor any Y2K problems at all since January 15, 2000.

         2.19 Inapplicability of Specified Statutes. No Auto Entity is, and upon
Acquisition Effectiveness no Auto Entity or Drive Entity will be, a "holding
company" or a "subsidiary company" or an "affiliate" of a "holding company" as
such terms are defined in the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as
amended, or an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by or acting on
behalf of an "investment company", as defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended. No Auto Entity is, and upon Acquisition Effectiveness no Auto
Entity or Drive Entity will be, engaged in the business of extending credit for
the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock within the meaning of
Regulations T and U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>   17

         2.20 Notices to Creditors. Neither CLC nor any Auto Entity is required
by applicable law to deliver any notice to any creditor of CLC or any of the
Auto Entities (respectively), or to any state or local taxing authority, stating
that it is about to transfer substantially all of its assets.

         2.21 Other Representations. Incorporated herein by reference, as fully
as if the same were set forth at length herein and made directly to IFA Parent
and each IFA Entity, are each of the representations and warranties made by each
Auto Entity in each Transfer Agreement, including without limitation the
representations and warranties set forth in Section 5 of the Residuals Agreement
(CLC) and Section 5 of the Asset Acquisition Agreement (Auto).

         3. Representations and Warranties of IFA Entities.

         3.1 Of IFA-GP. IFA-GP represents and warrants (which representations
and warranties shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement to the
extent set forth in Section 7.5 below) that:

         (a) Organization; Authority.

                  (i) IFA-GP (i) is a limited liability company duly organized,
         validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
         Delaware, and (ii) has all requisite power and authority to conduct its
         business as now conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted.

                  (ii) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
         and each other Related Document to which it is a party have been duly
         authorized, as to IFA-GP, by all requisite action by IFA-GP. This
         Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by IFA-GP
         and constitutes, and each other Related Document to which it is a party
         when executed and delivered by IFA-GP will have been duly and validly
         executed and delivered by IFA-GP and will constitute legal, valid and
         binding obligations of IFA-GP, enforceable in accordance with their
         respective terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by
         the Enforceability Exceptions.

                  (iii) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or
         any Related Document to which it is a party, nor the consummation of
         the transactions herein or therein contemplated, nor compliance with
         the terms, conditions and provisions hereof or thereof by IFA-GP will
         require any approval or action of, or filing with, any Authority,
         except for notification to bank regulatory authorities to the extent
         required by applicable banking law and HSR.

         (b) Securities Act.

                  (i) IFA-GP acknowledges that (x) the Membership Interests to
         be purchased by it hereunder have not been registered under the
         Securities Act or any state securities laws and therefore cannot be
         resold or transferred unless they are subsequently registered under the
         Securities Act and applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws or
         exemptions from such registration are available, and (y) neither
         Drive-LP nor anyone else is under any obligation to cause any of the
         Membership Interests to be so registered.

                  (ii) IFA-GP is acquiring the Membership Interests to be
         purchased by it for its own account for investment with no present
         intention of distributing or reselling the same, subject, nevertheless,
         to its right to dispose of same or any part thereof in its sole
         discretion.

         3.2 Of IFA-LP. IFA-LP represents and warrants (which representations
and warranties shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement to the
extent set forth in Section 7.5 below) that:

                                      -13-
<PAGE>   18

         (a) Organization; Authority.

                  (i) IFA-LP (i) is a limited liability company duly organized,
         validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
         Delaware, and (ii) has all requisite power and authority to conduct its
         business as now conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted.

                  (ii) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
         and each other Related Document to which it is a party have been duly
         authorized, as to IFA-LP, by all requisite action by IFA-LP. This
         Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by IFA-LP
         and constitutes, and each other Related Document to which it is a party
         when executed and delivered by IFA-LP will have been duly and validly
         executed and delivered by IFA-LP and will constitute legal, valid and
         binding obligations of IFA-LP, enforceable in accordance with their
         respective terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by
         the Enforceability Exceptions.

                  (iii) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor
         any Related Document to which it is a party, nor the consummation of
         the transactions herein or therein contemplated, nor compliance with
         the terms, conditions and provisions hereof or thereof by IFA-LP will
         require any approval or action of, or filing with, any Authority,
         except for notification to bank regulatory authorities to the extent
         required by applicable banking law and HSR.

         (b) Securities Act.

                  (i) IFA-LP acknowledges that (x) the Limited Partnership
         Interests to be purchased by it hereunder have not been registered
         under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and therefore
         cannot be resold or transferred unless they are subsequently registered
         under the Securities Act and applicable state securities or "blue sky"
         laws or exemptions from such registration are available, and (y)
         neither Drive-GP nor anyone else is under any obligation to cause any
         of the Limited Partnership Interests to be so registered.

                  (ii) IFA-LP is acquiring the Limited Partnership Interests to
         be purchased by it for its own account for investment with no present
         intention of distributing or reselling the same, subject, nevertheless,
         to its right to dispose of same or any part thereof in its sole
         discretion.

         4. Conditions of Closing. The obligation of IFA-GP to purchase
Membership Interests pursuant to this Agreement, and the obligation of IFA-LP to
purchase Limited Partnership Interests pursuant to this Agreement, are subject
to (a) compliance by the Relevant Entities with its agreements herein contained,
(b) the truth and accuracy of the certificates to be furnished by them pursuant
to this Section, and (c) each of the following conditions being fulfilled to the
satisfaction of the IFA Entities (or waived by them) on the Closing Date (unless
otherwise specifically indicated below):

         4.1 No Default, etc. On the Closing Date (both before and after giving
effect to the transactions to occur on that date under this Agreement and the
Related Documents), there shall exist no Potential Default or Event of Default
and all representations and warranties made by the FC Parties and Auto Entities
herein or in the other Related Documents or otherwise made by such Persons in
writing in connection herewith or therewith shall be true and correct in all
material respects with the same effect as though such representations and
warranties have been made at and as of such time.

         4.2 Officers' Certificates; Supporting Documents. There shall have been
delivered to the IFA Entities such information and copies of documents,
approvals (if any) and records (certified where appropriate) of such corporate,
partnership, limited liability company and legal proceedings as either IFA

                                      -14-
<PAGE>   19

Entity may have reasonably requested relating to the Relevant Entities' entering
into and performance of the Related Documents to which each is a party. Such
documents shall, in any event, include:

         (a) certified copies of the Charter Documents of each of the Drive
Entities and, to the extent requested, the FC Parties and the Auto Entities,
including (without limitation) long form good standing certificates of a date
not earlier than 10 days prior to the Closing Date for each of the Relevant
Entities;

         (b) certificates of authorized officers of each of the Relevant
Entities (except as otherwise agreed to by the IFA Entities), certifying the
resolutions of each such Person relating to the entering into and performance of
the Related Documents to which each such Person is a party and the transactions
contemplated thereby, and further certifying that such resolutions have not been
amended, modified, superseded or revoked and remain in full force and effect;

         (c) certificates of authorized officers of each of the Relevant
Entities (except as otherwise agreed to by the IFA Entities), with respect to
the incumbency and specimen signatures of its officers or representatives
authorized to execute such documents and any other documents and papers, and to
take any other action, in connection herewith or therewith; and

         (d) certificates of an authorized officer of each of FC, CLC and Auto
certifying, as of the Closing Date, compliance with the conditions of Sections
4.1, 4.3, 4.4, 4.7, 4.8, 4.10, 4.11(d), 4.11(e), 4.12, 4.13, 4.14(b), 4.15,
4.16, 4.18 (last sentence), 4.20, 4.22(b) and 4.22(c) and also the absence of
any Material Adverse Change of the type referred to in Section 4.19.

         4.3 Charter Documents. Drive-GP's Charter Documents shall be
satisfactory in form and substance to Drive-GP, and no amendment or other
modification shall have been made to any thereof, directly or indirectly, except
for such as IFA-GP shall have consented to. Drive-LP's Charter Documents shall
be satisfactory in form and substance to Drive-LP, and no amendment or other
modification shall have been made to any thereof, directly or indirectly, except
for such as IFA-LP shall have consented to.

         4.4 Financial Statements. The FC Parties shall have delivered (or
caused to be delivered) the following to IFA Parent and each IFA Entity (in each
case certified by the CFO of FC or of Auto):

         (a) the following historical Financial Statements:

                  (i) Audited balance sheets for the Auto Group and the members
         thereof as at Fiscal Year-End with respect to Fiscal Years 1997-1998
         (inclusive);

                  (ii) Audited statements of earnings and cash flow, if any, for
         Auto and the Auto Group for Fiscal Years 1997-1998 (inclusive); and

                  (iii) Unaudited balance sheet and unaudited statements of
         earnings and cash flow for Auto and the Auto Group as at Fiscal
         Year-End 1999 and July 31, 2000 and for Fiscal Year 1999 and for the
         fiscal quarter and year-to-date period ended July 31, 2000, in each
         case certified by the CEO of Auto, the COO of FC and the CFO of FC as
         having been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied and
         fairly presenting the financial condition and the results of operations
         of Auto and the Auto Group as at the dates and for the periods
         indicated.

         (b) a pro forma balance sheet at the Closing Date of the Drive Group
and each of the Drive Entities, in each case after giving effect to the
transactions contemplated by the Transfer Agreements and the New Loan
Agreements; and

                                      -15-
<PAGE>   20

         (c) for the partial Fiscal Year (Drive) 2001 and each of the three full
Fiscal Years (Drive) thereafter:

                  (i) projected statements of earnings; and

                  (ii) projected cash flow statements;

                  (iii) pro forma balance sheets as at the end of each of said
         three Fiscal Years.

         4.5 Fairness Letter. FC shall have delivered to the IFA Entities and
IFA Parent a copy of a letter from Sandler O'Neill Partners, in form and
substance satisfactory to FC, the IFA Entities and IFA Parent and addressed to
FC, as to the fairness of the terms of the Acquisition to FC (such letter to be
certified by FC as being a true, correct and complete copy of such letter and as
not having been amended, otherwise modified or withdrawn).

         4.6 Reports. Each IFA Entity shall have received, from Persons
satisfactory to it, an analysis of all litigation (other than that involving
collection efforts, repossessions, foreclosures, bankruptcy actions of obligors
under retail installment sales contracts owned by an Auto Entity, related
counterclaims and like litigation) to which any Auto Entity or Drive Entity or
any of their respective properties (including any assets purchased pursuant to
the Acquisition) is a party or subject, or by which any Auto Entity or Drive
Entity is otherwise affected.

         4.7 Acquisition.

         (a) Each of the Transfer Agreements shall have been executed and
delivered by the respective parties thereto. The terms of each such Contract
shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the IFA Entities, and no
amendment or other modification shall have been made to any thereof, directly or
indirectly, without the consent of the IFA Entities.

         (b) Each of the following shall have occurred:

                  (i) CLC shall have transferred to Drive the Acquisition
         Assets, the Residuals and the Securitization Shares (including all such
         assets transferred to CLC pursuant to the Assignment Agreements) to be
         transferred by CLC to Drive strictly pursuant to the Residuals
         Agreement (CLC),

                  (ii) Auto-ABS shall have transferred to Auto the Residuals to
         be transferred by it to Auto strictly pursuant to the Residuals
         Agreement (ABS),

                  (iii) Auto-FCA, Auto-Servicing and FC Consumer Finance shall
         have transferred to Auto and CLC, as appropriate, the assets to be
         transferred by them to Auto or CLC, as the case may be, strictly
         pursuant to their respective Assignment Agreements with Auto,

                  (iv) Auto shall have transferred to Drive the Auto Assets
         (including without limitation (x) all of the Residuals transferred to
         Auto pursuant to the Residuals Agreement (ABS) and (y) the assets
         transferred by Auto-FCA and Auto-Servicing to Auto pursuant to the
         Assignment Agreements) strictly pursuant to the Asset Acquisition
         Agreement (Auto), and

                  (v) Drive shall have transferred to Drive-ABS all of the
         aforementioned Residuals strictly pursuant to the Residuals Agreement
         (Drive),

                                      -16-
<PAGE>   21

in each case upon satisfaction by the relevant parties to the relevant Transfer
Agreement of all conditions precedent set forth in such Transfer Agreements, and
(in each case) all filings and governmental approvals with respect thereto shall
have been completed. No liabilities of any Auto Entity or of any Affiliate of
any Auto Entity shall have been assumed by any Drive Entity, pursuant to a
Transfer Agreement or otherwise, except for those listed on Schedule 2.13(m)
hereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of Auto and CLC
shall have transferred to Drive-LP all of the capital stock owned by them in the
Sold Subsidiaries. Without the written consent of the IFA Entities, there shall
have been no waivers by any of the parties to any of the Transfer Agreements of
any of the conditions precedent set forth in any Transfer Agreement.

         (c) The opinions of counsel delivered to any Relevant Entity by counsel
for any Relevant Entity in connection with the Acquisition or any Transfer
Agreement shall have been delivered to the IFA Entities, together with a letter
from each such counsel stating that IFA Parent and the IFA Entities may rely
upon such opinions with the same effect as if said opinions were addressed to
them.

         4.8 Approvals and Consents. All orders, permissions, consents,
approvals, licenses, authorizations and validations of, and filings, recordings
and registrations with, and exemptions by (all of the foregoing, "Requisite
Consents"), any Authority, or any other Person, required to authorize or
required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and the other Related Documents and the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby by any Relevant Entity party hereto or thereto shall have
been obtained (and, if so requested, furnished to the IFA Entities), including
without limitation Requisite Consents in form and substance satisfactory to the
IFA Entities (each such consent to be certified by an officer of FC or CLC as a
true and correct copy and being in full force and effect and final and not
subject to modification or appeal) of or from the following:

         (a) such consents from parties to securitization transactions engaged
in by the Auto Entities as are required in connection with the documentation
therefor, including without limitation, consents from MBIA, FSA and Enterprise,
and

         (b) all Requisite Consents, including without limitation those listed
on Schedule 2.1(d) hereto.

         4.9 Absence of Liens. Evidence satisfactory to each IFA Entity
(principally satisfactory Lien search requests on Form UCC-11 or analogous
forms) as to absence of any filed Lien on any property of any Auto Entity or
Drive Entity, except for those consented to by IFA-GP.

         4.10 Employees. No Management Member, executive officer or other key
employee of Auto, or any group of ten employees or more, shall have notified any
Management Member or any executive officer of FC, CLC or Auto that he or she
will not work for Auto-Servicing or Drive (directly or, pursuant to the Services
Agreement (FC), through CLC )or CLC after Acquisition Effectiveness.

         4.11 Existing Loan Agreements.

         (a) The lenders under the Senior BOS Loan Agreement, including BOA (to
the extent required), shall have consented to the Acquisition and related
transactions.

         (b) The facilities outstanding under the Current Loan Agreements shall
have been restructured in a manner satisfactory to BOS and IFA pursuant to
amendments to such agreements satisfactory to BOS in form and substance.

                                      -17-
<PAGE>   22

         (c) IFA Parent, as holder of the promissory notes issued under the IFA
Subordinated Loan Agreement, shall have consented to the Acquisition and related
transactions.

         (d) The indebtedness owing by CLC to Central National Bank of Waco,
Texas (not to exceed $4,400,000 principal amount plus accrued interest thereon
at the non-default rate) shall have been paid in full to such bank by the
borrower thereof.

         (e) The indebtedness owing by FC Capital to Nomura (not to exceed
$3,500,000 principal amount plus accrued interest thereon at the non-default
rate) shall have been paid in full to Nomura by FC Capital.

         4.12 Loans to Drive Entities. Each of the New Loan Agreements shall
have been executed and delivered by the parties thereto, become effective in
accordance with its terms and loans made under each of them in accordance with
their respective terms.

         4.13 Option Warrants. Each of the Option and the form of Option Warrant
shall have been amended (in form and substance satisfactory to IFA Parent) to
provide that the exercise period for the Option and the Option Warrant will no
longer terminate when the Secured Obligations (as such term is defined, by
cross-reference, in the Option Warrant) are indefeasibly paid in full. Such
amendment shall also, in form and substance satisfactory to IFA Parent, amend
(x) the May 15, 2000 date in Section 21.5(f) of the Option Warrant and Section
6.2(o) of the IFA Subordinated Loan Agreement, the date by which FC was required
to have amended its Charter Documents to create a class of non-voting common
stock, to a date (satisfactory to IFA Parent) subsequent to the Closing Date and
(y) the Option Warrant to provide that it may not be exercised prior to August
31, 2001.

         4.14 Shareholders Agreement.

         (a) The Shareholders Agreement shall have been executed and delivered
by the parties thereto, and all conditions precedent to the effectiveness
thereof shall have been satisfied (or waived) except for the sale of the Subject
Securities to the respective IFA Entities pursuant to this Agreement.

         (b) If there shall be any other stockholders or similar agreement among
members of Drive-GP or partners of Drive-LP (or any of them, including without
limitation any such agreement among any or all of the Management Members), a
copy of such agreement(s) shall have been delivered to IFA Parent and the
relevant IFA Entity together with a certificate attesting that it is true,
correct, complete and in full force and effect.

         (c) The Management Members shall have established MG-LLC and MG-LP and
transferred, directly or indirectly, all of their respective equity interests in
Auto and Auto-GP to MG-LP.

         (d) The Management Group Partnership Agreement shall have been
delivered to IFA Parent and the IFA Entities, together with a certificate
attesting that it is true, correct, complete and in full force and effect. Among
other things, such agreement shall (i) provide that such partnership shall
engage in no business other than its ownership of Membership Interests in
Drive-GP and Limited Partnership Interests in Drive-LP, (ii) prohibit any
Management Member from transferring, or granting a lien on, any of his
partnership or membership interests, and (iii) provide that none of the
foregoing provisions may be directly or indirectly amended or otherwise modified
without IFA Parent's consent.

         4.15 Services Agreements. Each of the Services Agreement (BOS), the
Services Agreement (FC) and the Services Agreement (Moore) shall have been
executed and delivered by the parties thereto and

                                      -18-
<PAGE>   23

become effective in accordance with their respective terms. Among other things,
the Services Agreement (FC) shall provide that FC shall cause substantially all
of the persons currently working for Auto (whether as employees of Auto or
another member of FC Group) to work for Drive in substantially the same
positions as they had worked for Auto (but as employees of FC or other members
of the FC Group seconded to Drive) through December 31, 2000.

         4.16 Employment Agreement. The Employment Agreement shall have been
executed and delivered by the parties thereto and become effective in accordance
with its terms.

         4.17 [intentionally deleted]

         4.18 Assignment and Assumption; Certificates. CLC shall have delivered
Assignment and Assumptions to IFA-GP for the Membership Interests, executed by
CLC and the manager of Drive-GP, and to IFA-LP for the Limited Partnership
Interests, executed by CLC and Drive-GP as general partner. To the extent that
any of the Subject Securities shall be evidenced by a certificate, CLC shall
have delivered certificates evidencing such Subject Securities to IFA-GP and/or
IFA-LP, as the case may be. To the extent that none of the Subject Securities
are evidenced by a certificate, the Operating Agreement of Drive-GP and the
Partnership Agreement of Drive-LP shall have been amended to reflect the
respective equity interests of the IFA Entities.

         4.19 Adverse Change. There shall have been, in the opinion of each of
IFA-GP and IFA-LP, no Material Adverse Change since December 31, 1998 with
respect to the Auto Group taken as a whole or any member thereof, except for
those for the period from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 1999 which have been
previously disclosed in writing to BOS or IFA Parent. Neither IFA Parent nor any
IFA Entity shall have become aware of any previously undisclosed information
with respect to any FC Party, any Management Member or any Auto Entity which, in
the opinion of IFA Parent or such IFA Entity, would have a Material Adverse
Effect.

         4.20 Capital Note. CLC shall have consented (in the Residuals Agreement
(Drive) or another document) to the assumption by Drive, pursuant to the Asset
Acquisition Agreement (Auto), of Auto's obligations under the Capital Note.
Drive shall have repaid the Capital Note to CLC and said note shall have been
cancelled.

         4.21 Legal Opinions. Each IFA Entity shall have received legal opinions
in form and substance satisfactory to them, addressed to each of the IFA
Entities and IFA Parent and dated the Closing Date, from:

         (a) Haynes & Boone LLP, counsel to FC, CLC, the Auto Entities, covering
the matters set forth in Exhibit A-1 hereto and as to such other matters as
either IFA Entity may request;

         (b) Cowles & Thompson, P.C., counsel to FC, CLC, the Auto Entities and
the Drive Entities, covering the matters set forth in Exhibit A-2 hereto and as
to such other matters as either IFA Entity may request; and

         (c) Bell, Nunnally & Martin LLP, counsel to MG-LLC, MG-LP and the
Management Members, covering the matters set forth in Exhibit A-3 hereto and as
to such other matters as either IFA Entity may request.

                                      -19-
<PAGE>   24

Such opinions may rely, as to matters of Delaware law, on opinions of Morris,
Nichols, Arsht and Tunnell, special Delaware counsel to the Relevant Entities,
stating that, in such counsel's opinion, it is justified in so relying.

         4.22 Change in Law; Litigation.

         (a) On the Closing Date, no change shall have occurred in Applicable
Law or in interpretations thereof by any Authority which, in the opinion of
either IFA Entity, would make it illegal for either IFA Entity (or any Person of
which either IFA Entity is a Subsidiary) to effect the transactions contemplated
hereby or by any other Related Document.

         (b) No Legal Action shall be pending or threatened before or by any
Authority seeking to restrain, prohibit, make illegal or delay materially, or
seeking damages from any of the Relevant Entities or any member of the BOS Group
in connection with, or to impose any materially adverse conditions on any
Relevant Entity or any member of the BOS Group in connection with, the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any of the
Transfer Agreements or any other Related Document.

         (c) No Legal Action shall be pending or threatened before or by any
Authority against any Relevant Entity which, in the opinion of IFA-GP or IFA-LP,
could (if adversely determined) have a Material Adverse Effect on such Person.

         4.23 All Proceedings to be Satisfactory. All corporate, partnership,
limited liability company and other legal matters and all instruments in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other
documents referred to herein shall be satisfactory in form and substance to each
IFA Entity, and each IFA Entity shall have received all information and copies
of all documents which either may reasonably have requested in connection
herewith or therewith, such documents where requested or appropriate to be
certified by proper company officials or Authorities.

         4.24 Fees and Expenses. The legal fees and expenses (through the
Closing Date) of counsel for the IFA Entities and other members of the BOS
Group, Sullivan & Worcester LLP and Sullivan & Cromwell and (if any) local or
special counsel, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the other Related Documents (other than those involving the
preparation, negotiation, revision, execution and closing of the New Warehouse
Facility Loan Agreement) shall (to the extent demand for payment thereof shall
have been made) have been paid in full by FC.

The parties hereto agree that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein or in any other Related Document, the purchase by the IFA
Entities of the Subject Securities to be purchased by each of them shall take
place (and, if in any way not, shall be deemed to have taken place) after, and
not before or contemporaneously with, (i) the transfer of the Acquisition Assets
and Residuals pursuant to the Transfer Agreements, (ii) the payment of the
proceeds from any of the New Loan Agreements to any FC Party and (iii) any
repayments made by any Person of any amounts payable under the Current Loan
Agreements. All documents, agreements, certificates, financial statements, legal
opinions, analyses, reports and other papers required to be delivered by this
Section 4 shall be in form and substance satisfactory to IFA Parent and the IFA
Entities and shall be delivered to them at the Closing Location or as such
Persons may otherwise direct.

         5. Special Covenants. Without limiting any other covenant or provision
hereof, each of the FC Parties and the Auto Entities covenants and agrees that
each Auto Entity shall comply with, perform and observe the following covenants
and provisions and that FC and Auto-GP shall cause each of the Auto

                                      -20-
<PAGE>   25

Entities to comply with, perform and observe said covenants and provisions as
are applicable thereto and (in both such cases) not to take any action that will
cause any of the representations or warranties contained in Section 2 hereof, or
any information on any of the schedules hereto, to be false, incorrect or
misleading.

         5.1 Prompt Payment of Indebtedness. Prior to Acquisition Effectiveness,
each Auto Entity will, and the FC Parties and Auto-GP will cause each Auto
Entity to, (a) pay or cause to be paid when due all payments of principal of and
premium and interest on Indebtedness for Money Borrowed and will not permit or
suffer any such Indebtedness for Money Borrowed to become or remain in default,
and (b) pay or cause to be paid in a manner consistent with prudent business
practice all trade payables (other than in the case of (a) and (b) above amounts
that are part of the Assumed Liabilities) and pay or cause to be paid when due
all other Indebtedness upon which it is or becomes obligated (other than amounts
that are part of the Assumed Liabilities), except (in the case of clause (a)) to
the extent payment is being contested in good faith.

         5.2 Conduct of Business. Until Acquisition Effectiveness, each Auto
Entity will, and the FC Parties and Auto-GP will cause each Auto Entity to, (a)
continue to engage in their respective current businesses in the ordinary
course, (b) comply with all Applicable Laws in respect of the conduct and
operation of their respective businesses and the ownership and operation of
their respective assets and properties, (c) take such other actions, and conduct
their respective businesses and operations in such a way, so that all of the
representations and warranties contained in Section 2 hereof will remain true,
correct and complete, (d) promptly give to each IFA Entity written notice of any
Legal Action to which any Auto Entity or Drive Entity may hereafter become a
party or to which any of their properties become subject, and (e) promptly give
written notice to each IFA Entity of any Insolvency Event and any Event or
Default or Potential Default, specifying the nature and period of existence of
any such Event of Default or Potential Default and what action FC or the
relevant Auto Entity has taken, is taking or proposes to take with respect
thereto.

         5.3 Distributions. Until Acquisition Effectiveness, neither Auto nor
Auto-GP will, nor will the FC Parties or Auto-GP permit Auto or Auto-GP to,
declare, order, pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Distribution or set
apart any sum or property therefor, or agree to do so, in each case except for
(x) those as may be consented to by IFA Parent in writing, and (y) the cash
distribution specifically referred to in Section 2.13(k).

         6. Definitions.

         (a) All references to Sections in this Agreement or in any schedule,
exhibit or annex hereto shall be deemed references to Sections in this Agreement
unless otherwise specified.

         (b) Phrases such as "hereof" and "herein" refer to the entire Agreement
and not just the section or other portion in which said reference appears.

         (c) As used in this Agreement, the terms "including," "including
without limitation" and "such as" (and like terms) are illustrative and not
limitative.

         (d) Terms used in this Agreement which are defined below shall have the
meanings specified below (unless otherwise defined or the context shall
otherwise indicate) and shall include in the singular number the plural and in
the plural number the singular. References to any gender shall include all
genders.

                                      -21-
<PAGE>   26

         "Acquisition" shall mean the acquisition by Drive and the other Drive
Entities of substantially all of the assets of Auto and CLC and, indirectly,
substantially all of the assets of Auto-ABS and assets of other Auto Entities
(as to the assets of Auto-FCAR and the Securitization Subsidiaries, by the
acquisition of the equity interests in such entities rather than the assets held
by such entities), pursuant to the Transfer Agreements, including the
acquisition by Drive of the Residuals and the Securitization Shares from CLC
pursuant to the Residuals Agreement (CLC).

         "Acquisition Assets" shall mean (i) the assets (including the Residuals
acquired by Auto from Auto-ABS pursuant to the Residuals Agreement (ABS))
acquired or to be acquired on the Closing Date by Drive from Auto pursuant to
the Asset Acquisition Agreement (Auto) and from CLC pursuant to the Residuals
Agreement (CLC), and (ii) the Residuals acquired or to be acquired pursuant to
the other Residuals Agreements.

         "Acquisition Effectiveness" shall mean the transfer of assets, on the
Closing Date, by Auto to Drive pursuant to the Asset Acquisition Agreement
(Auto) and by Drive to Drive-ABS pursuant to the Residuals Agreement (Drive).

         "Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person
which directly or indirectly controls, or is under common control with, or is
controlled by, such first Person and, if such first Person is an individual, any
member of the immediate family (including parents, spouse, children, siblings
and in-laws) of such individual and any trust whose principal beneficiary is
such individual or one or more members of such immediate family and any Person
who is controlled by any such member or trust. Unless otherwise specified, after
the Closing Date (and notwithstanding the preceding sentence), when used with
respect to (x) IFA-GP, IFA-LP, MG-LLC, MG-LP, Auto, Auto-GP and the Management
Members or (y) any Person with respect to which any Person in clause (x) is a
Subsidiary, "Affiliate" shall not include Drive-GP, Drive-LP or any Subsidiary
of either of the foregoing

         "Agreement" shall mean this Securities Purchase Agreement, together
with the Exhibits, Annexes and Schedules (if any) attached hereto, as it and
they may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time as
herein provided.

         "Applicable Law" shall mean any Law of any Authority, whether domestic
or foreign, to which the Person in question is subject or by which it or any of
its property is bound.

         "Asset Acquisition Agreement (Auto)" shall mean the Contribution and
Assumption Agreement dated as of August 18, 2000 between Auto and Drive, as
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with
its terms.

         "Assignment Agreements" shall mean the General Conveyance, Assignment
and Assumption Agreements executed by Auto-FCA and Auto, Auto-FCA and CLC,
Auto-FCA and FC Consumer Finance, Auto-Servicing and Auto, FC Consumer Finance
and CLC, together with the Residuals Agreement (ABS), each executed on or prior
to the Closing Date and providing for transfers of the assets referred to
therein by the transferor (the non-Auto party) to Auto or CLC, as appropriate,
as each is amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in
accordance with its terms.

         "Authority" shall mean any nation or government, any state or political
subdivision thereof and any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial,
regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government.

         "Auto" - introductory paragraph.

                                      -22-
<PAGE>   27

         "Auto Assets" shall mean the assets to be transferred by Auto to Drive
pursuant to the Asset Acquisition Agreement (Auto), including without limitation
(x) the Residuals transferred to Auto pursuant to the Residuals Agreement (ABS),
and (y) the assets transferred by Auto-FCA and Auto-Servicing to Auto pursuant
to the Assignment Agreements).

         "Auto Employee" - Section 2.11.

         "Auto Entities" shall mean Auto, Auto-GP, each of their respective
Subsidiaries and the Securitization Subsidiaries and each of their respective
Subsidiaries.

         "Auto Group" shall mean the Auto Entities, considered as a whole.

         "Auto-Servicing" shall mean FirstCity Servicing Corporation of
California, a California corporation.

         "Auto Subsidiaries" shall mean, Auto-FCA, Auto-FCAR, Auto-ABS and
Auto-Servicing.

         "Auto-ABS" shall mean FirstCity ABS Corp., a Delaware corporation.

         "Auto-FCA" shall mean FirstCity Auto Receivables LLC, a Texas limited
liability company.

         "Auto-FCAR" shall mean FCAR Receivables LLC, a Texas limited liability
company.

         "Auto-GP" - Recitals.

         "Auto-LP" shall mean Auto.

         "Balance Sheet Date" - Section 2.2(b).

         "Bankruptcy Code" shall mean 11 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq., as from
time to time in effect, and any successor law, and any reference to any
statutory provision shall be deemed to be a reference to any successor statutory
provision.

         "Benefit Arrangement", with respect to any Person, shall mean any
material benefit arrangement that is not a Plan, including (a) any employment or
consulting agreement, (b) any arrangement providing for insurance coverage or
workers' compensation benefits, (c) any incentive bonus or deferred bonus
arrangement, (d) any arrangement providing termination allowance, severance or
similar benefits, (e) any equity compensation plan, (f) any deferred
compensation plan, and (g) any compensation policy and practice, but only to the
extent that it covers or relates to any officer or employee involved with the
assets and property of such Person or the conduct or operation of such Person's
business.

         "BOA" shall mean Bank of America.

         "BOS" shall mean Bank of Scotland, BOS-UK's federal branch located in
New York City.

         "BOS-UK" shall mean The Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland.

         "BOS Group" shall mean BOS-UK and its consolidated Subsidiaries.

         "Business Day" shall mean any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any
day on which banks in New York City or Texas are authorized by law or other
governmental action to close.

                                      -23-
<PAGE>   28

         "Capital Note" shall mean the promissory note dated as of April 1, 2000
in an original principal face amount of $70,000,000 payable by Auto to CLC.

         "CEO" shall mean, with respect to a Person, that Person's chief
executive officer.

         "CFO" shall mean, with respect to a Person, that Person's chief
financial officer.

         "Charter Document" shall mean (i) with respect to a corporation, its
certificate or articles of incorporation or association and its by-laws (or
comparable documents under non-US laws); (ii) with respect to a partnership, its
partnership agreement, certificate of partnership (if a limited partnership) and
its certificate of doing business under an assumed name (if a general
partnership); (iii) with respect to a trust, its trust agreement or declaration
of trust; (iv) with respect to a limited liability company, its certificate of
formation and limited liability company agreement or operating agreement or
analogous documents; and (v) with respect to any other type of Person (other
than an individual), such documents as are analogous to the foregoing.

         "CLC" - introductory paragraph.

         "Closing" - Section 1.3.

         "Closing Date" - Section 1.3.

         "Closing Location" shall mean the offices of counsel for the IFA
Entities, Sullivan & Worcester LLP, in New York, New York or such other location
as the IFA Entities shall agree to.

         "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the rules and
regulations thereunder, all as from time to time in effect, or any successor
Law, rules or regulations, and any reference to any statutory or regulatory
provision shall be deemed to be a reference to any successor statutory or
regulatory provision.

         "Contract" and "Contractual Obligation" shall mean any agreement,
arrangement, commitment, contract, covenant, indemnity, undertaking or other
obligation or liability to which a Relevant Entity is a party or to which it or
any of its assets or property is subject (whether or not written).

         "control" (including the terms "controlling," "controlled by" and
"under common control with") shall mean the possession, direct or indirect, of
power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a
Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or partnership or
other ownership interests, by contract, or otherwise.

         "Convertible Securities" shall mean any evidences of indebtedness,
equity stock (other than Membership Interests, Limited Partnership Interests or
common stock) or other securities directly or indirectly convertible into or
exchangeable for Membership Interests, Limited Partnership Interests or common
stock, whether or not the right to convert or exchange thereunder is immediately
exercisable or is conditioned upon the passage of time, the occurrence or
non-occurrence or existence or non-existence of some other Event, or both.

         "COO" shall mean, with respect to a Person, that Person's chief
operating officer.

         "Current Loan Agreements" shall mean the Senior BOS Loan Agreement and
the IFA Subordinated Loan Agreement.

                                      -24-
<PAGE>   29

         "Damages" - Section 7.4.

         "Distribution" shall mean a dividend, distribution, redemption, return
of capital to one's equity holders as such, or any like payment or payment which
has the effect of any of the foregoing.

         "Drive" - Recitals.

         "Drive-ABS" shall mean Drive ABS LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

         "Drive-GP" - Recitals.

         "Drive-LP" shall mean Drive.

         "Drive Entities" shall mean Drive, Drive-GP and each of their
respective Subsidiaries.

         "Drive Group" shall mean the Drive Entities, considered as a whole.

         "Employment Agreement" shall mean the employment agreement between
Drive-LP and Thomas R. Brower, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified
from time to time in accordance with its terms.

         "Enforceability Exceptions" - Section 2.1(b).

         "Enterprise" shall mean Enterprise Funding Corporation, an Affiliate of
BOA.

         "Environmental Law" shall mean any Law relating to or otherwise
imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning pollution or protection of
the environment, all as from time to time in effect, and any reference to any
statutory or regulatory provision shall be deemed to be a reference to any
successor statutory or regulatory provision.

         "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
and the rules and regulations thereunder, all as from time to time in effect, or
any successor law, rules or regulations, and any reference to any statutory or
regulatory provision shall be deemed to be a reference to any successor
statutory or regulatory provision.

         "ERISA Affiliate" shall mean any Person that is treated as a single
employer with the Auto Entities under Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the
Code or Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA.

         "Event" shall mean the existence or occurrence of any act, action,
activity, circumstance, condition, event, fact, failure to act, omission,
incident or practice, or any set or combination of any of the foregoing.

         "Events of Default" shall mean each of the following:

                  (a) any Relevant Entity shall fail to observe or perform any
         of the covenants, agreements or provisions contained in Section 2 or 5
         hereof; or

                  (b) one or more final judgments for the payment of money in
         excess of $100,000 shall be rendered against one or more of the
         Relevant Entities subsequent to June 30, 2000 and on or prior to the
         Closing Date; or

                                      -25-
<PAGE>   30

                  (c) an Insolvency Event shall exist with respect to any
         Relevant Entity.

         "FC" shall mean FCFC.

         "FC Capital" shall mean FC Capital Corp., a New York corporation.

         "FC Consumer Finance" shall mean FirstCity Consumer Finance
Corporation, a Texas corporation.

         "FC Group" shall mean FCFC and its Subsidiaries.

         "FC Party" shall mean, individually and collectively, FC and CLC.

         "FCFC" - introductory paragraph.

         "Financial Statements" shall mean, with respect to any Person, the
statement of financial position (balance sheet) and the statement of earnings,
cash flow, and stockholders' (or partners') equity of such Person.

         "Fiscal Year" shall mean each January 1-December 31 period. "Fiscal
Year" followed by a year means the Fiscal Year with its Fiscal Year-End in such
calendar year.

         "Fiscal Year (Drive)" shall mean each March 1-February 28/29 period.
"Fiscal Year Drive" followed by a year means the Fiscal Year (Drive) with its
Fiscal Year-End in such calendar year.

         "Fiscal Year-End" shall mean, with respect to any Person, the last day
of such Person's fiscal year.

         "FSA" shall mean Financial Security Assurance Inc.

         "GAAP" shall mean generally accepted accounting principles (as
promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or any successor
entity).

         "Governmental Authorizations" shall mean all approvals, concessions,
consents, franchises, licenses, permits, plans, registrations and other
authorizations of all Authorities in connection with the ownership or operation
of the assets and property of the Relevant Entity or the conduct or operations
of the business of such Person.

         "Guarantee," "Guaranty" or "Guaranteed" shall mean and include all
liabilities and obligations under or by reason of any guarantee or other
contingent liability (other than endorsements of negotiable instruments for
collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect,
with respect to any Indebtedness, obligation or other liability (collectively,
an "obligation") of another Person, through an agreement or otherwise.

         "HSR" shall mean the Law commonly known as "Hart-Scott-Rodino" (or any
successor statute in effect from time to time), and the rules and regulations of
the Federal Trade Commission promulgated thereunder.

         "IFA" shall mean IFA Parent.

         "IFA Entities" shall mean IFA-GP and IFA-LP.

                                      -26-
<PAGE>   31

         "IFA-GP" - introductory paragraph.

         "IFA-LP" - introductory paragraph.

         "IFA Parent" shall mean IFA Incorporated, an Illinois corporation.

         "IFA Subordinated Loan Agreement" shall mean that certain Subordinated
Senior Secured Senior Note Purchase Agreement dated as of December 20, 1999 with
FCFC as borrower and IFA Parent as lender and agent, and the notes issued
thereunder, as such agreement and notes have been and may hereafter be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with their
respective terms.

         "Immediate Family" shall mean, with respect to any individual, his or
her spouses, past or present, children, parents and siblings, and any of the
spouses of the foregoing, past or present, in all cases whether related by
blood, by adoption or by marriage.

         "Indebtedness" shall mean, with respect to any Person, (a) all items,
except items of capital stock (or the like) or of surplus or of general
contingency or deferred Tax reserves or any minority interest in any subsidiary
of such Person to the extent such interest is treated as a liability with
indeterminate term on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person, which in
accordance with GAAP would be included in determining total liabilities as shown
on the liability side of a balance sheet of such Person, (b) all obligations
secured by any Lien to which any property or asset owned or held by such Person
is subject, whether or not the obligation secured thereby shall have been
assumed, and (c) to the extent not otherwise included, all Contractual
Obligations of such Person constituting capitalized leases and all obligations
of such Person with respect to leases constituting part of a sale and leaseback
arrangement.

         "Indebtedness for Money Borrowed" shall mean, with respect to any
Person, (i) money borrowed and Indebtedness represented by notes payable and
drafts accepted representing extensions of credit, (ii) all obligations
evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii) the
maximum amount currently or at any time thereafter available to be drawn under
all outstanding letters of credit issued for the account of such Person, (iv)
all Indebtedness upon which interest charges are customarily paid by such
Person, (v) all Indebtedness (including capitalized lease obligations) issued or
assumed as full or partial payment for property or services, whether or not any
such notes, drafts, obligations or Indebtedness represent Indebtedness for Money
Borrowed, and (vi) all Guarantees in respect of Indebtedness for Money Borrowed
of others, but shall not include (a) trade payables, (b) expenses accrued in the
ordinary course of business, (c) customer advance payments and customer deposits
received in the ordinary course of business, or (d) conditional sales agreements
not prohibited by the terms of this Agreement.

         "Indemnified Parties" - Section 7.4

         "Insolvency Event" shall mean the occurrence of any of the following
with respect to a Person: such Person shall make an assignment for the benefit
of, or composition with, creditors or shall become insolvent or be unable, or
generally fail, to pay its debts when due; or any bankruptcy, insolvency or
other proceeding for the relief of financially distressed debtors shall be
commenced with respect to such Person, or a receiver, liquidator, custodian or
trustee shall be appointed for such Person or a substantial part of its assets,
and, if any of the same shall occur involuntarily as to such Person, it shall
not be dismissed, stayed or discharged within 60 days; or if any order for
relief shall be entered against such Person under Title 11 of the United States
Code entitled "Bankruptcy" (or any analogous statute); or such Person shall take
any action to effect, or which indicates its acquiescence in, any of the
foregoing.

                                      -27-
<PAGE>   32

         "Law" shall mean (a) any administrative, judicial, legislative or other
action, code, consent decree, constitution, decree, directive, enactment,
finding, Law, injunction, judgment, order, ordinance, proclamation, regulation,
requirement, rule, statute, or writ of any Authority; (b) the common law; or (c)
any arbitrator's or referee's award or decision

         "Legal Action" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any and all
litigation or legal or other actions, arbitrations, counterclaims,
investigations, proceedings, requests for material information by or pursuant to
the order of any Authority or suits, at law or in arbitration, equity or
admiralty, whether or not purported to be brought on behalf of such Person,
affecting such Person or any of such Person's business, property or assets.

         "Lien" shall mean any of the following: mortgage; lien (statutory or
other); or other security agreement, arrangement or interest; hypothecation,
pledge or other deposit arrangement; assignment; charge; levy; executory
seizure; attachment; garnishment; encumbrance (including any easement,
exception, reservation or limitation, right of way, and the like); conditional
sale, title retention or other similar agreement, arrangement, device or
restriction; any financing lease involving substantially the same economic
effect as any of the foregoing; or any restriction on sale, transfer,
assignment, disposition or other alienation.

         "Limited Partnership Interests" shall mean the limited partnership
interests in Drive described in Drive's Partnership Agreement.

         "Loan Agreements" shall mean the Current Loan Agreements and the New
Loan Agreements.

         "Management Group" shall mean, collectively, the Management Members.

         "Management Group Partnership Agreement" shall mean the limited
partnership agreement of MG-LP, as the same may from time to time be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with its terms and those of the
Shareholders Agreement.

         "Management Members" shall mean the following individuals: Blake
Bozman, Thomas Brower, Thomas Dundon, Scot Foith, Bradley Reeves, Stephen Trent
and R. Tyler Whann.

         "Material Adverse Change" in respect of a Person shall mean a material
adverse change in the business, properties, operations or condition (financial
or otherwise) of such Person.

         "Material Adverse Effect" in respect of a Person shall mean an effect
that would result in a Material Adverse Change.

         "material adverse" when used in uncapitalized form (alone or in
conjunction with other terms ) shall mean, with respect to the Person(s)
indicated, any Event or set of Events which could reasonably be expected to (a)
have any material adverse effect upon or result in any material adverse change
in the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any Related Document, (b)
materially and adversely affect the business, properties, operations or
condition (financial or otherwise) of such Person, (c) materially impair the
Relevant Entity's ability to fulfill its obligations under the terms of any
material agreement, instrument or other document executed or required to be
executed by such Person, (d) materially and adversely affect the rights and
remedies of any party (other than the Relevant Entities) under this Agreement or
any Related Document, or (e) materially and adversely affect any Relevant
Entity's ability to perform this Agreement or any of the other Related
Documents.

                                      -28-
<PAGE>   33

         "Material Contract" - Section 2.12.

         "MBIA" shall mean MBIA Insurance Corporation.

         "Membership Interests" shall mean the membership interests in Drive-GP
described in Drive-GP's Operating Agreement.

         "MG-LLC" shall mean Drive Management GP LLC, a Texas limited liability
company.

         "MG-LP" shall mean Drive Management LP, a Texas limited partnership,
all of the limited partnership interests of which are owned by the Management
Members.

         "Most Recent Balance Sheet" - Section 2.2.

         "Multiemployer Plan" shall mean a Plan which is a "multiemployer plan"
within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

         "New Loan Agreements" shall mean, collectively, the New Warehouse
Facility Loan Agreement and the New Term Loan Agreement.

         "New Term Loan Agreement" shall mean that certain $60,000,000
(principal amount) Loan Agreement dated as of August 18, 2000 between Drive-ABS
and IFA Parent executed by the parties thereto on or about the Closing Date (or
prior to such date but subsequent to the date hereof).

         "New Warehouse Facility Loan Agreement" shall mean that certain
$100,000,000 (principal amount) Loan Agreement between Drive-BOS and IFA Parent
executed by the parties thereto on or about the Closing Date (or prior to such
date but subsequent to the date hereof).

         "Nomura" shall mean Nomura Securities (Bermuda) Ltd.

         "Operating Agreement" shall mean the limited liability company
agreement or operating agreement of Drive-GP, as in effect on the Closing Date
and as the same may from time to time be amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified in accordance with its terms.

         "Option" shall mean that certain option, executed on or about December
20, 1999, issued in connection with FC's purchase from IFA Parent on or about
said date of $25,000,000 principal amount of subordinated notes, as such option
has been and may hereafter be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified in
accordance with its terms.

         "Option Securities" shall mean all rights, options, warrants and the
like, and calls or commitments evidencing the right, to subscribe for, purchase
or otherwise acquire shares of capital stock, Convertible Securities, Membership
Interests or partnership interests whether or not the right to subscribe for,
purchase or otherwise acquire is immediately exercisable or is conditioned upon
the passage of time, the occurrence or non-occurrence or the existence or
non-existence of some other Event.

         "Option Warrant" shall mean the definitive form of warrant attached as
Annex A to the Option or otherwise deemed to be such definitive warrant in
accordance with the provisions of Section 7(b) of the Option.

                                      -29-
<PAGE>   34

         "Partnership Agreement" shall mean the limited partnership agreement of
Drive as in effect on the Closing Date and as the same may from time to time be
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with its terms and
with IFA-LP's prior written consent.

         "PeopleSoft" shall mean PeopleSoft USA, Inc.

         "Permitted Liens" shall mean:

                  (a) Liens for taxes if payment shall not at the time be
         required to be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.1;

                  (b) Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, laborers,
         materialmen and landlords incurred in the ordinary course of business
         for sums not yet due or being contested in good faith, if payment shall
         not be required to be made in accordance with the provisions of Section
         5.1;

                  (c) Liens arising out of judgments or awards, and appeal and
         similar bonds incident to the conduct of legal actions, against such
         Person with respect to which such Person shall then be prosecuting
         appeal or other proceedings for review (and as to which any foreclosure
         or other enforcement proceedings shall not have begun or shall have
         been fully bonded or otherwise effectively stayed), which litigation
         has been listed on Schedule 2.6(c) hereto and which appeal or like
         proceedings are being diligently pursued in good faith by appropriate
         proceedings by the Person against whom such judgment or award was
         rendered;

                  (d) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business in
         connection with worker's compensation and unemployment insurance Laws,
         but only so long as no foreclosure, distraint, sale or similar
         proceedings have been commenced with respect thereto;

                  (e) Liens consisting of zoning regulations, easements, rights
         of way, survey exceptions and other similar restrictions on the use of
         real property or minor irregularities in titles thereto which do not
         materially impair use of such property by the relevant Person or its
         Affiliates in the operation of the business of such Person or its
         Affiliates;

                  (f) Liens in favor of BOS-UK, BOS or IFA Parent; and

                  (g) Liens set forth on Schedule 2.4 hereto, but not to include
         any which are required to be removed on or before the Closing Date by
         this Agreement or any other Related Document or are indicated on such
         schedule as being required to be removed on or by such date.

         "Person" shall mean and include an individual, a partnership, a
corporation (including a business trust), a joint stock company, the BOS Group,
the CLC Group, the Auto Group, the Drive Group, the Management Group, a limited
liability company, a not-for-profit corporation or other not-for-profit entity,
a trust, an unincorporated association, a joint venture or other entity or an
Authority.

         "Plan" shall mean, with respect to any Person and at a particular time,
any employee benefit plan which is covered by ERISA and in respect of which such
Person or an ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated at such time,
would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an "employer" as defined in
Section 3(5) of ERISA, but only to the extent that it covers or relates to any
officer, employee or other Person involved in the ownership and operation of the
assets and property of the Auto Entities or Drive Entities or the conduct of the
business or operations of the Auto Entities or Drive Entities.

                                      -30-
<PAGE>   35

         "Potential Default" shall mean any Event which after notice, passage of
time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

         "Private Authorizations" shall mean all approvals, concessions,
consents, franchises, licenses, permits, and other authorizations of all Persons
(other than Authorities).

         "Projections" shall mean the items listed in Section 4.4(c).

         "Purchase Price" shall mean, unless the context shall otherwise
indicate, the aggregate amount of the Purchase Price (LPI) and the Purchase
Price (MI).

         "Purchase Price (LPI)" - Section 1.2.

         "Purchase Price (MI)" - Section 1.2.

         "real property" shall mean all of the fee estates and buildings and
other fixtures and improvements thereon, leasehold interests, easements,
licenses, rights to access, right-of-way, and other real property interests
which are owned or used by any Auto Entity or, upon Acquisition Effectiveness,
to be owned or used by any Drive Entity.

         "Related Documents" shall mean this Agreement, the Transfer Agreements,
the Employment Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement, the Services Agreements,
the Charter Documents of the Drive Entities, the New Loan Agreements and each
other agreement, instrument and other document executed or required to be
executed by any of the Relevant Entities on or prior to the Closing Date or at
any time thereafter in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the other Related Documents, in each case as amended, supplemented
or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with their respective
terms.

         "Relevant Entity" shall mean, collectively, the FC Parties, the Drive
Entities and the Auto Entities, or such one or more of them as the context shall
indicate.

         "Requisite Consents" - Section 4.8.

         "Residuals" shall mean the interests (whether or not represented by a
certificate, instrument or otherwise) in the relevant receivables retained by
the relevant Auto Entity or Drive Entity (as the case may be) in connection with
securitization transactions to which any of the foregoing have been party.

         "Residuals Agreement (ABS)" shall mean the General Conveyance,
Assignment and Assumption Agreement dated as of August 18, 2000 between Auto-ABS
and Auto, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in
accordance with its terms.

         "Residuals Agreement (CLC)" shall mean the Contribution and Assumption
Agreement dated as of August 18, 2000 between CLC and Drive, as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its
terms.

         "Residuals Agreement (Drive)" shall mean the Contribution and
Assumption Agreement dated as of August 18, 2000 between Drive and Drive-ABS, as
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with
its terms.

         "Residuals Agreements" shall mean the Residuals Agreement (ABS), the
Residuals Agreement (CLC) and the Residuals Agreement (Drive).

                                      -31-
<PAGE>   36

         "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder, all as from time to time in effect, or
any successor law, rules or regulations, and any reference to any statutory or
regulatory provision shall be deemed to be a reference to any successor
statutory or regulatory provision.

         "SEC" shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

         "Securitization Shares" shall mean all of the issued and outstanding
shares of each of the Securitization Subsidiaries.

         "Securitization Subsidiaries" shall mean N.A.F. Receivables Corp, a
Delaware corporation; FirstCity Receivables Corp. 2, a Delaware corporation;
FirstCity Receivables Corp. 3, a Delaware corporation; FirstCity Receivables
Corp. 4, a Delaware corporation; FirstCity Receivables Corp. 5, a Delaware
corporation; and FirstCity Receivables Corp. 7, a Delaware corporation.

         "Securitizations" shall mean the transactions listed on Schedule 6
hereto.

         "Senior BOS Loan Agreement" shall mean that certain Amended and
Restated Loan Agreement dated as of December 20, 1999 (for reference purposes
only) with FCFC as borrower, BOS and BOA as lenders, and BOS as agent for such
lenders, as such agreement has been and may hereafter be amended, supplemented
or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms.

         "Services Agreement (BOS)" shall mean that certain agreement dated as
of August 18, 2000 between IFA-GP and Drive which provides for, among other
things, certain personnel of the BOS Group (as defined in the Shareholders
Agreement) to work for Drive, as such agreement may be amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms.

         "Services Agreement (FC)" shall mean that certain agreement dated as of
August 18, 2000 among CLC Auto-Servicing and Drive, as such agreement may be
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with
its terms.

         "Services Agreement (Moore)" shall mean that certain agreement dated as
of August 18, 2000 between FCFC and Drive which provides for, among other
things, Jim Moore to work for Drive, as such agreement may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its
terms.

         "Services Agreements" shall mean the Services Agreement (BOS), the
Services Agreement (FC) and the Services Agreement (Moore).

         "Shareholders Agreement" mean the Agreement Among Members dated as of
August 18, 2000 among IFA-GP, CLC, the Management Members and Drive-GP, as the
same may from time to time be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified.

         "Sold Subsidiaries" shall mean Auto-FCAR and the Securitization
Subsidiaries.

         "Specified Financial Statements" shall mean (i) the consolidated
balance sheets, statements of earnings and statements of cash flow of the Auto
Entities for each of the three years ended December 31, 1999, (ii) the unaudited
consolidated balance sheet and statement of earnings of the Auto Entities for
the seven months ended June 31, 2000 and the corresponding period of the prior
fiscal year, and (iii) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet and statement of
earnings for the fiscal year to date of the Auto Entities through July 31, 2000
and the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year.

                                      -32-
<PAGE>   37

         "Subject Securities" - Section 1.1.

         "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any other firm, corporation,
limited liability company, partnership, trust or other unincorporated
organization or association or other enterprise, 50% or more of the indicia of
equity rights (whether capital stock or otherwise) of which is at the time
owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person and/or by one or more of such
Person's Subsidiaries.

         "Tax" (and "Taxable", which shall mean subject to Tax), shall mean,
with respect to any Person, (a) all taxes (domestic or foreign), including
without limitation any income (net, gross or other including recapture of any
Tax items such as investment Tax credits), alternative or add-on minimum Tax,
gross income, gross receipts, gains, sales, use, leasing, lease, user, ad
valorem, transfer, recording, franchise, profits, property (real or personal,
tangible or intangible), fuel, license, withholding on amounts paid to or by
such Person, payroll, employment, unemployment, social security, excise,
severance, stamp, occupation, premium, environmental or windfall profit Tax,
custom, duty or other Tax, or other like assessment or charge of any kind
whatsoever, together with any interest, levies, assessments, charges, penalties,
additions to Tax or additional amount imposed by any Taxing Authority, (b) any
joint or several liability of such Person with any other Person for the payment
of any amounts of the type described in (a), and (c) any liability of such
Person for the payment of any amounts of the type described in (a) as a result
of any express or implied obligation to indemnify any other Person.

         "Tax Return(s)" shall mean all returns, consolidated or otherwise
(including without limitation information returns), required to be filed with
any Authority with respect to Taxes, including without limitation Forms K-1.

         "Taxing Authority" shall mean any Authority responsible for the
imposition of any Tax.

         "Transfer Agreements" shall mean, collectively, the Asset Acquisition
Agreement (Auto), the Residuals Agreements and the Assignment Agreements.

         "Y2K Problems" shall mean the inability of computer applications used
by any Auto Entity to recognize and perform properly date-sensitive functions
involving certain dates subsequent to December 31, 1999.

         7. Miscellaneous Provisions.

         7.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to
the Closing Date by mutual consent of the parties hereto.

         7.2 Stamp and Other Taxes. The FC Parties and the Auto Entities jointly
and severally covenant and agree that they will pay all documentary stamp or
similar excise taxes, including any interest or penalties thereon, which may be
legally payable in connection with or arising out of the issue or transfer of
any of the Subject Securities and will indemnify each holder of any thereof
against, and save it harmless from, any liability, cost or expense in respect of
any such stamp taxes or other taxes and any interest or penalties thereon. The
foregoing agreement in this connection shall survive termination of this
Agreement. After the Closing Date, the obligations under this Section 7.2 may be
assumed by Drive.

         7.3 Expenses. FC shall pay the legal fees and expenses of all counsel
referred to in Section 4.24 in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement and the other Related Documents (other than those involving the
preparation, negotiation, revision, execution and closing of the New Warehouse
Facility Loan Agreement), whether rendered before, on or after the Closing Date
(but not for

                                      -33-
<PAGE>   38

any period subsequent to 60 days after the Closing Date). The legal fees and
expenses of all other counsel in connection herewith shall be paid by their
respective clients.

         7.4 Indemnification.

         (a) Each of the FC Parties and Auto hereby jointly and severally agree
to indemnify, pay and hold harmless IFA Parent, IFA-GP and IFA-LP and each of
them (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties") from and against all liability,
losses, damages and expenses (collectively, "Damages"), including without
limitation legal fees and expenses, incurred by any one or more of them as a
result of any representation or warranty contained in Section 2 of this
Agreement or otherwise made by any FC Party or Auto Entity in connection with
the Acquisition or the transactions contemplated hereby being incorrect,
incomplete or misleading. The obligations provided for in this Section 7.4 shall
survive for seven years from the Closing Date with respect to all Tax-related
representations and warranties and for 30 months from the Closing Date with
respect to all other representations and warranties.

         (b) Neither of the FC Parties or Auto shall be required to make any
payments under Section 7.4(a) until the aggregate amount payable thereunder
shall exceed $250,000, and then only for the amount in excess of said $250,000
in the aggregate; provided, however, that the foregoing provisions of this
Section 7.4(b) shall not apply to matters arising in respect of Sections 2.1(e),
2.7, 2.9, 2.15, 2.16 or 2.19 or to any breach of a representation or warranty
made by FC, CLC, Auto or Auto-GP of which FC, CLC, Auto or Auto-GP had knowledge
prior to the Closing Date or to any intentional breach of any representation,
warranty or obligation of any FC Party or Auto Entity, and each FC Party and
Auto will be jointly and severally liable for all Damages with respect to each
such breach.

         7.5 Survival of Covenants; Assignment.

         (a) All covenants, agreements and representations made herein and in
certificates delivered in connection herewith shall be deemed material and
relied on by the IFA Entities notwithstanding any investigation made by either
of them or in its or their behalf, and shall survive the execution and delivery
of the Subject Securities and its payment therefor for a period of two years
after the Closing Date except those relating to Taxes which shall survive until
the end of the Fiscal Year following the sixth anniversary of the Closing Date.

         (b) In furtherance and not in limitation of the provisions of clause
(a) above: NO INVESTIGATION PERFORMED BY OR ON BEHALF OF ANY OF THE IFA ENTITIES
OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES (OR BY ANY OFFICER, DIRECTOR, EMPLOYEE OR
AGENT OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING), NOR ANY INFORMATION POSSESSED BY ANY SUCH
PERSON, SHALL AFFECT ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY MADE IN THIS AGREEMENT
(UNLESS EXPRESSLY ADDRESSED IN SUCH REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY) BY ANY OF THE
OTHER PARTIES HERETO, OR ANY CONDITION TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HERETO,
OR LIMIT THE SCOPE OF ANY SUCH REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS, OR IN
ANY WAY LIMIT ANY LIABILITY OF ANY FC PARTY OR AUTO UNDER SECTION 7.4.

         7.6 Notices. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all
notices, requests, demands or other communications to or upon the respective
parties hereto shall be deemed to have been duly given or made when delivered if
sent by Federal Express or other similar overnight delivery service or by
telecopier, or five Business Days after mailing (when mailed, postage prepaid,
by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested); in each case
addressed as follows: All such notices and communications shall be mailed, sent
or delivered as follows:

                                      -34-
<PAGE>   39

                  If to IFA-GP or IFA-LP:

                           26th floor
                           565 Fifth Avenue
                           New York, New York 10017
                           Attention:  Jim Halley, President
                           Telephone No.:  (212) 450-0829
                           Telecopier No.: (212) 883-6612

                  If to FC, CLC, Auto or Auto-GP:

                           6400 Imperial Drive
                           P.O. Box 8216
                           Waco, TX  76712
                           Attention:  Jim Sartain
                           Telephone No.:  (254) 751-1750
                           Telecopier No.: (254) 751-7725

or to such other person(s), facsimile number(s) or address(es) as the party to
receive any such notice or other communication may have designated by written
notice to the other parties.

         7.7 Amendment; Waiver.

         (a) Except as may otherwise be specifically provided herein, no
provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated
orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by all the parties hereto.
Any such change, waiver, discharge or termination shall be effective only in the
specific instance and for the specific purposes for which made or given.

         (b) No failure or delay on the part of any of the parties hereto in
exercising any right, power or privilege under this Agreement, and no course of
dealing between or among any one or more of them shall operate as a waiver
thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or
privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the
exercise of any other right, power or privilege.

         7.8 Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS
EXECUTED WHOLLY WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK (REGARDLESS OF THE PLACE WHERE THIS
AGREEMENT IS EXECUTED) AND WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CONFLICT OF LAWS
PROVISIONS.

         7.9 Entire Agreement. (a) Integration. This Agreement, together with
the other Related Documents, comprises the complete and integrated agreement of
the parties on the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior
agreements, written or oral, between or among the parties hereto on the subject
matter hereof and thereof. There are no terms, obligations, covenants,
representations, statements or conditions other than those contained herein and
in the other Related Documents.

         (b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, unless a
party hereto otherwise requests with respect to any specific exhibit, exhibits
to this Agreement shall not be required to be attached to the execution or any
other copy of this Agreement, and any references in this Agreement or any
Related Document to such exhibits as "Exhibits hereto," "Exhibits to this
Agreement" or words of similar effect shall be deemed to refer to such document
as executed by the relevant parties thereto and delivered on the Closing Date.

                                      -35-
<PAGE>   40

         7.10 Jurisdiction. Each party hereto hereby agrees that any legal
action or proceeding against it or any of its Affiliates with respect to this
Agreement or any of the agreements or other documents delivered pursuant hereto
or in connection herewith may (and shall exclusively) be brought in the courts
of the State of New York located in New York City or of the United States of
America for the Southern District of New York as the party bringing such action
or proceeding may elect, and, by execution and delivery hereof, each of the
parties hereto hereby accepts and consents for itself and in respect to its
property, generally and unconditionally, with respect to any such action or
proceeding, the exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and waives any
right to stay or to dismiss any such action or proceeding brought before said
courts on the basis of forum non conveniens; provided that nothing contained
herein shall limit the right of IFA-GP or IFA-LP or any member of the BOS Group
to bring any such action or proceeding in the courts of Texas or any other
jurisdiction where IFA-GP or IFA-LP or such member may obtain proper
jurisdiction over such party. The parties hereto further agree that the
provisions of Sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 of the General Obligations Law of the
State of New York shall apply to this Agreement and such other agreements and
documents. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably consents that all process served
or brought against it with respect to any such action or proceeding in any such
court shall be effective and binding service in every respect if sent by
registered mail, or (if permitted by law) by Federal Express or other similar
overnight courier service, to such party at its address set forth in Section 7.6
(or such other address as the other parties hereto are notified of in accordance
with the provisions of said Section); nothing in this Section 7.10 shall affect
the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by
law.

         7.11 Business Days. Whenever a specified time period is provided for
herein and such period ends on a day which is not a Business Day, the last day
of such period shall be deemed extended to the next succeeding day which is a
Business Day.

         7.12 Headings; Counterparts. The headings contained in this Agreement
are for reference purposes only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning of any provision of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in
any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one instrument, binding upon all of the parties
hereto. In pleading or proving any provision of this Agreement, it shall not be
necessary to produce more than one of such counterparts. Telecopied signatures
hereto shall be of the same force and effect as an original of a manually signed
copy.

         7.13 Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement shall be
held or deemed to be, or shall in fact be, invalid, inoperative, illegal or
unenforceable as applied to any particular case in any jurisdiction or
jurisdictions, or in all jurisdictions or in all cases, because of the
conflicting of any provision with any constitution or statute or rule of public
policy or for any other reason, such circumstance shall not have the effect of
rendering the provision or provisions in question invalid, inoperative, illegal
or unenforceable in any other jurisdiction or in any other case or circumstance
or of rendering any other provision or provisions herein contained invalid,
inoperative, illegal or unenforceable to the extent that such other provisions
are not themselves actually in conflict with such constitution, statute or rule
of public policy, but this Agreement shall be reformed and construed in any such
jurisdiction or case as if such invalid, inoperative, illegal or unenforceable
provision had never been contained herein and such provision reformed so that it
would be valid, operative and enforceable to the maximum extent permitted in
such jurisdiction or in such case. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event
of any such determination the effect of which is to affect materially and
adversely any party, the parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this
Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as
possible to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law in an acceptable
manner to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled and
consummated to the maximum extent possible.

                                      -36-
<PAGE>   41

         7.14 Further Acts. Each party agrees that at any time, and from time to
time, after the Closing Date, it will do all such things and execute and deliver
all such Related Documents and other assurances, as any other party or its
counsel reasonably deems necessary or desirable in order to carry out the terms
and conditions of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or to
facilitate the enjoyment of any of the rights created hereby.

         7.15 Mutual Drafting. This Agreement and the other Related Documents
are the result of the joint efforts of the parties hereto and thereto,
respectively, and each provision hereof and thereof has been subject to the
mutual consultation, negotiation and agreement of the parties to each and there
shall be no construction against any party based on any presumption of that
party's involvement in the drafting hereof or thereof.

         7.16 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is solely for the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted
assigns. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to confer upon anyone other
than the relevant parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted
assigns any right to insist on or to enforce the performance or observance of
any of the obligations contained herein.

         7.17 Jury Waiver. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND
INTENTIONALLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHTS IT OR HE MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN
RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION BASED ON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER, OR IN CONNECTION
WITH, THIS AGREEMENT OR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF
DEALING, STATEMENTS (WHETHER VERBAL OR WRITTEN) OR ACTIONS OF OR BY ANY PARTY
HERETO OR ANY AFFILIATE THEREOF.

                                      -37-
<PAGE>   42

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION    FIRSTCITY CONSUMER LENDING CORPORATION

By                                 By
  -----------------------------      --------------------------------
  Name:                              Name:
  Title:                             Title:

FIRSTCITY FUNDING GP CORP.         FIRSTCITY FUNDING, L.P.
                                   By FirstCity Funding GP Corp., its
By                                 general partner
  -----------------------------
  Name:                            By
  Title:                             --------------------------------
                                     Name:
                                     Title:

IFA DRIVE GP HOLDINGS LLC          IFA DRIVE LP HOLDINGS LLC

By                                 By
  ----------------------------       --------------------------------
  Name:                              Name:
  Title:                             Title:

<PAGE>   43

                                                                       Schedules

   [Forms of Schedules are in a separate Word document, being sent at the same
    time as this; a list of schedules is at the end of the Table of Contents]

                                      -2-

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00014-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00014-of-00352.parquet"}]]