Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.23

                                 AMENDMENT NO. 2
                             TO TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

         THIS AMENDMENT NO. 2, dated as of April 30, 1999 (the "SECOND
AMENDMENT"), to the Term Loan Agreement, dated as of April 30, 1998, as amended
by Amendment No. 1 to the Term Loan Agreement (the "FIRST AMENDMENT") dated as
of September 29, 1998 (the Term Loan Agreement as amended by the First
Amendment, this Second Amendment and as may be further amended from time to
time, the "LOAN AGREEMENT") by and among VISIBLE GENETICS CORP., a Delaware
corporation (the "BORROWER"), and HILAL CAPITAL, LP, a Delaware limited
partnership, HILAL CAPITAL QP, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, HILAL CAPITAL
INTERNATIONAL, LTD., an exempted company formed under the laws of the Cayman
Islands, Highbridge International LLC, a Cayman Islands company, and HILAL
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as advisor for LEO
HOLDINGS, INC. ("LHI") (each, a "LENDER" and collectively the "LENDERS"). Unless
otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Loan Agreement are used herein as
therein defined.

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         The Borrower, the Lenders and C.J. Partners L.P. ("CJP") are parties to
the Loan Agreement, pursuant to which the Lenders and CJP have made the Initial
Loans and certain of the Lenders have made the Tranche A Loan to the Borrower.

         The Borrower and the Guarantor have requested that the Initial Maturity
Date be extended to December 31,1999.

         The Borrower and the Guarantor have also requested the Lenders to
permit Borrower, Guarantor and their Affiliates to incur secured Indebtedness
which may be senior to the Obligations.

         In consideration for the extension of the Initial Maturity Date and the
Lender's permission to incur secured Indebtedness senior to the Initial Loan,
the Guarantor has agreed to issue to the Lenders additional warrants to purchase
an aggregate of 140,000 common shares of the Guarantor.

         The Lenders have requested that the Tranche A Maturity Date be
accelerated to July 1, 1999.

         Concurrently with the transactions contemplated by this Second
Amendment, CJP is assigning to certain of the Lenders its entire interest in its
Initial Loan in the principal amount of $500,000 (after the repayment of
interest contemplated hereby) and LHI is assigning to certain of the Lenders
$100,000 principal amount of its Initial Loan, such that after giving effect to
such assignments, the ownership of the Initial Loans will be as set forth in
EXHIBIT A hereto, which replaces Exhibit A to the Loan Agreement.

<PAGE>

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and
valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the
Loan Parties and the Lender hereby agree as follows:

         1. AMENDMENTS. The Loan Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

              (a) DEFINITIONS MODIFIED. Section 1.01 of the Loan Agreement is
amended by modifying the following definitions:

                  (i) The definition of "INITIAL MATURITY DATE" is hereby
deleted in its entirety, and the following is hereby substituted therefor:

                      "INITIAL MATURITY DATE" means December 31, 1999.

                  (ii) The definition of "TRANCHE A MATURITY DATE" is deleted in
its entirety, and the following is hereby substituted therefor:

                       "TRANCHE A MATURITY DATE" means July 1, 1999.

              (b) DEFINITIONS ADDED. Section 1.01 of the Loan Agreement is
amended by inserting the following definitions in the appropriate alphabetical
order:

                  "PERMITTED SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS" means Indebtedness in a
     maximum principal amount not to exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate
     outstanding at any time plus premium, interest, fees, expenses,
     reimbursements and other amounts, direct or contingent, for which Borrower,
     Guarantor or any of their Affiliates may hereafter be under obligation to
     one or more Senior Lenders and any promissory note, security agreement,
     pledge agreement, financing agreement, mortgage, deed of trust or other
     agreement or instrument related thereto, which by its terms is senior and
     prior to the Obligations pursuant to a Permitted Subordination Agreement.

                  "PERMITTED SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT" means a Subordination
     Agreement among the Lenders and the Senior Lenders, in the form of Exhibit
     B to this Amendment No. 2, or such other agreement (i) containing
     substantially the same material terms and conditions, or (ii) to which the
     Lenders may agree, which agreement may not be unreasonably withheld.

                  "SENIOR LENDERS" means any bank, lending institution,
     financial institution, fund, investment partnership or other institutional
     lender or a group of lenders that holds Permitted Senior Indebtedness

              (c) "SECTION 5.02 REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF
LENDERS. The Lenders covenant and agree that if Borrower or Guarantor wish to
enter into Permitted Senior Indebtedness, Lenders shall execute and deliver to
the Senior Lenders a Permitted Subordination Agreement.

              (d) Section 6.02(a) of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by:
deleting the word "and" from the end of Section 6.02(a)(vi); adding the word
"and" at the end of Section

                                       2

<PAGE>

6.02(a)(vii); and inserting immediately after Section 6.02(a)(vii) new Section
6.02(a)(viii) to read in its entirety as follows:

                  "(viii) Liens securing Permitted Senior Indebtedness in favor
     of the Senior Lenders.

              (e) Section 6.02(b) of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by
deleting the word "and" from the end of Section 6.02(b)(vii); adding the word
"and" at the end of Section 6.02(b)(viii); and inserting immediately after
Section 6.02(b)(viii) new Section 6.02(b)(ix) to read in its entirety as
follows:

                  "(ix)  Permitted Senior Indebtedness."

              (f) The Borrower and the Lenders agree that any other provision of
the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document, which is inconsistent with the
terms and conditions set forth in this Second Amendment hereby is automatically
deemed amended in such manner so at to make such provision consistent with the
terms hereof.

         2. REPAYMENT OF INTEREST ON INITIAL LOANS. Concurrent herewith, the
Borrower has paid all accured and unpaid interest on the Initial Loans, in the
aggregate amount of $722,455, receipt of which hereby is acknowledged by the
Lenders and CJP.

         3. CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS. This Amendment shall become effective
on the date (the "SECOND AMENDMENT EFFECTIVE DATE") as of which each of the
following conditions precedent shall have been satisfied in a manner
satisfactory to the Lender.

              (a) NO EVENT OF DEFAULT. No Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing on the Second Amendment Effective Date or would
result from this Amendment becoming effective in accordance with its terms.

              (b) DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS. The Lenders shall have received on or
before the Amendment Effective Date the following:

                  (i) Counterparts of this Amendment No. 2 signed by Borrower;

                  (ii) An agreement by the Guarantor, in the form of Exhibit C
hereto, pursuant to which the Guarantor (A) consents to this Second Amendment,
(B) acknowledges that the Guarantee and the Security Amendment remain in force
and effect and extend to the Loan Agreement as amended by this Second Amendment
and (C) acknowledges that the Additional Warrants (as defined below), and any
securities issuable pursuant thereto, constitute "Registrable Securities" under,
and as defined in, the Registration Rights Agreement; and

                  (iii) The Warrants between each Lender and the Guarantor,
representing warrants to purchase, in the aggregate, 140,000 common shares of
the Guarantor, issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement substantially in the form
attached as Exhibit D hereto

                                       3

<PAGE>

(the "Additional Warrants"), each duly executed by the Guarantor (the number of
warrants to be issued to each Lender is set forth on Exhibit A to this Second
Amendment)

         4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Borrower hereby represents and
warrants to the Lenders as follows:

              (a) No event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from
the execution and delivery of this Second Amendment, which constitutes or would
constitute a Default or an Event of Default.

              (b) The Borrower has the legal capacity to execute, deliver and
perform this Second Amendment and the other Loan Documents to which the Borrower
is a party and to perform the Loan Agreement, as amended hereby.

              (c) The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of
this Second Amendment and the other Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a
party, and the performance by the Borrower of the Loan Agreement, as amended
hereby, (i) do not and will not contravene any law or, to the Borrower's
knowledge, any contractual restriction binding on or otherwise affecting the
Borrower, or any of the Borrower's properties, and (ii) do not and will not
result in or require the creation of any Lien upon or with respect to any of the
Borrower's properties, other than the security interests created by the Loan
Documents or as otherwise set forth herein, except in the case of either (i) or
(ii) for any contravention or Lien which would not have a Material Adverse
Effect.

              (d) No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice
to or filing with, any Governmental Authority or other regulatory body is
required for the due execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this
Second Amendment or any other Loan Document to which the Borrower is a party, or
the performance by the Borrower of the Loan Agreement, as amended hereby.

              (e) Each of this Second Amendment, the other Loan Documents to
which the Borrower is a party and the Loan Agreement, as amended hereby,
constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable
against such Loan Party in accordance with its respective terms, except as may
be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and
other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and
general equity principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law).

         5. NEW NOTES. Against receipt of the Initial Notes, marked "Canceled",
Borrower shall issue to each Lender a note (collectively, the "New Notes"), in
the form of Exhibit E hereto, in the principal amounts set forth on Exhibit A
hereto. Pursuant to the Loan Agreement, the New Notes shall constitute the
"Initial Notes" as defined in the Loan Agreement.

         6. MISCELLANEOUS.

              (a) CONTINUED EFFECTIVENESS OF THE LOAN AGREEMENT. Except as
otherwise expressly provided herein, the Loan Agreement and the other Loan
Documents to which any Loan Party is a party are, and shall continue to be, in
full force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects
except that on and after the date hereof (i) all references in the Loan

                                       4

<PAGE>

Agreement to "this Agreement", "hereto", "hereof', "hereunder" or words of like
import referring to the Loan Agreement shall mean the Loan Agreement as amended
by this Second Amendment, and (ii) all references in the other Loan Documents to
which any Loan Party is a party to the "Loan Agreement", "thereto", "thereof',
"thereunder" or words of like import referring to the Loan Agreement shall mean
the Loan Agreement as amended by this Second Amendment. Except as expressly
provided herein, the execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Second
Amendment shall not operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of the
Lender under the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document, nor constitute a
waiver of any provision of the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document.

              (b) COUNTERPARTS. This Second Amendment may be executed in any
number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together
shall constitute one and the same agreement.

              (c) HEADINGS. Section headings herein are included for convenience
of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Amendment for any
other purpose.

              (d) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

              (e) COSTS AND EXPENSES. The Borrower agrees to pay or cause to be
paid on demand, and to save the Lenders harmless against liability for the
payment of, all reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Lenders in
connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of this Second Amendment
and the other related agreements, instruments and documents.

              (f) AMENDMENT AS LOAN DOCUMENT. The Borrower hereby acknowledges
and agrees that this Second Amendment constitutes a "Loan Document."
Accordingly, it shall be an Event of Default under the Loan Agreement if (i) any
representation or warranty made by the Borrower under or in connection with this
Amendment shall have been untrue, false or misleading in any material respect
when made, or (ii) the Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any term,
covenant or agreement contained in this Amendment.

              (g) WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH LOAN PARTY AND THE LENDER HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, PROCEEDING OR
COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AMENDMENT AND WAIVER.

                                       5

<PAGE>

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

                                    BORROWER:

                                    VISIBLE GENETICS CORP.

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

                                    LENDERS:

                                    HILAL CAPITAL, LP

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

                                    HILAL CAPITAL QP, LP

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

                                    HILAL CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL, LTD.

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

                                    HILAL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC,
                                    as advisors to Leo Holdings, Inc.

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

                                       6

<PAGE>

                                    HIGHBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL LLC

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

                                    C. J PARTNERS L.P. (solely with respect to
                                    Section 2 hereof)

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

                                       7

<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                       Lenders, Loan Amounts and Warrants

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       AMOUNT OF                NUMBER OF
LENDER                                                INITIAL LOAN         ADDITIONAL WARRANTS
------                                                ------------         -------------------
<S>                                                    <C>                        <C>
Hilal Capital, LP                                        $564,217                  11,284
Hilal Capital QP, LP                                    1,434,136                  28,683
Hilal Capital International, Ltd                        1,901,647                  38,033
Highbridge International LLC                            3,000,000                  60,000

Hilal Capital Management, LLC
    as advisor for Leo Holdings, Inc                      100,000                   2,000
                                                       ----------                 -------
         Total                                         $7,000,000                 140,000
                                                       ==========                 =======
</TABLE>

                                       8<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.24

                                                                   July 15, 1999

Hilal Capital Management, LLC
60 East 42nd Street, Suite 1946
New York, New York  10165
Attention:  Dr. Peter K. Hilal

Gentlemen:

         Reference is made to the Term Loan Agreement dated as of April 30,
1998, as amended (the "Loan Agreement") among Visible Genetics Corp., Hilal
Capital, LP, Hilal Capital QP, LP, Hilal Capital International, Ltd., Highbridge
International LLC, Hilal Capital Management LLC, as advisor for Leo Holdings,
Inc., and C.J. Partners L.P.

         All capitalized terms used in this letter which are not defined in this
letter and which are defined in the Loan Agreement shall have the same meaning
in this letter as in the Loan Agreement.

         Schedule A annexed hereto sets forth the outstanding principal amount
and accrued but unpaid interest as of the date hereof owed by the Borrower to
each Lender. Such schedule shall be amended to reflect additional accrued
interest if the Transaction is not completed on July 15, 1999.

         We have advised you that Visible Genetics Inc. (the "Company") and E.M.
Warburg, Pincus & Co. LLC ("Warburg Pincus") entered into a letter of intent
dated July 8, 1999 pursuant to which certain funds affiliated with Warburg,
Pincus intend to invest $30 million in the Company in exchange for the issuance
by the Company to such funds of (the "Transaction") (i) 30,000 Series A
Convertible Preferred Shares with a liquidation value of $30 million which are
convertible into common shares of the Company at a conversion price of $11.00
per share (the "Preferred Shares") and (ii) warrants to purchase 1,100,000
common shares of the Company exercisable for four years at a price of $12.60 per
share (the "Warrants").

         By signing this letter, each of us hereby agrees as follows:

         1. Effective upon the closing of the Transaction the Loans shall be
repaid as follows:

<PAGE>

Hilal Capital Management, LLC
July 15, 1999
Page 2

              (a) the full principal amount and all interest owed to each of
     Highbridge International LLC ("Highbridge") and Leo Holdings, Inc. ("Leo")
     shall be repaid out of the proceeds of the Transaction and such Lenders
     shall deliver to the Company, in exchange therefore, the original copies of
     the notes evidencing such Loans, marked "Paid in Full."

              (b) Each of the Loans outstanding to each Lender other than
     Highbridge and Leo shall automatically be converted into (i) that number of
     Preferred Shares allocated to such Lender as set forth on Schedule A; and
     (ii) that number of Warrants allocated to such Lender as set forth on
     Schedule A, and shall be deemed to be paid in full. The Company shall
     deliver to such Lenders certificates evidencing such preferred shares and
     warrants in exchange for the original copies of the promissory notes
     evidencing such Loans, marked "Paid in Full."

              (c) Concurrent with, and as a condition to, the repayment of the
     Loans, the Lenders shall execute and deliver to the Borrower or Guarantor
     in form satisfactory for filing in the appropriate jurisdiction, such
     termination statements and other instruments as the Borrower and Guarantor
     shall request terminating any and all Liens in the assets of the Company,
     the Borrower and any of their respective subsidiaries in favor of Lenders,
     including but not limited to Liens in patents, trademarks and other
     intellectual property. To the extent that any such instrument is not
     executed or delivered at the time of repayment of Loans, the Lenders shall
     promptly thereafter execute and deliver such instrument to Borrower or
     Guarantor. Each Lender shall take any other action which Borrower or
     Guarantor may reasonably request so as to ensure that all Liens in favor of
     Lenders are released and any recording or other public evidence thereof is
     extinguished.

              (d) Upon repayment of the Loans as set forth herein, the Loan
     Agreement and the Guaranty shall be terminated and shall be of no further
     force and effect.

         2.   (a) The Company shall file a registration statement with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on or prior to October 30, 1999, covering the
common shares issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Shares and exercise the
Warrants and shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to have such
registration statement declared effective by the Securities and Exchange
Commission on or prior to December 31, 1999.

              (b) The Company hereby agrees that the common shares issuable upon
     conversion of the Preferred Shares and exercise of the Warrants shall
     constitute Registrable Securities as such term is defined in the
     Registration Rights Agreement dated as of April 30, 1998, among the Company
     and the Lenders (the "Registration Rights Agreement").

                                       2

<PAGE>

Hilal Capital Management, LLC
July 15, 1999
Page 3

                           (c) The Company and the Lenders hereby amend the
         Registration Rights Agreement by deleting Section 2.2(b) in its
         entirety and replacing it with a new Section 2(b) annexed as Exhibit A
         hereto. The Registration Rights Agreement as amended hereby remains in
         full force and effect.

         3. On the earlier of the date on which the Company or Warburg Pincus
have elected not to complete the Transaction or, if the Transaction shall not be
completed by September 30, 1999, this Agreement shall be of no further force and
effect. If the Transaction is not completed and the Company enters into an
alternative equity financing, the Lenders will have the right, at their
election, to participate in that Transaction by converting their outstanding
Loans on the same basis as the other participants in the Transaction.

         4.   (a) This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
New York without giving effect to the principle of conflicts of laws.

              (b) This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the
     parties hereto with respect to this subject matter hereof and supersedes
     all prior agreements and understanding among such parties with respect to
     the subject matter hereof.

                [The rest of this page intentionally left blank]

                                       3

<PAGE>

Hilal Capital Management, LLC
July 15, 1999
Page 4

              (c) This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts,
     each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall
     be considered one and the same agreement.

                                      Very truly yours,

                                      VISIBLE GENETICS CORP.

                                      By:
                                         ------------------------------------

                                      VISIBLE GENETICS INC.

                                      By:
                                         ------------------------------------

Agreed and Accepted:

HILAL CAPITAL, LP

By:
   ------------------------------

HILAL CAPITAL QP, LP

By:
   ------------------------------

HILAL CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL, LTD

By:
   ------------------------------

HIGHBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL, LLC

By:
   ------------------------------

                                       4

<PAGE>

Hilal Capital Management, LLC
July 15, 1999
Page 5

HILAL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC, as advisor to Leo Holdings, Inc.

By:
   ------------------------------

C.J. PARTNERS, L.P.

By:
   ------------------------------

                                       5

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE A

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               INTEREST                                NUMBER OF
                                             PRINCIPAL      AMOUNT OF LOAN      TOTAL PRINCIPAL         SERIES A         NUMBER OF
LENDER                                    AMOUNT OF LOAN    THROUGH 7/15/99      AND INTEREST       PREFERRED SHARES     WARRANTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                       <C>               <C>                 <C>                 <C>                  <C>
1.  Hilal Capital, LP                          564,217          12,057              576,274                 571           21,285

2.  Hilal Capital QP, LP                     1,434,136          30,647            1,464,783               1,452           54,088

3.  Hilal Capital International, Ltd.        1,901,647          40,638            1,942,285               1,925           71,725

4.  Highbridge International(1)              3,000,000          64,110            3,064,110

5.  Hilal Capital Management LLC
    advisor to Leo Holdings, Inc.              100,000           2,137              102,137
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    TOTAL                                    7,000,000         149,589            7,149,589               3,948          147,098
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      TRANCHE A LOAN ISSUED 9/29/98 DUE 7/15/99
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Amt Loaned   2 Day Adj.  Oct, Nov, Dec   Jan, Feb, Mar    Apr, May, June  15 Days/365
Entity                     9/29/98     = 2 days      Interest        Interest          Interest      7/1 - 7/15
------                    ----------   ---------   -------------   -------------    --------------  -----------
<S>                     <C>              <C>         <C>             <C>               <C>            <C>
HILAL CAPITAL, LP         145,000         79          3,625           3,718             3,811           642
HILAL CAPITAL QP, LP      358,000        196          8,950           9,179             9,408         1,585
HILAL CAPITAL INT'L       497,000        272         12,425          12,742            13,061         2,201
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL                   1,000,000        548         25,000          25,639            26,280         4,428
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

TRANCHE A LOAN ISSUED 9/29/98 DUE 7/15/99
---------------------------------------------------
                        TOTAL INTEREST   TOTAL DUE
Entity                   RECEIVABLE       FROM VGI
------                  --------------   ---------
<S>                        <C>            <C>
HILAL CAPITAL, LP          11,875           156,875
HILAL CAPITAL QP, LP       27,733           385,733
HILAL CAPITAL INT'L        38,501           535,501
---------------------------------------------------
TOTAL                      78,108         1,078,108
---------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

-------------------------------      ------------------------------------------
    HILAL CAPITAL, LP                   HILAL CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL, LTD
       156,875                                     535,501
WIRE INSTRUCTIONS:                           WIRE INSTRUCTIONS:
Chase Manhattan Bank, N.Y.               Chase Manhattan Bank, N.Y.
   ABA # 021-000-021                         ABA # 021-000-021
F/A/O Goldman Sachs & Co, N.Y.            F/A/O Goldman Sachs & Co, N.Y.
   A/C # 930-1-011483                         A/C # 930-1-011483
F/F/C Hilal Capital, LP                 F/F/C Hilal Capital International, Ltd
   A/C # 002-04545-8                          A/C # 002-04675-3
-------------------------------      ------------------------------------------

-------------------------------
  HILAL CAPITAL QP, LP
       385,733
  WIRE INSTRUCTIONS:
Chase Manhattan Bank, N.Y.
     ABA # 021-000-021
F/A/O Goldman Sachs & Co, N.Y.
    A/C # 930-1-011483
F/F/C Hilal Capital QP, LP
   A/C # 002-04656-3
-------------------------------
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

         Section 2.2(b) of the Hilal Capital Registration Rights Agreement of
April 30,1999, as proposed to be amended;

         (b) PRIORITY IN INCIDENTAL REGISTRATION. If an Incidental Registration
involves an Underwritten Offering (on a firm commitment basis), and the sole or
the lead managing Underwriter, as the case may be, of such Underwritten Offering
shall advise the Company in writing (with a copy to each Holder requesting
registration) on or before the date five days prior to the date then scheduled
for such offering that, in its opinion, the amount of securities including
Registrable Securities) requested to be included in such registration exceeds
the amount which can be sold in such offering without materially interfering
with the successful marketing of the securities being offered (such writing to
state the basis of such opinion and the approximate number of such securities
which may be included in such offering without such effect), the Company shall
include in such registration, to the extent of the number which the Company is
so advised may be included in such offering without such effect, (I) in the case
of a registration initiated by the Company, (A) first, the securities that the
Company proposed to register for its own account, (B) second, the Registrable
Securities requested to be included in such registration by the Holder and THE
SECURITIES REQUESTED TO BE INCLUDED IN SUCH REGISTRATION by any other Person who
has been granted incidental or piggyback registration rights, allocated PRO RATA
in proportion to the number of securities requested to be included in such
registration by any Persons initiating such registration, allocated PRO RATA in
proportion to the number of securities requested to be included in such
registration by each of the, (B) second, the Registrable Securities of any
Holder and THE SECURITIES OF any other Persons who have been granted incidental
or piggyback registration rights (who have not initiated such registration)
requested to be included in such registration statement, allocated pro rata in
proportion to the nubmer of securities requested to be inclued in such
registration by each of the, (C) THIRD, THE SECURITIES THAT THE COMPANY PROPOSES
TO REGISTER FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, and (D) fourth, other securities of the Company
to be registered on behalf of any other Person; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the
event the Company will not, by virtue of this Section 2.2(b), include in any
such registration all of the Registrable Securities of any
<PAGE>

Holder requested to be included in such registration, such Holder may, upon
written notice to the Company given within three days of the time such Holder
first is notified of such matter, reduce the amount of Registrable Securities it
desires to have included in such registration, whereupon only the Registrable
Securities, if any, it desires to have included in such registration, whereupon
only the Registrable Securities, if any, it desires to have included will be so
included and the Holders not so reducing shall be entitled to a corresponding
increase in the amount of Registrable Securities to be included in such
registration.

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