Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.27

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                        MATTRESS DISCOUNTERS CORPORATION

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

            THIS AGREEMENT is made as of August 6, 1999, between Mattress
Discounters Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Richard L.
Branch ("Executive").

            In consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

            1. Employment. The Company agrees to employ Executive, and Executive
hereby accepts employment with the Company, upon the terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement for the period beginning on the date hereof and ending
as provided in Section 4 hereof (the "Employment Period").

            2. Position and Duties.

            (a) During the Employment Period, Executive shall serve as the
Senior Vice President of Advertising and Marketing of the Company and shall have
the normal duties, responsibilities and authority of the Senior Vice President
of Advertising and Marketing, subject to the power of the Company's President
and the Company's board of directors (the "Board") to expand or limit such
duties, responsibilities and authority and to override actions of officers of
the Company.

            (b) During the Employment Period, Executive shall report to the
Board and shall devote his best efforts and his full business time and attention
(except for permitted vacation periods and reasonable periods of illness or
other incapacity other than Disability) to the business and affairs of the
Company and its Subsidiaries. Executive shall perform his duties and
responsibilities to the Company and its Subsidiaries hereunder to the best of
his abilities in a diligent, trustworthy, businesslike and efficient manner.

            (c) For purposes of this Agreement, "Subsidiaries" shall mean any
corporation or other entity of which the securities or other ownership interests
having the voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other
governing body are, at the time of determination, owned by the Company, directly
or through one or more Subsidiaries. For purposes hereof, the Company shall be
deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a partnership, limited liability
company (without voting securities), association or other business entity if the
Company, directly or through one or more Subsidiaries, shall be allocated a
majority of partnership, limited liability company,
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association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or control the
managing director or general partner of such partnership, limited liability
company, association or other business entity. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Disability" means the inability, due to illness, accident, injury, physical or
mental incapacity or other disability, of the Executive to carry out effectively
his duties and obligations to the Company or to participate effectively and
actively in the management of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company for a
period or periods aggregating at least 90 days (whether or not consecutive)
during any twelve-month period, as determined in the reasonable judgment of the
Board.

            3. Compensation and Benefits.

            (a) During the Employment Period, Executive's base salary shall be
$200,000 per annum or such higher rate as the Board may designate from time to
time (the "Base Salary"), which salary shall be payable in regular installments
in accordance with the Company's general payroll practices. In addition, during
the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to participate in all of the
Company's employee compensatory and benefit programs for which senior executive
employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries are generally eligible.

            (b) During the Employment Period, the Company shall reimburse
Executive for all reasonable expenses incurred by him in the course of
performing his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement which are
consistent with the Company's policies in effect from time to time with respect
to travel, entertainment and other business expenses, subject to the Company's
requirements with respect to reporting and documentation of such expenses.

            (c) In addition to the Base Salary, the Board will award a bonus to
Executive subject to the provisions of and in accordance with the attached
Exhibit A, pro rated for the period beginning on August 6, 1999 and ending
December 31, 1999. The Board shall determine an appropriate bonus plan for
periods thereafter.

            (d) All amounts payable to Executive as compensation hereunder shall
be subject to customary withholding by the Company.

            4. Term.

            (a) The initial Employment Period shall end on August 6, 2000 and
will thereafter be automatically extended for consecutive 12 month periods
unless notice of termination is delivered by either party to the other at least
90 days prior to the end of such period; provided that (i) the Employment Period
shall terminate prior to such date immediately upon Executive's resignation,
death or Disability and (ii) the Employment Period may be terminated by the
Company at any time prior to such date for Cause (as defined below) or without
Cause. Except as otherwise provided herein, any termination of the Employment
Period by the Company shall be effective as specified in a written notice from
the Company to Executive.

                                      -2-
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            (b) If the Employment Period is terminated by the Company or its
successors in interest without Cause, Executive shall be entitled to continue to
receive his Base Salary payable in regular installments for a period of 12
months from the date of termination (the "Severance Period"), if and only if
Executive has executed and delivered to the Company a General Release in the
form of Exhibit B attached hereto and only so long as Executive has not breached
the provisions of Sections 5, 6 and 7 hereof. The amounts payable pursuant to
this Section 4(b) may be payable, at Company's discretion, in one lump sum
payment within 30 days following termination of the Employment Period.

            (c) If the Employment Period is terminated by the Company for Cause
or is terminated pursuant to clause (a)(i) above or expires and is not renewed
hereunder, Executive shall only be entitled to receive his Base Salary through
the date of termination or expiration.

            (d) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all of
Executive's rights to salary, bonuses, fringe benefits and other compensation
hereunder which accrue or become payable after the termination or expiration of
the Employment Period shall cease upon such termination or expiration. The
Company may offset any amounts Executive owes it or its Subsidiaries against any
amounts it owes Executive hereunder.

            (e) For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean (i) the
commission of a felony or other crime involving moral turpitude or the
commission of any other act or omission involving dishonesty, disloyalty or
fraud with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
customers or suppliers, (ii) chronic drug or alcohol abuse or other repeated
conduct causing the Company or any of its Subsidiaries substantial public
disgrace or disrepute or economic harm, (iii) substantial and repeated failure
to perform duties as reasonably directed by the Board, which is not cured, if
curable, to the Board's reasonable satisfaction in all material respects within
thirty (30) days after the Board or the designee thereof gives written notice
thereof to Executive, (iv) any other act or omission of Executive which would in
law permit an employer to, without notice or payment in lieu of notice,
terminate the employment of an employee or (v) any other material breach of this
Agreement which is not cured, if curable, to the Board's reasonable satisfaction
within 15 days after written notice thereof to Executive (provided, that a
breach of Sections 5, 6 or 7 shall be material and the applicable cure period
shall be 3 days).

            5. Confidential Information. Executive acknowledges that the
information, observations and data (including trade secrets) obtained by him
while employed by the Company and its Subsidiaries concerning the business or
affairs of the Company or any Subsidiary ("Confidential Information") are the
property of the Company or such Subsidiary. Therefore, Executive agrees that he
shall not disclose to any unauthorized person or use for his own purposes any
Confidential Information without the prior written consent of the Board, unless
and to the extent that the Confidential Information becomes generally known to
and available for use by the public other than as a result of Executive's acts
or omissions. Executive shall deliver to the Company at the termination or
expiration of the Employment Period, or at any other time the Company may
request, all memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports, computer tapes,
printouts and software and

                                      -3-
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other documents and data (and copies thereof) embodying or relating to the
Confidential Information, Work Product (as defined below) or the business of the
Company or any Subsidiaries which he may then possess or have under his control.

            6. Inventions and Patents. Executive acknowledges that all
inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods, designs, analyses,
drawings, reports and all similar or related information (whether or not
patentable) which relate to the Company's or any of its Subsidiaries' actual or
anticipated business, research and development or existing or future products or
services and which are conceived, developed or made by Executive while employed
by the Company and its Subsidiaries ("Work Product") belong to the Company or
such Subsidiary. Executive shall promptly disclose such Work Product to the
Board and, at the Company's expense, perform all actions reasonably requested by
the Board (whether during or after the Employment Period) to establish and
confirm such ownership (including, without limitation, assignments, consents,
powers of attorney and other instruments).

            7. Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation.

            (a) In further consideration of the compensation to be paid to
Executive hereunder, Executive acknowledges that in the course of his employment
with the Company and its Subsidiaries he shall become familiar, and he has
become familiar, with the Company's trade secrets and with other Confidential
Information and that his services have been and shall be of special, unique and
extraordinary value to the Company and its Subsidiaries. Therefore, Executive
agrees that, during the Employment Period and for three years thereafter (the
"Noncompete Period"), he shall not directly or indirectly own any interest in,
operate, manage, control, participate in, consult with, advise, render services
for, or in any manner engage in any business (including by himself or in
association with any person, firm, corporate or other business organization or
through any other entity) in competition with, or potential competition with,
the businesses of the Company or its Subsidiaries as such businesses exist or
are in process on the date of the termination or expiration of the Employment
Period, within any geographical area in which the Company or its Subsidiaries
engage or plan to engage in such businesses. Nothing herein shall prohibit
Executive from being a passive owner of not more than 2% of the outstanding
stock of any class of a corporation which is publicly traded, so long as
Executive has no active participation in the business of such corporation.

            (b) During the Noncompete Period, Executive shall not directly or
indirectly through another entity (i) induce or attempt to induce any employee
of the Company or any Subsidiary to leave the employ of the Company or such
Subsidiary, or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or
any Subsidiary and any employee thereof, (ii) hire any person who was an
employee of the Company or any Subsidiary at any time during the Employment
Period or (iii) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee,
licensor, franchisee or other business relation of the Company or any Subsidiary
to cease doing business with the Company or such Subsidiary, or in any way
interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee,
licensor, franchisee or business relation and the Company or any Subsidiary
(including,

                                      -4-
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without limitation, making any negative or disparaging statements or
communications regarding the Company or its Subsidiaries).

            (c) Executive agrees that: (i) the covenants set forth in this
Section 7 are reasonable in geographical and temporal scope and in all other
respects and that he has reviewed the provisions of this Agreement with his
legal counsel, (ii) the Company would not have entered into this Agreement but
for the covenants of Executive contained herein, and (iii) the covenants
contained herein have been made in order to induce the Company to enter into
this Agreement.

            (d) If, at the time of enforcement of this Section 7, a court shall
hold that the duration, scope or area restrictions stated herein are
unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties agree that the
maximum duration, scope or area reasonable under such circumstances shall be
substituted for the stated duration, scope or area and that the court shall be
allowed to revise the restrictions contained herein to cover the maximum period,
scope and area permitted by law.

            (e) Executive recognizes and affirms that in the event of his breach
of any provision of this Section 7, money damages would be inadequate and the
Company would have no adequate remedy at law. Accordingly, the Executive agrees
that in the event of the breach or a threatened breach by Executive of any of
the provisions of this Section 7, the Company, in addition and supplementary to
other rights and remedies existing in its favor, shall be entitled to specific
performance and/or injunctive or other equitable relief from a court of
competent jurisdiction in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the
provisions hereof (without posting a bond or other security). In addition, in
the event of an alleged breach or violation by Executive of this Section 7, the
Noncompete Period shall be tolled until such breach or violation has been duly
cured.

            8. Executive's Representations. Executive hereby represents and
warrants to the Company that (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by Executive do not and shall not conflict with, breach, violate or
cause a default under any contract, agreement, instrument, order, judgment or
decree to which Executive is a party or by which he is bound, (ii) Executive is
not a party to or bound by any employment agreement, noncompete agreement or
confidentiality agreement with any other person or entity and (iii) upon the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, this Agreement shall be
the valid and binding obligation of Executive, enforceable in accordance with
its terms. Executive hereby acknowledges and represents that he has consulted
with independent legal counsel regarding his rights and obligations under this
Agreement and that he fully understands the terms and conditions contained
herein.

            9. Survival. Sections 5 through 19 shall survive and continue in
full force in accordance with their terms notwithstanding the expiration or
termination of the Employment Period.

            10. Notices. All notices, demands or other communications to be
given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement will
be in writing and will be deemed to have been given when delivered personally,
mailed by certified or registered mail, return

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

receipt requested and postage prepaid, or sent via a nationally recognized
overnight courier, or sent via facsimile to the recipient with telephonic
confirmation by the sending party. Such notices, demands and other
communications will be sent to the address indicated below:

            To Executive:

            [Address]
            [City, State, Zip]
            Attention: Richard L. Branch
            Telecopy No.:
            Telephone No.:

            To the Company:

            Mattress Discounters Corporation
            9822 Fallard Court
            Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
            Attention: Board of Directors
            Telecopy No.: (301) 856-4591
            Telephone No.: (301) 856-6755

            With copies to:

            Bain Capital, Inc.
            Two Copley Place
            Boston, MA  02116
            Attention: Michael Krupka
            Telecopy No.: (617) 572-3274
            Telephone No.: (617) 572-2753

            Kirkland & Ellis
            Citicorp Center
            153 East 53rd Street
            New York, NY  10022
            Attention: Lance C. Balk, Esq.
            Telecopy No.: (212) 446-4900
            Telephone No.: (212) 446-4800

or such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient
party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Any
notice under this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given when so
delivered, sent or mailed.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

            11. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this
Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect
any other provision or any action in any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement
shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such
invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

            12. Complete Agreement. This Agreement embodies the complete
agreement and understanding among the parties and supersedes and preempts any
prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties,
written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way
(including, without limitation, the Employment Agreement between the parties
hereto, dated January 1, 1997), but excluding any breaches thereof by either
party prior to the date hereof.

            13. No Strict Construction. The language used in this Agreement
shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their
mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any
party.

            14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate
counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together constitute one and the same agreement.

            15. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is intended to bind and
inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive, the Company and their
respective heirs, successors and assigns; provided that the rights and
obligations of Executive under this Agreement shall not be assignable.

            16. Governing Law. All issues and questions concerning the
construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement and the
exhibits and schedules hereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of
law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Delaware or
any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

            17. Amendment and Waiver. The provisions of this Agreement may be
amended or waived only with the prior written consent of the Company and
Executive, and no course of conduct or failure or delay in enforcing the
provisions of this Agreement shall affect the validity, binding effect or
enforceability of this Agreement.

            18. Remedies. Each of the parties to this Agreement will be entitled
to enforce its rights under this Agreement specifically, to recover damages and
costs (including reasonable attorneys' fees) caused by any breach of any
provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

rights existing in its favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that
money damages may not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the provisions of
this Agreement and that any party may in its sole discretion apply to any court
of law or equity of competent jurisdiction (without posting any bond or deposit)
for specific performance and/or other injunctive relief in order to enforce or
prevent any violations of the provisions of this Agreement.

                             *    *    *    *    *

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

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

                                        MATTRESS DISCOUNTERS CORPORATION

                                        By:  /s/ Richard L. Branch
                                           _____________________________________

                                        Its:____________________________________

                                        ________________________________________
                                        RICHARD L. BRANCH

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

                                                                       Exhibit B

                                 GENERAL RELEASE

      I, Richard L. Branch, in consideration of and subject to the performance
by Mattress Discounters Corporation, a Delaware corporation (together with its
subsidiaries, the "Company"), of its material obligations under the Employment
Agreement, dated as of August 6, 1999 (the "Agreement"), do hereby release and
forever discharge as of the date hereof the Company and all present and former
directors, officers, agents, representatives, employees, successors and assigns
of the Company and its direct or indirect owners (collectively, the "Released
Parties") to the extent provided below.

1.    I understand that any payments or benefits paid or granted to me under
      Section 4(b) of the Agreement represent, in part, consideration for
      signing this General Release and are not salary, wages or benefits to
      which I was already entitled. I understand and agree that I will not
      receive the payments and benefits specified in Section 4(b) of the
      Agreement unless I execute this General Release and do not revoke this
      General Release within the time period permitted hereafter or breach this
      General Release.

2.    Except as provided in Section 4 below, I knowingly and voluntarily release
      and forever discharge the Company and the other Released Parties from any
      and all claims, controversies, actions, causes of action, cross-claims,
      counter-claims, demands, debts, compensatory damages, liquidated damages,
      punitive or exemplary damages, other damages, claims for costs and
      attorneys' fees, or liabilities of any nature whatsoever in law and in
      equity, both past and present (through the date of this General Release)
      and whether known or unknown, suspected, or claimed against the Company or
      any of the Released Parties which I, my spouse, or any of my heirs,
      executors, administrators or assigns, may have, which arise out of or are
      connected with my employment with, or my separation from, the Company
      (including, but not limited to, any allegation, claim or violation,
      arising under: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the
      Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of
      1967, as amended (including the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act); the
      Equal Pay Act of 1963, as amended; the Americans with Disabilities Act of
      1990; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; the Civil Rights Act of
      1866, as amended; the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act;
      the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974; any applicable
      Executive Order Programs; the Fair Labor Standards Act; or their state or
      local counterparts; or under any other federal, state or local civil or
      human rights law, or under any other local, state, or federal law,
      regulation or ordinance; or under any public policy, contract or tort, or
      under common law; or arising under any policies, practices or procedures
      of the Company; or any claim for wrongful discharge, breach of contract,
      infliction of emotional distress, defamation; or any claim for costs,
      fees, or other expenses, including attorneys' fees incurred in these
      matters) (all of the foregoing collectively referred to herein as the
      "Claims").

                                      B-1
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3.    I represent that I have made no assignment or transfer of any right,
      claim, demand, cause of action, or other matter covered by Section 2
      above.

4.    I agree that this General Release does not waive or release any rights or
      claims that I may have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of
      1967 which arise after the date I execute this General Release. I
      acknowledge and agree that my separation from employment with the Company
      in compliance with the terms of the Agreement shall not serve as the basis
      for any claim or action (including, without limitation, any claim under
      the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967).

5.    In signing this General Release, I acknowledge and intend that it shall be
      effective as a bar to each and every one of the Claims hereinabove
      mentioned or implied. I expressly consent that this General Release shall
      be given full force and effect according to each and all of its express
      terms and provisions, including those relating to unknown and unsuspected
      Claims (notwithstanding any state statute that expressly limits the
      effectiveness of a general release of unknown, unsuspected and
      unanticipated Claims), if any, as well as those relating to any other
      Claims hereinabove mentioned or implied. I acknowledge and agree that this
      waiver is an essential and material term of this General Release and that
      without such waiver the Company would not have agreed to the terms of the
      Agreement. I further agree that in the event I should bring a Claim
      seeking damages against the Company, or in the event I should seek to
      recover against the Company in any Claim brought by a governmental agency
      on my behalf, this General Release shall serve as a complete defense to
      such Claims. I further agree that I am not aware of any pending charge or
      complaint of the type described in Section 2 as of the execution of this
      General Release.

6.    I agree that neither this General Release, nor the furnishing of the
      consideration for this General Release, shall be deemed or construed at
      any time to be an admission by the Company, any Released Party or myself
      of any improper or unlawful conduct.

7.    I agree that I will forfeit all amounts payable by the Company pursuant to
      the Agreement if I challenge the validity of this General Release. I also
      agree that if I violate this General Release by suing the Company or the
      other Released Parties, I will pay all costs and expenses of defending
      against the suit incurred by the Released Parties, including reasonable
      attorneys' fees, and return all payments received by me pursuant to the
      Agreement.

8.    I agree that this General Release is confidential and agree not to
      disclose any information regarding the terms of this General Release,
      except to my immediate family and any tax, legal or other counsel I have
      consulted regarding the meaning or effect hereof or as required by law,
      and I will instruct each of the foregoing not to disclose the same to
      anyone.

9.    Any non-disclosure provision in this General Release does not prohibit or
      restrict me (or my attorney) from responding to any inquiry about this
      General Release or its underlying facts and circumstances by the
      Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the National

                                      B-2
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      Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD), any other self-regulatory
      organization or governmental entity.

10.   I agree to reasonably cooperate with the Company in any internal
      investigation or administrative, regulatory, or judicial proceeding. I
      understand and agree that my cooperation may include, but not be limited
      to, making myself available to the Company upon reasonable notice for
      interviews and factual investigations; appearing at the Company's request
      to give testimony without requiring service of a subpoena or other legal
      process; volunteering to the Company pertinent information; and turning
      over to the Company all relevant documents which are or may come into my
      possession all at times and on schedules that are reasonably consistent
      with my other permitted activities and commitments. I understand that in
      the event the Company asks for my cooperation in accordance with this
      provision, the Company will reimburse me solely for reasonable travel
      expenses, including lodging and meals, upon my submission of receipts.

11.   Notwithstanding anything in this General Release to the contrary, this
      General Release shall not relinquish, diminish, or in any way affect any
      rights or claims arising out of any breach by the Company or by any
      Released Party of the Agreement.

12.   Whenever possible, each provision of this General Release shall be
      interpreted in, such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable
      law, but if any provision of this General Release is held to be invalid,
      illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule
      in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall
      not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this General
      Release shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as
      if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been
      contained herein.

BY SIGNING THIS GENERAL RELEASE, I REPRESENT AND AGREE THAT:

(a)   I HAVE READ IT CAREFULLY;

(b)   I UNDERSTAND ALL OF ITS TERMS AND KNOW THAT I AM GIVING UP IMPORTANT
      RIGHTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, RIGHTS UNDER THE AGE DISCRIMINATION
      IN EMPLOYMENT ACT OF 1967, AS AMENDED, TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT
      OF 1964, AS AMENDED; THE EQUAL PAY ACT OF 1963, THE AMERICANS WITH
      DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990; AND THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT
      OF 1974, AS AMENDED;

(c)   I VOLUNTARILY CONSENT TO EVERYTHING IN IT;

                                      B-3
<PAGE>

(d)   I HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE EXECUTING IT AND I
      HAVE DONE SO OR, AFTER CAREFUL READING AND CONSIDERATION I HAVE CHOSEN NOT
      TO DO SO OF MY OWN VOLITION;

(e)   I HAVE HAD AT LEAST 21 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF MY RECEIPT OF THIS RELEASE
      SUBSTANTIALLY IN ITS FINAL FORM ON _______________ __, _____ TO CONSIDER
      IT AND THE CHANGES MADE SINCE THE _______________ __, _____ VERSION OF
      THIS RELEASE ARE NOT MATERIAL AND WILL NOT RESTART THE REQUIRED 21-DAY
      PERIOD;

(f)   THE CHANGES TO THE AGREEMENT SINCE AUGUST 6, 1999 EITHER ARE NOT MATERIAL
      OR WERE MADE AT MY REQUEST.

(g)   I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE SEVEN DAYS AFTER THE EXECUTION OF THIS RELEASE TO
      REVOKE IT AND THAT THIS RELEASE SHALL NOT BECOME EFFECTIVE OR ENFORCEABLE
      UNTIL THE REVOCATION PERIOD HAS EXPIRED;

(h)   I HAVE SIGNED THIS GENERAL RELEASE KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY AND WITH THE
      ADVICE OF ANY COUNSEL RETAINED TO ADVISE ME WITH RESPECT TO IT; AND

(i)   I AGREE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS GENERAL RELEASE MAY NOT BE AMENDED,
      WAIVED, CHANGED OR MODIFIED EXCEPT BY AN INSTRUMENT IN WRITING SIGNED BY
      AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY AND BY ME.

DATE: ___________ __, ______                      ______________________________

                                       B-4<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.29

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

                                WARRANT AGREEMENT

                           Dated as of August 6, 1999

                                 By and Between

                    MATTRESS DISCOUNTERS HOLDING CORPORATION

                                       and

                       STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY

                                as Warrant Agent

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

  Warrants to Purchase Class A Common Stock, Par Value $.01 Per Share and Class
                     L Common Stock Par Value $.01 Per Share

================================================================================
<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                -----------------
                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
                                    ARTICLE I

                     ISSUANCE, FORM, EXECUTION, DELIVERY AND
                      REGISTRATION OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES

SECTION 1.01.    Issuance of Warrants.........................................2
SECTION 1.02.    Form of Warrant Certificates.................................2
SECTION 1.03.    Execution of Warrant Certificates............................3
SECTION 1.04.    Authentication and Delivery..................................3
SECTION 1.05.    Temporary Warrant Certificates...............................4
SECTION 1.06.    Separation of Warrants and Notes.............................4
SECTION 1.07.    Registration.................................................5
SECTION 1.08.    Registration of Transfers or Exchanges.......................5
SECTION 1.09.    Lost, Stolen, Destroyed, Defaced or Mutilated Warrant
                     Certificates............................................10
SECTION 1.10.    Offices for Exercise, etc. .................................11
SECTION 1.11.    Book-Entry Provisions for Global Warrants...................12

                                   ARTICLE II

                 DURATION, EXERCISE OF WARRANTS; EXERCISE PRICE
                           AND REPURCHASE OF WARRANTS

SECTION 2.01.    Duration of Warrants........................................13
SECTION 2.02.    Exercise, Exercise Price, Settlement and Delivery...........13
SECTION 2.03.    Cancellation of Warrant Certificates........................17
SECTION 2.04.    Notice of an Exercise Event.................................17

                                   ARTICLE III

                          OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO
                          RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF WARRANTS

SECTION 3.01.    Enforcement of Rights.......................................17

                                   ARTICLE IV

                        CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

SECTION 4.01.    Payment of Taxes............................................18

                                      -i-
<PAGE>

                                                                            Page

SECTION 4.02.    Rules 144 and 144A..........................................18
SECTION 4.03.    Form of Initial Public Equity Offering......................18
SECTION 4.04.    Registration of Shares......................................18

                                    ARTICLE V

                                   ADJUSTMENTS

 SECTION 5.01.   Adjustment of Exercise Rate; Notices........................19
 SECTION 5.02.   Fractional Shares...........................................25
 SECTION 5.03.   Certain Distributions.......................................25

                                   ARTICLE VI

                          CONCERNING THE WARRANT AGENT

SECTION 6.01.    Warrant Agent...............................................26
SECTION 6.02.    Conditions of Warrant Agent's Obligations...................26
SECTION 6.03.    Resignation and Appointment of Successor....................30

                                   ARTICLE VII

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 7.01.    Amendment...................................................31
SECTION 7.02.    Notices and Demands to the Company and Warrant Agent........32
SECTION 7.03.    Addresses for Notices to Parties and for Transmission of
                     Documents...............................................32
SECTION 7.04.    Notices to Holders..........................................33
SECTION 7.05.    APPLICABLE LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION..................33
SECTION 7.06.    Persons Having Rights Under Agreement.......................33
SECTION 7.07.    Headings....................................................33
SECTION 7.08.    Counterparts................................................33
SECTION 7.09.    Inspection of Agreement.....................................34
SECTION 7.10.    Availability of Equitable Remedies..........................34
SECTION 7.11.    Obtaining of Governmental Approvals.........................34

EXHIBIT A -      Form of Warrant Certificate.................................A-1
EXHIBIT B -      Form of Legend for Global Warrant...........................B-1
EXHIBIT C -      Certificate To Be Delivered upon

                                     -ii-
<PAGE>

                   Exchange or Registration of Trans-
                     fer of Warrants.........................................C-1
EXHIBIT D -      Form of Transferee Certificate for
                   Institutional Accredited Investors........................D-1
EXHIBIT E -      Form of Transferee Certificate for
                   Regulation S Transfers....................................E-1

                                     -iii-
<PAGE>

                             INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS
                             ----------------------

Defined Term                                                            Section
------------                                                            -------
Affiliate.........................................................      5.01(b)
Agreement.........................................................      Recitals
Business Day......................................................      2.01
Capital Stock.....................................................      5.01(1)
Cashless Exercise.................................................      2.02(c)
Cashless Exercise Ratio...........................................      2.02(c)
Common Stock......................................................      Recitals
Company...........................................................      Recitals
Current Market Value..............................................      5.01(1)
Definitive Warrants...............................................      1.02
Distribution......................................................      5.03
Distribution Rights...............................................      5.03
Election To Exercise..............................................      2.02(b)
Exercisability Date...............................................      2.02(a)
Exercise Date.....................................................      2.02(d)
Exercise Event....................................................      2.02(a)
Exercise Price....................................................      2.02(a)
Exercise Rate.....................................................      2.02(a)
Expiration Date...................................................      2.01
Fundamental Transaction...........................................      5.01(d)
Global Shares.....................................................      2.02(f)
Global Warrants...................................................      1.02
IAI Global Warrant................................................      1.03
Indenture.........................................................      Recitals
Independent Financial Expert......................................      5.01(1)
Initial Public Equity Offering....................................      2.02(a)
Initial Purchasers................................................      Recitals
Notes.............................................................      Recitals
Notice Date.......................................................      2.05(b)
Officers' Certificate.............................................      1.08(d)
144A Global Warrant...............................................      1.03
Person............................................................      2.02(a)
Private Placement Legend..........................................      1.08(g)
Prospectus........................................................      4.02
Registrar.........................................................      1.07
Registration Rights Agreement.....................................      Recitals
Regulation S Global Warrant.......................................      1.03
Related Parties...................................................      6.02(e)

                                     -iv-
<PAGE>

Requisite Warrant Holders.........................................      7.01
Resale Restriction Termination Date...............................      1.08
Securities Act....................................................      1.06
Separability Date.................................................      1.06
Separation........................................................      1.06
Shares............................................................      1.01
Subject Class.....................................................      4.04
Surviving Person..................................................      5.01(d)
Time of Determination.............................................      5.01(1)
Trustee...........................................................      Recitals
Units.............................................................      Recitals
Warrant Agent.....................................................      Recitals
Warrant Agent Office..............................................      1.10
Warrant Certificates..............................................      Recitals
Warrant Exercise Office...........................................      2.02(b)
Warrant Register..................................................      1.07
Warrants..........................................................      Recitals

                                      -v-
<PAGE>

                                WARRANT AGREEMENT

                  WARRANT AGREEMENT, dated as of August 6, 1999 by and between
MATTRESS DISCOUNTERS HOLDING CORPORATION, a Virginia corporation (together with
any successor thereto, "Holdings"), and STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, as
                        --------
warrant agent (with any successor Warrant Agent, the "Warrant Agent").
                                                      -------------

                  WHEREAS, Holdings, Mattress Discounters Corporation (the
"Company") and the guarantors party thereto have entered into a purchase
 -------
agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") dated August 3, 1999 with Chase Securities
                ------------------
Inc. ("CSI"), CIBC World Markets Corp., and BancBoston Robertson Stephens Inc.
(collectively, the "Initial Purchasers") in which the Company and Holdings have
                    ------------------
agreed to sell to the Initial Purchasers 140,000 units (the "Units") consisting
                                                             -----
in the aggregate of (i) $140,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 12 5/8%
Senior Notes due 2007 (the "Notes") of the Company to be issued under an
                            -----
indenture dated as of August 6, 1999 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and
                                           ---------
State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee (in such capacity, the
"Trustee"), and (ii) Warrants (the "Warrants"), each Warrant initially entitling
 -------                            --------
the holder thereof to purchase 4.850 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share of Holdings (the "Class A Common Stock") and 0.539 shares of
                                 --------------------
Class L Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share of Holdings (the "Class L Common
                                                                  --------------
Stock") (collectively, the "Common Stock"), of Holdings. The certificates
-----                       ------------
evidencing the Warrants are herein referred to collectively as the "Warrant
                                                                    -------
Certificates"; and
------------

                  WHEREAS, each Unit will consist of one Note in the principal
amount of $1,000 and one Warrant; the Notes and the Warrants comprising part of
the Units shall not be separately transferable until the Separability Date (as
defined below); and

                  WHEREAS, the holders of the Warrants are entitled to the
benefits of a Common Stock Registration Rights Agreement dated as of August 6,
1999 between Holdings, certain investors in Holdings and the Initial Purchasers
(the "Registration Rights Agreement"); and
      -----------------------------

                  WHEREAS, Holdings desires the Warrant Agent as warrant agent
to assist Holdings in connection with the issuance, exchange, cancellation,
replacement and exercise of the Warrants, and in this Agreement wishes to set
forth, among other things, the terms and conditions on which the Warrants may be
issued, exchanged, cancelled, replaced and exercised;

                  NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
<PAGE>

                                      -2-

                                    ARTICLE I

                     ISSUANCE, FORM, EXECUTION, DELIVERY AND
                      REGISTRATION OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES
                     ---------------------------------------

                  SECTION 1.01. Issuance of Warrants. Warrants comprising part
                                --------------------
of the Units shall be originally issued in connection with the issuance of the
Units and such Warrants shall not be separately transferable from the Notes
until on or after the Separability Date as provided in Section 1.06 hereof.

                  Each Warrant Certificate shall evidence the number of Warrants
specified therein, and each Warrant evidenced thereby shall, when exercisable as
provided herein and therein, represent the right, subject to the provisions
contained herein and therein, to purchase from Holdings (and Holdings shall
issue and sell to the holder of such Warrant upon exercise thereof) 4.850 fully
paid, registered and non-assessable shares of Holdings' Class A Common Stock at
an exercise price of $0.01 per share and 0.539 fully paid, registered and
non-assessable shares of Holdings' Class L Common Stock at an exercise price of
$0.01 per share. The number of Shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant is
subject to adjustment as provided herein and in the Warrant. The shares
purchasable upon exercise of a Warrant are hereinafter referred to as the
"Shares" and, unless the context otherwise requires, such term shall also
 ------
include any other securities or property purchasable and deliverable upon
exercise of a Warrant as provided in Article V, subject to adjustment as
provided herein and in the Warrant.

                  SECTION 1.02. Form of Warrant Certificates. The Warrant
                                ----------------------------
Certificates will initially be issued either in global form as 144A Global
Warrants, IAI Global Warrants or Regulation S Global Warrants (collectively, the
"Global Warrants"), substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, or in
 ---------------                                 ---------
registered form as definitive Warrant Certificates (the "Definitive Warrants")
                                                         -------------------
substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto. Any Global Warrants to
                             ---------
be delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall bear the legend set forth in
Exhibit B attached hereto. Such Global Warrants shall represent such of the
---------
outstanding Warrants as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that
it shall represent the aggregate amount of outstanding Warrants from time to
time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of outstanding Warrants
represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as
appropriate. Any endorsement of a Global Warrant to reflect the amount of any
increase or decrease in the amount of outstanding Warrants represented thereby
shall be made by the Warrant Agent and the Depository (as defined below) in
accordance with instructions given by the holder thereof. The Depository Trust
Company shall act as the Depository with respect to the Global Warrants until a
successor shall be appointed by Holdings and the Warrant Agent. Upon written
request, a holder of record of Warrants may receive from the Warrant Agent or
the Depository Definitive Warrants as set forth in Section 1.08 hereof.

                  "144A Global Warrant" means a permanent global security in
                   -------------------
registered form representing the aggregate principal amount of Warrants sold in
reliance on Rule 144A.
<PAGE>

                                      -3-

                  "IAI Global Warrant" means a permanent global security in
                   ------------------
registered form representing the aggregate principal amount of Warrants sold to
Institutional Accredited Investors.

                  "Regulation S Global Warrant" means a permanent global
                   ---------------------------
security in registered form representing the aggregate principal amount of
Warrants sold in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act.

                  SECTION 1.03. Execution of Warrant Certificates. The Warrant
                                ---------------------------------
Certificates shall be executed on behalf of Holdings by the chairman of its
Board of Directors, its president or any vice president and attested by its
secretary or assistant secretary. Such signatures may be the manual or facsimile
signatures of the present or any future such officers. Typographical and other
minor errors or defects in any such reproduction of any such signature shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of any Warrant Certificate that has been
duly countersigned and delivered by the Warrant Agent.

                  In case any officer of Holdings who shall have signed any of
the Warrant Certificates shall cease to be such officer before the Warrant
Certificate so signed shall be countersigned and delivered by the Warrant Agent
or disposed of by Holdings, such Warrant Certificate nevertheless may be
countersigned and delivered or disposed of as though the person who signed such
Warrant Certificate had not ceased to be such officer of Holdings; and any
Warrant Certificate may be signed on behalf of Holdings by such persons as, at
the actual date of the execution of such Warrant Certificate, shall be the
proper officers of Holdings, although at the date of the execution and delivery
of this Agreement any such person was not such an officer.

                  SECTION 1.04. Authentication and Delivery. Subject to the
                                ---------------------------
immediately following paragraph, Warrant Certificates shall be authenticated by
manual signature and dated the date of authentication by the Warrant Agent and
shall not be valid for any purpose unless so authenticated and dated. The
Warrant Certificates shall be numbered and shall be registered in the Warrant
Register (as defined in Section 1.07 hereof).

                  Upon the receipt by the Warrant Agent of a written order of
Holdings, which order shall be signed by the chairman of its Board of Directors,
its president or any vice president and attested by its secretary or assistant
secretary, and shall specify the amount of Warrants to be authenticated, whether
the Warrants are to be Global Warrants or Definitive Warrants, the date of such
Warrants and such other information as the Warrant Agent may reasonably request,
without any further action by Holdings, the Warrant Agent is authorized, upon
receipt from Holdings at any time and from time to time of the Warrant
Certificates, duly executed as provided in Section 1.03 hereof, to authenticate
the Warrant Certificates and upon the holder's request deliver them. Such
authentication shall be by a duly authorized signatory of the Warrant Agent
(although it shall not be necessary for the same signatory to sign all Warrant
Certificates).

                  In case any authorized signatory of the Warrant Agent who
shall have authenticated any of the Warrant Certificates shall cease to be such
authorized signatory before the Warrant Certificate shall be disposed of by
Holdings or the Warrant Agent, such Warrant Certifi-
<PAGE>

                                      -4-

cate nevertheless may be delivered or disposed of as though the person who
authenticated such Warrant Certificate had not ceased to be such authorized
signatory of the Warrant Agent; and any Warrant Certificate may be authenticated
on behalf of the Warrant Agent by such persons as, at the actual time of
authentication of such Warrant Certificates, shall be the duly authorized
signatories of the Warrant Agent, although at the time of the execution and
delivery of this Agreement any such person is not such an authorized signatory.

                  The Warrant Agent's authentication on all Warrant Certificates
shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto.
                                                ---------

                  SECTION 1.05. Temporary Warrant Certificates. Pending the
                                ------------------------------
preparation of definitive Warrant Certificates, Holdings may execute, and the
Warrant Agent shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Warrant Certificates,
which are printed, lithographed, typewritten or otherwise produced,
substantially of the tenor of the definitive Warrant Certificates in lieu of
which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions,
substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Warrant
Certificates may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Warrant
Certificates.

                  If temporary Warrant Certificates are issued, Holdings will
cause definitive Warrant Certificates to be prepared without unreasonable delay.
After the preparation of definitive Warrant Certificates, the temporary Warrant
Certificates shall be exchangeable for definitive Warrant Certificates upon
surrender of the temporary Warrant Certificates at any office or agency
maintained by Holdings for that purpose pursuant to Section 1.10 hereof. Subject
to the provisions of Section 4.01 hereof, such exchange shall be without charge
to the holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary
Warrant Certificates, Holdings shall execute, and the Warrant Agent shall
authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor, one or more definitive Warrant
Certificates representing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants. Until so
exchanged, the holder of a temporary Warrant Certificate shall in all respects
be entitled to the same benefits under this Agreement as a holder of a
definitive Warrant Certificate.

                  SECTION 1.06. Separation of Warrants and Notes. The Notes and
                                --------------------------------
the Warrants will not be separately transferable until the Separability Date.
"Separability Date" shall mean the earliest to occur of: (1) 180 days after the
 -----------------
Issue Date (as defined in the Indenture); (2) the occurrence of a Change of
Control (as defined in the Indenture); (3) the occurrence of an Event of Default
(as defined in the Indenture); (4) the effectiveness of a registration statement
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") with respect
                                                   --------------
to the Notes or the Exchange Notes (as defined in the Indenture); or (5) such
earlier date as determined by Chase Securities Inc. in its discretion and
specified to Holdings, the Trustee, the Warrant Agent and the Unit Agent in
writing. The surrender of a Unit certificate for separate Warrant certificates
and Note certificates is herein referred to as a "Separation." Holdings shall
                                                  ----------
promptly notify the Warrant Agent of the Separability Date. Following the
Separability Date, no Unit certificates shall be issued.
<PAGE>

                                      -5-

                  SECTION 1.07. Registration. Holdings will keep, at the office
                                ------------
or agency maintained by Holdings for such purpose, a register or registers in
which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, Holdings
shall provide for the registration of, and registration of transfer and exchange
of, Warrants as provided in this Article. Each person designated by Holdings
from time to time as a person authorized to register the transfer and exchange
of the Warrants is hereinafter called, individually and collectively, the
"Registrar." Holdings hereby initially appoints the Warrant Agent as Registrar.
 ---------
Upon written notice to the Warrant Agent and any acting Registrar, Holdings may
appoint a successor Registrar for such purposes.

                  Holdings will at all times designate one person (who may be
Holdings and who need not be a Registrar) to act as repository of a master list
of names and addresses of the holders of Warrants (the "Warrant Register"). The
                                                        ----------------
Warrant Agent will act as such repository unless and until some other person is,
by written notice from Holdings to the Warrant Agent and the Registrar,
designated by Holdings to act as such. Holdings shall cause each Registrar to
furnish to such repository, on a current basis, such information as to all
registrations of transfer and exchanges effected by such Registrar, as may be
necessary to enable such repository to maintain the Warrant Register on as
current a basis as is practicable.

                  SECTION 1.08.     Registration of Transfers or Exchanges.
                                    --------------------------------------

                  (a) Transfer or Exchange of Definitive Warrants. When
                      -------------------------------------------
Definitive Warrants are presented to the Warrant Agent with a request from the
holder:

           (i)    to register the transfer of the Definitive Warrants; or

          (ii)    to exchange such Definitive Warrants for an equal number of
                  Definitive Warrants of other authorized denominations,

the Warrant Agent shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested
if the requirements under this Warrant Agreement as set forth in this Section
1.08 hereof for such transactions are met; provided, however, that the
                                           --------  -------
Definitive Warrants presented or surrendered by a holder for registration of
transfer or exchange:

         (x)      shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction
                  of transfer or exchange in form satisfactory to Holdings and
                  the Warrant Agent, duly executed by such holder or by his
                  attorney, duly authorized in writing; and

         (y)      in the case of Warrants the offer and sale of which have not
                  been registered under the Securities Act and are presented for
                  transfer or exchange prior to (X) the date which is two years
                  (or such shorter period as may be prescribed by Rule 144(k)
                  (or any successor provision thereto)) after the later of the
                  date of original issuance of the Warrants and the last date on
                  which Holdings or any affiliate of Holdings was the owner of
                  such Warrants, or any predecessor thereto, and (Y) such later
                  date, if any, as may be required by any subsequent change in
                  applicable law (the

<PAGE>

                                      -6-

                  "Resale Restriction Termination Date"), such Warrants shall be
                   -----------------------------------
                  accompanied by the following additional information and
                  documents, as applicable:

                  (A)      if such Warrants are being delivered to the Warrant
                           Agent by a holder for registration in the name of
                           such holder, without transfer, a certification from
                           such holder to that effect (in substantially the form
                           of Exhibit C hereto); or
                              ---------

                  (B)      if such Warrants are being transferred to a qualified
                           institutional buyer (as defined in Rule 144A under
                           the Securities Act) (a "QIB") in accordance with Rule
                           144A under the Securities Act, a certification from
                           the transferor to that effect (in substantially the
                           form of Exhibit C hereto); or
                                   ---------

                  (C)      if such Warrants are being transferred to an
                           institutional "accredited investor" within the
                           meaning of subparagraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3) or
                           (a)(7) of Rule 501 under the Securities Act (an
                           "Institutional Accredited Investor"), delivery by the
                           transferor of a certification to that effect (in
                           substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto), and
                                                     ---------
                           delivery by the proposed transferee of a Transferee
                           Certificate for Institutional Accredited Investors
                           (in substantially the form of Exhibit D hereto); or
                                                         ---------

                  (D)      if such Warrants are being transferred in reliance on
                           Regulation S under the Securities Act, delivery by
                           the transferor of a certification to that effect (in
                           substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto), and a
                                                     ---------
                           Certificate for Regulation S Transfers in the form of
                           Exhibit E hereto; or
                           ---------

                  (E)      if such Warrants are being transferred in reliance on
                           Rule 144 under the Securities Act, delivery by the
                           transferor of (i) a certification from the transferor
                           to that effect (in substantially the form of Exhibit
                                                                        -------
                           C hereto), and (ii) an opinion of counsel reasonably
                           -
                           satisfactory to Holdings to the effect that such
                           transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act; or

                  (F)      if such Warrants are being transferred in reliance on
                           another exemption from the registration requirements
                           of the Securities Act, a certification from the
                           transferor to that effect (in substantially the form
                           of Exhibit C hereto) and an opinion of counsel
                              ---------
                           reasonably satisfactory to Holdings to the effect
                           that such transfer is in compliance with the
                           Securities Act; provided that Holdings may, based
                                           --------
                           upon the views of its own counsel, instruct the
                           Warrant Agent not to register such transfer in any
                           case where the proposed transferee is not a QIB,
                           Non-U.S. Person or Institutional Accredited Investor.

                  (b) Restrictions on Transfer of a Definitive Warrant for a
                      ------------------------------------------------------
Beneficial Interest in a Global Warrant. A Definitive Warrant may not be
---------------------------------------
transferred by a holder for a beneficial interest

<PAGE>

                                      -7-

in a Global Warrant except upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth
below. Upon receipt by the Warrant Agent of a Definitive Warrant, duly endorsed
or accompanied by appropriate instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to
the Warrant Agent, together with:

                  (A)      certification from such holder (in substantially the
                           form of Exhibit C hereto) that such Definitive
                                   ---------
                           Warrant is being transferred to (I) a QIB in
                           accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act,
                           (II) to an Accredited Investor or (III) in an
                           offshore transaction in reliance on Regulation S and,
                           with respect to (II) or (III), at the option of
                           Holdings or the Warrant Agent, an Opinion of Counsel
                           reasonably acceptable to Holdings to the effect that
                           such transfer is in compliance with the Securities
                           Act; and

                  (B)      written instructions directing the Warrant Agent to
                           make, or to direct the Depository to make, an
                           endorsement on the applicable Global Warrant to
                           reflect an increase in the aggregate amount of the
                           Warrants represented by the Global Warrant,

then the Warrant Agent shall cancel such Definitive Warrant and cause, or direct
the Depository to cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and
procedures existing between the Depository and the Warrant Agent, the number of
Shares represented by the applicable Global Warrant to be increased accordingly.
If no 144A Global Warrant, IAI Global Warrant or Regulation S Global Warrant is
then outstanding, Holdings shall issue and the Warrant Agent shall upon written
instructions from the Company authenticate a new Global Warrant in the
appropriate amount.

                  (c) Transfer or Exchange of Global Warrants. The transfer or
                      ---------------------------------------
exchange of Global Warrants or beneficial interests therein shall be effected
through the Depository, in accordance with this Section 1.08, the Private
Placement Legend, this Agreement (including the restrictions on transfer set
forth herein) and the procedures of the Depository therefor. Upon receipt by the
Registrar or Co-Registrar of written instructions, or such other instruction as
is customary for the Depository, from the Depository or its nominee, requesting
the registration of transfer of an interest in a 144A Global Warrant, an IAI
Global Warrant or Regulation S Global Warrant, as the case may be, to another
type of Global Warrant, together with the applicable Global Warrants (or, if the
applicable type of Global Warrant required to represent the interest as
requested to be obtained is not then outstanding, only the Global Warrant
representing the interest being transferred), the Registrar or Co-Registrar
shall reflect on its books and records (and the applicable Global Warrant) the
applicable increase and decrease of the principal amount of Warrants represented
by such types of Global Warrants, giving effect to such transfer. If the
applicable type of Global Warrant required to represent the interest as
requested to be obtained is not outstanding at the time of such request,
Holdings shall issue and the Warrant Agent shall, upon written instructions from
Holdings in accordance with Section 1.08, authenticate a new Global Warrant of
such type in principal amount equal to the principal amount of the interest
requested to be transferred.

<PAGE>

                                      -8-

                  (d) Transfer or Exchange of a Beneficial Interest in a Global
                      ---------------------------------------------------------
Warrant for a Definitive Warrant.
--------------------------------

         (i)      Any person having a beneficial interest in a Global Warrant
                  may transfer or exchange such beneficial interest for a
                  Definitive Warrant; provided, however, that prior to the
                                      --------  -------
                  Registration, a transferee that is a QIB or Institutional
                  Accredited Investor may not exchange a beneficial interest in
                  a Global Warrant for a Definitive Warrant until receipt by the
                  Warrant Agent of written instructions or such other form of
                  instructions as is customary for the Depository from the
                  Depository or its nominee on behalf of any person having a
                  beneficial interest in a Global Warrant, including a written
                  order containing registration instructions and, in the case of
                  any such transfer or exchange of a beneficial interest in
                  Warrants the offer and sale of which have not been registered
                  under the Securities Act, the following additional information
                  and documents:

                  (A)      if such beneficial interest is being transferred to
                           the person designated by the Depository as being the
                           beneficial owner, a certification from such person to
                           that effect (in substantially the form of Exhibit C
                                                                     ---------
                           hereto); or

                  (B)      if such beneficial interest is being transferred in
                           reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act,
                           delivery by the transferor of (i) a certification to
                           that effect (in substantially the form of Exhibit C
                                                                     ---------
                           hereto), and (ii) a Certificate for Regulation S
                           Transfers in the form of Exhibit E hereto; or
                                                    ---------
                  (C)      if such beneficial interest is being transferred in
                           reliance on Rule 144 under the Securities Act,
                           delivery by the transferor of (i) a certification to
                           that effect (in substantially the form of Exhibit C
                                                                     ---------
                           hereto) and (ii) an opinion of counsel reasonably
                           satisfactory to Holdings to the effect that such
                           transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act; or

                  (D)      if such beneficial interest is being transferred in
                           reliance on another exemption from the registration
                           requirements of the Securities Act, a certification
                           from the transferor to that effect (in substantially
                           the form of Exhibit C hereto) and an opinion of
                                       ---------
                           counsel reasonably satisfactory to Holdings to the
                           effect that such transfer is in compliance with the
                           Securities Act; provided that Holdings may instruct
                                           --------
                           the Warrant Agent not to register such transfer in
                           any case where the proposed transferee is not a QIB,
                           Non-U.S. Person or Institutional Accredited Investor.

                  then the Warrant Agent will cause, in accordance with the
                  standing instructions and procedures existing between the
                  Depository and the Warrant Agent, the aggregate amount of the
                  Global Warrant to be reduced and, following such reduction,
                  Holdings will execute and, upon receipt of an authentication
                  order in the form of an officers' certificate (a certificate
                  signed by two officers of such

<PAGE>

                                      -9-

                  company, one of whom must be the principal executive officer,
                  principal financial officer or principal accounting officer)
                  (an "Officers' Certificate"), the Warrant Agent will
                       ---------------------
                  authenticate and deliver to the transferee a Definitive
                  Warrant. The Warrant Agent shall not be deemed to have
                  knowledge of any registration under the Securities Act unless
                  it receives an Officers' Certificate specifying such
                  registration.

          (ii)    Definitive Warrants issued in exchange for a beneficial
                  interest in a Global Warrant pursuant to this Section 1.08(d)
                  shall be registered in such names and in such authorized
                  denominations as the Depository, shall instruct the Warrant
                  Agent in writing. The Warrant Agent shall deliver such
                  Definitive Warrants to the persons in whose names such
                  Warrants are so registered and adjust the Global Warrant
                  pursuant to paragraph (h) of this Section 1.08.

                  (e) Restrictions on Transfer or Exchange of Global Warrants.
                      -------------------------------------------------------
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement (other than the
provisions set forth in subsection (f) of this Section 1.08), a Global Warrant
may not be transferred or exchanged as a whole except by the Depository to a
nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or
another nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a
successor Depository or a nominee of such successor Depository.

                  (f) Authentication of Definitive Warrants in Absence of
                      ---------------------------------------------------
Depository. If at any time:
----------
           (i)    the Depository for the Global Warrants notifies Holdings and
                  the Warrant Agent that the Depository is unwilling or unable
                  to continue as Depository for the Global Warrants and a
                  successor Depository for the Global Warrants is not appointed
                  by Holdings within 90 days after delivery of such notice; or

          (ii)    Holdings, at its sole discretion, notifies the Warrant Agent
                  in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of Definitive
                  Warrants for all Global Warrants under this Agreement,

then Holdings will execute, and the Warrant Agent will, upon receipt of an
Officers' Certificate requesting the authentication and delivery of Definitive
Warrants, authenticate and deliver Definitive Warrants, in an aggregate number
equal to the aggregate number of warrants represented by the Global Warrant, in
exchange for such Global Warrant.

                  (g) Private Placement Legend. Upon the registration of
                      ------------------------
transfer, exchange or replacement of Warrant Certificates not bearing the legend
set forth in the first paragraph of Exhibit A attached hereto (the "Private
                                    ---------                       -------
Placement Legend"), the Warrant Agent shall deliver Warrant Certificates that do
----------------
not bear the Private Placement Legend. Upon the registration of transfer,
exchange or replacement of Warrant Certificates bearing the Private Placement
Legend, the Warrant Agent shall deliver Warrant Certificates that bear the
Private Placement Legend un-

<PAGE>

                                     -10-

less, and the Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to deliver Warrant Certificates
without the Private Placement Legend if, (i) the requested transfer is not prior
to the date which is two years (or such shorter period as may be prescribed by
Rule 144(k) (or any successor provision thereto) under the Securities Act or any
successor provision thereunder) after the later of the original Issue Date of
the Warrants or the last day on which Holdings or any of its Affiliates was the
owner of the Warrant or any predecessor security, (ii) there is delivered to the
Warrant Agent an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to Holdings and the
Warrant Agent to the effect that neither such legend nor the related
restrictions on transfer are required in order to maintain compliance with the
provisions of the Securities Act or (iii) the Warrants to be transferred or
exchanged represented by such Warrant Certificates are being transferred or
exchanged pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities
Act.

                  (h) Cancellation or Adjustment of a Global Warrant. At such
                      ----------------------------------------------
time as all beneficial interests in a Global Warrant have either been exchanged
for Definitive Warrants, redeemed, repurchased or cancelled, such Global Warrant
shall be returned to Holdings or, upon written order to the Warrant Agent in the
form of an Officers' Certificate from Holdings, retained and cancelled by the
Warrant Agent. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial
interest in a Global Warrant is exchanged for Definitive Warrants, redeemed,
repurchased or cancelled, the number of Warrants represented by such Global
Warrant shall be reduced and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Warrant
by the Warrant Agent to reflect such reduction.

                  (i)  Obligations with Respect to Transfers or Exchanges of
                       -----------------------------------------------------
                       Definitive Warrants.
                       -------------------

           (i)    To permit registrations of transfers or exchanges, Holdings
                  shall execute, at the Warrant Agent's request, and the Warrant
                  Agent shall authenticate Definitive Warrants and Global
                  Warrants.

          (ii)    All Definitive Warrants and Global Warrants issued upon any
                  registration, transfer or exchange of Definitive Warrants or
                  Global Warrants shall be the valid obligations of Holdings,
                  entitled to the same benefits under this Warrant Agreement as
                  the Definitive Warrants or Global Warrants surrendered upon
                  the registration of transfer or exchange.

         (iii)    Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any
                  Warrant, the Warrant Agent and Holdings may deem and treat the
                  person in whose name any Warrant is registered as the absolute
                  owner of such Warrant, and neither the Warrant Agent nor
                  Holdings shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

                  "Depository" means, with respect to the Warrants issued in the
                   ----------
form of one or more Global Securities, The Depository Trust Company or another
Person designated as Depository by Holdings, which must be a clearing agency
registered under the Exchange Act.

                  SECTION 1.09. Lost, Stolen, Destroyed, Defaced or Mutilated
                                ---------------------------------------------
Warrant Certificates. Upon receipt by Holdings and the Warrant Agent (or any
--------------------
agent of Holdings or the
<PAGE>

                                     -11-

Warrant Agent, if requested by Holdings) of evidence satisfactory to them of the
loss, theft, destruction, defacement, or mutilation of any Warrant Certificate
and of an indemnity bond satisfactory to them and, in the case of mutilation or
defacement, upon surrender thereof to the Warrant Agent for cancellation, then,
in the absence of notice to Holdings or the Warrant Agent that such Warrant
Certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser or holder in due course,
                                   ---- ----
Holdings shall execute, and an authorized signatory of the Warrant Agent shall
manually authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of the lost,
stolen, destroyed, defaced or mutilated Warrant Certificate, a new Warrant
Certificate representing a like number of Warrants, bearing a number or other
distinguishing symbol not contemporaneously outstanding. Upon the issuance of
any new Warrant Certificate under this Section in a name other than the prior
registered holder of the lost, stolen, destroyed, defaced or mutilated Warrant
Certificate, Holdings may require the payment from the holder of such Warrant
Certificate of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, stamp tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other
expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Warrant Agent and the
Registrar) in connection therewith. Every substitute Warrant Certificate
executed and delivered pursuant to this Section in lieu of any lost, stolen or
destroyed Warrant Certificate shall constitute an additional contractual
obligation of Holdings, whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Warrant
Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to
the benefits of (but shall be subject to all the limitations of rights set forth
in) this Agreement equally and proportionately with any and all other Warrant
Certificates duly executed and delivered hereunder. The provisions of this
Section 1.09 are exclusive with respect to the replacement of lost, stolen,
destroyed, defaced or mutilated Warrant Certificates and shall preclude (to the
extent lawful) any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or
statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the
replacement of lost, stolen, destroyed, defaced or mutilated Warrant
Certificates.

                  The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to authenticate in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, and deliver the new Warrant
Certificates required pursuant to the provisions of this Section.

                  SECTION 1.10. Offices for Exercise, etc. So long as any of the
                                -------------------------
Warrants remain outstanding, Holdings will designate and maintain in the Borough
of Manhattan, The City of New York: (a) an office or agency where the Warrant
Certificates may be presented for exercise, (b) an office or agency where the
Warrant Certificates may be presented for registration of transfer and for
exchange (including the exchange of temporary Warrant Certificates for
definitive Warrant Certificates pursuant to Section 1.05 hereof), and (c) an
office or agency where notices and demands to or upon Holdings in respect of the
Warrants or of this Agreement may be served. Holdings may from time to time
change or rescind such designation, as it may deem desirable or expedient;
provided, however, that an office or agency shall at all times be maintained in
--------  -------
the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, as provided in the first
sentence of this Section. In addition to such office or offices or agency or
agencies, Holdings may from time to time designate and maintain one or more
additional offices or agencies within or outside The City of New York, where
Warrant Certificates may be presented for exercise or for registration of
transfer or for exchange, and Holdings may from time to time change or rescind
such designa-
<PAGE>

                                     -12-

tion, as it may deem desirable or expedient. Holdings will give to the Warrant
Agent written notice of the location of any such office or agency and of any
change of location thereof. Holdings hereby designates the Warrant Agent at its
corporate trust office identified at 61 Broadway, 15th Floor, New York, New York
10006 (the "Warrant Agent Office"), as the initial agency maintained for each
            --------------------
such purpose. In case Holdings shall fail to maintain any such office or agency
or shall fail to give such notice of the location or of any change in the
location thereof, presentations and demands may be made and notice may be served
at the Warrant Agent Office and Holdings appoints the Warrant Agent as its agent
to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

                  SECTION 1.11. Book-Entry Provisions for Global Warrants. (a)
                                -----------------------------------------
The Global Warrants initially shall (i) be registered in the name of the
Depository or the nominee of such Depository, (ii) be delivered to the Warrant
Agent as custodian for such Depository and (iii) bear legends as set forth in
Exhibit B.
---------
                  Members of, or participants in, the Depository
("Participants") shall have no rights under this Warrant Agreement with respect
  ------------
to any Global Warrant held on their behalf by the Depository, or the Warrant
Agent as its custodian, or under the Global Warrant, and the Depository may be
treated by Holdings, the Warrant Agent and any agent of Holdings or the Warrant
Agent as the absolute owner of the Global Warrant for all purposes whatsoever.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent Holdings, the
Warrant Agent or any agent of Holdings or the Warrant Agent from giving effect
to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the
Depository or impair, as between the Depository and Participants, the operation
of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a beneficial
owner in a Global Warrant.

                  (b) Transfers of Global Warrants shall be limited to transfers
in whole, but not in part, to the Depository, its successors or their respective
nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in the Global Warrants may be
transferred or exchanged for Definitive Warrants in accordance with the rules
and procedures of the Depository and the provisions of Section 1.08; provided,
                                                                     --------
however, that Definitive Warrants shall be transferred to all beneficial owners
-------
in exchange for their beneficial interests in Global Warrants if (i) the
Depository notifies Holdings that it is unwilling or unable to continue as
Depository for any Global Warrant and a successor Depository is not appointed by
Holdings within 90 days of such notice, (ii) Holdings, at its option, notifies
the Warrant Agent in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of the
Warrants as Definitive Warrants or (iii) an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing and the Registrar has received a request from the Depository to issue
Definitive Warrants.

                  (c) In connection with any transfer or exchange of a portion
of the beneficial interest in a Global Warrant to beneficial owners pursuant to
paragraph (b), the Registrar shall (if one or more Definitive Warrants are to be
issued) reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the
principal amount of such Global Warrant in an amount equal to the principal
amount of the beneficial interest in the Global Warrant to be transferred, and
Holdings shall exe-
<PAGE>

                                     -13-

cute, and the Warrant Agent shall authenticate and deliver, one or more
Definitive Warrants of like tenor and amount.

                  (d) In connection with the transfer of Global Warrants as an
entirety to beneficial owners pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 1.11,
the Global Warrants shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Warrant Agent for
cancellation, and Holdings shall execute, and the Warrant Agent shall upon
written instructions from Holdings authenticate and deliver, to each beneficial
owner identified by the Depository in exchange for its beneficial interest in
the Global Warrants, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Warrants
of authorized denominations.

                  (e) Any Definitive Warrants constituting a Restricted Security
delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Security pursuant to paragraph
(c) of this Section 1.11 shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 1.08,
bear the Private Placement Legend.

                  (f) The Holder of any Global Warrant may grant proxies and
otherwise authorize any Person, including Participants and Persons that may hold
interests through Participants, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to
take under this Warrant Agreement or the Warrants and the Warrant Agent is
entitled to rely upon any electronic instructions from beneficial owners to the
Holder of any Global Warrant.

                                   ARTICLE II

                 DURATION, EXERCISE OF WARRANTS; EXERCISE PRICE
                           AND REPURCHASE OF WARRANTS
                    ---------------------------------------

                  SECTION 2.01. Duration of Warrants. Subject to the terms and
                                --------------------
conditions established herein, the Warrants shall expire at 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on July 15, 2007. The applicable date of expiration of a particular
Warrant is referred to herein as the "Expiration Date" of such Warrant. Each
                                      ---------------
Warrant may be exercised on any Business Day (as defined below) on or after the
Exercisability Date (as defined in Section 2.02) and on or prior to the close of
business on the Expiration Date.

                  Any Warrant not exercised before the close of business on the
Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights of the holder under the
Warrant Certificate evidencing such Warrant and under this Agreement shall
cease.

                  "Business Day" shall mean any day on which (i) banks in New
                   ------------
York City, Hartford, Connecticut and Boston, Massachusetts (ii) the principal
U.S. securities exchange or market, if any, on which any Common Stock is listed
or admitted to trading and (iii) the principal U.S. securities exchange or
market, if any, on which the Warrants are listed or admitted to trading are open
for business.

                  SECTION 2.02. Exercise, Exercise Price, Settlement and
                                ----------------------------------------
Delivery. (a) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, a holder of a Warrant
--------
shall have the right to pur-
<PAGE>

                                     -14-

chase from Holdings on or after the Exercisability Date and on or prior to the
close of business on the Expiration Date the number of fully paid, registered
and non-assessable shares of Common Stock specified in Section 1.01, subject to
adjustment in accordance with Article V hereof, at the purchase price of $0.01
for each share purchased (the "Exercise Price"). The number of Shares for which
                               --------------
a particular Warrant may be exercised (the "Exercise Rate") shall be subject to
                                            -------------
adjustment from time to time as set forth in Article V hereof.

                  "Exercisability Date" means, with respect to each Warrant, the
                   -------------------
date as of which both of the following shall have occurred (whether before or on
such date): (i) the Separability Date and (ii) an Exercise Event.

                  "Exercise Event" means, with respect to each Warrant, the date
                   --------------
of the occurrence of the earliest of: (1) an Initial Public Equity Offering, (2)
a class of equity securities of Holdings is listed on a United States national
securities exchange or authorized for quotation on the Nasdaq National Market or
is otherwise subject to registration under the Exchange Act or (3) the
Separability Date. Holdings will promptly notify the Warrant Agent of an
Exercise Event.

                  "Initial Public Equity Offering" means a primary public
                   ------------------------------
offering (whether or not underwritten, but excluding any offering pursuant to
Form S-8 under the Securities Act or any other publicly registered offering
pursuant to the Securities Act pertaining to an issuance of shares of capital
stock of Holdings or securities exercisable therefor under any benefit plan,
employee compensation plan, or employee or director stock purchase plan) of
common stock of Holdings pursuant to an effective registration statement under
the Securities Act in which Holdings' receives aggregate gross proceeds of at
least $30.0 million.

                  "Registrable Securities" means any of (i) the Common Stock
                   ----------------------
issued and issuable upon exercise of the Warrants and (ii) any other securities
issued or issuable with respect to the Warrants or Warrant Shares by way of
stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares,
recapitalization, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise. As to any
particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable
Securities when (a) a registration statement with respect to the offering of
such securities by the holder thereof shall have been declared effective under
the Securities Act and such securities shall have been disposed of by such
holder pursuant to such registration statement, (b) such securities have been
sold to the public pursuant to, or are eligible for sale to the public without
volume or manner of sale restrictions under, Rule 144(k) (or any similar
provision then in force, but not Rule 144A) promulgated under the Securities
Act, (c) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred and new
certificates for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further
transfer shall have been delivered by Holdings or its transfer agent and
subsequent disposition of such securities shall not require registration or
qualification under the Securities Act or any similar state law then in force or
(d) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding.

                  "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership,
                   ------
limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company,
trust, unincorporated organization,
<PAGE>

                                     -15-

government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity,
including any predecessor of any such entity.

                  (b) Warrants may be exercised on or after the date they are
exercisable hereunder by (i) surrendering at any office or agency maintained for
that purpose by Holdings pursuant to Section 1.10 (each a "Warrant Exercise
                                                           ----------------
Office") the Warrant Certificate evidencing such Warrants with the form of
------
election to exercise Shares set forth on the reverse side of the Warrant
Certificate (the "Election to Exercise") duly completed and signed by the
                  --------------------
registered holder or holders thereof or by the duly appointed legal
representative thereof or by a duly authorized attorney, and in the case of a
transfer, such signature shall be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor
institution, and (ii) paying in full the Exercise Price for each such Warrant
exercised. Each Warrant may be exercised only in whole. No exercise of Warrants
may be effected which does not call for the issuance of a number of shares of
Class A Common Stock and a number of shares of Class L Common Stock in direct
proportion (subject only to rounding with respect to fractional shares) to the
aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock and the aggregate number of
shares of Class L Common Stock then issuable upon exercise of the Warrants
evidenced by the relevant Warrant Certificate.

                  (c) Simultaneously with the exercise of each Warrant, payment
in full of the aggregate Exercise Price may be made, at the option of the
holder, (i) by wire transfer or by certified check, (ii) by the surrender (which
surrender shall be evidenced by cancellation of the number of Warrants
represented by any Warrant Certificate presented in connection with a Cashless
Exercise) of a Warrant or Warrants (represented by one or more Warrant
Certificates), and without payment of the Exercise Price in cash, for such
number of Shares equal to the product of (1) the number of Shares for which such
Warrant is exercisable with payment in cash of the aggregate Exercise Price as
of the date of exercise and (2) the Cashless Exercise Ratio or (iii) with any
combination of (i) and (ii). For purposes of this Agreement, the "Cashless
                                                                  --------
Exercise Ratio" shall equal a fraction, the numerator of which is the excess of
--------------
the Current Market Value per share of the Common Stock on the date of exercise
over the Exercise Price per share as of the date of exercise and the denominator
of which is the Current Market Value per share of the Common Stock on the date
of exercise. An exercise of a Warrant in accordance with the immediately
preceding sentences is herein called a "Cashless Exercise." Upon surrender of a
                                        -----------------
Warrant Certificate representing more than one Warrant in connection with the
holder's option to elect a Cashless Exercise, the number of Shares deliverable
upon a Cashless Exercise shall be equal to the Cashless Exercise Ratio
multiplied by the product of (a) the number of Warrants that the holder
specifies is to be exercised pursuant to a Cashless Exercise and (b) the number
of Shares for which such Warrant is then exercisable (without giving effect to
the Cashless Exercise option). All provisions of this Agreement shall be
applicable with respect to an exercise of a Warrant Certificate pursuant to a
Cashless Exercise for less than the full number of Warrants represented thereby.
No payment or adjustment shall be made on account of any dividends on the Shares
issued upon exercise of a Warrant. If Holdings has not effected the registration
under the Securities Act of the offer and sale of the Shares by Holdings to the
holders of the Warrants upon the exercise thereof, Holdings may elect to require
that holders of the Warrants effect the
<PAGE>

                                     -16-

exercise of the Warrants solely pursuant to the Cashless Exercise option and may
also amend the Warrants to eliminate the requirement for payment of the Exercise
Price with respect such Cashless Exercise option. The Warrant Agent shall have
no obligation under this section to calculate the Cashless Exercise Ratio.
Holdings shall calculate the Exercise Price and the Cashless Exercise Ratio
whenever such calculation is necessary and shall deliver an Officers'
Certificate to the Warrant Agent specifying such numbers.

                  (d) Upon such surrender of a Warrant Certificate and payment
and collection of the Exercise Price at any Warrant Exercise Office (other than
any Warrant Exercise Office that also is an office of the Warrant Agent), such
Warrant Certificate and payment shall be promptly delivered to the Warrant
Agent. The "Exercise Date" for a Warrant shall be the date when all of the items
            -------------
referred to in the first sentence of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section 2.02
are received by the Warrant Agent at or prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time,
on a Business Day and the exercise of the Warrants will be effective as of such
Exercise Date. If any items referred to in the first sentence of paragraphs (b)
and (c) are received after 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on a Business Day,
the exercise of the Warrants to which such item relates will be effective on the
next succeeding Business Day. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an
exercise of Warrants on the Expiration Date, if all of the items referred to in
the first sentence of paragraphs (b) and (c) are received by the Warrant Agent
at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date, the
exercise of the Warrants to which such items relate will be effective on the
Expiration Date.

                  (e) Upon the exercise of a Warrant in accordance with the
terms hereof, the receipt of a Warrant Certificate and payment of the Exercise
Price (or election of the Cashless Exercise option), the Warrant Agent shall:
(i) except to the extent exercise of the Warrant has been effected through
Cashless Exercise, cause an amount equal to the aggregate Exercise Price to be
paid to Holdings by crediting the same to the account designated by Holdings in
writing to the Warrant Agent for that purpose; (ii) advise Holdings immediately
by telephone of the amount so deposited to Holdings' account and promptly
confirm such telephonic advice in writing; and (iii) as soon as practicable,
advise Holdings in writing of the number of Warrants exercised in accordance
with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Warrant Certificates,
the instructions of each exercising holder of the Warrant Certificates with
respect to delivery of the Shares to which such holder is entitled upon such
exercise, and such other information as Holdings shall reasonably request.

                  (f) Subject to Section 5.02 hereof, as soon as practicable
after the exercise of any Warrant or Warrants in accordance with the terms
hereof, Holdings shall issue or cause to be issued to or upon the written order
of the registered holder of the Warrant Certificate evidencing such exercised
Warrant or Warrants, a certificate or certificates evidencing the Shares to
which such holder is entitled, in fully registered form, registered in such name
or names as may be directed by such holder pursuant to the Election to Exercise,
as set forth on the reverse of the Warrant Certificate. Such certificate or
certificates evidencing the Shares shall be deemed to have been issued and any
persons who are designated to be named therein shall be deemed to
<PAGE>

                                     -17-

have become the holder of record of such Shares as of the close of business on
the Exercise Date; the Shares may initially be issued in global form (the
"Global Shares"). Such Global Shares shall represent such of the outstanding
 -------------
Shares as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall
represent the aggregate amount of outstanding Shares from time to time endorsed
thereon and that the aggregate amount of outstanding Shares represented thereby
may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate. Any endorsement
of a Global Share to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the
amount of outstanding Shares represented thereby shall be made by the registrar
for the Shares and the Depository (referred to below) in accordance with
instructions given by the holder thereof. The Depository Trust Company shall (if
possible) act as the Depository with respect to the Global Shares until a
successor shall be appointed by Holdings and the registrar for the Shares. After
such exercise of any Warrant or Shares, Holdings shall also issue or cause to be
issued to or upon the written order of the registered holder of such Warrant
Certificate, a new Warrant Certificate, countersigned by the Warrant Agent
pursuant to written instruction, evidencing the number of Warrants, if any,
remaining unexercised unless such Warrants shall have expired.

                  SECTION 2.03. Cancellation of Warrant Certificates. In the
                                ------------------------------------
event Holdings shall purchase or otherwise acquire Warrants, the Warrant
Certificates evidencing such Warrants may thereupon be delivered to the Warrant
Agent, and if so delivered, shall at Holdings' written instruction be canceled
by it and retired. The Warrant Agent shall cancel all Warrant Certificates
properly surrendered for exchange, substitution, transfer or exercise in
accordance with its customary procedures.

                  SECTION 2.04. Notice of an Exercise Event. Holdings shall, as
                                ---------------------------
soon as practicable after the occurrence of an Exercise Event, send or cause to
be sent to each holder of Warrants, by first-class mail, at the addresses
appearing on the Warrant Register, a notice prepared by Holdings advising such
holder of the Exercise Event which has occurred, which notice shall describe the
type of Exercise Event and the date of the occurrence thereof, as applicable,
and the date of expiration of the right to exercise the Warrants prominently set
forth in the face of such notice. Holdings agrees to make available the
foregoing right notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary.

                                   ARTICLE III

                          OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO
                          RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF WARRANTS
                          -----------------------------

                  SECTION 3.01. Enforcement of Rights. (a) Notwithstanding any
                                ---------------------
of the provisions of this Agreement, any holder of any Warrant Certificate,
without the consent of the Warrant Agent, the holder of any Shares or the holder
of any other Warrant Certificate, may, in and for his own behalf, enforce, and
may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against Holdings
suitable to enforce, his right to exercise the Warrant or Warrants evidenced by
his Warrant Certificate in the manner provided in such Warrant Certificate and
in this Agreement.
<PAGE>

                                     -18-

          (b) Neither the Warrants nor any Warrant Certificate shall entitle the
holders thereof to any of the rights of a holder of Shares, including, without
limitation, the right to vote or to receive any dividends or other payments or
to consent or to receive notice as stockholders in respect of the meetings of
stockholders or for the election of directors of Holdings or any other matter,
or any rights whatsoever as stockholders of Holdings, except as expressly
provided herein (including Section 5.03 hereof).

                                  ARTICLE IV

                       CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
                       --------------------------------

          SECTION 4.01. Payment of Taxes. Holdings will pay all documentary
                        ----------------
stamp taxes attributable to the initial issuance of Warrants and of the Shares
upon the exercise of Warrants; provided, however, that Holdings shall not be
                               --------  -------
required to pay any tax or other governmental charge which may be payable in
respect of any transfer or exchange of any Warrant Certificates or any
certificates for Shares in a name other than the registered holder of a Warrant
Certificate surrendered upon the exercise of a Warrant. In any such case, no
transfer or exchange shall be made unless or until the person or persons
requesting issuance thereof shall have paid to Holdings the amount of such tax
or other governmental charge or shall have established to the satisfaction of
Holdings that such tax or other governmental charge has been paid or an
exemption is available therefrom.

          SECTION 4.02. Rules 144 and 144A. Holdings covenants that it will file
                        ------------------
the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange
Commission thereunder in a timely manner in accordance with the requirements of
the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and, if at any time Holdings is not
required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any holder or
beneficial owner of Warrants, make available such information necessary to
permit sales pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

          SECTION 4.03. Form of Initial Public Equity Offering. Holdings agrees
                        --------------------------------------
that it will not make an Initial Public Equity Offering of any class of its
Capital Stock (other than the class to which the Shares belong) without amending
the terms of Holdings' certificate of incorporation to provide that the Shares
are convertible into the class of Capital Stock subject to the Initial Public
Equity Offering (the "Subject Class") on a share-for-share basis and that the
                      -------------
rights, conditions and privileges of the Subject Class shall not be adverse to
the holders of the Shares.

          SECTION 4.04. Registration of Shares. Holdings agrees that it will
                        ----------------------
comply with all applicable laws, including the Securities Act and any applicable
state securities laws, in connection with any offer and sale of Common Stock
(and other securities and property deliverable) upon exercise of the Warrants.
<PAGE>

                                     -19-

                                   ARTICLE V

                                  ADJUSTMENTS
                                  -----------

          SECTION 5.01. Adjustment of Exercise Rate; Notices. The Exercise Rate
                        ------------------------------------
is subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section.

          (a)  Adjustment for Change in Capital Stock. If, after the date
               --------------------------------------
hereof, Holdings:

          (i)    pays a dividend or makes a distribution on any of its Common
     Stock in shares of any of its Common Stock (other than any such dividend to
     the extent covered by Section 5.03);

          (ii)   subdivides any of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a
     greater number of shares;

          (iii)  combines any of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a
     smaller number of shares;

          (iv)   pays a dividend or makes a distribution on any of its Common
     Stock in shares of any of its Capital Stock (as defined below) (other than
     Common Stock or rights, warrants, or options for its Common Stock to the
     extent such issuance or distribution is covered by Section 5.03); or

          (v)    issues by reclassification of any of its Common Stock any
     shares of any of its Capital Stock;

then the Exercise Rate in effect immediately prior to such action for each
Warrant then outstanding shall be adjusted so that the holder of a Warrant
thereafter exercised may receive the number of shares of Capital Stock of
Holdings which such holder would have owned immediately following such action if
such holder had exercised the Warrant immediately prior to such action or
immediately prior to the record date applicable thereto, if any (regardless of
whether the Warrants then outstanding are then exercisable and without giving
effect to the Cashless Exercise option). If there are no outstanding shares of
Common Stock that are of the same class as the Shares at the time of any such
action and such action has therefore been taken only in respect of the Shares,
the adjustment shall relate to the Shares in their same form if it would not
frustrate the intent and purposes of this Section 5.01.

          The adjustment shall become effective immediately after the record
date in the case of a dividend or distribution and immediately after the
effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or reclassification. In
the event that such dividend or distribution is not so paid or made or such
subdivision, combination or reclassification is not effected, the Exercise Rate
shall again be adjusted to be the Exercise Rate which would then be in effect if
such record date or effective date had not been so fixed.
<PAGE>

                                     -20-

          If after an adjustment a holder of a Warrant upon exercise of such
Warrant may receive shares of two or more classes of Capital Stock of Holdings,
the Exercise Rate shall thereafter be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence
of an action taken with respect to any such class of Capital Stock as is
contemplated by this Article V with respect to the Common Stock, on terms
comparable to those applicable to Common Stock in this Article V.

          (b) Adjustment for Sale of Common Stock Below Current Market Value.
              --------------------------------------------------------------
If, after the date hereof, Holdings grants or sells to any Affiliate of Holdings
(other than a wholly-owned subsidiary) any Common Stock or any securities
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any Common Stock at a price
below the then Current Market Value (other than (1) pursuant to the exercise of
the Warrants, (2) pursuant to any security convertible into, or exchangeable or
exercisable for shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the date of this
Agreement, (3) upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of any convertible,
exchangeable or exercisable security as to which upon the issuance thereof an
adjustment pursuant to this Article V has been made and (4) upon the conversion,
exchange or exercise of convertible, exchangeable or exercisable securities of
Holdings outstanding on the date of this Agreement (to the extent in accordance
with the terms of such securities as in effect on the date of this Agreement),
the Exercise Rate for each Warrant then outstanding shall be adjusted in
accordance with the formula:

                          E' =  E x     (O + N)
                                   -------------------
                                     (O + (N x P/M))

where:

E'   =    the adjusted Exercise Rate for such class of Common Stock;

E    =    the then current Exercise Rate for such class of Common Stock;

O    =    the number of shares of such class of Common Stock outstanding on a
          fully diluted basis (disregarding for this purpose the convertibility
          of shares of Class L Common Stock into Class A Common Stock)
          immediately prior to the sale of Common Stock or issuance of
          securities convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock;

N    =    the number of shares of such class of Common Stock so sold or the
          maximum stated number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
          conversion, exchange or exercise of any such convertible, exchangeable
          or exercisable securities, as the case may be (disregarding for this
          purpose the convertibility of shares of Class L Common Stock into
          Class A Common Stock);

P    =    the proceeds per share of Common Stock received by Holdings, which (i)
          in the case of shares of Common Stock is the amount received by
          Holdings in consideration for the sale and issuance of such shares;
          and (ii) in the case of securities convertible into or exchangeable or
          exercisable for shares of Common Stock is the
<PAGE>

                                     -21-

          amount received by Holdings in consideration for the sale and issuance
          of such convertible or exchangeable or exercisable securities, plus
          the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration, other than
          the surrender of such convertible or exchangeable securities, payable
          to the Company upon exercise, conversion or exchange thereof; and

M    =    the Current Market Value as of the Time of Determination or at the
          time of sale, as the case may be.

          The adjustment shall become effective immediately after the record
date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive the rights,
warrants or options to which this paragraph (b) applies or upon consummation of
the sale of Common Stock, as the case may be. To the extent that shares of
Common Stock are not delivered after the expiration of such rights or warrants,
the Exercise Rate for each Warrant then outstanding shall be readjusted to the
Exercise Rate which would otherwise be in effect had the adjustment made upon
the issuance of such rights or warrants been made on the basis of delivery of
only the number of shares of Common Stock actually delivered. In the event that
such rights or warrants are not so issued, the Exercise Rate for each Warrant
then outstanding shall again be adjusted to be the Exercise Rate which would
then be in effect if such date fixed for determination of stockholders entitled
to receive such rights or warrants had not been so fixed.

          No adjustment shall be made under this paragraph (b) if the
application of the formula stated above in this paragraph (b) would result in a
value of E' that is lower than the value of E.

          No adjustment in the Exercise Rate shall be made under this paragraph
(b) upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of options to acquire shares of
Common Stock by officers, directors or employees of Holdings; provided that the
                                                              --------
exercise price of such options, at the time of issuance thereof, is at least
equal to the then Current Market Value of the Common Stock underlying such
options.

          "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person which,
           ---------
directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under direct or
indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this
definition, "control" (including, with correlative meanings, the terms
             -------
"controlling," "controlled by" and "under common control with") when used with
 -----------    -------------       -------------------------
respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of
such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise.

          (c) Notice of Adjustment. Whenever the Exercise Rate is adjusted,
              --------------------
Holdings shall promptly mail to holders of Warrants then outstanding at the
addresses appearing on the Warrant Register a notice of the adjustment. Holdings
shall file with the Warrant Agent and any other Registrar such notice and a
certificate from Holdings' independent public accountants briefly stating the
facts requiring the adjustment and the manner of computing it. The certificate
<PAGE>

                                     -22-

shall be conclusive evidence that the adjustment is correct. Neither the Warrant
Agent nor any such Registrar shall be under any duty or responsibility with
respect to any such certificate except to exhibit the same during normal
business hours to any holder desiring inspection thereof.

          (d) Reorganization of Company; Special Distributions. (i) If Holdings,
              ------------------------------------------------
in a single transaction or through a series of related transactions, merges,
consolidates or amalgamates with or into any other person or sells, assigns,
transfers, leases, conveys or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of
its properties and assets to another person or group of affiliated persons or is
a party to a merger or binding share exchange which reclassifies or changes its
outstanding Common Stock (a "Fundamental Transaction"), as a condition to
                             -----------------------
consummating any such transaction the person formed by or surviving any such
consolidation or merger if other than Holdings or the person to whom such
transfer has been made (the "Surviving Person") shall enter into a supplemental
                             ----------------
warrant agreement. The supplemental warrant agreement shall provide (a) that the
holder of a Warrant then outstanding may exercise it for the kind and amount of
securities, cash or other assets which such holder would have received
immediately after the Fundamental Transaction if such holder had exercised the
Warrant immediately before the effective date of the transaction (regardless of
whether the Warrants are then exercisable and without giving effect to the
Cashless Exercise option, assuming (to the extent applicable) that such holder
(i) was not a constituent person or an affiliate of a constituent person to such
transaction, (ii) made no election with respect thereto, and (iii) was treated
alike with the plurality of non-electing holders, and (b) that the Surviving
Person shall succeed to and be substituted to every right and obligation of
Holdings in respect of this Agreement and the Warrants. The supplemental warrant
agreement shall provide for adjustments which shall be as nearly equivalent as
may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Article V. The
Surviving Person shall mail to holders of Warrants at the addresses appearing on
the Warrant Register a notice briefly describing the supplemental warrant
agreement. If the issuer of securities deliverable upon exercise of Warrants is
an affiliate of the Surviving Person, that issuer shall join in the supplemental
warrant agreement.

          (ii)   Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Holdings enters into a
Fundamental Transaction with another Person (other than a subsidiary of
Holdings) and consideration is payable to holders of shares of Capital Stock (or
other securities or property) issuable or deliverable upon exercise of the
Warrants that are exercisable in exchange for their shares in connection with
such Fundamental Transaction which consists solely of cash, then the holders of
Warrants shall be entitled to receive distributions on the date of such event on
an equal basis with holders of such shares (or other securities issuable upon
exercise of the Warrants) as if the Warrants had been exercised immediately
prior to such event, less the Exercise Price therefor. Upon receipt of such
payment, if any, the rights of a holder of such a Warrant shall terminate and
cease and such holder's Warrants shall expire.

          (iii)  If this paragraph (d) applies, it shall supersede the
application of paragraph (a) of this Section 5.01.
<PAGE>

                                     -23-

          (e) Company Determination Final. Any determination that Holdings or
              ---------------------------
the Board of Directors of Holdings must make pursuant to this Article V is
conclusive.

          (f) Warrant Agent's Adjustment Disclaimer. The Warrant Agent has no
              -------------------------------------
duty to determine when an adjustment under this Article V should be made, how it
should be made or what it should be. The Warrant Agent has no duty to determine
whether a supplemental warrant agreement under paragraph (f) need be entered
into or whether any provisions of any supplemental warrant agreement are
correct. The Warrant Agent shall not be accountable for and makes no
representation as to the validity or value of any securities or assets issued
upon exercise of Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for
Holdings' failure to comply with this Article V.

          (g) Adjustment for Tax Purposes. Holdings may make such increases in
              ---------------------------
the Exercise Rate, in addition to those otherwise required by this Section, as
it considers to be advisable in order that any event treated for Federal income
tax purposes as a dividend of stock or stock rights shall not be taxable to the
recipients.

          (h) Underlying Shares. Holdings shall at all times reserve and keep
              -----------------
available, free from preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued
Common Stock or Common Stock held in the treasury of Holdings, for the purpose
of effecting the exercise of Warrants, the full number of Shares then
deliverable upon the exercise of all Warrants then outstanding and payment of
the exercise price, and the shares so deliverable shall be fully paid and
nonassessable and free from all liens and security interests.

          (i) Specificity of Adjustment. Irrespective of any adjustments in the
              -------------------------
number or kind of shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants, Warrant
Certificates theretofore or thereafter issued may continue to express the same
number and kind of Shares per Warrant as are stated on the Warrant Certificates
initially issuable pursuant to this Agreement.

          (j) Voluntary Adjustment. Holdings from time to time may increase the
              --------------------
Exercise Rate by any number and for any period of time (provided that such
                                                        --------
period is not less than 20 Business Days). Whenever the Exercise Rate is so
increased, Holdings shall mail to holders at the addresses appearing on the
Warrant Register and file with the Warrant Agent a notice of the increase.
Holdings shall give the notice at least 15 days before the date the increased
Exercise Rate takes effect. The notice shall state the increased Exercise Rate
and the period it will be in effect. A voluntary increase in the Exercise Rate
does not change or adjust the Exercise Rate otherwise in effect as determined by
this Section 5.01.

          (k) Multiple Adjustments. After an adjustment to the Exercise Rate for
              --------------------
outstanding Warrants under this Article V, any subsequent event requiring an
adjustment under this Article V shall cause an adjustment to the Exercise Rate
for outstanding Warrants as so adjusted.

          (l)  Definitions.
               -----------
<PAGE>

                                     -24-

          "Capital Stock" means, with respect to any person, any and all shares,
           -------------
interests, participations, rights in, or other equivalents (however designated
and whether voting or non-voting) of, such person's capital stock, whether
outstanding on the Issue Date (as defined in the Indenture) or issued after the
Issue Date, and any and all rights, warrants or options exchangeable for or
convertible into such capital stock.

          "Current Market Value" per share of Common Stock of Holdings or any
           --------------------
other security at any date means (i) if the security is not registered under the
Exchange Act, (a) the fair market value of the security, determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors of Holdings if the aggregate amount of such
security to be issued is less than or equal to $20.0 million, or if the
aggregate amount of such security exceeds $20.0 million, as determined by an
Independent Financial Expert (provided that, in the case of the calculation of
Current Market Value for determining the cash value of fractional shares, any
such determination within six months that is, in the good faith judgment of the
Board, a reasonable determination of value, may be utilized) or (ii) (a) if the
security is registered under the Exchange Act, the average of the daily closing
sales prices of the securities for the 20 consecutive days immediately preceding
such date, or (b) if the security has been registered under the Exchange Act for
less than 20 consecutive days immediately preceding such date, then the average
of the closing sales prices for all of the trading days before such date for
which closing sales prices are available, in the case of each of (ii)(a) and
(ii)(b), as certified to the Warrant Agent by the President, any Vice President
or the Chief Financial Officer of Holdings. The closing sales price for each
such trading day shall be: (A) in the case of a security listed or admitted to
trading on any United States national securities exchange or quotation system,
the closing sales price, regular way, on such day, or if no sale takes place on
such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day, (B) in
the case of a security not then listed or admitted to trading on any United
States national securities exchange or quotation system, the last reported sale
price on such day, or if no sale takes place on such day, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices on such day, as reported by a reputable quotation
source designated by Holdings, (C) in the case of a security not then listed or
admitted to trading on any United States national securities exchange or
quotation system and as to which no such reported sale price or bid and asked
prices are available, the average of the reported high bid and low asked prices
on such day, as reported by a reputable quotation service, or a newspaper of
general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York
customarily published on each Business Day, designated by Holdings, or, if there
shall be no bid and asked prices on such day, the average of the high bid and
low asked prices, as so reported, on the most recent day (not more than 30 days
prior to the date in question) for which prices have been so reported and (D) if
there are not bid and asked prices reported during the 30 days prior to the date
in question, the Current Market Value shall be determined as if the Shares (or
other securities) were not registered under the Exchange Act.

          "Independent Financial Expert" means a United States investment
           ----------------------------
banking firm of national or regional standing in the United States (i) which
does not, and whose directors, officers and employees or Affiliates do not have
a direct or indirect material financial interest for its proprietary account in
Holdings or any of its Affiliates and (ii) which, in the judgment of the
<PAGE>

                                     -25-

Board of Directors of Holdings, is otherwise independent with respect to
Holdings and its Affiliates and qualified to perform the task for which it is to
be engaged.

          "Time of Determination" means, (i) in the case of any distribution of
           ---------------------
securities or other property to existing stockholders to which paragraph (b)
applies, the time and date of the determination of stockholders entitled to
receive such securities or property or (ii) in the case of any other issuance
and sale to which paragraph (b) applies, the time and date of such issuance or
sale.

          (m) When De Minimis Adjustment may be Deferred. No Adjustment in the
              ------------------------------------------
Exercise Rate need be made unless the adjustment would require an increase of at
least 1% in the Exercise Rate. Any adjustments that are not made shall be
carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustments. All
calculations under this Section 5 shall be made to the nearest 1/1000th of a
share, as the case may be.

          SECTION 5.02. Fractional Shares. Holdings will not be required to
                        -----------------
issue fractional Shares upon exercise of the Warrants or distribute Share
certificates that evidence fractional Shares. In the event a holder is required
by Section 2.02(c) to make a Cashless Exercise, the number of Shares issuable
shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number. In addition, in no event shall
any holder of Warrants be required to make any payment of a fractional cent. In
lieu of fractional Shares, there shall be paid to the registered holders of
Warrant Certificates at the time Warrants evidenced thereby are exercised as
herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the Current
Market Value, per Share on the Business Day preceding the date the Warrant
Certificates evidencing such Warrants are surrendered for exercise. Such
payments will be made by check or by transfer to an account maintained by such
registered holder with a bank in The City of New York. If any holder surrenders
for exercise more than one Warrant Certificate, the number of Shares deliverable
to such holder may, at the option of Holdings, be computed on the basis of the
aggregate amount of all the Warrants exercised by such holder.

          SECTION 5.03. Certain Distributions. If at any time Holdings grants,
                        ---------------------
issues or sells options, convertible securities, or rights to purchase Capital
Stock, warrants or other securities pro rata to the record holders of any Common
Stock (the "Distribution Rights") or, without duplication, makes any dividend or
            -------------------
otherwise makes any distribution, including, subject to applicable law, pursuant
to any plan of liquidation ("Distribution") on Common Stock (whether in cash,
                             ------------
property, evidences of indebtedness or otherwise), then Holdings shall grant,
issue, sell or make to each registered holder of Warrants then outstanding, the
aggregate Distribution Rights or Distribution, as the case may be, which such
holder would have acquired if such holder had held the maximum number of Shares
acquirable upon complete exercise of such holder's Warrants (regardless of
whether the Warrants are then exercisable and without giving effect to the
Cashless Exercise option) immediately before the record date for the grant,
issuance or sale of such Distribution Rights or Distribution, as the case may
be, or, if there is no such record date, the date as of which the record holders
of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such
Distribution Rights or Distribution, as the case may be.
<PAGE>

                                     -26-

                                  ARTICLE VI

                          CONCERNING THE WARRANT AGENT
                          ----------------------------

                  SECTION 6.01. Warrant Agent. Holdings hereby appoints State
                                -------------
Street Bank and Trust Company as Warrant Agent of Holdings in respect of the
Warrants and the Warrant Certificates upon the terms and subject to the
conditions herein and in the Warrant Certificates set forth; and State Street
Bank and Trust Company hereby accepts such appointment. The Warrant Agent shall
have the powers and authority specifically granted to and conferred upon it in
the Warrant Certificates and hereby and such further powers and authority to act
on behalf of Holdings as Holdings may hereafter grant to or confer upon it and
it shall accept in writing. All of the terms and provisions with respect to such
powers and authority contained in the Warrant Certificates are subject to and
governed by the terms and provisions hereof. The Warrant Agent may act through
agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any such
agent appointed with due care.

                  SECTION 6.02. Conditions of Warrant Agent's Obligations. The
                                -----------------------------------------
Warrant Agent accepts its obligations herein set forth upon the terms and
conditions hereof and in the Warrant Certificates, including the following, to
all of which Holdings agrees and to all of which the rights hereunder of the
holders from time to time of the Warrant Certificates shall be subject:

                  (a) The Warrant Agent shall be entitled to compensation to be
         agreed upon with Holdings in writing for all services rendered by it
         and Holdings agrees promptly to pay such compensation and to reimburse
         the Warrant Agent for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including
         reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) incurred without gross
         negligence or willful misconduct on its part in connection with the
         services rendered by it hereunder. Holdings also agrees to indemnify
         the Warrant Agent and any predecessor Warrant Agent, their directors,
         officers, affiliates, agents and employees for, and to hold them and
         their directors, officers, affiliates, agents and employees harmless
         against, any loss, liability or expense of any nature whatsoever
         (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of
         counsel) incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct on the
         part of the Warrant Agent, arising out of or in connection with its
         acting as such Warrant Agent hereunder and its exercise of its rights
         and performance of its obligations hereunder. The obligations of
         Holdings under this Section 6.02 shall survive the exercise and the
         expiration of the Warrant Certificates and the resignation and removal
         of the Warrant Agent.

                  (b) In acting under this Agreement and in connection with the
         Warrant Certificates, the Warrant Agent is acting solely as agent of
         Holdings and does not assume any obligation or relationship of agency
         or trust for or with any of the owners or holders of the Warrant
         Certificates.

                  (c) The Warrant Agent may consult with counsel of its
         selection and any advice or written opinion of such counsel shall be
         full and complete authorization and protection
<PAGE>

                                     -27-

         in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in
         good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.

                  (d) The Warrant Agent shall be fully protected and shall incur
         no liability for or in respect of any action taken or omitted to be
         taken or thing suffered by it in reliance upon any Warrant Certificate,
         notice, direction, consent, certificate, affidavit, opinion of counsel,
         instruction, statement or other paper or document reasonably believed
         by it to be genuine and to have been presented or signed by the proper
         parties.

                  (e) The Warrant Agent, and its officers, directors, affiliates
         and employees ("Related Parties"), may become the owners of, or acquire
                         ---------------
         any interest in, Warrant Certificates, shares or other obligations of
         Holdings with the same rights that it or they would have it if were not
         the Warrant Agent hereunder and, to the extent permitted by applicable
         law, it or they may engage or be interested in any financial or other
         transaction with Holdings and may act on, or as Depository, trustee or
         agent for, any committee or body of holders of shares or other
         obligations of Holdings as freely as if it were not the Warrant Agent
         hereunder. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to prevent the
         Warrant Agent or such Related Parties from acting in any other capacity
         for Holdings.

                  (f) The Warrant Agent shall not be under any liability for
         interest on, and shall not be required to invest, any monies at any
         time received by it pursuant to any of the provisions of this Agreement
         or of the Warrant Certificates.

                  (g) The Warrant Agent shall not be under any responsibility in
         respect of the validity of this Agreement (or any term or provision
         hereof) or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution
         and delivery hereof by the Warrant Agent) or in respect of the validity
         or execution of any Warrant Certificate (except its authentication
         thereof).

                  (h) The recitals and other statements contained herein and in
         the Warrant Certificates (except as to the Warrant Agent's
         authentication thereon) shall be taken as the statements of Holdings
         and the Warrant Agent assumes no responsibility for the correctness of
         the same. The Warrant Agent does not make any representation as to the
         validity or sufficiency of this Agreement or the Warrant Certificates,
         except for its due execution and delivery of this Agreement; provided,
                                                                      --------
         however, that the Warrant Agent shall not be relieved of its duty to
         -------
         authenticate the Warrant Certificates as authorized by this Agreement.
         The Warrant Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application
         by Holdings of the proceeds of the exercise of any Warrant.

                  (i) Before the Warrant Agent acts or refrains from acting with
         respect to any matter contemplated by this Warrant Agreement, it may
         require:

                           (1) an Officers' Certificate (as defined in the
                  Indenture) stating on behalf of Holdings that, in the opinion
                  of the signers, all conditions precedent, if
<PAGE>

                                     -28-

                  any, provided for in this Warrant Agreement relating to the
                  proposed action have been complied with; and

                           (2) if reasonably necessary in the sole judgment of
                  the Warrant Agent, an opinion of counsel for Holdings stating
                  that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions
                  precedent have been complied with provided that such matter is
                  one customarily opined on by counsel.

                  Each Officers' Certificate or, if requested, an opinion of
         counsel with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
         provided for in this Warrant Agreement shall include:

                           (1) a statement that the person making such
                  certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

                           (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of
                  the examination or investigation upon which the statements or
                  opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

                           (3) a statement that, in the opinion of such person,
                  he or she has made such examination or investigation as is
                  necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion
                  as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been
                  complied with; and

                           (4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion
                  of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied
                  with.

                  (j) The Warrant Agent shall be obligated to perform such
         duties as are herein and in the Warrant Certificates specifically set
         forth and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this
         Agreement or the Warrant Certificates against the Warrant Agent. The
         Warrant Agent shall not be accountable or under any duty or
         responsibility for the use by Holdings of any of the Warrant
         Certificates authenticated by the Warrant Agent and delivered by it to
         Holdings pursuant to this Agreement. The Warrant Agent shall have no
         duty or responsibility in case of any default by Holdings in the
         performance of its covenants or agreements contained in the Warrant
         Certificates or in the case of the receipt of any written demand from a
         holder of a Warrant Certificate with respect to such default,
         including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any duty
         or responsibility to initiate or attempt to initiate any proceedings at
         law or otherwise or, except as provided in Section 7.02 hereof, to make
         any demand upon Holdings.

                  (k) Unless otherwise specifically provided herein, any order,
         certificate, notice, request, direction or other communication from
         Holdings made or given under any provision of this Agreement shall be
         sufficient if signed by its chairman of the Board of
<PAGE>

                                     -29-

         Directors, its president, its treasurer, its controller or any vice
         president or its secretary or any assistant secretary.

                  (l) The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility in respect
         of any adjustment pursuant to Article V hereof.

                  (m) Holdings agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge
         and deliver, or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and
         delivered, all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances
         as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out
         or performing by the Warrant Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.

                  (n) The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized and directed to
         accept written instructions with respect to the performance of its
         duties hereunder from any one of the chairman of the Board of
         Directors, the president, the treasurer, the controller, any vice
         president or the secretary or assistant secretary of Holdings or any
         other officer or official of Holdings reasonably believed to be
         authorized to give such instructions and to apply to such officers or
         officials for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and
         it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered to be taken by
         it in good faith in accordance with instructions with respect to any
         matter arising in connection with the Warrant Agent's duties and
         obligations arising under this Agreement. Such application by the
         Warrant Agent for written instructions from Holdings may, at the option
         of the Warrant Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to be
         taken or omitted by the Warrant Agent with respect to its duties or
         obligations under this Agreement and the date on or after which such
         action shall be taken and the Warrant Agent shall not be liable for any
         action taken or omitted in accordance with a proposal included in any
         such application on or after the date specified therein (which date
         shall be not less than 10 Business Days after Holdings receives such
         application unless Holdings consents to a shorter period), provided
         that (i) such application includes a statement to the effect that it is
         being made pursuant to this paragraph (n) and that unless objected to
         prior to such date specified in the application, the Warrant Agent will
         not be liable for any such action or omission to the extent set forth
         in such paragraph (n) and (ii) prior to taking or omitting any such
         action, the Warrant Agent has not received written instructions
         objecting to such proposed action or omission.

                  (o) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this
         Agreement the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that
         any fact or matter be proved or established by Holdings prior to taking
         or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other
         evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be
         deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate
         signed on behalf of Holdings by any one of the chairman of the Board of
         Directors, the president, the treasurer, the controller, any vice
         president or the secretary or assistant secretary of Holdings or any
         other officer or official of Holdings reasonably believed to be
         authorized to give such instructions and delivered to the Warrant
         Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization to the War-
<PAGE>

                                     -30-

         rant Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under
         the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.

                  (p) The Warrant Agent shall not be required to risk or expend
         its own funds in the performance of its obligations and duties
         hereunder.

                  SECTION 6.03. Resignation and Appointment of Successor. (a)
                                ----------------------------------------
Holdings agrees, for the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Warrant
Certificates, that there shall at all times be a Warrant Agent hereunder.

                  (b) The Warrant Agent may at any time resign as Warrant Agent
by giving written notice to Holdings of such intention on its part, specifying
the date on which its desired resignation shall become effective; provided,
                                                                  --------
however, that such date shall be at least 30 days after the date on which such
-------
notice is given unless Holdings agrees to accept less notice. Upon receiving
such notice of resignation, Holdings shall promptly appoint a successor Warrant
Agent, qualified as provided in Section 6.03(d) hereof, by written instrument in
duplicate signed on behalf of Holdings, one copy of which shall be delivered to
the resigning Warrant Agent and one copy to the successor Warrant Agent. As
provided in Section 6.03(d) hereof, such resignation shall become effective upon
the earlier of (x) the acceptance of the appointment by the successor Warrant
Agent or (y) 30 days after receipt by Holdings of notice of such resignation.
Holdings may, at any time and for any reason, and shall, upon any event set
forth in the next succeeding sentence, remove the Warrant Agent and appoint a
successor Warrant Agent by written instrument in duplicate, specifying such
removal and the date on which it is intended to become effective, signed on
behalf of Holdings, one copy of which shall be delivered to the Warrant Agent
being removed and one copy to the successor Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent
shall be removed as aforesaid if it shall become incapable of acting, or shall
be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Warrant Agent or of
its property shall be appointed, or any public officer shall take charge or
control of it or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation,
conservation or liquidation. Any removal of the Warrant Agent and any
appointment of a successor Warrant Agent shall become effective upon acceptance
of appointment by the successor Warrant Agent as provided in Section 6.03(d). As
soon as practicable after appointment of the successor Warrant Agent, Holdings
shall cause written notice of the change in the Warrant Agent to be given to
each of the registered holders of the Warrants in the manner provided for in
Section 8.04 hereof.

                  (c) Upon resignation or removal of the Warrant Agent, if
Holdings shall fail to appoint a successor Warrant Agent within a period of 60
days after receipt of such notice of resignation or removal, then the holder of
any Warrant Certificate or the retiring Warrant Agent may apply to a court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor to the Warrant Agent.
Pending appointment of a successor to the Warrant Agent, either by Holdings or
by such a court, the duties of the Warrant Agent shall be carried out by
Holdings.

                  (d) Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by Holdings
or by a court, shall be a bank or trust company in good standing, incorporated
under the laws of the United
<PAGE>

                                     -31-

States of America or any State thereof and having, at the time of its
appointment, a combined capital surplus of at least $250 million. Such successor
Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver to its predecessor and to Holdings an
instrument accepting such appointment hereunder and all the provisions of this
Agreement, and thereupon such successor Warrant Agent, without any further act,
deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and
obligations of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally
named as Warrant Agent hereunder, and such predecessor shall thereupon become
obligated to (i) transfer and deliver, and such successor Warrant Agent shall be
entitled to receive, all securities, records or other property on deposit with
or held by such predecessor as Warrant Agent hereunder and (ii) upon payment of
the amounts then due it pursuant to Section 6.02(a) hereof, pay over, and such
successor Warrant Agent shall be entitled to receive, all monies deposited with
or held by any predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder.

                  (e) Any corporation or bank into which the Warrant Agent
hereunder may be merged or converted, or any corporation or bank with which the
Warrant Agent may be consolidated, or any corporation or bank resulting from any
merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party,
or any corporation or bank to which the Warrant Agent shall sell or otherwise
transfer all or substantially all of its corporate trust business, shall be the
successor to the Warrant Agent under this Agreement (provided that such
corporation or bank shall be qualified as aforesaid) without the execution or
filing of any document or any further act on the part of any of the parties
hereto.

                  (f) No Warrant Agent under this Warrant Agreement shall be
personally liable for any action or omission of any successor Warrant Agent.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                                  MISCELLANEOUS
                                  -------------

                  SECTION 7.01. Amendment. This Agreement and the terms of the
                                ---------
Warrants may be amended by Holdings and the Warrant Agent, without the consent
of the holder of any Warrant Certificate, for the purpose of curing any
ambiguity, or of curing, correcting or supplementing any defective or
inconsistent provision contained herein or therein, or to effect any assumptions
of Holdings' obligations hereunder and thereunder by a successor corporation
under the circumstances described in Section 5.01(d) hereof or in any other
manner which Holdings may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not
adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Warrant Certificates.

                  Holdings and the Warrant Agent may amend, modify or supplement
this Agreement and the terms of the Warrants, and waivers to departures from the
terms hereof and thereof may be given, with the consent of the Requisite Warrant
Holders (as defined below) for the purpose of adding any provision to or
changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Agreement or
modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the outstanding Warrants;
provided, however, that no such modification that increases the Exercise Price
--------  -------
or decreases
<PAGE>

                                     -32-

the Exercise Rate, makes any change to the last paragraph of Section 5.01(d),
reduces the period of time during which the Warrants are exercisable hereunder,
or effects any change to this Section 7.01 may be made with respect to any
Warrant without the consent of the holder of such Warrant. "Requisite Warrant
                                                            -----------------
Holders" means (i) in the case of any amendment, modification, supplement or
-------
waiver affecting Warrant Holders, the holders of a majority in number of the
outstanding Warrants so affected, or (ii) in the case of any amendment,
modification, supplement or waiver affecting Warrant Holders, a majority in
number of Shares represented by the Warrants that would be issuable assuming
exercise thereof at the time such amendment, modification, supplement or waiver
is voted upon. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
Warrant Agent's consent must be obtained regarding any supplement or amendment
which alters the Warrant Agent's rights or duties (it being expressly understood
that the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the right of Holdings to remove
the Warrant Agent in accordance with Section 6.03 hereof). For purposes of any
amendment, modification or waiver hereunder, Warrants held by Holdings or any of
its Affiliates shall be disregarded.

                  Any modification or amendment made in accordance with this
Agreement will be conclusive and binding on all present and future holders of
Warrant Certificates whether or not they have consented to such modification or
amendment or waiver and whether or not notation of such modification or
amendment is made upon such Warrant Certificates. Any instrument given by or on
behalf of any holder of a Warrant Certificate in connection with any consent to
any modification or amendment will be conclusive and binding on all subsequent
holders of such Warrant Certificate.

                  SECTION 7.02. Notices and Demands to Holdings and Warrant
                                -------------------------------------------
Agent. If the Warrant Agent shall receive any notice or demand addressed to
-----
Holdings by the holder of a Warrant Certificate pursuant to the provisions
hereof or of the Warrant Certificates, the Warrant Agent shall promptly forward
such notice or demand to Holdings.

                  SECTION 7.03. Addresses for Notices to Parties and for
                                ----------------------------------------
Transmission of Documents. All notices hereunder to the parties hereto shall be
-------------------------
deemed to have been given when sent by certified or registered mail, postage
prepaid, or by facsimile transmission, confirmed by first class mail, postage
prepaid, addressed to any party hereto as follows:

                  To Holdings:

                  Mattress Discounters Holding Corporation
                  c/o Bain Capital Inc.
                  Two Copley Place
                  Boston, MA  02116

                  Attention:  Michael Krupka

                  Facsimile:  (617) 572-3274
                  Telephone:  (617) 572-2753
<PAGE>

                                     -33-

                  To the Warrant Agent:

                  State Street Bank and Trust Company
                  Goodwin Square, 225 Asylum Street, 23rd Floor
                  Hartford, CT  06103

                  Attention:  Corporate Trust Administration

                  Facsimile:  (880) 244-1889
                  Telephone:  (860) 244-1813

                  Attention:  Corporate Trust Department

or at any other address of which either of the foregoing shall have notified the
other in writing.

                  SECTION 7.04. Notices to Holders. Notices to holders of
                                ------------------
Warrants shall be mailed to such holders at the addresses of such holders as
they appear in the Warrant Register. Any such notice shall be sufficiently given
if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid.

                  SECTION 7.05. APPLICABLE LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. THE
                                ------------------------------------------
VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION AND PERFORMANCE OF THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH WARRANT
CERTIFICATE ISSUED HEREUNDER AND OF THE RESPECTIVE TERMS AND PROVISIONS THEREOF
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO
THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF.

                  SECTION 7.06. Persons Having Rights Under Agreement. Nothing
                                -------------------------------------
in this Agreement expressed or implied and nothing that may be inferred from any
of the provisions hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or
give to, any person or corporation other than Holdings, the Warrant Agent, the
holders of the Warrant Certificates and, with respect to Sections 4.04 and 4.05,
the holders of Shares issued pursuant to Warrants, any right, remedy or claim
under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation,
promise or agreement hereof; and all covenants (except for Section 4.04 which
shall be for the benefit of all holders of Shares issued pursuant to Warrants),
conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Agreement contained
shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of Holdings and the Warrant Agent
and their successors and of the holders of the Warrant Certificates.

                  SECTION 7.07. Headings. The descriptive headings of the
                                --------
several Articles and Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience
only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the
provisions hereof.

                  SECTION 7.08. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
                                ------------
any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an
original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same
instrument.
<PAGE>

                                     -34-

                  SECTION 7.09. Inspection of Agreement. A copy of this
                                -----------------------
Agreement shall be available during regular business hours at the principal
corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent, for inspection by the holder of any
Warrant Certificate. The Warrant Agent may require such holder to submit his
Warrant Certificate for inspection by it.

                  SECTION 7.10. Availability of Equitable Remedies. Since a
                                ----------------------------------
breach of the provisions of this Agreement could not adequately be compensated
by money damages, holders of Warrants shall be entitled, in addition to any
other right or remedy available to them, to an injunction restraining such
breach or a threatened breach and to specific performance of any such provision
of this Agreement, and in either case no bond or other security shall be
required in connection therewith, and the parties hereby consent to such
injunction and to the ordering of specific performance.

                  SECTION 7.11. Obtaining of Governmental Approvals. Holdings
                                -----------------------------------
will from time to time take all action required to be taken by it which may be
necessary to obtain and keep effective any and all permits, consents and
approvals of governmental agencies and authorities and securities acts filings
under United States Federal and state laws, and the rules and regulations of all
stock exchanges on which the Warrants are listed which may be or become
requisite in connection with the issuance, sale, transfer, and delivery of the
Warrant Certificates, the exercise of the Warrants or the issuance, sale,
transfer and delivery of the Shares issued upon exercise of the Warrants.

                            [Signature Page Follows]
<PAGE>

                                      S-1

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Warrant Agreement has been duly
executed by the parties hereto as of the day and year first above written.

                                       MATTRESS DISCOUNTERS HOLDING CORPORATION

                                       By:   /s/ Michael A. Krupka
                                           ----------------------------
                                             Name: Michael A. Krupka
                                             Title: President

                                       STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
                                         as Warrant Agent

                                       By:   /s/ Laurel Melody - Casasanta
                                           ----------------------------
                                             Name: Laurel Melody - Casasanta
                                             Title:
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT A
                                                                       ---------

                          [FORM OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE]

                                     [FACE]

                  THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE
OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION
HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR
OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH
TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.

                  THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO
OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE "RESALE
RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE") WHICH IS TWO YEARS AFTER THE LATER OF THE
ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH HOLDINGS OR ANY AFFILIATE
OF HOLDINGS WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH
SECURITY), ONLY (A) TO HOLDINGS, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT
HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE
SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT
REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT
OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS
BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES THAT OCCUR
OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT, (E) TO AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a)(1), (2),
(3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR ACQUIRING
THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL
ACCREDITED INVESTOR, IN EACH CASE IN A MINIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE
SECURITIES OF $250,000, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO OR FOR
OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH ANY OTHER DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO HOLDINGS' AND THE
WARRANT AGENT'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO
CLAUSE (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL,
CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND IN THE
CASE OF THE FOREGOING CLAUSE (E), A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER (A FORM OF WHICH MAY
BE OBTAINED FROM HOLDINGS OR THE WARRANT AGENT) COMPLETED AND

                                      A-1
<PAGE>

DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO HOLDINGS AND THE WARRANT AGENT. THIS LEGEND WILL
BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION
TERMINATION DATE.

                  THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO
A COMMON STOCK REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF AUGUST 6, 1999 AMONG
HOLDINGS, MATTRESS DISCOUNTERS HOLDING L.L.C. AND CHASE SECURITIES INC., CIBC
WORLD MARKETS CORP. AND BANCBOSTON ROBERTSON STEPHENS INC., A COPY OF WHICH IS
ON FILE WITH THE WARRANT AGENT.

                                      A-2
<PAGE>

                                                                      CUSIP #[ ]

No. [_]                                                   [_] Warrants

                               WARRANT CERTIFICATE

                    MATTRESS DISCOUNTERS HOLDING CORPORATION

                  This Warrant Certificate certifies that [_], or registered
assigns, is the registered holder of [_] Warrants (the "Warrants") to purchase
                                                        --------
shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share and Class L Common
Stock, par value $0.01 per share (collectively, the "Common Stock"), of MATTRESS
DISCOUNTERS HOLDING CORPORATION, a Virginia corporation ("Holdings", which term
                                                          --------
includes its successors and assigns). Each Warrant entitles the holder to
purchase from Holdings at any time from 9:00 a.m. New York City time on or after
the Exercisability Date until 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on July 15, 2007
(the "Expiration Date"), 4.850 fully paid, registered and non-assessable shares
      ---------------
of Class A Common Stock and 0.539 fully paid, registered and non-assessable
shares of Class L Common Stock subject to adjustment as provided in Article V of
the Warrant Agreement, at the exercise price of $0.01 for each share purchased
(the "Exercise Price") (the shares of Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of
      --------------
a Warrant being herein referred to as the "Shares" and, unless the context
                                           ------
otherwise requires, such term shall also mean the other securities or property
purchasable and deliverable upon exercise of a Warrant as provided in the
Warrant Agreement), upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of
the Exercise Price (i) by wire transfer or certified check, (ii) pursuant to the
next sentence or (iii) in any combination of (i) and (ii), at any office or
agency maintained for that purpose by Holdings (the "Warrant Agent Office"),
subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement. A
Warrant may also be exercised solely by the surrender of the Warrant, and
without the payment of the Exercise Price in cash, for such number of Shares
equal to the product of (1) the number of Shares for which such Warrant is
exercisable with payment of the Exercise Price as of the date of exercise and
(2) the Cashless Exercise Ratio. For purposes of this Warrant, the "Cashless
Exercise Ratio" shall equal a fraction, the numerator of which is the excess of
the Current Market Value per share of the Common Stock on the date of exercise
over the Exercise Price per share as of the date of exercise and the denominator
of which is the Current Market Value per share of the Common Stock on the date
of exercise. An exercise of a Warrant in accordance with the immediately
preceding sentences is herein called a "Cashless Exercise." Upon surrender of a
Warrant Certificate representing more than one Warrant in connection with the
Holder's option to elect a Cashless Exercise, the number of Shares deliverable
upon a Cashless Exercise shall be equal to the Cashless Exercise Ratio
multiplied by the product of (a) the number of Warrants that the holder
specifies is to be exercised pursuant to a Cashless Exercise and (b) the number
of Shares for which such Warrant is then exercisable (without giving effect to
the Cashless Exercise Option). If Holdings has not effected the registration
under the Securities Act of the offer and sale of the Shares by Holdings to the
holders of the Warrants upon the exercise thereof, Holdings may elect to require
that holders of the Warrants effect the exercise of the Warrants solely pursuant
to the Cashless Exercise option and may also amend the Warrants to eliminate the
requirement for payment of the Exercise Price with

                                      A-3
<PAGE>

respect to such Cashless Exercise option. All provisions of the Warrant
Agreement shall be applicable with respect to an exercise of a Warrant
Certificate pursuant to a Cashless Exercise for less than the full number of
Warrants represented thereby. Capitalized terms used herein without being
defined herein shall have the definitions ascribed to such terms in the Warrant
Agreement.

                  "Current Market Value" per share of Common Stock of Holdings
                   --------------------
or any other security at any date means (i) if the security is not registered
under the Exchange Act, (a) the fair market value of the security, determined in
good faith by the Board of Directors of Holdings if the aggregate amount of such
security to be issued is less than or equal to $20.0 million, or if the
aggregate amount of such security exceeds $20.0 million, as determined by an
Independent Financial Expert (provided that, in the case of the calculation of
                              --------
Current Market Value for determining the cash value of fractional shares, any
such determination within six months that is, in the good faith judgment of the
Board, a reasonable determination of value, may be utilized) or (ii) (a) if the
security is registered under the Exchange Act, the average of the daily closing
sales prices of the securities for the 20 consecutive trading days immediately
preceding such date, or (b) if the security has been registered under the
Exchange Act for less than 20 consecutive trading days before such date, then
the average of the closing sales prices for all of the trading days before such
date for which closing sales prices are available, in the case of each of
(ii)(a) and (ii)(b), as certified to the Warrant Agent by the President, any
Vice President or the Chief Financial Officer of Holdings. The closing sales
price for each such trading day shall be: (A) in the case of a security listed
or admitted to trading on any United States national securities exchange or
quotation system, the closing sales price, regular way, on such day, or if no
sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on
such day, (B) in the case of a security not then listed or admitted to trading
on any United States national securities exchange or quotation system, the last
reported sale price on such day, or if no sale takes place on such day, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day, as reported by a
reputable quotation source designated by Holdings, (C) in the case of a security
not then listed or admitted to trading on any United States national securities
exchange or quotation system and as to which no such reported sale price or bid
and asked prices are available, the average of the reported high bid and low
asked prices on such day, as reported by a reputable quotation service, or a
newspaper of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of
New York customarily published on each Business Day, designated by Holdings, or,
if there shall be no bid and asked prices on such day, the average of the high
bid and low asked prices, as so reported, on the most recent day (not more than
30 days prior to the date in question) for which prices have been so reported
and (D) if there are not bid and asked prices reported during the 30 days prior
to the date in question, the Current Market Value shall be determined as if the
Shares (or other securities) were not registered under the Exchange Act.

                  "Exercise Event" means, with respect to each Warrant, the date
                   --------------
of the occurrence of the earliest of: (1) an Initial Public Equity Offering (as
defined in the Warrant Agreement), (2) a class of equity securities of Holdings
is listed on a national securities exchange or authorized for quotation on the
Nasdaq National Market or is otherwise subject to registration under the
Exchange Act or (3) the Separability Date.

                                      A-4
<PAGE>

                  "Independent Financial Expert" means a United States
                   ----------------------------
investment banking firm of national or regional standing, (i) which does not,
and whose directors, officers and employees or Affiliates do not have a direct
or indirect material financial interest for its proprietary account in Holdings
or any of its Affiliates and (ii) which, in the judgment of the Board of
Directors of Holdings, is otherwise independent with respect to Holdings and its
Affiliates and qualified to perform the task for which it is to be engaged.

                  "Separability Date" shall mean the earliest to occur of: (1)
                   -----------------
180 days after the Issue Date (as defined in the Indenture); (2) the occurrence
of a Change of Control (as defined in the Indenture); (3) the occurrence of an
Event of Default (as defined in the Indenture); (4) the effectiveness of a
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act") with respect to the Notes or the Exchange Notes (as defined in
 --------------
the Indenture); or (5) such earlier date as determined by Chase Securities Inc.
in its discretion and specified to Holdings, the Trustee, the Warrant Agent and
the Unit Agent in writing. The separation of the Warrants and the Notes is
herein referred to as a "Separation."
                         ----------

                  No exercise of the Warrants may be effected which does not
call for the issuance of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock and a number
of shares of Class L Common Stock in direct proportion (subject only to rounding
with respect to fractional shares) to the aggregate number of shares of Class A
Common Stock and the aggregate number of shares of Class L Common Stock then
issuable upon exercise of the Warrants evidenced hereby.

                  Holdings has initially designated the principal corporate
trust office of the Warrant Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New
York, as the initial Warrant Agent Office. The number of Shares issuable upon
exercise of the Warrants ("Exercise Rate") is subject to adjustment upon the
                           -------------
occurrence of certain events set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

                  Any Warrants not exercised on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on July 15, 2007 shall thereafter be void.

                  If Holdings merges, amalgamates or consolidates with or into,
or sells all or substantially all of its property and assets to, another Person
solely for cash, the holders of Warrants shall be entitled to receive
distributions on the date of such event on an equal basis with holders of Shares
(or other securities issuable upon exercise of the Warrants) as if the Warrants
had been exercised immediately prior to such event (less the Exercise Price).

                  Reference is hereby made to the further provisions on the
reverse hereof which provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as
though fully set forth at this place.

                  This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid unless
authenticated by the Warrant Agent, as such term is used in the Warrant
Agreement.

                                      A-5
<PAGE>

                  THIS WARRANT CERTIFICATE SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS
PROVISIONS THEREOF.

                                      A-6
<PAGE>

                  WITNESS the seal of Holdings and signatures of its duly
authorized officers.

Dated:

                                          MATTRESS DISCOUNTERS HOLDING
                                          CORPORATION

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

Attest:

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

Certificate of Authentication:
This is one of the Warrants referred to in the within mentioned Warrant
Agreement:

STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
     as Warrant Agent

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

                                      A-7
<PAGE>

                          [FORM OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE]

                                    [REVERSE]

                    MATTRESS DISCOUNTERS HOLDING CORPORATION

                  The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of
a duly authorized issue of Warrants expiring at 5:00 p.m., New York City time,
on July 15, 2007 (the "Expiration Date"), each of which represents the right to
                       ---------------
purchase at any time on or after the Exercisability Date (as defined in the
Warrant Agreement) and on or prior to the Expiration Date 4.850 shares of Class
A Common Stock and 0.539 shares of Class L Common Stock subject to adjustment as
set forth in the Warrant Agreement. The Warrants are issued pursuant to a
Warrant Agreement dated as of August 6, 1999 (the "Warrant Agreement"), duly
                                                   -----------------
executed and delivered by Holdings to State Street Bank and Trust Company, as
Warrant Agent (the "Warrant Agent"), which Warrant Agreement is hereby
                    -------------
incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby
referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations,
duties and immunities thereunder of the Warrant Agent, Holdings and the holders
(the words "holders" or holder" meaning the registered holders or registered
holder) of the Warrants.

                  Warrants may be exercised by (i) surrendering at any Warrant
Agent Office this Warrant Certificate with the form of Election to Exercise set
forth hereon duly completed and executed and (ii) to the extent such exercise is
not being effected through a Cashless Exercise by paying in full the Warrant
Exercise Price for each such Warrant exercised and any other amounts required to
be paid pursuant to the Warrant Agreement.

                  If all of the items referred to in the preceding paragraph are
received by the Warrant Agent at or prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on
a Business Day, the exercise of the Warrant to which such items relate will be
effective on such Business Day. If any items referred to in the preceding
paragraph are received after 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on a Business Day,
the exercise of the Warrants to which such item relates will be deemed to be
effective on the next succeeding Business Day. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in
the case of an exercise of Warrants on July 15, 2007, if all of the items
referred to in the preceding paragraph are received by the Warrant Agent at or
prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on such Expiration Date, the exercise of
the Warrants to which such items relate will be effective on the Expiration
Date.

                  As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrant or
Warrants, Holdings shall issue or cause to be issued to or upon the written
order of the registered holder of this Warrant Certificate, a certificate or
certificates evidencing the Share or Shares to which such holder is entitled, in
fully registered form, registered in such name or names as may be directed by
such holder pursuant to the Election to Exercise, as set forth on the reverse of
this Warrant Certificate. Such certificate or certificates evidencing the Share
or Shares shall be deemed to have been issued and any persons who are designated
to be named therein shall be deemed to have become the holder of record of such
Share or Shares as of the close of business on the date upon which the exercise
of this Warrant was deemed to be effective as provided in the preceding
paragraph.

                                      A-8
<PAGE>

                  Holdings will not be required to issue fractional shares of
Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrants or distribute Share certificates that
evidence fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of fractional shares of
Common Stock, there shall be paid to the registered Holder of this Warrant
Certificate at the time such Warrant Certificate is exercised an amount in cash
equal to the same fraction of the Current Market Value per share of Common Stock
on the Business Day preceding the date this Warrant Certificate is surrendered
for exercise.

                  Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at any office or agency
maintained by Holdings for that purpose by the registered holder thereof in
person or by legal representative or attorney duly authorized in writing, may be
exchanged for a new Warrant Certificate or new Warrant Certificates evidencing
in the aggregate a like number of Warrants, in the manner and subject to the
limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any tax
or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.

                  Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of this
Warrant Certificate at any office or agency maintained by Holdings for that
purpose, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing in the aggregate a like number of
Warrants shall be issued to the transferee in exchange for this Warrant
Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement,
without charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in
connection therewith.

                  Holdings and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the
registered holder hereof as the absolute owner of this Warrant Certificate
(notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by
anyone) for the purpose of any exercise hereof and for all other purposes, and
neither Holdings nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the
contrary.

                  The term "Business Day" shall mean any day on which (i) banks
in New York City, (ii) the principal U.S. securities exchange or market, if any,
on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading and (iii) the
principal U.S. securities exchange or market, if any, on which the Warrants are
listed or admitted to trading are open for business.

                  The Warrants and the Shares are entitled to the benefits of a
registration rights agreement relating to the Warrants and the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon exercise thereof (the "Common Stock Registration Rights
                                           --------------------------------
Agreement"). The Common Stock Registration Rights Agreement provides the holders
---------
of Registrable Securities with the right, subject to the conditions and
limitations contained therein, to include the Registrable Securities in certain
registration statements filed by Holdings for its account or for the account of
any of its securityholders.

                                      A-9
<PAGE>

                         (FORM OF ELECTION TO EXERCISE)

(To be executed upon exercise of Warrants on the Exercise Date)

                  The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise [_] of
the Warrants represented by this Warrant Certificate and purchase the whole
number of Shares issuable upon the exercise of such Warrants and herewith
tenders payment for such Shares as follows:

                  $[_] in cash or by certified or official bank check; or by
surrender of Warrants pursuant to a Cashless Exercise (as defined in the Warrant
Agreement) for [_] shares of Class A Common Stock and [_] shares of Class L
Common Stock at the current Cashless Exercise Ratio.

                  The undersigned requests that a certificate representing such
Shares be registered in the name of ____________________ whose address is
_________________________ and that such shares be delivered to
__________________________ whose address is __________________________. Any cash
payments to be paid in lieu of a fractional Share should be made to
__________________ whose address is ________________________ and the check
representing payment thereof should be delivered to ______________________ whose
address is ___________________.

                  Dated __________________, ____

                  Name of holder of
                  Warrant Certificate:  _______________________________
                                                 (Please Print)

                  Tax Identification or
                  Social Security Number:  ____________________________

                  Address:  ___________________________________________

                                    ___________________________________________

                  Signature:  _________________________________________
                                         Note:        The above signature must
                                                      correspond with the name
                                                      as written upon the face
                                                      of this Warrant
                                                      Certificate in every
                                                      particular, without
                                                      alteration or enlargement
                                                      or any change whatever and
                                                      if the certificate
                                                      representing the Shares or
                                                      any Warrant Certificate
                                                      representing Warrants not
                                                      exercised is to be
                                                      registered in a name other
                                                      than that in which this
                                                      Warrant Certificate is
                                                      registered, or if any cash
                                                      payment to be paid in lieu
                                                      of a fractional share is
                                                      to be made to a person
                                                      other than the registered
                                                      holder

                                     A-10
<PAGE>

                                                     of this Warrant
                                                     Certificate, the signature
                                                     of the holder hereof must
                                                     be guaranteed as provided
                                                     in the Warrant Agreement.

Dated ____________________, ___

                  Signature:  ________________________________________
                                       Note:         The above signature must
                                                     correspond with the name as
                                                     written upon the face of
                                                     this Warrant Certificate in
                                                     every particular, without
                                                     alteration or enlargement
                                                     or any change whatever.

                  Signature Guaranteed:  _____________________________

                              [FORM OF ASSIGNMENT]

                  For value received _______________________ hereby sells,
assigns and transfers unto _____________________ the within Warrant Certificate,
together with all right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably
constitute and appoint __________________________ attorney, to transfer said
Warrant Certificate on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of
substitution in the premises.

Dated ____________________, ____

                  Signature:  ________________________________________
                                       Note:         The above signature must
                                                     correspond with the name as
                                                     written upon the face of
                                                     this Warrant Certificate in
                                                     every particular, without
                                                     alteration or enlargement
                                                     or any change whatever.

                  Signature Guaranteed:  _____________________________

                                     A-11
<PAGE>

                SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF CERTIFICATED WARRANTS1
                -----------------------------------------------

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Warrant for certificated
Warrants have been made:

<TABLE>
                                                         Number of
                                                         Warrants of
               Amount of             Amount of           this Global
               decrease in           increase in         Warrant          Signature of
               Number of             Number of           following        authorized
Date of        Warrants of this      Warrants of this    such decrease    officer of
Exchange       Global Warrant        Global Warrant      (or increase)    Warrant Agent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>          <C>                  <C>                 <C>               <C>

</TABLE>

----------------------------------
  1This is to be included only if the Warrant is in global form.

                                     A-12
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT B
                                                                       ---------

                        FORM OF LEGEND FOR GLOBAL WARRANT

                  Any Global Warrant authenticated and delivered hereunder shall
bear a legend in substantially the following form:

                  THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL WARRANT WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE
         WARRANT AGREEMENT HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME
         OF A DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITORY OR A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY.
         THIS SECURITY IS NOT EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME
         OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITORY OR ITS NOMINEE EXCEPT IN THE
         LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT, AND NO
         TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY AS A
         WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY A NOMINEE
         OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE DEPOSITORY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE
         DEPOSITORY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES
         DESCRIBED IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT.

                  UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
         REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION
         ("DTC"), TO ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE,
         OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF
         CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
         REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH
         OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC),
         ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR
         TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE
         & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

                                      B-1
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT C

                    CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE
                     OR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF WARRANTS

               Re: Warrants to Purchase Common Stock (the "Warrants")
                   of MATTRESS DISCOUNTERS HOLDING
                   -------------------------------
                   CORPORATION
                   ------------------------------------

                  This Certificate relates to ____ Warrants held in* ___
book-entry or* _______ certificated form by ______ (the "Transferor").

The Transferor:*

         [_] has requested the Warrant Agent by written order to deliver in
exchange for its beneficial interest in the Global Warrant held by the
Depository a Warrant or Warrants in definitive, registered form of authorized
denominations and an aggregate number equal to its beneficial interest in such
Global Warrant (or the portion thereof indicated above); or

         [_] has requested the Warrant Agent by written order to exchange or
register the transfer of a Warrant or Warrants.

             In connection with such request and in respect of each such
Warrant, the Transferor does hereby certify that Transferor is familiar with the
Warrant Agreement relating to the above captioned Warrants and the restrictions
on transfers thereof as provided in Section 1.08 of such Warrant Agreement, and
that the transfer of this Warrant does not require registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act") because*:
                                         ---

         [_] Such Warrant is being acquired for the Transferor's own account,
without transfer (in satisfaction of Section 1.08(a)(y)(A) or Section
1.08(d)(i)(A) of the Warrant Agreement).

         [_] Such Warrant is being transferred to a qualified institutional
buyer (as defined in Rule 144A under the Act), in reliance on Rule 144A.

         [_] Such Warrant is being transferred to an institutional "accredited
investor" (within the meaning of subparagraphs (a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Rule
501 under the Act).

         [_] Such Warrant is being transferred in reliance on Regulation S under
the Act.

         [_] Such Warrant is being transferred in accordance with Rule 144 under
the Act.

         [_] Such Warrant is being transferred in reliance on and in compliance
with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Act.

                                      C-1
<PAGE>

                                            ------------------------------
                                            [INSERT NAME OF TRANSFEROR]

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

Date:
      ------------------
        *Check applicable box.

                                      C-2
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT D

                            Form of Certificate to Be
                          Delivered in Connection with
                 Transfers to Institutional Accredited Investors
                 -----------------------------------------------

                                                             -------------, ----

State Street Bank and Trust Company

Attention:  Corporate Trust Department

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  In connection with our proposed purchase of warrants (the
"Warrants") to purchase Common Stock of Mattress Discounters Holding Corporation
("Holdings"), we confirm that:
  --------
                  1. We have received such information as we deem necessary in
order to make our investment decision.

                  2.  We understand that any subsequent transfer of the
Warrants is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the
Warrant Agreement and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell,
pledge or otherwise transfer the Warrants except in compliance with, such
restrictions and conditions and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act").

                  3.  We understand that the offer and sale of the Warrants
have not been registered under the Securities Act, and that the Warrants may not
be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit
of, U.S. persons except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree, on our
own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting as hereinafter
stated, that if we should sell any Warrants prior to (x) the date which is three
years after the later of the date of original issuance of the Warrants (or such
shorter period as may be prescribed by Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act or
any successor provision thereto) or the last day on which Holdings or any
affiliate of Holdings was owner of such Warrants, or any predecessor thereto,
and (y) such later date, if any, as may be required by applicable laws, we will
do so only (A) to Holdings, (B) inside the United States in accordance with Rule
144A under the Securities Act to a "qualified institutional buyer" (as defined
therein), (C) inside the United States to an institutional "accredited investor"
(as defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes (or has furnished on
its behalf by a U.S. broker-dealer) to the Warrant Agent a

                                      D-1
<PAGE>

signed letter substantially in the form hereof, (D) outside the United States in
accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act, (E) pursuant to the
exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act (if
available) or (F) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act and (G) pursuant to another available exemption under the
Securities Act, and we further agree to provide to any person purchasing
Warrants from us a notice advising such purchaser that resales of the Warrants
are restricted as stated herein.

                  4.  We understand that, on any proposed resale of
Warrants, we will be required to furnish to the Warrant Agent and Holdings, such
certification, legal opinions and other information as the Warrant Agent and
Holdings may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed sale complies with
the foregoing restrictions. We further understand that the Warrants purchased by
us will bear a legend to the foregoing effect.

                  5.  We are an institutional "accredited investor" (as
defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities
Act) and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as
to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the
Warrants, and we and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear
the economic risk of our or their investment, as the case may be.

                  6.  We are acquiring the Warrants purchased by us for our
account or for one or more accounts (each of which is an institutional
"accredited investor") as to each of which we exercise sole investment
discretion.

                                      D-2
<PAGE>

                  You and Holdings are entitled to rely upon this letter and are
irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested
party in any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect
to the matters covered hereby.

                                              Very truly yours,

                                              [Name of Transferee]

                                              By:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                   [Authorized Signatory]

                  Upon transfer the Warrants would be registered in the name of
the new beneficial owner as follows:

Name:______________________________

Address:___________________________

Taxpayer ID Number:________________

                                      D-3
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT E

                            Form of Certificate to Be
                             Delivered in Connection
                           with Regulation S Transfers
                           ---------------------------

                                                           ---------------, ----

State Street Bank and Trust Company

Attention:  Corporate Trust Department

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  In connection with our proposed sale of Warrants of Mattress
Discounters Holding Corporation ("Holdings"), we confirm that such sale has been
                                  --------
effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and, accordingly, we represent
that:

                           (1) the offer of the Warrants was not made to a
                  person in the United States;

                           (2) either (a) at the time the buy offer was
                  originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we
                  and any person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that
                  the transferee was outside the United States, or (b) the
                  transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a
                  designated off-shore securities market and neither we nor any
                  person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction has
                  been pre-arranged with a buyer in the United States;

                           (3) no directed selling efforts have been made in the
                  United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule
                  903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities
                  Act, as applicable;

                           (4) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme
                  to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act;

                           (5) we have advised the transferee of the transfer
                  restrictions applicable to the Warrants; and

                                      E-1
<PAGE>

                           (6) if the circumstances set forth in Rule 904(c)
                  under the Securities Act are applicable, we have complied with
                  the additional conditions therein, including (if applicable)
                  sending a confirmation or other notice stating that the
                  Warrants may be offered and sold during the restricted period
                  specified in Rule 903(c)(2) or (3), as applicable, in
                  accordance with the provisions of Regulation S; pursuant to
                  registration of the Warrants under the Securities Act; or
                  pursuant to an available exemption from the registration
                  requirements under the Act.

                  You and Holdings are entitled to rely upon this letter and are
irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested
party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with
respect to the matters covered hereby. Defined terms used herein without
definition have the respective meanings provided in Regulation S under the
Securities Act.

                                             Very truly yours,

                                             [Name of Transferee]

                                             By:
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                  [Authorized Signatory]

                  Upon transfer the Warrants would be registered in the name of
the new beneficial owner as follows:

Name:______________________________

Address:___________________________

Taxpayer ID Number:________________

--------

1 This is to be included only if the Warrant is in global form.

                                      E-2

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