Document:

SEVERANCE, RELEASE AND COOPERATION AGREEMENT

     THIS AGREEMENT,  made as of the 16th day of February, 2000, is entered into
by and between PAUL M. GALES  (hereafter  "Executive")  and EMPLOYEE  SOLUTIONS,
INC.,  (hereafter  "Employer")  and arises out of the  cessation of  Executive's
employment with Employer.  In consideration of the material  promises  contained
herein, the parties agree as follows:

     1. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS. Employer agrees to pay or provide, or arrange
for the payment or provision of the following:

          a. BALANCE OF SALARY.  Employer will continue to pay Executive  salary
at a monthly rate of $17,500 through April 7, 2000 in accordance with Employer's
normal bi-weekly payroll practices.

          b.  SEVERANCE  PAYMENTS.  Executive will also be entitled to severance
payments of an  additional  $105,000  payable in thirteen  (13) equal  bi-weekly
installments of $8,076.92  (less legally  required  withholdings)  in accordance
with Employer's normal payroll practices beginning with the first regular payday
following the Termination Date (as defined in Section 2.a.). For example, if the
Termination  Date is April 7, 2000, the payments under this section shall extend
from bi-weekly pay period ending April 22, 2000 through and including pay period
ending October 7, 2000.

          c. FRINGE BENEFITS.  Employer shall continue coverage of Executive and
Executive's  dependents under its medical and dental plans at Employer's expense
through the earlier of October 2000, or the date that Executive  commences other
employment  and is eligible to commence  group  medical  coverage in  connection
therewith,  (unless  continuation  of  coverage  under  Employer's  plans is not
feasible,  in which event Employer shall provide  substantially similar benefits
at  its  expense  during  such  periods).  Employer  will  continue  to  provide
Executive's  automobile  expense  allowance  on the first pay date of each month
through the earlier of (1) April 2000 or, (2) the date that Executive  commences
other full-time  employment or, (3) the Termination Date if the Termination Date
is earlier than April 7, 2000.  Upon the first  occurrence of any of these three
events,  Employer  shall have no further  obligation  for payment of  automobile
expense allowance.

          d. ACCRUED BUT UNUSED VACATION.  Upon the first pay date following the
Termination Date,  Employer will pay Executive a lump sum amount attributable to
Executive's  accrued  vacation  days that  remain  unused as of the date of this
Agreement. Such amount (subject to withholding for applicable federal, state and
local taxes) will be equal to $17,769.22.

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<PAGE>
          e.  REIMBURSEMENT  OF  BUSINESS  EXPENSES.   Employer  will  reimburse
Executive  for  business  expenses  incurred by  Executive  in the course of his
employment with Employer and submitted to Employer in accordance with Employer's
policies and practices regarding expense reimbursements.

          f.  EXPENSES.  Each party  shall be  responsible  for its own fees and
expenses (including legal fees) in connection with this Agreement.

If  Executive  dies  prior to  receiving  all  amounts  payable  hereunder,  all
remaining  amounts  will be paid to  Executive's  spouse  or, if she is not then
living, to his estate.

     2. RESIGNATION.

          a. This Agreement will reflect  Executive's  resignation as Employer's
Senior Vice  President and  Corporate  Secretary and any office or position with
any of Employer's  subsidiaries,  effective as of January 6, 2000. Employer will
take with all  reasonable  speed those  actions  necessary so that  Executive is
removed  as a  "controlling  person" of  Employer  and/ or its  subsidiaries  in
Florida, Texas and any other applicable  jurisdiction.  The Employment Agreement
dated March 19, 1997 between Employer and Executive is hereby terminated for all
purposes.  Executive's employment with Employer shall terminate automatically on
April 7, 2000 or such  earlier date as is specified by Executive in writing (the
"Termination  Date"),  provided that the reason for Executive's  notification of
said earlier  termination  date shall be exclusively due to his  commencement of
employment with a new employer.  If Executive specifies a Termination Date prior
to April 7, 2000,  there shall be no change to the aggregate  amount of payments
due under  Section 1.a.  and 1.b. of this  Agreement or the method of payment of
such amount, but any remaining amounts due under Section 1.a. after such earlier
specified  termination  date shall be  characterized  as  severance  rather than
salary.  If Executive  specifies an earlier  termination date in accordance with
the provisions above,  payments for automobile  expense  allowance  described in
Section 1.c. will cease as of the termination date so specified.

          b.  Employer  will not  disclose  to any third  party any  information
relating to Executive's  resignation other than the information  contained in an
email  distributed  to all of  Employer's  employees  on January 7, 2000 or such
additional information as may otherwise be required by law.

          c.  Employer  will  continue to retain  Executive  for  corporate  and
securities  legal  services  subject to and  pursuant  to an  engagement  letter
mutually  agreed upon by Executive  and Employer  and  provided  that  Executive
affiliates  with a law firm  acceptable to Employer (in a reasonable time frame)
with an established practice in such areas.

          d. Employer shall direct  employees  assigned to answer  telephones to
advise  callers who ask for  Executive  that  Executive  has  resigned  and that
Executive is continuing to provide post-resignation corporate and securities law

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services to Employer,  and to provide  callers who wish to speak with  Executive
other than with respect to Employer's  business with  Executive's home telephone
number (or such other number as Executive may specify).

          e. Employer further agrees that it will maintain Executive's personnel
records  and  personnel  information  in  confidence  and will not  release  any
information  other than Executive's  dates of employment by the Employer and job
title to any person without the express written consent of Executive,  except as
required by law. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, Employer will provide a
positive reference for Executive with respect to Executive's  securities-related
corporate services if requested by Executive.

          f. Employer (meaning,  solely for this purpose,  Employer's  directors
and  executive  officers  and  other  individuals  authorized  to make  official
communications on Employer's behalf) will not disparage Executive or Executive's
performance or otherwise  take any action which could  reasonably be expected to
adversely affect  Executive's  personal or professional  reputation.  Similarly,
Executive will not disparage Employer or any of its directors,  officers, agents
or employees or otherwise take any action which could  reasonably be expected to
adversely  affect the personal or professional  reputation of Employer or any of
its directors, officers, agents or employees.

     3. STOCK  OPTIONS.  Executive's  current  stock  options,  as  evidenced in
Employer's minutes or grant letters,  shall remain outstanding pursuant to their
terms for 90 days past the Termination Date. Options that are exercisable on the
Termination Date shall remain exercisable during such 90-day period.

     4.  RELEASE.  Executive  hereby fully and forever  releases and  discharges
Employer  and  its  parents,   affiliates   and   subsidiaries,   including  all
predecessors and successors, assigns, officers, directors, trustees, executives,
agents and attorneys,  past and present  (collectively,  the "Released Parties")
from any and all  claims,  demands,  liens,  agreements,  contracts,  covenants,
actions,  suits,  causes of action,  obligations,  controversies,  debts, costs,
expenses,  damages,  judgments,  orders and  liabilities,  of  whatever  kind or
nature,  direct or  indirect,  in law,  equity or  otherwise,  whether  known or
unknown,  arising out of Executive's  employment by Employer or the  termination
thereof,  including,  but not  limited  to,  any  claims for relief or causes of
action under federal, state or local statute,  ordinance or regulation regarding
discrimination  in  employment  and any  claims,  demands or actions  based upon
alleged wrongful or retaliatory  discharge or breach of contract under any state
or federal law. By this  agreement  Executive  affirms that he is releasing  all
claims for age  discrimination  or any other legal rights or claims  pursuant to
the Age  Discrimination  in Employment Act as amended by the age  discrimination
provisions of  applicable  state laws that exist as of the date of the execution
of  this  agreement,   whether  presently  known  or  hereafter  discovered.  In
connection  with  this  release  for any or all  claims  of age  discrimination,
Executive  has been  given  the  opportunity  to  consider  entering  into  this
Agreement  for  twenty-one   (21)  days   preceding  its  execution.   Executive
acknowledges  that he has had the  opportunity  to be represented by independent
legal  counsel  prior  to the  execution  of  this  Agreement,  as  well  as the
opportunity  to  consult  with  legal  counsel  as  to  the  meaning  and  legal
significance  of this  Agreement.  The foregoing  release does not extend to (i)

                                       -3-
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claims solely to enforce  Employer's  obligations under this Agreement;  or (ii)
claims solely to enforce the Non-Director  Officer's  Indemnification  Agreement
between   Employer  and  Executive  dated  November  21,  1996,  or  claims  for
indemnification under any applicable law of Employer's Articles of Incorporation
or  By-laws  (collectively  with  the  Non-Director  Officer's   Indemnification
Agreement, the "Indemnification Agreements").

     5.  REVOCATION.  Executive  understands  that he may revoke this  agreement
within  seven  (7) days  after the  agreement  has been  signed  by all  parties
("Revocation Period"). During this Revocation Period, Executive understands that
no  payment  will be made  under  Section  1.b of this  agreement,  even it said
payment  would  otherwise  have been paid in  accordance  with the terms of that
section.  Executive  further  understands  that if the  agreement is not revoked
within or by the  conclusion of the  Revocation  Period,  the agreement  will be
effective and  enforceable.  In order to revoke this  agreement,  Executive must
deliver to Employer at 6225 N. 24th Street,  Phoenix,  Arizona  85016,  a signed
letter or other  written  notice  stating  that he is  canceling or revoking the
agreement.  Executive also understands that under these circumstances,  Employer
has no obligation to pay any of the consideration described in Section 1.b or in
Section 1.c if the  consideration  in Section 1.c would have otherwise  occurred
absent the revocation, after the Termination Date.

     6. COOPERATION  AGREEMENT.  Executive further agrees that he will cooperate
fully with  Employer  and its  counsel  with  respect  to any matter  (including
litigation,  investigations,  or governmental  proceedings) with which Executive
was involved in his capacity as General  Counsel or Corporate  Secretary  during
the term of employment  with  Employer.  Executive  will be available to perform
such  services  on a  reasonable  basis to the  extent  requested  by  Employer,
including  on  a  full-time  basis  as  needed,   until  the  Termination  Date.
Thereafter,  Executive  will be available to perform such services to the extent
reasonably  requested  by  Employer  for up to an  average of 15 hours per month
through  October 7, 2000.  The times and  places  for the  performance  of these
services  will be mutually  agreeable  to the parties,  and  Employer  agrees to
cooperate with Executive in scheduling  such services to minimize  disruption of
any new employment or similar  relationship  which Executive may have commenced.
Subject to the foregoing sentence,  Executive shall render such cooperation in a
timely  manner on  reasonable  notice  from  Employer,  and  agrees to travel as
reasonably  requested by Employer in connection  with  performing such services.
Employer will reimburse Executive's  reasonable  out-of-pocket expenses incurred
in  connection  with  providing  such  services in  accordance  with  Employer's
policies as in effect from time to time.

     7.  RETURN OF  EMPLOYER  PROPERTY.  Employer  acknowledges  receipt  of all
documents  and  files  from  Executive,  as well as  Employer  property  such as
Executive's personal digital assistant. Employer acknowledges that Executive may
possess  copies  of  Employer-related  documents  from time to time as needed to
provide requested services.  On or prior to the earlier of the Termination Date,
or the date that Executive commences other employment,  Executive will return to
Employer the cellular phone and accessories  previously  furnished to Executive.
The business use (and incidental personal use) of the cellular phone during this
period is intended for the Executive  only,  as reasonable  and necessary in the
performance of services for the Employer.  Other office  equipment  purchased by
Employer  for  Executive's  use (e.g.  a laptop  computer  and docking  station,
discarded  desktop  computer and fax machine) will become  property of Executive
and need not be returned to Employer.

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<PAGE>
     8.  EXECUTIVE'S  ACKNOWLEDGMENT.  Executive has fully reviewed the terms of
this Agreement, acknowledges that he understands the terms of this Agreement and
states that he is entering into this Agreement knowingly and voluntarily.

     9. EXECUTIVE'S SUCCESSORS. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of the parties hereto,  their  representatives,  agents and assigns,
and as to Executive,  his spouse, heirs,  legatees,  administrators and personal
representatives.

     10.  ENTIRE  AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES.  This  Agreement,  together with the
Indemnification Agreements and Employee's  confidentiality/noncompete agreement,
constitutes  the exclusive  and complete  agreement  between the parties  hereto
relating to the subject  matter  hereof.  No amendment of this Agreement will be
binding unless in writing and signed by the parties.

     11.  SEVERABILITY.  The provisions of this Agreement are severable.  If any
provision  or the  scope of any  provision  is found to be  unenforceable  or is
modified  by a court of  competent  jurisdiction,  the other  provisions  or the
affected provisions as so modified shall remain fully valid and enforceable.

     12.  GOVERNING  LAW.  This  Agreement  shall be  governed by the law of the
Arizona,  without  regard to the  application  of the principles of conflicts of
laws.  Exclusive  venue for any  dispute or  disagreement  with  respect to this
Agreement shall lie in Maricopa County, Arizona.

     13.  COMMUNICATIONS.  Executive shall not discuss, with any ESI employee or
any  other  person,  any  matter  relating  to  Employer  or  its  subsidiaries,
affiliates,  officers, directors,  employees or agents without the prior written
authorization  of Employer's  Chief Executive  Officer.  The foregoing shall not
apply to (i)  communications  to persons  other than  Employer's  employees  and
independent  contractors  consisting  solely of information  publicly  available
through Employer's Securities and Exchange Commission filings or press releases;
(ii)  communications  in the course of services being provided to persons with a
need to receive such  communications to perform the specific business  functions
with respect to which  Executive has been requested to provide  services;  (iii)
factual  communications to prospective  employers concerning  Executive's duties
and  responsibilities  with Employer to the extent  necessary in connection with
job interviews; or (iv) testimony in a judicial or administrative proceeding.

     14. TENDER BACK. Should Executive  attempt to challenge the  enforceability
of this  Agreement  or any  provision  herein,  or attempt to initiate any legal
proceedings,  including  but not  limited  to  administrative  agency  or  court
proceedings  arising out of or related to Executive's  employment or termination
of employment with Employer,  Executive shall initially  tender to Employer,  by
certified  check  delivered  to counsel  for  Employer,  the full amount of cash
consideration  paid to him  hereunder,  plus interest at the legal rate from the
date of Executive's  execution of this  Agreement,  and shall invite Employer to
cancel this  Agreement.  If Employer  accepts the offer to cancel the Agreement,

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<PAGE>
this  Agreement  shall be  canceled.  If Employer  does not accept this offer to
cancel,  Employer shall so notify  Executive and shall place the amount tendered
by Executive  in an  interest-bearing  account  pending a  determination  of the
enforceability  of  this  Agreement.  If  the  Agreement  is  determined  to  be
enforceable,  100% of the amount of the account shall be repaid to Executive; if
this  Agreement is not determined to be  enforceable,  the amount in the account
shall be  retained by Employer  or its  designee.  This  Section 14 shall not be
applicable  to actions  brought by Executive to enforce  Employer's  obligations
hereunder.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned  acknowledge  that they have executed
this  instrument as their free and voluntary  act, for the uses and purposes set
forth herein on the dates set forth below.

                                        EMPLOYEE SOLUTIONS, INC.

                                        By: /s/ Quentin P. Smith, Jr.
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Title: Chief Executive Officer
                                            Date:  February 16, 2000

                                        PAUL M. GALES

                                        By: /s/ Paul M. Gales
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Date: February 10, 2000

                                       -6-<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 10.1

                          SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

           THIS SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), is made as of
April 14, 2000, by and between Stan Lee Media, Inc., a corporation organized
under the laws of the State of Colorado, U.S.A., with headquarters located at
15821 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 675, Encino, California 91436 (the "Company") and
the purchaser named on the signature page to this Agreement (the "Buyer").

                                    RECITALS

           A. The Company and the Buyer are executing and delivering this
Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded
by the provisions of Regulation D ("Regulation D") as promulgated by the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") and Section 4(2) under the 1933 Act;

           B. The Buyer desires to purchase from the Company, and the Company
desires to sell to the Buyer, for the amounts and upon the terms and conditions
stated in this Agreement, in a closing (the "Closing") as herein described,
certain of the Company's convertible notes as listed and described in Recital
B(i) immediately below, and certain warrants as listed and described in Recital
B(ii) below.

                     (i)       The Company's Series A Six Percent (6%)
                               Convertible Note, the form of which is attached
                               hereto as Exhibit A (the "Notes"), which may be
                               converted into common stock of the Company, no
                               par value per share ("Common Stock"), upon the
                               terms and conditions hereof and upon the terms
                               and conditions of the Notes. The purchase price
                               for the Notes sold pursuant to this Agreement
                               shall be as stated in Section 1(a) below. The
                               total aggregate face amount of the Notes to be
                               issued and sold by the Company at the Closing is
                               Two Million Five Hundred Thousand and no/100
                               United States Dollars ($2,500,000.00), all in
                               accordance with the terms of this Agreement and
                               of the Notes.

                     (ii)      A warrant (the "Warrants") to purchase 50,000
                               shares of Common Stock at a purchase price per
                               share equal to one hundred twenty percent (120%)
                               of the lowest of the closing bid prices for the
                               Common Stock during the five (5) trading days
                               prior to the Closing Date (defined below), which
                               Warrants must be exercised, if at all, on or
                               before April 30, 2005. The Warrants shall be
                               substantially in the form attached hereto as
                               Exhibit B.

           The Common Stock into which the Notes may (in accordance with their
terms) be convertible shall be collectively referred to herein as the
"Conversion Shares." Certain shares of Common Stock may (at the Company's option
as described in the Notes) be issued to the Buyer in payment of interest (the
"Interest Shares"). The Common Stock received upon exercise of the Warrants
shall be referred to as the "Warrant Shares." The Notes, the Conversion Shares,
the Interest Shares (if any), the Warrants and the Warrant Shares may be
collectively referred to herein as the "Securities."

           C. Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the parties hereto are executing and delivering a Registration Rights
Agreement (the "Registration Rights Agreement") substantially in the form of
Exhibit C attached hereto pursuant to which the Company has agreed to provide
certain registration rights under the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, and applicable state securities laws.

                                   AGREEMENTS

           NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of their respective promises
contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties, the Company and the
Buyer hereby agree as follows:

<PAGE>   2
           1. PURCHASE AND SALE OF SECURITIES.

           a. Purchase. The Buyer hereby agrees to purchase from the Company,
and the Company agrees to sell to the Buyer, $2,500,000.00 in aggregate
principal amount of Notes at the Closing. The purchase price (the "Purchase
Price") for the Notes purchased at the Closing shall be $2,500,000.00.

           b. The Closing. The date of the Closing (the "Closing Date") shall be
April 14, 2000. The Purchase Price for the Notes being purchased at the Closing
shall be delivered to the Escrow Agent (as defined in the Escrow Agreement
substantially in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto (the "Escrow Agreement"))
on behalf of the Company on or before the Closing Date. On or before the Closing
Date, the Company shall deliver the original Notes and Warrants (or a facsimile
of the signature pages thereof, with the originals to follow via express courier
within one (1) business day) being purchased at the Closing, duly issued,
authorized and executed by the authorized officers on behalf of the Company, to
the Escrow Agent (as defined in the Escrow Agreement) on behalf of the Buyer.

           c. Form of Payment. The Buyer shall pay the Purchase Price for the
Securities purchased at the Closing by wire transfer of immediately available
funds in United States Dollars, to be deposited into the Escrow Account as
defined in the Escrow Agreement, against delivery to the Escrow Agent of duly
executed Notes and Warrants being purchased by the Buyer hereunder at such
Closing. The Escrow Agent shall be responsible for delivery of the Purchase
Price to the Company and the Notes and Warrants to the Buyer in accordance with
the terms of the Escrow Agreement and with the instructions of the said parties.

           2. BUYER'S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

           The Buyer understands, agrees with, and represents and warrants to
the Company with respect to its purchase hereunder, that:

           a. Investment Purposes; Compliance With 1933 Act. The Buyer is
purchasing the Securities for its own account for investment only and not with a
view towards, or in connection with, the public sale or distribution thereof,
except pursuant to sales registered under or exempt from the 1933 Act and
applicable state securities laws. The Buyer is not purchasing the Securities for
the purpose of covering short sale positions in the Common Stock established on
or prior to the Closing Date. The Buyer agrees to offer, sell or otherwise
transfer the Securities only (i) in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,
the Notes and the Warrants, as applicable, and (ii) pursuant to registration
under the 1933 Act or to an exemption from registration under the 1933 Act and
any other applicable securities laws. The Buyer does not by its representations
contained in this Section 2(a) agree to hold the Securities for any minimum or
other specific term and reserves the right to dispose of the Securities at any
time pursuant to a registration statement or in accordance with an exemption
from registration under the 1933 Act, in all cases in accordance with applicable
state and federal securities laws. The Buyer understands that it shall be a
condition to the issuance of the Conversion Shares, the Warrant Shares and the
Interest Shares (if any) that the Conversion Shares, the Warrant Shares and the
Interest Shares (if any) be and are subject to the representations set forth in
this Section 2(a).

           b. Accredited Investor Status. The Buyer is an "accredited investor"
as that term is defined in Rule 501 (a) of Regulation D. The Buyer has such
knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of
evaluating the merits and risks of an investment made pursuant to this
Agreement. The Buyer is aware that it may be required to bear the economic risk
of an investment made pursuant to this Agreement for an indefinite period of
time, and is able to bear such risk for an indefinite period.

           c. Reliance on Exemptions. The Buyer understands the Securities are
being offered and sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the
registration requirements of the applicable United States federal and state
securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of,
and the Buyer's compliance with, the representations, warranties,
acknowledgments, understandings, agreements and covenants of the Buyer set forth
herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the
eligibility of the Buyer to acquire the Securities.

<PAGE>   3
           d. Information. The Buyer and its advisors, if any, have been
furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations
of the Company and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Securities
that have been requested by the Buyer. The Buyer and its advisors, if any, have
been afforded the opportunity to ask all such questions of the Company as they
have in their discretion deemed advisable. The Buyer understands that its
investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk. The Buyer has
sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to
make an informed investment decision with respect to the investment made
pursuant to this Agreement.

           e. No Government Review. The Buyer understands that no United States
federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has
approved or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities or the
fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities, nor have such
authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the
Securities.

           f. Transfer or Resale. The Buyer understands that: (i) except as
provided in the Registration Rights Agreement, the Securities have not been and
are not being registered under the 1933 Act or any state securities laws, and
may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless either (a)
subsequently registered thereunder or (b) the Buyer shall have delivered to the
Company an opinion by counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company, in form,
scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that
the securities to be sold, assigned or transferred may be sold, assigned or
transferred pursuant to an exemption from such registration, (ii) any sale of
such securities made in reliance on Rule 144 as amended (or any applicable rule
which operates to replace said Rule), promulgated under the 1933 Act ("Rule
144") may be made only in accordance with the terms of Rule 144 and further, if
Rule 144 is not applicable, any resale of such securities under circumstances in
which the seller (or the person though whom the sale is made) may be deemed to
be an underwriter (as that term is defined in the 1933 Act) may require
compliance with some other exemption under the 1933 Act or the rules and
regulations of the SEC thereunder and applicable state securities laws, and
(iii) neither the Company nor any other person is under any obligation to
register such securities under the 1933 Act or any state securities laws or to
comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder (in each case,
other than pursuant to this Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement).

           g. Legend. The Buyer understands that the Notes, the Warrants, and
until such time as the Conversion Shares, the Warrant Shares and the Interest
Shares (if any) (collectively, the "Registrable Securities"), have been
registered under the 1933 Act as contemplated by the Registration Rights
Agreement, the stock certificates representing the Registrable Securities will
bear a restrictive legend (the "Legend") in substantially the following form:

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "ACT"), OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS
(COLLECTIVELY, THE "LAWS"). THE SECURITIES HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND
MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF
EITHER (I) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE
LAWS, OR (II) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL PROVIDED TO THE ISSUER IN FORM, SUBSTANCE
AND SCOPE REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE ISSUER TO THE EFFECT THAT REGISTRATION IS
NOT REQUIRED UNDER THE LAWS DUE TO AN AVAILABLE EXCEPTION TO OR EXEMPTION FROM
THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAWS.

           The Legend shall be removed and the Company will issue certificates
without the Legend to the holder of the applicable Notes or any Registrable
Securities upon which the Legend is stamped, in accordance with Section 5(b).

           h. Authorization; Enforcement. This Agreement, the Registration
Rights Agreement and the Escrow Agreement have been duly and validly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Buyer and are each and collectively valid and
binding agreements of the Buyer enforceable in accordance with their terms,
subject as to enforceability to general principles of equity and to bankruptcy,
insolvency, moratorium, and other similar laws affecting the enforcement of
creditors' rights generally.

<PAGE>   4
           3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.

           The Company understands, agrees with, and represents and warrants to
the Buyer that:

           a. Organization and Qualification. The Company is a corporation duly
organized and existing, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in
which it is incorporated, except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect (as
defined below), and has the requisite corporate power to own its properties and
to carry on its business as now being conducted. The Company is duly qualified
as a foreign corporation to do business and is in good standing in every
jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it makes such
qualification necessary and where the failure so to qualify would have a
Material Adverse Effect. "Material Adverse Effect" means any material adverse
effect on the operations, properties or financial condition of the Company taken
as a whole. The Common Stock is eligible to trade and is listed for trading on
the OTC Bulletin Board Market. The Company has received no notice, either
written or oral, with respect to the continued eligibility of the Common Stock
for such listing, and the Company has maintained all requirements for the
continuation of such listing, and the Company does not reasonably anticipate
that the Common Stock will be delisted from the OTC Bulletin Board Market in the
foreseeable future. The Company has complied or will timely comply with all
requirements of the National Association of Securities Dealers and the OTC
Bulletin Board Market with respect to the issuance of the Securities.

           b. Authorization; Enforcement. (i) The Company has the requisite
corporate power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement, the
Registration Rights Agreement and the Escrow Agreement, to issue and sell the
Notes and the Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, and to
perform its obligations under the Notes in accordance with the requirements of
the same, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the
Notes, the Warrants, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Escrow Agreement
by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by the Company's Board of Directors
and no further consent or authorization of the Company, its Board of Directors,
or its stockholders is required, (iii) this Agreement, the Registration Rights
Agreement, the Escrow Agreement and, on the Closing Date, the Notes and Warrants
sold at the Closing, have been duly and validly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company, and (iv) this Agreement, the Notes (when issued), the
Warrants (when issued), the Registration Rights Agreement and the Escrow
Agreement constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Company
enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms,
except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to,
or affecting, generally, the enforcement of creditors' rights and remedies or by
other equitable principles of general application. The Company (and its legal
counsel) has examined this Agreement and is satisfied in its sole discretion
that this Agreement and the accompanying Exhibits, Schedules and the Addenda, if
any, are in accordance with Regulation D and the 1933 Act and are effective to
accomplish the purposes set forth herein and therein.

           c. Capitalization. As of April 1, 2000, the authorized Common Stock
consisted of 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock of which 11,856,362 shares were
issued and outstanding; in addition there are 10,000,000 shares of preferred
stock authorized, of which 714,286 shares of Series A Preferred Stock were
issued and outstanding. All of such outstanding shares have been validly issued
and are fully paid and nonassessable. No shares of Common Stock are subject to
preemptive rights or any other similar rights or any liens or encumbrances.
Except for the above-referenced preferred stock and as disclosed in Schedule
3(c) (attached if applicable), as of the effective date of this Agreement, (i)
there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls
or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights
convertible into, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, or arrangements by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
or may become bound to issue additional shares of capital stock of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) there are no outstanding debt securities, and
(iii) there are no agreements or arrangements under which the Company or any of
its subsidiaries is obligated to register the sale of any of its or their
securities under the 1933 Act (except as provided herein, in Schedule 3(g) or in
the Registration Rights Agreement). If requested by the Buyer, the Company has
furnished to the Buyer, and the Buyer acknowledges receipt of same by its
signature hereafter, true and correct copies of the Company's Articles of
Incorporation, as amended, as in effect on the date hereof ("Articles of
Incorporation"), and the Company's Bylaws, as in effect on the date hereof (the
"Bylaws").

<PAGE>   5
           d. Issuance of Securities. The Registrable Securities are all duly
authorized and reserved for issuance, and in all cases upon issuance shall be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free from all taxes, liens and
charges with respect to the issue thereof, and will not be subject to preemptive
rights or other similar rights of stockholders of the Company.

           e. Acknowledgment Regarding Buyer's Purchase of the Securities. The
Company acknowledges and agrees that the Buyer is not acting as financial
advisor to or fiduciary of the Company (or in any similar capacity with respect
to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby), that this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby, and the relationship between the Buyer
and the Company, are and will be considered "arms-length" notwithstanding any
other or prior agreements or nexus between the Buyer and the Company, whether or
not disclosed, and that any statement made by the Buyer, or any of its
representatives or agents, in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby is not advice or a recommendation, is merely
incidental to the Buyer's purchase of the Securities and has not been relied
upon in any way by the Company, its officers or directors. The Company further
represents to the Buyer that the Company's decision to enter into this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby have been based solely upon an
independent evaluation by the Company, its officers and directors.

           f. No Integrated Offering. Neither the Company, nor any of its
affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf, has directly or
indirectly made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to
buy any security under circumstances which would prevent the parties hereto from
consummating the transactions contemplated hereby pursuant to an exemption from
registration under the 1933 Act and specifically in accordance with the
provisions of Regulation D. The transactions contemplated hereby are exempt from
the registration requirements of the 1933 Act, assuming the accuracy of the
representations and warranties contained herein of the Buyer.

           g. No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not (i) result in a violation of the Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an
event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under,
or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or
cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company or
any of its subsidiaries is a party, or result in a violation of any law, rule,
regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities
laws and regulations) applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or by
which any property or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound
or affected (except for such conflicts, defaults, terminations, amendments,
accelerations, cancellations and violations as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect). Except as set forth in Schedule 3(g)
(attached if applicable), neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in
violation of its Articles of Incorporation or other organizational documents,
and neither the Company nor any of its/subsidiaries is in default (and no event
has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would put the Company
or any of its subsidiaries in default) under, nor has there occurred any event
giving others (with notice or lapse of time or both) any rights of termination,
amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or
instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party, except
for possible defaults or rights as would not, in the aggregate or individually,
have a Material Adverse Effect. The business of the Company and its subsidiaries
is not being conducted, and shall not be conducted so long as the Buyer owns any
of the Securities, in violation of any law, ordinance or regulation of any
governmental entity, except for possible violations which neither singly or in
the aggregate would have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as specifically
contemplated by this Agreement and as required under the 1933 Act and any
applicable state securities laws (any of which exceptions are set forth in
Schedule 3(g)), the Company is not required to obtain any consent, authorization
or order of, or make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental
agency in order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations
under this Agreement, the Notes, the Warrants, the Registration Rights Agreement
or the Escrow Agreement in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, or to
perform its obligations with respect to the Notes exactly as described in the
Notes (once issued), and with respect to the Warrants exactly as described in
the Warrants (once issued).

           h. SEC Documents; Financial Statements. Except as disclosed on
Schedule 3(h) hereof, since at least September 30, 1999, the Company has timely
filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other

<PAGE>   6
documents required to be filed by it with the SEC pursuant to the reporting
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act")
(all of the foregoing filed prior to the date hereof and all exhibits included
therein and financial statements and schedules thereto and documents (other than
exhibits) incorporated by reference therein, being hereinafter referred to as
the "SEC Documents"). The Company has delivered to the Buyer as requested by the
Buyer true and complete copies of the SEC Documents, except for such exhibits,
schedules and incorporated documents. As of their respective dates, the SEC
Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934
Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable
to the SEC Documents, and none of the SEC Documents, at the time they were filed
with the SEC, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. As of their respective dates, the financial statements of
the Company included in the SEC Documents complied as to form in all material
respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and
regulations of the SEC with respect thereto. Such financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
consistently applied, during the periods involved (except (i) as may be
otherwise indicated in such financial statements or the notes thereto, or (ii)
in the case of unaudited interim statements, to the extent they may exclude
footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements) and fairly present in all
material respects the financial position of the Company as of the dates thereof
and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods then ended
(subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit
adjustments). No other information provided by or on behalf of the Company to
the Buyer (including the information referred to in Section 2(d) of this
Agreement) contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state
any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstance under which they are or were made, not misleading.
Except as set forth in the financial statements of the Company included in the
SEC Documents, the Company has no liabilities, contingent or otherwise, other
than (i) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business subsequent to
the date of such financial statements and (ii) obligations under contracts and
commitments incurred in the ordinary course of business and not required under
generally accepted accounting principles to be reflected in such financial
statements, in each case of clause (i) and (ii) next above which, individually
or in the aggregate, are not material to the financial condition, business,
operations, properties, operating results or prospects of the Company. The SEC
Documents contain a complete and accurate list of all written and oral
contracts, agreements, leases or other instruments to which the Company or any
subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any subsidiary is subject which
are required by the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC to be so listed
(each a "Contract"). None of the Company, its subsidiaries or, to the best of
the Company's knowledge, any of the other parties thereto, is in breach or
violation of any Contract, which breach or violation would, or with the lapse of
time, the giving of notice, or both, have a Material Adverse Effect.

           i. Absence of Certain Changes. Except as disclosed in the SEC
Documents, since at least April 1, 1999, there has been no material adverse
change and no material adverse development in the business, properties,
operation, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of the
Company. The Company has not taken any steps, and does not currently have any
reasonable expectation of taking any steps, to seek protection pursuant to any
bankruptcy law nor does the Company have any knowledge that its creditors intend
to initiate involuntary bankruptcy proceedings. The Company shall, at least
until Buyer no longer holds any of the Securities, maintain its corporate
existence in good standing and shall pay all taxes when due except for taxes it
reasonably disputes.

           j. Absence of Litigation. Except as set forth in Schedule 3(j)
(attached if applicable), there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or
investigation before or by any court, public board or body pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company, wherein
an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding would have a Material Adverse Effect
or which would adversely affect the validity or enforceability of, or the
authority or ability of the Company to perform its obligations under, this
Agreement or any of the documents contemplated herein.

           k. Foreign Corrupt Practices. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries, nor any officer, director or other person acting on behalf of the
Company or any subsidiary has, in the course of his actions for or on behalf of
the Company, used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift,
entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity, made any
direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government
official or employee from corporate funds; violated or is in violation of any
provision of the

<PAGE>   7
U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; or made any bribe,
rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment to any
foreign or domestic government official or employee.

           l. Brokers; No General Solicitation. The Company has taken no action
that would give rise to any claim by any person for brokerage commissions,
finder's fees or similar payments relating to this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby, other than to Delano Group Securities. The
Company and the Buyer both acknowledge that no other broker or finder was
involved with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, other than Delano
Group Securities. Neither the Company nor any distributor participating on the
Company's behalf in the transactions contemplated hereby nor any person acting
for the Company, or any such distributor, has conducted any "general
solicitation," as described in Rule 502(c) under Regulation D, with respect to
the Securities being offered hereby. The Company has agreed to compensate Delano
Group Securities in accordance with their separate written agreement; the Escrow
Agent shall pay to Delano Group Securities the agreed upon compensation out of
Escrow from the Purchase Price at the Closing.

           m. Acknowledgment of Dilution. The number of Conversion Shares
issuable upon conversion of the Notes may increase substantially in certain
circumstances, including the circumstance wherein the trading price of the
Common Stock declines. The Company's executive officers and directors have
studied and fully understand the nature of the securities being sold hereunder
and recognize they have a potential dilutive effect. The board of directors of
the Company has concluded in its good faith business judgment that such issuance
is in the best interests of the Company. The Company acknowledges that its
obligation to issue Conversion Shares upon conversion of the Notes is binding
upon it and enforceable regardless of the dilution that such issuance may have
on the ownership interests of other stockholders.

           n. (Intentionally Omitted.)

           o. (Intentionally Omitted.)

           p. Non-Disclosure of Non-Public Information. The Company shall in no
event disclose non-public information to the Buyer, advisors to or
representatives of the Buyer unless prior to such disclosure of information the
Company marks such information as "non-public information - confidential" and
provides the Buyer, such advisors and representatives with the opportunity to
accept or refuse to accept such non-public information for review. The Company
may, as a condition to disclosing any non-public information hereunder, require
the Buyer, its advisors and representatives to enter into a confidentiality
agreement in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Buyer.

           4. COVENANTS.

           a. Best Efforts. Each party shall use its best efforts timely to
satisfy each of the conditions to be satisfied by it as provided in Sections 6
and 7 of this Agreement.

           b. Securities Laws. The Company agrees to timely file a Form D (or
equivalent form required by applicable state law) with respect to the Securities
if and as required under Regulation D and applicable state securities laws and
to provide a copy thereof to the Buyer promptly after such filing. The Company
shall, in a timely fashion, take such action as is necessary to sell the
Securities being sold to the Buyer under applicable securities laws of the
United States and the relevant state(s), and shall if specifically so requested
provide evidence of any such action so taken to the Buyer.

           c. Reporting Status. So long as the Buyer beneficially owns any of
the Securities, the Company shall file all reports required to be filed with the
SEC pursuant to the 1934 Act, and the Company shall not terminate its status as
an issuer required to file reports under the 1934 Act even if the 1934 Act or
the rules and regulations hereunder would permit such termination.

           d. Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the proceeds from the sale
of the Securities for project development and production, working capital and
general corporate purposes.

<PAGE>   8
           e. Financial Information. Until such time as the Buyer no longer
beneficially owns Notes, Warrants, Conversion Shares or Warrant Shares, the
Company agrees to send the following reports to the Buyer: (i) after filing with
the SEC, a copy of each of its Annual Reports, its quarterly Reports, and any
reports filed on Form 8-K; and (ii) as soon as practicable after release
thereof, copies of all press releases issued by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries.

           f. Reservation of Shares. The Company shall at all times have
authorized, and reserved for the purpose of issuance, a sufficient number of
shares of Common Stock to provide for the issuance of all of the Conversion
Shares, the Warrant Shares and the Interest Shares (if any). Prior to complete
conversion of the Notes and exercise of the Warrants, the Company shall not
reduce the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance hereunder
without the written consent of the Buyer except for a reduction proportionate to
a reverse stock split effected for a business purpose other than affecting the
requirements of this Section, which reverse stock split affects all shares of
Common Stock equally.

           g. Listing. Upon the Closing, the Company shall promptly secure the
listing of the Common Stock underlying the Notes and the Warrants upon each
national securities exchange or automated quotation system, if any, upon which
shares of Common Stock are then listed (subject to official notice of issuance)
and shall maintain, so long as any other shares of Common Stock shall be so
listed, such listing of shares of Registrable Securities from time to time
issued under the terms of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.
The Company shall at all times comply in all respects with the Company's
reporting, filing and other obligations under the by-laws or rules of the
National Association of Securities Dealers and the OTC Bulletin Board Market (or
such other national securities exchange or market on which the Common Stock may
then be listed, as applicable).

           h. Prospectus Delivery Requirement; Escrow of Common Stock. The Buyer
understands that the 1933 Act requires delivery of a prospectus relating to the
Common Stock in connection with any sale thereof pursuant to a registration
statement under the 1933 Act covering any resale by the Buyer of the Common
Stock being sold, and the Buyer shall comply with any applicable prospectus
delivery requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any such sale. The
Company shall have the unequivocal right to rely upon the Buyer's representation
and covenant to deliver a prospectus as required by applicable law or regulation
contained in this Section 4(h), and thus, with respect to any resales by the
Buyer pursuant to a registration statement of Conversion Shares, Interest Shares
or Warrant Shares, such Common Stock shall contain a restrictive legend only if
and to the extent required by law. The Buyer will indemnify and hold harmless
the Company and its transfer agent for any loss, cost or expense (including
reasonable attorney's fees) incurred by such parties as a result of improper
actions taken by the Buyer in response to the Company's and the transfer agent's
compliance with the provisions of this Section 4(h), including without
limitation the sales of such Common Stock without delivery of a prospectus as
required by applicable law or regulation. The Company agrees that, upon the
earlier of (x) the effective date of the Registration Statement or (y) the date
which is twelve (12) months after the Closing Date, and from time to time
thereafter as reasonably requested by the Buyer, the Company shall deliver or
cause the Company's transfer agent to deliver to the Escrow Agent one or more
stock certificates representing the number of shares of registered Common Stock
into which the Notes and the Warrants might then reasonably be convertible or
exercisable (as applicable) (collectively, the "Escrow Shares"). Such
certificate(s) shall not contain a restrictive legend of any kind. The Escrow
Agent shall hold the Escrow Shares in trust, in certificate form or in a
brokerage account as deemed appropriate by the Escrow Agent. Upon a full or
partial conversion of Notes or exercise of the Warrants, the Buyer shall deliver
a copy of its conversion notice to the Escrow Agent, and to the extent that the
Escrow Agent has sufficient Escrow Shares, the Escrow Agent shall release Escrow
Shares to the Buyer to satisfy such conversion or exercise. The Escrow Agreement
describes in detail the duties of the Escrow Agent with respect to the
provisions of this Section 4(h).

           i. Intentional Acts or Omissions. Neither party shall intentionally
perform any act that if performed, or omit to perform any act that if omitted to
be performed, would prevent or excuse the performance of this Agreement or any
of the transactions contemplated hereby.

           j. No Shorting. As a material inducement for the Company to enter
into this Agreement, the Buyer represents that it has not as of the date hereof,
and covenants on behalf of itself and its affiliates that neither Buyer nor any
affiliate of Buyer will at any time in which the Buyer or any affiliate of the
Buyer beneficially owns any of the Securities, engage in any short sales of, or
hedging or arbitrage transactions with respect to, the Common Stock,

<PAGE>   9
or buy "put" options or similar instruments with respect to the Common Stock.
The Company acknowledges that a sale of Conversion Shares or Warrant Shares on
the date a conversion of the Notes or exercise of the Warrants, as applicable,
is made, even if such sale is made prior to delivery of the notice of conversion
with respect to such Conversion Shares (or exercise notice with respect to such
Warrant Shares), is not a "short sale" for purposes of this Section 4(j).

           k. [Intentionally Omitted.]

           l. Restriction on Below Market Issuance of Securities.Until the date
that is twelve (12) months from the Closing Date or the date that all of the
Notes have been paid or converted in full, whichever is earlier, if the Company
proposes to issue or agree to issue any equity securities of the Company (or any
security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable, directly or
indirectly, for equity securities of the Company) or debt securities of the
Company at a price (or provide for a conversion, exercise or exchange price)
which may be less than the current market price for the Common Stock on the date
of issuance (in the case of Common Stock) or the date of conversion, exercise or
exchange (in the case of securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable, directly or indirectly, for Common Stock), the Company shall first
offer to the Buyer to purchase such securities on the same terms and conditions
as proposed by the Company (the "First Offer"). The Buyer shall have ten (10)
days to advise the Company in writing that it accepts the First Offer. If the
Buyer does not so advise the Company, the Company shall be free, for a period of
sixty (60) days, to issue such securities as proposed to such other party, after
which sixty (60) day period the restrictions contained in this Section 4(l)
shall apply as if the First Offer had not been made to the Buyer. The preceding
sentence shall not apply to any securities issued by the Company (i) to the
Buyer pursuant to the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, (ii) pursuant
to any employee stock option plan or employee stock purchase plan of the Company
established during the term of this restriction for a legitimate business
purpose and not to avoid the restrictions imposed in this Section 4(l), (iii) as
all or a portion of the compensation paid or to be paid to any current or future
officer, director, employee or agent of the Company (iv) pursuant to any
existing security, option, warrant, scrip, call or commitment or right in each
case as disclosed on Schedule 3(c) hereof; (v) for the purposes of effecting an
acquisition or merger that the Company's Board of Directors has in good faith
determined is in the best interests of the Company, or (vi) with the consent of
the Buyer, not to be unreasonably withheld (collectively, the "Exceptions").

           5. LEGEND AND TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS.

           a. Transfer Agent Instructions. The Company shall instruct its
transfer agent to issue certificates, registered in the name of the Buyer or its
permitted nominee, for the Conversion Shares, the Warrant Shares and the
Interest Shares (if any) in accordance with the terms of the applicable Notes
and Warrants and in such amounts as specified from time to time by the Buyer to
the Company, upon conversion of the Notes or exercise of the Warrants (as
applicable). All such certificates shall bear the restrictive legend specified
in Section 2(g) of this Agreement only to the extent required by applicable law
and as specified in this Agreement and the Exhibits and Addenda hereto. The
Company warrants that no instruction other than such instructions referred to in
this Section 5, and stop transfer instructions to give effect to Section 2(f)
hereof in the case of the Conversion Shares, the Warrant Shares and the Interest
Shares (if any) prior to the registration of same under the 1933 Act, will be
given by the Company to its transfer agent and that the Conversion Shares, the
Warrant Shares and the Interest Shares (if any) shall otherwise be freely
transferable on the books and records of the Company as and to the extent
permitted by applicable law and provided by this Agreement, the Warrants and the
Registration Rights Agreement. Nothing in this Section shall affect in any way
the Buyer's obligations and agreement to comply with all applicable securities
laws upon resale of the Conversion Shares, the Warrant Shares and/or the
Interest Shares (if any). If the Buyer complies with Section 2(f) and Section
4(k) of this Agreement with respect to any transfer of Securities, the Company
shall permit the said transfer, and if applicable promptly (and in all events
within two (2) trading days) instruct its transfer agent to issue one or more
certificates in such name and in such denominations as specified by the Buyer.

           b. Removal of Legends. The Legend shall be removed and the Company
shall issue a certificate without such Legend to the holder of any Security upon
which it is stamped, and a certificate for a security shall be originally issued
without the Legend, if, unless otherwise required by state securities laws, (x)
the sale of such Security is registered under the 1933 Act, or (y) such holder
provides the Company with an opinion by counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Company, that is in form, substance and scope reasonably satisfactory to the

<PAGE>   10
Company, to the effect that a public sale or transfer of such Security may be
made without registration under the 1933 Act. The Buyer agrees that its sale of
all Securities, including those represented by a certificate(s) from which the
Legend has been removed, or which were originally issued without the Legend,
shall be made only pursuant to an effective registration statement (and to
deliver a prospectus in connection with such sale) or in compliance with an
exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. In the event the
Legend is removed from any Security or any Security is issued without the Legend
and thereafter the effectiveness of a registration statement covering the sales
of such Security is suspended or the Company determines that a supplement or
amendment thereto is required by applicable securities laws, then upon
reasonable advance notice to the holder of such Security, the Company shall be
entitled to require that the Legend be placed upon any such Security which
cannot then be sold pursuant to an effective registration statement or an
available exemption from registration or with respect to which the opinion
referred to in clause (y) next above has not been rendered, which Legend shall
be removed when such Security may be sold pursuant to an effective registration
statement or an available exemption from registration (or such holder provides
the opinion with respect thereto described in clause (y) next above.

           c. Conversion of Notes. Except as provided in Section 5 of the Notes,
the Buyer shall have the right to convert the Notes sold hereunder by delivering
via facsimile an executed and completed Notice of Conversion (as defined in the
Notes) to the Company and delivering within two (2) business days thereafter the
original Notice of Conversion and the original Note being converted (but only at
such time as it is converted in full into Common Stock) by express courier to
the Company. Each date on which a Notice of Conversion is faxed to the Company
in accordance with the provisions hereof shall be deemed a "Conversion Date."
Unless the Escrow Agent is in possession of a sufficient number of Conversion
Shares to effect the conversion, the Company will transmit the certificates
representing the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any Notes
(along with a replacement Note representing the amount of principal of said Note
not so converted, if applicable) to the Buyer via express courier, within five
(5) business days after the relevant Conversion Date (with respect to each
conversion, the "Deadline"). Time is of the essence with respect to the
requirements of the immediately preceding sentence.

           d. Injunctive Relief for Breach. The Company acknowledges that a
breach of its obligations under Sections 5(a), 5(b) and 5(c) above will cause
irreparable harm to the Buyer by vitiating the intent and purpose of the
transactions contemplated hereby. Accordingly the Company agrees that the remedy
at law for a breach of its obligations under such Sections would be inadequate
and agrees, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by the Company of the
provisions of such Sections, the Buyer shall be entitled, in addition to all
other remedies at law or in equity, to an injunction restraining any breach and
requiring immediate issuance and transfer, without the necessity of showing
economic loss and without any bond or other security being required.

           e. Liquidated Damages for Non-Delivery of Certificates. In addition
to the provisions of Section 5(d) above, the Company understands and agrees that
a delay in the issuance of the Certificates beyond the Deadline will result in
substantial economic loss and other damages to the Buyer. As partial
compensation to the Buyer for such loss, the Company agrees to pay liquidated
damages (and which the Company acknowledges is not a penalty) to the Buyer for
issuance and delivery of the Certificates after the Deadline, in accordance with
the following schedule (where "No. Business Days Late" is defined as the number
of business days beyond five (5) business days from the date of delivery by the
Buyer to the Company of a facsimile Notice of Conversion (or, if later, from the
date on which all other necessary documentation duly executed and in proper form
required for conversion of Notes as described in this Agreement, including the
original Notice of Conversion, all in accordance with this Agreement only if
such necessary documentation has not been delivered to the Company within the
two (2) business day period after the facsimile delivery to the Company of the
Notice of Conversion required in this Agreement)):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
           No. Business Days Late                 Liquidated Damages
           ----------------------                 ------------------
                                                       (in US$)
<S>                                               <C>
                     1                                  $900
                     2                                  $1,200
                     3                                  $1,500
                     4                                  $1,800
                     5                                  $2,100
                     6                                  $2,400
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   11
<TABLE>
<S>                                               <C>
                     7                                  $2,700
                     8                                  $3,000
                     9                                  $3,000
                     10                                 $4,500
                     11+                                $4,500 + $1,000 for
                                                        each Business Day Late
                                                        beyond 11 days
</TABLE>

           The Company shall pay the Buyer any liquidated damages incurred as
called for under this Section 5(e) by certified or cashier's check upon the
earlier of (i) issuance of the relevant Certificate(s) to the Buyer or (ii) each
monthly anniversary of the receipt by the Company of the Buyer's Notice of
Conversion. Nothing herein shall limit the Buyer's right to pursue actual
damages for the Company's failure to issue and deliver all Certificates to the
Buyer in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or for breach by the
Company of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5(e) to the
contrary, the Company shall not be responsible for liquidated damages as
described in this Section 5(e) if a delay past a Deadline in delivery of Common
Stock to the Buyer upon a conversion or exercise is solely due to the action (or
omission to act) of the Escrow Agent (that is, if the Escrow Agent has in its
possession a sufficient number of non-legended Escrow Shares to effect a
conversion of Notes, and there is no Company-caused delay involved in delivery
by the Escrow Agent of the requisite number of Escrow Shares upon such
conversion or exercise).

           6. CONDITIONS TO THE COMPANY'S OBLIGATION TO SELL.

           The obligation of the Company hereunder to sell Notes and Warrants at
the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, on or before the Closing Date, of
each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for the
Company's sole benefit and may be waived by the Company at any time in its sole
discretion:

           a. The parties shall have executed this Agreement, the Registration
Rights Agreement and the Escrow Agreement, and the parties shall have delivered
the respective documents or signature pages thereof (via facsimile or otherwise
as permitted in the Escrow Agreement) to the Escrow Agent.

           b. The Buyer shall have delivered to the Escrow Agent on behalf of
the Company the Purchase Price for the Notes and Warrants purchased at the
Closing, by wire transfer of immediately available funds pursuant to the wiring
instructions provided by the Escrow Agent.

           c. The representations and warranties of the Buyer shall be true and
correct in all material respects as of the date made and as of the Closing Date
as though made at that time (except for representations and warranties that
speak as of a specific date), and the Buyer shall have performed, satisfied and
complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions
required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the
Buyer at or prior to the Closing Date.

           d. No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or
injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any
court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self regulatory
organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby which
restricts or prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated
herein.

           e. The Company's Board of Directors shall have approved this
Agreement and the related documentation referred to herein, and the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby.

           7. CONDITIONS TO THE BUYER'S OBLIGATION TO PURCHASE.

           The obligation of the Buyer to purchase Notes and Warrants is subject
to the satisfaction, on or before the Closing Date, of each of the following
conditions, provided that these conditions are for the sole benefit of the Buyer
and may be waived by the Buyer at any time in its sole discretion:

<PAGE>   12
           a. The parties shall have executed this Agreement, the Registration
Rights Agreement and the Escrow Agreement, the parties shall have delivered the
respective documents or signature pages thereof (via facsimile or otherwise as
permitted in the Escrow Agreement) to the Escrow Agent on behalf of each other.

           b. The representations and warranties of the Company shall be true
and correct in all material respects as of the date made and as of Closing Date
as though made at that time (except for representations and warranties that
speak as of a specific date) and the Company shall have performed, satisfied and
complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions
required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the
Company at or prior to the Closing Date. The Buyer may require a certificate,
executed by the Vice President-Finance of the Company, dated as of the Closing
Date, to the foregoing effect and as to such other matters as may be reasonably
requested by the Buyer.

           c. With respect to the Closing, the Company shall have issued and
have duly executed by the authorized officers of the Company, and delivered to
the Escrow Agent on behalf of the Buyer, the Note and Warrant being sold at the
Closing (via facsimile or otherwise as required by the Escrow Agreement,
provided that any permitted facsimile of such documents shall be followed with
physical delivery to the Escrow Agent of the original instrument or security
within one (1) business day after facsimile of same to the Escrow Agent).

           d. The Common Stock shall be authorized for quotation on the OTC
Bulletin Board Market (or another national securities exchange or market) and
trading in the Common Stock on such market shall not have been suspended by the
SEC or other relevant regulatory agency.

           e. No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or
injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any
court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self regulatory
organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby which
restricts or prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated
herein.

           f. The Escrow Agent shall have received on behalf of the Buyer the
opinion of Company counsel, dated as of the Closing Date, substantially in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit E.

           8. GOVERNING LAW; MISCELLANEOUS.

           a. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted
in accordance with the laws of the State of California without regard to the
principles of conflict of laws. In the event of any litigation regarding the
interpretation or application of this Agreement, the parties irrevocably consent
to jurisdiction in any of the state or federal courts located in the City of
Chicago, State of Illinois and waive their rights to object to venue in any such
court, regardless of the convenience or inconvenience thereof to any party.
Service of process in any civil action relating to or arising out of this
Agreement (including also all Exhibits or Addenda hereto) or the transaction(s)
contemplated herein may be accomplished in any manner provided by law. The
parties hereto agree that a final, non-appealable judgment in any such suit or
proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by
suit on such judgment or in any other lawful manner.

           b. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
identical counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same
agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each
party and signature pages from such counterparts have been delivered to the
Escrow Agent on behalf of the other party. In the event any signature page is
delivered by facsimile transmission (which the parties agree is an acceptable
form of delivery), the party using such means of delivery shall cause three (3)
additional originally executed signature pages to be physically delivered to the
Escrow Agent on behalf of the other party within one (1) business day of the
execution and delivery hereof.

           c. Headings; Gender, Etc. The headings of this Agreement are for
convenience of reference and shall not form a part of, or affect the
interpretation of this Agreement. As used herein, the masculine shall refer to
the feminine and neuter, the feminine to the masculine and neuter, and the
neuter to the masculine and feminine, as the context may require. As used
herein, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the words "herein,"
"hereunder" and "hereby," shall refer to this entire Agreement and not only to
the Section or paragraph in which

<PAGE>   13
such word appears. If any date specified herein falls upon a Saturday, Sunday or
public or legal holidays, the date shall be construed to mean the next business
day following such Saturday, Sunday or public or legal holiday. For purposes of
this Agreement, a "business day" is any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or
public or legal holiday.

           d. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid
or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall
not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in
that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of any provision of this
Agreement in any other jurisdiction.

           e. Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement and the instruments
referenced herein contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect
to the matters covered herein and therein and, except as specifically set forth
herein or therein, neither the Company nor the Buyer makes any representation,
warranty, covenant or undertaking with respect to such matters. No provision of
this Agreement may be waived or amended other than by an instrument in writing
signed by the party to be charged with enforcement.

           f. Notices. Any notices required or permitted to be given under the
terms of this Agreement shall be sent by U. S. Mail or delivered personally or
by courier or via facsimile (if via facsimile, to be followed within three (3)
business days by an original of the notice document via U.S. Mail or courier)
and shall be effective five (5) days after being placed in the mail, if mailed,
certified or registered, return receipt requested, or upon receipt, if delivered
personally or by courier or by facsimile, in each case properly addressed to the
party to receive the same. The addresses for such communications shall be:

If to the Company:             Stan Lee Media, Inc.
                               15821 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 675
                               Encino, California 91436
                               Telephone: (818) 461-1757
                               Facsimile: (818) 461-1760
                               Attention: Vice President - Finance

If to the Buyer, at the address on the signature page of this Agreement. Each
party shall provide written notice to the other party of any change in address.

           g. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns.
Neither the Company nor the Buyer shall assign this Agreement or any rights or
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), and in any event any assignee of
the Buyer shall be an accredited investor (as defined in Regulation D), in the
written opinion of counsel who is reasonably satisfactory to the Company and in
form, substance and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if applicable, any of the entities constituting
the Buyer (if greater than one (1) entity) may assign its rights hereunder to
any of its "affiliates," as that term is defined under the 1934 Act, without the
consent of the Company; provided, however, that any such assignment shall not
release such assigning entity from its obligations hereunder unless such
obligations are assumed by such affiliate and the Company has prior to such
assignment and assumption consented in writing to the same; and no such
assignment shall be made unless it is made in accordance with any applicable
securities laws of any applicable jurisdiction. Any request for an assignment
made hereunder by the Buyer shall be accompanied by a legal opinion in form,
substance and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that such assignment
is proper under applicable law. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
Buyer may pledge the Securities as collateral for a bona fide loan pursuant to a
security agreement with a third party lender, and such pledge shall not be
considered an assignment in violation of this Agreement so long as it is made in
compliance with all applicable law.

           h. No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is intended for the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and
assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced
by, any other person.

<PAGE>   14
           i. Survival. Unless this Agreement is terminated under Section 8(1),
the representations and warranties of the Company and the Buyer contained in
Sections 2 and 3 and the agreements and covenants set forth in Sections 4, 5 and
8 shall survive the Closing of the purchase and sale of Securities purchased and
sold hereby.

           j. Publicity. The Company and the Buyer shall have the right to
review before issuance by the other, any press releases or any other public
statements with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby; provided,
however, that the Company shall be entitled, without prior consultation with or
approval of the Buyer, to make any press release or other public disclosure with
respect to such transactions as is required by applicable law and regulations.

           k. Further Assurance. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be
done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and
deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as
the other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and
accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby.

           l. Termination. In the event that the Closing shall not have occurred
on or before ten (10) business days from the date hereof, this Agreement shall
terminate at the close of business on such date. Neither party may unilaterally
terminate this Agreement after the Closing for any reason other than a material
breach of this Agreement by the non- breaching party. Such termination shall not
be the sole remedy for a breach of this Agreement by the non-breaching party,
and each party shall retain all of its rights hereunder at law or in equity.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, a party whose breach of a
covenant or representation and warranty or failure to satisfy a condition
prevented the Closing shall not be entitled to terminate this Agreement.

           m. Remedies. No provision of this Agreement providing for any
specific remedy to a party shall be construed to limit such party to the
specific remedy described, and any other remedy that would otherwise be
available to such party at law or in equity shall be so available. Nothing in
this Agreement shall limit any rights a party may have with any applicable
federal or state securities laws with respect to the transactions contemplated
hereby.

           IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Buyer and the Company have caused this
Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written
above.

                            [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

List of Exhibits

Exhibit A  Form of Note
Exhibit B  Warrant to Purchase Common Stock
Exhibit C  Registration Rights Agreement
Exhibit D  Escrow Agreement
Exhibit E  Opinion of Counsel for the Company

<PAGE>   15
             [SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT DATED
                              AS OF APRIL 14, 2000]

                               COMPANY:

                                  STAN LEE MEDIA, INC.

                                  By:  /s/ Robert M. Schultz
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Robert M. Schultz, Vice President -
                                       Finance

                               BUYER:

                                  AUGUSTINE FUND, L.P.

                                  By:  Augustine Capital Management, L.L.C.,
                                       its General Partner

                                  By: /s/ Thomas F. Duszynski
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Mr. Thomas F. Duszynski, Member

                               BUYER'S ADDRESS:

                                                   141 West Jackson Blvd.
                                                   Suite 2182
                                                   Chicago, Illinois 60604
                                                   Telephone: 312.427.5457
                                                   Telecopier: 312.427.5396

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