Document:

EXHIBIT 10.9

                 STRATEGIC ALLIANCE AND REPRESENTATION AGREEMENT

         This Agreement ("Agreement") is made as of the 29th day of March, 2000
by SFBC/Pharmaceutical Development Associates, Inc. ("PDA") a Florida
corporation and ClinSites/LeeCoast Research Center Inc. ("LRC") a Florida
corporation.

                                  INTRODUCTION

         PDA, directly and through an independent contractor, is in the business
of marketing clinical research services to pharmaceutical manufacturing
companies, distributors, clinical research organizations, and pharmaceutical
consultants (collectively, the "Industry" or individually, a "Sponsor") related
to branded generic and generic and pharmaceutical Studies (as defined below) and
specialty formulation companies (the "Market").

         For purposes of this Agreement, a "Study" or "Studies" means any
clinical research study and/or related bioanalytical analysis for a Sponsor or
member of the Industry related to the Market.

         LRC has certain clinical research experience and personnel available
which are necessary for the conduct of Studies with a particular emphasis on
Studies related to single site clinical efficacy and safety trials,
vasocontrictor and BA/BE studies; provided, however, that this specialty
emphasis shall not be interpreted to limit or alter in any way the definition of
"Study" or "Studies" as used herein.

         PDA desires to represent LRC on a worldwide basis for the purpose of
placement of Studies at LRC for certain companies in the Market which are listed
on Schedule A (the "Customers").

         LRC desires that PDA accept the appointment as its representative for
marketing Studies, all upon the terms and conditions more specifically set forth
herein.

         NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows with the intent to
be legally bound hereby:

1.       APPOINTMENT. LRC hereby appoints PDA and PDA agrees to accept such
         appointment to represent LRC as its marketing representative for
         Studies generated from Customers, subject to the terms and conditions
         set forth below.

2.       SERVICES TO BE RENDERED BY PDA. PDA will use its best efforts to
         promote the business of LRC with respect to Studies in a manner that
         will preserve the goodwill and reputation of LRC, which duties shall
         include, but not be limited to, the following:

<PAGE>

         a.       PDA will advise LRC in developing a marketing plan for
                  generating Studies, which will include sales goals, individual
                  Sponsor objectives and individual assignments to achieve the
                  objectives. In addition sales calls/visit reports will be
                  submitted to LRC by PDA within five (5) business days of their
                  occurrence.

         b.       PDA shall generate responses to proposal requests
                  ("Proposals") for Studies from Sponsors. Proposals shall be in
                  writing and shall describe the work to be performed for the
                  Sponsor. The single site operation portion of the Proposal
                  shall be presented by PDA to LRC, on a right of first refusal
                  basis, if possible, at least thirty (30) days prior to the
                  proposed start date of the Study. All Proposals shall be
                  approved by LRC in writing (which shall include email) prior
                  to submission to a Sponsor.

         c.       PDA will maintain a project tracking list for all potential
                  and contracted Studies.

         d.       The single site operation portion of all Proposals shall be
                  placed with LRC unless final terms (pricing or timing) are not
                  acceptable to the Sponsor or LRC declines to bid on a
                  Proposal; provided, however, that LRC shall be given three (3)
                  business days to modify any terms to comply with a Sponsor's
                  requirements before the Study can be placed elsewhere.

         e.       In the event that LRC cannot reasonably complete its duties
                  under an agreement within the time frame required by a
                  Customer, PDA may utilize a competitor of LRC (including an
                  affiliate of PDA) to assist LRC or complete the study.

3.       SERVICES TO BE RENDERED BY LRC. LRC will grant PDA the exclusive
         marketing arrangement as described in paragraph 1 for Customers. Once a
         Proposal has been presented to LRC by PDA, LRC may either reject the
         Proposal or agree to it within 3 days. If accepted, contracts between
         LRC and the Sponsor or between PDA and LRC for PDA managed projects,
         shall be completed by LRC. LRC shall use its best efforts to complete
         the resulting Study in accordance with the contract related thereto.

4.       WORLDWIDE CLIENTS. This Agreement applies to the Customers. In the
         event PDA subcontracts all or part of a Study to LRC, PDA shall have
         all rights and obligations applying to Sponsors, as set forth in this
         Agreement with respect to Studies and as generally prevalent in the
         Industry.

5.       PAYMENT FOR SERVICES

         a.       LRC - In full payment for its services, LRC shall receive the
                  fees set forth in the contract between LRC and the Sponsor for
                  the Study (including PDA managed projects for which PDA is
                  Sponsor).

         b.       PDA - In full payment for its services, PDA shall be paid
                  commission payments based on the amount of money actually
                  collected by LRC under its contracts for Studies, as invoiced
                  (defined as total payments minus credits relating to any Study

<PAGE>

                  or Studies for which any amount has been collected) which are
                  initiated and negotiated by PDA for LRC and as follows:

                  i.       PDA managed Studies.

------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Type of Project
------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Phase  II,  III,  IV Single  Site  Clinical  3% of Total Revenue
Equivalence Efficacy Studies
------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Phase I                                      3% of Total Revenue
Bioequivalence/Bioavailability
------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Phase  II,  III,  IV  Multi  Site  Efficacy  3% of Total Revenue
Studies
------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Dermal Safety and Pharmaco Dynamic           3% of Total Revenue
------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------
 Vasoconstrictor Studies                     2% of Total Revenue
------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------

                  ii.      Projects with the Sponsor contracted directly by LRC.

---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
Type of Project
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
Phase II, III, IV Single Site  Efficacy  5% of Total Revenue
Studies
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
Phase I                                  5% of Total Revenue
Bioequivalence/Bioavailability
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
Phase II, III, IV  Multi-Site  Efficacy  5% of Total Revenue
Studies
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
Dermal Safety and Pharmaco               5% of Total Revenue
Dynamic Studies
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
Vasoconstrictor Studies                  4% of Total Revenue
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------

                  iii.     PDA's commission payments shall be earned at the end
                           of the month in which such payments are collected by
                           LRC from the Sponsors. Payments are due to PDA by the
                           10th of the month following the month collected.

         c.       Expenses and Benefits. PDA shall pay all of its own expenses,
                  including but not limited to, office space, travel and
                  entertainment expenses, secretarial assistance, office
                  supplies and benefits, except that LRC shall pay reasonable
                  travel expenses for PDA employees and consultants for trips
                  specifically requested by LRC. PDA shall market LRC services
                  at all appropriate conferences and exhibits. LRC is
                  responsible for all promotional material and prorated expenses
                  for US conferences or exhibits it wishes to attend as a
                  co-exhibitor.

6.       TERM OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall commence on the date hereof and
         shall continue until March 31, 2003 or until terminated by either party
         in accordance with the following provisions:

         a.       This Agreement may be terminated by mutual written consent at
                  any time.

         b.       If an Event of Default occurs (as defined in paragraph 12),
                  this Agreement may be terminated by the non-defaulting party
                  within 30 days of its receipt of written notice, unless such
                  Event of Default is cured within the 30 day period.

<PAGE>

         c.       Except as described in paragraph 6d. below, this Agreement may
                  be terminated by either party after the = first anniversary of
                  the signing of the Agreement upon one hundred and eighty (180)
                  days' prior written notice to the other party.

         d.       In the event that a third party (or parties) acquires control
                  of LRC (or purchases all or substantially all of LRC's assets)
                  and that third party (or parties) is (i) not owned or
                  controlled by SFBC International, Inc., (ii) not owned or
                  controlled by the management of LRC or (iii) owned or
                  controlled by an individual or group of individuals or
                  entities which have been directly engaged in the business of,
                  among other things, operating single site Phase I clinics
                  which provide services to the Market (for example, MDS Harris,
                  MDS Phoenix, PMRI, Biovial, PPD, Anapharm, Pracs and
                  Pharmakinetics are currently engaged in this business), then
                  PDA may terminate this Agreement upon 30 days' written notice.

         e.       In the event of any termination, whether in case of an Event
                  of Default or not, the parties agree that (i) any fees earned
                  prior to the effective date of termination shall be paid in
                  full, (ii) any Study under contract or in process in the
                  laboratory shall be completed and commission paid as payments
                  received by LRC, and (iii) all other rights and obligations
                  hereunder shall cease, except for confidentiality in paragraph
                  7, including any rights of first refusal and exclusivity.

7.       CONFIDENTIALITY.

         a.       For the purposes of this Agreement "Confidential Information"
                  with regard to LRC shall mean any written information relating
                  the business of LRC that has not been previously released by
                  duly authorized representatives of LRC, and shall include but
                  not be limited to the following: studies under contract,
                  marketing plans, protocols, financial information, assays,
                  formulations, test results, computer programs and any
                  information about Study participants.

         b.       For purposes of this Agreement, "Confidential Information"
                  with regard to PDA shall mean any written information relating
                  to the business of PDA that has not been previously released
                  by duly authorized representatives of PDA and shall include
                  but not be limited to the following: pharmaceutical companies
                  with whom PDA has an exclusive relationship,

         c.       LRC and PDA agree not to disclose the Confidential Information
                  of the other to any individual or entity, in any manner,
                  directly or indirectly, during the term of this Agreement or
                  thereafter. Each party may, however, disclose Confidential
                  Information to their employees, agents, and/or consultants,
                  and to Sponsors with a need to know in order to conduct the
                  business described hereunder. Otherwise, the release of
                  Confidential Information shall require the prior written
                  consent of an authorized officer of PDA or LRC, as the case
                  may be.

         d.       In the event this Agreement is terminated, the parties agree
                  to promptly return all of the other's Confidential Information
                  upon request.

<PAGE>

         e.       The provisions of paragraph 7 shall survive termination of
                  this Agreement for a period of 5 years.

8.       EXCLUSIVITY AND RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.

         a.       As partial consideration for this Agreement, PDA agrees to
                  provide LRC with a right of first refusal for all Studies
                  arising from the companies listed on Schedule A, including,
                  without limitation,

                  i.       Phase II, III, IV Single Site Efficacy Studies
                  ii.      Phase I, BA/BE Studies
                  iii.     Dermal Safety and Pharmaco Dynamic Studies
                           (Vasoconstrictor)

         b.       LRC agrees that in the event a Sponsor not in Attachment 1
                  requests a proposal directly from LRC for a managed project or
                  clinical efficacy safety study that LRC does not have the
                  capability to under take, LRC shall refer the Sponsor to PDA
                  and shall inform PDA of such referral. PDA will pay LRC a
                  commission for such projects as listed in paragraph 5.b.ii.

9.       ENTIRE AGREEMENT, AMENDMENT. This Agreement constitutes the entire
         Agreement between the parties in connection with the subject matter
         hereof, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings of
         the parties. This Agreement may not be modified or amended except by an
         agreement in writing signed by both parties, and consented to by
         Pacific Capital, L.P.

10.      INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR. The parties agree that PDA will act as an
         independent contractor pursuant to this Agreement and that nothing
         herein shall create an agency, partnership, joint venture or other
         relationship between PDA and LRC. Furthermore, PDA understands and
         agrees that it has no authority to make or imply any commitments which
         are binding upon LRC and agrees that it will act only at LRC's
         direction.

11.      GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the
         State of Florida.

12.      DEFAULT. Either party hereto shall be considered to have committed an
         "Event of Default" under this agreement if it (i) fails to comply in
         any material respect with the terms and conditions of this Agreement
         (ii) discloses any Confidential Information of the other, except as
         permitted by paragraph 8; (iii) breaches any of the exclusivity and
         right of first refusal provisions of paragraph 7.

13.      ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement and the rights and obligations hereunder may
         not be assigned by either party to any other entity without the written
         approval of both parties.

<PAGE>

         A change in the controlling equity ownership of either party shall not
         be deemed an assignment.

14.      NOTICES. All notices and other communications required or permitted
         under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed received
         if sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, or
         by a nationally recognized overnight carrier, prepaid to the following
         addresses:

If to LeeCoast Research Center:

                  3949 Evans Avenue, Suite 300
                  Ft. Myers, Florida  33901
                  Attention:  Barrie Phillips

         If to PDA:

                  8701 Mallard Creek Road
                  Charlotte, North Carolina  28262
                  Attention:  D. Scott Davis

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

                                    LEECOAST RESEARCH CENTER

                                    By:     /s/ Barrie M. Phillips
                                            ------------------------------------

                                    Name:   Barrie M. Phillips
                                            ------------------------------------

                                    Title:  President
                                            ------------------------------------

SFBC/PDA

                                    By:     /s/ Arnold Hantman
                                            ------------------------------------

                                    Name:   Arnold Hantman
                                            ------------------------------------

                                    Title:  Vice-President
                                            ------------------------------------

<PAGE>
                                   SCHEDULE A

                                    Customers

------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
AAI                                              Duramed
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Academic Pharm                                   Dynagen
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
ALKO                                             Eckard & Associates
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Alpharma                                         Effcon
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Alra                                             Elan Transdermal
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Altana                                           Elge
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Alza                                             Endo Pharmaceuticals
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
American Generics                                Enos Pharmaceuticals
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Amide                                            Eon
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Anabolic                                         Eye Dynamics
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Andrx                                            Ferndale
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Anesta                                           Ferran Consulting
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Apheresis Technology, Inc.                       Ferring Pharmaceuticals
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Apotex                                           Forest
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Apothecon                                        Futura Medical
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Ascent Pediatrics                                G&W
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Banaker Consultling                              Geneva
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Banner Pharmacaps                                GenPharm
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Barr Labs                                        GG Group
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Bausch & Lomb                                    Gilead Sciences
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Beach Products, Inc.                             Global
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Bertek                                           Globomax
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Beta Derm                                        Great Nations
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Biocryst                                         Halsey
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Biovail                                          Harmony
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Brause Health                                    HiTech
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Capricorn                                        Horizon
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Capsugel                                         Ilex Oncology
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Caraco Pharmaceutical                            Invamed
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Carlsbad                                         Ivax
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Catalytica Pharmaceuticals                       Kali
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
CB Fleet                                         KOS
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Ceptyr Inc                                       KV
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Ciba Vision                                      Lachmann
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Cima Labs                                        Lavipharm
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Clay Park                                        Lilly
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Clonmel                                          Mallinckrodt
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Concord labs                                     Martec
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Copley                                           Merck Generic
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Dey Labs, Inc.                                   Midlar
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
DPT                                              Mikart
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------

<PAGE>

Dupont/Merck                                     Miran Consulting
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Dupont Pharmaceutical                            ScandiPharm
------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
Morton Grove Pharm.                              Seatrace
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mova                                            Shein
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MTRA                                            Sidmail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mylan                                           Solvay
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NeoTherapeutics, Inc.                           Somerset Pharmaceutical
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noven Pharmaceuticals                           Sovereign
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Novopharm                                       Staason
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oakwood                                         Stieffel
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ocumed                                          Taro
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Optime                                          Teva
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P-3 Consulting                                  Thames
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.D.M. Pharmatec, Inc.                          Time Caps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paddock                                         UCB Pharma
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Par Pharmaceutical                              Unigen
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Perrigo                                         Union Springs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PFI                                             Upsher Smith Labs, Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pharma Science                                  Valley Forge Pharmaceuticals
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pharmaconsult                                   Versapharm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pharmalogix, Inc.                               Watson-CA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pharmatec                                       Watson-Florida
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purdue Pharmaceutical                           Westward
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purepac                                         Wockhardt
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RanBaxy                                         ZARS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rosemont                                        Zenith
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roxanne
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rx-Otc Consultants
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------EXHIBIT 10.10

                             Audit Committee Charter
                                       of
                            SFBC International, Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                      As approved by the Board of Directors
                                       of
                            SFBC International, Inc.

                                on July 7, 2000.

1.       Organization

         (a) There shall be a committee of the board of directors of SFBC
International, Inc. (the "Company") to be known as the audit committee. The
audit committee shall have at least three members, comprised solely of
Independent Directors (as defined in Section 1 (b) below), each of whom is able
to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including the Company's
balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement or will become able to
do so within a reasonable period of time after his or her appointment to the
audit committee. At least one member of the audit committee shall have had past
employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional
certification in accounting, or any other comparable experience or background
which results in the individual's financial sophistication, including being or
having been a chief executive officer, chief financial officer or other senior
officer with financial oversight responsibilities.

         (b) Independent Directors shall not be officers or employees of the
Company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship which
in the opinion of the Company's board of directors, would interfere with the
exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a
director. The following persons shall not be considered independent:

                  (i) a director who is employed by the Company or any of its
         affiliates for the current year or any of the past three years;

                  (ii) a director who accepts any compensation from the Company
         or any of its affiliates in excess of $60,000 during the previous
         fiscal year, other than compensation for board service, benefits under
         a tax-qualified retirement plan, or non-discretionary compensation;

                  (iii) a director who is a member of the immediate family of an
         individual who is, or has been in any of the past three years, employed
         by the Company or any of its affiliates as an executive officer.
         Immediate family includes a person's spouse, parents, children,
         siblings, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law,
         son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and anyone who resides in such person's
         home;

                  (iv) a director who is a partner in, or a controlling
         shareholder or an executive officer of, any for-profit business
         organization to which the Company made, or from

<PAGE>

         which the Company received, payments (other than those arising solely
         from investments in the corporation's securities) that exceed 5% of the
         Company's or business organization's consolidated gross revenues for
         that year, or $200,000, whichever is more, in any of the past three
         years;

                  (v) a director who is employed as an executive of another
         entity where any of the Company's executives serve on that entity's
         compensation committee.

         (c) Notwithstanding Section 1(b) above, one director who is not
independent, and is not a current employee or an immediate family member of the
Company, may be appointed to the audit committee, if the board of directors,
under exceptional and limited circumstances, determines that membership on the
audit committee by the individual is required by the best interests of the
Company and its shareholders, and the board of directors discloses, in the next
annual proxy statement subsequent to such determination, the nature of the
relationship and the reasons for that determination.

2.       Statement of Policy

         The audit committee shall provide assistance to the Company's board of
directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibility to the stockholders,
potential stockholders, and investment community relating to internal financial
reporting practices of the Company, and the quality and integrity of the
financial statements of the Company. In addition, the audit committee shall
provide such assistance with regard to the systems of internal accounting and
financial controls, the annual independent audit of the company's financial
statements, and the legal compliance and ethics programs as established by
management and the board. In so doing, it is the responsibility of the audit
committee to maintain free and open means of communication between the
directors, the independent auditors, and the financial management of the
Company. The board of directors and audit committee, as representatives of the
stockholders, are charged with the ultimate authority and responsibility to
select, evaluate, and where appropriate, replace the Company's independent
auditors (or nominate the independent auditors to be proposed for stockholder
approval in any proxy statement).

3.       Responsibilities

         In carrying out its responsibilities hereunder, the audit committee's
policies and procedures should remain flexible, in order to best react to
changing conditions and to ensure to the directors and stockholders that the
corporate accounting and reporting practices of the Company are in accordance
with all current requirements and are of the highest quality. The audit
committee shall review and reassess the adequacy of this charter in meeting
these objectives on an annual basis.

    In carrying out these responsibilities, the audit committee shall:

o   Review and recommend to the board of directors the independent auditors to
    be selected to audit the financial statements of the Company and any
    divisions and subsidiaries;

<PAGE>

o   Meet with the independent auditors and financial management of the Company
    to review the scope of the proposed audit for the current year and the audit
    procedures to be utilized, and at the conclusion thereof review such audit,
    including any comments or recommendations of the independent auditors;

o   Review with the independent auditors, and the Company's financial and
    accounting management, the adequacy and effectiveness of the accounting and
    financial controls of the Company, and elicit any recommendations for the
    improvement of such internal control procedures or particular areas where
    new or more detailed controls or procedures are desirable. Particular
    emphasis should be given to the adequacy of such internal controls to expose
    any payments, transactions, or procedures that might be deemed illegal or
    otherwise improper;

    o   Review the financial statements to be included in the Annual Report on
        Form 10-K with management and the independent auditors to determine that
        the independent auditors are satisfied with the disclosure and content
        of the financial statements. Any changes in accounting procedures should
        be explained in the Annual Report;

o   The committee shall review the interim financial statements with management
    and the independent auditors prior to the filing of the company's Quarterly
    Report on Form 10-Q. Also, the committee shall discuss the results of the
    quarterly review and any other matters required to be communicated to the
    committee by the independent auditors under generally accepted auditing
    standards. The chair of the committee may represent the entire committee for
    the purposes of this review;

    o   Provide sufficient opportunity for the independent auditors to meet with
        the members of the audit committee without members of management
        present. Among the items to be discussed in these meetings are the
        independent auditor's evaluation of the Company's financial and
        accounting personnel, and the cooperation that the independent auditors
        received during the course of the audit;

    o   Ensure receipt from the independent auditors of a formal written
        statement delineating all relationships between the auditor and the
        Company, consistent with Independent Standards Board Standard 1, and
        actively engage in a dialogue with the auditors with respect to any
        disclosed relationships or services that may impact the objectivity and
        independence of the auditors and, take, or recommend that the full board
        take, appropriate action to oversee the independence of the outside
        auditors;

    o   Inquire about the independent auditors' past and continuing compliance
        with auditor independence rules and about their program for enhancing
        safeguards to ensure that conflicts to not arise in the future;

o   Submit the minutes of all meetings of the audit committee to, or discuss the
    matters discussed at each committee meeting with, the board of directors;
    and

<PAGE>

o   Investigate any matter brought to its attention within the scope of its
    duties, with the power to retain outside counsel for this purpose if, in its
    judgment, that is appropriate.

4.       Effective Date

         This Audit Committee Charter shall become effective immediately upon
its approval and adoption by the board of directors of the Company, with the
exception that Section 1(b) of this Audit Committee Charter defining an
Independent Director shall not become effective until June 1, 2001. This Audit
Committee Charter shall be reviewed on an annual basis to assess its adequacy.

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