Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.24

            THIS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of September 16, 2002,
by and among ScanSoft, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Purchaser"), Lernout &
Hauspie Speech Products N.V., a corporation organized and existing under the
laws of the Kingdom of Belgium ("L&H NV"), and L&H Holdings USA, Inc. a Delaware
corporation that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of L&H NV ("L&H Holdings" and,
together with L&H NV, the "Sellers"). The Purchaser and the Sellers are referred
to collectively herein as the "Parties."

            WHEREAS, the Sellers have filed a voluntary petition for relief
under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code (the "U.S. Bankruptcy
Code") (Case Nos. 00-4397 through 00-4399 (JHW), jointly administered) (the
"U.S. Bankruptcy Case") in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District
of Delaware (the "U.S. Bankruptcy Court");

            WHEREAS, L&H NV was the subject of a concordat proceeding under the
Belgian law of July 17, 1997 on judicial composition (gerechtelijk akkoord) in
Belgium before the Commercial Court of Ieper, and was declared bankrupt (in
staat van faillissement) pursuant to a judgment of October 24, 2001 (the
"Belgian Bankruptcy Case") of the Commercial Court of Ieper (such court,
together with the bankruptcy trustees (curatoren; hereinafter the "Trustees")
and the designated judges (rechters-commissarissen) appointed in connection with
the Belgian Bankruptcy Case pursuant to Belgian law of August 8, 1997;

            WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Asset Purchase Agreement (the
"Asset Purchase Agreement"), dated as of December 7, 2001 and amended on
December 12, 2001, by and among the Purchaser, the Sellers and the other sellers
listed on the signature pages attached thereto (the "Other L&H Sellers" and,
together with the Sellers, the "L&H Parties"), the Purchaser issued to L&H NV,
on behalf of certain L&H Parties, as partial consideration for the assets sold
to the Purchaser thereunder, 7,400,000 shares (the "Initial L&H Purchased
Shares") of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Purchaser
("Purchaser Common Stock");

            WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Registration Rights Agreement
dated as of December 12, 2001 and amended and restated on March 21, 2002, by and
among the Purchaser, the L&H Parties, the Purchaser provided the L&H Parties
with certain rights with respect to the registration of the L&H Shares (the
"Registration Rights Agreement");

            WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Stipulation and Order dated
January 30, 2002 between the Sellers, on the one hand, and James Baker, Janet
Baker, JKBaker LLC and JMBaker LLC (collectively, the "Baker Parties"), on the
other, L&H Holdings transferred to Boies Schiller & Flexner LLP ("BSF"), on
behalf and for the benefit of the Baker Parties, 155,991 of the L&H Shares
allocated to L&H Holdings (to the extent, but only to the extent, that such
shares participate in the Initial Purchase, the public offering pursuant to
Section 5.01 or the registration pursuant to Section 5.02, such shares shall be
collectively referred to herein as, the "Baker Shares");

            WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain letter agreement, dated January
31, 2002, by and among L&H Holdings, on the one hand, and the Baker Parties and
BSF, on the other (the
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"Letter Agreement"), which letter agreement was acknowledged by the Purchaser on
February 7, 2002, the Baker Parties and BSF (on behalf of the Baker Parties),
may elect to participate with respect to the Baker Shares in any type of
transaction whereby L&H Holdings sells all or any portion of the L&H Shares held
by it through a private offering or a placement or any other transaction not
contemplated by or in the Registration Rights Agreement;

            WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Purchase Agreement dated as of
February 22, 2002 by and between the Purchaser and L&H Holdings, the Purchaser
issued to L&H Holdings, as partial consideration for the assets sold to the
Purchaser thereunder, 121,359 shares of Purchaser Common Stock (the "Subsequent
L&H Purchased Shares" and, together with the Initial L&H Purchased Shares, the
"L&H Shares");

            WHEREAS, by that certain letter dated as of June 10, 2002, from the
L&H Parties to the Purchaser (the "Demand Letter"), the L&H Parties requested on
behalf of themselves and the Baker Parties that the Purchaser file a
registration statement under the Securities Act to effectuate the disposition of
the L&H Shares and the Baker Shares (the "Registration Request");

            WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the L&H Shares and the Baker Shares
are not registered pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities
Act;

            WHEREAS, on August 13, 2002, L&H Holdings filed that certain motion
Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. Sections 105(a) And 363 (b)(1), In Aid of Consummation Of
First Amended Plan of Liquidation Of L&H Holdings USA, Inc. And Authorizing (1)
Distribution Of Certain Common Stock Of Successor Scansoft, Inc. To Holders Of
Allowed Administrative Expense Claims Under First Amended Plan Of Liquidation Of
L&H Holdings USA, Inc., And (2) Establishment Of Valuation Procedures With
Respect To Distributions Of Scansoft Stock (the "Liquidation Motion");

            WHEREAS, on August 13, 2002, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court approved the
Liquidation Motion together with that certain term sheet dated as of August 12,
2002, which outlined the principal terms of this Agreement (the "Term Sheet");
and,

            WHEREAS, the Parties desire to memorialize the understanding between
the Parties, which was previously approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and
reflected in the Term Sheet, by setting forth in greater detail the terms and
conditions of such understanding in this Agreement.

            NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE 1

            Section 1.01 Terms. Except as otherwise specifically indicated, the
following terms will have the following meanings for all purposes of this
Agreement:

                                   DEFINITIONS

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            "Additional Shares" means the December Issuance, the February
Issuance and the shares of Purchaser Common Stock issued pursuant to Section
5.02(a) of this Agreement.

            "Agreement" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as set
forth in the Recitals.

            "Allowable Baker Shares" shall mean (x) with respect to the Initial
Purchase, that number of Baker Shares determined by multiplying the total number
of Baker Shares requested to be included in the Initial Purchase by a fraction,
(A) the numerator of which is the total number of shares of Purchaser Common
Stock which is to be included in the Initial Purchase by L&H Holdings and (B)
the denominator of which is the number of Initial Shares, and (y) with respect
to a registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 5.01 of this
Agreement, that number of Baker Shares determined by multiplying the total
number of Baker Shares requested to be included in such registration by a
fraction, (C) the numerator of which is the total number of shares of Purchaser
Common Stock which is to be included in such registration by L&H Holdings, and
(D) the denominator of which is the total number of Registrable Securities to be
included in such registration.

            "Ancillary Agreement" means the Confession of Judgment, the Escrow
Agreement, the Lock-Up Agreement or any other document delivered pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement.

            "Approval Date" means August 13, 2002.

            "Asset Purchase Agreement" shall have the meaning assigned to such
term as set forth in the Recitals.

            "Baker Parties" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as set
forth in the Recitals.

            "Baker Shares" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as set
forth in the Recitals.

            "Belgian Bankruptcy Case" shall have the meaning assigned to such
term as set forth in the Recitals.

            "BSF" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as set forth in
the Recitals.

            "Business Day" means a day other than Saturday, Sunday or any day on
which banks located in the State of New York or the State of Massachusetts are
authorized or obligated to close.

            "Completed Public Offering" shall have the meaning assigned to such
term as set forth in the Section 5.01 of this Agreement.

            "Completed Registration" shall have the meaning assigned to such
term as set forth in Section 5.02 of this Agreement.

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            "Conditions" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as set
forth in the Section 5.09 of this Agreement.

            "Confession of Judgment" means the Confession of Judgment
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

            "Cutback Registration" means any registration to be effected as an
underwritten public offering in which the Managing Underwriter with respect
thereto advises the Purchaser and Sellers in writing that, in its opinion, the
number of securities requested to be included in such registration (including
securities of the Purchaser and other stockholders of the Purchaser which are
not Registrable Securities) exceed the number which can be sold in such offering
without reduction in the selling price anticipated to be received for the
securities to be sold in such public offering.

            "December Issuance" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as
set forth in Section 5.01(a) of this Agreement.

            "Demand Letter" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as set
forth in the Recitals.

            "Designated Judges" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as
set forth in the Recitals.

            "Encumbrances" means all liabilities, obligations, interests,
levies, claims (as defined in Section 101(5) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code),
charges, assessments, defenses, setoffs, recoupments, mortgages, security
interests, liens, pledges, conditional sales agreements, title retention
contracts, leases, subleases, rights of first refusal, options to purchase,
restrictions and other encumbrances, and agreements or commitments to create or
suffer any of the foregoing.

            "Escrow Agent" means Wilmington Trust Company.

            "Escrow Agreement" means the escrow agreement substantially in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit B by and among the Sellers, the Purchaser and
the Escrow Agent.

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

            "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as
set forth in Section 7.05 of this Agreement.

            "February Issuance" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as
set forth in Section 5.01(a) of this Agreement.

            "Form S-3" means a registration statement on Form S-3, promulgated
by the SEC under the Securities Act, or any successor form.

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            "Government or Regulatory Authority" means any court, tribunal,
arbitrator, authority, agency, commission, official or other instrumentality of
the United States or any state, county, city, country or other political
subdivision.

            "Holding Period" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as set
forth in the Section 5.09 of this Agreement.

            "Indemnified Party" means a party entitled to indemnity in
accordance with Section 5.04 of this Agreement.

            "Indemnifying Party" means a party obligated to provide indemnity in
accordance with Section 5.04 of this Agreement.

            "Initial Purchase" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as
set forth in the Section 2.01 of this Agreement.

            "Initial Shares" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as set
forth in the Section 2.01 of this Agreement.

            "Initial L&H Purchased Shares" shall have the meaning assigned to
such term as set forth in the Recitals.

            "Inspectors" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as set
forth in the Section 5.03(k) of this Agreement.

            "Letter Agreement" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as
set forth in the Recitals.

            "L&H Holdings" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as set
forth in the Recitals.

            "L&H NV" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as set forth
in the Recitals.

            "L&H Parties" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as set
forth in the Recitals.

            "L&H Shares" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as set
forth in the Recitals.

            "Law" means any law, statute, rule, regulation or ordinance.

            "Liquidation Motion" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as
set forth in the Recitals.

            "Lock-Up Agreements" means the form of Lock-Up Agreement
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

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            "Losses" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as set forth
in the Section 5.04(a) of this Agreement.

            "Managing Underwriter" means, with respect to any public offering,
the underwriter or underwriters selected to manage such public offering.

            "NASD" means the National Association of Securities Dealers.

            "NASDAQ" means the National Association of Securities Dealers
Automated Quotations system.

            "Note" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as set forth in
Section 5.01 of this Agreement.

            "Note Payment" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as set
forth in Section 5.01(a) of this Agreement.

            "Order" means any judgment, decree, order, writ, permit or license.

            "Other L&H Sellers" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as
set forth in the Recitals.

            "Owed Amounts" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 6.01 of this Agreement.

            "Parties" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as set forth
in the Recitals.

            "Person" means any natural person, corporation, general partnership,
limited partnership, proprietorship, other business organization, trust, union
or association.

            "Promissory Note" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as
set forth in Section 5.01(a) of this Agreement.

            "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as set
forth in Section 2.01(a) of this Agreement.

            "Purchaser" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as set
forth in the Recitals.

            "Purchaser Common Stock" shall have the meaning assigned to such
term as set forth in the Recitals.

            "Purchaser Preferred Stock" shall have the meaning assigned to such
term as set forth in the Section 4.04 of this Agreement.

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            "Purchaser SEC Reports" shall have the meaning assigned to such term
as set forth in the Section 4.05 of this Agreement.

            "Records" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as set forth
in the Section 5.03 of this Agreement.

            "Registration Request" shall have the meaning assigned to such term
as set forth in the Recitals.

            "Registration Rights Agreement" shall have the meaning assigned to
such term as set forth in the Recitals.

            "Registrable Securities" means (i) the Remaining Shares, (ii) any
Additional Shares issued by the Purchaser to the Sellers pursuant to the terms
of this Agreement, (iii) the Baker Shares not repurchased as part of the Initial
Purchase and (iv) any additional shares of Purchaser Common Stock issued or
distributed by way of a dividend, stock split or other distribution in respect
of the Remaining Shares, any Additional Shares, if any, issued by the Purchaser
to the Sellers pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Baker Shares or
acquired by way of any rights offering or similar offering made in respect of
such shares. As to any particular Registrable Securities, once issued such
securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) a registration
statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become
effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been disposed
of in accordance with such registration statement, (ii) they shall have been
distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 or Section 1145 of the U.S.
Bankruptcy Code, or (iii) they shall have ceased to be outstanding.

            "Registration Expenses" means all expenses incident to the
Purchaser's performance of or compliance with its obligations under this
Agreement to effect the registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to this
Agreement, including, without limitation, all registration, filing, securities
exchange listing and NASD fees, all registration, filing, qualification and
other fees and expenses of complying with securities or blue sky laws, all word
processing, duplicating and printing expenses, messenger and delivery expenses,
the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Purchaser and of its independent
public accountants, including the expenses of any special audits or "cold
comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance,
fees and disbursements of a single counsel retained by the Sellers up to an
amount equal to $57,500 and any fees and disbursements of underwriters
customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities, but excluding underwriting
discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, in respect of the
Registrable Securities, as well as premiums and other costs of policies of
insurance against liabilities arising out of the public offering of the
Registrable Securities being registered and expenses associated with accountants
retained by the Sellers in respect of the Registrable Securities.

            "Remaining Shares" means that number of L&H Shares held by either of
the Sellers after the Purchaser has acquired the Initial Shares pursuant to
Section 2.01 of this Agreement.

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            "Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC under the
Securities Act, and any successor provision thereto.

            "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

            "Securities Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

            "Sellers" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as set forth
in the Recitals.

            "Stock Committee" means a committee comprised of Jean Marc Vanstaen,
Lily Chu and Allan Forsey formed in connection with this Agreement to act on the
Seller's behalf with regard to any consultation or advisory rights set forth in
Sections 5.01, 5.03(g) and 5.07 of this Agreement.

            "Subsequent L&H Purchased Shares" shall have the meaning assigned to
such term as set forth in the Recitals.

            "Subsidiary" means any Person in which any entity, directly or
indirectly, beneficially owns more than 50% of either the equity interests in,
or voting control of, such Person, and "Subsidiaries" has a correlative meaning.

            "Term Sheet" shall have the meaning assigned to such term as set
forth in the Recitals.

            "Trading Day" means a day on which the NASDAQ is open for the
transaction of business.

            "U.S. Bankruptcy Case" shall have the meaning assigned to such term
as set forth in the Recitals.

            "U.S. Bankruptcy Code" shall have the meaning assigned to such term
as set forth in the Recitals.

            "U.S. Bankruptcy Court" shall have the meaning assigned to such term
as set forth in the Recitals.

                                    ARTICLE 2

                  PURCHASE AND SALE OF initial SHARES; CLOSING

            Section 2.01 Purchase and Sale of L&H Shares. (a) On or before
September 16, 2002 (the "Purchase Date"), and on the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase,
or to cause a designee to purchase, from L&H Holdings, and L&H Holdings hereby
agrees to sell to the Purchaser or such designee, that number of Initial Shares
(as defined below) as determined pursuant to Section 2.01(b) hereof for

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the aggregate purchase price of $7,000,000 (the "Purchase Price"), payable in
cash on the Purchase Date as provided in Section 2.04 hereof (the "Initial
Purchase").

            (b) The aggregate number of shares of Purchaser Common Stock owned
by L&H Holdings to be purchased by the Purchaser or its designee in the Initial
Purchase (the "Initial Shares") shall be determined by dividing the Purchase
Price by the greater of (w) $4.79 and (x) the average of the closing prices
during the twenty (20) Trading Days following the Approval Date; provided,
however, that for purposes of determining such average, the (y) five (5) highest
closing prices and (z) five (5) lowest closing prices recorded during such
period shall not be used.

            (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parties hereto acknowledge
and agree that pursuant to the Letter Agreement, the Baker Parties and BSF (on
behalf of the Baker Parties) may elect to participate in the Initial Purchase.
In such event, the number of shares of Purchaser Common Stock owned by L&H
Holdings that shall be included in such Initial Purchase shall be equal to the
Initial Shares less the Allowable Baker Shares.

            Section 2.02 Certain Obligations of the Parties On or Prior to the
Purchase Date. On or prior to the Purchase Date:

            (i) the Purchaser shall (A) execute and deliver to the Sellers (x)
the Confession of Judgment, (y) a counterpart to the Escrow Agreement and (z)
counterparts to the Lock-Up Agreements and (B) pay the Owed Amounts; and,

            (ii) the Sellers shall execute and deliver to the Purchaser (A) a
counterpart to the Escrow Agreement and (B) counterparts to the Lock-Up
Agreements.

            Section 2.03 Certain Obligations On the Purchase Date. On the
Purchase Date, each of the Parties hereto shall deliver to the other party: (i)
a certificate dated the Purchase Date and executed in the name and on behalf of
such party stating that (A) the representations and warranties made by such
Party in this Agreement, taken as a whole, are true and correct in all material
respects on and as of the Purchase Date as though such representations and
warranties were made on and as of the Purchase Date, except that any
representation or warranty made as of a specified date shall continue to be made
on and as of such earlier date and (B) such party has performed and complied
with, in all material respects, each agreement, covenant and obligation required
by this Agreement to be so performed or complied with by such party at or before
the Purchase Date.

            Section 2.04 Issuance of and Payment for the Initial Shares. On the
Purchase Date, L&H Holdings shall receive and the Purchaser shall deliver that
portion of the Purchase Price allocated in accordance with L&H Holdings' portion
of the Initial Shares in immediately available United States funds by wire
transfer to an account or accounts designated by the Sellers by written notice
to the Purchaser not later than two (2) Business Days prior to the Purchase
Date. Simultaneously, L&H Holdings will assign and transfer to the Purchaser all
of its right, title and interest in and to its portion of the Initial Shares by
delivering to the Purchaser a certificate or certificates representing its
portion of the Initial Shares, in genuine and unaltered

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form, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by duly executed stock powers
endorsed in blank, with requisite stock transfer tax stamps, if any, attached.

                                    ARTICLE 3

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE Sellers

            Each of the Sellers, severally, and not jointly, represents and
warrants to the Purchaser as follows:

            Section 3.01 Organization, Qualifications and Corporate Power. Each
Seller is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation.

            Section 3.02 Authorization of Agreements, Etc. Each Seller has full
corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and
the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party and to issue, sell and deliver
the Initial Shares and this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it
is a party have been duly executed and delivered by each Seller and constitutes
the legal, valid and binding obligation of each Seller, enforceable against such
Seller in accordance with its terms, subject to the effect of any bankruptcy,
insolvency or other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and
general principles of equity. The execution and delivery by each Seller of this
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party have been, and at
or prior to the Purchase Date the performance by each Seller of its obligations
hereunder and thereunder and the sale by L&H Holdings of its portion of the
Initial Shares pursuant hereto will have been, duly authorized by all requisite
corporate action on the part of such entity.

            Section 3.03 Non-Contravention; Approvals and Consents. (a) The
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which
it is a party by each Seller do not, and at the Purchase Date the performance by
each Seller of its obligations hereunder and thereunder and the consummation by
each Seller of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not,
conflict with, result in a violation and breach of, constitute (with or without
notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien upon any of the assets or properties of any Seller or any
of their Subsidiaries under, (i) any of the terms, conditions or provisions of
any Law or Order of any Governmental or Regulatory Authority, (ii) the
certificate of incorporation or the by-laws of any Seller, or (iii) any
provision of any indenture, agreement or other instrument by which any Seller or
any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets are
bound.

            (b) Except for the filing of such report, as may be required under
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, no consent, approval or action of, filing
with or notice to any Government or Regulatory Authority or other public or
private third party is necessary or required on the part of any Seller under any
of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Law or Order of any Governmental
or Regulatory Authority or any indenture, agreement or other instrument pursuant
to which any Seller or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or any Seller or any
of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective assets or properties is bound for
the execution of and delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to
which it is a party by any Seller, the

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performance by any Seller of its obligations hereunder and thereunder, or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, other than
such consents, approvals, actions, filings and notices which the failure to make
or obtain, as the case may be, individually or in the aggregate, could not be
reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the any of the Sellers
and their subsidiaries taken as a whole or materially impair the ability of any
of the Sellers to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

            Section 3.04 Capital Stock. L&H Holdings owns its portion of the
Initial Shares, either beneficially and/or of record, free and clear of all
Encumbrances. The delivery of a certificate or certificates at the Purchase Date
representing L&H Holdings' portion of the Initial Shares in the manner provided
in Section 2.04 herein will transfer to the Purchaser good and valid title to
such Initial Shares, free and clear of all Encumbrances, other than Encumbrances
created or suffered to exist by the Purchaser.

            Section 3.05 Brokers. All negotiations relating to this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby have been conducted without the
intervention of any person or entity acting on behalf of the Sellers in such a
manner as to give rise to any claim against the Purchaser for any broker's or
finder's commission, fee or similar compensation.

            Section 3.06 Disclaimer. The Sellers expressly disclaim any and all
representations and warranties with respect to any of the Baker Shares included
in the Initial Shares.

                                    ARTICLE 4

                 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER

            The Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser as
follows:

            Section 4.01 Organization, Qualifications and Corporate Power. The
Purchaser is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

            Section 4.02 Authorization of Agreements, Etc. The Purchaser has
full corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party . This Agreement
and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party have been duly executed and
delivered by the Purchaser and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations
of the Purchaser, enforceable against the Purchaser in accordance with their
terms, subject to the effect of any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws
affecting creditors' rights generally and general principles of equity. The
execution and delivery by the Purchaser of this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements to which it is a party have been, and at or prior to the Purchase
Date, the performance by the Purchaser of its obligations hereunder and
thereunder will have been, duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on
the part of such Purchaser.

            Section 4.03 Non-Contravention; Approvals and Consents. (a) The
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which
it is a party by the

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Purchaser do not, and the performance by the Purchaser of its obligations
hereunder and thereunder and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby will not, conflict with, result in a violation and breach of,
constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, or
result in the creation or imposition of any lien upon any of the assets or
properties of the Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries under, (i) any of the
terms, conditions or provisions of any Law or any Order of any Governmental or
Regulatory Authority, (ii) the certificate of incorporation or the by-laws of
the Purchaser, or (iii) any provision of any indenture, agreement or other
instrument by which the Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
respective properties or assets are bound.

            (b) Except for any filing of a Current Report on Form 8-K with the
SEC and any reports or notices required to be filed with NASDAQ (or any other
stock exchange or similar entity), no consent, approval or action of, filing
with or notice to any Government or Regulatory Authority or other public or
private third party is necessary or required on the part of the Purchaser under
any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Law or Order of any
Governmental or Regulatory Authority or any indenture, agreement or other
instrument pursuant to which the Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries is a party
or by which the Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective
assets or properties is bound for the execution and delivery of this Agreement
and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party by the Purchaser, the
performance by the Purchaser of its obligations hereunder or thereunder or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, other than such
consents, approvals, actions, filings and notices which the failure to make or
obtain, as the case may be, individually or in the aggregate, could not be
reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the Purchaser and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole or materially impair the ability of the Purchaser
to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

            Section 4.04 Capitalization. As of the date of this Agreement, the
authorized capital stock of the Purchaser consists of 140,000,000 shares of
Purchaser Common Stock and 40,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.001 par
value per share (the "Purchaser Preferred Stock"). As of August 19, 2002, (i)
65,325,734 shares of the Purchaser Common Stock were issued and outstanding, of
which 656,000 shares of the Purchaser Common Stock were held in the treasury of
the Purchaser, all of which were duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and free of statutory pre-emptive rights and (ii) 3,562,238 shares
of the Purchaser Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. As of the date of
this Agreement, other than options granted by the Purchaser under the
Purchaser's option plans as described in the Purchaser SEC Reports (as defined
in Section 4.05 herein) and an outstanding warrant exercisable for 525,732
shares of Purchaser Common Stock held by Xerox Corporation, there are no
outstanding options or warrants to purchase the Purchaser Common Stock with
respect to the Purchaser.

            Section 4.05 SEC Reports and Financial Statements. Except as set
forth in Schedule 4.05 to this Agreement:

            (a) the Purchaser has made available to the Sellers a true and
complete copy of each form, report, schedule, registration statement, definitive
proxy statement and other document (together with all amendments thereof and
supplements thereto) filed by Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries with the SEC
since December 1, 2001 (as such documents have since the

                                       12
<PAGE>
time of their filing been amended or supplemented, the "Purchaser SEC Reports"),
which are all the documents (other than preliminary material) that Purchaser and
its Subsidiaries were required to file with the SEC since such date, and, as of
their respective dates, the Purchaser SEC Reports (i) complied as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act, or the Exchange
Act, as the case may be, and (ii) did not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading;

            (b) The financial statements, including all related notes and
schedules, contained in Purchaser's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and
each Purchaser SEC Report, are complete and accurate in all material respects
and fairly present the consolidated financial position of the Purchaser as of
the dates indicated, and the results of its operations and cash flows for the
periods then ended, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
applied on a consistent basis throughout the relevant period, except as may be
noted therein, and subject in the case of each Form 10-Q to normal year-end
adjustments; and,

            (c) The Purchaser is in compliance with all applicable Exchange Act
reporting requirements, including, without limitation, the reporting
requirements required under Form 8-K.

            It is expressly understood that the foregoing representation is
being relied upon by the Sellers only with respect to the December Issuance, the
February Issuance and the issuance of the 100,000 shares of Purchaser Common
Stock that are issuable pursuant to Section 5.02(a) herein.

            Section 4.06 Issuance of Additional Shares. Upon issuance, any
Additional Shares issued to the Sellers pursuant to the terms of this Agreement,
will be duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and
free of pre-emptive rights.

            Section 4.07 Litigation. There is no action, suit, investigation or
proceeding pending against, or to the knowledge of the Purchaser, threatened
against or affecting Purchaser or its Subsidiaries before any Governmental or
Regulatory Authority which in any manner challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin,
alter or materially delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

            Section 4.08 Financing. The Purchaser has sufficient cash, available
lines of credit or other sources of immediately available funds to enable it to
make payment of the Purchase Price or any other amounts to be paid by it
hereunder on or before the Purchase Date.

            Section 4.09 Brokers. All negotiations relating to this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby have been conducted without the
intervention of any person or entity acting on behalf of the Purchaser in such a
manner as to give rise to any claim against the Sellers for any broker's or
finder's commission, fee or similar compensation.

                                       13
<PAGE>
                                    ARTICLE 5

            COVENANTS WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES OF THE PURCHASER

            Section 5.01 Completed Public Offering. (a) As soon as practicable
following the date hereof and on the terms and conditions set forth in this
Section 5.01, the Purchaser agrees to (i) file a registration statement under
the Securities Act providing for the sale by the Sellers and the Baker Parties
(if applicable), in a management led underwritten public offering, of all of the
Registrable Securities then held by the Sellers and the Baker Parties (if
applicable) and (ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such
registration statement declared effective as soon thereafter as possible.
Purchaser shall use commercially reasonable efforts to keep such registration
statement in effect until all of the Registrable Securities have been sold (a
"Completed Public Offering") and enable the Sellers to receive the highest price
possible in the market for the Registrable Securities pursuant to such public
offering. The Purchaser hereby grants an aggregate of 300,000 shares of
Purchaser Common Stock to the Sellers, which shares shall be issued one-half
within three (3) Business Days after December 15, 2002 (the "December Issuance")
and one-half within three (3) Business Days after February 12, 2003 (the
"February Issuance"), subject to the following:

            (x) if a Completed Public Offering occurs with respect to all of the
Registrable Securities on or before December 15, 2002, then the Purchaser's
obligation to issue the December Issuance shall terminate in its entirety; and,

            (y) if a Completed Public Offering occurs with respect to all of the
Registrable Securities between December 16, 2002 and February 15, 2003, then the
Purchaser's obligation to issue the February Issuance shall terminate in its
entirety.

            In addition, if a Completed Public Offering does not occur with
respect to all of the Registrable Securities on or before January 1, 2003, the
Purchaser shall repay in cash in full the outstanding principal amount (and any
interest accrued thereon) of that certain Promissory Note in the original
principal amount of $3,500,000, dated as of December 12, 2001, made by the
Purchaser in favor of the Sellers and the other corporations listed on Exhibit A
to such Promissory Note (the "Promissory Note"), on January 1, 2003 (the "Note
Payment") as provided by Section 2 of the Promissory Note and any failure to
prepay the Promissory Note on such date will entitle the holders of such
Promissory Note to immediately exercise any and all remedies set forth in
Section 5 of such Promissory Note as if such remedies are set forth in this
Agreement. Contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement, the Purchaser
shall execute and deliver the Confession of Judgment with regard to the
outstanding amount of the Promissory Note, which Confession of Judgment shall be
held in escrow by the Escrow Agent pursuant to the terms of the Escrow Agreement
on behalf of the Sellers and shall be immediately released if the Purchaser
fails to make the Note Payment. The Purchaser hereby agrees to waive any and all
rights of set-off, recoupment or similar rights in connection with the Note
Payment. Except as otherwise contemplated in this Section 5.01, all of the
provisions of the Promissory Note shall be unmodified and shall remain in full
force and effect, in accordance with its terms.

            In addition to the foregoing, the Sellers shall be free to exercise
any and all rights available to them in connection with the disposition of the
Registrable Securities, including

                                       14
<PAGE>
without limitation, a disposition in accordance with section 1145 of the U.S.
Bankruptcy Code or applicable securities laws if a Completed Public Offering
does not occur with respect to all of the Registrable Securities by February 15,
2003.

            (b) The Purchaser shall pay all Registration Expenses incurred on
behalf of the Sellers in connection with any registration pursuant to Section
5.01(a). Neither the Purchaser nor any of its security holders shall have the
right to include any of the Purchaser's securities (other than Registrable
Securities) in a registration statement to be filed as part of such public
offering unless (i) such securities are of the same class as the Registrable
Securities and (ii) the Purchaser or such security holders, as applicable, agree
in writing to sell, subject to Section 5.01(e) herein, their securities on the
same terms and conditions as apply to the Registrable Securities being sold.

            (c) The Purchaser shall consult with, and keep the Stock Committee
apprised of the status of, all aspects of such public offering. The Purchaser
shall select the Managing Underwriter and any other underwriter or underwriters
with respect to such public offering, after consultation with the Stock
Committee. The Purchaser and the Sellers including Registrable Securities in
such public offering shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary
form with such underwriter or underwriters, which shall include, among other
provisions, indemnities to the effect and to the extent provided in Section 5.04
of this Agreement. Neither Seller shall be required to make any representations
or warranties to or agreements with the Purchaser or the underwriters other than
representations, warranties or agreements regarding such holder and its
ownership of the securities being registered on its behalf and such holder's
intended method of distribution and any other representation required by law.

            (d) The Purchaser may, if permitted by law, effect the registration
pursuant to this Section 5.01 by the filing of a registration statement on Form
S-3 unless the Managing Underwriter shall notify the Purchaser in writing that,
in the judgment of such Managing Underwriter, the use of a more detailed form
specified in such notice is of material importance to the success of such public
offering of such Registrable Securities or required by applicable law, in which
case such registration shall be effected on the form so specified.

            (e) If a registration pursuant to this Section 5.01 becomes a
Cutback Registration, the Purchaser will include in any such registration to the
extent of the number which the Managing Underwriter advises the Purchaser can be
sold in such offering (i) first, all of the Registrable Securities held by the
Sellers and, if applicable, all of the Allowable Baker Shares and (ii) second,
other securities of the Purchaser and of other stockholders of the Purchaser
proposed to be included in such registration, allocated among the holders
thereof in accordance with the priorities then existing among the Purchasers and
the holders of such other securities; and any securities so excluded shall be
withdrawn from and shall not be included in such registration.

            (f) If the Purchaser is able to effect a registration pursuant to
this Section 5.01, the Sellers will include all of their Registrable Securities
in such registration and the offering.

                                       15
<PAGE>
            (g) The Sellers, through the Stock Committee, shall have the right
to consult with and advise Purchaser's management with respect to all aspects of
an offering pursuant to this Section 5.01.

            Section 5.02 Registration Rights. (a) If all of the Registrable
Securities are not sold in a Completed Public Offering on or before February 15,
2003, the Purchaser shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) file a
registration statement under the Securities Act providing for the sale by the
Sellers and, if applicable, the Baker Parties of all of the Registrable
Securities not sold in connection with a Completed Public Offering and (ii) have
such registration declared effective on or before February 15, 2003 (clauses (i)
and (ii) are collectively referred to herein as the "Completed Registration").
Following the Completed Registration, the Sellers and, if applicable, the Baker
Parties and BSF (on behalf of the Baker Parties), shall have the right to sell
all of the Registrable Securities (or any portion thereof). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if the Purchaser is unable to effect a Completed Registration on or
prior to February 15, 2003, the Purchaser shall issue to the Sellers an
additional 100,000 shares of Purchaser Common Stock on February 16, 2003.

            (b) The Sellers in their sole discretion shall choose the method of
sale or disposition of the Registrable Securities with respect to the
registration statement filed pursuant to Section 5.02(a). If applicable, the
Sellers shall select the Managing Underwriter and any other underwriter or
underwriters with respect to a public offering, after consultation with the
Purchaser.

            (c) The Purchaser will pay all Registration Expenses incurred on
behalf of the Sellers in connection with the registration contemplated by this
Section 5.02(a). Neither the Purchaser nor any of its security holders shall
have the right to include any of the Purchaser's securities (other than
Registrable Securities) in a registration statement to be filed as part of the
registration referred to in this Section 5.02 unless (i) such securities are of
the same class as the Registrable Securities and (ii) the Purchaser or such
security holders, as applicable, agree in writing to sell, subject to Section
5.02(e) herein, their securities on the same terms and conditions as apply to
the Registrable Securities being sold.

            (d) The Purchaser may, if permitted by law, effect the registration
contemplated by Section 5.02(a) by the filing of a registration statement on
Form S-3 unless the Managing Underwriter (if applicable) shall notify the
Purchaser in writing that, in the judgment of the Managing Underwriter (if
applicable), the use of a more detailed form specified in such notice is of
material importance to the success of such public offering of such Registrable
Securities or required by applicable law, in which case such registration shall
be effected on the form so specified.

            (e) If a registration pursuant to this Section 5.02 is an
underwritten public offering and such offering becomes a Cutback Registration,
the Purchaser will include in any such registration to the extent of the number
which the Managing Underwriter (in consultation with the Sellers) advises the
Purchaser can be sold in such offering (i) first, all of the Registrable
Securities held by the Sellers and, if applicable, all of the Allowable Baker
Shares and (ii) second, other securities of the Purchaser or held by other
Stockholders of the Purchaser proposed to be included in such registration,
allocated among the holders thereof in accordance

                                       16
<PAGE>
with the priorities then existing among the Purchasers and the holders of such
other securities; and any securities so excluded shall be withdrawn from and
shall not be included in such registration.

            Section 5.03 Registration Procedures. If and whenever the Purchaser
is required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the
Securities Act pursuant to Sections 5.01 or 5.02, the Purchaser will use
commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration and sale of such
Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition
thereof. Without limiting the foregoing, the Purchaser in each such case will,
as expeditiously as possible, use commercially reasonable efforts to:

            (a) prepare and file with the SEC the requisite registration
statement to effect such registration and to cause such registration statement
to become effective, provided that as far in advance as practical before filing
such registration statement or any amendment thereto, the Purchaser will furnish
to the Sellers copies of reasonably complete drafts of all such documents
proposed to be filed (including exhibits), and the Sellers shall have the
opportunity to object to any information pertaining solely to the Sellers that
is contained therein and the Purchaser will make the corrections reasonably
requested by the Sellers with respect to such information prior to filing any
such registration statement or amendment;

            (b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to
such registration statement and any prospectus used in connection therewith as
may be necessary to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement
and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the
disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by such registration
statement, in accordance with the intended methods of disposition thereof, until
the earlier of: (i) such time as all of such securities have been disposed of in
accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers
thereof set forth in such registration statement and (ii) February 29, 2004.

            (c) promptly notify the Sellers and the underwriter or underwriters,
if any: (i) when such registration statement or any prospectus used in
connection therewith, or any amendment or supplement thereto, has been filed
and, with respect to such registration statement or any post-effective amendment
thereto, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any written comments from
the SEC with respect to any filing referred to in clause (i) and of any written
request by the SEC for amendments or supplements to such registration statement
or prospectus; (iii) of the notification to the Purchaser by the SEC of its
initiation of any proceeding with respect to the issuance by the SEC of, or of
the issuance by the SEC of, any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such
registration statement; and (iv) of the receipt by the Purchaser of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any
Registrable Securities for sale under the applicable securities or blue sky laws
of any jurisdiction;

            (d) furnish to each Seller such number of conformed copies of such
registration statement and of each amendment and supplement thereto (in each
case including all exhibits and documents incorporated by reference), such
number of copies of the prospectus contained in such registration statement
(including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus) and any other
prospectus filed under Rule 424 promulgated under the

                                       17
<PAGE>
Securities Act relating to such Seller's Registrable Securities, and such other
documents, as such seller may reasonably request to facilitate the disposition
of its Registrable Securities;

            (e) register or qualify all Registrable Securities under such other
securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as each holder thereof shall
reasonably request, to keep such registration or qualification in effect for so
long as such registration statement remains in effect, and take any other action
which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such holder to
consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities
owned by such holder, except that the Purchaser shall not for any such purpose
be required (i) to qualify generally to do business as a foreign corporation in
any jurisdiction wherein it would not but for the requirements of this paragraph
(e) be obligated to be so qualified, (ii) to subject itself to taxation in any
such jurisdiction or (iii) to consent to general service of process in any
jurisdiction;

            (f) cause all Registrable Securities covered by such registration
statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies
or authorities as may be necessary to enable each holder thereof to consummate
the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

            (g) only with respect to a registration under Section 5.01(a)
hereof, cause its executive officers and senior management to (A) participate in
investor presentations on any "road show" undertaken in connection with the
marketing of the offering of the Registrable Securities to the extent requested
to do so by the Managing Underwriter (in consultation with the Stock Committee)
and (B) otherwise assist the underwriters, to the extent requested, in preparing
documentation or presentations in connection with any other endeavor designed to
market the offering of the Registrable Securities, in each case, if in the
reasonable judgment of the Managing Underwriter (in consultation with the Stock
Committee), such participation or assistance is of material importance to the
success of such public offering of such Registrable Securities;

            (h) furnish to each Seller a signed counterpart, (i) of an opinion
of counsel for the Purchaser, addressed to such Seller (and the underwriters, if
any), dated the effective date of such registration statement (or, if such
registration includes an underwritten public offering, dated the date of any
closing under the underwriting agreement), in form and substance as is
customarily given to underwriters in an underwritten public offering and (ii) in
the case of an underwritten public offering, a letter dated the date of any
closing under the underwriting agreement, from the independent certified public
accountants of the Purchaser, in form and substance as is customarily given by
independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten
public offering, addressed to the underwriters.

            (i) notify each Seller covered by such registration statement, at
any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under
the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which any
prospectus included in such registration statement, as then in effect, includes
an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and
at the request of any such holder promptly prepare and furnish to such holder a
reasonable number of copies of a

                                       18
<PAGE>
supplement to or an amendment of such prospectus as may be necessary so that, as
thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such securities, such prospectus shall
not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

            (j) comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and
make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an
earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months, but not
more than eighteen (18) months, beginning with the first full calendar month
after the effective date of such registration statement, which earnings
statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act
and Rule 158 promulgated thereunder;

            (k) make available for inspection by any Seller, any underwriter
participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any
attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such seller or underwriter
(collectively, the "Inspectors"), all financial and other records, pertinent
corporate documents and properties of the Purchaser (collectively, the
"Records") as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise their due
diligence responsibility, and cause the Purchaser's officers, directors and
employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector
in connection with such registration statement, and permit the Inspectors to
participate in the preparation of such registration statement and any prospectus
contained therein and any amendment or supplement thereto. Records which the
Purchaser determines, in good faith, to be confidential and which it notifies
the Inspectors are confidential shall not be disclosed by the Inspectors unless
(i) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a
misstatement or omission in the registration statement, (ii) the release of such
Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of
competent jurisdiction or (iii) the information in such Records has been made
generally available to the public. Each of the Sellers agree that it will, upon
learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent
jurisdiction, give notice to the Purchaser and allow the Purchaser, at the
Purchaser's expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of
the Records deemed confidential;

            (l) provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable
Securities covered by such registration statement not later than the effective
date of such registration statement; and

            (m) cause all Registrable Securities covered by such registration
statement to be listed, upon official notice of issuance, on any securities
exchange on which any of the securities of the same class as the Registrable
Securities are then listed.

            The Purchaser may require each Seller, as a condition to including
Registrable Securities in such registration, to furnish the Purchaser with such
information and affidavits regarding such holder, its ownership of the
Registrable Securities and the distribution of such securities as the Purchaser
may from time to time reasonably request in writing in connection with such
registration.

            Each Seller agrees that upon receipt of any notice from the
Purchaser of the happening of any event of the kind described in paragraph (i),
such holder will forthwith

                                       19
<PAGE>
discontinue such Seller's disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the
registration statement relating to such Registrable Securities until such
Seller's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus
contemplated by paragraph (i) and, if so directed by the Purchaser, will deliver
to the Purchaser (at the Purchaser's expense) all copies, other than permanent
file copies, then in such holder's possession of the prospectus relating to such
Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.

            Section 5.04 Indemnification.

            (a) Indemnification by the Purchaser. The Purchaser shall, to the
full extent permitted by law, indemnify and hold harmless each Seller, its
directors and officers, plan administrators or similar fiduciaries appointed in
connection with any chapter 11 plan or otherwise and each other Person, if any,
who controls any such Seller within the meaning of the Securities Act, against
any losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities, joint or several
(together, "Losses"), to which such Seller or any such director or officer, plan
administrator or similar fiduciary appointed in connection with any chapter 11
plan or otherwise or controlling Person may become subject under the Securities
Act or otherwise, insofar as such Losses (or actions or proceedings, whether
commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in
any such registration statement, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or
summary prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or
any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a
prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not
misleading, and the Purchaser will reimburse in cash such Seller and each such
director, officer, plan administrator or similar fiduciary appointed in
connection with any chapter 11 plan or otherwise and controlling Person for any
legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with
investigating or defending any such Loss (or action or proceeding in respect
thereof); provided that the Purchaser shall not be liable in any such case to
the extent that any such Loss (or action or proceeding in respect thereof)
arises out of or is based upon (x) an untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission made in any such registration
statement, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, summary prospectus,
amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Purchaser through an instrument duly executed by
such Seller specifically stating that it is for use in the preparation thereof
or (y) such Seller's failure to send or give a copy of the final prospectus to
the Persons asserting an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale
of Registrable Securities to such Person if such statement or omission was
corrected in such final prospectus. Such indemnity shall remain in full force
and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Seller
or any such director, officer, plan administrator or similar fiduciary appointed
in connection with any chapter 11 plan or otherwise or controlling Person, and
shall survive the transfer of such securities by such Seller. The Purchaser
shall also indemnify each other Person who participates (including as an
underwriter) in the offering or sale of Registrable Securities, their officers
and directors and each other Person, if any, who controls any such participating
Person within the meaning of the Securities Act to the same extent as provided
above with respect to sellers of Registrable Securities.

                                       20
<PAGE>
               (b) Indemnification by the Sellers. Each of the Sellers, as a
condition to including Registrable Securities in such registration statement
pursuant to Sections 5.01 and 5.02 hereof, shall, to the full extent permitted
by law, indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser, its directors and officers,
and each other Person, if any, who controls the Purchaser within the meaning of
the Securities Act, against any Losses to which the Purchaser or any such
director or officer or controlling Person may become subject under the
Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such Losses (or actions or proceedings,
whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact
contained in any such registration statement, any preliminary prospectus, final
prospectus or summary prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein (in the case of a prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made) not misleading, if such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information about such Seller furnished to the Purchaser
through an instrument duly executed by such Seller specifically stating that it
is for use in the preparation of such registration statement, preliminary
prospectus, final prospectus, summary prospectus, amendment or supplement and
each of the Sellers will reimburse the Purchaser in cash and each other person,
if any, who controls the Purchaser within the meaning of the Securities Act, for
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with
investigating or defending any such Loss (or action or proceeding in respect
thereof); provided, however, that the obligation to provide indemnification and
reimburse expenses pursuant to this Section 5.04(b) shall be several, and not
joint and several, among such Indemnifying Parties. Such indemnity shall remain
in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of
the Purchaser or any such director, officer or controlling Person and shall
survive the transfer of such securities by such Seller.

               (c) Notices of Claims, etc. Promptly after receipt by an
Indemnified Party of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding
involving a claim referred to in the preceding paragraph (a) or (b) of this
Section 5.04, such Indemnified Party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to
be made against an Indemnifying Party pursuant to such paragraphs, give written
notice to the latter of the commencement of such action, provided that the
failure of any Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall not
relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations under the preceding paragraphs
of this Section 5.04, except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is
actually prejudiced by such failure to give notice. In case any such action is
brought against an Indemnified Party, the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled
to participate in and, unless, in the reasonable judgment of any Indemnified
Party, a conflict of interest between such Indemnified Party and any
Indemnifying Party exists with respect to such claim, to assume the defense
thereof, jointly with any other Indemnifying Party similarly notified to the
extent that it may wish, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such
Indemnified Party, and after notice from the Indemnifying Party to such
Indemnified Party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the
Indemnifying Party shall not be liable to such Indemnified Party for any legal
or other expenses subsequently incurred by the latter in connection with the
defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided that the
Indemnified Party may participate in such defense at the Indemnified Party's
expense; and provided further that the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Parties
shall have the right to employ one counsel to represent it or them if, in the
reasonable judgment of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Parties, it is
advisable for it or

                                       21
<PAGE>
them to be represented by separate counsel by reason of having legal defenses
which are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying
Party, and in that event the reasonable fees and expenses of such one counsel
shall be paid by the Indemnifying Party. If the Indemnifying Party is not
entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim, it will not be
obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for the
Indemnified Parties with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable
judgment of any Indemnified Party a conflict of interest may exist between such
Indemnified Party and any other Indemnified Parties with respect to such claim,
in which event the Indemnifying Party shall be obligated to pay the fees and
expenses of such additional counsel for the Indemnified Parties or counsels. No
Indemnifying Party shall consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any
settlement without the consent of the Indemnified Party which does not include
as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such
Indemnified Party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or
litigation. No Indemnifying Party shall be subject to any liability for any
settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.

               (d) Contribution. If the indemnity and reimbursement obligation
provided for in any paragraph of this Section 5.04 is unavailable or
insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified Party in respect of any Losses (or
actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to therein, then the
Indemnifying Party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the
Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses (or actions or proceedings in
respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
fault of the Indemnifying Party on the one hand and the Indemnified Party on the
other hand in connection with statements or omissions which resulted in such
Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the
untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
Indemnifying Party or the Indemnified Party and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
untrue statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just
and equitable if contributions pursuant to this paragraph were to be determined
by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to in the first sentence of
this paragraph. The amount paid by an Indemnified Party as a result of the
Losses referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be deemed to
include any legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified
Party in connection with investigating or defending any Loss which is the
subject of this paragraph.

               No Indemnified Party guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from the Indemnifying Party if the Indemnifying Party was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

               (e) Other Indemnification. Indemnification similar to that
specified in the preceding paragraphs of this Section 5.04 (with appropriate
modifications) shall be given by the Purchaser and each Seller with respect to
any required registration or other qualification of securities under any federal
or state law or regulation of any governmental authority other than the
Securities Act. The provisions of this Section 5.04 shall be in addition to any
other rights to indemnification or contribution which an Indemnified Party may
have pursuant to law, equity, contract or otherwise.

                                       22
<PAGE>

               (f) Indemnification Payments. The indemnification required by
this Section 5.04 shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof
during the course of the investigation or defense, as and when bills are
received or Losses are incurred.

               Section 5.05 Covenants Relating to Rule 144. Subject to the
matters disclosed in Schedule 4.05 to this Agreement, the Purchaser will file
reports in compliance with the Exchange Act, will comply with all rules and
regulations of the SEC applicable in connection with the use of Rule 144 and
take such other actions and furnish each Seller with such other information as
such Seller may request in order to avail itself of such rule or any other rule
or regulation of the SEC allowing such holder to sell any Registrable Securities
without registration, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and
will, at its expense, forthwith upon the request of any Seller, deliver to such
Seller a certificate, signed by the Purchaser's principal financial officer,
stating (a) the Purchaser's name, address and telephone number (including area
code), (b) the Purchaser's Internal Revenue Service identification number, (c)
the Purchaser's SEC file number, (d) the number of shares of each class of
securities outstanding as shown by the most recent report or statement published
by the Purchaser, and (e) whether the Purchaser has filed the reports required
to be filed under the Exchange Act for a period of at least twelve (12) months
prior to the date of such certificate and that the Purchaser has been subject to
the filing requirements under the Exchange Act for the past ninety (90) days. If
at any time the Purchaser is not required to file reports in compliance with
either Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Purchaser at its
expense will, forthwith upon the written request of the holder of any
Registrable Securities, make available adequate current public information with
respect to the Purchaser within the meaning of paragraph (c)(2) of Rule 144.

               Section 5.06 No Other Public Offerings. The Purchaser agrees not
to offer or issue pursuant to any public sale or distribution any of its
securities, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable
for such securities, or, in each case, any interest therein, unless and until
all of the Registrable Securities are disposed of by the Sellers, and, if
applicable, the Baker Parties or BSF (on behalf of the Baker Parties), as the
case may be. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the
foregoing prohibition shall not apply to dispositions of securities made solely
in connection with (i) Section 5.07 hereof, (ii) any public offering pursuant to
Section 5.01(a) or 5.02(a) of this Agreement, (iii) the issuance of equity
securities as a form of consideration in an acquisition, merger, consolidation
or other business combination transaction that is approved by the Purchaser's
board of directors in connection with a transaction that a nationally recognized
investment banking firm provides the Purchaser with an opinion determining that
such transaction is fair to the Purchaser's shareholders from a financial
perspective or (iv) the issuance to employees or directors as incentive
compensation.

               Section 5.07 Private Placements. Without the prior written
consent of the Stock Committee, the Purchaser agrees not to effect any private
sale or distribution of its securities, or any securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for such securities or, in each case, any interest
therein, unless and until all of the Registrable Securities are disposed of by
the Sellers, the Baker Parties or BSF (on behalf of the Baker Parties), as the
case may be. Notwithstanding anything contained herein the contrary, the
foregoing prohibition shall not apply to dispositions made solely in connection
with the issuance of equity securities as a form of consideration in an
acquisition, merger, consolidation or other business combination transaction
that is approved by the Purchaser's board of directors in connection with a

                                       23
<PAGE>
transaction that a nationally recognized investment banking firm provides the
Purchaser with an opinion determining that such transaction is fair to the
Purchaser's shareholders from a financial perspective. In addition, the
Purchaser shall not be required to obtain the prior written consent of the
Sellers for any private sale or distribution of its securities if the aggregate
cumulative consideration received by the Purchaser for such private sales or
distributions is less than or equal to $5,000,000.

               Section 5.08 Sales by Directors and Officers of the Purchaser.
The Purchaser shall cause each of its officers or directors listed on Schedule I
to this Agreement to enter into a Lock-Up Agreement pursuant to which each
individual will agree, on behalf of himself and his beneficiaries or designees,
to not (except in connection with any offering pursuant to this Agreement),
directly or indirectly, take any action to sell, distribute or assign any
securities of the Purchaser until the earlier of (A) the date upon which all of
the Registrable Securities are disposed of by the Sellers, the Baker Parties or
BSF (on behalf of the Baker Parties), as the case may be, and (B) January 1,
2004 (collectively, the "Lock-Up Period"). The prohibition contained in this
Section 5.08 shall not be applicable to any officer or director, other than Paul
Ricci and Michael Tivnan as set forth below, in the event that, and only after,
such officer or director is no longer serving as either an employee or a
director of (and has no intention of serving during the Lock-Up Period as either
an employee or a director of), as the case may be, the Purchaser. If Paul
Ricci's employment and position as both an employee and a director with the
Purchaser terminates (and he has no intention of serving during the Lock-Up
Period as either an employee or director of the Purchaser) for any reason prior
to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, he shall be permitted, after such
termination, subject to this Section 5.08, to sell only that number of shares of
common stock of the Purchaser necessary to pay for (a) the exercise of options
that he holds as of the date of such termination and (b) the tax liability
arising from the exercise of such options and the sale of the foregoing shares,
but is prohibited from selling any other shares. If Michael Tivnan's employment
and position as both an employee and a director with the Purchaser terminates
(and he has no intention of serving during the Lock-Up Period as either an
employee or director of the Purchaser) for any reason (X) on or before February
15, 2003, he shall then be permitted through and including February 15, 2003,
subject to this Section 5.08, to sell only that number of shares of common stock
of the Purchaser necessary to pay for (a) the exercise of options that he holds
as of the date of such termination and (b) the tax liability arising from the
exercise of such options and the sale of the foregoing shares, but is prohibited
from selling any other shares prior to February 16, 2003, at which time the
prohibition contained in this Section 5.08 shall no longer be applicable to
Michael Tivnan and (Y) after February 15, 2003, the prohibition contained in
this Section 5.08 shall no longer be applicable after such termination date.

               Section 5.09 Holding Period. Subject to the occurrence of the
Initial Purchase, the December Issuance and the Note Payment, for the period
from the date hereof until February 16, 2003 (the "Holding Period"), each of the
Sellers will not, nor will they permit any of their Subsidiaries or affiliates
(or authorize or permit any of their respective representatives) to take,
directly or indirectly, any action to (i) sell, distribute or assign their
portion of the Registrable Securities, (ii) initiate, assist, solicit, receive,
negotiate, encourage or accept any offer or inquiry from any person regarding
their portion of the Registrable Securities, (iii) contact potential purchasers
of their portion of the Registrable Securities, (iv) short or hedge (or maintain
any short or hedge of) their portion of the Registrable Securities, or (v)
communicate with any Person

                                       24
<PAGE>
regarding or relating to their portion of the Registrable Securities; provided,
however, that if any of the Sellers or any such Subsidiary, affiliate or
representative receives from any person any offer, inquiry or informational
request regarding their portion of the Registrable Securities, such Seller will
promptly provide such person with information relating to the contact persons
designated by the Purchaser. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything contrary
contained herein, each of Sellers shall be free to exercise any and all rights
available to it to sell or dispose of its portion of the Registrable Securities,
including, without limitation, a disposition in accordance with section 1145 of
the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or the applicable securities laws, from and after
February 16, 2003, or at such earlier date if the Purchaser fails to either (A)
make the Initial Purchase, (B) make the Note Payment, or (C) issue any of the
Additional Shares (collectively, the "Conditions"). Purchaser agrees that it
shall not object to any distribution made by the Sellers to their creditors
(administrative or otherwise) in connection with the foregoing.

                                    ARTICLE 6

                            COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES

               Section 6.01 Outstanding Payments. On or prior to the Purchase
Date, the Purchaser shall pay to the Sellers any amounts due in connection with
the Asset Purchase Agreement and any document executed in connection therewith,
including $193,000 due and owing in connection with certain severance claims
(collectively, the "Owed Amounts").

               Section 6.02 Seller Designees. The Purchaser shall grant one (1)
designee of the Sellers the right to attend and observe any and all meetings of
the Purchaser's board of directors until the Sellers collectively own fewer than
500,000 shares of the Purchaser Common Stock (subject to equitable adjustment
for stock splits, dividends, and similar recapitalizations). Such designee shall
receive the same notice of all meetings as provided to the Purchaser's directors
and shall have the right to attend meetings of the Purchaser's board of
directors either in person or by telephone. The Purchaser shall reimburse such
designee for any and all reasonable expenses incurred by such designee in
connection with attending of such meeting. As a condition to such board
observation rights, such Seller designee shall execute a customary form of
confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement with the Purchaser.

               Section 6.03  [Intentionally Omitted]

               Section 6.04 Regulatory and Other Approvals. Each of the Sellers
and the Purchaser will as promptly as practicable take all commercially
reasonable steps necessary or desirable and cooperate with each other to obtain
all consents, approvals or actions, make all filings and give all notices
required to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

               Section 6.05 Notice and Cure. Each of the Sellers and the
Purchaser will promptly notify the other in writing of, and contemporaneously
will provide the other with true and complete copies of any and all information
or documents relating to, and will use all commercially reasonable efforts to
cure before the Purchase Date, any event, transaction or circumstance, occurring
after the date of this Agreement that causes or will cause any covenant or
agreement of either such party under this Agreement to be breached or that
renders or will

                                       25
<PAGE>
render untrue any representation or warranty of either such party contained in
this Agreement as if the same were made on or as of the date of such event,
transaction or circumstance.

               Section 6.06 Fulfillment of Conditions. Each of the Sellers and
the Purchaser will take all commercially reasonable steps necessary or desirable
and proceed diligently and in good faith to satisfy each condition to the
obligations of such party contained in this Agreement and will not take or fail
to take any action that could reasonably be expected to result in the
nonfulfillment of any such condition.

                                    ARTICLE 7

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

               Section 7.01 Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties,
Covenants and Agreements. All representations and warranties of the Sellers
contained in this Agreement or any other instrument delivered pursuant to this
Agreement, shall expire on the Purchase Date, and there shall be no liability in
respect thereof, whether such liability has accrued prior to or after Purchase
Date, on the part of any Seller or its officers, directors, employees, agents or
affiliates. All representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in
this Agreement or any other instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement,
shall survive the Purchase Date; provided, however, that the representations and
warranties (i) set forth in Sections 4.04 and 4.08 shall expire on the Purchase
Date and (ii) set forth in Sections 4.05 shall apply only with respect to the
December Issuance, the February Issuance and the issuance of the 100,000 shares
of Purchaser Common Stock that are issuable pursuant to Section 5.02(a) herein
and, with respect to each such issuance, shall expire on the close of business
on the date of such issuance, and, in each case, upon such expiration, there
shall be no liability in respect thereof, whether such liability has accrued
prior to or after such applicable date, on the part of the Purchaser or its
officers, directors, employees, agents or affiliates. All covenants and
agreements of the Parties contained in this Agreement or in any other agreement
delivered pursuant to this Agreement, shall expire on the Purchase Date and
there shall be no liability in respect thereof, whether such liability has
accrued prior to or after Purchase Date, on the part of any Party or any of its
officers, directors, employees, agents or affiliates; provided, however, that
this Section shall not limit in any way the survival and enforceability of any
covenant or agreement of the Parties hereto which by its terms contemplates
performance after the Purchase Date, which shall survive for the respective
periods set forth herein.

               Section 7.02 Termination. (a) The Parties may terminate this
Agreement as provided below:

               (i) the Parties may terminate this Agreement by written consent
of each Seller and the Purchaser;

               (ii)   [Intentionally Omitted]

               (iii) the Sellers may terminate this Agreement if the Purchaser
fails to meet any of the Conditions, in which case, notwithstanding anything
contrary contained herein, each of Sellers shall be free to exercise any and all
rights available to it to sell or dispose of their portion

                                       26
<PAGE>
of the Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, a disposition in
accordance with section 1145 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or the applicable
securities laws.

               (b) Upon any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section
7.02(a), this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements shall become void and shall
have no effect; except for those obligations set forth in Sections 7.02(b),
7.03, 7.04, 7.06, 7.09, 7.11, 7.12, 7.13 and 7.15- 7.17 of this Agreement which
shall survive the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.

               Section 7.03 Expenses, Etc. Other than expressly provided for
herein, each Party hereto will pay such Party's own expenses (including legal
fees and expenses) in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereby
or thereby, whether or not such transactions shall be consummated.

               Section 7.04 Notices. Any notice or other communications required
or permitted hereunder shall be deemed to be sufficient if contained in a
written instrument delivered in person (including, without limitation by Federal
Express, DHL or similar courier service) or duly sent by first class certified
mail, postage prepaid, or by facsimile addressed to such Party at the address or
telecopy number set forth below or such other address or facsimile number as may
hereafter be designated in writing by the addressee to the addressor listing all
Parties:

If to the Sellers:           Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V.
                             c/o DECRAMER & VANSTAEN
                             Advocatenassociatie
                             Nieuwstraat 23
                             8940   WERVIK
                             Tel: + 32 56 31 14 06
                             Fax: + 32 56 31 40 62
                             Att:  Jean Marc Vanstaen

                             L&H Holdings USA, Inc.
                             52 Third Avenue
                             Burlington, MA 01803
                             Att: Plan Administrator

with a copy to:              Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
                             One Chase Manhattan Plaza
                             New York, New York 10005
                             Attn: Luc A.  Despins, Esq.
                             Telephone: (212) 530-5000
                             Fax: (212) 822-5219

                                       27
<PAGE>

and a copy to:               Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld LLP
                             599 Madison Avenue
                             New York, NY 10022
                             Att:  Ira Dizengoff
                             Telephone:  (212) 872-1000
                             Fax:  (212) 872-1002

If to the Purchaser:         ScanSoft, Inc.
                             9 Centennial Drive
                             Attention: Chief Financial Officer
                             Peabody, MA   01960
                             Telephone: 978-977-2000
                             Fax:  978-977-2436

Copy to:                     Hill & Barlow, a Professional Corporation
                             One International Place
                             Boston, MA   02110
                             Attention: Charles R. Dougherty, Esq.
                             Telephone (617) 428-3000
                             Fax: (617) 428-3500

or, in any case, at such other address or addresses as shall have been furnished
in writing by such Party to the other Parties hereto. All such notices,
requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to have been
received (a) in the case of personal delivery, on the date of such delivery, (b)
in the case of mailing, on the fifth business day following the date of such
mailing, and (c) in the case of confirmed facsimile, when sent.

               Section 7.05 Term. This Agreement shall expire on February 29,
2004 (the "Expiration Date"). Upon the Expiration Date, this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements (excluding the Confession of Judgment) shall become void
and shall have no effect; except for those obligations set forth in Sections
5.04, 6.02, Sections 7.03 - 7.09, Sections 7.11 - 7.13 and Sections 7.15 - 7.17
of this Agreement which shall survive the expiration of this Agreement in
accordance with its terms.

               Section 7.06 Registration Rights Agreement. This Agreement
supplements and amends the Registration Rights Agreement, which remains in full
force and effect in accordance with its terms; provided however, prior to the
earlier of February 16, 2003 or the termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Section 7.02(a), the Sellers shall not make a request pursuant to Section 1.2 of
the Registration Rights Agreement and following the termination of this
Agreement pursuant to Section 7.02(a), clause (ii) of section 1.3(a)of the
Registration Rights Agreement shall be deleted in its entirety and the following
shall be inserted in lieu thereof: "(ii) February 29, 2004." Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, if a conflict exists between the
terms of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, the terms of this
Agreement shall govern.

                                       28
<PAGE>

               Section 7.07 Baker Parties. As a condition to the Purchaser's
repurchase of some or all of the Baker Shares from the Baker Parties and/or BSF
(on behalf of the Baker Parties) pursuant to Article 2 hereof and to the right
of the Baker Parties to participate in either of the registrations covered by
Article 5, the Baker Parties and BSF (on behalf of the Baker Parties) shall
execute a joinder or similar agreement by which they agree to make all
applicable representations and be bound by all applicable covenants contained in
this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of the Baker Parties
and/or BSF (on behalf of the Baker Parties) to comply with the terms of this
Section 7.07 shall in no way effect the rights of the Sellers hereunder.

               Section 7.08 Entire Agreement. Subject to Section 7.06, this
Agreement (including the documents referred to herein) and the Term Sheet,
constitute the entire agreement between the Parties and supercedes any prior
understandings, agreements, or representations by or between the Parties,
written or oral, that may have related in any way to the subject matter thereof.

               Section 7.09 Succession and Assignment. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties named herein and their
respective successors and permitted assigns and shall be binding upon any
successor bankruptcy trustee or trustees. No Party may assign either this
Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the
prior written approval of the other Parties, except that each Seller may assign
its rights under this Agreement to (a) a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Seller
or a successor to substantially all the business or assets of the Seller or (b)
a transferee or assignee of 10% or more of the then outstanding Registrable
Securities.

               Section 7.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts, and each such counterpart hereof shall be deemed to be
an original instrument, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but
one agreement.

               Section 7.11 Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE ANCILLARY
AGREEMENTS, THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER,
AND ANY CLAIM OR CONTROVERSY DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF
THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, OR ANY OTHER THEORY),
INCLUDING ALL MATTERS OF CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY AND PERFORMANCE, SHALL IN ALL
RESPECTS BE GOVERNED BY AND INTERPRETED, CONSTRUED AND DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY
CONFLICTS OF LAW PROVISION THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANY
OTHER JURISDICTION).

               Section 7.12 Jurisdiction. The Parties hereto agree that any
suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any
matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement or the Ancillary
Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be brought,
at any time prior to the closing of the U.S. Bankruptcy Case, in the U.S.
Bankruptcy Court, and thereafter shall be brought in the United States District
Court for the District of Massachusetts or any Massachusetts State court sitting
in Suffolk County, so

                                       29
<PAGE>
long as one of such courts shall have subject matter jurisdiction over such
suit, action or proceeding, and that any cause of action arising out of this
Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby shall be deemed to have arisen from a transaction of business in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provided, however, that the Confession of
Judgment may be filed in any court of competent jurisdiction sitting in New
York, and each of the Parties hereby irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of
such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such
suit, action or proceeding and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying
of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court or that
any such suit, action or proceeding which is brought in any such court has been
brought in an inconvenient forum. Process in any such suit, action or proceeding
may be served on any Party anywhere in the world, whether within or without the
jurisdiction of any such court.

               Section 7.13 No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as set forth in
Section 5.04 and except with respect to the Baker Parties, this Agreement shall
not confer any rights or remedies upon any person other than the Parties and
their respective successors and permitted assigns.

               Section 7.14 Headings. The section headings contained in this
Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

               Section 7.15 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY
AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW,
ANY RIGHT THAT THEY MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION,
OR IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF
THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH
PARTY (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT, OR ATTORNEY OF THE OTHER
PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT,
IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B)
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTY HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS
AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS
SECTION 7.14.

               Section 7.16 Amendments and Waivers. The Parties may mutually
amend any provision of this Agreement at any time. No amendment of any provision
of this Agreement shall be valid unless the same shall be in writing and signed
by all of the Parties. No waiver by any Party of any default, misrepresentation,
or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder, whether intentional or not, shall
be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent default, misrepresentation, or
breach of warranty or covenant hereunder or affect in any way any rights arising
by virtue of any prior or subsequent such occurrence.

               Section 7.17 Severability. Any term or provision of this
Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and
provisions hereof or the validity or enforceability of

                                       30
<PAGE>
the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other
jurisdiction. If the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction
declares that any term or provision hereof is invalid or unenforceable, the
Parties agree that the court making the determination of invalidity or
unenforceability shall have the power to reduce the scope, duration, or area of
the term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases, or to replace any
invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a term or provision that is
valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the
invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be
enforceable as so modified after the expiration of the time within which the
judgment may be appealed.

               Section 7.18 Incorporation of Exhibits and Schedules. The
Exhibits and Schedules identified in this Agreement are incorporated herein by
reference and made a part hereof.

                                       31
<PAGE>

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

                                          PURCHASER:

                                          SCANSOFT, INC.
                                          By:___________________________________
                                          Name:
                                          Title:

                                          SELLERS:

                                          LERNOUT & HAUSPIE SPEECH PRODUCTS N.V.

                                          By:___________________________________
                                          Name:
                                          Title:

                                          L&H HOLDINGS USA, INC.

                                          By:___________________________________
                                          Name:
                                          Title:

                                       32
<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE I

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Paul A. Ricci - Chief Executive Officer
Michael K. Tivnan -President & Chief Operating Officer
Richard S. Palmer - Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Ben Wittner - Senior Vice President, Research and Development
Wayne Crandall - Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Robert Weideman - Chief Marketing Officer

DIRECTORS

Paul A. Ricci (Chairman)
Michael K. Tivnan
Herve Gallaire
Mark B. Myers
Katharine A. Martin
Robert Teresi
Robert J. Frankenberg

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 4.05

On December 12, 2001, the Purchaser acquired certain assets of Lernout & Hauspie
N.V. On December 27, 2001, the Purchaser filed a Form 8-K reporting the
transaction as an acquisition of assets. The Purchaser has had ongoing
discussions with the SEC regarding historical financial statement requirements
related to the acquisition. Following these discussions, the Purchaser concluded
that, for purposes of Rule 3-05 of Regulation S-X, the L&H transaction was an
acquisition of a business and not an acquisition of assets. In connection with
these discussions, the Purchaser also concluded that the transaction should be
reported as the acquisition of a business for accounting purposes rather than
the acquisition of assets, as previously reported in the Purchaser SEC Reports.
The Purchaser intends to file a Form 8-K/A, to amend the original Form 8-K filed
on December 27, 2001, to include the financial statements of the acquired
business. For purposes of complying with the financial statement requirements of
Rule 3-05 of Regulation S-X, for the acquisition of a business, the amended Form
8-K should have been filed with-in 75 days of the closing of the transaction.
Given the delay in the filing of the amended Form 8-K, the Purchaser is
considered an untimely filer for the purposes of the Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934.

                                       2
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF NEW YORK
------------------------------------------------------X
                                                      :   Index No.

Lernout and Hauspie Speech Products N.V. and L&H      :
Holdings USA, Inc.,                                   :
                                                      :
                                    Plaintiffs,       :   AFFIDAVIT OF
                             v.                       :   CONFESSION OF
                                                      :   JUDGMENT:
ScanSoft, Inc.,                                       :
                                                      :
                                    Defendant.        :
                                                      :

------------------------------------------------------X

STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF NEW YORK   ss.:

Paul A. Ricci, being duly sworn, deposes and says:

        1. I am the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ScanSoft, Inc.
("Defendant") and am duly authorized to make this affidavit on behalf of the
corporate defendant herein.

        2. I, on behalf of Defendant, hereby confess judgment in the Supreme
Court of the State of New York, County of New York, in favor of the plaintiffs,
Lernout and Hauspie Speech Products N.V. and L&H Holdings, Inc. ("Plaintiffs")
or their successors or assigns, for the sum of Three Million Three Hundred
Thirty-Two Thousand Four Hundred Seventy-Seven and 47/100 Dollars
($3,332,477.47), less any payments made by Defendant after the date of execution
of this affidavit and on or before January 1, 2003 toward the outstanding
principal amount on the Promissory Note as defined in paragraph five (5) below,
plus any interest accrued on the outstanding principal on the Promissory Note
between the date hereof and January 1, 2003, and hereby authorize Plaintiffs or
their successors, assigns or legal representatives to enter judgment for that
sum against Defendant.

<PAGE>

        3. Defendant resides at 9 Centennial Drive, in the County of Essex,
State of Massachusetts.

        4. I authorize entry of judgment against Defendant in New York County,
New York.

        5. This confession of judgment is for debt justly to become due to
Plaintiffs out of the following facts:

        A.  FACTS OUT OF WHICH THE DEBT AROSE

        i. On December 12, 2001, Defendant executed a promissory note in the
original principal amount of Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars
($3,500,000) on behalf of the Plaintiffs and certain corporations listed on
Exhibit A to such Promissory Note (the "Promissory Note") for value received. A
copy of the Promissory Note is attached hereto as Exhibit A.

        ii. The Promissory Note bears interest at the rate of 9% per annum.

        iii. The Promissory Note provided that Defendant would make payments on
the principal and interest accrued on the Promissory Note beginning on March 15,
2002, and ending on December 15, 2004.

        iv. As of the day of the execution of this affidavit, Defendant has made
three (3) payments, thereby leaving an outstanding principal balance on the
Promissory Note in the amount of Three Million Three Hundred Thirty-One Thousand
Six Hundred Fifty-Five and 97/100 Dollars ($3,331,655.97) plus interest accrued
to date in the amount of Eight Hundred Twenty-One and 50/100 Dollars ($821.50).

        v. According to the amortization schedule agreed upon by Plaintiffs and
Defendant (the "Amortization Schedule"), and assuming Defendant makes all
payments in accordance with the Amortization Schedule, on January 1, 2003,
Defendant will owe the principal amount of Three Million Two Hundred Seventy-Two
Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety-Seven and 41/100 Dollars ($3,272,997.41) on the
Promissory Note plus accrued interest in the amount of Twelve

                                       2
<PAGE>
Thousand Nine-Hundred Twelve and 65/100 Dollars ($12,912.65). A copy of the
Amortization Schedule is attached hereto as Exhibit B.

B.  FACTS SHOWING THAT THE SUM CONFESSED IS JUSTLY TO BECOME DUE

        i. On September ____, 2002, Defendant and Plaintiffs entered into an
agreement covering the Defendant's repurchase of certain shares of Defendant
stock held by the Plaintiffs and certain registration obligations of the
Defendant with respect to certain other shares of Defendant held by the
Plaintiffs (the "Agreement"). A copy of the Agreement is attached hereto as
Exhibit C.

        ii. The Agreement provides that if a Completed Public Offering (as
defined in the Agreement) does not occur with respect to all of the Registrable
Securities (as defined in the Agreement) on or before January 1, 2003, then
Defendant will repay in cash in full the outstanding principal amount and any
interest accrued thereon of the Promissory Note on January 1, 2003.

        iii. In the event that full and complete payment of the outstanding
principal amount of the Promissory Note and any interest accrued thereon is not
paid as of January 1, 2003, Defendant agrees that judgment shall be entered in
favor of Plaintiff and against Defendant in the sum of Three Million Three
Hundred Thirty-Two Thousand Four Hundred Seventy-Seven and 47/100 Dollars ($
3,332,477.47), less any payments made by Defendant after the date of execution
of this affidavit and on or before January 1, 2003 toward the outstanding
principal amount or accrued interest on the Promissory Note, plus any interest
accrued on the outstanding principal balance on the Promissory Note between the
date hereof and January 1, 2003.

                                       3
<PAGE>
        6. This affidavit is not made in connection with an agreement for the
purchase for $1,500.00 or less of any commodities for any non-commercial or
non-business use upon any plan of deferred payments whereby the price or cost is
payable in two or more installments.

                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Paul A. Ricci
                                            Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
                                            ScanSoft, Inc.

Sworn to before me this ___
day of September, 2002.

------------------------------------
Notary

                                       4
<PAGE>
                                                               EXECUTION VERSION

                                    EXHIBIT B

                                ESCROW AGREEMENT

               This ESCROW AGREEMENT is made as of September 16, 2002 (the
"Escrow Agreement") by and among Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V., a
corporation organized and existing under the laws of the Kingdom of Belgium
("L&H NV"), L&H Holdings USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation that is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of L&H NV ("L&H Holdings" and, together with L&H NV, the
"Sellers"), ScanSoft, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Purchaser"), and
Wilmington Trust Company, as escrow agent (the "Escrow Agent").

                                    RECITALS

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

               WHEREAS, the Sellers have filed a voluntary petition for relief
under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code (Case Nos. 00-4397
through 00-4399 (JHW), jointly administered) in the United States Bankruptcy
Court for the District of Delaware (the "U.S. Bankruptcy Court");

               WHEREAS, L&H NV was the subject of a concordat proceeding under
the Belgian law of July 17, 1997 on judicial composition (gerechtelijk akkoord)
in Belgium before the Commercial Court of Ieper, and was declared bankrupt (in
staat van faillissement) pursuant to a judgment of October 24, 2001 (the
"Belgian Bankruptcy Case") of the Commercial Court of Ieper appointed in
connection with the Belgian Bankruptcy Case pursuant to Belgian law of August 8,
1997;

               WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Asset Purchase Agreement (the
"Asset Purchase Agreement") dated as of December 7, 2001 and amended on December
12, 2001 by and among the Purchaser, the Sellers and the other sellers listed on
the signature pages attached thereto (the "Other L&H Sellers" and, together with
the Sellers, the "L&H Parties"), the Purchaser issued to L&H NV, on behalf of
certain L&H Parties, as partial consideration for the assets sold to the
Purchaser thereunder, a promissory note in the principal amount of $3,500,000
(the "Promissory Note");

               WHEREAS, on the date hereof, the Sellers and the Purchaser have
entered into a Agreement (the "Agreement"; capitalized terms not defined herein
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement), pursuant to which
the Purchaser has agreed to, among other things, use its commercially reasonable
efforts to effectuate a Completed Public Offering as soon as practicable
following the date of the Agreement;

               WHEREAS, Section 5.01(a) of the Agreement requires, among other
things, that the Purchaser (i) repay in cash in full the outstanding principal
amount of the Promissory Note (and any interest accrued thereon) on January 1,
2003 (the "Note Payment") if the Completed Public Offering does not occur on or
before such date and (ii) enter into a Confession of
<PAGE>

Judgment, as of the date hereof, with regard to the outstanding amount of the
Promissory Note, and deliver such Confession of Judgment to the Escrow Agent to
be held in an account specified on Exhibit A hereto (the "Escrow Account"),
which will be established and maintained by the Escrow Agent to hold such
Confession of Judgment, all on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement.

               NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, it is hereby agreed among the
parties hereto as follows:

                              TERMS AND CONDITIONS

               1. ESTABLISHMENT OF ESCROW ACCOUNT; INITIAL DEPOSIT OF CONFESSION
OF JUDGMENT. Upon the execution of this Agreement, the Purchaser and the Sellers
shall transfer immediately to the Escrow Agent a signed, fully executed original
of the Confession of Judgment, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B
to be held in escrow by the Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent agrees to accept such
Confession of Judgment, and agrees to hold and preserve such Confession of
Judgment, in its original form in its customary manner in its capacity as the
Escrow Agent pursuant to the terms of this Escrow Agreement.

               2. APPOINTMENT OF THE ESCROW AGENT. The Purchaser and the Sellers
hereby designate and appoint the Escrow Agent as their joint Escrow Agent
subject to the terms of this Escrow Agreement. The Escrow Agent agrees to (i)
act as the Escrow Agent unless and until a successor Escrow Agent is appointed
pursuant to Section 5.5 hereof, and (ii) upon receipt thereof, deposit and hold
the Confession of Judgment in the Escrow Account, in each case, in accordance
with the terms and conditions of this Escrow Agreement.

               3.     RELEASE OF THE CONFESSION OF JUDGMENT.

               3.1 RELEASE IF NOTE PAYMENT IS MADE. Upon payment of the Note
Payment in accordance with the terms of Section 5.01(a) of the Agreement, the
Purchaser and the Sellers shall jointly execute and deliver to the Escrow Agent
written instructions directing the Escrow Agent to release the Confession of
Judgment to the Purchaser in accordance with Section 3.5 herein at its address
as stated in Section 7 hereof.

               3.2 RELEASE IF NOTE PAYMENT IS NOT MADE. In the event the Note
Payment has not been made by the Purchaser to the Sellers in accordance with the
terms of Section 5.01(a) of the Agreement, the Sellers shall execute and deliver
to the Escrow Agent written instructions directing the Escrow Agent to release
the Confession of Judgment to Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, on behalf of
the Sellers, in accordance with Section 3.5 herein at its address as stated in
Section 7 hereof.

               3.3 RELEASE UPON COMPLETED PUBLIC OFFERING. Upon the occurrence
of a Completed Public Offering on or before January 1, 2003, the Purchaser and
the Sellers shall jointly execute and deliver to the Escrow Agent written
instructions directing the Escrow Agent

                                       2
<PAGE>
to release the Confession of Judgment to the Purchaser in accordance with
Section 3.5 herein at its address as stated in Section 7 hereof.

               3.4 DISBURSEMENT BY THE ESCROW AGENT. The Escrow Agent shall hold
the Confession of Judgment and shall not deliver it, other than (i) pursuant to
Sections 3.1, 3.2 or 3.3 of this Escrow Agreement, (ii) pursuant to a final
order of a court having jurisdiction in accordance with the provisions of
Section 8.1 of this Escrow Agreement, (iii) by delivering the Confession of
Judgment into the U.S. Bankruptcy Court pursuant to the provisions of Section 4
of this Escrow Agreement, or (iv) by delivering the Confession of Judgment to a
successor Escrow Agent pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.5 of this Escrow
Agreement.

               3.5 RELIANCE ON NOTICE. Following receipt of written instructions
given to the Escrow Agent pursuant to Sections 3.1, 3.2 or 3.3 of this Escrow
Agreement, the Escrow Agent shall deliver the Confession of Judgment in
accordance with such instructions, and the Escrow Agent shall not be subject to
any liability to any party for doing so. The Escrow Agent shall release the
Confession of Judgment by overnight courier within 1 business day following
receipt of such written instructions, if such instructions are accompanied by
telephonic notice to the Escrow Agent by the sending party on or prior to
receipt of such instructions by the Escrow Agent, or within 3 business days
following receipt of such written instructions if not accompanied by
contemporaneous telephonic notice to the Escrow Agent by the sending party. The
Purchaser and the Sellers each agree not to assert any claim against the Escrow
Agent for making such delivery in accordance with this Section.

               4.  DISPUTE PROCEDURES. In the event of a dispute between the
parties hereto as to the proper disposition of the Confession of Judgment, the
Escrow Agent shall, at its sole option and without liability to any party, (i)
deliver the Confession of Judgment only in accordance with Sections 3.1, 3.2 or
3.3 of this Escrow Agreement or a final order of a court having jurisdiction
pursuant to Section 8.1 of this Escrow Agreement, to the extent provided in such
section or final order or, in the absence of the foregoing, (ii) at the expense
of the Purchaser and the Sellers deliver the Confession of Judgment into the
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, and upon giving notice to the Purchaser and the Sellers
of such action, shall thereupon be relieved of all further responsibility. Under
no circumstances shall the Escrow Agent have any liability to any party hereto
if it refrains from taking any action other than to continue to hold the
Confession of Judgment in escrow until otherwise directed by a final judgment of
a court of competent jurisdiction or by joint written instructions of the
Purchaser and the Sellers.

               5.  THE ESCROW AGENT.

               5.1 GENERAL. The Escrow Agent shall act in an agency capacity as
the Escrow Agent and hold and deliver the Confession of Judgment pursuant to the
terms and conditions of this Escrow Agreement. The Escrow Agent's duties under
this Escrow Agreement shall cease upon delivery and receipt of the Confession of
Judgment in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Escrow Agreement.

                                       3
<PAGE>
               5.2 LIMITED DUTIES. The Escrow Agent undertakes to perform only
such duties as are expressly set forth in this Escrow Agreement. The Escrow
Agent shall incur no liability whatsoever to the Purchaser or the Sellers,
except for its own willful misconduct, fraud or gross negligence in its capacity
as the Escrow Agent hereunder.

               5.3 RELIANCE ON NOTICES. The Escrow Agent may rely and shall be
protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any written notice,
instruction or request furnished to it hereunder and believed by it to be
genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties. The
Escrow Agent may conclusively presume that each of the undersigned
representatives of the Purchaser and the Sellers have full power and authority
to instruct the Escrow Agent on behalf of that party.

               5.4 LIMITED RESPONSIBILITIES. The Escrow Agent's sole
responsibility upon receipt of any written instructions or notice directing
delivery to the Purchaser or the Sellers pursuant to the terms of this Escrow
Agreement is to comply with the provisions of this Escrow Agreement. The Escrow
Agent shall have the right, but not the obligation, to require and receive
written instructions from either the Purchaser or the Sellers, or both, as it
deems necessary or appropriate before taking any action hereunder. The Escrow
Agent shall be entitled to consult with legal counsel in the event that a
question or dispute arises with regard to the construction of any of the
provisions hereof, and shall incur no liability and shall be fully protected in
acting in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

               5.5 RESIGNATION. The Escrow Agent may resign and be discharged
from its duties or obligations hereunder by giving notice of such resignation to
the Purchaser and the Sellers, specifying a date upon which such resignation
shall take effect, whereupon a successor Escrow Agent shall be appointed by the
Sellers with the Purchaser's consent, such consent not to be unreasonably
withheld; provided, however, that the Escrow Agent must continue to serve and
act as the Escrow Agent hereunder until such time as a successor agent has been
appointed and is acting in such capacity pursuant to this Section 5.5; provided
further, however, that if no successor Escrow Agent is appointed and acting in
such capacity pursuant to this Section 5.5 within ten (10) Business Days of the
date notice of the Escrow Agent's resignation is given to the Purchaser and the
Sellers, the Escrow Agent will be discharged from its duties or obligations
hereunder upon delivering, at the expense of the Purchaser and the Sellers, the
Confession of Judgment into the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The Escrow Agent shall be
entitled to deliver the Confession of Judgment to any successor Escrow Agent so
appointed upon said successor Escrow Agent having executed and agreeing to be
bound by this Escrow Agreement.

               5.6 INDEMNIFICATION. The Purchaser and the Sellers hereby jointly
and severally agree to indemnify the Escrow Agent for, and to hold it harmless
against, any loss, liability, damage or expense, including the reasonable cost
and expense of defending itself against any claim or liability (collectively,
"Loss") incurred by the Escrow Agent arising out of or in connection with
entering into or performing under this Escrow Agreement, other than a Loss
arising out of, or in connection with, the Escrow Agent's willful misconduct,
fraud, or gross negligence. The terms of this Section 5.6 shall survive
termination of this Escrow Agreement.

                                       4
<PAGE>

               5.7 FEES; EXPENSES. The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to
compensation solely from the Purchaser for its services hereunder as follows: an
initial fee equal to $2,000 and an annual fee equal to $2,500 payable annually
in advance. In the event the Escrow Agent renders any extraordinary services in
connection with the Confession of Judgment at the request of the Purchaser or
the Sellers, the Escrow Agent shall be entitled to additional compensation from
the Purchaser. The terms of this Section 5.7 shall survive termination of this
Escrow Agreement. In no event shall the Escrow Agent have a duty to deliver the
Confession of Judgment as provided herein unless its fees and expenses and
amounts, if any owing to the Escrow Agent pursuant to Section 5.6 hereof are
paid in full.

               6. ESCROW AGENT NOT AFFECTED BY OTHER AGREEMENTS. This Escrow
Agreement expressly sets forth all the duties of the Escrow Agent with respect
to any and all matters pertinent hereto. No implied duties or obligations shall
be read into this Escrow Agreement against the Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent,
in its capacity as such, shall not be bound by the provisions of any agreement
among the parties hereto other than this Escrow Agreement.

               7. NOTICES. All notices, consents and other communications under
this Escrow Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly
given when received by each party at the following addresses, unless another
address is specified in writing to the other parties:

               If to the Sellers:

               LERNOUT & HAUSPIE SPEECH PRODUCTS N.V.
               General Counsel
               Flanders Language Valley 50
               B-8900 Ieper, Belgium
               Telephone: 011-32-57-22-9540
               Fax: 011-32-57-22-9545

               L&H HOLDINGS USA, INC.
               52 Third Avenue
               Burlington, MA  01803
               Attention: Plan Administrator

               with a copy to:

               MILBANK, TWEED, HADLEY & McCLOY LLP
               1 Chase Manhattan Plaza
               New York, NY  10005
               Phone:  (212) 530-5660
               Fax:  (212) 822-5660
               Attention:  Luc A. Despins, Esq.

                                       5
<PAGE>

               If to the Purchaser:

               ScanSoft, Inc.
               9 Centennial Drive
               Attention: Chief Financial Officer
               Peabody, MA   01960
               Telephone: 978-977-2000
               Fax:  978-977-2436

               with a copy to:

               Hill & Barlow, a Professional Corporation
               One International Place
               Boston, MA   02110
               Attention: Charles R. Dougherty, Esq.
               Telephone (617) 428-3000
               Fax: (617) 428-3500

               If to the Escrow Agent:

               Wilmington Trust Company
               1100 North Market Street
               Wilmington, DE 19890-001
               Phone: (302) 651-8353
               Facsimile: (302) 427-4605
               Attention: Corporate Trust/Custody; Margaret Pulgini,
               Vice President

               8.     MISCELLANEOUS.

               8.1    JURISDICTION. The Parties hereto agree that any suit,
action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter
arising out of or in connection with, this Escrow Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be brought, at any time prior to the closing of the
U.S. Bankruptcy Case, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, and thereafter shall be
brought in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts or
any Massachusetts State court sitting in Suffolk County, so long as one of such
courts shall have subject matter jurisdiction over such suit, action or
proceeding, and that any cause of action arising out of this Escrow Agreement or
the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to have arisen from a
transaction of business in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and each of the
Purchaser and the Sellers hereby irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of
such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such
suit, action or proceeding and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying
of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court or that
any such suit, action or proceeding which is brought in any such court has been
brought in an inconvenient forum. Process in any such suit, action or proceeding
may be served on the Purchaser and the Sellers anywhere in the world, whether
within or without the jurisdiction of

                                       6
<PAGE>
any such court. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Escrow
Agent be deemed to submit to or be subject to jurisdiction in the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts or be a necessary party to any suit, action or proceeding
between Purchaser and the Sellers, and any suit, action or proceeding relating
to the performance or lack of performance by the Escrow Agent shall be
adjudicated solely in the Federal or State courts located in Delaware.

               8.2 CAPTIONS. The captions in this Escrow Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not be given any effect in the
interpretation of this Escrow Agreement.

               8.3 NO WAIVER. The failure of a party to insist upon strict
adherence to any term of this Escrow Agreement on any occasion shall not be
considered a waiver or deprive that party of the right thereafter to insist upon
strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Escrow Agreement. Any
waiver must be in writing and signed by the party against whom it is to be
charged.

               8.4 EXCLUSIVE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENT; ASSIGNMENT. The Escrow
Agreement (including the Recitals) supersedes all prior agreements among the
parties hereto with respect to its subject matter, is intended as a complete and
exclusive statement of the terms of the Escrow Agreement among the parties with
respect thereto and cannot be changed or terminated orally. No party may assign
any rights or delegate any of its duties under this Escrow Agreement without the
consent of the other parties to this Escrow Agreement. This Escrow Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors, assigns and
legal representatives of the Purchaser and the Sellers and to any successor the
Escrow Agent appointed in accordance with Section 5.5 of this Escrow Agreement.

               8.5 COUNTERPARTS. This Escrow Agreement may be executed in
counterparts by original or facsimile signatures, each of which counterparts
shall be considered an original, but all of which together shall constitute the
same instrument.

               8.6 GOVERNING LAW. THIS ESCROW AGREEMENT, THE RIGHTS AND
OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER, AND ANY CLAIM OR CONTROVERSY DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS ESCROW AGREEMENT OR THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, OR ANY OTHER
THEORY), INCLUDING ALL MATTERS OF CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY AND PERFORMANCE, SHALL
IN ALL RESPECTS BE GOVERNED BY AND INTERPRETED, CONSTRUED AND DETERMINED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (WITHOUT REGARD TO
ANY CONFLICTS OF LAW PROVISION THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF
ANY OTHER JURISDICTION).

               8.7 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND
UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY
RIGHT THAT THEY MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION, OR IN
ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING, DIRECTLY

                                       7
<PAGE>
OR INDIRECTLY BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS ESCROW AGREEMENT OR THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, OR ANY OTHER
THEORY). EACH OF THE PURCHASER AND THE SELLERS (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO
REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT, OR ATTORNEY OF THE OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY
OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK
TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTY
HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS ESCROW AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS,
THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 8.7.

                                    * * * * *

                   REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK;
                            SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS

                                       8
<PAGE>
                                                               EXECUTION VERSION

               IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Escrow
Agreement on the day and year first above written.

                                    LERNOUT & HAUSPIE SPEECH PRODUCTS N.V.

                                    By:  _______________________________________
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                    L&H HOLDINGS USA, INC.

                                    By:  _______________________________________
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                    SCANSOFT, INC.

                                    By:  _______________________________________
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                    ESCROW AGENT

                                    WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY

                                    By:  _______________________________________
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

<PAGE>
                                                               EXECUTION VERSION

                                    LERNOUT & HAUSPIE SPEECH PRODUCTS N.V.

                                    By:  _______________________________________
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                    L&H HOLDINGS USA, INC.

                                    By:  _______________________________________
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                    SCANSOFT, INC.

                                    By:  _______________________________________
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                    ESCROW AGENT

                                    WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY

                                    By:  _______________________________________
                                         Name:
                                         Title:
<PAGE>

                          EXHIBIT A TO ESCROW AGREEMENT
                      (ESCROW DEPOSIT ACCOUNT INFORMATION)

        BANK:                Wilmington Trust Company
        ACCOUNT NAME:        Lernout & Hauspie/ScanSoft Escrow
        ACCOUNT NUMBER:
        ATTN:                Margaret Pulgini
<PAGE>

                          EXHIBIT B TO ESCROW AGREEMENT
                            (CONFESSION OF JUDGMENT)
<PAGE>

                            [LERNOUT & HAUSPIE LOGO]

                             LERNOUT & HAUSPIE (TM)

                                    EXHIBIT C

                                                              September 16, 2002

To:   All Directors and Officers of
      ScanSoft, Inc. ("Scansoft")

               Re:  Lock-up Agreement

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

               Reference is made to that certain Agreement dated as of the date
hereof (the "Agreement"; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined
shall have the meanings set forth in the Agreement) by and among ScanSoft,
Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V., a corporation organized and existing
under the laws of the Kingdom of Belgium ("L&H NV"), and L&H Holdings USA, Inc.
a Delaware corporation that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of L&H NV ("L&H
Holdings" and, together with L&H NV, the "Sellers"). Pursuant to Section 5.08 of
the Agreement, ScanSoft agrees to cause certain of its officers and directors to
enter into this Lock-up Agreement (this "Lock-up Agreement"). The undersigned
acknowledges and agrees that as part of the consideration for the Sellers
entering into the Agreement, ScanSoft has agreed to cause certain of its
officers and directors, including the undersigned, to deliver this Lock-up
Agreement.

              By signing this Lock-up Agreement, the undersigned agrees, on
behalf of himself or herself and his or her beneficiaries or designees, to not
(except in connection with any offering pursuant to this Agreement), directly or
indirectly, take any action to sell, distribute, assign, pledge, hypothecate or
otherwise transfer or dispose of any securities of ScanSoft, until the earlier
of (A) the date upon which all of the Registrable Securities are disposed of by
the Sellers, the Baker Parties or BSF (on behalf of the Baker Parties), as the
case may be, and (B) January 1, 2004 (collectively, the "Lock-Up Period");
provided, however, that the foregoing prohibition shall not apply in the event
that, and only after, the undersigned is no longer serving as either an employee
or a director of (and has no intention of serving during the Lock-Up Period as
either an employee or a director of), as the case may be, ScanSoft.
<PAGE>

               This Lock-up Agreement, the rights and obligations of the parties
hereunder, and any claim or controversy directly or indirectly based upon or
arising out of this Lock-up Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby
(whether based on contract, tort, or any other theory), including all matters of
construction, validity and performance, shall in all respects be governed by and
interpreted, construed and determined in accordance with, the internal laws of
the state of Delaware (without regard to any conflicts of law provision that
would require the application of the law of any other jurisdiction).

               Any suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision
of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Lock-up
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be brought, at any time
prior to the closing of the U.S. Bankruptcy Case, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court,
and thereafter shall be brought in the United States District Court for the
District of Massachusetts or any Massachusetts State court sitting in Suffolk
County, so long as one of such courts shall have subject matter jurisdiction
over such suit, action or proceeding, and that any cause of action arising out
of this Lock-up Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be
deemed to have arisen from a transaction of business in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, and each of the parties hereby irrevocably consents to the
jurisdiction of such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom)
in any such suit, action or proceeding and irrevocably waives, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the
laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court or
that any such suit, action or proceeding which is brought in any such court has
been brought in an inconvenient forum. Process in any such suit, action or
proceeding may be served on any of the undersigned anywhere in the world,
whether within or without the jurisdiction of any such court.

               Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally
waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right that he,
she or it may have to trial by jury of any claim or cause of action, or in any
legal proceeding, directly or indirectly based upon or arising out of this Lock-
up Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (whether based on contract,
tort, or any other theory). The undersigned (a) certifies that no
representative, agent, or attorney of the Sellers has represented, expressly or
otherwise, that such Sellers would not, in the event of litigation, seek to
enforce the foregoing waiver and (b) acknowledges that it and the Sellers have
been induced to enter into this Lock-up Agreement by, among other things, the
mutual waivers and certifications in this paragraph.

               The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the Sellers would be
damaged irreparably in the event any of the provisions of this Lock-up Agreement
are not performed in accordance with their specific terms or otherwise are
breached. Accordingly, the undersigned agrees that the Sellers shall be entitled
to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of the provisions of this
Lock-up Agreement and to enforce specifically this Lock-up Agreement and the
terms and provisions hereof in any action instituted in the U.S. Bankruptcy
Court or any other court having jurisdiction pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement, in addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled, at law
or in equity.

               This Lock-up Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, and each such counterpart hereof shall be deemed to be an original
instrument, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one
agreement.

                                       2
<PAGE>

               If the foregoing correctly sets forth our agreement with respect
to the matters set forth herein, please so indicate by signing two copies of
this Lock-up Agreement and returning one of such signed copies to us, whereupon
this Lock-up Agreement will constitute our binding agreement with respect to the
matters set forth herein.

                                    Sincerely,

                                    LERNOUT & HAUSPIE SPEECH PRODUCTS N.V.

                                    By:  _______________________________________
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                    L&H HOLDINGS USA, INC.

                                    By:  _______________________________________
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

Acknowledged and Agreed to:

SCANSOFT DIRECTOR OR OFFICER:

_______________________________________
Name:
Title:

                                       3<PAGE>
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER
REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF.
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN CERTIFICATED
FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TRUST
COMPANY (THE "SECURITIES DEPOSITORY") TO A NOMINEE OF THE SECURITIES DEPOSITORY
OR BY THE SECURITIES DEPOSITORY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR
A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY. UNLESS THIS NOTE IS PRESENTED BY AN
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECURITIES DEPOSITORY, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS
AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE
ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS
REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECURITIES DEPOSITORY (AND ANY
PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECURITIES DEPOSITORY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR
OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH
AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

No. 1
CUSIP:        053332AC6                                            $300,000,000
ISIN:         US053332AC61

                                 AUTOZONE, INC.

                           5.875% Senior Note due 2012

Original Issue Date:  October 21, 2002
Interest Payment Dates:  April 15 and October 15
Maturity Date:  October 15, 2012
Interest Rate:  5.875%

         AUTOZONE, INC., a Nevada corporation (hereinafter called the "Company",
which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter
referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or
registered assigns, the principal sum of THREE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS (the
"Principal Amount") on the Maturity Date shown above, except as provided below,
and to pay interest thereon at the rate per annum shown above. The Company will
pay interest semiannually on the Interest Payment Dates, commencing on April 15,
2003. Interest on this Note will accrue from the most recent date to which
interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the Original Issue
Date shown above. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided
for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid
to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is
registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such
interest, which shall be the April 1 or the October 1 (whether or not a Business
Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such

<PAGE>

                                                                               2

interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be
payable to the registered Holder on such Regular Record Date, and may be paid to
the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is
registered on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest
to be fixed by the Company, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful
manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange upon
which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such
exchange, all as more fully provided in such Indenture. The Company will pay
interest on overdue principal, overdue premium, if any, and overdue installments
of interest, if any, from time to time on demand at the interest rate borne by
the Notes to the extent lawful.

         In the event this Global Note is surrendered in exchange for Notes in
definitive form, principal and interest payable with respect to Notes in
definitive form will be payable at the office or agency of the Company
maintained for that purpose in New York, New York (the Place of Payment), in
such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment
is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that
payment of interest payable with respect to such Notes in definitive form, may
be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the address of the
Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the Security Register.

         This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Company (the "Securities") evidencing its unsecured indebtedness, of the series
hereinafter specified, all issued under and pursuant to a senior indenture,
dated as of July 22, 1998, (herein referred to as the "Indenture"), duly
executed and delivered by the Company and Bank One Trust Company, N.A., (as
successor in interest to The First National Bank of Chicago), as Trustee
(hereinafter called the "Trustee"), to which Indenture and all indentures
supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the
Trustee, the Company and Holders of the Securities. The Securities may be issued
in one or more series, which different series may be issued in various aggregate
principal amounts, may mature at different times, may bear interest, if any, at
different rates, may be subject to different redemption provisions, if any, may
be subject to different sinking, purchase or analogous funds, if any, may be
subject to different covenants and Events of Default and may otherwise vary as
in the Indenture provided. This Note is one of a series designated as the
"5.875% Notes due 2012" of the Company (herein referred to as the "Notes"),
initially issued in an aggregate principal amount of Three Hundred Million
Dollars ($300,000,000). The Company may, without the consent of the holders of
the Notes, create and issue additional Notes ranking equally with the Notes and
otherwise similar in all respects, except for the issue price, the issue date,
the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of such additional
Notes and, in some cases, the first payment of interest following the issue date
of such additional Notes, so that such further Notes shall be consolidated and
form a single series with the Notes.

         The Notes constitute senior unsecured debt obligations of the Company
and rank equally in right of payment among themselves and with all other
existing and future senior, unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations of the
Company.

         The Notes will be redeemable, in whole at any time or in part from time
to time, at the option of the Company, at a redemption price equal to accrued
and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed to the redemption
date plus the greater of (i) 100% of the

<PAGE>

                                                                               3

principal amount of such Notes; or (ii) as determined by the Quotation Agent,
the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal
and interest on such Notes (not including any portion of such payments of
interest accrued to the redemption date) discounted to the redemption date on a
semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at
the Adjusted Treasury Rate, plus 0.35%.

         "Adjusted Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any redemption date,
the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the
Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue
(expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable
Treasury Price for such redemption date.

         "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury security
selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining
term of the Notes to be redeemed that would be used, at the time of selection
and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of
corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such
Notes.

         "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any redemption date,
the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption
date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer
Quotations, or if the Trustee obtains fewer than three such Reference Treasury
Dealer Quotations, the average of all Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations.

         "Quotation Agent" means J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Merrill Lynch
Government Securities Inc. or Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
or another Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by the Company.

         "Reference Treasury Dealer" means each of J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
and Merrill Lynch Government Securities Inc. and their respective successors and
any other U.S. Government securities dealer the Company shall select; provided,
however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S.
Government securities dealer in New York City, the Company shall substitute
therefor another primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City.

         "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each
Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by
the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue
(expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in
writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the
third Business Day preceding such redemption date.

         Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more
than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of the Notes to be
redeemed.

         Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and
after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or
portions thereof called for redemption.

         The Notes will not be subject to, or have the benefit of, any sinking
fund.

<PAGE>

                                                                               4

         In case an Event of Default (as defined in the Indenture) with respect
to the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal hereof may be
declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in the
manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.
The Indenture provides that in certain events such declaration and its
consequences may be waived by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Notes then Outstanding. Any such waiver by the Holder of this Note
(unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding
upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of this Note and of any
note issued upon the transfer hereof or in exchange or substitution hereof,
irrespective of whether or not any notation of such waiver is made upon this
Note or such other Notes.

         The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the
Trustee, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in
aggregate principal amount of all Outstanding Securities or, in certain cases,
of the Outstanding Securities of each series to be affected, evidenced as in the
Indenture provided, to execute supplemental indentures adding any provisions to
or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture
or of any supplemental indenture or modifying in any manner the rights of the
Holders of the Securities of each such series; provided, however, that no such
supplemental indenture shall (i) change the Stated Maturity of the principal
amount thereof or the rate of interest, if any, thereon, or any premium payable
upon the redemption thereof, or change the coin or currency in which any
Security or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute
suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity
thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date or
Repayment Date, as the case may be) or (ii) reduce the percentage in principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities or the Outstanding Securities of any
particular series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such
supplemental indenture or the consent of whose Holders is required for any
waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the Indenture or certain
defaults thereunder or their consequences provided for in the Indenture. It is
also provided in the Indenture that prior to the acceleration of maturity of the
Securities of any particular series upon the occurrence of an Event of Default
with respect to such series as permitted by the Indenture, the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series at the
time Outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Securities of such
series waive any past default under the Indenture with respect to Securities of
such series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the
principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any of the Securities
of such series. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note (unless
revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such
Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of this Note and of any Note
issued upon transfer hereof or in exchange or substitution hereof, irrespective
of whether or not any notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note
or such other Notes.

         No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note 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 on this Note at the time, place and rate, and in the coin or currency,
herein and in the Indenture prescribed.

         As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein
set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable by the Holder hereof on the
security Register of the Company,

<PAGE>

                                                                               5

upon due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer at the office of
the Security Registrar, or at the office of any Security Co-Registrar duly
endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form
satisfactory to, the Company and the Security Registrar or any such Security
Co-Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized
in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of authorized denominations and
for the same aggregate principal amount will be issued to the designated
transferee or transferees.

         The Notes are issuable only as registered Notes without coupons in
denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the
Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Notes are
exchangeable for new Notes of any authorized denominations of the same aggregate
principal amount as requested by the Holder surrendering the same. If definitive
Notes are so delivered, the Company may make such changes to the form of this
Note as are necessary or appropriate to allow for the issuance of such
definitive Notes.

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

         The Holder of this Note shall not have recourse for the payment of
principal of or interest on this Note or for any claim based on this Note or the
Indenture against any director, officer or stockholder, past, present or future,
of the Company. By acceptance of this Note, the Holder waives any such claim
against any such Person.

         The Indenture and this Note shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

         All terms used but not defined in this Note which are defined in the
Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

         Unless the certificate of authentication thereon has been executed by
the Trustee under such indenture, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit
under such Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

<PAGE>

                                                                               6

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed manually or in facsimile.

Dated:  October 21, 2002

                                     AUTOZONE, INC.

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

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

Dated:  October 21, 2002

TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

BANK ONE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee

By:
   -----------------------------------------
         Authorized Officer

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