Document:

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                    GENERAL RELEASE AND SEPARATION AGREEMENT

         THIS GENERAL RELEASE AND SEPARATION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is
hereby entered into this 5th day of May, 2000, between KEITH LORIS (the
"Employee") and SOFTLOCK.COM, INC. ("SoftLock") and SOFTLOCK SERVICES, INC.,
both Delaware corporations (collectively, the "Company") (hereinafter the
Employee and the Company are sometimes individually referred to as a "Party" and
collectively as the "Parties").

         WHEREAS, the Employee has been and is employed by the Company pursuant
to an Employment Agreement dated September 2, 1998, a copy of which is attached
hereto as EXHIBIT A (the "Employment Agreement"); and

         WHEREAS, the Employee and the Company desire to conclude the Employee's
service as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company on mutually
satisfactory terms; and

         WHEREAS, the Company and the Employee desire to formalize their
arrangements to revise the terms of their employment relationship for a certain
period and thereafter forever sever their employment relationship and to fully
and finally resolve any and all existing or potential issues and disputes that
do or could relate thereto or arise out of the employment relationship or the
severance thereof without any admission of liability or finding or admission
that the rights of either party were or have been in any way violated, solely
for the purpose of amicably and finally ending the employment relationship
between the parties;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained
herein and other good and valuable consideration, the adequacy of which are
hereby acknowledged by the parties, the Company and the Employee agree as
follows

         1. CEO TERMINATION DATE. Effective April 17, 2000 (the "CEO Termination
Date"), the Employee agrees and understands that his employment as the Company's
Chief Executive Officer terminated and that he is no longer the Chief Executive
Officer or an officer in any capacity of the Company (other than as President of
the Company) or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries.

         2. PRESIDENT TERMINATION DATE. Effective May 5, 2000 (the "President
Termination Date"), the Employee agrees and understands that his employment as
the Company's President will terminate and that he will no longer be the
President or an officer in any capacity of the Company or any of its affiliates
or subsidiaries.

         3. TRANSITION PERIOD EMPLOYMENT. Effective May 5, 2000 and (subject to
the next sentence) continuing through and including November 6, 2000 (the
"Transition Period"), the Employee shall serve as an employee of the Company and
agrees to be available periodically to the Company's Chief Executive Officer as
and to the extent reasonably required by the Chief Executive Officer to assist
the Chief Executive Officer in management and transition issues and for any
public or investor issues. The Company shall not terminate the Employee's
employment

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during the Transition Period except for cause as defined in Section 2.3(d) of
Employee's Employment Agreement or pursuant to Section 25(d) of this Agreement.
The Company agrees to provide the Employee with continued reasonable use of his
e-mail address and voice mailbox during the transition period, subject to all
Company policies, procedures and practices related to employee use of these
services. Any appropriate and reasonable expenses incurred by the Employee in
connection with his services to the Company during the Transition Period will be
reimbursed promptly by the Company in accordance with its policies and practices
in existence at the time the expense is submitted, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
Employee agrees to remit receipts for all such reimbursable expenses. The
Employee understands that during the Transition Period he is not authorized to
take any action on behalf of the Company, nor is he authorized to hold himself
out as a representative or spokesperson of the Company unless any act or
representation is authorized by the Company in writing in a document signed by
the Company's Chief Executive Officer.

         4. NO RE-EMPLOYMENT. The Employee acknowledges that he does not possess
any rights or claims to any future employment with the Company or its
successors, affiliates or subsidiaries upon expiration or termination by the
Company of the Transition Period. The Employee further affirms that he shall
never again knowingly apply for or otherwise seek employment with the Company or
its successors, affiliates or subsidiaries upon the termination of his
employment.

         5. COMPENSATION DURING TRANSITION PERIOD. During the Transition Period,
the Company agrees to pay the Employee, in lawful money of the United States of
America, his base compensation as in effect as of the President Termination Date
which is semi-monthly payments at an annual rate of $168,000, less all lawful
deductions. The Employee shall not be entitled to receive any bonus or other
incentives generally available to the Company's employees and management. Such
payments shall be made by automatic direct deposit, subject to all applicable
federal, state and local withholdings. The Employee agrees that he shall be
responsible for all of the Employee's federal, state and local tax assessments,
if any, associated with these payments and further agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Company for any tax assessment, penalty, or other costs, if any,
associated with the Employee's taxes for this payment.

         6. ALTERNATIVE EMPLOYMENT. During the Transition Period, the Employee
may seek and obtain alternative employment, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, (i) the Employee
shall not breach his obligations set forth in Sections 3 or 8 hereof, and (ii)
unless the Employee gives notice to the Company that he has terminated his
employment with the Company, his acceptance of employment with another entity,
or the carrying on of a business as a consultant, sole proprietor, partner or in
any other capacity, shall not (subject to Section 25(d) hereof) be deemed to
constitute termination by the Employee of his employment with the Company.
Should the Employee give notice that he has terminated his employment with the
Company, that shall not be deemed a breach of this Agreement.

         7. BENEFITS COVERAGE. During the Transition Period, the Employee shall
continue to receive the same benefits in effect as of the President Termination
Date, and the Company shall continue to pay its portion of the premiums as in
effect as of the President Termination Date. The parties expressly agree and
understand that, except as expressly provided for herein, the

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Employee shall not be entitled to participate in any of the Company's stock
option or employee stock purchase plans after the CEO Termination Date. The
Employee recognizes that for purposes of the continuation coverage requirements
of group health plans under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
of 1985 ("COBRA"), as amended, and applicable state law, a "qualifying event"
and an "applicable change in status" will occur on November 6, 2000.

         8. NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT. The Company and the Employee agree that,
notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement or the Sotftlock.com
Nondisclosure and Solicitation, Confidentiality and Assignment of Intellectual
Property Agreement signed by the Employee and dated October 15, 1999 (the
"October 15, 1999 Agreement", attached hereto as Exhibit B), the provisions of
Sections 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6 of the Employment Agreement remain in full force and
effect, with the respective two (2) year period beginning on November 1, 2000.
To the extent that there is any inconsistency or conflict between or among the
terms of this Agreement, the Sections of the Employment Agreement referenced in
this Section and/or the October 15, 1999 Agreement, the terms of this Agreement
shall control.

         9. REFERENCES. The Employee will direct all requests for references to
the Company's Human Resources Manager. In response to such requests for written
references, the Company will provide the prospective employer with a personally
addressed letter of reference in the form attached hereto and incorporated
herein by reference as EXHIBIT C (the "Reference Letter"). In response to
requests for oral references, the Company will provide information, which is
substantially consistent with that contained in the Reference Letter. The
Company shall not provide any unfavorable, derogatory or disparaging information
about the Employee in response to any requests for references provided that they
are addressed to the Company's Human Resources Manager as required by this
Section 9.

         10. UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION BENEFITS. The Company agrees not to
contest any claim the Employee may make for unemployment compensation benefits;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, the Employee understands that the Company will satisfy its
statutory obligations to provide the accurate reason for the Employee's
separation.

         11. GENERAL RELEASE.

             (a) The Employee, for himself for his heirs, executors,
administrators, personal representatives, successors and assigns (herein
sometimes referred to as "Releasor") does hereby irrevocably release, acquit,
exonerate and forever discharge the Company each of its affiliates,
subsidiaries, successors, purchasers, assigns, trustees, officers, directors,
stockholders, agents, attorneys, servants, representatives and employees
(hereinafter individually and collectively sometimes called "Releasees"), of and
from all and every manner of action and actions, cause and causes of actions,
grievances, arbitrations, obligations, damages, demands, liabilities, defenses,
suits, debts, dues, sums of monies, accounts, reckonings, bonds, bills,
specialties, covenants, contracts, controversies, agreements, promises,
variances, libels, slanders, trespasses, damages, judgments, expenses,
executions and claims whatsoever, known or unknown, in law and/or equity, mixed
or otherwise, which the Releasor ever had, now has or hereafter can, shall or
may have against the Releasees, individually, collectively, jointly or
severally, for, upon, or by reason of any matter, act, occurrence, omission,
transaction or cause or

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thing whatsoever, from the beginning of time to the date of this Agreement,
including but not limited to any claim or action, cause or causes of action,
known or unknown, which Releasor ever had, now has, or hereafter can, shall or
may have against the Releasees, individually, jointly, severally or
collectively, arising out of, as a consequence of, or by reason of, resulting
from, or connected in any way with Releasor's employment by Releasees or
termination of that employment, specifically including but not limited to,
claims of discrimination based on race, sex, age, national origin, religion,
marital status, status as a handicapped or disabled individual, or veteran
status, under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (29 U.S.C. ss.621, ET
Seq.), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. ss.2000(e), ET
Seq.), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (29 U.S.C. ss.1001, ET SEQ.),
the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. ss. 1201 ET Seq.), the Family and
Medical Leave Act (29 U.S.C. 2601 ET SEQ.) or any other federal, state or local
law or ordinance prohibiting employment discrimination, or any other cause of
action or claim of statutory breach of contract, or any other breach of
contract, claim, wrongful discharge or tort or statutory claim of whatever kind.
The Employee acknowledges, understands and expressly agrees that this Agreement
is a general release.

             (b) The Employee expressly waives any and all forms of severance
set forth in Section 2.3(f)(ii) of the Employment Agreement and releases and
forever discharges the Company from any and all claims of any kind that he has
or may have against the Company related thereto.

         12. FILING OF ACTIONS. The Employee agrees and covenants not to make or
file any lawsuits, complaints, or other proceedings covered by the general
release in Section 11 hereof, including but not limited to any suits in the
local or state courts, the United States Federal District Court or any other
court or forum, on behalf of himself or any other person or entity against the
Company relating to or referring in any way to the Employee's employment with
the Company and that as to any such lawsuits, complaints or other proceedings
which have already been made or filed, Employee agrees to withdraw and dismiss
with prejudice any and all such lawsuits, complaints and/or other proceedings.
Nothing in Section 11 or this Section 12 shall be construed as preventing the
Parties from enforcing the rights and obligations provided for or by this
Agreement.

         13. NO ADMISSION OF LIABILITY. The Parties agree that the
above-mentioned consideration, and all other undertakings by the Parties, are
not to be construed as admissions of wrongdoing or liability on the part of
either Party under any statute or otherwise, but that on the contrary, any such
wrongdoing or liability is expressly denied by the Parties.

         14. LIMITATION OF ATTORNEYS' FEES. The Parties agree that neither this
Agreement, nor any part of it, shall be interpreted to render either Party a
prevailing party for any reason, including but not limited to, an award of
attorneys' fees under any statute or otherwise and each Party specifically
waives any right to claim counsel fees, status as a prevailing party or any
other such relief, except in any action brought as a result of a breach of this
Agreement.

         15. CONFIDENTIALITY OF AGREEMENT. The Parties agree that the terms,
provisions, and conditions of this Agreement and the negotiations in pursuance
thereof are strictly confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person or
entity other than (i) by the Employee to (a) his

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immediate family, (b) his legal counsel and any financial advisor of the
Employee or (c) a prospective or then-current employer, partner or investor
solely to the extent necessary to inform the employer or such other party prior
to accepting an offer of employment or entering into a business relationship of
the restrictive covenants contained in this Agreement, (ii) by the Company to
its executive management team, Board of Directors, Human Resources Manager,
attorneys or auditors and (iii) in no other event except as specifically
requested by a governmental agency pursuant to a tax audit or, in the case of
the Company as part of any disclosure required by the federal securities laws or
regulations or the Securities and Exchange Commission, or as otherwise may be
required by law or as may be necessary to enforce or effectuate this Agreement.
If a party is compelled by any such request or requirement of a governmental
agency or law or regulations to disclose any one or more of the provisions of
this Agreement, that party shall inform the other party in writing of the
circumstances requiring such disclosure, provided that in the case of disclosure
pursuant to the federal securities laws or regulations, no such disclosure or
information shall be required. Each party further agrees that a violation of the
terms of this Section 15 regarding the confidentiality of this Agreement is a
material breach of this Agreement, for which the nonbreaching party may
immediately seek legal, equitable, injunctive, monetary or any other appropriate
relief in a court of competent jurisdiction without the posting of a bond or the
requirement of any guarantee.

         16. DISPARAGING REMARKS. Each party agrees not to make unfavorable,
derogatory or disparaging comments about the other (which, for purposes of this
Section 16, includes, in the case of comments by the Employee about the Company,
the Company's supervisors, management, employees, operations or policies) and
that each party will not knowingly and intentionally provoke, foster or
encourage any acts of ill will toward the other party.. Each party agrees that
any overt act by the party in violation of this Section 16 is a material breach
of this Agreement for which the nonbreaching party may immediately seek legal,
equitable, injunctive, monetary or any other appropriate relief in a court of
competent jurisdiction without the posing of a bond or any guarantee.

         17. NO TRANSFER OR ASSIGNMENT OF CLAIMS. The Employee represents that
he has not heretofore assigned or transferred, or purported to assign or
transfer, to any person or entity, any claim against the Company or a portion
thereof or interest therein.

         18. CONFIDENTIALITY COVENANT. The Employee shall not, at any time prior
to or after the Transition Period, divulge, use or communicate any Confidential
Information to any person other than those officers or employees of the Company
who have need to know such information, or as specifically allowed by the
Company in writing, or which the Company is required to disclose pursuant to any
law, regulation, or court or administrative order. As used in this Agreement,
the term "Confidential Information" shall mean all of the confidential and
proprietary information of or relating to the Company including without
limitation: (i) all customers and customer lists of the Company; (ii) any and
all financial statements, financial data, names or identities of individuals or
entities that have purchased securities or otherwise participated in any private
offering of the Company's common or preferred stock, research and development,
engineering information, legal information, purchasing information,
manufacturing information, marketing and sales plans, customer lists, business
records, contracts (whether material or not), corporate books and records,
drawings, designs, diagrams, processes, plans,

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computer hardware and software, methods, formulae, trade secrets, techniques,
know-how, discoveries, concepts and ideas (oral or written), which pertain or
relate to the Company, regardless of form and whether or not patented or
patentable, copyrighted or able to be copyrighted, or registered as a trademark
or registrable as a trademark; (iii) all improvements, alterations and
enhancements to any of the foregoing used in or relating in any way by the
Company; (iv) any and all information developed, extracted, compiled or
extrapolated from any of the foregoing; (v) any and all concepts or ideas
reasonably related to or arising out of the foregoing (whether oral or written);
and (vi) any and all documents or other materials in tangible form containing,
relating to or pertaining to any of the foregoing, in whole or in part.

         19. DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. The disclosure of
Confidential Information by the Employee shall not violate this Agreement if
such disclosure: (i) is of information that has been explicitly approved by the
Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors of the Company for release by the
Employee to specified persons or the general public or has been released by the
Company to the general public; or (ii) is pursuant to an order or subpoena of a
court or governmental agency of competent jurisdiction, provided that the
Employee shall first have given the Company reasonable opportunity to seek a
confidentiality order or other confidential treatment of such Confidential
Information. Further, the confidentiality and nondisclosure provisions contained
in Section 18 shall not apply to anything falling within the definition of
Confidential Information in Section 18 if and when it becomes a matter of public
knowledge through no act or omission of the Employee; or if it was already known
by the Employee prior to the commencement of his employment or any other party
in question other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement or any other
confidentiality obligation.

         20. DELIVERY OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. On the President Termination
Date or at any other time immediately upon the Company's request, the Employee
shall deliver to the Company all Confidential Information, including, but not
limited to, memoranda, notes, records, reports, photographs, drawings, plans,
papers or other documents made or compiled by the Employee in the course of
Employee's services to the Company or made available to the Employee during the
course of Employee's services to the Company, and any copies or abstracts
thereof, whether or not of a secret or confidential nature.

         21. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COVENANT. The Employee agrees to and does
hereby assign, transfer and convey to the Company and its successors and
assigns, the entire right, title and interest in and to any Intellectual
Property, including, but not limited to, all ideas, designs, improvements,
inventions, discoveries and software relating to the Company's business, made,
developed or conceived by the Employee, either solely or jointly with others,
from the date of the Employment Agreement through and including the end of the
Transition Period (the "Employment Term"), whether prior or subsequent to the
execution of this Agreement, whether made, developed or conceived by the
Employee during or outside of regular working hours or on or away from the
Company's premises or at the expense of the Employee, the Company or some other
person or persons; provided, however, that as to any Intellectual Property made,
developed or conceived by the Employee after the President Termination Date,
this Section shall apply solely to Intellectual Property developed by the
Employee in the course of actually performing services for the Company under
Section 3 and that incorporates or includes any Confidential

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Information of the Company. The Employee, upon the request and at the expense of
the Company, shall and shall use the Employee's best efforts to cause any such
other person(s) to promptly and fully disclose each and all such discoveries,
inventions, improvements, ideas or innovations to the Company or any nominee(s)
thereof. The Employee, upon the request and at the expense of the Company, shall
and shall use the Employee's best efforts to cause any such other person(s) to,
assign to the Company, without further compensation therefore, all right, title
and interest in and to each and all such discoveries, inventions, improvements,
ideas or innovations which are reduced to writings, drawings or practice within
one (1) year after the end of the Employment Term As used in this Agreement, the
term "Intellectual Property" shall mean any and all inventions, improvements,
ideas and innovations, whether or not patentable, which the Employee may invent,
discover, originate, make or conceive during the Employee's services to the
Company, whether prior to or during the Employment Term, either solely or
jointly with others, and which in any way relate to or are or may be used in
connection with the business of the Company, provided, however, that as to any
Intellectual Property made, developed or conceived by the Employee after the CEO
Termination Date, this Section shall apply solely to Intellectual Property
developed by the Employee in the course of actually performing services for the
Company under Section 3 and that incorporates or includes any Confidential
Information of the Company.

         22. EXECUTION OF DOCUMENTS. The Employee agrees to execute at any time,
upon the request and at the expense of the Company, for the benefit of the
Company or any nominee(s) thereof, and all appropriate applications,
instruments, assignments and other documents, which the Company shall deem
necessary or desirable to protect its entire right, title and interest in and to
any Intellectual Property.

         23. PATENT PROTECTION. The Employee agrees, upon the request and at the
expense of the Company or any person to whom the Company may have granted or
grants rights, to execute any and all appropriate applications, assignments,
instruments and papers, which the Company shall deem necessary for the
procurement in the United States of America and foreign countries of patent
protection for Intellectual Property conveyable to the Company under Section 21,
including the executing of new, provisional, continuing and reissue
applications, to make all rightful oaths, to testify in any proceeding before
any governmental authority authorized to grant or administer patent protection
or before any court, and generally to do everything lawfully possible to aid the
Company and its successors, assigns and nominees to obtain, enjoy and enforce
proper patent protection for Intellectual Property conveyable to the Company
under Section 21. The obligations of the Employee under this Section 23 shall
apply for a period of two (2) years after the end of the Employment Period.

         24. REASSIGNMENT OF CERTAIN RIGHTS TO THE EMPLOYEE. The Company agrees
that it will release, reassign, transfer and convey to the Employee, or at the
written direction of the Employee, the Employee's successors and assigns, all
right, title and interest in and to any Intellectual Property which the Company
finds, in its sole discretion, does not relate to any matter in which the
Company may have or may reasonably be expected to develop an interest.

         25. REMEDIES.

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             (a) The Employee understands and agrees that the Company will
suffer irreparable harm in the event that the Employee breaches any of its
covenants and agreements contained in Sections 18 through 23 and 32 hereof as
well as Section 2.6 of the Employment Agreement, and that monetary damages will
be inadequate to compensate the Company for such breach. Accordingly, the
Employee agrees that, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by the
Employee of any one or more of the covenants and agreements contained in
Paragraphs 18 through 23 hereof as well as Section 2.6 of the Employment
Agreement, the Company, in addition to and not in limitation of any other
rights, remedies or damages available to the Company at law or in equity, shall
be entitled to a permanent injunction in order to prevent or to restrain any
such breach by the Employee, or by the Employee's partners, agents,
representatives, servants, employers, employees and/or any and all persons
directly or indirectly acting for or with the Employee.

             (b) The Employee covenants and agrees that if the Employee shall
violate any of the covenants and agreements contained in Paragraphs 18 through
23 and 32 hereof as well as Section 2.6 of the Employment Agreement, the Company
shall be entitled to an accounting and repayment of all profits, compensation,
commissions, remunerations or benefits which the Employee directly or indirectly
has realized and/or may realize as a result of, growing out of or in connection
with any such violations. Such remedy shall be in addition to and not in
limitation of any injunctive relief or other rights or remedies to which the
Company is or may be entitled at law, in equity or under this Agreement.

             (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 14 hereof: the
Employee covenants and agrees that if the Employee shall violate any of the
covenants and agreements contained in Sections 15, 16, 18 through 23 and 32
hereof as well as Section 2.6 of the Employment Agreement, the Employee also
shall pay all reasonable attorney fees of the Company incurred in enforcing its
rights under any such provisions.

             (d) In the event that the Employee breaches any provision of this
Agreement, the Company may, in addition to any other remedies specified herein
or available to it under applicable law, immediately terminate the Employee's
employment and the Transition Period set forth in Section 3 hereof. In the event
the Employee's employment or the Transition Period is terminated, the Company
shall only be obligated to pay the Employee those remaining semi-monthly
payments set forth in Section 5 hereof, which the parties agree shall be
considered partial but adequate consideration for the continued enforcement of
the Employee's promises, covenants and obligations set forth in Sections 8, 15,
16, 18 through 23 and 32 of this Agreement. The Employee understands that should
his employment or the Transition Period be terminated pursuant to this Section
25, or for any other reason, then all of the Employee's stock options which have
vested and have not yet been exercised may only be exercised within ninety (90)
days of the accelerated termination of the Employee's employment; and that upon
the end of the ninety (90) day period, any unexercised options shall
automatically terminate.

             (e) Should the Company determine that a breach of this Agreement
exists, it shall provide the Employee with written notice specifying the breach
and giving him five (5) business days to cure or otherwise remedy the breach
before pursuing any other action to enforce

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the terms of this Agreement. If the breach is so cured or remedied within the
five (5) day period, then it shall not be deemed a breach.

         26. STOCK OPTIONS.

             (a) All time-based vesting of the Employee's original grant of
1,182,870 incentive stock options set forth in the Employment Agreement (the
"Original Grant") shall cease effective May 5, 2000. Any and all remaining
incentive stock options (except for those options set forth in subsection (b)
hereof) that have not vested as of May 5, 2000 will terminate and be canceled.

             (b) From the Original Grant, 78,858 of the incentive stock options
will be immediately vested upon execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
expiration of the seven (7) day period referred to in Section 37 hereof.

             (c) Subject to the provisions of Section 3 and/or 25(d) hereof
which shorten such exercise period, the Employee shall be able to exercise his
vested stock options (including both incentive stock options and non-statutory
stock options) during the Transition Period and, the ninety (90) day period
commencing November 6, 2000 and terminating February 6, 2001.

             (d) If the Employee secures alternative employment as permitted by
Section 6 hereof and, as a result thereof, any of the Employee's incentive stock
options become, by operation of law, nonstatutory stock options prior to
February 6, 2001 (or such earlier date as may occur pursuant to Sections 3
and/or 25(d)), the Employee agrees to indemnify and hold harmless SoftLock, its
directors and officers, for all applicable withholding taxes on the exercise of
the Employee's stock options.

             (e) If the Employee elects to exercise any vested option the
Employee agrees to pay SoftLock in immediately available funds (i) the exercise
price to exercise his stock options granted pursuant to this Agreement or
previously pursuant to the Employment Agreement and (ii) for all withholding
taxes due upon the Employee's exercise of nonstatutory stock options. The
Employee is prohibited from exercising his stock options via cashless exercise
or cashless tax withholding by SoftLock, but may exercise his stock options via
cashless exercise through a broker or other third party in compliance with all
applicable laws.

             (f) SoftLock will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file a
registration statement in Form S-8 with respect to stock options issued under
the 1998 Stock Option Plan by August 15, 2000 in order to permit the Employee to
receive shares of SoftLock's common stock which have been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933 for any stock options exercised after such registration.

             (g) If the Employee provides a Notice of Intention to Sell under
Section 3.2 of the Restated Shareholders Agreement and the Company does not
elect to purchase all of the equities so offered, the Company shall provide him
with written confirmation of this fact in a form reasonably requested by a
broker or other financial institution with whom Employee is doing a cashless
exercise of options for such equities or any other pledgee or buyer. In
addition, the Company will request each Preferred Group (as defined in the
Restated Shareholders

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Agreement) to provide such a written confirmation, and/or a confirmation that
the Preferred Group declines to exercise its rights to participate in a sale
under said Section 3.2, or a waiver of the Preferred Group's rights under said
Section 3.2, with respect to any equities of the Employee so offered to the
Preferred Groups under that Section.

         27. FILING REQUIREMENTS. The Employee agrees to comply with all
Securities and Exchange Commission filing requirements in a timely fashion and
to provide copies of all such filings to the Company within fifteen (15) days of
filing.

         28. SOFTLOCK PROPERTY. The Employee agrees to return all Company
property in his possession or control, whether at the Company's offices or
elsewhere, including but not limited to documents, information and computers, on
May 5, 2000 or immediately upon the request of the Chief Executive Officer.

         29. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER AGREEMENTS. The Employee agrees to comply
with all agreements to which he has become a party during his tenure with the
Company, including but not limited to all confidentiality agreements and that
certain Shareholders' and Rights Agreement dated December 30, 1999 and that
certain Restated Shareholders' and Rights Agreement dated February 10, 2000.

         30. DIRECTOR STATUS. The Employee agrees to resign from the Board of
Directors of SoftLock immediately following the annual meeting of shareholders
on June 16, 2000 or earlier at the request of the Board of Directors of
SoftLock.

         31. BINDING EFFECT. The Employee agrees that this Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of his assigns, personal representatives,
heirs, executors, and administrators of the Employee and the predecessors,
affiliates, subsidiaries, officers, directors, stockholders, successors,
purchasers, assigns, agents, representatives, and employees of the Company.
Should there be a consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another
corporation or entity, or a purchase of all or substantially all of the assets
or stock of the Company by another entity, it is agreed that the surviving or
acquiring corporation will succeed to the rights and obligations of the Company
under this Agreement. The obligations of the Employee and the Company under this
Agreement shall survive the termination of the Employment Term.

         32. NON-SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES. The Employee shall not, during the
Transition Period and for a period of two (2) years after the end of the
Transition Period, solicit or seek to persuade any employee of the Company to
discontinue employment with the Company or become employed in any business
competitive, directly or indirectly, with the Company's business.

         33. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein,
this Agreement embodies the complete agreement and understanding among the
Parties and supercedes and preempts any and all prior understandings, agreements
or representations by or between the parties, written or oral except as
incorporated herein.

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         34. SEVERABILITY AND ENFORCEMENT. The Parties agree and acknowledge
that the provisions of this Agreement and those sections of the Employment
Agreement referred to in Section 8 hereof shall be devisable and separate, so
that, if any provision or provisions of this Agreement or any provisions of
those sections of the Employment Agreement referred to in Section 8 hereof are
held to be unreasonable, unlawful, or unenforceable, such holdings shall not
impair or render invalid the remaining provisions of this Agreement or any
remaining provisions of the Employment Agreement referred to in Section 8
hereof. If any of these provisions is held to be too broad or unreasonable in
duration, scope or character of restriction to be enforced, such provision shall
be modified to the extent necessary so that any provision or portion thereof
shall be legally enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law, and the
parties hereto expressly authorize any Court of competent jurisdiction to modify
and enforce any such provision or portion thereof so that any and all provisions
or portions hereof shall be enforced by such Court to the fullest extent
permitted by law as is the intention of the parties.

         35. NON-WAIVER. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no
waiver of any covenant, condition, or provision of this Agreement shall be
deemed to have been made unless expressed in writing and signed by the Party
against whom such waiver is charged. The failure of any Party to insist in any
one or more cases upon the performance of any of the provisions, covenants, or
conditions of this Agreement or to exercise any option herein contained shall
not be construed as a waiver or relinquishment for the future of any such
provisions, covenants, or conditions. The acceptance of performance of anything
required by the Agreement to be performed with knowledge of the breach or
failure of a covenant, condition, or provision hereof shall not be deemed a
waiver of such breach or failure. No waiver by any party of one breach by
another party shall be construed as a waiver with respect to any other
subsequent breach.

         36. GOVERNING LAW. THE COMPANY AND THE EMPLOYEE HEREBY AGREE THAT THIS
AGREEMENT AND ALL MATTERS, SUITS, WHETHER IN EQUITY OR AT LAW, CAUSES OF ACTION,
CLAIMS, CROSS-CLAIMS, COUNTERCLAIMS, DEMANDS, OBLIGATIONS, ACTIONS, SURVIVAL
CLAIMS, RIGHTS, DAMAGES, COSTS, ATTORNEY'S FEES OR EXPENSES OF ANY KIND OR IN
ANY WAY RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED IN
ALL RESPECTS BY THE INTERNAL LAW, AND NOT THE LAW OF CONFLICTS, OF THE
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

         37. REVIEW BY COUNSEL; REVOCATION PERIOD. The Employee represents that
he has fully reviewed the terms of this Agreement and has discussed it with his
legal counsel who negotiated its terms on his behalf. The Employee expressly
acknowledges that he has been given twenty-one (21) days to consider this
Agreement before signing it. The Employee hereby acknowledges that he fully and
completely understands and accepts the terms of this Agreement, including its
effects as a general release, and is acting of his own free will. For a period
of seven (7) days following the execution of this Agreement, the Employee may
revoke it and this Agreement shall not become effective or enforceable until the
revocation period has expired. The Employee further understands and agrees that
this Agreement must be both considered and/or revoked as a whole and that no
consideration paid or payable to the Employee, including without limitation, the
immediate vesting of those stock options set forth in Section 26(b) hereof and
any payment due to the Employee during the Transition Period and the
continuation of the

                                       11

<PAGE>

Employee's status as an employee of the Company during the Transition Period,
shall be paid or occur unless and until the revocation period expires and the
Employee has declined to revoke this Agreement.

         38. AFFIRMATION OF CONSIDERATION. The Employee expressly agrees and
understands that the immediate vesting of those stock options set forth in
Section 26(b) hereof, the continuation of the Employee's status as an employee
(subject to Sections 3 and 25(d) hereof), and all other consideration on the
part of the Company hereunder, is being offered to the Employee by the Company
as partial, but adequate consideration for the Employee's promises and covenants
set forth in this Agreement, particularly including, but without limitation,
those set forth in Sections 8, 15, 16, 18 through 23 and 32 of this Agreement.
Furthermore, the Employee expressly agrees and understands that the opportunity
for immediate vesting of the stock options set forth in Section 26(b) hereof
would not have been offered to the Employee absent his promise to abide by the
terms and conditions of this Agreement.

         39. NO RELIANCE ON THE COMPANY. The Employee represents that he has
read this Agreement, that he understands all of its terms, the he has had the
opportunity to fully discuss and disclose the terms of this Agreement with his
attorney as reflected in Paragraph 32 hereof, that in executing this Agreement
he does not rely and has not relied upon any representation or statements made
by any one of the Releasees' agents, representatives, or attorneys with regard
to the subject matter, basis or effect of this Agreement, and that he enters
into this Agreement voluntarily, of his own free will and with knowledge of its
meaning and effect, particularly but without limitation this Agreement's
operation as a general release.

         40. NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications
under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly
given on the date of service if served personally on the Party to whom notice is
to be given, or on the third day after mailing if mailed to the Party to whom
notice is to be given, by first class mail, registered or certified, postage
prepaid, and properly addressed to the Company's principal place of business or
to the Employee's last residential address recorded in the Company's records,
respectively.

         41. HEADINGS. The headings throughout this Agreement are for
convenience and reference only, and shall in no way be deemed to define, limit,
or add to the meaning of any provision of this Agreement.

         42. MODIFICATION. This Agreement and any provisions hereof, may not be
waived, changed, modified, or discharged orally, but it can be changed by an
agreement in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of any waiver,
change, modification, or discharge is sought.

         43. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed and delivered in one
or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and together
which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                      [SIGNATURES APPEAR ON FOLLOWING PAGE]

                                       12

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have hereunto executed this Agreement
as of the day and year first written above.

ATTEST/WITNESS:                               SOFTLOCK.COM, INC.,
                                              a Delaware corporation

 /s /Pamela Holscher                           /s/ Scott W. Griffith     (SEAL)
----------------------------                  ---------------------------
Name:                                         Name:    Scott W. Griffith
                                              Title:   Chief Executive Officer

                                              SOFTLOCK SERVICES, INC.,
                                              a Delaware corporation

 /s/Pamela Holscher                            /s/ Scott W. Griffith      (SEAL)
----------------------------                  ----------------------------
Name:                                         Name:    Scott W. Griffith
                                              Title:   Chief Executive Officer

                                              EMPLOYEE:

 /s/Pamela Holscher                            /s/ Keith Loris            (SEAL)
----------------------------                  ----------------------------
Name:                                         Keith Loris

                                       13<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This AGREEMENT dated as of October 1, 1999 between Superior TeleCom Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and William F. Evans (the "Executive").

The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") recognizes that the
Executive's contribution to the future growth and success of the Company is
expected to be substantial. Whereas the Executive serves as an Executive Vice
President of the Company. Whereas the Board desires to provide for the continued
employment of the Executive with the Company which the Board has determined will
reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of the Executive
to the Company as a member of the Company's management, in the best interest of
the Company and its stockholders. Whereas the Executive is willing to commit
himself to serve the Company, on the terms and conditions herein provided.

Moreover, the Board has determined that it is in the best interest of the
Company and its stockholders to assure that the Company will have the continued
dedication of the Executive, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or
occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company. The Board
believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable distraction of the
Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks created by a pending
or threatened Change of Control and to encourage the Executive's full attention
and dedication to the Company currently and in the event of any threatened or
pending Change of Control, and to provide the Executive with compensation and
benefits arrangements upon a Change of Control which ensure that the
compensation and benefits expectations of the Executive will be satisfied and
which are competitive with those of other corporations.

In order to effect the foregoing, the Company and the Executive wish to enter
into this Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth below.

Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the respective covenants and
agreements of the parties herein contained, and intending to be legally bound
hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

         1. EMPLOYMENT. The Company hereby agrees to employ the Executive, and
the Executive hereby agrees to serve the Company, on the terms and conditions
set forth herein.

         2.  TERM.

                  (a) The employment of the Executive by the Company hereunder
commenced on July 26, 1999 (the "Commencement Date") and will continue in effect
(i) until either party gives notice to the other, as provided in Section 8(d),
that it does not wish to continue the Executive's employment hereunder, (ii)
until terminated as provided in Sections 8(a), (b) or (c) or (iii) until July
26, 2002. The "Term" shall be the period commencing on the date hereof and
ending on the earlier to occur of the events specified in clause (i), (ii) or
(iii) of the preceding

<PAGE>

sentence.

                  (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) above or the provisions of
Section 8(d), the Company hereby agrees to continue the Executive in its employ,
and the Executive hereby agrees to remain in the employ of the Company subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, during any Transition Period. For
purposes of this Agreement, the Term shall, unless otherwise specified, include
any Transition Period.

         3.  CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.

                  (a) A "COC Transition Date" shall mean a date during the Term
(as defined in Section 2) on which a Change of Control (as defined in Section 4)
occurs. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if a Change
of Control occurs and if the Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated prior to the date on which the Change of Control occurs, and if it is
reasonably demonstrated by the Executive that such termination of employment (i)
was at the request of a third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to
effect a Change of Control or (ii) otherwise arose in connection with or in
anticipation of a Change of Control, then for all purposes of this Agreement the
"COC Transition Date" shall mean the date immediately prior to the date of such
termination of employment.

                  (b) A "Transition Period" is a period commencing on a COC
Transition Date and ending on the third anniversary of such date. If a
subsequent COC Transition Date is determined to occur during a Transition
Period, then such Transition Period shall continue until the third anniversary
of such subsequent COC Transition Date. If a subsequent COC Transition Date
occurs after the expiration of a Transition Period, a new Transition Period will
commence on such date and end on the third anniversary thereof.

                  (c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Agreement, for purposes of calculating payments under Section 12(f), "Applicable
Bonus" means the higher of (i) the Highest Recent Bonus (as defined in Section
12(b)(i)) and (ii) the Annual Bonus (as defined in Section 6(c)) paid or
payable, including any bonus or portion thereof which has been earned but
deferred (and annualized for any fiscal year consisting of less than twelve full
months or during which the Executive was employed for less than twelve full
months), for the most recently completed fiscal year during the Term, if any
(the "Recent Annual Bonus") (such higher amount being referred to as the
"Highest Annual Bonus"). For purposes of calculating payments under all sections
of this Agreement other than Section 12(f), Applicable Bonus means the Recent
Annual Bonus.

                  (d) A "Stock Option" is an option to purchase a number of
shares of stock of the Company at a fixed exercise price granted to the
Executive by the Stock Option Committee of the Board or any successor committee
(the "Stock Option Committee"), whether or not exercisable.

         4. CHANGE OF CONTROL. For the purpose of this Agreement, a "Change of

<PAGE>

Control" shall mean:

                   (a) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group
(within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person") of beneficial
ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act)
of voting securities of the Company where such acquisition causes such Person to
own more than 20% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding
voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); provided, however, that
for purposes of this subsection (a), the following acquisitions shall not be
deemed to result in a Change of Control: (i) any acquisition directly from the
Company, (ii) any acquisition by the Company, (iii) any acquisition by any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company
or any corporation controlled by the Company, (iv) any acquisition by any
corporation pursuant to a transaction that complies with clauses (i), (ii) and
(iii) of subsection (c) below or (v) any acquisition by Steven S. Elbaum, The
Alpine Group, Inc. ("Alpine") or any corporation in which Steven S. Elbaum or
Alpine own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding shares of
common stock or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case
may be; and provided, further, that if any Person's beneficial ownership of the
Outstanding Company Voting Securities reaches or exceeds more than 20% as a
result of a transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above, and such Person
subsequently acquires beneficial ownership of additional voting securities of
the Company, such subsequent acquisition shall be treated as an acquisition that
causes such Person to own more than 20% or more of the Outstanding Company
Voting Securities; or

                  (b) individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the
Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a
majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be
considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but
excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with
respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened
solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the
Board; or

                  (c) the consummation of a reorganization, merger or
consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company or the acquisition of assets of another corporation
("Business Combination"); excluding, however, such a Business Combination
pursuant to which (i) (x) all or substantially all of the individuals and
entities who were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Voting
Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination, (y) Steven S. Elbaum
or (z) Alpine, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of,
respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock or the combined voting
power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from
such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation that as
a result of such transaction

                                      -3-

<PAGE>

owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company's assets either
directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination
of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, (ii) no Person (excluding any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation
resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or
indirectly, more than 20% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares
of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or
the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such
corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the
Business Combination and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board
of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were
members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial
agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business
Combination; or

                  (d) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

         5.  POSITION AND DUTIES.

                  (a) The Executive shall serve as an Executive Vice President
of the Company, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, and shall
serve as the President of the Electrical Wire business segment of the Industrial
Products Group of the Company, reporting directly to the President of the
Industrial Products Group, with such responsibilities, duties and authority as
are from time to time assigned to the Executive by the Chief Executive Officer
or the Board. The Executive's duties shall be performed primarily at the
Company's office in Ft. Wayne, Indiana or such other location in which the
executive offices of the Electrical Wire business segment may be situated.

                  (b) During the Term, and excluding any periods of vacation and
sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive agrees to devote
reasonable attention and time during normal business hours to the business and
affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to discharge the
responsibilities assigned to the Executive hereunder, to use the Executive's
reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such
responsibilities. During the Term it shall not be a violation of this Agreement
for the Executive to (A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or
committees, provided that the Chief Executive Officer of the Company first
approves of such service, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or
teach at educational institutions or (C) manage personal investments, so long as
such activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of the
Executive's responsibilities as an employee of the Company in accordance with
this Agreement and are not directly competitive with the operating businesses of
the Company's subsidiaries. The Company hereby acknowledges that the Executive
shall be entitled to continue serving as a member of the board of directors of
Interim Service, Inc.

         6.  COMPENSATION AND RELATED MATTERS.

                                      -4-

<PAGE>

                  (a) SALARY. During the Term, the Company shall pay to the
Executive an annual base salary (the "Annual Base Salary") of $250,000 or such
higher rate as may from time to time be determined by the Board, such salary to
be paid in substantially equal installments in accordance with the normal
payroll practice of the Company. The Executive's Annual Base Salary shall be
increased to $265,000, effective as of January 1, 2000 and to $285,000,
effective as of January 1, 2001. Thereafter, the Executive's salary will be
reviewed at least annually and shall be increased pursuant to such review by a
percentage no less than the percentage increase in the consumer price index, as
published by Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, for the
calendar year immediately preceding such review. Any increase in Annual Base
Salary shall not serve to limit or reduce any other obligation to the Executive
under this Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced after any such
increase and the term Annual Base Salary as utilized in this Agreement shall
refer to Annual Base Salary as so increased.

                  (b) SIGN-ON BONUS. As an inducement to enter this Agreement,
the Executive shall be entitled to the following:

                           (i)  On the Commencement Date and on each of the
first two anniversaries thereof, the Company shall pay the Executive a lump sum
cash payment in the amount of $150,000 provided the Executive is employed at the
time any such payment is to be made to the Executive. Fifty percent of any such
payment shall be returned to the Company in the event the Executive shall
terminate employment with the Company without Good Reason or for Cause prior to
the first anniversary of each such payment.

                           (ii) The Stock Option Committee granted the Executive
14,000 Stock Options to purchase shares of common stock of the Company ("Company
Stock"), at an exercise price per share equal to the fair market value of the
Company Stock on the date the Stock Option was granted (the "Company Grant
Date") and becoming exercisable in two equal annual installments on the first
and second anniversaries of the Company Grant Date. The terms and conditions
applicable to Stock Options granted pursuant to this Section 6(b)(ii) shall be
set forth in a separate agreement in a form prescribed by the Company.

                           (iii) The Executive Compensation and Organization
Committee of Alpine granted the Executive 27,000 stock options to purchase
shares of the common stock of Alpine ("Alpine Stock"), at an exercise price per
share equal to the fair market value of Alpine Stock on the date the stock
option to purchase Alpine Stock was granted (the "Alpine Grant Date") and
becoming exercisable in two equal annual installments on the first and second
anniversaries of the Alpine Grant Date. Shares of Alpine Stock granted pursuant
to this Agreement shall be made available, at Alpine's election, either from
issued shares of Alpine Stock reacquired by Alpine and held in treasury or
pursuant to Alpine's 1997 Stock Option Plan (the "Alpine Option Plan"). The
terms and conditions applicable to stock options granted pursuant to this
Section 6(b)(iii) shall be set forth in a separate agreement in a form
prescribed by Alpine.

                  (c) ANNUAL BONUS. In addition to the Annual Base Salary, the
Company

                                      -5-

<PAGE>

will pay the Executive an annual cash bonus (the "Annual Bonus") within 30 days
following the last day of the Company's fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus
is awarded, based on the performance of the Company pursuant to a performance
plan established by the Company and approved by the Board or the Compensation
Committee of the Board. Such Annual Bonus shall not be less than $150,000 for
the 1999 fiscal year, $100,000 for the 2000 fiscal year and $50,000 for the 2001
fiscal year.

                  (d) STOCK OPTIONS.

                           (i)  On the Company Grant Date, the Stock Option
Committee granted the Executive 50,000 Stock Options (the "Initial Options") to
purchase shares of Company Stock, at an exercise price per share equal to the
fair market value of the Company Stock on the Company Grant Date and becoming
exercisable in three equal annual installments on the first, second and third
anniversaries of the Company Grant Date. The terms and conditions applicable to
Stock Options granted pursuant to this Section 6(d)(i) shall be set forth in a
separate agreement in a form prescribed by the Company.

                           (ii)  On the Alpine Grant Date, the Executive
Compensation and Organization Committee of Alpine granted the Executive 50,000
stock options to purchase shares of Alpine Stock, at an exercise price per share
equal to the fair market value of Alpine Stock on the Alpine Grant Date and
becoming exercisable in three equal annual installments on the first, second and
third anniversaries of the Alpine Grant Date. Shares of Alpine Stock granted
pursuant to this Agreement shall be made available, at Alpine's election, either
from issued shares of Alpine Stock reacquired by Alpine and held in treasury or
pursuant to Alpine's Option Plan. The terms and conditions applicable to stock
options granted pursuant to this Section 6(d)(ii) shall be set forth in a
separate agreement in a form prescribed by Alpine.

                  (e) EXPENSES. During the term of the Executive's employment
hereunder, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for
all reasonable and customary expenses incurred by the Executive in performing
services hereunder, including (i) all expenses of travel and living expenses
while away from home or business or at the request of and in the service of the
Company and (ii) a monthly cash automobile allowance of $2,000 covering all
expenses of maintaining and operating the automobile (including, without
limitation, cost, repairs, maintenance, insurance and parking), provided that
all such expenses are accounted for in accordance with the policies and
procedures established by the Company.

                  (f) WELFARE BENEFITS. During the Term, the Executive and/or
the Executive's family, as the case may be, shall be eligible for participation
in and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans, practices,
policies and programs provided by the Company and its affiliated companies
(including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability,
salary continuance, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel
accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent applicable generally to
other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in no
event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive
with benefits which are materially less favorable, in the

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

aggregate, than the most favorable of such plans, practices, policies and
programs in effect for the Executive as of the date hereof or, if more favorable
to the Executive, those provided generally at any time to other peer executives
of the Company and its affiliated companies. As used in this Agreement, the term
"affiliated companies" shall include any company controlled by, controlling or
under common control with the Company.

                  (g) INCENTIVE, SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLANS. During the Term,
the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all incentive, savings and
retirement plans, practices, policies and programs applicable generally to other
peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. The Executive shall
be designated as eligible to participate in The Alpine Group, Inc. Senior
Executive Retirement Plan.

                  (h) FRINGE BENEFITS.  During the Term:

                           (i) The Company shall reimburse the Executive for the
reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive in undergoing an annual physical
examination by a licensed physician.

                           (ii) The Company shall reimburse the Executive for
the reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with obtaining
professional tax and financial planning advice.

                  (i) VACATION. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled
to paid vacation of four weeks per year, any unused portion of which shall be
forfeited as of the end of each year.

                  (j) RELOCATION. The Executive shall be entitled to relocation
benefits pursuant to the Company's relocation benefit program in connection with
the Executive's relocation from Westin, Florida to Ft. Wayne, Indiana or any
other agreed relocation.

                  (k) DISABILITY OFFSET. Payments made to the Executive pursuant
to this Section 6 shall be reduced by the sum of the amounts, if any, payable to
the Executive at or prior to the time of any such payment under disability
benefit plans of the Company or under the Social Security disability insurance
program, and which amounts were not previously applied to reduce any such
payments.

         7. OFFICES. Subject to Section 5, the Executive agrees to serve without
additional compensation, if elected or appointed thereto, as a director of the
Company and any of its subsidiaries and in one or more executive offices of any
of the Company's subsidiaries, provided that the Executive is indemnified for
serving in any and all such capacities.

         8. TERMINATION. The Executive's employment hereunder may be terminated
without any breach of this Agreement only under the following circumstances:

                  (a) DEATH OR DISABILITY. The Executive's employment shall
terminate

                                      -7-

<PAGE>

automatically upon the Executive's death during the Term. If the Company
determines in good faith that Disability of the Executive has occurred during
the Term (pursuant to the definition of Disability set forth below), it may give
to the Executive written notice in accordance with Section 17 of this Agreement
of its intention to terminate the Executive's employment. In such event, the
Executive's employment with the Company shall terminate effective on the 30th
day after receipt of such notice by the Executive (the "Disability Effective
Date"), provided that, within the 30 days after such receipt, the Executive
shall not have returned to full-time performance of the Executive's duties. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" shall mean the absence of the Executive
from the Executive's duties with the Company on a full-time basis for 180
consecutive business days (or such shorter period as will suffice for the
Executive to qualify for full disability benefits under the applicable
disability insurance policy or policies of the Company) as a result of
incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total and
permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and reasonably
acceptable to the Executive or the Executive's legal representative.

                  (b) CAUSE. The Company may terminate the Executive's
employment during the Term for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause"
shall mean:

                           (i)  the conviction of the Executive of any crime
involving a felony or fraud, embezzlement or other defalcation, or

                           (ii) the willful and material breach by the Executive
of the Executive's obligations hereunder, including, without limitation, the
intentional and repeated failure to discharge responsibilities consistent with
the Executive's office and established corporate policies, direct or indirect,
employment with or active financial interest in a third party, violation of
appropriate non-compete or confidentiality agreements, unless such breach is
corrected within 30 days following delivery of the resolution provided for in
the next paragraph.

                  For purposes of this provision, no act or failure to act, on
the part of the Executive, shall be considered "willful" unless it is done, or
omitted to be done, by the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief
that the Executive's action or omission was in the best interests of the
Company. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a
resolution duly adopted by the Board or upon the instructions of the Chief
Executive Officer or a senior officer of the Company or based upon the advice of
counsel for the Company shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to
be done, by the Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the
Company. The cessation of employment of the Executive shall not be deemed to be
for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to the Executive a
copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than a
majority of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called
and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to the Executive
and the Executive is given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard
before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, the
Executive is guilty of the conduct described in subparagraph (i) or (ii) above,
and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

                                      -8-

<PAGE>

                  (c) TERMINATION BY THE EXECUTIVE FOR GOOD REASON. The
Executive's employment may be terminated by the Executive for Good Reason. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean:

                           (i)  the assignment to the Executive of any duties
materially inconsistent with the Executive's position (including status, titles
and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as
contemplated by Section 5(a) of this Agreement, or any other action by the
Company which results in a material diminution in such position, authority,
duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose isolated and inadvertent
action(s) not taken in bad faith and remedied by the Company promptly after
receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive;

                           (ii)  any material failure by the Company to comply
with any of the provisions of Section 6 or Section 12(a) or (b) of this
Agreement, other than isolated and inadvertent failure(s) not occurring in bad
faith and remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given
by the Executive;

                           (iii) any termination by the Company of the
Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly permitted
by this Agreement; or

                           (iv) any failure by the Company to comply with and
satisfy Section 16(a) of this Agreement.

                  (d)  TERMINATION ELECTION. Subject to the provisions of
Section 2(b):

                           (i)   A notice to Executive by the Company will
constitute an election by the Company to terminate the Executive's employment
pursuant to Section 2(a) 45 days following the date of delivery of the notice;

                           (ii) A notice to the Company by the Executive will
constitute an election by the Executive to terminate Executive's employment
pursuant to Section 2(a) 60 days following the date of delivery of the notice;

                           (iii) In no event, however, shall the Term of the
Executive's employment hereunder extend beyond the end of the month in which the
Executive's sixty-fifth (65th) birthday occurs.

                  (e)  NOTICE OF TERMINATION. Any termination of the Executive's
employment by the Company or by the Executive (other than termination by reason
of the Executive's death) shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination
to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 17 hereof. For purposes of
this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice which (i)
indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii)
to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination
(as defined below) is other than the

                                      -9-

<PAGE>

date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date. The good faith
failure by the Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of
Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good
Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Executive or the Company,
respectively, hereunder or preclude the Executive or the Company, respectively,
from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive's or the
Company's rights hereunder.

                  (f) DATE OF TERMINATION. "Date of Termination" shall mean (i)
if the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of death or Disability,
the date of death of the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case
may be, (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated for Cause, the date
specified in the Notice of Termination, which shall be at least 15 days after
the receipt of such notice, (iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by
either of the elections pursuant to Section 8(d) above, the applicable date of
termination determined under Section 8(d) above, and (iv) if the Executive's
employment is terminated for any other reason, the date on which a Notice of
Termination is given; provided, however, that, if within 30 days after any
Notice of Termination is given the party receiving such Notice of Termination
notifies the other party that a dispute exists concerning the termination, the
Date of Termination shall be the date on which the dispute is finally
determined, either by mutual written agreement of the parties, by a binding and
final arbitration award or by a final judgment, order or decree of a court of
competent jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom having expired and no
appeal having been perfected).

         9.  COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION.

                  (a) DISABILITY. If the Executive's employment is terminated by
reason of the Executive's Disability during the Term, this Agreement shall
terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than for payment
of Accrued Obligations (as defined in Section 12(f)(i)a.) and the timely payment
or provision of Other Benefits (as defined in Section 12(f)(iv)). Accrued
Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days
of the Date of Termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall
maintain, at the Company's sole expense, in full force and effect, for the
continued benefit of the Executive for twelve months following the Disability
Effective Date, all employee welfare benefit plans and programs in which the
Executive was entitled to participate immediately prior to the Disability
Effective Date provided that the Executive's continued participation is possible
under the general terms and provisions of such plans and programs. In the event
that the Executive's participation in any such plan or program is barred, the
Company shall arrange to provide the Executive with benefits substantially
similar to those which the Executive would otherwise have been entitled to
receive under such plans and programs from which his continued participation is
barred.

                  (b) DEATH. If the Executive's employment is terminated by
reason of the Executive's death during the Term, this Agreement shall terminate
without further obligations to the Executive's legal representatives under this
Agreement, other than for (i) payment of Accrued Obligations (as defined in
Section 12(f)(i)a.), calculated as if the Executive's employment had

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

continued for a period of 12 months following the date of death; and (ii) the
timely payment or provision of Other Benefits (as defined in Section 12(f)(iv)).
Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive's estate or beneficiary, as
applicable, in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination.

                  (c) CAUSE. If the Executive's employment shall be terminated
for Cause during the Term, this Agreement shall terminate without further
obligations to the Executive other than the obligation to pay to the Executive
(i) his Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination, (ii) the amount of
any compensation previously deferred by the Executive subject to the terms of
any plan or program, and (iii) Other Benefits, in each case to the extent
theretofore unpaid.

                  (d) VOLUNTARY TERMINATION. If the Executive voluntarily
terminates employment during the Term, excluding a termination for Good Reason,
this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive,
other than for Accrued Obligations, the timely payment or provision of Other
Benefits and the amount of any compensation previously deferred by the Executive
subject to the terms of any plan or program. In such case, all Accrued
Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days
of the Date of Termination.

                  (e) TERMINATION ELECTION BY COMPANY; TERMINATION BY EXECUTIVE
FOR GOOD REASON. If the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company
under Section 8(d)(i) hereof or by the Executive under Section 8(c) hereof, the
Company shall pay to the Executive a lump sum in cash within 10 days of the Date
of Termination in an amount equal to the present value (using the prime rate of
interest as the applicable discount factor) of the Annual Base Salary as set
forth in Section 6(a), the amounts set forth in Section 6(b)(i) and the minimum
Annual Bonuses as set forth in Section 6(c) that would be payable between the
Date of Termination and July 26, 2002. In addition, (i) all unvested Stock
Options and stock options to purchase shares of Alpine Stock provided for
respectively under Sections 6(b)(ii) and 6(b)(iii) shall be immediately vested:
and (ii) the Executive shall be entitled to receive and/or exercise all vested
Stock Options and stock options to purchase shares of Alpine Stock in accordance
with terms of such awards.

         10. NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent
or limit the Executive's continuing or future participation in any plan,
program, policy or practice provided by the Company or any of its affiliated
companies and for which the Executive may qualify, nor, subject to Section 21,
shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as the Executive may
have under any contract or agreement with the Company or any of its affiliated
companies. Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise
entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of or any
contract or agreement with the Company or any of its affiliated companies at or
subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with such
plan, policy, practice or program or contract or agreement except as explicitly
modified by this Agreement.

                                      -11-

<PAGE>

         11. FULL SETTLEMENT. The Company's obligation to make the payments
provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations
hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment,
defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against the
Executive or others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other
employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable
to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement. Unless the
Executive's termination of employment gives rise to a right to payments and
welfare benefits described in Section 12, if the Executive secures other
employment, any welfare benefits the Company is required to provide to the
Executive following termination of the Executive's employment shall be secondary
to those provided by another employer (if any). However, if the Executive's
employment is terminated such that the Executive has a right to payments and
welfare benefits under Section 12, such amounts shall not be reduced whether or
not the Executive obtains other employment.

         12. CHANGE OF CONTROL PROVISIONS. The following provisions of this
Section 12 shall apply notwithstanding any contrary or inconsistent provision in
any other section of this Agreement, and all other provisions of this Agreement,
to the extent they may be contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of
this Section 12, are hereby made subject to the provisions of this Section 12,
which shall be paramount in all respects, provided, however, that the provisions
of Section 3(c) shall apply, where applicable.

                  (a) POSITION AND DUTIES. During any Transition Period, the
Executive's position (including status, offices, titles and reporting
requirements), authority, duties and responsibilities shall be at least
commensurate in all material respects with the most significant of those held,
exercised and assigned at any time during the 120-day period immediately
preceding a COC Transition Date, and the Executive's services shall be performed
at the location where the Executive was employed immediately preceding a COC
Transition Date.

                  (b) COMPENSATION AND RELATED MATTERS.

                           (i) ANNUAL BONUS.  For each fiscal year ending during
any Transition Period, the Company shall pay to the Executive an Annual Bonus in
cash at least equal to the Executive's highest cash bonus under the Company's
annual cash bonus program, or any comparable cash bonus under any predecessor or
successor plan, for the last three full fiscal years prior to the latest COC
Transition Date (the "Highest Recent Bonus"). Each such Annual Bonus shall be
paid no later than 60 days following the commencement of the fiscal year next
following the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus is awarded, unless the
Executive shall elect to defer the receipt of such Annual Bonus.

                           (ii) WELFARE BENEFITS.  During any Transition Period,
the benefits to which the Executive and/or the Executive's family are entitled
to pursuant to Section 6(f) shall be no less favorable, in the aggregate, than
the most favorable of such plans, practices, policies and programs in effect for
the Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the
latest COC Transition Date or, if more favorable to the Executive,

                                      -12-

<PAGE>

those provided generally at any time after the latest COC Transition Date to
other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.

                           (iii)  INCENTIVE, SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLANS.
During any Transition Period, the plans, practices, policies and programs in
which the Executive is entitled to participate pursuant to Section 6(g) shall
provide the Executive with incentive opportunities (measured with respect to
both regular and special incentive opportunities, to the extent, if any, that
such distinction is applicable), savings opportunities and retirement benefit
opportunities, in each case, at least as favorable, in the aggregate, as the
most favorable of those provided by the Company and its affiliated companies for
the Executive under such plans, practices, policies and programs as of the date
hereof or if more favorable to the Executive, those provided generally at any
time to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.

                           (iv) FRINGE BENEFITS.  During any Transition Period,
the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits, including, without
limitation, the benefits described in Section 6(h), in accordance with the most
favorable plans, practices, programs and policies of the Company and its
affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 120-day
period immediately preceding the latest COC Transition Date or, if more
favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with
respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.

                            (v)  OFFICE AND SUPPORT STAFF. During any Transition
Period, the Executive shall be entitled to an office or offices of a size and
with furnishings and other appointments, and to exclusive personal secretarial
and other assistance, at least equal to the most favorable of the foregoing
provided to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies at any
time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the latest COC Transition
Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as provided generally at any time
thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies.

                           (vi) VACATION. During any Transition Period, the
Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the most
favorable plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company and its
affiliated companies as in effect for the Executive at any time during the
120-day period immediately preceding the latest COC Transition Date or, if more
favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with
respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.

                  (c) GOOD REASON. During any Transition Period, for purposes of
this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean:

                           (i)  the assignment to the Executive of any duties
inconsistent in any respect with the Executive's position (including status,
titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as
contemplated by Sections 5(a) or 12(a) of this Agreement, or any other action by
the Company which results in a diminution in such position, authority,

                                      -13-

<PAGE>

duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose isolated, insubstantial
and inadvertent action(s) not taken in bad faith and remedied by the Company
promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive;

                           (ii)  any failure by the Company to comply with any
of the provisions of Section 6 or Section 12(a) or (b) of this Agreement, other
than isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure(s) not occurring in bad
faith and remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given
by the Executive;

                           (iii) any termination by the Company of the
Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement;
or

                           (iv) any failure by the Company to comply with and
satisfy Section 16(a) of this Agreement.

                  For purposes of this Section 12(c), any good faith
determination of "Good Reason" made by the Executive shall be conclusive. A
termination by the Executive for any reason during the 30-day period immediately
following the date which is six months after any COC Transition Date shall be
deemed to be a termination for Good Reason for all purposes of this Agreement.

                  (d) COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION FOR DISABILITY. If the
Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the Executive's Disability
during any Transition Period, then with respect to the provision of Other
Benefits, the term Other Benefits as utilized in Section 9(a) shall include, and
the Executive shall be entitled after the Disability Effective Date to receive,
disability and other benefits at least equal to the most favorable of those
generally provided by the Company and its affiliated companies to disabled
executives and/or their families in accordance with such plans, programs,
practices and policies relating to disability, if any, as in effect generally
with respect to the most senior executives and their families at any time during
the 120-day period immediately preceding the latest COC Transition Date or, if
more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as in effect at
any time thereafter generally with respect to other peer executives of the
Company and its affiliated companies and their families.

                  (e) COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION BY DEATH. If the Executive's
death occurs during any Transition Period, then with respect to the provision of
Other Benefits, the term Other Benefits as utilized in Section 9(b) shall
include, without limitation, and the Executive's estate and/or beneficiaries
shall be entitled to receive, benefits at least equal to the most favorable
benefits provided by the Company and its affiliated companies to the estates and
beneficiaries of the most senior executives of the Company and its affiliated
companies under such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to death
benefits, if any, as in effect with respect to the most senior executives and
their beneficiaries at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding
the latest COC Transition Date or, if more favorable to the Executive's estate
and/or the Executive's beneficiaries, as in effect on the date of the

                                      -14-

<PAGE>

Executive's death with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies and their beneficiaries.

                  (f) COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY WITHOUT CAUSE
OR FOR GOOD REASON. If, during any Transition Period, the Company shall
terminate the Executive's employment other than for Cause or Disability or the
Executive shall terminate employment for Good Reason:

                           (i) the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump
sum in cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination the aggregate of the
following amounts:

                                    a.  the sum of (1) the Executive's Annual
Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid,
(2) the product of (x) the Applicable Bonus and (y) a fraction, the numerator of
which is the number of days in the current fiscal year through the Date of
Termination, and the denominator of which is 365 and (3) any compensation
previously deferred by the Executive (together with any accrued interest or
earnings thereon) and any accrued vacation pay, in each case to the extent not
theretofore paid (the sum of the amounts described in clauses (1), (2), and (3)
shall be referred to in this Agreement as the "Accrued Obligations"); and

                                    b.  the amount equal to the product of (1)
two and (2) the sum of (x) the Executive's Annual Base Salary and (y) the
Highest Annual Bonus; and

                                    c.  an amount equal to the excess of (a) the
actuarial equivalent of the benefit under the Company's defined benefit
retirement plans, including any excess or supplemental retirement plan in which
the Executive participates (together, the "Retirement Plans") (utilizing
actuarial assumptions no less favorable to the Executive than those in effect
under the Retirement Plans immediately prior to the latest COC Transition Date),
which the Executive would receive if the Executive's employment continued for
two years after the Date of Termination assuming for this purpose that all
accrued benefits are fully vested, and, assuming that the Executive's
compensation in both of the two years is that required by Section 6(a) and
Section 6(b), over (b) the actuarial equivalent of the Executive's actual
benefit (paid or payable), if any, under the Retirement Plans as of the Date of
Termination; and

                                    d. An amount equal to the then present value
of the lump sum sign-on bonus which would have been payable under Section
6(b)(i), less any portion thereof previously paid (using the prime rate of
interest as the applicable discount factor).

                           (ii) for two years after the Executive's Date of
Termination, or such longer period as may be provided by the terms of the
appropriate plan, program, practice or policy, the Company shall continue
benefits to the Executive and/or the Executive's family at least equal to those
which would have been provided to them in accordance with the plans, programs,
practices and policies described in Section 6(f) of this Agreement if the
Executive's employment had not been terminated or, if more favorable to the
Executive, as in effect generally

                                      -15-

<PAGE>

at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and
its affiliated companies and their families, provided, however, that if the
Executive becomes reemployed with another employer and is eligible to receive
medical or other welfare benefits under another employer provided plan, the
medical and other welfare benefits described herein shall be secondary to those
provided under such other plan during such applicable period of eligibility. For
purposes of determining eligibility (but not the time of commencement of
benefits) of the Executive for retiree benefits pursuant to such plans,
practices, programs and policies, the Executive shall be considered to have
remained employed until two years after the Date of Termination and to have
retired on the last day of such period;

                           (iii) the Company shall, at its sole expense as
incurred, provide the Executive with outplacement services the scope and
provider of which shall be selected by the Executive in his sole discretion, and
which shall include the provision of reasonable office space and secretarial
assistance, provided, that the Company's responsibility under this clause (iii)
shall be limited to $30,000;

                           (iv) to the extent not theretofore paid or provided,
the Company shall timely pay or provide to the Executive any other amounts or
benefits required to be paid or provided or which the Executive is eligible to
receive under any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or agreement of
the Company and its affiliated companies (such other amounts and benefits shall
be referred to in this Agreement as the "Other Benefits");

                           (v) the Company shall cause all Stock Options and
restricted shares of Company Stock held by or for the benefit of the Executive
to become immediately fully vested and/or exercisable; and

                           (vi) Alpine shall cause all stock options to purchase
shares of Alpine Stock held by or for the benefit of the Executive to become
immediately fully vested and/or exercisable.

         13.  LEGAL FEES.

                  (a) Following any termination of the Executive's employment
that gives rise to a right to payments and benefits under Section 12, the
Company shall pay as incurred, to the full extent permitted by law, all legal
fees and expenses which the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any
contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, the Executive or
others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision
of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof (including as a result
of any contest by the Executive about the amount of any payment pursuant to this
Agreement), plus in each case interest on any delayed payment at the applicable
Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Code.

                  (b) Following any termination of the Executive's employment
other than a termination of employment described in paragraph (a), above, the
Company shall promptly

                                      -16-
<PAGE>

reimburse the Executive, to the extent permitted by law, for all reasonable
legal fees and expenses reasonably incurred by the Executive as a result of any
contest by the Company or the Executive of the validity or enforceability of, or
liability under, any provisions of this Agreement or any guarantee of
performance thereof (including as a result of any contest by the Executive about
the amount of any payment pursuant to this Agreement), plus in each case
interest on any delayed payment at the applicable Federal rate provided for in
Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Code, provided, that such reimbursement shall be
limited to fees and expenses incurred in connection with the contest of issues
on which the Executive substantially prevails.

         14.  CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.

                  (a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding
and except as set forth below, in the event it shall be determined that any
payment or distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive
(whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms
of this Agreement or otherwise, but determined without regard to any additional
payments required under this Section 14) (a "Payment") would be subject to the
excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or penalties are
incurred by the Executive with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax,
together with any such interest and penalties, are hereinafter collectively
referred to as the "Excise Tax"), then the Executive shall be entitled to
receive an additional payment (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that
after payment by the Executive of all taxes (including any interest or penalties
imposed with respect to such taxes), including, without limitation, any income
taxes (and any interest and penalties imposed with respect thereto) and Excise
Tax imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive retains an amount of the
Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 14(a), if it shall be
determined that the Executive is entitled to a Gross-Up Payment, but that the
Payments do not exceed 110% of the greatest amount (the "Reduced Amount") that
could be paid to the Executive such that the receipt of Payments would not give
rise to any Excise Tax, then no Gross-Up Payment shall be made to the Executive
and the Payments, in the aggregate, shall be reduced to the Reduced Amount.

                  (b) Subject to the provisions of Section 14(c), all
determinations required to be made under this Section 14, including whether and
when a Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and
the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be made
by Arthur Andersen LLP or such other certified public accounting firm as may be
designated by the Executive (the "Accounting Firm") which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business
days of the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a Payment,
or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. In the event that the
Accounting Firm is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity
or group effecting the Change of Control, the Executive shall appoint another
nationally recognized accounting firm to make the determinations required
hereunder (which accounting firm shall then be referred to as the Accounting
Firm hereunder). All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne
solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant to this
Section 14, shall be paid by the Company to

                                      -17-

<PAGE>

the Executive within 5 days of the receipt of the Accounting Firm's
determination. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon
the Company and the Executive. As a result of the uncertainty in the application
of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the initial determination by the
Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments which will not
have been made by the Company should have been made ("Underpayment"), consistent
with the calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that the
Company exhausts its remedies pursuant to Section 14(c) and the Executive
thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm
shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and any such
Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of the
Executive.

                  (c) The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any
claim by the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the
payment by the Company of the Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given
as soon as practicable but no later than 10 business days after the Executive is
informed in writing of such claim and shall apprise the Company of the nature of
such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid. The
Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the 30-day period
following the date on which it gives such notice to the Company (or such shorter
period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim
is due). If the Company notifies the Executive in writing prior to the
expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, the Executive
shall:

                           (i) give the Company any information reasonably
requested by the Company relating to such claim,

                           (ii) take such action in connection with contesting
such claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time,
including, without limitation, accepting legal representation with respect to
such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the Company,

                           (iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in
order effectively to contest such claim, and

                           (iv) permit the Company to participate in any
proceedings relating to such claim;

                  provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay
directly all costs and expenses (including additional interest and penalties)
incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold the
Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax
(including interest and penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of
such representation and payment of costs and expenses. Without limitation on the
foregoing provisions of this Section 14(c), the Company shall control all
proceedings taken in connection with such contest and, at its sole option, may
pursue or forgo any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and
conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and

                                      -18-
<PAGE>

may, at its sole option, either direct the Executive to pay the tax claimed and
sue for a refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and the
Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination before any
administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more
appellate courts, as the Company shall determine; provided, however, that if the
Company directs the Executive to pay such claim and sue for a refund, the
Company shall advance the amount of such payment to the Executive, on an
interest-free basis and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an
after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest or
penalties with respect thereto) imposed with respect to such advance or with
respect to any imputed income with respect to such advance; and further provided
that any extension of the statute of limitations relating to payment of taxes
for the taxable year of the Executive with respect to which such contested
amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested amount.
Furthermore, the Company's control of the contest shall be limited to issues
with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable hereunder and the
Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other
issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority.

                  (d) If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount
advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 14(c), the Executive becomes
entitled to receive any refund with respect to such claim, the Executive shall
(subject to the Company's complying with the requirements of Section 14(c))
promptly pay to the Company the amount of such refund (together with any
interest paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto). If, after the
receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the Company pursuant to
Section 14(c), a determination is made that the Executive shall not be entitled
to any refund with respect to such claim and the Company does not notify the
Executive in writing of its intent to contest such denial of refund prior to the
expiration of 30 days after such determination, then such advance shall be
forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid and the amount of such advance
shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of Gross-Up Payment required to
be paid.

         15.  NONCOMPETITION.

                  (a) So long as the Executive is employed by the Company under
this Agreement and unless this Agreement is terminated for any reason, the
Executive agrees not to enter into competitive endeavors.

                  (b) During the Term and any period thereafter during which or
in respect of which the Executive receives payments from the Company under
Section 9 or Section 12, the Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for
the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or
data relating to the Company or any of its affiliated companies, and their
respective businesses, which shall have been obtained by the Executive during
the Executive's employment by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and
which shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by the
Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation of this Agreement).
After termination of the Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive
shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company or as may otherwise
be required by law or legal process, communicate or divulge any

                                      -19-

<PAGE>

such information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those
designated by it. In no event shall an asserted violation of the provisions of
this Section 15 constitute a basis for deferring or withholding any amounts
otherwise payable to the Executive under Section 12 of this Agreement.

         16.  SUCCESSORS; BINDING AGREEMENT.

                  (a) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in
form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, to expressly assume and agree
to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the
Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.
Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption and agreement prior to the
effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of the Agreement and
shall entitle the Executive to compensation from the Company in the same amount
and on the same terms as he would be entitled to hereunder if he terminated his
employment for Good Reason, except that for purposes of implementing the
foregoing, the date on which any such succession becomes effective shall be
deemed the Date of Termination. As used in the Agreement, Company shall mean the
Company as herein before defined and any successor to its business and/or assets
as aforesaid which executes and delivers the agreement provided for in this
Section 16 or which otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of
this Agreement by operation of law.

                  (b) This Agreement and all rights of the Executive hereunder
shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's personal or
legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs,
distributees, devises and legatees. If the Executive should die while any
amounts would still be payable to him hereunder if he had continued to live, all
such amounts unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's devise, legatee, or other
designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive's estate.

         17. NOTICE. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and
all other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or (unless otherwise
specified) mailed by United States certified or registered mail, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

                  If to the Executive, to the address specified below the
Executive's name at the end of this Agreement.

                  If to the Company:        Superior TeleCom Inc.
                                            1790 Broadway
                                            15th Floor
                                            New York, NY  10019-1412
                                            Attention:  Chief Executive Officer

                                      -20-

<PAGE>

                  or to such other address as any party may have furnished to
the others in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of
address shall be effective only upon receipt.

         18. MISCELLANEOUS. No provisions of this Agreement may be modified,
waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to
in writing signed by the Executive and such officer of the Company as may be
authorized by the Board. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any
breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or
provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed
a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any
prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise,
express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by
either party which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement. The validity,
interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed
by the laws of New York without regard to its conflicts of law principles.

         19. VALIDITY. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or
provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and
effect.

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

         21. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of
the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and
supersedes all prior agreements, promises, covenants, arrangements,
communications, representations or warranties, whether oral or written, by any
officers employee or representative of any party hereto; and any prior agreement
of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein is
hereby terminated and cancelled, provided, however, that this Agreement should
not supersede any existing benefit or agreement which provides such benefit,
including, without limitation, life or disability insurance agreements and
retirement plans currently in effect.

                                      -21-

<PAGE>

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

<TABLE>
<S>                                           <C>

           ATTEST:                            SUPERIOR TELECOM INC.

           --------------------------         ----------------------------
           Stewart H. Wahrsager, Esq.         Steven S. Elbaum
           Corporate Secretary                Chairman and Chief Executive
                                              Officer

           ATTEST:                            EXECUTIVE

           --------------------------         -----------------------------
           Stewart H. Wahrsager, Esq.         William F. Evans
           Corporate Secretary
                                              Address:______________________

                                                      ______________________

</TABLE>

                                      -22-

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