Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.28

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                  BY AND AMONG

                              LaBRANCHE & CO INC.,

                             WEBCO SECURITIES, INC.

                                      AND

                   THE STOCKHOLDERS OF WEBCO SECURITIES, INC.

                                JANUARY 26, 2000

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                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>

<S>              <C>                                                                                                      <C>
         1.       Definitions...............................................................................................1

         2.       Basic Transaction.........................................................................................6
                           a.       The Merger..............................................................................6
                           b.       The Closing.............................................................................6
                           c.       Deliveries at the Closing...............................................................6
                           d.       Effect of Merger.  .....................................................................6
                           e.       Net Working Capital Adjustment..........................................................9
                           f.       Closing of Transfer Records............................................................10

         3.       Representations and Warranties of the Target and the Stockholders........................................10
                           a.       Organization, Qualification, and Corporate Power.......................................10
                           b.       Capitalization.........................................................................11
                           c.       Subsidiaries...........................................................................11
                           d.       Authorization of Transaction...........................................................11
                           e.       Noncontravention.......................................................................11
                           f.       [Reserved].............................................................................12
                           g.       Regulatory Matters.....................................................................12
                           h.       Brokers' Fees..........................................................................12
                           i.       Title to Tangible Assets...............................................................12
                           j.       Financial Statements...................................................................12
                           k.       Undisclosed Liabilities................................................................13
                           l.       Events Subsequent to the Target's Most Recent Fiscal Year End..........................13
                           m.       Legal and Regulatory Compliance........................................................14
                           n.       Taxes..................................................................................14
                           o.       Real Property..........................................................................16
                           p.       Intellectual Property..................................................................16
                           q.       Names, Franchises Etc..................................................................16
                           r.       Contracts..............................................................................16
                           s.       Powers of Attorney.....................................................................16
                           t.       Litigation.............................................................................16
                           u.       Employee Benefits......................................................................17
                           v.       Environmental, Health, and Safety Matters..............................................19
                           w.       Books and Records......................................................................19
                           x.       Net Capital............................................................................19
                           y.       Insurance..............................................................................19
                           z.       Labor Matters..........................................................................20
                           aa.      No Illegal or Improper Transactions....................................................20
                           bb.      Bank Accounts..........................................................................20
                           cc.      Related Party Transactions.............................................................20
                           dd.      Fairness Opinion.......................................................................20
                           ee.      Additional Tax Matters.................................................................20

</TABLE>

                                      -i-

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<TABLE>

<S>              <C>                                                                                                      <C>
         4.       Representations and Warranties of the Stockholders.......................................................21
                           a.       Investment.............................................................................21
                           b.       Target Shares..........................................................................21

         5.       Representations and Warranties of the Buyer..............................................................21
                           a.       Organization, Qualification, and Corporate Power.......................................21
                           b.       Capitalization.........................................................................22
                           c.       Authorization of Transaction...........................................................22
                           d.       Noncontravention.......................................................................22
                           e.       Brokers' Fees..........................................................................22
                           f.       Regulatory Matters.....................................................................23
                           g.       Taxes..................................................................................23
                           h.       Additional Tax Matters.  ..............................................................23
                           i.       Filings with the SEC...................................................................23
                           j.       Financial Statements...................................................................23
                           k.       Events Subsequent to the Buyer's Most Recent Public Report.............................24
                           l.       Legal and Regulatory Compliance........................................................24
                           m.       Litigation.............................................................................24
                           n.       Fairness Opinion.......................................................................24
                           o.       Employee Benefits......................................................................24

         6.       Pre-Closing Covenants....................................................................................25
                           a.       General................................................................................25
                           b.       Notices and Consents...................................................................25
                           c.       Operation of the Target's Business.....................................................26
                           d.       Operation of the Buyer's Business......................................................27
                           e.       Full Access............................................................................27
                           f.       No Transfer of the Shares..............................................................27
                           g.       Notice of Developments.................................................................27
                           h.       Exclusivity............................................................................27
                           i.       ESOP...................................................................................28

         7.       Post-Closing Covenants...................................................................................28
                           a.       General................................................................................28
                           b.       Litigation Support.....................................................................28
                           c.       Noncompetition, Nonsolicitation and Confidentiality....................................28
                           d.       Buyer Stock............................................................................29
                           e.       Transfer Restrictions..................................................................30
                           f.       Tax Returns............................................................................30
                           g.       Indemnification of Directors and Officers..............................................30
                           h.       ESOP Indemnification...................................................................31

         8.       Conditions to Obligation to Close........................................................................31
                           a.       Conditions to Each Party's Obligations.................................................31
                           b.       Conditions to the Obligations of the Buyer.............................................31

</TABLE>

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<TABLE>

<S>              <C>                                                                                                      <C>
                           c.       Conditions to the Obligations of the Target and the Closing
                                    Stockholders...........................................................................32

         9.       Remedies for Breaches of this Agreement..................................................................33
                           a.       Survival of Representations and Warranties.............................................33
                           b.       Indemnification Provisions for Benefit of the Buyer....................................34
                           c.       Indemnification Provisions for Benefit of the Stockholders.............................35
                           d.       Damages in the Event of Termination....................................................35
                           e.       Matters Involving Third Parties........................................................35
                           f.       Determination of Adverse Consequences..................................................36

         10.      Termination..............................................................................................36
                           a.       Termination of Agreement...............................................................36
                           b.       Effect of Termination..................................................................37

         11.      Miscellaneous............................................................................................37
                           a.       Nature of Certain Obligations..........................................................37
                           b.       Press Releases and Public Announcements................................................37
                           c.       No Third-Party Beneficiaries...........................................................38
                           d.       Entire Agreement.......................................................................38
                           e.       Succession and Assignment..............................................................38
                           f.       Counterparts...........................................................................38
                           g.       Headings...............................................................................38
                           h.       Notices................................................................................38
                           i.       Governing Law..........................................................................39
                           j.       Amendments and Waivers.................................................................39
                           k.       Severability...........................................................................40
                           l.       Expenses...............................................................................40
                           m.       Construction...........................................................................40
                           n.       Incorporation of Exhibits and Schedules................................................40
                           o.       Action by Principal Stockholder on Behalf of Each Stockholder..........................40

</TABLE>

Exhibit A   --   Form of Closing Note for Holders of Class A Target Shares
Exhibit B   --   Form of Closing Note for Holders of Class E Target Shares
Exhibit C   --   Form of Registration Rights Agreement

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                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

         Agreement and Plan of Merger ("AGREEMENT") entered into as of January
26, 2000, by and among LaBranche & Co Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"BUYER"), Webco Securities, Inc, a Delaware corporation (the "TARGET"), and each
other person executing this Agreement on the signature pages hereof
(individually, a "STOCKHOLDER" and collectively, the "STOCKHOLDERS"). The Buyer,
the Target and the Stockholders are referred to collectively herein as the
"PARTIES."

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         This Agreement contemplates a transaction in which the Buyer will
acquire all of the outstanding capital stock of the Target for cash and common
stock of the Buyer through a merger of the Target with and into the Buyer in
accordance with Section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Code.

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

         Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
promises herein made, and in consideration of the representations, warranties,
and covenants herein contained, the Parties agree as follows.

         1.       DEFINITIONS.

         "ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES" means all actions, suits, proceedings, hearings,
investigations, charges, complaints, claims, demands, injunctions, judgments,
orders, decrees, rulings, damages, dues, penalties, fines, costs, reasonable
amounts paid in settlement, liabilities, obligations, taxes, liens, losses,
expenses, and fees, including court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees and
expenses.

         "AFFILIATE" has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 of the regulations
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

         "ALLOCABLE PORTION" means, with respect to the share of any Stockholder
in a particular amount, that fraction equal to the number of Target Shares the
Stockholder beneficially owns, as set forth in Exhibit 3(b) to the TARGET'S
DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE, over the total number of outstanding Target Shares, and
with respect to the share of any Closing Stockholder in a particular amount,
that fraction equal to the number of Target Shares the Closing Stockholder owns
of record as of the Closing Date over the total number of Target Shares
outstanding as of the Closing Date.

         "BOCKLET AGREEMENT" means that certain joint account agreement between
the Target and Bocklet & Co. dated as of June 22, 1998 relating to acting as a
specialist in the stock of Oakley, Inc.

         "BUYER" has the meaning set forth in the preface above.

         "BUYER'S DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE" means the disclosure schedule delivered
by the Buyer to the Target and the Principal Stockholder on the date hereof and
initialed by the Buyer, the Target and the Principal Stockholder.

         "BUYER PLANS" has the meaning set forth in Section 5(o) below.

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         "BUYER STOCK" means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the
Buyer.

         "CASH CONSIDERATION" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(vi)
below.

         "CERTIFICATE OF MERGER" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)
below.

         "CLOSING" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) below.

         "CLOSING CASH" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(vi) below.

         "CLOSING DATE" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) below.

         "CLOSING NOTE" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(vi) below.

         "CLOSING STOCKHOLDER" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c) below.

         "CLOSING VALUE" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(vii) below.
For all purposes hereof, if, between the date hereof and the Effective Time, the
outstanding shares of Buyer Stock shall have been changed into a different
number of shares or a different class by reason of any stock dividend,
subdivision, reclassification, recapitalization, split, combination or exchange
of shares, or if any extraordinary dividend or distribution is made with respect
to the Buyer Stock, then the determination of the Closing Value shall be
correspondingly adjusted to reflect such stock dividend, subdivision,
reclassification, recapitalization, split, combination or exchange of shares,
extraordinary dividend, distribution or other similar event.

         "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         "CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION" means any information concerning the
business and affairs of the Target that is not already generally available to
the public.

         "DGCL" means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as
amended.

         "EFFECTIVE TIME" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i) below.

         "EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN" means any (a) nonqualified deferred
compensation or retirement plan or arrangement, (b) qualified defined
contribution retirement plan or arrangement which is an Employee Pension Benefit
Plan, (c) qualified defined benefit retirement plan or arrangement which is an
Employee Pension Benefit Plan (including any Multiemployer Plan), (d) Employee
Welfare Benefit Plan (as defined in ERISA Section 3(1)), or (e) any other
material fringe benefit or other retirement, bonus, incentive, profit-sharing,
savings, change in control, employment, consulting, collective bargaining,
dependent care, employee assistance, post-retirement welfare, retention,
vacation, severance, disability or death benefit plan, program, agreement,
arrangement or understanding (whether or not written).

         "EMPLOYEE PENSION BENEFIT PLAN" has the meaning set forth in ERISA
Section 3(2).

         "ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH, AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS" shall mean all
federal, state, local and foreign statutes, regulations, and ordinances
concerning public health and safety, worker health and safety, and

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pollution or protection of the environment, including without limitation all
those relating to the presence, use, production, generation, handling,
transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, distribution, labeling, testing,
processing, discharge, release, threatened release, control, or cleanup of any
hazardous materials, substances or wastes, as such requirements are enacted and
in effect on or prior to the Closing Date.

         "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.

         "ERISA AFFILIATE" means, with respect to a specified Person, each
entity which is treated as a single employer with such Person for purposes of
Code Section 414 or ERISA Section 4001(a)(14).

         "ESOP" means the Target's Money Purchase Pension and Stock Bonus Plans.

         "ESTIMATED NET WORKING CAPITAL" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2(e)(i) below.

         "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

         "FINAL NET WORKING CAPITAL" has the meaning set forth in Section
2(e)(ii) below.

         "GAAP" means United States generally accepted accounting principles for
broker-dealers as in effect from time to time applied consistently throughout
the periods involved.

         "GAP NOTE" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(vii)(1) below.

         "GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY" shall mean any court, self-regulatory
organization, administrative or regulatory agency or commission or other U.S.,
federal, state, local, municipal or foreign government or governmental body,
official, authority or instrumentality.

         "HART-SCOTT-RODINO ACT" means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.

         "HENDERSON BROTHERS" means Henderson Brothers Holdings, Inc., a
Delaware corporation all the outstanding equity interests of which the Buyer has
agreed to acquire pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of December
23, 1999 among the Buyer, such corporation and all the stockholders of such
corporation.

         "INDEMNIFIED PARTY" has the meaning set forth in Section 9(e)(i) below.

         "INDEMNIFYING PARTY" has the meaning set forth in Section 9(e)(i)
below.

         "INDEPENDENT FIRM" means Ernst & Young LLP or such other nationally
recognized independent certified public accounting firm as shall be mutually
agreed upon by the Buyer and the Principal Stockholder within 10 days after the
event which gives rise to the need to refer any question to such firm pursuant
to the terms hereof.

         "IRA" means an individual retirement account, as defined in Section 408
of the Code.

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         "KNOWLEDGE" means (i) with respect to the Target, the actual knowledge
of any of its directors and officers, (ii) with respect to any Stockholder, the
actual knowledge of such Stockholder and (iii) with respect to the Buyer, the
actual knowledge of any of its directors and officers.

         "LIABILITIES" means any and all debts, liabilities and obligations,
whether accrued or fixed, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured or
determined or determinable, including without limitation, those arising under
any law (including, without limitation, any environmental law), action or
government order and those arising under any contract, agreement, arrangement,
commitment or undertaking.

         "LIENS" shall mean all liens, charges, security interests, pledges,
rights or claims of others, restraints on transfer or other encumbrances of any
nature whatsoever.

         "MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE" means a change or development which results,
or is reasonably likely to result, in a Material Adverse Effect.

         "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means any circumstance, change or effect that
is, or reasonably would be expected to be, materially adverse to the business or
financial condition of a Person or on the ability of the Parties to consummate
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
"Material Adverse Effect" shall not include any circumstance, change or effect
directly or indirectly attributable to (i) circumstances, changes or effects
that generally affect the industry (or a portion thereof) in which the Target
operates; (ii) changes in general economic, legal, regulatory or political
conditions relating to the Target's business, or (iii) any actions taken or
omitted to be taken pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

         "MERGER" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) below.

         "MERGER CONSIDERATION" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(vi)
below.

         "MULTIEMPLOYER PLAN" has the meanings set forth in ERISA Section 3(37),
ERISA Section 4001(a)(3) and Code Section 414(f) and shall be deemed to include
any plan that is subject to ERISA Section 4063 or 4064.

         "NET WORKING CAPITAL" in respect of the Target means, as of a specific
date, the Target's total assets, including (i) receivables due to the Target
pursuant to the Bocklet Agreement, (ii) the Target's security deposits with its
landlord and (iii) accruals for overpayment of Taxes, but excluding NYSE
memberships and those assets identified on the Target's balance sheet as "Other
Assets" which are not cash, cash equivalents or readily convertible into cash,
less the Target's total liabilities (excluding the subordinated borrowing
associated with the NYSE membership of William E. Boye, Jr., the use of which
has been contributed to the Target), in each case as determined in accordance
with GAAP (except as set forth in Section 3(j) of the TARGET'S DISCLOSURE
SCHEDULE) and the Target's historical practices with respect to the
characterization and accounting treatment of such items.

         "NYSE" means the New York Stock Exchange.

         "PARTY" has the meaning set forth in the preface above.

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         "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

         "PERSON" means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited
liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint
venture, an unincorporated organization, or a Governmental Entity (or any
department, agency, or political subdivision thereof).

         "PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDER" means William E. Boye, Jr. or, if he is unable
or unwilling to so act, William D. Boye or, if he is unable or unwilling to so
act, then an individual designated by those persons (or their heirs or legal
representatives) who are holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
Class A Common Stock of the Target immediately prior to the Closing.

         "PUBLIC REPORT" has the meaning set forth in Section 5(i) below.

         "REDUCTION AMOUNT" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)(iii)(2)
below.

         "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

         "SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         "SECURITY INTEREST" means any Lien, other than (a) mechanic's,
materialmen's, and similar Liens, (b) Liens for taxes not yet due and payable or
for taxes that the taxpayer is contesting in good faith through appropriate
proceedings and (c) purchase money Liens and Liens securing rental payments
under capital lease arrangements.

         "STOCK CONSIDERATION" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(vi)
below.

         "STOCKHOLDER" has the meaning set forth in the preface above, except as
otherwise specifically provided herein.

         "SUBSIDIARY" means any corporation with respect to which a specified
Person (or a Subsidiary thereof) owns a majority of the common stock or has the
power to vote or direct the voting of sufficient securities to elect a majority
of the directors.

         "TARGET" has the meaning set forth in the preface above.

         "TARGET'S DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE" means the disclosure schedule delivered
by the Target and the Stockholders to the Buyer on the date hereof and initialed
by the Target, the Principal Stockholder and the Buyer.

         "TARGET'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS" has the meaning set forth in Section
3(j) below.

         "TARGET SHARE" means any share of the common stock, par value $1.00 per
share, of the Target.

         "TAX" or "TAXES" means any and all federal, state, local or foreign
taxes, fees, levies, duties, tariffs, imposts, and other charges of any kind
(together with any and all interest, penalties, additions to tax and additional
amounts imposed with respect thereto) imposed by any government or taxing
authority,

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including, without limitation: taxes or other charges on or with respect to
income, franchises, windfall or other profits, gross receipts, property, sales,
use, capital stock, payroll, employment, social security, workers compensation,
unemployment compensation, or net worth; taxes or other charges in the nature of
excise, withholding, ad valorem, stamp, transfer, value added, or gains taxes,
license, registration and documentation fees; and customs duties, tariffs, and
similar charges.

         "TAX RETURN" means tax returns, reports, information returns, schedules
and statements required to be filed with any governmental or regulatory
authority with respect to Taxes.

         "TERM" has the meaning set forth in Section 7(c)(i) below.

         "THIRD PARTY CLAIM" has the meaning set forth in Section 9(e)(i) below.

         "TRUSTEE" means the trustee of the ESOP.

         "WORKING CAPITAL ADJUSTMENT" has the meaning set forth in Section
2(e)(iii)(2) below.

         2.       BASIC TRANSACTION.

                  a.       THE MERGER. On and subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, the Target will merge with and into the Buyer (the
"MERGER") at the Effective Time. The Buyer shall be the corporation surviving
the Merger.

                  b.       THE CLOSING. The closing of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (the "CLOSING") shall take place at the offices
of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, commencing
at 10:00 a.m. local time on the later of February 24, 2000 or the second
business day following the satisfaction or waiver of all conditions to the
obligations of the Parties to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby
(other than conditions with respect to actions the respective Parties will take
at the Closing itself) or such other date and place as the Parties may mutually
determine (the "CLOSING DATE"), but on the same date as the filing of the
Certificate of Merger and the Effective Time stated therein.

                  c.       DELIVERIES AT THE CLOSING. At the Closing, (i) the
Target and/or the Stockholders will deliver to the Buyer the various
certificates, instruments, and documents referred to in Section 8(b) below, (ii)
the Buyer will deliver to the Target and/or the Stockholders the various
certificates, instruments, and documents referred to in Section 8(c) below,
(iii) the Target and the Buyer will file with the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware a Certificate of Merger (the "CERTIFICATE OF MERGER"), (iv)
the Buyer will pay to the record holders of Target Shares as of the Closing Date
(the "CLOSING STOCKHOLDERS") the aggregate consideration for the Target Shares
described in Section 2(d)(vi) below in the manner provided in Section 2(d)(vi)
below and (v) the Closing Stockholders will deliver certificates evidencing the
Target Shares to the Buyer.

                  d.       EFFECT OF MERGER.

                           i.       GENERAL. The Merger shall become effective
(the "EFFECTIVE TIME") at such time as the Target and the Buyer file the
Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of

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Delaware or at such later time as specified in the Certificate of Merger. The
Merger shall have the effect set forth in the DGCL. The Buyer may, at any time
after the Effective Time, take any action (including executing and delivering
any document) in the name and on behalf of either the Target or the Buyer in
order to carry out and effectuate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.

                           ii.      From and after the Effective Time, the
separate corporate existence of the Buyer, with its purpose, object, rights,
privileges, powers, certificates and franchises, shall continue unimpaired by
the Merger. At the Effective Time, the separate corporate existence of the
Target shall cease, and the Buyer shall succeed to all the properties and assets
of the Target and to all debts, choses in action and other interests due or
belonging to the Target and shall be subject to, and responsible for, all debts,
liabilities and duties of the Target with the effects provided by the applicable
provisions of the DGCL.

                           iii.     CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION. The
certificate of incorporation of the Buyer in effect at and as of the Effective
Time will remain its certificate of incorporation without any modification or
amendment in the Merger.

                           iv.      BYLAWS. The bylaws of the Buyer in effect at
and as of the Effective Time will remain its bylaws without any modification or
amendment in the Merger.

                           v.       DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. The directors and
officers of the Buyer in office at and as of the Effective Time will remain its
directors and officers (retaining their respective positions and terms of
office).

                           vi.      CONSIDERATION FOR TARGET SHARES. At and as
of the Effective Time, the Target Shares (other than any Target Shares held as
treasury shares by the Target, which shall be cancelled as of the Effective
Time) shall be converted into the right to receive, in the aggregate, (A) $12.2
million in cash (without interest), subject to adjustment pursuant to Section
2(d)(vii) and (e) below (the "CASH CONSIDERATION"), of which (x) $3,000,000 of
the Cash Consideration shall be paid by the Buyer to the Closing Stockholders at
the Closing in the form of separate promissory notes, in substantially the forms
attached hereto as EXHIBIT A and EXHIBIT B, made payable to the Closing
Stockholders in the aggregate amounts of their respective Allocable Portions of
such $3,000,000 (the "CLOSING NOTES"), and (y) the remainder of the Cash
Consideration (the "CLOSING CASH") shall be paid by the Buyer to the Closing
Stockholders at the Closing by separate certified checks, bank checks or wire
transfers (pursuant to written instructions delivered by the Principal
Stockholder to the Buyer at least three (3) business days prior to the Closing),
in the amounts of their respective Allocable Portions of the Closing Cash, plus
(B) 2.8 million shares of Buyer Stock, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section
2(d)(viii) below (the "STOCK CONSIDERATION," and together with the Cash
Consideration, the "MERGER CONSIDERATION"), of which each Closing Stockholder
shall be entitled to receive at the Closing a stock certificate evidencing that
number of shares of Buyer Stock represented by his, her or its Allocable Portion
of the Stock Consideration. No certificates representing fractional shares of
Buyer Stock shall be issued upon the surrender of Target Shares in connection
with the Merger. Any Closing Stockholder who otherwise would be entitled to a
fractional share of Buyer Stock in connection with the Merger shall be entitled
to receive at the Closing a payment of cash in an amount, rounded to the nearest
cent, determined by multiplying the fractional interest in Buyer Stock to which
such Closing Stockholder would otherwise be entitled (after taking into account
all Target Shares then held of record by such Closing Stockholder) by the
Closing Value. No

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Target Share shall be deemed to be outstanding or to have any rights other than
those set forth above in this Section 2(d)(vi) after the Effective Time.

                           vii.     ADJUSTMENT TO CASH CONSIDERATION.

                  (1)      If the daily volume weighted average price of a share
                           of Buyer Stock during the 10 consecutive trading days
                           ending on and including the second trading day prior
                           to the Closing (the "CLOSING VALUE") is greater than
                           or equal to $10.00 per share but less than $11.00 per
                           share, the Buyer will execute and deliver to the
                           Closing Stockholders separate interest-free
                           promissory notes (the "GAP NOTES") payable to the
                           Closing Stockholders in the amounts of their
                           respective Allocable Portions of the amount equal to
                           the difference between (1) $30.8 million minus (2)
                           the product of 2.8 million times the Closing Value,
                           which amounts shall be payable in three equal
                           installments on the six-month, 12-month and 18-month
                           anniversaries of the Closing Date, and which notes
                           shall be subordinated to (x) the existing senior
                           indebtedness of the Buyer in the original aggregate
                           principal amount of $116 million and (y) the
                           indebtedness proposed to be incurred by the Buyer in
                           connection with its acquisition of Henderson
                           Brothers.

                  (2)      If the Closing Value is greater than or equal to
                           $8.00 per share but less than $10.00 per share, (A)
                           the Cash Consideration will be increased by an amount
                           equal to the difference between (x) $28 million minus
                           (y) the product of 2.8 million multiplied by the
                           Closing Value, and (B) the Gap Notes which the Buyer
                           will execute and deliver to the Closing Stockholders
                           shall be payable to the Closing Stockholders in the
                           amounts of their respective Allocable Portions of
                           $2.8 million, which amounts shall be payable in three
                           equal installments on the six-month, 12-month and 18-
                           month anniversaries of the Closing Date, and which
                           notes shall be subordinated to (x) the existing
                           senior indebtedness of the Buyer in the original
                           aggregate principal amount of $116 million and (y)
                           the indebtedness proposed to be incurred by the Buyer
                           in connection with its acquisition of Henderson
                           Brothers.

                           viii.    ADJUSTMENT TO STOCK CONSIDERATION. If the
value of the Stock Consideration as of the Effective Time, based on the Closing
Value, exceeds $44.8 million, the number of shares of Buyer Stock constituting
the Stock Consideration shall be reduced to that number of shares of Buyer Stock
having a value as of the Effective Time, based on the Closing Value, equal to
$44.8 million. In addition, without limiting the provisions of Section 2(d)(vi)
and (viii), if, between the date hereof and the Effective Time, the outstanding
shares of Buyer Stock shall have been changed into a different number of shares
or a different class by reason of any stock dividend, subdivision,
reclassification, recapitalization, split, combination or exchange of shares, or
if any extraordinary dividend or distribution is made with respect to the Buyer
Stock, then the Stock Consideration shall be correspondingly adjusted to reflect
such stock dividend, subdivision, reclassification, recapitalization, split,
combination or exchange of shares, extraordinary dividend, distribution or other
similar event.

                           ix.      BUYER SHARES. Each share of Buyer Stock
outstanding at and as of the Effective Time will remain issued and outstanding.

                                       8

<PAGE>

                  e.       NET WORKING CAPITAL ADJUSTMENT.

                           i.       For purposes of the Closing, the Target
shall estimate the amount of its Net Working Capital as of the Closing Date on
the basis of the most current information then available. The Target shall
notify the Buyer of its calculation of the Target's estimated Net Working
Capital (the "ESTIMATED NET WORKING CAPITAL") and deliver a copy of such
calculation to the Buyer at least three, but not more than five, business days
prior to Closing. The Cash Consideration to be paid at the Closing shall be
adjusted based upon the Estimated Net Working Capital as follows:

                  (1)      If the Estimated Net Working Capital is less than $18
                           million, the Cash Consideration to be paid at Closing
                           shall be decreased by the difference between
                           $18,000,000 less the Estimated Net Working Capital;

                  (2)      If the Estimated Net Working Capital is equal to $18
                           million, there shall be no Cash Consideration
                           adjustment pursuant to this Section 2(e).

                  (3)      If the Estimated Net Working Capital is greater than
                           $18 million, the Cash Consideration to be paid at
                           Closing shall be increased by the difference between
                           the Estimated Net Working Capital less $18,000,000.

                           ii.      Within ten (10) business days following the
Closing, the Buyer shall deliver to the Principal Stockholder, for and on behalf
of all the Closing Stockholders, its calculation of the Target's Net Working
Capital as of the Closing Date (the "FINAL NET WORKING CAPITAL") and related
supporting documentation. Within 10 business days following his receipt of the
Buyer's Final Net Working Capital calculation, the Principal Stockholder shall
have the right to object in writing thereto, setting forth a specific
description of his objections. If the Principal Stockholder does not so object
during such period, the Principal Stockholder shall be deemed to have agreed,
for and on behalf of all the Closing Stockholders, to the Final Net Working
Capital calculation. If the Principal Stockholder so objects and the Buyer and
the Principal Stockholder cannot mutually agree on the Final Net Working Capital
calculation within five business days of Purchaser's receipt of the Principal
Stockholder's objections, the dispute shall be promptly submitted to the
Independent Firm, except as otherwise agreed by the Buyer and the Principal
Stockholder.

                           iii.     Based upon the Final Net Working Capital, as
finally determined pursuant to Section 2(e) hereof, the following post-Closing
deliveries shall be made, as applicable:

                  (1)      If the Final Net Working Capital is greater than the
                           Estimated Net Working Capital, the Buyer shall
                           deliver to the Closing Stockholders separate
                           certified checks, bank checks or wire transfer
                           payments of cash in the amounts of their respective
                           Allocable Portions of the amount equal to the
                           difference between the Final Net Working Capital,
                           less the Estimated Net Working Capital, together with
                           interest accrued from the Closing Date until and
                           including the date of such payments at the fixed rate
                           of 10% per annum. Simultaneously therewith, the Buyer
                           also shall deliver to the Closing Stockholders
                           payments under the Closing Notes of principal in the
                           amounts of their respective Allocable Portions of
                           $500,000, plus accrued interest under the Closing
                           Notes with respect to such payments of principal;

                                       9

<PAGE>

                  (2)      If the Final Net Working Capital is less than the
                           Estimated Net Working Capital, the Buyer shall be
                           entitled to receive from each Closing Stockholder a
                           payment in the amount of such Closing Stockholder's
                           Allocable Portion of the amount equal to the
                           difference between the Estimated Net Working Capital,
                           less the Final Net Working Capital, together with
                           interest accrued from the Closing Date until and
                           including the date of such payment at the fixed rate
                           of 10% per annum (the "WORKING CAPITAL ADJUSTMENT").
                           Each such payment shall be effected by a reduction,
                           effective as of the Closing Date, in the principal
                           amount of the Closing Note issued to such Closing
                           Stockholder in an amount (the "Reduction Amount")
                           equal to (x) the amount of such Closing Stockholder's
                           Allocable Portion of the Working Capital Adjustment,
                           plus (y) accrued interest under the Closing Note
                           issued to such Closing Stockholder with respect to
                           the Reduction Amount. To the extent the aggregate
                           Reduction Amounts are less than $500,000, the Buyer
                           shall deliver to the Closing Stockholders payments
                           under the Closing Notes of principal in the amounts
                           of their respective Allocable Portions of the amount
                           equal to the difference between $500,000 minus the
                           aggregate Reduction Amounts, plus accrued interest
                           under the Closing Notes with respect to such payments
                           of principal; and

                  (3)      If the Final Net Working Capital is equal to the
                           Estimated Net Working Capital, the Buyer shall
                           deliver to the Closing Stockholders payments under
                           the Closing Notes of principal in the amounts of
                           their respective Allocable Portions of $500,000, plus
                           accrued interest under the Closing Notes with respect
                           to such payments of principal.

                           iv.      Any post-Closing payment required to be made
pursuant to Section 2(e) shall be made within two business days after the final
determination of Final Net Working Capital.

                  f.       CLOSING OF TRANSFER RECORDS. After the close of
business on the Closing Date, transfers of Target Shares outstanding prior to
the Effective Time shall not be made on the stock transfer books of the Buyer,
as the surviving corporation.

         3.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TARGET AND THE
STOCKHOLDERS. The Stockholders, as a group, and the Target jointly and severally
represent and warrant to the Buyer that the statements contained in this Section
3 are correct and complete as of the date of this Agreement and will be correct
and complete as of the Effective Time (as though made then and as though the
Effective Time were substituted for the date of this Agreement throughout this
Section 3), except as set forth in the TARGET'S DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE. For
purposes of this Section 3 (other than Section 3(d) and (e)), the term
"Stockholders" shall exclude the Trustee.

                  a.       ORGANIZATION, QUALIFICATION, AND CORPORATE POWER. The
Target is a corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Target is duly authorized to
conduct business and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction
where such qualification is required, except where the lack of such
qualification would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Target. The Target
has full corporate power and authority to carry on the business in which it is
engaged and to own and use the properties owned and used by it.

                                       10

<PAGE>

                  b.       CAPITALIZATION. The entire authorized capital stock
of the Target consists of 80,000 Target Shares, 40,000 of which is denominated
Class A Common Stock, of which 32,362.42 shares are issued and outstanding, and
40,000 of which is denominated Class E Common Stock, of which 18,552.75 shares
are issued and outstanding. As of the date hereof, all of the issued and
outstanding Target Shares have been duly authorized, are validly issued, fully
paid, and nonassessable and are held of record as set forth in Exhibit 3(b) to
the TARGET'S DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE. Except as set forth herein and other than
shares held in treasury, there are no shares of capital stock or other voting
securities of the Target issued and outstanding. There are no outstanding or
authorized options, warrants, purchase rights, subscription rights, conversion
rights, exchange rights or other contracts or commitments that could require the
Target to issue, sell, or otherwise cause to become outstanding any of its
capital stock. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation,
phantom stock, profit participation, or similar rights with respect to the
Target.

                  c.       SUBSIDIARIES. The Target has no Subsidiaries. Except
for equity interests which it owns in connection with the conduct of its
specialist business, the Target does not, directly or indirectly, own any equity
interests in any other Person.

                  d.       AUTHORIZATION OF TRANSACTION. The Target and the
Stockholders have full power and authority (including full corporate power and
authority in the case of the Target) to execute and deliver this Agreement and
the other documents contemplated hereby to which they are a party and to perform
their respective obligations hereunder and thereunder. By his or her execution
hereof, each Stockholder who beneficially owns Class E Target Shares, as set
forth in Exhibit 3(b) to the TARGET'S DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE, in their respective
capacities as a named fiduciary of their respective accounts under the ESOP,
hereby direct the Trustee (i) to take such actions as are necessary to exercise
the voting rights appurtenant to the Target Shares held in their respective ESOP
accounts in favor of the Merger and (ii) to execute this Agreement. By his or
her execution hereof, each Stockholder hereby consents to the Merger. This
Agreement and the other documents contemplated hereby to which they are a party
(assuming execution and delivery by the Buyer) constitute the valid and legally
binding obligations of the Target and each Stockholder, as the case may be,
enforceable in accordance with its terms and conditions, except as the
enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws
affecting creditors' rights generally or by general principles of equity,
whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. Neither the Target nor
any Stockholder or Closing Stockholder is required to give any notice to, make
any filing with, or obtain any authorization, consent, or approval of any
government or governmental agency in order for the Parties to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except where the failure to give
notice, to file, or to obtain any authorization, consent, or approval would not
have a Material Adverse Effect on the Target.

                  e.       NONCONTRAVENTION. The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and the other documents contemplated hereby, and
the consummation by the Target, the Stockholders and the Closing Stockholders of
the transactions contemplated hereby, do not and will not (i) violate any
constitution, statute, regulation, rule, injunction, judgment, order, decree,
ruling, charge, or other restriction of any government, governmental agency, or
court to which the Target, a Stockholder or a Closing Stockholder is subject or
any provision of the Target's charter or bylaws or (ii) conflict with, result in
a breach of, constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of, create
in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify, or cancel, or require
any notice under any agreement, contract, lease, license, instrument, or other
arrangement to which the Target, a Stockholder or a Closing Stockholder is a
party

                                       11

<PAGE>

or by which the Target is bound or to which any of its, his or her assets is
subject (or result in the imposition of any Security Interest upon any of its
his or her assets), except where the conflict, breach, default, acceleration,
termination, modification, cancellation, failure to give notice, or Security
Interest would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Target. By the Target's
and each Stockholder's execution hereof, the Target and each Stockholder hereby
waive the provisions of any shareholders agreement or any buy-back agreement or
any other agreement to the extent, and for so long as, the same would be in
conflict with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.

                  f.       [RESERVED]

                  g.       REGULATORY MATTERS. The Target is and has been duly
registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC and in the states where such
registration is required under the securities laws of such states. The Target is
and has been duly registered as a NYSE specialist. The Target and its employees
are in compliance in all material respects with all federal and state laws and
NYSE rules regulating broker-dealers or specialists or requiring registration,
licensing or qualification as a broker-dealer or specialist, and the Target is a
member in good standing and has all material licenses and authorizations in
self-regulatory or trade organizations or registered clearing agencies required
to permit the operation of its business as presently conducted. Each such
federal, state and NYSE registration is in full force and effect. The Target has
furnished or made available to the Buyer a true, correct and complete copy of
its Form BD, as amended to date, filed by the Target with the SEC.

                  h.       BROKERS' FEES. The Target does not have any liability
or obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder, or agent
with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, for which the
Buyer could become liable or obligated.

                  i.       TITLE TO TANGIBLE ASSETS. The Target has good and
marketable title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, the material tangible
assets used regularly by such entity in the conduct of its business, free and
clear of any Security Interest or Lien.

                  j.       FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

                           i.       Target has delivered to the Buyer the
audited balance sheets and statements of income, changes in stockholders'
equity, and cash flows as of and for the fiscal years ended October 31, 1995,
1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 for the Target. The Target has also made available to
the Buyer true, correct and complete copies of the unaudited balance sheet and
statements of income and changes in stockholders' equity as of December 31, 1999
(collectively, the "TARGET'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS"). The Target's Financial
Statements (including the notes thereto) have been prepared in accordance with
GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby and
present fairly the financial condition of the Target as of such dates and the
results of operations of the Target for such periods; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
the interim statements are subject to normal year-end adjustments and lack
footnotes and other presentation items. The Target has made available to the
Buyer true and complete copies of all of the Target's FOCUS Reports filed on
Form X-17A-5 (the "FOCUS REPORTS") as of the periods covered in the Target's
Financial Statements. Each FOCUS Report complied (and with respect to Focus
Reports filed after the date hereof and prior to the Closing Date, will comply)
at the date thereof in all material respects with the rules and regulations of
the SEC relating thereto and fairly present the information required to be
presented therein pursuant to Rule 17a-5 under the Exchange Act.

                                       12

<PAGE>

                           ii.      All material liabilities and obligations,
whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise, whether direct or indirect,
and whether due or to become due, which existed at the respective dates of the
Target's Financial Statements have been disclosed in the balance sheets included
in the Target's Financial Statements or in notes to the Target's Financial
Statements to the extent such liabilities were required, under GAAP, to be so
disclosed. The statements of operations, accumulated deficit and cash flows
included in the Target's Financial Statements present fairly the results of
operations, accumulated deficit and cash flows of Target for the periods
indicated. The statements of operations included in the Target's Financial
Statements do not contain any material items of non-recurring income (as defined
by GAAP) or other income not earned in the ordinary course of business except as
expressly specified therein.

                           iii.     As of October 31, 1999 and as of the Closing
Date, the accounts and notes receivable of the Target reflected on the balance
sheet of the Target as of each of such dates were and will be net of reserves
reflected on such balance sheet and collectible in full over the period of usual
trade terms. To the Knowledge of the Target and each Stockholder, there do not
and will not exist any defenses, counterclaims or set-offs which could
materially adversely affect such receivables, and all such receivables are or
will be actual and bona fide receivables representing obligations for the total
dollar amount thereof shown on the books of the Target. As of the date of each
such balance sheet, the Target has or will have fully performed all material
obligations with respect to its accounts and notes receivable which it has or
will have been obligated to perform prior to the date of such balance sheet.

                  k.       UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. The Target does not have any
liabilities, whether known or unknown, contingent or otherwise, including any
liability for Taxes, except for (i) liabilities set forth in the Target's
Financial Statements or in the notes thereto, (ii) liabilities which have arisen
after October 31, 1999 in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
custom and practice, and (iii) liabilities set forth in Section 3(k) of the
TARGET'S DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE.

                  l.       EVENTS SUBSEQUENT TO THE TARGET'S MOST RECENT FISCAL
YEAR END. Since October 31, 1999, there has not been any Material Adverse Change
in the business or financial condition of the Target. Since October 31, 1999,
the business of the Target has been conducted in the ordinary course and
consistent with past practice and there has not been: (i) any repurchase,
redemption or other acquisition by the Target of any outstanding shares of
capital stock or other securities of, or other ownership interests in, the
Target; (ii) any amendment of any material term of any outstanding capital stock
of the Target; (iii) any material change in any method of accounting or
accounting practice by the Target, except for any such change required by reason
of a concurrent change in generally accepted accounting principles or disclosed
in the Target's Financial Statements; or (iv) any (A) grant of any severance or
termination pay to any current or former director, officer or employee of the
Target, (B) entry into any written employment, severance, termination, deferred
compensation or other similar agreement (or any amendment to any such existing
agreement) with any current, former or prospective director, officer or employee
of the Target, (C) increase in benefits payable under any existing severance or
termination pay policies or employment agreements, or (D) increase in
compensation, bonus or other benefits payable to any director, officer or
employee of the Target, other than in the ordinary course of business.

                  m.       LEGAL AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE. The Target has
complied with all applicable laws (including rules, regulations, codes, plans,
injunctions, judgments, orders, decrees, rulings, and

                                       13

<PAGE>

charges thereunder) of federal, state, local, and foreign governments (and all
agencies thereof) and all applicable rules and regulations the NYSE, except
where the failure to comply would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Target. The Target is not in material violation of and has no material
liabilities, whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, under any
federal, state, local or foreign law, ordinance or regulation or any order,
judgment, injunction, decree or other requirement of any court, arbitrator or
Governmental Entity, including without limitation laws relating to labor and
employment practices, health and safety, zoning, pollution or protection of the
environment. During the last three years, the Target has not received notice of,
and there has not been any citation, fine or penalty imposed against the Target
for, any such violation or alleged violation.

                  n.       TAXES.

                           i.       The Target has timely filed or will timely
file all Tax Returns that it was required or will be required to file, and has
paid all Taxes shown thereon as owing, except where the failure to file Tax
Returns or to pay Taxes would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Target.
All such Tax Returns of the Target are, or will be when filed, true, correct and
complete.

                           ii.      All Taxes required to have been paid on or
before the date hereof by or on behalf of the Target or in respect of its
income, assets or operations have been fully and timely paid, and adequate
reserves or accruals for Taxes have been or, as of the Effective Time, will be
provided in the books and records of the Target in accordance with GAAP with
respect to any period for which Tax Returns have not yet been filed or for which
Taxes are not yet due and owing as of the date hereof and as of the Effective
Time, as the case may be. The reserves and accruals for Taxes of the Target as
of the Closing Date will be taken into account in the calculation of Net Working
Capital.

                           iii.     Section 3(n) of the TARGET'S DISCLOSURE
SCHEDULE lists all Tax Returns filed with respect to the Target for taxable
periods ended on or after October 31, 1995, indicates those Tax Returns that
have been audited, and indicates those Tax Returns that currently are the
subject of audit. The Target has made available to the Buyer correct and
complete copies of all Tax Returns, examination reports, and statements of
deficiencies assessed against or agreed to by the Target since October 31, 1995.
The Target has not received any notice from any taxing authority that it intends
to conduct an audit or investigation or assert any claim in a jurisdiction where
the Target does not file Tax Returns such that it is or may be subject to
taxation by that jurisdiction. All deficiencies asserted or assessments made as
a result of any examinations by any taxing authority of the Tax Returns of, or
covering or including, the Target have been fully paid. No issue has been raised
by a U.S. federal, state, local or foreign taxing authority in any current or
prior examination which, by application of the same or similar principles, could
reasonably be expected to result in a proposed deficiency for any subsequent
taxable period.

                           iv.      The Target has not waived any statute of
limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect
to a Tax assessment or deficiency.

                           v.       The Target is not a party to any Tax
allocation or sharing agreement (whether written or not written).

                           vi.      The Target has complied in all material
respects with all applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to the payment
and withholding of Taxes and has duly and timely withheld

                                       14

<PAGE>

from employee salaries, wages and other compensation and has paid over to the
appropriate taxing authorities all amounts required to be so withheld and paid
over for all periods under all applicable laws.

                           vii.     Neither the Target nor any other Person
(including any of the Stockholders) on behalf of the Target has (A) filed a
consent pursuant to Section 341(f) of the Code or agreed to have Section
341(f)(2) of the Code apply to any disposition of a subsection (f) asset (as
such term is defined in Section 341(f)(4) of the Code) owned by the Target, (B)
agreed to or is required to make any adjustments pursuant to Section 481(a) of
the Code or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law by reason of a
change in accounting method initiated by the Target or has any knowledge that
the Internal Revenue Service has proposed any such adjustment or change in
accounting method, or has any application pending with any taxing authority
requesting permission for any changes in accounting methods that relate to the
business or operations of the Target, or has otherwise taken any action that
would have the effect of deferring any liability for Taxes from any taxable
period ending on or before the Closing to any taxable period ending thereafter,
or (C) executed or entered into closing agreement pursuant to Section 7121 of
the Code or any predecessor provision thereof or any similar provision of state,
local or foreign law with respect to the Target.

                           viii.    No power of attorney with respect to any
Target Tax matter is currently in force.

                           ix.      There is no contract, agreement, plan or
arrangement covering any person that, individually or collectively, could give
rise to the payment of any amount that would not be deductible by the Target by
reason of Section 280G or 162(m) of the Code.

                           x.       The Target has substantial authority for the
treatment of, or has disclosed (in accordance with Section 6662(d)(2)(B)(ii) of
the Code) on its federal income Tax Returns, all positions taken therein that
could give rise to a substantial understatement of federal income tax within the
meaning of Section 6662(d) of the Code.

                           xi.      The Target is not subject to any private
letter ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or comparable rulings of other
taxing authorities.

                           xii.     There are no liens as a result of any unpaid
Taxes upon any of the assets of the Target.

                           xiii.    All material Tax elections of the Target are
clearly set forth in the Tax Returns described in Section 3(n).

                           xiv.     The Target has never been a member of any
affiliated group within the meaning of Section 1504 of the Code or any similar
group defined under a similar provision of state, local or foreign law,
including, but not limited to, any combined, consolidated or unitary group
("AFFILIATED GROUP") for any Tax purposes. The Target does not own any interest
in any entity that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax
purposes or would be treated as a pass-through or transparent entity for any tax
purpose. The Target has no liability for Taxes by reason of being a
successor-in-interest or transferee of another entity.

                                       15

<PAGE>

                           xv.      The Target has not been a United States real
property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code
during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii).

                  o.       REAL PROPERTY. The Target does not own any real
property. Section 3(o) of the TARGET'S DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE lists all real
property leased or subleased to the Target. The Target has made available to the
Buyer correct and complete copies of the leases and subleases listed in Section
3(o) of the TARGET'S DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE (as amended to date). Each lease and
sublease listed in Section 3(o) of the TARGET'S DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE is legal,
valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect, except where the
illegality, invalidity, nonbinding nature, unenforceability, or ineffectiveness
would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Target.

                  p.       INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. The Target has no (i) patent
or registration issued to it with respect to any of its intellectual property,
(ii) pending patent application or application for registration with respect to
any of its intellectual property, or (iii) license, agreement, or other
permission which the Target has granted to any third party with respect to any
of its intellectual property.

                  q.       NAMES, FRANCHISES ETC. The Target has the right to
use its name in every state and country in which it now does business. The
Target has not infringed or violated in any way any trademark, trade name,
copyright, trade secret rights or contractual relationships of others, and has
not received any notice, claim or protest in respect of any such violations or
infringement. The Target has not given any indemnification to any person for any
such violations or infringements.

                  r.       CONTRACTS. Section 3(r) of the TARGET'S DISCLOSURE
SCHEDULE lists all written contracts and other agreements to which the Target is
a party, the performance of which will involve consideration in excess of
$50,000 annually or is material to the operations of the Target. The Target has
made available to the Buyer a correct and complete copy of each contract or
other agreement listed in Section 3(r) of the TARGET'S DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE (as
amended to date). Each such contract or other agreement is legal, valid,
binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect, and no party is in breach or
default, and no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of time would
constitute a breach or default, or permit termination, modification, or
acceleration, under any such contract or other agreement.

                  s.       POWERS OF ATTORNEY. There are no outstanding powers
of attorney executed on behalf of the Target.

                  t.       LITIGATION. Except as would not have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Target either individually or in the aggregate, there are
no actions by or against, or relating to the business of, the Target (or by or
against the Stockholders and relating to the Target's business or the Target)
(i) pending before any court, arbitration panel or any governmental or
regulatory authority or (ii) to the Knowledge of the Target or any Stockholder,
threatened to be brought by or before any court, arbitration panel or any
governmental or regulatory authority. None of the Target or any Stockholder is
subject to any governmental order (nor, to the Knowledge of the Target or any
Stockholder, are there any such governmental orders threatened to be imposed by
any governmental or regulatory authority) which has had or is reasonably likely
to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Target. There has not been any action
decided against or settled by any of the Stockholders, the Target or any of the
Target's directors, officers or employees during the last three (3) years in
connection with the Target's business which has had a

                                       16

<PAGE>

Material Adverse Effect on the Target. The Target is not subject to any
agreement or instrument or subject to any judgment, order, writ, injunction,
decree, rule, regulation or ordinance (other than rules, regulations or
ordinances that are generally applicable to specialists) that has had or is
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Target.

                  u.       EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

                           i.       Section 3(u) of the TARGET'S DISCLOSURE
SCHEDULE lists each Employee Benefit Plan that the Target maintains or sponsors
or to which the Target contributes (or has an obligation to contribute), and
each Employee Benefit Plan with respect to which the Target has any direct or
indirect liability (contingent or otherwise).

                           ii.      Each such Employee Benefit Plan (and each
related trust, insurance contract, or fund) complies in form and in operation in
all respects with its terms and applicable law, including ERISA and the Code,
except where the failure to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect on the Target.

                           iii.     All contributions (including all employer
contributions and employee salary reduction contributions), premiums and other
payments relating to all periods ending prior to the date of this Agreement have
been paid to, or with respect to, each such Employee Benefit Plan.

                           iv.      Each such Employee Benefit Plan which is an
Employee Pension Benefit Plan (1) has received a favorable determination letter
from the Internal Revenue Service (that is currently in effect) to the effect
that it meets the qualification requirements of Code Section 401(a) and that its
related trust is exempt from taxation under Code Section 501(a) and, since the
date of the last determination letter, has not been amended or operated in a
manner which would adversely affect its qualified status (and no event has
occurred which has caused or could cause the loss of such status), (2) is, and
has been since its inception, qualified under Code Section 401(a), and its
related trust is, and has been since its inception, exempt from taxation under
Code Section 501(a), and (3) has not been terminated or partially terminated
within the meaning of Code Section 411(d)(3).

                           v.       As of the last day of the most recent prior
plan year, the market value of assets under each such Employee Benefit Plan
which is an Employee Pension Benefit Plan equaled or exceeded, and as of the
Closing Date will equal or exceed, the present value of liabilities thereunder
(determined on a plan termination basis).

                           vi.      The Target has delivered to the Buyer
correct and complete copies of the plan documents (and, if not written, a
complete description thereof) and summary plan descriptions, and where
applicable, the most recent determination letter received from the Internal
Revenue Service, the most recent Form 5500 Annual Report, the most recent
balance sheet and financial statement, the most recent actuarial reports or
valuation statements, any private letter ruling, opinion letter, prohibited
transaction exemption or other determination issued by the Internal Revenue
Service, the Department of Labor or the PBGC (and any application therefor which
has been withdrawn) and all related trust agreements, insurance contracts, and
other funding agreements which implement each such Employee Benefit Plan.

                                       17

<PAGE>

                           vii.     With respect to each Employee Benefit Plan
that the Target or any ERISA Affiliate maintains or has maintained during the
prior six years or to which any of them contributes, or has been required to
contribute during the prior six years:

                  (1)      No action, suit, proceeding, claim, hearing or
investigation with respect to such Employee Benefit Plan (other than routine
claims for benefits) is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Stockholders,
threatened and, to the Knowledge of the Stockholders, no facts or circumstances
exist which could give rise to an action, suit, proceeding, claim, hearing or
investigation which, if asserted, would result in a Material Adverse Effect on
the Target;

                  (2)      No application, proceeding or other matter is pending
before the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor or any other
governmental agency; and

                  (3)      The Target has not incurred, and will not incur, any
direct or indirect liability to the PBGC or otherwise under Title IV of ERISA
(including any withdrawal liability).

                           viii.    Neither the Target nor its ERISA Affiliates
(nor their predecessors) have ever contributed to, otherwise participated in or
in any way, directly or indirectly, have any liability with respect to any
Employee Benefit Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA or any Multiemployer
Plan. No "accumulated funding deficiency" (within the meaning of Code Section
412 or ERISA Section 302) has been or could be expected to be incurred (whether
or not waived) and no excise or other taxes have been or could be expected to be
incurred or are due because of any failure to comply with the minimum funding
standards of the Code or ERISA. No security under Code Section 401(a)(29) has
been or could be expected to be required and the assets of the Target are not,
and have not been, subject to any lien under ERISA or the Code. With respect to
each such Employee Benefit Plan, individually and in the aggregate, no event has
occurred and, to the Knowledge of Stockholders, there exists no condition or
facts or circumstances which would result in or could reasonably be expect to
result a Material Adverse Effect on the Target.

                           ix.      With respect to each such Employee Benefit
Plan which is an "employee benefit plan" within the meaning of ERISA Section
3(3) or which is a "plan" within the meaning of Code Section 4975(e), there has
occurred no transaction which is prohibited by ERISA Section 406 or which
constitutes a "prohibited transaction" under Code Section 4975(c) and with
respect to which a prohibited transaction exemption is not currently in effect
(except for transactions which, individually or in the aggregate, would not have
a Material Adverse Effect on the Target) and the consummation of the transaction
contemplated by this Agreement will not constitute or directly or indirectly
result in such a "prohibited transaction."

                           x.       The Target has complied in all material
respects with the provisions of Code Section 4980B with respect to each such
Employee Benefit Plan which is a group health plan within the meaning of Code
Section 5001(b)(1). Neither the Target nor its ERISA Affiliates maintain,
contribute to, or are obligated under any plan, contract, policy or arrangement
providing health or death benefits (whether or not insured) to current or former
employees or other personnel beyond the termination of their employment or other
services (other than pursuant to Code Section 4980B).

                                       18

<PAGE>

                           xi.      Each such Employee Benefit Plan may be
unilaterally terminated and/or amended by the Target at any time and no event,
circumstance or condition exists that would prevent any such amendment or
termination. The consummation of the transaction contemplated by this Agreement
will not (either alone or in conjunction with another event, such as a
termination of employment or other services) entitle any employee or other
person to receive severance or other compensation which would not otherwise be
payable absent the consummation of the transaction contemplated by this
Agreement or cause the acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any
award or entitlement under any Employee Benefit Plan. Neither the Target nor its
ERISA Affiliates, or any officer or employee thereof, have made any promises or
commitments, whether legally binding or not, to create any additional plan,
agreement, or arrangement, or to modify or change any existing Employee Benefit
Plan. Neither the Target nor its ERISA Affiliates have any unfunded liabilities
pursuant to any Employee Pension Benefit Plan that is not intended to be
qualified under Code Section 401(a).

                           xii.     No person other than a Stockholder or a
Closing Stockholder has any right, title or interest in, or with respect to, the
Target Shares held in the ESOP by the Trustee. The Target Shares held in the
ESOP by the Trustee have been properly allocated among the ESOP participants and
beneficiaries in accordance with the provisions of the ESOP and applicable law.
There are no outstanding share acquisition loans under, or relating to, the
ESOP.

                  v.       ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH, AND SAFETY MATTERS.

                           i.       The Target is in compliance with
Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements, except for such noncompliance as
would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Target.

                           ii.      The Target has not received any written
notice, report or other information regarding any actual or alleged material
violation of Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements, or any material
liabilities or potential material liabilities (whether accrued, absolute,
contingent, unliquidated or otherwise), including any investigatory, remedial or
corrective obligations, relating to the Target or any of its facilities arising
under Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements, the subject of which is
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Target.

                  w.       BOOKS AND RECORDS. All minute books and stock records
of the Target have been made available to the Buyer.

                  x.       NET CAPITAL. The Target is, and since November 1,
1996 has continuously been, in material compliance with SEC Rule 15c3-1 and NYSE
Rule 104 regarding its net capital and net liquid assets requirements.

                  y.       INSURANCE. The Target has insurance coverage with
reputable insurers for the Target's operations in amounts and covering such
risks as the Target reasonably believes necessary, in accordance with its
regular insurance practices.

                  z.       LABOR MATTERS. The Target is not a party to or
otherwise bound by any collective bargaining agreement, contract or other
agreement or understanding with a labor union or labor organization, nor, as of
the date hereof, is the Target the subject of any proceeding asserting that the
Target has committed an unfair labor practice or seeking to compel it to bargain
with any labor union or labor

                                       19

<PAGE>

organization nor, as of the date of this Agreement, is there pending or, to the
Knowledge of the Target or any Stockholder, threatened, any material labor
strike, dispute, walkout, work stoppage, slow-down or lockout involving the
Target.

                  aa.      NO ILLEGAL OR IMPROPER TRANSACTIONS. Neither the
Target nor any of its directors, officers, employees, or, to the Knowledge of
the Target or any Stockholder, agents or Affiliates, has directly or indirectly
used funds or other assets of the Target or made any promise or undertaking in
such regard, for (i) illegal contributions, gifts, entertainment or other
expenses relating to political activity; (ii) illegal payments to or for the
benefit of officials or employees of any Governmental Entity; (iii) illegal
payments to or for the benefit of, including the sharing of profits with, any
person, firm, corporation or other entity, or any director, officer, employee,
agent or representative thereof; or (iv) the establishment or maintenance of a
secret or unrecorded fund; and there have been no false or fictitious entries
made in the books or records of the Target with respect to any of the foregoing.

                  bb.      BANK ACCOUNTS. TARGET'S DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE contains
a true, correct and complete list of the names, locations and account
information of all banks, trust companies, savings and loan associations and
other financial institutions at which the Target maintains safe deposit boxes or
accounts of any nature (other than brokerage accounts maintained in the ordinary
course of business).

                  cc.      RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS. No current or former
officer or director (including their respective family members), employee or
stockholder, or any associate (as defined in the rules promulgated under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of the Target, is presently, or, in
the last three years has been, (a) a party to any transaction with the Target
other than on an arms-length basis (including, without limitation, any contract,
agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services by, or
rental of real or personal property from, or otherwise requiring payments to,
any such officer or director (including their respective family members),
employee, stockholder or associate) or (b) to the Knowledge of the Target or any
Stockholder, the direct or indirect owner of an interest in any corporation,
firm, association or business organization which is a present (or potential)
competitor of the Target, other than an interest of not more than an aggregate
of one percent (1%) of any class of stock of any company which is listed on a
national securities exchange or traded in the over-the-counter market.

                  dd.      FAIRNESS OPINION. The Target has received the written
opinion of Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated, to the effect that, as of the
date hereof, the Merger Consideration to be paid to the Closing Stockholders is
fair, from a financial point of view, to the Target and the holders of Target
Shares.

                  ee.      ADDITIONAL TAX MATTERS. The liabilities of the Target
to be assumed by the Buyer in the Merger and the liabilities to which the
transferred assets of the Target are subject at the Effective Time are and will
have been incurred in the ordinary course of business within the meaning of the
applicable Treasury Regulations. No shares of capital stock of the Target have
been (or, prior to the Effective Time, will be) redeemed prior to or in
connection with the Merger, and the Target has not made (and, prior to the
Effective Time, will not make) any extraordinary distribution (with the meaning
of Section 1.368-1T(e) of the Treasury Regulations) with respect to its stock
prior to or in connection with the Merger.

         4.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE STOCKHOLDERS. Each of
the Stockholders represents and warrants to the Buyer that the statements
contained in this Section 4 are correct and complete as of the

                                       20

<PAGE>

date of this Agreement and will be correct and complete as of the Effective Time
(as though made then and as though the Effective Time were substituted for the
date of this Agreement throughout this Section 4) with respect to himself or
herself, except as set forth in the TARGET'S DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE. For purposes
of Section 4(a), the term "Stockholders" shall exclude the Trustee.

                  a.       INVESTMENT. The Stockholder (A) understands that the
Stock Consideration has not been, and may not be, registered under the
Securities Act, or under any state securities laws, and is being offered and
sold in reliance upon federal and state exemptions for transactions not
involving any public offering, (B) is acquiring the Stock Consideration solely
for his or her own account for investment purposes, and not with a view to the
distribution thereof, (C) is a sophisticated investor with knowledge and
experience in business and financial matters, (D) has received certain
information concerning the Buyer, including the Public Reports, and has had the
opportunity to obtain additional information as desired in order to evaluate the
merits and the risks inherent in holding the Stock Consideration, (E) is able to
bear the economic risk and lack of liquidity inherent in holding the Stock
Consideration and (F) has not relied upon any representations or warranties of
the Buyer other than those contained in this Agreement and the other documents
contemplated hereby.

                  b.       TARGET SHARES. As of the date hereof and, except as
otherwise permitted under this Agreement, as of the Effective Time, the
Stockholder holds of record and/or owns beneficially the number of Target Shares
set forth next to his or her name in Exhibit 3(b) to the TARGET'S DISCLOSURE
SCHEDULE, free and clear of any restrictions on transfer (other than
restrictions under the Securities Act, state securities laws and the Rules of
the NYSE), Liens, taxes, options, warrants, purchase rights, contracts,
commitments, equities, claims, and demands. The Stockholder is not a party to
any option, warrant, purchase right, or other contract or commitment that could
require the Stockholder to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any capital
stock of the Target (other than this Agreement and as set forth in the Target's
Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended). The Stockholder is not a
party to any voting trust, proxy or other agreement or understanding with
respect to the voting of any capital stock of the Target, other than those
referred to in the last sentence of Section 3(e) which are hereby waived to the
extent set forth in Section 3(e) and, with respect to the Trustee, other than
pursuant to the terms of the ESOP.

         5.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER. The Buyer
represents and warrants to the Target and the Stockholders that the statements
contained in this Section 5 are correct and complete as of the date of this
Agreement and, except to the extent any of such statements may be applicable to
Henderson Brothers or any of its Subsidiaries, will be correct and complete as
of the Effective Time (as though made then and as though the Effective Time were
substituted for the date of this Agreement throughout this Section 5) except as
set forth in the BUYER'S DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE.

                  a.       ORGANIZATION, QUALIFICATION, AND CORPORATE POWER. The
Buyer is a corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation. Each of the Buyer's
Subsidiaries is a corporation, limited liability company or partnership duly
organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation. Each of the Buyer and the Buyer's
Subsidiaries is duly authorized to conduct business and is in good standing
under the laws of each jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except
where the lack of such qualification would not have a Material Adverse Effect on
the Buyer and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Each of the Buyer and the
Buyer's Subsidiaries has full corporate or other organizational power and

                                       21

<PAGE>

authority to carry on the business in which it is engaged and to own and use the
properties owned and used by it.

                  b.       CAPITALIZATION. The entire authorized capital stock
of the Buyer consists of 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of which 48,875,000 shares are issued and outstanding, and 10,000,000
shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which no shares are
issued and outstanding. All of the issued and outstanding shares of the Buyer's
capital stock have been duly authorized, are validly issued, fully paid, and
nonassessable. Except for this Agreement, there are no outstanding or authorized
options, warrants, purchase rights, subscription rights, conversion rights,
exchange rights, or other contracts or commitments that could require the Buyer
to issue, sell, or otherwise cause to become outstanding any of its capital
stock. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, phantom stock,
profit participation, or similar rights with respect to the Buyer.

                  c.       AUTHORIZATION OF TRANSACTION. The Buyer has full
power and authority (including full corporate power and authority) to execute
and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. This
Agreement and the other documents contemplated hereby to which they are parties
(assuming execution and delivery by the Target and the Stockholders) constitute
the valid and legally binding obligation of the Buyer, enforceable in accordance
with its terms and conditions, except as the enforceability thereof may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors' rights
generally or by general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding
in equity or at law. The Buyer is not required to give any notice to, make any
filing with, or obtain any authorization, consent, or approval of any government
or governmental agency in order for the Parties to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, except where the failure to give notice, to
file, or to obtain any authorization, consent, or approval would not have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Buyer and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                  d.       NONCONTRAVENTION. The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and the other documents contemplated hereby, and
the consummation by the Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby, do not
and will not (i) violate any constitution, statute, regulation, rule,
injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, charge or other restriction of any
government, governmental agency or court to which the Buyer, or any of the
Buyer's Subsidiaries is subject or any provision of the Buyer's charter or
bylaws or the similar organizational documents of any of the Buyer's
Subsidiaries or (ii) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default
under, result in the acceleration of, create in any party the right to
accelerate, terminate, modify, or cancel, or require any notice under any
agreement, contract, lease, license, instrument or other arrangement to which
the Buyer or any of the Buyer's Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Buyer or
any of the Buyer's Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of its assets is
subject (or result in the imposition of any Security Interest upon any of its
assets), except where the conflict, breach, default, acceleration, termination,
modification, cancellation, failure to give notice or Security Interest would
not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Buyer and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole.

                  e.       BROKERS' FEES. None of the Buyer and the Buyer's
Subsidiaries has any liability or obligation to pay any fees or commissions to
any broker, finder, or agent with respect to the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement for which the Target or the Stockholders could become liable or
obligated.

                  f.       REGULATORY MATTERS. LaBranche & Co., a Subsidiary of
the Buyer, is and has been duly registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC and
in the states where such registration is required under

                                       22

<PAGE>

the securities laws of such states. LaBranche & Co. is and has been duly
registered as a NYSE specialist. LaBranche & Co. and its employees are in
compliance with all federal and state laws and NYSE rules regulating
broker-dealers or specialists or requiring registration, licensing or
qualification as a broker-dealer or specialist, and LaBranche & Co. is a member
in good standing and has all material licenses and authorizations in
self-regulatory or trade organizations or registered clearing agencies required
to permit the operation of its business as presently conducted. Each such
federal, state and NYSE registration is in full force and effect. The Buyer has
furnished to the Target a true, correct and complete copy of LaBranche & Co.'s
Form BD, as amended to date, filed by LaBranche & Co. with the SEC.

                  g.       TAXES. Each of the Buyer and the Buyer's Subsidiaries
has timely filed or will timely file all Tax Returns that it was required or
will be required to file, and has paid all Taxes shown thereon as owing, except
where failure to file such Tax Returns or to pay such Taxes would not have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Buyer and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. All
such Tax Returns of the Buyer and the Buyer's Subsidiaries are, or will be when
filed, true, correct and complete in all material respects.

                  h.       ADDITIONAL TAX MATTERS. It is the present intention
of the Buyer to continue the historic businesses of the Target or use at least a
significant portion of the Target's historic business assets in a business, in
each case within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-1(d). The
Buyer does not have any plan or intention to sell, exchange, distribute,
transfer or otherwise dispose of any of the assets of the Target to be acquired
in the Merger, except for (i) dispositions made in the ordinary course of
business and (ii) transfers permitted by Section 368(a)(2)(C) of the Code or to
a member of the Buyer's qualified group (as defined in Section 1.368-1(d)(4) of
the Treasury Regulations).

                  i.       FILINGS WITH THE SEC. The Buyer has made all filings
with the SEC that it has been required to make under the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act (collectively, together with all of the Buyer's voluntary filings
with the SEC, the "PUBLIC REPORTS"). Each of the Public Reports has complied
with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, in all material
respects. None of the Public Reports, as of their respective dates, contained
any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Buyer has
delivered to the Target a correct and complete copy of each Public Report
(together with all exhibits and schedules thereto and as amended to date).

                  j.       FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The financial statements
included in the Public Reports (including the related notes and schedules) have
been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout
the periods covered thereby and present fairly the financial condition of the
Buyer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of such dates and the
results of operations of the Buyer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis
for such periods; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the interim statements are subject to
normal year-end adjustments and lack footnotes and other presentation items.

                  k.       EVENTS SUBSEQUENT TO THE BUYER'S MOST RECENT PUBLIC
REPORT. Since September 30, 1999, there has not been any Material Adverse Change
in the business, operations or financial condition of the Buyer or of the Buyer
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Since September 30, 1999, (a) the
business of the Buyer and each of its Subsidiaries has been conducted in the
ordinary course and consistent with past practice and (b) no event has occurred
or fact or circumstance arisen that, individually or taken

                                       23

<PAGE>

together with all other events, facts and circumstances, has had or is
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Buyer and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                  l.       LEGAL AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE. Each of the Buyer
and the Buyer's Subsidiaries has complied with all applicable laws (including
rules, regulations, codes, plans, injunctions, judgments, orders, decrees,
rulings, and charges thereunder) of federal, state, local, and foreign
governments (and all agencies thereof) and all applicable rules and regulations
the NYSE, except where the failure to comply would not have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Buyer and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                  m.       LITIGATION. Except as would not have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Buyer and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole either
individually or in the aggregate, there are no actions by or against, or
relating to the business of, the Buyer (i) pending before any court, arbitration
panel or any governmental or regulatory authority or (ii) to the Knowledge of
the Buyer, threatened to be brought by or before any court, arbitration panel or
any governmental or regulatory authority. The Buyer is not subject to any
governmental order (nor, to the Knowledge of the Buyer, are there any such
governmental orders threatened to be imposed by any governmental or regulatory
authority) which has had or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Buyer and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. There has not been
any action decided against or settled by the Buyer or any of its directors,
officers or employees during the last three (3) years in connection with the
Buyer's business which has had a Material Adverse Effect on the Buyer and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole. The Buyer is not subject to any agreement or
instrument or subject to any judgment, order, writ, injunction, decree, rule,
regulation or ordinance (other than rules, regulations or ordinances that are
generally applicable to specialists) that has had or is reasonably likely to
have a Material Adverse Effect on the Buyer and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole.

                  n.       FAIRNESS OPINION. The Buyer has received the written
opinion of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation to the effect
that, as of the date hereof, the Merger and the Merger Consideration to be paid
to the Closing Stockholders is fair, from a financial point of view, to the
Buyer and its stockholders.

                  o.       EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

                           (i)      Each Employee Benefit Plan currently
maintained or contributed to by the Buyer (the "BUYER PLANS") (and each related
trust, insurance contract, or fund) complies in form and in operation in all
respects with the applicable requirements of ERISA and the Code, except where
the failure to comply would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Buyer and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                           (A)      All contributions (including all employer
                  contributions and employee salary reduction contributions)
                  which are due have been paid to each Buyer Plan which is an
                  Employee Pension Benefit Plan.

                           (B)      Each Buyer Plan which is an Employee Pension
                  Benefit Plan has received a determination letter from the
                  Internal Revenue Service to the effect that it meets the
                  requirements of Code Section 401(a).

                           (C)      As of the last day of the most recent prior
                  plan year, the market value of assets under each Buyer Plan
                  which is an Employee Pension Benefit Plan (other than any

                                       24

<PAGE>

                  Multiemployer Plan) equaled or exceeded the present value of
                  liabilities thereunder (determined in accordance with then
                  current funding assumptions).

                           (ii)     With respect to each Buyer Plan that the
Buyer or any ERISA Affiliate maintains or has maintained during the prior six
years or to which any of them contributes, or has been required to contribute
during the prior six years:

                           (A)      No action, suit, proceeding, hearing or
                  investigation with respect to the administration or the
                  investment of the assets of any such Buyer Plan (other than
                  routine claims for benefits) is pending, except where the
                  action, suit, proceeding, hearing or investigation would not
                  have a Material Adverse Effect on the Buyer and its
                  Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                           (B)      Neither the Buyer nor any of its ERISA
                  Affiliates has incurred any liability to the PBGC (other than
                  PBGC premium payments) or otherwise under Title IV of ERISA
                  (including any withdrawal liability) with respect to any Buyer
                  Plan which is an Employee Pension Benefit Plan.

         6.       PRE-CLOSING COVENANTS. The Parties agree as follows with
respect to the period between the execution of this Agreement and the Closing:

                  a.       GENERAL. Each of the Parties will use its, his or her
reasonable best efforts to take all actions and to do all things necessary,
proper, or advisable in order to consummate and make effective the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (including satisfaction, but not waiver, of the
closing conditions set forth in Section 8 below).

                  b.       NOTICES AND CONSENTS. Each of the Parties will give
any notices to third parties, and use its reasonable best efforts to obtain any
third party consents, that any other Party reasonably may request in connection
with the matters referred to in Section 3(d) and (e) and Section 5(c) and (d)
hereof. Each of the Parties will give any notices to, make any filings with, and
use its reasonable best efforts to obtain any authorizations, consents, and
approvals of governments and governmental agencies in connection with the
matters referred to in Section 3(d) and (e) and Section 5(c) and (d) hereof.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) the Buyer will take all
actions that may be necessary, proper, or advisable under state securities laws
in connection with the offering and issuance of the Stock Consideration pursuant
to this Agreement and (ii) each of the Parties will file any Notification and
Report Forms and related material that it may be required to file with the
Federal Trade Commission and the Antitrust Division of the United States
Department of Justice under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, will use its reasonable
best efforts to obtain a waiver from the applicable waiting period, and will
make any further filings pursuant thereto that may be necessary, proper or
advisable in connection therewith.

                  c.       OPERATION OF THE TARGET'S BUSINESS. Except as
described in Section 6(c) of the Target's Disclosure Schedule, between the date
hereof and the Closing Date, the Target will

                           i.       conduct its business in the ordinary course
and consistent with its past practice;

                                       25

<PAGE>

                           ii.      refrain from (A) making any changes in its
capital structure, (B) issuing any shares of its capital stock or securities
convertible or exercisable into, or exchangeable for, shares of its capital
stock, (C) declaring or paying any dividends which are, in nature or amount,
inconsistent with the Target's historic dividend payment practice, (D) adopting
or proposing any changes in its certificate of incorporation or by-laws, (E)
directly or indirectly merging or consolidating with another entity, (F)
incurring any indebtedness for borrowed money (including, without limitation, by
way of guarantee or the issuance and sale of debt securities or rights to
acquire debt securities) other than indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course
of business, (G) adopting, increasing benefits under or otherwise modifying any
Employee Benefit Plan, (H) terminating any of its existing insurance policies or
modifying or reduce the coverage thereunder, (I) settling or compromising, or
agreeing to settle or compromise, any suit or other litigation matter or matter
in an arbitration proceeding for any material amount (after taking into account
any insurance proceeds to which the Target is entitled) or otherwise on terms
which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Target, or (J) entering into any commitments or agreements with respect to the
foregoing without the prior written consent of the Buyer;

                           iii.     use commercially reasonable efforts to
preserve and retain its business, employees, properties and goodwill;

                           iv.      refrain from changing the compensation of,
or from entering into any new employment, severance or other agreements with,
any of its officers, directors, employees or consultants or entering into or
renewing any material contractual obligations, except in the ordinary course of
business consistent with its past practice;

                           v.       use its best efforts to repay any and all
outstanding indebtedness or Liens of the Target and pay or otherwise satisfy all
other obligations of the Target; and

                           vi.      file all Tax Returns required to be filed by
the Target on or prior to the Closing and pay any and all Taxes due with respect
to such Tax Returns. All Tax Returns described in this Section 6(c)(vi) shall be
prepared in a manner consistent with prior practice unless a past practice has
been finally determined to be incorrect by the applicable taxing authority or a
contrary treatment is required by applicable tax laws (or judicial or
administrative interpretations thereof). The Target shall provide the Buyer with
copies of such completed Tax Returns at least 10 days prior to the due date, and
the Buyer shall be provided an opportunity to review such Tax Returns and
supporting work papers and schedules prior to the filing of such Tax Returns.
Target will not make any material Tax elections without the Buyer's prior
written consent.

                           vii.     use its best efforts to maintain its
registration and remain in good standing with the SEC and NYSE, and with the
states where such registration is required under the securities laws of such
states.

                  d.       OPERATION OF THE BUYER'S BUSINESS. Except as
described in Section 6(d) of the BUYER'S DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE, between the date
hereof and the Closing Date, the Buyer will conduct its business in the ordinary
course and consistent with its past practice and will not knowingly engage in
any practice, take any action, fail to take any commercially reasonable action
or enter into any transaction which could cause any of its representations or
warranties to be untrue or result in a breach of any covenant made by it in this
Agreement.

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<PAGE>

                  e.       FULL ACCESS. Each of the Target and the Buyer will
permit representatives of the other to have full access at all reasonable times,
and in a manner so as not to unnecessarily interfere with the normal business
operations of the Buyer or the Target, as the case may be, to all premises,
properties, personnel, books, records (including tax records), contracts, and
documents of or pertaining to the Buyer or the Target, as the case may be.
Subject to the requirements of law or legal process, each of the Parties will
treat and hold as such any Confidential Information it receives from any other
Party in the course of the reviews contemplated by this Section 6(e), will not
use any of the Confidential Information except in connection with this Agreement
or as required by law or legal process, and, if this Agreement is terminated for
any reason whatsoever, will return to such Party all tangible embodiments (and
all copies) of the Confidential Information which are in its possession.

                  f.       NO TRANSFER OF THE SHARES. Each Stockholder agrees
that, without the Buyer's consent, which shall not unreasonably be withheld,
prior to the Closing, he or she will not sell, assign, transfer, gift, pledge or
otherwise dispose of, or otherwise agree to take such action with respect to,
his or her Target Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing restriction, however,
(i) the Trustee shall be permitted to distribute Target Shares held in the ESOP
to the beneficiaries thereof in accordance with the terms of the ESOP and
applicable law, and (ii) a Stockholder shall be permitted to assign or transfer
his or her Target Shares prior to the Closing to an IRA in a rollover
contribution or as a result of his or her death or incapacity, provided that (1)
the Stockholder, or his duly authorized representative, promptly notifies the
Buyer in writing of such assignment or transfer in advance of such transfer, if
practicable, and (2) in the case of a rollover contribution to an IRA, such
transfer is limited to Target Shares allocated to the Stockholder by the ESOP.
Each Stockholder agrees that, in the event of any such permitted transfer, such
Stockholder will continue to be bound by all of his or her representations,
warranties, covenants and obligations under this Agreement.

                  g.       NOTICE OF DEVELOPMENTS.

                           i.       The Target will give prompt written notice
to the Buyer of any development causing a breach of any of the representations
and warranties contained in Sections 3 and 4 above.

                           ii.      The Buyer will give prompt written notice to
the Target of any development causing a breach of any of the representations and
warranties contained in Section 5 above or any failure to satisfy the condition
set forth in Section 8(c)(vi).

                  h.       EXCLUSIVITY. None of the Target or the Stockholders
will solicit or initiate the submission of any proposal or offer from any Person
relating to the acquisition of all or substantially all the capital stock or
assets of the Target (including any acquisition structured as a merger,
consolidation, or share exchange).

                  i.       ESOP. The Target will effectuate the termination of
the ESOP and cause the Trustee to distribute all the assets of the ESOP in
accordance with the ESOP's terms and applicable law in a manner that will not
adversely affect the tax-qualified status of the ESOP.

         7.       POST-CLOSING COVENANTS. The Parties agree as follows with
respect to the period following the Closing.

                                       27

<PAGE>

                  a.       GENERAL. In case at any time after the Closing any
further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this
Agreement, each of the Parties will take such further actions (including the
execution and delivery of such further instruments and documents) as any other
Party reasonably may request, all at the sole cost and expense of the requesting
Party (unless the requesting Party is entitled to indemnification therefor under
Section 9 below).

                  b.       LITIGATION SUPPORT. In the event and for so long as
any Party actively is contesting or defending against any action, suit,
proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand in
connection with (i) any transaction contemplated under this Agreement or (ii)
any fact, situation, circumstance, status, condition, activity, practice, plan,
occurrence, event, incident, action, failure to act, or transaction on or prior
to the Closing Date involving the Target, each of the other Parties shall
reasonably cooperate with it, him or her, or its, his or her counsel, in the
defense or contest, make available their personnel, and provide such testimony
and access to their books and records as shall be necessary in connection with
the defense or contest, all at the sole cost and expense of the contesting or
defending Party (unless the contesting or defending Party is entitled to
indemnification therefor under Section 9 below).

                  c.       NONCOMPETITION, NONSOLICITATION AND CONFIDENTIALITY.

                           i.       NONCOMPETITION. Each Stockholder
acknowledges that he or she has extensive knowledge and a unique understanding
of the business of the Target, has been directly involved with the establishment
and continued development of its customer relations and has had access to all of
the proprietary and Confidential Information used in the business of the Target.
Each Stockholder further acknowledges that if he or she, directly or indirectly,
were to compete with the Buyer or any of the Buyer's Subsidiaries in such
business following the Closing, the value associated with the Buyer's
acquisition of the Target and the goodwill of the Target would be adversely
affected. In furtherance of the Merger and to more effectively protect the value
of the Target and the Buyer, each Stockholder covenants and agrees that, for a
period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the date which is two years
thereafter (the "TERM"), such Stockholder shall not, directly or indirectly, as
a sole proprietor, employee, agent, consultant, stockholder, director, partner
or in any other individual or representative capacity, act, or own, operate,
manage, control, engage in, invest in, or participate in, act as a consultant or
advisor to, render services for (alone or in association with any Person), or
otherwise assist any Person that engages in or owns, operates, manages or
controls a Person which acts as a specialist or otherwise makes a market in any
stock for which the Buyer or any Subsidiary of the Buyer acts as a specialist as
of the Closing Date (other than stock of a successor by merger or acquisition if
the stock for which the Buyer or any Subsidiary of the Buyer acts as specialist
is issued by a company that is not the surviving publicly traded entity in such
a transaction), except on behalf of the Buyer or any of its Affiliates, unless
the Buyer ceases to act as a specialist for or make a market in such stock
voluntarily or as a result of regulatory action. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
nothing contained in this Section 7(c)(i) shall prohibit any Stockholder,
directly or indirectly, from owning not more than an aggregate of one percent
(1%) of any class of stock of any company which is listed on a national
securities exchange or traded in the over-the-counter market.

                           ii.      NONSOLICITATION. Each Stockholder agrees
that, during the Term, such Stockholder will not, directly or indirectly, as a
sole proprietor, employee, agent, consultant, principal or otherwise, solicit
for employment or otherwise seek to adversely influence or adversely alter the

                                       28

<PAGE>

relationship between the Buyer or any of its Affiliates and any person who is or
was an employee (other than clerical or administrative personnel) of the Buyer,
the Target or any of their respective Affiliates during the 365 days preceding
such solicitation, except on behalf of the Buyer or any of its Affiliates;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (x) a general solicitation for employment contained in a
newspaper or other periodical shall not constitute a breach of this Section
7(c)(ii), and (y) the restriction on solicitation of an employee of the Buyer,
the Target or any of their respective Affiliates contained in this Section
7(c)(ii) shall not apply to the solicitation of an employee whose employment has
been terminated by the Buyer without cause.

                           iii.     CONFIDENTIALITY. After the Closing, each
Stockholder shall strictly maintain the confidentiality of all information,
documents and materials relating to the Target, except to the extent disclosure
of any such information is required by law or authorized by the Buyer. In the
event that any Stockholder reasonably believes after consultation with counsel
that he or she is required by law to disclose any confidential information
described in this Section 7(c)(iii), such Stockholder will (x) provide the Buyer
with prompt notice before such disclosure in order that the Buyer may attempt to
obtain a protective order or other assurance that confidential treatment will be
accorded to confidential information, and (y) cooperate with the Buyer in
attempting to obtain such order or assurance. The provisions of this Section
7(c)(iii) shall not apply to any information, documents or materials which are
in the public domain or shall come into the public domain, other than by reason
of default by any Stockholder or his or her Affiliate under this Agreement, or
becomes known in the industry through no wrongful act on the part of any
Stockholder or his or her Affiliate.

                           iv.      REMEDIES. The Stockholders agree that the
Buyer shall be entitled to specific performance of the provisions of this
Section 7(c). If a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or
provision of this Section 7(c) 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. This Agreement shall be enforceable as so modified after the
expiration of the time within which the judgment may be appealed.

                  d.       BUYER STOCK. Each certificate evidencing the Stock
Consideration will be imprinted with a legend substantially in the following
form:

                           "THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE
                  NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
                  AMENDED (THE "ACT"), OR UNDER ANY STATE SECURITIES LAW AND MAY
                  NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR
                  OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE
                  REGISTRATION STATEMENT WITH RESPECT THERETO UNDER THE ACT AND
                  ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAW, OR THE RECEIPT BY THE
                  COMPANY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO
                  THE COMPANY, THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED."

                                       29

<PAGE>

                  e.       TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS. Each Stockholder agrees that,
without the prior written consent of the Buyer, such Stockholder will not sell,
contract to sell or otherwise sell, dispose of, loan, transfer, assign, gift,
pledge or grant any rights to any shares of Buyer Stock received as Stock
Consideration on or before August 24, 2000, except to the following permitted
transferees: (i) upon the death or disability of such Stockholder, to his or her
respective heirs, successors or assigns, (ii) to a spouse or lineal descendent,
or a trust for the benefit of a spouse or lineal descendant, of such
Stockholder, solely for estate planning purposes or (iii) to an Individual
Retirement Account as a direct result of the termination of the ESOP; PROVIDED
that, in every permitted transfer, (x) such Stockholder notifies the Buyer in
writing of the proposed transfer, (y) the proposed transfer is effected in
accordance with all applicable federal and state securities laws and (z) the
permitted transferee agrees in writing to be bound by the provisions of this
Section 7(e).

                  f.       TAX RETURNS. The Buyer shall be responsible for
filing or causing to be filed all Tax Returns required to be filed by or on
behalf of the Target after the Closing Date. To the extent any Taxes shown due
on such Tax Returns are indemnifiable by the Stockholders, such Tax Returns
shall be prepared in a manner consistent with prior practice, unless otherwise
required by applicable law. The Buyer shall provide the Principal Stockholder
with a draft of any such Tax Return at least fifteen (15) days prior to the due
date for filing such Tax Return (taking into account any applicable extensions),
and the Principal Stockholder may provide the Buyer with written comments on
such draft Tax Return within five (5) business days after his receipt of such
draft. The Buyer and the Principal Stockholder shall attempt to resolve any
disputes regarding such draft Tax Return in good faith at least five (5)
business days prior to the due date for filing such Tax Return, but if the Buyer
and the Principal Stockholder cannot resolve any dispute regarding such draft
Tax Return at least five (5) business days prior to the due date for filing such
Tax Return, the dispute shall be promptly submitted to the Independent Firm,
except as otherwise agreed by the Buyer and the Principal Stockholder.

                  g.       INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. From and
after the Effective Time, the Buyer will indemnify each individual who served as
a director or officer of the Target at any time prior to the Effective Time from
and against any and all Adverse Consequences resulting from, arising out of,
relating to, in the nature of, or caused by any matters existing or occurring at
or prior to the Effective Time (excluding this Agreement or any of the
transactions contemplated herein) to the fullest extent such individual would
have been indemnified as a director or officer of the Target prior to the
Effective Time and as then permitted under applicable law, PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that nothing contained in this Section 7(g) shall in any manner be deemed to
affect the indemnification obligations of the Target and the Stockholders set
forth in Section 9 hereof.

                  h.       ESOP INDEMNIFICATION. In addition to (but without
duplication of) the Buyer's rights under Section 9 below, from and after the
Effective Time, each Stockholder (other than the Trustee) will indemnify Buyer
from and against his or her Allocable Portion of any and all Adverse
Consequences resulting from, arising out of, relating to, or caused by the ESOP.

                                       30

<PAGE>

         8.       CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION TO CLOSE.

                  a.       CONDITIONS TO EACH PARTY'S OBLIGATIONS. The
obligation of each of the Parties to consummate the transactions to be performed
by it in connection with the Closing is subject to the satisfaction of the
following conditions:

                           i.       the NYSE shall have approved the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

                           ii.      there shall not be any injunction, judgment,
order, decree, ruling, or charge in effect preventing consummation of any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and

                           iii.     all applicable waiting periods (and any
extensions thereof) under the Hart- Scott-Rodino Act shall have expired or
otherwise been terminated and the Parties shall have received all other
necessary authorizations, consents, and approvals of governments and
governmental agencies.

                  b.       CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE BUYER. The
obligation of the Buyer to consummate the transactions to be performed by it in
connection with the Closing is subject to satisfaction of the following
conditions:

                           i.       the representations and warranties set forth
in Section 3 and Section 4 above shall be true and correct in all material
respects at and as of the Closing Date, and the Target and the Stockholders
shall have performed and complied with all of its, his or her covenants
hereunder in all material respects, in each case without giving effect to any
materiality or knowledge qualifiers contained therein;

                           ii.      the Target and the Principal Stockholder
shall have delivered to the Buyer a certificate to the effect that each of the
conditions specified above in Section 8(b)(i) are satisfied in all respects,
executed by the President of the Target and the Principal Stockholder for and on
behalf of the Stockholders, dated as of the Closing Date;

                           iii.     the Buyer or one of its Affiliates shall
have entered into new a-b-c agreements with respect to each of the NYSE
memberships listed on TARGET'S DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE;

                           iv.      the Buyer shall have received from Thacher
Proffitt & Wood, counsel to the Target and the Stockholders, an opinion in form
and substance to be mutually agreed upon by the Buyer and the Principal
Stockholder, addressed to the Buyer, and dated as of the Closing Date;

                           v.       each of the Closing Stockholders shall have
executed and delivered to the Buyer the Registration Rights Agreement
substantially in the form of EXHIBIT C attached hereto;

                           vi.      the Target shall have furnished to the Buyer
reasonably satisfactory evidence (in the form of certified resolutions of the
Target Board of Directors and a copy of the Target's application to the Internal
Revenue Service for a determination letter on the qualified status of the ESOP
on termination) that the Target has satisfied all its obligations arising under
the ESOP, that the ESOP has been

                                       31

<PAGE>

terminated, and its trusts liquidated, without any further liability to the
Target, the Buyer or the ESOP and that all the assets of the ESOP have been
distributed to its participants in accordance with its terms and applicable law;

                           vii.     the Target shall have furnished to the Buyer
reasonably satisfactory evidence that all stock options to purchase Target
Shares have been terminated without any further liability to the Target or the
Buyer;

                           viii.    the Target shall have furnished to the Buyer
reasonably satisfactory evidence of its satisfaction in full and the termination
of any of its outstanding obligations under the agreement with its employees
described in Section 3(z) of the TARGET'S DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE;

                           ix.      all stock certificates representing the
Target Shares, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by stock powers executed in
blank, shall have been surrendered by the Stockholders to the Buyer;

                           x.       all written consents, assignments, waivers
or authorizations that are required as a result of the Merger for the
continuation in full force and effect of any contracts set forth in Section 3(r)
of the TARGET'S DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE shall have been obtained;

                           xi.      the Target, the Stockholders and the Closing
Stockholders shall have executed and delivered to the Buyer any other documents
and instruments as the Buyer may reasonably require in order to effectuate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and

                           xii.     all actions to be taken by the Target, the
Stockholders and the Closing Stockholders in connection with consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and all certificates, opinions, instruments,
and other documents required to effect the transactions contemplated hereby will
be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Buyer and its counsel.

The Buyer may waive any condition specified in this Section 8(b) if it executes
a writing so stating at or prior to the Closing.

                  c.       CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE TARGET AND THE
CLOSING STOCKHOLDERS. The obligation of the Target and the Closing Stockholders
to consummate the transactions to be performed by them in connection with the
Closing is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:

                           i.       the representations and warranties set forth
in Section 5 above shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as
of the Closing Date, and the Buyer shall have performed and complied with all of
its covenants hereunder in all material respects, in each case without giving
effect to any materiality or knowledge qualifiers contained therein;

                           ii.      the Buyer shall have delivered to the Target
a certificate to the effect that the each of the conditions specified above in
Section 8(c)(i) is satisfied in all respects executed by the Chief Executive
Officer and Executive Vice President, Finance of the Buyer, dated as of the
Closing Date;

                                       32

<PAGE>

                           iii.     the Buyer shall have delivered to the
Closing Stockholders the Closing Notes and, if necessary, the Gap Notes;

                           iv.      the Buyer shall have executed and delivered
to the Closing Stockholders the Registration Rights Agreement substantially in
the form of EXHIBIT C attached hereto;

                           v.       the Target shall have received from
Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. counsel to the Buyer, an opinion in form and
substance to be mutually agreed upon by the Buyer and the Principal Stockholder,
addressed to the Target, and dated as of the Closing Date;

                           vi.      assuming the transactions contemplated by
the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 23, 1999 (as may be amended
from time to time, the "Henderson Agreement"), by and among the Buyer, Henderson
Brothers Holdings, Inc. and the stockholders listed on Schedule A thereto, are
consummated prior to the Closing, there shall have been no breach of the
Henderson Agreement by Henderson Brothers Holdings, Inc. or any such stockholder
which would result in or is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse
Effect on the Buyer and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

                           vii.     any other documents and instruments as the
Target and the Closing Stockholders may reasonably require in order to
effectuate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and

                           viii.    all actions to be taken by the Buyer in
connection with consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and all
certificates, opinions, instruments, and other documents required to effect the
transactions contemplated hereby will be reasonably satisfactory in form and
substance to the Target and its counsel.

The Target and the Principal Stockholder may waive any condition specified in
this Section 8(c) if they execute a writing so stating at or prior to the
Closing.

         9.       REMEDIES FOR BREACHES OF THIS AGREEMENT.

                  a.       SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. All the
representations and warranties of the Parties contained in Sections 3 and 5
hereof (other than in Section 3(a) through (e), Section 3(h) and Section 5(a)
through (e) hereof) shall survive the Closing hereunder (unless the damaged
Party had Knowledge of any misrepresentation or breach of warranty at the
Effective Time and waived such misrepresentation or breach in writing) and
continue in full force and effect for a period of eighteen months following the
Closing Date, except for the representations and warranties set forth in Section
3(n) and (u) hereof, which shall continue in full force and effect until 60 days
after the end of the statute of limitations applicable to the assessment and
collection of those Taxes or the institution of those claims for liability in
respect of Employee Benefit Plans, in each instance to the extent subject to
indemnification by the Stockholders hereunder. All the representations and
warranties of the Parties contained in Section 3(a) through (e), Section 3(h),
Section 4 and Section 5(a) through (e) hereof shall survive the Closing
hereunder (unless the damaged Party had Knowledge of any misrepresentation or
breach of warranty at the Effective Time and waived such misrepresentation or
breach in writing) and continue in full force and effect forever thereafter
(subject to any applicable statutes of limitations).

                                       33

<PAGE>

                  b.       INDEMNIFICATION PROVISIONS FOR BENEFIT OF THE BUYER.

                           i.       In the event the Target or any Stockholder
breaches any of its representations or warranties contained in Section 3 hereof
or any of its covenants contained herein, and if there is an applicable survival
period pursuant to Section 9(a) hereof, PROVIDED that the Buyer makes a written
claim for indemnification against the Stockholders pursuant to Section 11(h)
hereof within such survival period, then each Stockholder shall indemnify the
Buyer from and against his or her Allocable Portion of any Adverse Consequences
the Buyer shall suffer through and after the date of the claim for
indemnification caused by the breach; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no Stockholder
shall have any obligation to indemnify the Buyer from and against any Adverse
Consequences caused by the breach of any representation, warranty or covenant of
the Target (1) until the Buyer has suffered Adverse Consequences by reason of
all such breaches in excess of (x) a $25,000 aggregate deductible in the case of
one or more breaches of any of the representations and warranties contained in
Section 3(n) and (u) hereof, and (y) a $200,000 aggregate deductible in the case
of all other breaches (after which points each Stockholder will be obligated to
indemnify the Buyer only from and against his or her Allocable Portion of any
further such Adverse Consequences), and (2) to the extent the Adverse
Consequences the Buyer has suffered by reason of all such breaches of
representations and warranties (other than those contained in Section 3(n) and
(u) hereof) exceeds his or her Allocable Portion of $5,000,000 (excluding the
$200,000 aggregate deductible), after which point no Stockholder will be
obligated to indemnify the Buyer from and against any further such Adverse
Consequences (other than those caused by a breach of any representation or
warranty contained in Section 3(n) and (u)).

                           ii.      In the event any of the Stockholders
breaches any of his or her representations or warranties in Section 4 above or
any of his or her covenants contained herein, and, if there is an applicable
survival period pursuant to Section 9(a) above, PROVIDED that the Buyer makes a
written claim for indemnification against the Stockholder pursuant to Section
11(h) below within such survival period, then such Stockholder shall indemnify
the Buyer from and against the entirety of any Adverse Consequences the Buyer
shall suffer through and after the date of the claim for indemnification caused
by the breach.

                  c.       INDEMNIFICATION PROVISIONS FOR BENEFIT OF THE
STOCKHOLDERS.

                           i.       In the event the Buyer breaches any of its
representations, warranties or covenants contained herein, and, if there is an
applicable survival period pursuant to Section 9(a) above, PROVIDED that any of
the Stockholders or the Principal Stockholder on behalf of all of the
Stockholders makes a written claim for indemnification against the Buyer
pursuant to Section 11(h) below within such survival period, then the Buyer
shall indemnify each of the Stockholders from and against the entirety of any
Adverse Consequences the Stockholder shall suffer through and after the date of
the claim for indemnification caused by the breach; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
Buyer shall not have any obligation to indemnify the Stockholders from and
against any Adverse Consequences caused by the breach of any representation,
warranty or covenant of the Buyer (1) until the Stockholders have suffered
Adverse Consequences by reason of all such breaches in excess of a $200,000
aggregate deductible (after which point the Buyer will be obligated only to
indemnify the Stockholders from and against any further such

                                       34

<PAGE>

Adverse Consequences), and (2) to the extent the Adverse Consequences the
Stockholders have suffered by reason of all such breaches exceeds $5,000,000
(excluding the aggregate deductible).

                           ii.      The Buyer shall indemnify the Stockholders
against any income Tax imposed on them (following a final determination (within
the meaning of Section 1313 of the Code)) as a result of the Merger not
qualifying as a reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code by reason of any
action or inaction on the part of the Buyer subsequent to the Effective Time.

                  d.       DAMAGES IN THE EVENT OF TERMINATION. In the event
this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10(a) hereof, each of the
Target and the Buyer agrees that it will seek damages only from the other for
any Adverse Consequences to it caused by the other's (or, in the case of Adverse
Consequences to the Buyer, any of the Stockholders') breach prior to such
termination of any of the other's (or, in the case of Adverse Consequences to
the Buyer, any of the Stockholders') representations, warranties or covenants
contained herein.

                  e.       MATTERS INVOLVING THIRD PARTIES.

                           i.       If any third party shall notify any Party
(the "INDEMNIFIED PARTY") with respect to any matter (a "THIRD PARTY CLAIM")
which may give rise to a claim for indemnification against any other Party (the
"INDEMNIFYING PARTY") under this Section 9, then the Indemnified Party shall
promptly (and in any event within five business days after receiving notice of
the Third Party Claim) notify each Indemnifying Party thereof in writing;
PROVIDED that the failure of the Indemnified Party to give notice as provided
herein shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this
Section 9, except and only to the extent the Indemnifying Party's ability to
defend against, mitigate or diminish the amount of such claim is materially
prejudiced by such failure.

                           ii.      Any Indemnifying Party will have the right
at any time to assume and thereafter conduct the defense of the Third Party
Claim with counsel of his or her choice reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Party; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Indemnifying Party will not
consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement with respect
to the Third Party Claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnified
Party (not to be withheld unreasonably) unless the judgment or proposed
settlement involves only the payment of money damages and does not impose an
injunction or other equitable relief upon the Indemnified Party; PROVIDED,
FURTHER, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel
to participate in the defense of any such Third Party Claim or litigation to
which the Indemnified Party is a party, but the fees and expenses of such
counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnified Party unless (i) the
employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the
Indemnifying Party in connection with the defense of such action, (ii) the
Indemnifying Party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to
the Indemnified Party to take charge of the defense of such action within a
reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action, (iii) the
Indemnified Party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be material
defenses available to it that are different from or additional to those
available to the Indemnifying Party or (iv) the use of counsel chosen by the
Indemnifying Party to represent the Indemnified Party would present such counsel
with a conflict of interest (in which case the Indemnifying Party shall not have
the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the Indemnified
Party), in any of which events the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel
shall be borne by the Indemnifying Party and paid as incurred.

                                       35

<PAGE>

                           iii.     Unless and until an Indemnifying Party
assumes the defense of the Third Party Claim as provided in Section 9(e)(ii)
above, however, the Indemnified Party may defend against the Third Party Claim
in any manner he or she reasonably may deem appropriate.

                           iv.      In no event will the Indemnified Party
consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement with respect
to the Third Party Claim without the prior written consent of each of the
Indemnifying Parties (not to be withheld unreasonably).

                  f.       DETERMINATION OF ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES. The Parties
shall make appropriate adjustments for tax benefits and insurance coverage in
determining Adverse Consequences for purposes of this Section 9. If any
indemnification payment under this Section 9 is determined to be taxable to the
Indemnified Party by any taxing authority, the Indemnifying Party shall also
indemnify the Indemnified Party for any Adverse Consequences resulting from the
receipt of such payment. All indemnification payments under this Section 9
(except any which represent interest) shall be deemed adjustments to the Merger
Consideration.

         10.      TERMINATION.

                  a.       TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT. Certain of the Parties may
terminate this Agreement as provided below:

                           i.       the Buyer, the Target and the Principal
Stockholder may terminate this Agreement by mutual written consent at any time
prior to the Effective Time;

                           ii.      the Buyer may terminate this Agreement by
giving written notice to the Target and the Principal Stockholder at any time
prior to the Effective Time (1) in the event the Target or any of the
Stockholders has breached any material representation, warranty or covenant
contained in this Agreement in any material respect (without giving effect to
any materiality qualifiers contained therein), the Buyer has notified the Target
and the Principal Stockholder of the breach, and the breach has continued
without cure for a period of 15 days after the notice of breach or (2) if the
Closing shall not have occurred on or before March 23, 2000 by reason of the
failure of any condition precedent under Section 8(b) hereof (unless the failure
results primarily from the Buyer breaching any representation, warranty or
covenant contained in this Agreement);

                           iii.     the Target or the Principal Stockholder may
terminate this Agreement by giving written notice to the Buyer at any time prior
to the Effective Time (1) in the event the Buyer has breached any material
representation, warranty or covenant contained in this Agreement in any material
respect (without giving effect to any materiality qualifiers contained therein),
the Target or the Principal Stockholder has notified the Buyer of the breach,
and the breach has continued without cure for a period of 15 days after the
notice of breach or (2) if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before
March 23, 2000 by reason of the failure of any condition precedent under Section
8(c) hereof (unless the failure results primarily from the Target or any of the
Stockholders themselves breaching any representation, warranty or covenant
contained in this Agreement); and

                                       36

<PAGE>

                           iv.      the Target or the Principal Stockholder may
terminate this Agreement by giving written notice to the Buyer prior to the
Closing in the event the Closing Value is less than $8.00 per share.

                  b.       EFFECT OF TERMINATION. If any Party terminates this
Agreement pursuant to Section 10(a) above, all rights and obligations of the
Parties hereunder shall terminate without any liability of any Party to any
other Party (except for any liability of any Party then in breach); PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the confidentiality provisions contained in Section 6(e) shall
survive any such termination.

         11.      MISCELLANEOUS.

                  a.       NATURE OF CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS.

                  i.       The representations and warranties of each of the
Stockholders in Section 4 hereof and the covenants of each of the Stockholders
contained herein are several obligations. This means that the particular
Stockholder making the representation, warranty, or covenant will be solely
responsible only to the extent provided in Section 9 above for any Adverse
Consequences the Buyer may suffer as a result of any breach thereof.

                  ii.      The representations and warranties of the Target and
the Stockholders contained in Section 3 hereof are joint obligations. This means
that each Stockholder will be responsible to the extent provided in Section 9
above for his or her Allocable Portion of any Adverse Consequences the Buyer may
suffer as a result of any breach thereof.

                  b.       PRESS RELEASES AND PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS. No Party
shall issue any press release or make any public announcement relating to the
subject matter of this Agreement prior to the Closing without the prior written
approval of the Buyer, the Target and the Principal Stockholder; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that any Party may make any public disclosure that such party believes
in good faith is required by applicable law or any listing or trading agreement
concerning publicly-traded securities (in which case
the disclosing Party will use its reasonable best efforts to advise the other
Parties prior to making the disclosure).

                  c.       NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This Agreement shall
not confer any rights or remedies upon any Person other than the Parties and
their respective successors and permitted assigns, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
provisions of Section 7(g) hereof are intended for the benefit of the
individuals referred to therein and their respective legal representatives.

                  d.       ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement (including the
documents referred to herein) constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties
and supersedes any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or
among the Parties, written or oral, to the extent they have related in any way
to the subject matter hereof.

                  e.       SUCCESSION AND ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of each of the Parties named herein,
including the Closing Stockholders, and their respective successors and
permitted assigns. No Party may assign either this Agreement or any of its, his
or her rights,

                                       37

<PAGE>

interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the
Buyer, the Target and the Principal Stockholder; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
Buyer may (i) assign any or all of its rights and interests hereunder to one or
more of its Affiliates and (ii) designate one or more of its Affiliates to
perform its obligations hereunder (in any or all of which cases the Buyer
nonetheless shall remain responsible for the performance of all of its
obligations hereunder), and any Stockholder may assign any or all of his or her
rights and interests hereunder to the extent permitted by the express terms of
this Agreement.

                  f.       COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one
or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.

                  g.       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.

                  h.       NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands, claims, and
other communications hereunder will be in writing. Any notice, request, demand,
claim, or other communication hereunder shall be deemed duly given if (and then
two business days after) it is sent by registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested, postage prepaid, and addressed to the intended recipient as
set forth below:

                  IF TO THE TARGET OR THE STOCKHOLDERS:

                           c/o William E. Boye, Jr.
                           575 Curan Place
                           Franklin Lakes, New Jersey 07417

                  COPY TO:

                           Thacher Proffitt & Wood
                           Two World Trade Center, 39th Floor
                           New York, New York  10048
                           Attn:  Thomas N. Talley, Esq.

                  IF TO THE BUYER:

                           LaBranche & Co Inc.
                           One Exchange Plaza, 25th Floor
                           New York, New York  10006
                           Attn:  Michael LaBranche
                                  Chairman, President and Chief Executive
                                  Officer

                  COPY TO:

                           Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
                           666 Fifth Avenue
                           New York, New York  10103-3198
                           Attn:  Jeffrey M. Marks, Esq.

                                       38

<PAGE>

Any Party may send any notice, request, demand, claim, or other communication
hereunder to the intended recipient at the address set forth above using any
other means (including personal delivery, expedited courier, messenger service,
telecopy, telex, ordinary mail, or electronic mail), but no such notice,
request, demand, claim, or other communication shall be deemed to have been duly
given unless and until it actually is received by the intended recipient. Any
Party may change the address to which notices, requests, demands, claims, and
other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other Parties
notice in the manner herein set forth.

                  i.       GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the domestic laws of the State of New York
without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule
(whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction) that would cause
the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New
York, except that the DGCL shall apply to matters governed exclusively thereby.

                  j.       AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. No amendment of any provision
of this Agreement shall be valid unless the same shall be in writing and signed
by the Buyer, the Target and the Principal Stockholder. 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.

                  k.       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 the offending term or provision in
any other situation or in any other jurisdiction.

                  l.       EXPENSES. Each of the Buyer and the Target will bear
its own costs and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred in
connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, whether
or not the Closing occurs. The Stockholders and the Closing Stockholders will
bear all their own costs and expenses (including all of their legal fees and
expenses) incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, including any recordation, sales, use, stamp, filing,
transfer, documentary or similar fees or Taxes and related costs and fees
relating to the transfer of their Target Shares as contemplated by this
Agreement.

                  m.       CONSTRUCTION. The Parties have participated jointly
in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or
question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed
as if drafted jointly by the Parties and no presumption or burden of proof shall
arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the authorship of any of
the provisions of this Agreement. Any reference to any federal, state, local or
foreign statute or law shall be deemed also to refer to all rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise. The
word "including" shall mean including without limitation.

                  n.       INCORPORATION OF EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES. The Exhibits
and Schedules (including the Disclosure Schedules) identified in this Agreement
are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.

                                       39

<PAGE>

                  o.       ACTION BY PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDER ON BEHALF OF EACH
STOCKHOLDER. Not withstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each
Stockholder, other than the Trustee, (i) irrevocably constitutes and appoints
the Principal Stockholder as the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of
such Stockholder with full power to appoint a substitute or substitutes to act
hereunder with respect to all matters arising in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) hereby directs and authorizes the
Principal Stockholder, for and on behalf of such Stockholder and/or all
Stockholders, to execute and deliver all documents and to take all such other
actions and to make all such determinations as the Principal Stockholder shall,
in his sole discretion, deem necessary or appropriate in connection with the
transactions and other matters contemplated by this Agreement, including Section
9 hereof, all such executed and delivered documents, actions and determinations
to be binding on such Stockholder and/or all Stockholders.

                                   * * * * *

                                       40

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the date first above written.

                                LaBRANCHE & CO INC.

                                By: /s/ Michael LaBranche
                                   -------------------------------------
                                   Name:  Michael LaBranche
                                   Title: Chairman, Chief Executive
                                          Officer and President

                                WEBCO SECURITIES, INC.

                                By: /s/ William D. Boye
                                   -------------------------------------
                                   Name:  William E. Boye, Jr.
                                   Title: President

                                THE STOCKHOLDERS

                                /s/ William E. Boye, Jr
                                ----------------------------------------
                                WILLIAM E. BOYE, JR.

                                /s/ William D. Boye
                                ----------------------------------------
                                WILLIAM D. BOYE

                                /s/ Nancy R. Boye
                                ----------------------------------------
                                NANCY R. BOYE

                                       41

<PAGE>

                                /s/ Nancy R. Boye, Trustee
                                ----------------------------------------
                                NANCY R. BOYE, TR UA 04/10/6

                                /s/ William E. Boye Jr., as attorney in fact
                                ------------------------------------------
                                ROBERT R. BOYE

                                /s/ William D. Boye, as custodian under
                                UGMA for Alexander D. Boye
                                ----------------------------------------
                                ALEXANDER D. BOYE

                                /s/ Brett A. Boye
                                ----------------------------------------
                                BRETT A. BOYE

                                /s/ William E. Boye, as attorney in fact
                                for Melinda Boye, custodian under UGMA for
                                ----------------------------------------
                                JEFFERY A. BOYE

                                /s/ William E. Boye Jr., as attorney in fact
                                --------------------------------------------
                                MELINDA L. BOYE

                                /s/ David L. Boudreau
                                ----------------------------------------
                                DAVID L. BOUDREAU

                                /s/ Thomas J. Facchine
                                ----------------------------------------
                                THOMAS J. FACCHINE

                                /s/ Richard A. Rike
                                ----------------------------------------
                                RICHARD A. RIKER

                                       42

<PAGE>

                                /s/ Florence M. Lepera
                                ----------------------------------------
                                FLORENCE M. LEPERA

                                /s/ William E. Boye Jr., as attorney in fact
                                ---------------------------------------------
                                VINCENT D. PROVENZANO

                                /s/ Thomas N. Talley, Trustee
                                ----------------------------------------
                                THOMAS N. TALLEY TR UA 10/31/86
                                (MONEY PURCHASE PENSION PLAN)

                                /s/ Thomas N. Talley, Trustee
                                --------------------------------------
                                THOMAS N. TALLEY TR UA 10/31/86
                                (STOCK BONUS PLAN)

                                                   *
                                ----------------------------------------
                                AARON D. ALBERT

                                                   *
                                ---------------------------------------
                                PAUL ALWARD

                                /s/ Danielle August
                                ----------------------------------------
                                DANIELLE AUGUST

                                                   *
                                ----------------------------------------
                                DEREK BARNES

                                       43

<PAGE>

                                /s/ Anthony D'Agostino
                                ----------------------------------------
                                ANTHONY D'AGOSTINO

                                /s/ Scott Douglas
                                ----------------------------------------
                                SCOTT DOUGLAS

                                                   *
                                ----------------------------------------
                                CONNOR V. DUNNE

                                                   *
                                --------------------------------------
                                JAMES E. HARTUNG

                                /s/ Michael Ryan
                                ----------------------------------------
                                MICHAEL RYAN

                                /s/ Josette Sanacore
                                --------------------------------------
                                JOSETTE SANACORE

                                /s/ Craig Torswick
                                ----------------------------------------
                                CRAIG TORSWICK

                                /s/ Stephanie Turco
                                ----------------------------------------
                                STEPHANIE TURCO

                                /s/ Keith A. Zimmerman
                                ----------------------------------------
                                KEITH A. ZIMMERMAN

                                       44
<PAGE>

         EXHIBIT A - Closing Note for Holders of Class A Target Shares

                                PROMISSORY NOTE

[$______]                                                      February __, 2000

        FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, LaBranche & Co Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "MAKER"), hereby agrees to pay to __________________(the
"PAYEE") the principal amount of _______________DOLLARS ($____________) (the
"PRINCIPAL AMOUNT") [which is the Payee's Allocable Portion of $3,000,000],
plus interest payable at the fixed rate of 10% per annum. This note is being
executed in connection with the Agreement and Plan of Merger ("MERGER
AGREEMENT") entered into as of January 25, 2000 by and among the Maker, Webco
Securities, Inc, a Delaware corporation ("WEBCO"), and each other person
executing the Merger Agreement on the signature pages thereof. Capitalized
terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective
meanings ascribed thereto in the Merger Agreement.

        A.       All payments of the Principal Amount and any interest accrued
with respect thereto shall be made to the Payee at the following times, in
the following amounts and subject to the following terms and conditions:

                 1.       $__________ [which is the Payee's Allocable Portion of
        $500,000], plus the amount of all accrued and unpaid interest with
        respect thereto, shall be paid by the Maker to the Payee by certified
        or bank check or wire transfer two business days after the final
        determination of Final Net Working Capital in accordance with
        Section 2(e)(ii) of the Merger Agreement, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if
        the Final Net Working Capital is less than the Estimated Net Working
        Capital, the Principal Amount shall be deemed to have been reduced as
        of the date hereof by an amount equal to the Payee's Allocable
        Portion of the difference between the Estimated Net Working Capital
        less the Final Net Working Capital;

                 2.       $__________  [which is the Payee's Allocable Portion
        of $2,500,000], plus the amount of all accrued and unpaid interest
        with respect thereto, shall be paid by the Maker to the Payee by
        certified of bank check or wire transfer on the date which is 18
        months from the date hereof (the "MATURITY DATE"), PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
        that such amount shall be deemed to have been reduced as of the date
        hereof by the amount of any indemnification payments from the Payee
        to which the Maker is entitled pursuant to, and in accordance with,
        Section 9 of the Merger Agreement. For purposes of determining
        whether and to what extent the Principal Amount shall be reduced
        under this Paragraph A(2), the following procedures shall apply:

                          (a)      Prior to the Maturity Date, the Maker shall
                 give written notice (each, a "CLAIM NOTICE") to the
                 Principal Stockholder and the Payee specifying in reasonable
                 detail the nature and dollar amount of any claim as to which
                 indemnification is sought by the Maker under the Merger
                 Agreement (each, a "CLAIM"). The Maker

<PAGE>

                 may make more than one Claim with respect to any underlying
                 set of facts;

                          (b)      Any objection by the Principal Stockholder
                 to a particular Claim Notice (an "OBJECTION") shall be in
                 writing, shall set forth in reasonable detail the grounds
                 for such objection and must be received by the Maker within
                 ten (10) business days after the date of receipt of such Claim
                 Notice;

                          (c)      If the Maker does not receive from the
                 Principal Stockholder an Objection within ten (10) business
                 days from the date of receipt of such Claim Notice, the
                 Principal Amount shall be deemed to have been reduced as of
                 the date hereof by the Payee's Allocable Portion of the
                 amount specified in the Claim Notice;

                          (d)      If the Maker receives from the Principal
                 Stockholder an Objection within ten (10) business days from
                 the receipt of such Claim Notice, the amount of such Claim
                 shall be deemed to be in dispute to the extent set forth in
                 such Objection (each, a "DISPUTED AMOUNT"). If such
                 Objection does not dispute the entire amount of the Claim
                 Notice, the Principal Amount shall be deemed to have been
                 reduced as of the date hereof by the Payee's Allocable
                 Portion of the amount of the undisputed portion of such
                 Claim Notice;

                         (e)       On the Maturity Date, the Maker shall pay
                 to the Payee by certified or bank check or wire transfer the
                 then-remaining Principal Amount, plus the amount of all
                 accrued and unpaid interest with respect thereto, less the
                 sum of (i) the Payee's Allocable Portion of the aggregate
                 Disputed Amounts, (ii) the Payee's Allocable Portion of the
                 aggregate amount of all other pending Claims for which Claim
                 Notices have been delivered by the Maker pursuant to
                 Paragraph A(2)(a) above (each, a "PENDING CLAIM") and (iii)
                 the legal and other expenses incurred by the Principal
                 Stockholder in representing the Payee in connection herewith
                 or in connection with the Merger Agreement, as determined by
                 the Principal Stockholder and acknowledged to the Maker in
                 writing by the Payee, which expenses shall be paid by the
                 Maker directly to the Principal Stockholder, on behalf of
                 the Payee, for remittance to the appropriate creditor; and

                          (f)      Thereafter, all Disputed Amounts and
                 Pending Claims shall be resolved in accordance with the
                 Merger Agreement, and, as each such Disputed Amount and
                 Pending Claim is resolved, either (i) the remaining unpaid
                 Principal Amount represented by the Payee's Allocable
                 Portion of such Disputed Amount or Pending Claim, plus the
                 amount of all accrued and unpaid interest with respect
                 thereto,

                                      -2-

<PAGE>

                 shall be paid by the Maker to the Payee by certified or bank
                 check or wire transfer within two business days after such
                 resolution, to the extent such Disputed Amount or Pending
                 Claim is resolved in favor of the Payee, and/or (ii) the
                 Principal Amount shall be deemed to have been reduced as of
                 the date hereof by the remaining unpaid Principal Amount
                 represented by the Payee's Allocable Portion of such
                 Disputed Amount or Pending Claim is resolved in favor of the
                 Maker.

        B.       Any amount payable hereunder which is not paid when due in
accordance with the terms and conditions hereof shall bear interest until
paid at a rate which is 1.5% per annum higher than the interest rate
otherwise applicable hereunder.

        C.       The Maker shall have the right to prepay this Note in whole
at any time or in part from time to time without premium or penalty.

        D.       Each of the following events shall constitute an "Event of
Default" for purposes hereof;

                 1.       FAILURE TO PAY NOTE.  Default in the payment of the
        principal of, or any interest on, this Note when the same shall have
        become due and payable and the default continues for a period of five
        business days thereafter;

                 2.       FAILURE TO PAY OTHER INDEBTEDNESS. Default by the
        Maker or any other entity controlled by the Maker within the meaning
        of Rule 2 of the New York Stock Exchange (a "SUBSIDIARY") under any
        indebtedness for borrowed money (other than indebtedness of any
        Subsidiary or of the Maker in either case to any other Subsidiary),
        and such default is either (a) caused by the failure to make any
        payment of principal or interest due on such indebtedness within any
        applicable grace period, or (b) results in the acceleration of such
        indebtedness prior to the stated maturity thereof, PROVIDED,
        HOWEVER,that the provisions of this Paragraph D(2) shall not apply to
        any indebtedness which does not exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate
        and which is not material to the operations of the Maker and its
        Subsidiaries; and

                 3.       INSOLVENCY OR BANKRUPTCY. The Maker or any
        Subsidiary shall suspend or discontinue its business operations, or
        the Maker or any Subsidiary shall make an assignment for the benefit
        of creditors or a composition with creditors, shall be generally
        unable to pay its debts as such debts become due or shall file a
        petition commencing a voluntary case concerning the Maker or any
        Subsidiary under any chapter of Title 11 of the United States Code
        entitled "Bankruptcy," or an involuntary case shall be commenced
        against the Maker or any Subsidiary under any such chapter and relief
        is ordered against the Maker or any Subsidiary or the petition is
        controverted but is not dismissed within 60 days after the
        commencement of the case, or the Maker or any Subsidiary shall
        petition or apply to any tribunal for the appointment of any
        receiver, liquidator, custodian or trustee of or for it or any

                                      -3-

<PAGE>

        substantial part of its property, or shall commence any proceeding
        relating to the Maker or any Subsidiary under any bankruptcy,
        reorganization, arrangement, readjustment of debt, receivership,
        dissolution or liquidation law or statute of any jurisdiction,
        whether now or hereafter in effect, or if there is commenced against
        the Maker or any Subsidiary any such proceeding which remains
        undismissed for a period of 60 days, or an order, judgment or decree
        approving the petition in any such proceeding shall be entered, or
        the Maker or any Subsidiary by any act or failure to act indicates
        its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or
        the appointment of any receiver, liquidator, custodian or trustee of
        or for it or any substantial part of its property, or suffered any
        such appointment to continue undischarged or unstayed for a period of
        60 days, or the Maker or any Subsidiary shall take any corporate
        action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing, PROVIDED,
        HOWEVER, that the provisions of this Paragraph D(3) shall not apply
        to any Subsidiary as to which neither the assets nor the aggregate
        indebtedness for borrowed money exceed $500,000 and which is not
        material to the operations of the Maker and its Subsidiaries taken as
        a whole.

The Maker shall promptly notify the Principal Stockholder and the Payee of
the occurrence of an Event of Default described in Paragraph D(2) and (3)
above. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default described in Paragraph D(3)
above, this Note shall become immediately due and payable, all without notice
of any kind. In the case of any other Event of Default, the Payee may declare
this Note to be due and payable, whereupon this Note shall become immediately
due and payable, all without notice of any kind.

        E.       The rights and benefits of the Payee under this Note shall
inure to the benefit of his, her or its successors, assigns, heirs and legal
representatives.

        F.       The Maker shall pay all reasonable costs of collection,
including attorneys' fees, which may be incurred by the Payee in the
collection of this Note or any portion thereof.

        G.       All notices, requests, demands and other communications made
in connection with this Note shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given (1) on the date of hand delivery, if delivered to the Maker,
the Payee or the Principal Stockholder, on behalf of the Payee, as the case
may be, (2) one day after deposit, postage prepaid, with a nationally
recognized airline courier, (3) seven calendar days after mailing, with
proper postage, by certified or registered mail, prepaid, return receipt
requested, addressed to the Maker at One Exchange Plaza, 25th Floor, New
York, New York 10006, the Payee at_______________________________, or the
Principal Stockholder, on behalf of the Payee, at 575 Curan Place, Franklin
Lakes, New Jersey 07417, or (4) on the date of receipt if sent by confirmed
telecopy. Such address may be changed, at any time and from time to time, by
means of a notice given in the manner provided in this Paragraph G.

        H.       This Note is made and delivered in, and shall be governed,
construed and enforced under, the laws of the State of New York, without
regard to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

                                      -4-

<PAGE>

        1.       Notwithstanding anything in this Note to the contrary, by
accepting this Note, the Payee acknowledges the application of Section 11(o)
of the Merger Agreement to this Note and, pursuant thereto, the right, power
and authority of the Principal Stockholder to act for and on behalf of the
Payee with respect to all actions and decisions to be taken or made by the
Payee in connection with this Note.

                                        LaBRANCHE & CO INC.

                                        By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                              George M.L. LaBranche, IV
                                              Chairman, President & Chief
                                              Executive Officer

                                      -5-

<PAGE>

         EXHIBIT B - Closing Note for Holders of Class E Target Shares

                                PROMISSORY NOTE

[$      ]                                                      February __, 2000

        FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, LaBranche & Co Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "MAKER"), hereby agrees to pay to __________________(the
"PAYEE") the principal amount of _______________DOLLARS ($____________) (the
"PRINCIPAL AMOUNT") [which is the Payee's Allocable Portion of $3,000,000],
plus interest payable at the fixed rate of 10% per annum. This note is being
executed in connection with the Agreement and Plan of Merger ("MERGER
AGREEMENT") entered into as of January 25, 2000 by and among the Maker, Webco
Securities, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("WEBCO"), and each other person
executing the Merger Agreement on the signature pages thereof. Capitalized
terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective
meaning ascribed thereto in the Merger Agreement.

        A.       All payments of the Principal Amount and any interest accrued
with respect thereto shall be made to the Payee at the following times, in
the following amounts and subject to the following terms and conditions:

                 1.       $__________ [which is the Payee's Allocable Portion of
        $500,000], plus the amount of all accrued and unpaid interest with
        respect thereto, shall be paid by the Maker to the Payee by certified
        or bank check or wire transfer two business days after the final
        determination of Final Net Working Capital in accordance with
        Section 2(e)(ii) of the Merger Agreement, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if
        the Final Net Working Capital is less than the Estimated Net Working
        Capital, the Principal Amount shall be deemed to have been reduced as
        of the date hereof by an amount equal to the Payee's Allocable
        Portion of the difference between the Estimated Net Working Capital
        less the Final Net Working Capital;

                 2.       $__________  [which is the Payee's Allocable Portion
        of $2,500,000], plus the amount of all accrued and unpaid interest
        with respect thereto, shall be paid by the Maker to the Payee by
        certified or bank check or wire transfer on the date which is 18
        months from the date hereof (the "MATURITY DATE"), PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
        that such amount shall be deemed to have been reduced as of the date
        hereof by the amount of any indemnification payments from the Payee
        to which the Maker is entitled pursuant to, and in accordance with,
        Section 9 of the Merger Agreement. For purposes of determining
        whether and to what extent the Principal Amount shall be reduced
        under this Paragraph A(2), the following procedures shall apply:

                          (a)      Prior to the Maturity Date, the Maker shall
                 give written notice (each, a "CLAIM NOTICE") to the Payee
                 specifying in reasonable detail the nature and dollar amount
                 of any claim as to which indemnification is sought by the
                 Maker under the Merger Agreement (each, a "CLAIM"). The
                 Maker may make more than one Claim with respect to any
                 underlying set of facts;

<PAGE>

                          (b)      Any objection by the Payee to a particular
                 Claim Notice (an "OBJECTION") shall be in writing, shall set
                 forth in reasonable detail the grounds for such objection
                 and must be received by the Maker within ten (10) business
                 days after the date of receipt of such Claim Notice;

                          (c)      If the Maker does not receive from the
                 Payee an Objection within ten (10) business days from the
                 date of receipt of such Claim Notice, the Principal Amount
                 shall be deemed to have been reduced as of the date hereof
                 by the Payee's Allocable Portion of the amount specified in
                 the Claim Notice;

                          (d)      If the Maker receives from the Payee an
                 Objection within ten (10) business days from the date of
                 receipt of such Claim Notice, the amount of such Claim shall
                 be deemed to be in dispute to the extent set forth in such
                 Objection (each, a "DISPUTED AMOUNT"). If such Objection
                 does not dispute the entire amount of the Claim Notice, the
                 Principal Amount shall be deemed to have been reduced as of
                 the date hereof by the Payee's Allocable Portion of the
                 amount of the undisputed portion of such Claim Notice;

                          (e)      On the Maturity Date, the Maker shall pay
                 to the Payee by certified or bank check or wire transfer the
                 then-remaining Principal Amount, plus the amount of all
                 accrued and unpaid interest with respect thereto, less the
                 sum of (i) the Payee's Allocable Portion of the aggregate
                 Disputed Amounts and (ii) the Payee's Allocable Portion of
                 the aggregate amount of all other pending Claims for which
                 Claim Notices have been delivered by the Maker pursuant to
                 Paragraph A(2)(a) above (each a "PENDING CLAIM"); and

                          (f)      Thereafter, all Disputed Amounts and
                 Pending Claims shall be resolved in accordance with the
                 Merger Agreement, and, as each such Disputed Amount and
                 Pending Claim is resolved, either (i) the remaining unpaid
                 Principal Amount represented by the Payee's Allocable
                 Portion of such Disputed Amount or Pending Claim, plus the
                 amount of all accrued and unpaid interest with respect
                 thereto, shall be paid by the Maker to the Payee by
                 certified or bank check or wire transfer within two business
                 days after such resolution, to the extent such Disputed
                 Amount or Pending Claim is resolved in favor of the Payee,
                 and/or (ii) the Principal Amount shall be deemed to have
                 been reduced as of the date hereof by the remaining unpaid
                 Principal Amount represented by the Payee's Allocable
                 Portion of such Disputed Amount or Pending Claim, to the
                 extent such Disputed Amount or Pending Claim is resolved in
                 favor of the Maker.

                                      -2-

<PAGE>

        B.       Any amount payable hereunder which is not paid when due in
accordance with the terms and conditions hereof shall bear interest until
paid at a rate which is 1.5% per annum higher than the interest rate
otherwise applicable hereunder.

        C.       The Maker shall have the right to prepay this Note in whole
at any time or in part from time to time without premium or penalty.

        D.       Each of the following events shall constitute an "Event of
Default" for purposes hereof:

                 1.       FAILURE TO PAY NOTE. Default in the payment of the
        principal of, or any interest on, this Note when the same shall have
        become due and payable and the default continues for a period of five
        business days thereafter;

                 2.       FAILURE TO PAY OTHER INDEBTEDNESS. Default by the
        Maker or any other entity controlled by the Maker within the meaning
        of Rule 2 of the New York Stock Exchange (a "SUBSIDIARY") under any
        indebtedness for borrowed money (other than indebtedness of any
        Subsidiary or of the Maker in either case to any other Subsidiary),
        and such default is either (a) caused by the failure to make any
        payment of principal or interest due on such indebtedness within any
        applicable grace period, or (b)results in the acceleration of such
        indebtedness prior to the stated maturity thereof, PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
        that the provisions of this Paragraph D(2) shall not apply to any
        indebtedness which does not exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate and
        which is not material to the operations of the Maker and its
        Subsidiaries; and

                 3.       INSOLVENCY OR BANKRUPTCY. The Maker or any
        Subsidiary shall suspend or discontinue its business operations, or
        the Maker or any Subsidiary shall make an assignment for the benefit
        of creditors or a composition with creditors, shall be generally
        unable to pay its debts as such debts become due or shall file a
        petition commencing a voluntary case concerning the Maker or any
        Subsidiary under any chapter of Title 11 of the United States Code
        entitled "Bankruptcy," or an involuntary case shall be commenced
        against the Maker or any Subsidiary under any such chapter and relief
        is ordered against the Maker or any Subsidiary or the petition is
        controverted but is not dismissed within 60 days after the
        commencement of the case,or the Maker or any Subsidiary shall
        petition or apply to any tribunal for the appointment of any
        receiver, liquidator, custodian or trustee of or for it or any
        substantial part of its property, or shall commence any proceeding
        relating to the Maker or any Subsidiary under any
        bankruptcy,reorganization, arrangement,readjustment of debt,
        receivership, dissolution or liquidation law or statute of any
        jurisdiction, whether now or hereafter in effect, or if there is
        commenced against the Maker or any Subsidiary any such proceeding
        which remains undismissed for a period of 60 days, or an order,
        judgment or decree approving the petition in any such proceeding
        shall be entered, or the Maker or any Subsidiary by any act or
        failure to act indicates its consent to, approval of or acquiescence
        in any such proceeding or the appointment of any receiver,
        liquidator, custodian or trustee of or for it or any

                                      -3-

<PAGE>

        substantial part of its property, or suffered any such appointment to
        continue undischarged or unstayed for a period of 60 days, or the
        Maker or any Subsidiary shall take any corporate action for the
        purpose of effecting any of the foregoing, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
        the provisions of this Paragraph D(3) shall not apply to any
        Subsidiary as to which neither the assets nor the aggregate
        indebtedness for borrowed money exceed $500,000 and which is not
        material to the operations of the Maker and its Subsidiaries taken as
        a whole.

The Maker shall promptly notify the Payee of the occurrence of an Event of
Default described in Paragraph D(2) and (3) above. Upon the occurrence of an
Event of Default described in Paragraph D(3) above, this Note shall become
immediately due and payable, all without notice of any kind. In the case of
any other Event of Default, the Payee may declare this Note to be due and
payable, whereupon this Note shall become immediately due and payable, all
without notice of any kind.

        E.       The rights and benefits of the Payee under this Note shall
inure the benefit of his, her or its successors, assigns, heirs and legal
representatives.

        F.       The Maker shall pay all reasonable costs of collection,
including attorneys' fees, which may be incurred by the Payee in the
collection of this Note or any portion thereof.

        G.       All notices, requests, demands and other communications made
in connection with this Note shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given (1) on the date of hand delivery, if delivered to the Maker
or the Payee, as the case may be, (2) one day after deposit, postage prepaid,
with a nationally recognized airline courier, (3) seven calendar days after
mailing, with proper postage, by certified or registered mail, prepaid,
return receipt requested, addressed to the Maker at One Exchange Plaza, 25th
Floor, New York, New York 10006, or the Payee
at______________________________________, or (4) on the date of receipt if
sent by confirmed telecopy. Such addresses may be changed, at any time and
from time to time, by means of a notice given in the manner provided in the
Paragraph G.

        H.       This Note is made and delivered in, and shall be governed,
construed and enforced under, the laws of the State of New York, without
regard to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

                                        LaBRANCHE & CO INC.

                                        By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                              George M.L. LaBranche, IV
                                              Chairman, President & Chief
                                              Executive Officer

                                      -4-

<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT C

                         REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

         REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") made as of this 9th day
of March, 2000 by and among LaBRANCHE & CO INC., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and the stockholders of the Company set forth on the signature pages
hereto (each, a "Stockholder" and, collectively, the "Stockholders").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, the Company, Webco Securities, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Webco") and and the other signatories thereto, have entered into an Agreement
and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 26, 2000 (the "Merger Agreement"),
pursuant to which Webco is merging with and into the Company as of the date
hereof (the "Merger") and the Stockholders are acquiring shares of the Company's
common stock, $.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock");

        WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to promote the interests of the
Company and the interests of the Stockholders by establishing herein certain
terms and conditions upon which the Company will register certain of the shares
of Common Stock acquired by the Stockholders in connection with the Merger.

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
and agreements herein contained, and for other good and valuable consideration,
the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto
agree as follows:

         1.       CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. As used herein, the following terms shall
have the following respective meanings:

                  "Boye Estate" shall mean the estate of William E. Boye, Jr.
subsequent to his death.

                  "Boye Estate Shares" shall mean any shares of Registrable
Securities issued to and held or beneficially owned by William E. Boye, Jr. at
the time of his death.

                  "Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission
or any other Federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act.

                  "Demand Registration" shall mean either the registration
pursuant to the Stockholder Request or the Boye Estate Request, as the case may
be (as each is defined in Section 4.1(a)).

                  "Holder" shall mean any holder of Registrable Securities.

                                       1

<PAGE>

                  "Initiating Holder" shall mean (i) in the case of the
Stockholder Request, William E. Boye, Jr. or, if he is unable or unwilling to so
act, William D. Boye or, if he is unable or unwilling to so act, then an
individual designated by those persons (or their heirs or legal representatives)
who are holders of a majority of the Class A Common Stock of Webco at the
effective time of the Merger, for and on behalf of the Stockholders, or (ii) in
the case of the Boye Estate Request, the authorized representatives of the Boye
Estate.

                  "Register", "registered" and "registration" shall refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement in
compliance with the Securities Act and applicable rules and regulations
thereunder and the declaration or ordering of the effectiveness of such
registration statement.

                  "Registrable Securities" shall mean (i) in the case of the
Stockholder Request, up to 800,000 shares of Common Stock issued to and held by
the Stockholders pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (ii) in the case of the Boye
Estate Request, all the Boye Estate Shares, (iii) in the case of Section 4.2,
all the Stockholder Shares, and (iv) shares of Common Stock issued to the
Stockholders with respect to the shares referred to in the foregoing clauses
(i), (ii) and (iii) upon any stock split, stock dividend, merger, consolidation,
recapitalization or similar event, excluding all such shares which (x) have been
registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the
registration statement covering them, (y) have been publicly sold pursuant to
Rule 144 or (z) are eligible for sale without restriction under Rule 144(k).

                  "Registration Expenses" shall mean all expenses incurred by
the Company in compliance with Section 4 hereof, including, without limitation,
all registration, qualification and filing fees, exchange listing fees, printing
expenses, escrow fees, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, blue
sky fees and expenses, the fees and expenses of one counsel for all the selling
Holders and other security holders, and the expense of any special audits
incident to or required by any such registration (but excluding the compensation
of regular employees of the Company, which shall be paid in any event by the
Company).

                  "Request" shall mean either the Stockholder Request or the
Boye Estate Request, as the case may be.

                  "Restricted Securities" shall mean the securities of the
Company required to bear or bearing the legend set forth in Section 2 hereof.

                  "Rule 144" shall mean Rule 144, or any successor rule, under
the Securities Act.

                  "Rule 144(k)" shall mean Rule 144(k), or any successor rule,
under the Securities Act.

                  "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

                                       2

<PAGE>

                  "Selling Expenses" shall mean all underwriting discounts and
selling commissions applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities and all
fees and disbursements of counsel for any Holder (other than the fees and
disbursements of counsel included under Registration Expenses).

                  "Stockholder Shares" shall mean the shares of Common Stock
issued to the Stockholders pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

         2.       RESTRICTIVE LEGEND. Each certificate representing Stockholder
Shares shall (unless otherwise permitted or unless the Stockholder Shares
evidenced by such certificate shall have been registered under the Securities
Act) be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the
following form (in addition to any legend required under applicable state
securities laws):

         THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
         UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "ACT"), OR ANY STATE
         SECURITIES LAW AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED
         HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE
         REGISTRATION STATEMENT WITH RESPECT THERETO UNDER THE ACT AND ANY
         APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAW, OR THE RECEIPT BY THE COMPANY OF AN
         OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH
         REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

                  Upon request of a Holder of such a certificate, the Company
shall remove the foregoing legend from the certificate or issue to such Holder a
new certificate therefor free of any transfer legend, if (x) with such request,
the Company shall have received either the opinion referred to in Section 3
hereof stating that any transfer by such Holder of the Restricted Securities
evidenced by such certificate will not violate the Securities Act and applicable
state securities laws, or (y) in accordance with paragraph (k) of Rule 144, such
Holder is not and has not during the last three months been an affiliate of the
Company and such Holder has held the Restricted Securities represented by such
certificate for a period of at least two years. The Company will use its best
efforts to assist any Holder in complying with the provisions of this Section 2
for removal of the legend set forth above.

         3.       NOTICE OF PROPOSED TRANSFERS. The Holder of each certificate
representing Stockholder Shares by acceptance thereof agrees to comply in all
respects with the provisions of this Agreement. Except as otherwise permitted by
the Merger Agreement, prior to any proposed transfer of any Restricted
Securities (other than under circumstances described in Section 4 hereof), the
Holder thereof shall give written notice to the Company of such Holder's
intention to effect such transfer. Each such notice shall describe the manner
and circumstances of the proposed transfer in detail, and shall be accompanied
(except in transactions in compliance with Rule 144) by a written opinion of
legal counsel who shall be satisfactory to the Company, addressed to the Company
and reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Company's counsel,
stating that the proposed

                                       3

<PAGE>

transfer of the Restricted Securities may be effected without registration under
the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, whereupon the Holder of
such Restricted Securities, subject to Section 7(e) of the Merger Agreement,
shall be entitled to transfer such Restricted Securities in accordance with the
terms of the notice delivered by the Holder to the Company. Each certificate
evidencing the Restricted Securities transferred as provided above shall bear
the appropriate restrictive legend set forth above, unless the opinion of
counsel referred to above further states that no such legend is required in
order to establish compliance with any provisions of the Securities Act or
applicable state securities laws.

         4.       REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

         4.1      (a)      REQUEST FOR REGISTRATION. Pursuant to this
Section 4.1(a), at any time after the Company becomes eligible to register
shares of Common Stock with the Commission pursuant to a registration statement
on Form S-3, the Initiating Holder shall be entitled to present to the Company
one written request (the "Stockholder Request") that the Company effect a
registration of Registrable Securities held by some or all of the Stockholders;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Initiating Holder shall have no obligation to
present the Stockholder Request unless at least 100,000 shares of Registrable
Securities in the aggregate are covered by such request. In addition, in the
event of the death of William E. Boye, Jr. prior to the first anniversary of the
date hereof, the Initiating Holder shall be entitled to present to the Company
one written request (the "Boye Estate Request") that the Company effect a
registration of all or a portion of the Boye Estate Shares, but in no event
shall the Company be required to effect such registration prior to its becoming
eligible to register shares of Common Stock with the Commission pursuant to a
registration statement on Form S-3 .

                  If the Company shall receive from the Initiating Holder a
Request that the Company effect any registration with respect to all or a part
of the Registrable Securities, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts
to effect a Demand Registration as soon as practicable after receipt of the
Request (including, without limitation, the execution of an undertaking to file
post-effective amendments, appropriate qualification under applicable blue sky
or other state securities laws (except that the Company shall not be required to
qualify the offering under the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in which the
Company would be required to execute a general consent to service of process
unless the Company is already subject to service in such jurisdiction) and
appropriate compliance with applicable regulations issued under the Securities
Act) as may be so requested and as would permit or facilitate the sale and
distribution of all or such portion of such Registrable Securities as are
specified in such request; PROVIDED that, after the Company has effected a
Demand Registration pursuant to the Stockholder Request, the Initiating Holder
may not make any further Stockholder Requests; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that,
after the Company has effected a Demand Registration pursuant to the Boye Estate
Request, the Initiating Holder may not make any further Boye Estate Requests.

                  The registration statement filed pursuant to a Request of the
Initiating Holder may, subject to the provisions of Section 4.1(b) below,
include other securities of the Company which are held by officers or directors
of the Company or which are held by persons who, by virtue of

                                       4

<PAGE>

agreements with the Company, are entitled to include their securities in any
such registration (collectively, "Other Stockholders") and may include
securities of the Company being sold for the account of the Company.

                  (b)      UNDERWRITING. If all or any portion of the
Registrable Securities covered by a Request are, at the request of the
Initiating Holder, to be distributed by means of an underwriting, the Initiating
Holder shall so advise the Company as a part of the Request. Any underwriter
selected by the Initiating Holder shall be subject to the Company's approval.

                  The Company shall (together with all Holders and Other
Stockholders proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting)
enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or
representative of the underwriters. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Section 4.1, if the representative of the underwriters advises the Initiating
Holder in writing that, in the opinion of the underwriters, marketing factors
require a limitation on the number of shares to be underwritten, the Company
shall so advise the Initiating Holder, and the number of shares of Registrable
Securities and other securities that may be included in the registration and
underwriting shall be allocated in the following manner: (i) the securities
being sold for the account of the Company shall be excluded from such
registration and underwriting to the extent required by such limitation, and
(ii) if a limitation on the number of shares is still required, the securities
held by Other Stockholders of the Company shall be excluded from such
registration and underwriting to the extent required by such limitation in
proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective amounts of securities
requested to be registered by such Other Stockholders, and (iii) if a limitation
on the number of shares is still required, the securities being sold for the
account of the Holders shall be excluded from such registration and underwriting
to the extent required by such limitation, in proportion, as nearly as
practicable, to the respective amounts of Registrable Securities and other
securities which the Initiating Holder had requested to be included in such
registration. If the Company, the Initiating Holder or any Other Stockholder who
has requested inclusion in such registration as provided above disapproves of
the terms of the underwriting, such person may elect to withdraw therefrom by
written notice to the Company, the underwriter and the Initiating Holder. The
securities so withdrawn shall also be withdrawn from registration.

                  (c)      The Company shall have the right to defer a Request
of the Initiating Holder to effect a Demand Registration for up to seventy-five
(75) calendar days if, in the Company's good faith judgment, effecting a
registration would be seriously detrimental to the Company, or material
nonpublic information about the Company exists and the Board concludes as a
result, that it would not be in the Company's best interest to file such
registration statement at such time.

         4.2      COMPANY REGISTRATION.

                  (a)      If, at any time after the Company becomes eligible to
register shares of Common Stock with the Commission pursuant to a registration
statement on Form S-3, the Company shall determine to register any of its
securities either for its own account or the account of a security holder or
holders exercising their respective demand registration rights (other than a
registration

                                       5

<PAGE>

relating solely to employee benefit plans, a registration relating solely to a
Commission Rule 145 transaction or a registration on any registration form which
does not permit secondary sales), the Company will:

                           (i)      promptly within ten (10) days of such
determination give to each Holder written notice thereof; and

                           (ii)     include in such registration and in any
underwriting involved therein, all the Registrable Securities specified in a
written request or requests, made by any Holder within twenty (20) days after
receipt of the written notice from the Company described in clause (i) above,
except as set forth in Section 4.2(b) below. Such written request may specify
all or a part of a Holder's Registrable Securities.

                  (b)      UNDERWRITING. If the registration of which the
Company gives notice is for a registered public offering involving an
underwriting, the Company shall so advise the Holders by written notice. All
Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through such
underwriting shall (together with the Company distributing its securities for
its own account through such underwriting) enter into an underwriting agreement
in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters selected by the Company.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.2, if the representative
of the underwriters advises the Company in writing that, in its opinion,
marketing factors require a limitation on the number of shares to be
underwritten, the Company shall so advise all Holders requesting registration,
and the number of shares that may be included in the registration and
underwriting shall be allocated first to the Company for securities being sold
for its account and then in the following manner: (i) the securities requested
to be registered by officers or directors of the Company shall be excluded from
such registration and underwriting to the extent required by such limitation in
proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective amounts of securities
requested to be registered by such officers and directors, and (ii) if a
limitation on the number of shares is still required, the securities being sold
for the account of the Holders and Other Stockholders shall be excluded from
such registration and underwriting to the extent required by such limitation in
proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective amounts of Registrable
Securities and other securities which they had requested to be included in such
registration. If any Holder or Other Stockholder who has requested inclusion in
such registration as provided above disapproves of the terms of the
underwriting, such person may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to
the Company and the underwriter.

         4.3      EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.

                  (a)      The Company shall bear all Registration Expenses and
the selling Holders shall bear all Selling Expenses (in proportion, as nearly as
practicable, to the Registrable Securities of each Holder being registered)
incurred in connection with any registration, qualification or compliance
pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.1 or 4.2.

                                       6

<PAGE>

         4.4      REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. In the case of each registration
effected by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will keep each
Holder advised in writing as to the initiation of each registration and as to
the completion thereof. At its expense, the Company will:

                  (a)      Keep such registration effective for a period of one
hundred twenty (120) days or until the Holder or Holders have completed the
distribution described in the registration statement relating thereto, whichever
first occurs; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the case of any registration of
Registrable Securities on Form S-3 which are intended to be offered on a
continuous or delayed basis, such 120-day period shall be extended, if
necessary, to keep the registration statement effective until all such
Registrable Securities are sold, PROVIDED that Rule 415, or any successor rule
under the Securities Act, permits an offering on a continuous or delayed basis,
and PROVIDED further that applicable rules under the Securities Act governing
the obligation to file a post-effective amendment permit, in lieu of filing a
post-effective amendment which (x) includes any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act or (y) reflects facts or events representing a
material or fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration
statement, the incorporation by reference of information required to be included
in (x) and (y) above to be contained in periodic reports filed pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act in the registration statement;

                  (b)      Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments
and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in
connection with such registration statement as may be necessary to comply with
the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of
securities covered by such registration statement;

                  (c)      Furnish such number of prospectuses and other
documents incident thereto, including any term sheet or any amendment of or
supplement to the prospectus, as a selling Holder from time to time may
reasonably request;

                  (d)      Notify each seller, at its last known addresses as
set forth in the Company's books and records, of Registrable Securities covered
by such registration statement at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is
required to be delivered under the Securities Act of the happening of any event
as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement, as
then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading or incomplete in the light of the
circumstances then existing, and at the request of any such seller, prepare and
furnish to such seller a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an
amendment of such prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter
delivered to the purchaser of such shares, such prospectus shall not include an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or
incomplete in the light of the circumstances then existing;

                  (e)      Cause all Registrable Securities included in such
registration to be listed on each, if any, securities exchange or system on
which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;

                                       7

<PAGE>

                  (f)      Make reasonably available for inspection by any
seller of Registrable Securities, any underwriter participating in any
disposition pursuant to such registration statement, and any attorney or
accountant retained by any such seller or underwriter, all financial and other
records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, and cause
the Company's officers and directors to supply all information reasonably
requested by any such seller, underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection
with such registration statement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such seller,
underwriter, attorney or accountant shall agree to hold in confidence and trust
all information so provided;

                  (g)      At the request of any underwriter in connection with
an underwritten offering, furnish an opinion of counsel for the Company, dated
the effective date of the registration statement, and "comfort" letters signed
by the Company's independent public accountants who have examined and reported
on the Company's financial statements included in the registration statement, to
the extent permitted by the standards of the AICPA or other relevant
authorities, covering substantially the same matters with respect to the
registration statement (and the prospectus included therein) and (in the case of
the accountants' "comfort" letters) with respect to events subsequent to the
date of the financial statements, as are customarily covered in opinions of
issuer's counsel and in accountants' "comfort" letters delivered to the
underwriters in underwritten public offerings of securities; and

                  (h)      Otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply
with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make available
to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings
statement covering the period of at least twelve months, but not more than
eighteen months, beginning with the first month after the effective date of the
registration statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of
Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.

         5.       INDEMNIFICATION.

                  (a)      The Company will indemnify each Holder, each of its
officers, directors and partners, and each person controlling such Holder, with
respect to which registration, qualification or compliance has been effected
pursuant to Section 4 hereof, and each underwriter, if any, and each person who
controls any underwriter, against all claims, losses, damages and liabilities
(or actions, proceedings or settlements in respect thereof) arising out of or
based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact
contained in any prospectus or other document (including any related
registration statement) incident to any such registration, qualification or
compliance, or based on any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, and will reimburse each such Holder, each of its
officers, directors and partners, and each person controlling such Holder, each
such underwriter and each person who controls any such underwriter, for any
legal and any other expenses as they are reasonably incurred in connection with
investigating and defending any such claim, loss, damage, liability or action,
PROVIDED that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that
any such claim, loss, damage, liability or expense arises out of or is based on
any untrue statement or omission based upon written information furnished to the
Company by such

                                       8

<PAGE>

Holder or underwriter and stated to be specifically for use therein or to the
extent due to the failure of such Holder or underwriter to provide an updated
prospectus or other document to a purchaser at a time when the Company has
informed such Holder or underwriter of a material misstatement or omission in a
prospectus or other document and has provided updated prospectuses or other
documents correcting such misstatement or omission.

                  (b)      Each Holder will, if Registrable Securities held by
it are included in the securities as to which such registration, qualification
or compliance is being effected, indemnify the Company, each of its directors
and officers and each underwriter, if any, of the Company's securities covered
by such a registration statement, each person who controls the Company or such
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder, each other Holder and each of their officers, directors
and partners, and each person controlling such Holder, against all claims,
losses, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arising out of
or based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material
fact contained in any such registration statement, prospectus or other document,
or any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
and will reimburse the Company and such Holders, directors, officers, partners,
persons, underwriters or control persons for any legal or any other expenses
reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such
claim, loss, damage, liability or action, in each case to the extent, but only
to the extent, that such untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) or
omission (or alleged omission) is made in such registration statement,
prospectus or other document in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such Holder and stated to be
specifically for use therein.

                  (c)      Each party entitled to indemnification under this
Section 5 (the "Indemnified Party") shall give notice in writing to the party
required to provide indemnification (the "Indemnifying Party") promptly after
such Indemnified Party has actual knowledge of any claim as to which indemnity
may be sought, and shall permit the Indemnifying Party to assume the defense of
any such claim or any litigation resulting therefrom, PROVIDED that counsel for
the Indemnifying Party, who shall conduct the defense of such claim or any
litigation resulting therefrom, shall be approved by the Indemnified Party
(whose approval shall not unreasonably be withheld), and the Indemnified Party
may participate in such defense at such Indemnified Party's expense; PROVIDED,
however, that the Indemnifying Party shall pay the expense of one counsel for
all similarly situated Indemnified Parties if representation of such Indemnified
Parties by the counsel retained by the Indemnifying Party would be inappropriate
due to actual or potential differing interests between the Indemnified Parties
and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding, and PROVIDED
FURTHER that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give notice as provided
herein shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this
Section 5, unless such failure materially prejudices the ability of the
Indemnifying Party to defend against the claims asserted against the Indemnified
Party. No Indemnifying Party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation,
shall, except with the consent of each Indemnified Party, consent to entry of
any judgment or enter into any settlement 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,

                                       9

<PAGE>

and no Indemnified Party shall consent to entry of any judgment or settle such
claim or litigation without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party.
Each Indemnified Party shall furnish such information regarding itself or the
claim in question as an Indemnifying Party may reasonably request in writing and
as shall be reasonably required in connection with defense of such claim and
litigation resulting therefrom.

                  (d)      If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5
is unavailable to an Indemnified Party in respect of any losses, claims, damages
or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of
indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault
of the Company on the one hand and the stockholders offering securities in the
offering (the "Selling Stockholders") on the other in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Selling Stockholders on
the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the
untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact or the omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company
or by the Selling Stockholders and the parties' relevant intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission. The Company and the Selling Stockholders agree that it would not be
just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were based
solely upon the number of entities from whom contribution was requested or by
any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to above in this Section 5(d). The amount paid or
payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and
liabilities referred to above in this Section 5(d) shall be deemed to include
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim, subject to
the provisions of Section 5(d) hereof. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of the Securities Act) shall be entitled
to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.

         6.       INFORMATION BY HOLDER. Each Holder shall furnish to the
Company such information regarding such Holder and the distribution proposed by
such Holder as the Company may reasonably request in writing and as shall be
reasonably required in connection with any registration, qualification or
compliance referred to in this Agreement.

         7.       "LOCK-UP" AGREEMENT. Each Holder, if requested by the Company
and the managing underwriter of an offering by the Company of Common Stock or
other securities of the Company pursuant to a registration statement, shall
agree not to sell publicly or otherwise transfer or dispose of any Stockholder
Shares or other securities of the Company held by such Holder (other than those
included in the registration) for a specified period of time (not to exceed one
hundred eighty (180) days) following the effective date of such registration
statement.

                                       10

<PAGE>

         8.       RULE 144 REPORTING. With a view to making available the
benefits of certain rules and regulations of the Commission which may permit the
sale of the Restricted Securities to the public without registration, the
Company agrees to:

                  (a)      use its reasonable best efforts to make and keep
public information available as those terms are understood and defined in Rule
144 under the Securities Act at all times from and after ninety (90) days
following the effective date of the first registration under the Securities Act
filed by the Company for an offering of its securities to the general public;

                  (b)      use its reasonable best efforts to file with the
Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the
Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act at any time after it has
become subject to such reporting requirements; and

                  (c)      so long as the Holders own any Restricted Securities,
furnish to the Holders forthwith upon request a written statement by the Company
as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 (at any time
from and after ninety (90) days following the effective date of the first
registration statement filed by the Company for an offering of its securities to
the general public), and of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time
after it has become subject to such reporting requirements), a copy of the most
recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and such other reports and
documents so filed as the Holders may reasonably request in availing themselves
of any rule or regulation of the Commission allowing the Holders to sell any
such securities without registration.

         9.       TRANSFER OR ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS. The rights to
cause the Company to register securities granted to the Holders by the Company
under Section 4 may be transferred or assigned, PROVIDED that the Company is
given written notice at the time of or within a reasonable time after said
transfer or assignment, stating the name and address of said transferee or
assignee and identifying the Registrable Securities with respect to which such
registration rights are being transferred or assigned, and PROVIDED further that
the transferee or assignee of such rights assumes the obligations of the Holders
under this Agreement, and PROVIDED further that said transferee or assignee is
not a Competitor (as defined below) or an affiliate of a Competitor of the
Company. A "Competitor" shall mean any specialist on the New York Stock Exchange
or any other person or entity which acts as a market maker in securities and
which, now or in the future, competes directly with the Company or any of its
affiliates.

         10.      TERMINATION. Subject to Section 4.1(a), the provisions of
Sections 4.1 and 4.2 of this Agreement shall terminate on the first anniversary
of the Closing Date or, if Rule 144 is not available to any Holder(s) because
adequate current public information with respect to the Company required by Rule
144(c) is not available, at such later time as the Company advises such
Holder(s) that such public information is available or is no longer required to
be available in order for such Holder(s) to sell pursuant to Rule 144.

                                       11

<PAGE>

         11.      ACTION BY INITIATING HOLDER ON BEHALF OF EACH HOLDER.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each Holder (i)
irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Initiating Holder as the true and
lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of such Holder with full power to appoint a
substitute or substitutes to act hereunder with respect to all matters arising
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including presenting a
Stockholder Request under Section 4.1 hereof, and (ii) hereby directs and
authorizes the Initiating Holder, for and on behalf of such Holder and/or all
Holders, to execute and deliver all documents and to take all such other actions
and to make all such determinations as the Initiating Holder shall, in his sole
discretion, deem necessary or appropriate in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, all such executed and delivered documents,
actions and determinations to be binding on such Holder and/or all Holders.

         12.      AMENDMENT; WAIVER. No amendment, alteration or modification of
this Agreement shall be valid unless in each instance such amendment, alteration
or modification is expressed in a written instrument executed by Holders who own
at least a majority of the Stockholder Shares. No waiver of any provision of
this Agreement shall be valid unless it is expressed in a written instrument
duly executed by the party or parties making such waiver; it being agreed and
understood that execution by Holders who own a majority of the Stockholder
Shares shall constitute a waiver by all the Stockholders. The failure of any
party to insist, in any one or more instances, on performance of any of the
terms and conditions of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver or
relinquishment of any rights granted hereunder or of the future performance of
any such term, covenant or condition but the obligation of any party with
respect thereto shall continue in full force and effect.

         13.      SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The parties hereby declare that it is
impossible to measure in money the damages which will accrue to a party hereto
by reason of a failure to perform any of the obligations under this Agreement.
Therefore, all parties hereto shall have the right to specific performance of
the obligations of the other parties under this Agreement, and if any party
hereto shall institute an action or proceeding to enforce the provisions hereof,
any person (including the Company) against whom such action or proceeding is
brought hereby waives the claim or defense therein that such party has an
adequate remedy at law, and such person shall not urge in any such action or
proceeding the claim or defense that such remedy at law exists.

         14.      NOTICES. All notices and other communications required or
permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or transmitted by facsimile or
delivered either by hand, by messenger or by nationally recognized overnight
courier, addressed:

                  (a)      if to the Holders, to William E. Boye, Jr. or his
         designated successor at the following address, or at such other address
         as they shall have furnished to the Company in writing:

                                       12

<PAGE>

                                    William E. Boye, Jr.
                                    575 Curan Place
                                    Franklin Lakes, New Jersey  07417

                  with a copy to:

                                    Thacher Proffitt & Wood
                                    Two World Trade Center, 39th Floor
                                    New York, New York  10048
                                    Attn: Thomas N. Talley, Esq.

                  (b) if to the Company, at the following address, or at such
         other address as the Company shall have furnished to the Holders,

                                    LaBranche & Co Inc.
                                    One Exchange Plaza
                                    New York, New York 10006
                                    Fax: (212) 344-1469
                                    Attn: Michael LaBranche

                  with a copy to:

                                    Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
                                    666 Fifth Avenue
                                    New York, New York 10103
                                    Fax: (212) 752-5958
                                    Attention: Jeffrey M. Marks, Esq.

         Alternatively, to such other address as a party hereto supplies to each
other party in writing.

         15.      SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. All the terms and provisions of this
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable
by the respective permitted transferees, successors and assigns of the parties
hereto, whether so expressed or not.

         16.      GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement is to be governed by and
interpreted under the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the
principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

         17.      TITLES AND SUBTITLES. The titles of the sections of this
Agreement are for the convenience of reference only and are not to be considered
in construing this Agreement.

         18.      SEVERABILITY. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed to affect the validity or
enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.

                                       13

<PAGE>

         19.      ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement and the Merger Agreement
constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all previous
agreements, arrangements and understandings, whether written or oral, with
respect to the subject matter hereof.

         20.      COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together
shall constitute one instrument.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Registration
Rights Agreement as of the date first above written.

                                        LABRANCHE & CO INC.

                                        By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                             George M.L. LaBranche, IV
                                             Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
                                             and President

                                        HOLDERS:

                                        William E. Boye, Jr.

                                        William D. Boye

                                        Nancy R. Boye

                                        Robert R. Boye<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.29

                              LaBRANCHE & CO INC.
                               One Exchange Plaza
                               Twenty-Fifth Floor
                            New York, New York 10006

                                                                 January 6, 2000

Mr. Harvey Traison
155 West 68th Street, Apt. #20-02
New York, New York 10023-5832

Dear Mr. Traison:

         We are pleased to offer you employment as the Senior Vice President &
         Chief Financial Officer of LaBranche & Co Inc. (the "Company" and,
         collectively with its subsidiaries and affiliates, the "Firm") upon the
         terms and conditions set forth herein.

1.       You shall be employed by the Firm, subject to the terms and conditions
         of this Agreement, for the period (the "Employment Period") commencing
         on March 1, 2000 (the "Commencement Date") and, unless terminated
         earlier in accordance herewith, ending on February 28, 2003 (the
         "Initial Employment Period"). The Employment Period shall be
         automatically extended for successive additional one (1) year periods
         (the "Additional Periods") unless, at least ninety (90) days prior to
         the end of the Initial Employment Period or any Additional Period, as
         the case may be, the Firm or you has notified the other in writing that
         the Employment Period shall terminate at the end of the then current
         term.

2.       During the Employment Period, you shall: (i) have such duties and
         responsibilities consistent with your position as are assigned by the
         Firm from time to time; (ii) devote substantially all of your entire
         business time to the faithful, diligent and competent performance of
         your duties and responsibilities; and (iii) be subject to the
         direction, supervision and control of the Firm. You shall refrain from
         engaging in any aspect of the securities business except on behalf of
         the Firm without the prior approval of the New York Stock Exchange,
         Inc. (the "NYSE") and the Firm. The foregoing shall not prevent you
         from participating in industry and charitable affairs (including those
         set forth on Schedule I hereto) and from managing your passive personal
         investments and those of your family provided that, individually and in
         the aggregate, such activities do not materially interfere with the
         performance of your duties hereunder. You shall be appointed to the
         Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") as soon as reasonably
         practicable after the Commencement Date. The Firm shall use its best
         efforts to cause you to be elected or appointed (or, reelected or
         reappointed, as the case may be) to the Board at all times during the
         Employment Period. If elected or appointed to the Board, you shall
         serve as a director without additional compensation. You shall be
         subject to all terms and

<PAGE>

Mr. Harvey Traison
Page 2

         conditions of employment generally applicable to senior executive
         employees of the Firm, as established by the Firm from time to time and
         as previously communicated to you.

3.       During the Initial Employment Period, the Firm shall pay to you an
         annual base salary of not less than Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars
         ($250,000). Thereafter, the amount of your annual base salary during
         the Additional Periods shall be as agreed upon by you and the Firm.
         Such salary shall be paid in accordance with the Firm's normal payroll
         practices. You also shall be entitled to receive an annual bonus under
         the Company's Annual Incentive Plan (which was filed as an exhibit to
         the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1) in accordance with
         the terms thereof as in effect from time to time.

4.       Subject to your satisfaction of any applicable eligibility
         requirements, you shall be entitled to participate, in accordance with
         the terms thereof, in all employee benefit plans and programs generally
         provided by the Firm to its senior executives (including any health,
         disability, insurance or other benefit plans or programs now existing
         or hereafter adopted), provided, however, that in the case of health
         benefits, such benefits are not duplicative of those to which you are
         entitled under the health benefit plan maintained by your prior
         employer. You also shall be entitled to up to twenty-five (25) days of
         paid vacation per calender year (pro-rated for partial years) at such
         times as agreed between you and the Chief Executive Officer of the
         Company.

5.       You shall be reimbursed by the Firm for all reasonable business
         expenses incurred by you in the performance of your duties hereunder
         for which you submit expense statements or vouchers and such other
         supporting information and substantiation as the Firm customarily
         requires of its employees.

6.       You or the Firm may terminate your employment at any time for any
         reason, or for no reason, by giving not less than ninety (90) days'
         prior written notice of termination, provided, however, that the Firm
         may elect to place you on paid leave for all or any part of such 90-day
         period, and provided, further, that no advance notice need be given by
         the Firm to you in connection with a termination of your employment for
         Cause or on account of Disability. "Cause" means: (i) your breach of
         this Agreement or any other written agreement between you and the Firm
         which is not cured by you within ten (10) days of your receipt of
         written notice thereof; (ii) your violation of any Firm policy
         (including in respect of hedging or confidential information) as in
         effect from time to time which is not cured (if such violation is in
         fact curable) by you within ten (10) days of your receipt of written
         notice thereof; (iii) your conviction of, or pleading NOLO CONTENDERE
         to, a crime involving moral turpitude or a felony; or (iv) your
         becoming subject to any "statutory disqualification" within the meaning
         of Section 3(a)(39) of the Securities Exchange Act of

<PAGE>

Mr. Harvey Traison
Page 3

         1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). "Disability" means your absence
         from employment for at least 120 days in any 12-month period as a
         result of your incapacity due to mental or physical illness, as
         determined by the Firm.

7.       You shall comply with all laws applicable to the securities business of
         the Firm and with all rules and regulations of the Securities and
         Exchange Commission, the NYSE (and any other securities exchange of
         which the Firm is a member), and the regulatory authority of any state
         in which the Firm is registered as a broker-dealer. You shall provide
         the Firm with such written information as may be necessary for the Firm
         to complete accurately all forms required by the rules and regulations
         of the NYSE, the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other
         regulatory organization to which the Firm is subject. You shall
         acknowledge that you are an agent and/or representative of the Firm in
         registration applications filed with appropriate regulatory
         authorities, and you shall be subject to the applicable approved person
         rules of the NYSE. You acknowledge that you are not subject to any
         "statutory disqualification" within the meaning of Section 3(a)(39) of
         the Exchange Act. You shall furnish the Firm with (for example, an
         affidavit of your tax return preparer) that you have filed all required
         tax returns and paid all required taxes for each tax year during the
         Employment Period.

8.       You acknowledge that during the course of your involvement in the
         Firm's activities or otherwise, you will obtain information concerning
         the Firm's businesses, strategies, operations, financial affairs,
         organizational and personnel matters (including information regarding
         any aspect of your tenure as an officer, director, consultant or
         employee of the Firm or of the termination of such office, position,
         arrangement or employment), policies, procedures or concerning those of
         third parties (collectively, "Confidential Information"). You further
         acknowledge that you may obtain Confidential Information in written or
         electronic form or orally. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Confidential
         Information shall not include any information which is (i) generally
         known within the securities industry, unless and to the extent such
         information becomes known as a result of your acts or omissions, or
         (ii) disclosed by you in order to comply with legal process, provided
         that you provide prompt notice to the Firm of your receipt of such
         process and cooperate with the Firm in attempting to obtain a
         protective order preventing such disclosure. In consideration of, and
         as a condition to, access to such Confidential Information, and without
         prejudice to or limitation of any other confidentiality obligations
         imposed by agreement or by law, you hereby undertake to use and protect
         Confidential Information in accordance with any restrictions placed on
         its use or disclosure. Except as authorized in advance by the Board,
         you may not: (i) use for your own account any Confidential Information,
         or (ii) disclose or allow disclosure of any Confidential Information,
         or of any information derived therefrom, in whatever form, to any
         person unless such person is a director, officer, partner, employee,
         attorney or agent of the Firm and, in your reasonable

<PAGE>

Mr. Harvey Traison
Page 4

         good faith judgment, has a need to know the Confidential Information or
         information derived therefrom in furtherance of the business of the
         Firm. The foregoing obligations will survive, and remain binding and
         enforceable notwithstanding any termination of your employment with the
         Firm and any settlement of the financial rights and obligations arising
         from your employment with the Firm.

9.       In view of your importance to the Firm, you agree that the Firm would
         likely suffer significant harm from your competing with the Firm during
         the Employment Period and, except in the event that you are terminated
         by the Firm without Cause, the twelve (12) month period following the
         termination of the Employment Period for any reason (the "Restricted
         Period"). Accordingly, you agree that during the Restricted Period you
         will not, without the prior written consent of the Chief Executive
         Officer of the Company:

         (i)      form, or acquire a 5% or greater equity ownership, voting or
                  profit participation interest in, any Competitive Enterprise;
                  or

         (ii)     associate (including, but not limited to, association as an
                  officer, employee, partner, director, consultant, creditor,
                  agent or advisor) with any Competitive Enterprise and in
                  connection with such association engage in, or directly or
                  indirectly manage or supervise personnel engaged in, any
                  activity:

                  (A)      which is similar or substantially related to any
                           activity in which you were engaged, in whole or in
                           part, at the Firm, or

                  (B)      which calls for the application of the same or
                           similar specialized knowledge or skills as those
                           utilized by you or in your activities with the Firm,
                           at any time during the twelve (12) month period
                           immediately prior to the date of termination (or, in
                           the case of an action taken during your period of
                           employment with the Firm, during the twelve (12)
                           month period immediately prior to such action), and,
                           in any such case, irrespective of the purpose of the
                           activity or whether the activity is or was in
                           furtherance of advisory, agency, proprietary or
                           fiduciary business of either the Firm or the
                           Competitive Enterprise.

         (iii)    in any manner, directly or indirectly; (A) solicit a listed
                  company to transact business with a Competitive Enterprise or
                  to reduce or refrain from doing any business with the Firm, or
                  (B) interfere with or damage (or attempt to interfere with or
                  damage) any relationship between the Firm and a listed
                  company. The term "listed companies" means any company (x) for
                  which the Firm acts as a specialist, (y) which is seeking a
                  listing of its stock on the NYSE, or (z) which is

<PAGE>

Mr. Harvey Traison
Page 5

                  identified by the Firm as a potential listed company (whether
                  by new listing, transfer or other means) during the period of
                  your employment by the Firm.

         (iv)     in any manner, directly or indirectly, solicit any person who
                  is an employee of the Firm to resign from the Firm or to apply
                  for or accept employment with any Competitive Enterprise.

For purposes of this Agreement, a "Competitive Enterprise" is a business
enterprise that (A) engages in any activity, or (B) owns or controls a
significant interest in any entity that engages in any activity, that, in either
case, competes anywhere with any business activity in which the Firm is engaged.
The activities covered by the previous sentence include, without limitation,
specialist services, making markets in securities and/or securities brokerage,
sales, lending, custody, clearance, settlement or trading.

10.      If any of the provisions of Section 8 or 9 is finally held to be
         invalid, illegal or unenforceable because it exceeds the maximum scope
         determined to be acceptable to permit such provision to be enforceable,
         such Section will be deemed to be modified to the minimum extent
         necessary to modify such scope in order to make such provision
         enforceable hereunder.

11.      Subject to the provisions of Sections 12 and 13 hereof, any dispute,
         controversy or claim between you and the Firm arising out of or
         relating to or concerning the provisions of this Agreement, your
         employment with the Firm (or termination thereof) or otherwise
         concerning any rights, obligations or other aspects of your employment
         relationship in respect of the Firm ("Employment Related Matters")
         shall be finally settled by arbitration in New York City before, and in
         accordance with the rules then obtaining of, the NYSE or, if the NYSE
         declines to arbitrate the matter, the American Arbitration Association
         (the "AAA") in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of the
         AAA, PROVIDED HOWEVER, that, in addition to the right to compel
         arbitration of any dispute or controversy, you or the Firm may bring an
         action or special proceeding in a state or federal court of competent
         jurisdiction sitting in New York City, whether or not an arbitration
         proceeding has theretofore been or is ever initiated, for the purpose
         of temporarily, preliminarily, or permanently enforcing the provisions
         of this Agreement or to enforce an arbitration award.

12.      Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 11, and in addition to its
         right to submit any dispute or controversy to arbitration, the Firm may
         bring an action or special proceeding in a state or federal court of
         competent jurisdiction sitting in the City of New York, whether or not
         an arbitration proceeding has theretofore been or is ever initiated,
         for the purpose of temporarily, preliminarily or permanently enforcing
         the provisions of Sections 8 or 9 of this Agreement.

<PAGE>

Mr. Harvey Traison
Page 6

13.      You and the Firm hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive
         jurisdiction of any state or federal court located in the City of New
         York over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to
         or concerning this Agreement, or any Employment Related Matter that is
         not otherwise arbitrated or resolved according to the provisions of
         Section 11 hereof.

14.      The Firm may withhold from any and all amounts payable hereunder such
         federal, state and local taxes as may be required to be withheld
         pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

15.      This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
         the laws of the State of New York, without regard to principles of
         conflict of laws.

16.      This Agreement shall supersede any and all prior understandings and
         agreements between you and the Firm, whether written or oral, relating
         to the subject matter hereof. Notices hereunder shall be delivered to
         the Company at its principal executive office directed to the attention
         of the Company's Secretary, and to you at your last address appearing
         in the Company's employment records.

17.      You may not, directly or indirectly, assign your rights or obligations
         hereunder. The Company may at any time and from time to time assign its
         rights and obligations hereunder, including, without limitation, to any
         of its subsidiaries or affiliates (and have such rights and obligations
         reassigned to it or to any other subsidiary or affiliate). This
         Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company
         and its successors and assigns. This Agreement may not be amended or
         modified other than by a written agreement executed by you and the
         Company or its successors, nor may any provision hereof be waived other
         than by a writing executed by you or the Company or its successors.

18.      You represent and warrant that you are free to enter into this
         Agreement and to perform the duties required hereunder, and that there
         are no other employment agreements or understandings, restrictive
         covenants or other restrictions, whether written or oral, preventing
         the performance of your duties hereunder.

19.      If any provision of this Agreement is finally held to be invalid,
         illegal or unenforceable (whether in whole or in part), such provision
         shall be deemed modified to the extent, but only to the extent, of such
         invalidity, illegality or unenforceability and the remaining provisions
         shall not be affected thereby. Except as expressly provided herein,
         this Agreement shall not confer on any person other than you and the
         Firm any rights or remedies hereunder.

<PAGE>

Mr. Harvey Traison
Page 7

         Please confirm your acceptance and agreement to the terms and
conditions hereof by signing and returning the enclosed duplicate of this letter
which shall thereupon constitute an agreement between you and the Company.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        LaBRANCHE & CO INC.

                                        By: /s/ George M.L. LaBranche, IV
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Name:  George M.L. LaBranche, IV
                                            Title: Chairman, Chief Executive
                                                   Officer & President

Agreed & accepted
as of the date hereof:

By: /s/ Harvey Traison
   --------------------------
         Harvey Traison

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