Securities Purchase Agreement

SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of November 9, 2004, by and among The Wet Seal, Inc., a Delaware corporation, with headquarters located at 26972 Burbank, Foothill Ranch, California 92610 (the “Company”), and the investors listed on the Schedule of Buyers attached hereto (individually, a “Buyer” and collectively, the “Buyers”).

A. The Company and each Buyer is executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and Rule 506 of Regulation D (“Regulation D”) as promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the 1933 Act.

B. The Company has authorized a new series of convertible notes of the Company, which notes shall be convertible into the Company’s Class A Common Stock, $0.10 par value per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), in accordance with the terms of such notes.

C. Each Buyer wishes to purchase, and the Company wishes to sell, upon the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement, (i) that aggregate principal amount of notes, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A-1 (as amended or modified from time to time, collectively, the “Initial Notes”), set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (3) on the Schedule of Buyers (which aggregate principal amount for all Buyers shall be $40,000,000) (the shares of Class A Common Stock into which the Notes are convertible, collectively, the “Initial Conversion Shares”), (ii) rights, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B-1 (collectively, the “Series A Additional Investment Right Warrants”), to acquire up to that principal amount of additional notes, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A-2 (as amended or modified from time to time, collectively, the “Additional Series A Notes”), set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (4) on the Schedule of Buyers (which aggregate principal amount for all Buyers shall be $9,900,000), (iii) rights, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B-2 (collectively, the “Series B Additional Investment Right Warrants” and, collectively with the Series A Additional Investment Right Warrants, the “Additional Investment Right Warrants”), to acquire up to that principal amount of additional notes, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A-3 (as amended or modified from time to time, collectively, the “Additional Series B Notes” and together with the Additional Series A Notes, the “Additional Notes”, and together with the Initial Notes and any convertible notes issued in replacement of the Initial Notes or the Additional Notes in accordance with the terms thereof, the “Notes”), set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (5) on the Schedule of Buyers (which aggregate principal amount for all Buyers shall be $5,950,000) (the Additional Notes as converted, the “Additional Conversion Shares” and together with the Initial Conversion Shares, the “Conversion Shares”) and (iv) (A) Series B Warrants, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C-2 (the “Series B Warrants”), to acquire up to that number of additional shares of Class A Common Stock set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (3) of the Schedule of Warrants attached hereto, (B) Series C Warrants, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C-3 (the “Series C Warrants”), to acquire up to that number of additional

shares of Class A Common Stock set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (4) of the Schedule of Warrants attached hereto, and (C) Series D Warrants, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C-4 (the “Series D Warrants”), to acquire up to that number of additional shares of Class A Common Stock set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (5) of the Schedule of Warrants attached hereto (the Series B Warrants, the Series C Warrants and the Series D Warrants are collectively referred to herein as the “Additional Warrants”) (as exercised, collectively, the “Additional Warrant Shares”).

D. On the date hereof, each Buyer will receive Series A Warrants, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C-1 (collectively, the “Series A Warrants” and together with the Additional Warrants, the “Warrants”) to acquire up to that number of additional shares of Class A Common Stock set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (2) of the Schedule of Warrants (as exercised, the “Series A Warrant Shares” and together with the Additional Warrant Shares, the “Warrant Shares”).

E. Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the parties hereto are executing and delivering a Registration Rights Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (as amended or modified from time to time in accordance with its terms, the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights with respect to the Notes, Warrants, Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares under the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and applicable state securities laws.

F. Concurrently herewith, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries are entering into temporary financing arrangements with certain of the Buyers, as secured lenders, and as more fully set forth in a credit agreement by and among the Company, The Wet Seal Catalog, Inc., and The Wet Seal Retail, Inc., as borrowers (collectively, the “Bridge Borrowers”), and Wet Seal GC, Inc., as guarantor (together with the Bridge Borrowers, the “Bridge Loan Parties”), S.A.C. Capital Associates, LLC, as administrative agent and collateral agent (in such capacity the “Bridge Agent”), and the Buyers, as lenders, and certain other security and ancillary documents related thereto, and an intercreditor and lien subordination agreement by and among the Bridge Agent, Fleet Retail Group, Inc., as administrative agent and collateral agent (the “Senior Agent”) for certain lenders (the “Senior Lenders”), and the Bridge Loan Parties (the “Bridge Facility”), pursuant to which, subject to the satisfaction of certain borrowing conditions, the Buyers are making available to the Bridge Borrowers a $10 million secured term loan (the “Bridge Amount”). The documents entered into in connection with the Bridge Facility are referred to herein as the “Bridge Facility Documents”.

G. The Notes, the Conversion Shares, the Additional Investment Right Warrants, the Warrants and the Warrant Shares collectively are referred to herein as the “Securities”.

H. The Notes will be secured by a second lien on substantially all of the personal property assets of the Bridge Loan Parties. The Notes and the liens securing such Notes are fully subordinated to the debt and liens in favor of the Senior Agent and the Senior Lenders pursuant to the Subordination Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Senior Lenders and the Buyers, and certain other security and ancillary documents related thereto (collectively, the “Security Agreements”).

(i) Series A Warrants. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the Company shall issue to each Buyer one or more Series A Warrants to acquire up to that number of Series A Warrant Shares as is set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (2) on the Schedule of Warrants.

(ii) Notes, Additional Investment Right Warrants and Additional Warrants. Subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions set forth in Sections 6 and 7 below, the Company shall issue and sell to each Buyer, and each Buyer severally, but not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company on the Closing Date (as defined below), (A) one or more Notes with an aggregate principal amount as is set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (3) on the Schedule of Buyers, (B) one or more Additional Series B Warrants to acquire up to that number of Warrant Shares as is set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (3) on the Schedule of Warrants, (C) one or more Series C Warrants to acquire up to that number of Warrant Shares as is set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (4) on the Schedule of Warrants, (D) one or more Series D Warrants to acquire up to that number of Warrant Shares as is set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (5) on the Schedule of Warrants, (E) Series A Additional Investment Right Warrants to acquire up to that principal amount of Additional Notes as is set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (4) on the Schedule of Buyers and (F) Series B Additional Investment Right Warrants to acquire up to that principal amount of Additional Notes as is set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (5) on the Schedule of Buyers

(iii) Closing. The date and time (the “Closing Date”) of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by Section 1(a)(ii) above (the “Closing”) shall be five (5) Business Days after notification of satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions to the Closing set forth in Sections 6 and 7 below (or such other date as is mutually agreed to by the Company and holders of at least a majority of the principal amount of the Notes issued and, prior to the Closing, issuable hereunder (the “Majority Buyers”)) at the offices of Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, 919 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022. For purposes of this Agreement, “Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in the City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

(1) The aggregate purchase price for the Notes, Additional Investment Right Warrants and the Warrants to be purchased by each Buyer at the Closing (the “Purchase Price”) shall be the amount set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (7) of the Schedule of Buyers less (A) such Buyer’s pro rata share of any outstanding Bridge Amount (including any outstanding principal, accrued and unpaid interest, fees, late charges and other amounts due in respect thereof) and (B) in the case of

S.A.C. Capital Associates, LLC (“SAC”) (a Buyer), a withholding amount with respect to certain expenses in accordance with Section 4(g)(ii).

(2) The Buyers and the Company agree that the Notes, the Additional Investment Right Warrants and the Warrants constitute an “investment unit” for purposes of Section 1273(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Not later than two days before the Closing Date, the Buyers shall notify the Company of their determination of the allocation of the issue price of such investment unit between the Notes, the Additional Investment Right Warrants and the Warrants in accordance with Section 1273(c)(2) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.1273-2(h), and neither the Buyers nor the Company shall take any position inconsistent with such allocation in any tax return or in any judicial or administrative proceeding in respect of taxes.

(b) Form of Payment. On the Closing Date, (i) each Buyer shall pay its Purchase Price to the Company for the Notes, Additional Investment Right Warrants and the Warrants to be issued and sold to such Buyer at the Closing, by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the Company’s written wire instructions, and (ii) the Company shall deliver to each Buyer (A) the Notes (allocated in the principal amounts as such Buyer shall request) which such Buyer is then purchasing, (B) the Warrants (allocated in the amounts as such Buyer shall request) such Buyer is purchasing, in each case duly executed on behalf of the Company and registered in the name of such Buyer or its designee and (C) the Additional Investment Right Warrants (in the amounts as such Buyer shall request) such Buyer is purchasing, in each case duly executed on behalf of the Company and registered in the name of such Buyer or its designee.

(a) No Sale or Distribution. Such Buyer is acquiring the Notes, the Additional Investment Right Warrants and the Warrants, and upon conversion of the Notes and exercise of the Warrants, will acquire the Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Notes, the Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants and the Additional Notes issuable upon exercise of the Additional Investment Right Warrants, for its own account, not as nominee or agent, and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, the sale or distribution thereof, except pursuant to sales registered or exempted under the 1933 Act; provided, however, that by making the representations herein, such Buyer does not agree to hold any of the Securities for any minimum or other specific term and reserves the right to dispose of the Securities at any time in accordance with or pursuant to a registration statement or an exemption under the 1933 Act. Such Buyer is acquiring the Securities hereunder in the ordinary course of its business. Such Buyer does not presently have any agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any Person to distribute any of the Securities. For the purpose of this Agreement, “Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership (general or limited), limited liability company, firm, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, estate, unincorporated organization or government or any department or agency thereof.

(b) Accredited Investor Status. Such Buyer is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D.

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

(d) Information. Such 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 which have been requested by such Buyer. Such Buyer and its advisors, if any, have been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company. Neither such inquiries nor any other due diligence investigations conducted by such Buyer or its advisors, if any, or its representatives shall modify, amend or affect such Buyer’s right to rely on the Company’s representations and warranties contained herein. Such Buyer understands that its investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk. Such Buyer has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to its acquisition of the Securities.

(e) No Governmental Review. Such Buyer understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on 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. Such Buyer understands that except as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement: (i) 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 (A) offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred to an affiliate of such Buyer, (B) subsequently registered thereunder, (C) such Buyer shall have delivered to the Company an opinion of counsel, in a generally acceptable form, to the effect that such Securities to be sold, assigned or transferred may be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to an exemption from such registration, or (D) such Buyer provides the Company with reasonable assurance that such Securities can be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A promulgated under the 1933 Act, as amended, (or a successor rule thereto) (collectively, “Rule 144”); (ii) any sale of the Securities made in reliance on 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 the Securities under circumstances in which the seller (or the Person through 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 (iii) neither the Company nor any other Person is under any obligation to register the Securities under the 1933 Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder.

(g) Legends. Such Buyer understands that, until such time as the resale of the Securities have been registered under the 1933 Act as contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement, the certificates or other instruments representing the Securities, except as set forth below, shall bear any legend as required by the “blue sky” laws of any state and a restrictive legend in substantially the following form (and a stop-transfer order may be placed against transfer of such instruments):

[NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE [CONVERTIBLE] [EXERCISABLE] HAVE BEEN][THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN] REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, IN A GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE FORM, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.

The legend set forth above shall be removed and the Company shall issue a certificate without such legend to the holder of the Securities upon which it is stamped, if, unless otherwise required by state securities laws, (i) such Securities are registered for resale under the 1933 Act, (ii) in connection with a sale, assignment or other transfer, such holder provides the Company with an opinion of counsel, in a generally acceptable form, to the effect that such sale, assignment or transfer of the Securities may be made without registration under the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, or (iii) such holder provides the Company with reasonable assurance that the Securities can be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A.

(h) Validity; Enforcement. This Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Bridge Facility Documents to which such Buyer is a party have been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of such Buyer and shall constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of such Buyer enforceable against such Buyer in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation and other similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors’ rights and remedies.

(i) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by such Buyer of this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Bridge Facility Documents to which such Buyer is a party and the consummation by such Buyer of the transactions contemplated

hereby and thereby will not (i) result in a violation of the organizational documents of such Buyer 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 such Buyer is a party, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws) applicable to such Buyer, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for such conflicts, defaults, rights or violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of such Buyer to perform its obligations hereunder.

(j) Residency. Such Buyer is a resident of that jurisdiction specified below its address on the Schedule of Buyers.

(i) The Company and its “Subsidiaries” (which for purposes of this Agreement means any entity in which the Company, directly or indirectly, owns outstanding capital stock or holds an equity or similar interest representing the outstanding equity or similar interest of such entity) are entities duly organized and validly existing in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which they are formed, and have the requisite power and authorization to own their properties and to carry on their business as now being conducted. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign entity to do business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has no Subsidiaries except as set forth on Schedule 3(a). Schedule 3(a) sets forth the nature and percentage ownership of the Company in each Subsidiary. As used in this Agreement, “Material Adverse Effect” means any material adverse effect on the business, properties, assets, operations, results of operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or on the transactions contemplated hereby and in the Transaction Documents (as defined below) or by the agreements and instruments to be entered into in connection herewith or therewith, or on the authority or ability of the Company to perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents.

(b) Authorization; Enforcement; Validity. The Company has the requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Notes, the Additional Investment Right Warrants and the Warrants, the Registration Rights Agreement, the documents relating to the Bridge Facility, the Security Documents, the Issuance Documents (as defined in Section 4(a)(ii)), the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions (as defined in Section 5(b)) and any other certificate, instrument or document contemplated hereby or thereby (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”) and to issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and

thereby, including, without limitation, the issuance of the Notes, the Additional Investment Right Warrants and the Warrants, the reservation for issuance and the issuance of the Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Notes and the reservation for issuance and issuance of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants have been duly authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors and, other than the filings specified in Section 3(e) and the Stockholder Approval (as defined in Section 4(p)), no further filing, consent, or authorization is required by the Company, its Board of Directors or its stockholders. This Agreement and the other Transaction Documents of even date herewith have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, and constitute the legal, 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 general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors’ rights and remedies. Any other Transaction Documents dated after the date herewith upon execution shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, and constitute the legal, 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 general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors’ rights and remedies.

(c) Issuance of Securities. The issuance of the Notes, the Additional Investment Right Warrants and the Warrants and, subject to Stockholder Approval, the issuance of the Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares are duly authorized and are free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof. As of the Closing, a number of shares of Class A Common Stock shall have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance which equals or exceeds 130% of the aggregate of the maximum number of shares Class A Common Stock: (i) issuable upon conversion of the Notes pursuant to Section 3 of the Notes as of the trading day immediately preceding the Closing Date and (ii) issuable upon exercise of the Warrants as of the trading day immediately preceding the Closing Date. Upon issuance or conversion in accordance with the Notes or exercise in accordance with the Warrants, as the case may be, the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares, respectively, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all preemptive or similar rights, taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof, with the holders being entitled to all rights accorded to a holder of Class A Common Stock. Assuming the accuracy of each of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement, the offer and issuance by the Company of the Notes and Warrants is exempt from registration under the 1933 Act.

(d) No Conflicts. Subject, as applicable, to obtaining the Stockholder Approval, the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Notes, the Additional Investment Right Warrants and the Warrants, and reservation for issuance and issuance of the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares, without regard to the limitation on issuance thereof) will not (i) result in a violation of any certificate of incorporation, certificate of formation, any certificate of designations or other constituent documents of the Company or any of is Subsidiaries, any capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or bylaws of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries 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 (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws and regulations and the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq National Market (the “Principal Market”)) 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 in the case of (ii) and (iii) to the extent that such violation, conflict, default or right would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(e) Consents. Except as set forth in Schedule 3(e), the Company is not required to obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with, any court, governmental agency or any regulatory or self-regulatory agency or any other Person in order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations under or contemplated by the Transaction Documents, in each case in accordance with the terms thereof. All consents, authorizations, orders, filings and registrations which the Company is required to obtain pursuant to the preceding sentence shall have been obtained or effected on or prior to the Closing Date, and the Company and its Subsidiaries are unaware of any facts or circumstances which might prevent the Company from obtaining or effecting any of the registration, application or filings pursuant to the preceding sentence. The Company is not in violation of the listing requirements of the Principal Market and has no knowledge of any facts which would reasonably lead to delisting or suspension of the Class A Common Stock in the foreseeable future.

(f) Acknowledgment Regarding Buyer’s Purchase of Securities. The Company acknowledges and agrees that each Buyer is acting individually and solely in the capacity of arm’s length purchaser with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and that no Buyer is (i) an officer or director of the Company, (ii) an “affiliate” of the Company (as defined in Rule 144) or (iii) to the knowledge of the Company, a “beneficial owner” of more than 10% of the shares of Class A Common Stock (as defined for purposes of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”)). The Company further acknowledges that no Buyer is acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and any advice given by a Buyer or any of its representatives or agents in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby is merely incidental to such Buyer’s purchase of the Securities. The Company further represents to each Buyer that the Company’s decision to enter into the Transaction Documents has been based solely on the independent evaluation by the Company and its representatives.

(g) No General Solicitation; Agent’s Fees. Neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates, nor any Person acting on its or their behalf, has engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities. The Company shall be responsible for the payment of any placement agent’s fees, financial advisory fees, or brokers’ commissions (other than for Persons engaged by any Buyer or its investment advisor) relating to or arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby. Except for Rothschild, Inc. and the other agents and advisors whose compensation is set forth on Schedule 3(g) hereto, the Company has not engaged any investment advisor, placement agent or other agent in connection with the sale of the Securities.

(h) No Integrated Offering. None of the Company, its Subsidiaries, any of their affiliates, and any Person acting on their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would require registration of any of the Securities under the 1933 Act or cause this offering of the Securities to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of the 1933 Act or, assuming the receipt of the Stockholder Approval, any applicable stockholder approval provisions, including, without limitation, under the rules and regulations of any exchange or automated quotation system on which any of the securities of the Company are listed or designated. None of the Company, its Subsidiaries, their affiliates and any Person acting on their behalf will take any action or steps referred to in the preceding sentence that would require registration of any of the Securities under the 1933 Act or cause the offering of the Securities to be integrated with other offerings.

(i) Dilutive Effect. The Company understands and acknowledges that the number of Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Notes and the Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants may increase in certain circumstances. The Company further acknowledges that its obligation to issue Conversion Shares upon conversion of the Notes in accordance with this Agreement and the Notes and its obligation to issue the Warrant Shares upon exercise of the Warrants in accordance with this Agreement and the Warrants is, in each case, absolute and unconditional regardless of the dilutive effect that such issuance may have on the ownership interests of other stockholders of the Company.

(j) Application of Takeover Protections; Rights Agreement. The Company and its board of directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Certificate of Incorporation or the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation which is or could become applicable to any Buyer as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Company’s issuance of the Securities and any Buyer’s ownership of the Securities. Except as set forth on Schedule 3(j)(a), the Company has not adopted a stockholder rights plan or similar arrangement relating to accumulations of beneficial ownership of Class A Common Stock or a change in control of the Company (each “Rights Plan”). The Board of Directors of the Company has, prior to the execution of this Agreement, adopted a resolution exempting the issuance of the Securities from any Rights Plan of the Company and from any control share acquisition statute applicable to the Company, which is attached hereto as Schedule 3(j)(b).

(k) SEC Documents; Financial Statements. During the two (2) years prior to the date hereof, the Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by it with the SEC pursuant to the reporting requirements of 1934 Act (all of the foregoing filed prior to the date hereof and all exhibits included therein and financial statements, notes and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein being hereinafter referred to as the “SEC Documents”). The Company has delivered to the Buyers or their respective representatives true, correct and complete copies of the SEC Documents not available on the EDGAR system. 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, or as of the date of the last

amendment thereof, if amended after filing, 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 the 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).

(l) Absence of Certain Changes. Other than as set forth in the SEC Documents, since the date of the Company’s most recent SEC Documents, there has been no material adverse change and no material adverse development, which constitutes a Material Adverse Effect as defined in Section 8(e) of this Agreement. Since January 31, 2004, the Company has not (i) declared or paid any dividends, (ii) sold any assets, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $100,000 outside of the ordinary course of business or (iii) had capital expenditures, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $100,000 outside of the ordinary course of business. The Company has not taken any steps to seek protection pursuant to any bankruptcy law nor does the Company have any knowledge or reason to believe that its creditors intend to initiate involuntary bankruptcy proceedings or any actual knowledge of any fact which would reasonably lead a creditor to do so. The Company and its Subsidiaries, individually and on a consolidated basis, are not as of the date hereof, and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby to occur at the Closing, will not be Insolvent. For purposes of this Section 3(l), “Insolvent” means, with respect to any Person, (i) the present fair saleable value of such Person’s assets is less than the amount required to pay such Person’s total Indebtedness (as defined in Section 3(s)) (other than any future lease liabilities as such exist on the date hereof), (ii) the Person is unable to pay its debts and liabilities (other than any future lease liabilities as such exist on the date hereof), subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured, (iii) such Person intends to incur or believes that it will incur debts (other than any future lease liabilities as such exist on the date hereof) that would be beyond its ability to pay as such debts mature or (iv) such Person has unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the business in which it is engaged as such business is now conducted and is proposed to be conducted.

(m) No Undisclosed Events, Liabilities, Developments or Circumstances. No event, liability, development or circumstance has occurred or exists, or is contemplated to occur with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or their respective business, properties, prospects operations or financial condition, that would be required to be disclosed by the Company under applicable securities laws on a registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC relating to an issuance and sale by the Company of its Class A Common Stock and which has not been publicly announced.

(n) Conduct of Business; Regulatory Permits. Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries is in violation of any term of or in default under its Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws or their organizational charter or certificate of incorporation or bylaws, respectively. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any judgment, decree or order or any statute, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or its Subsidiaries, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will conduct its business in violation of any of the foregoing, except for possible violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company is not in violation of any of the rules, regulations or requirements of the Principal Market and has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances which would reasonably lead to delisting or suspension of the Class A Common Stock by the Principal Market in the foreseeable future. Since January 31, 2004, (i) the Class A Common Stock has been designated for quotation on the Principal Market, (ii) trading in the Class A Common Stock has not been suspended by the SEC or the Principal Market and (iii) the Company has received no communication, written or oral, from the SEC or the Principal Market regarding the suspension or delisting of the Class A Common Stock from the Principal Market. The Company and its Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, as presently operated, except where the failure to possess such certificates, authorizations or permits would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit.

(o) Foreign Corrupt Practices. Neither the Company, nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any director, officer, agent, employee or other Person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has, in the course of its actions for, or on behalf of, the Company (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; or (iv) made any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee.

(p) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company is in compliance with any and all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that are effective as of the date hereof, and any and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder that are effective as of the date hereof, except where such noncompliance would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(q) Transactions With Affiliates. Except as set forth in the SEC Documents filed at least ten days prior to the date hereof and other than the grant of stock options disclosed on Schedule 3(r), none of the officers, directors or employees of the Company is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than for ordinary course services as employees, officers or directors), including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal property to or from, or otherwise requiring payments to or from any such officer, director or employee or, to the knowledge of the Company, any corporation, partnership, trust or

other entity in which any such officer, director, or employee has a substantial interest or is an officer, director, trustee or partner.

(r) Equity Capitalization. As of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (i) 60,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, of which as of the date hereof, 34,660,657 are issued and outstanding and 4,817,619 shares are reserved for issuance pursuant to the Company’s stock option and purchase plans, (ii) 10,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, $0.10 par value (the “Class B Common Stock”), of which as of the date hereof, 1,500,000 are issued and outstanding and (iii) 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $.01 par value per share, of which as of the date hereof none of which is issued and outstanding or reserved for issuance. All of such outstanding shares have been, or upon issuance will be, validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(r): (i) none of the Company’s share capital is subject to preemptive rights or any other similar rights or any liens or encumbrances suffered or permitted by the Company; (ii) 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, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any share capital of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound to issue additional share capital of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any share capital of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (iii) there are no outstanding debt securities, notes, credit agreements, credit facilities or other agreements, documents or instruments evidencing Indebtedness (as defined in Section 3(s)) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound; (iv) there are no financing statements securing obligations in any material amounts, either singly or in the aggregate, filed in connection with the Company; (v) there are no agreements or arrangements under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is obligated to register the sale of any of their securities under the 1933 Act (except the Registration Rights Agreement); (vi) there are no outstanding securities or instruments of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which contain any redemption or similar provisions, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound to redeem a security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (vii) there are no securities or instruments containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by the issuance of the Securities; (viii) the Company does not have any stock appreciation rights or “phantom stock” plans or agreements or any similar plan or agreement; and (ix) the Company and its Subsidiaries have no liabilities or obligations required to be disclosed in the SEC Documents but not so disclosed in the SEC Documents, other than those incurred in the ordinary course of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ respective businesses and which, individually or in the aggregate, do not or would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has furnished to the Buyer true, correct and complete copies of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), and the Company’s Bylaws, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof (the “Bylaws”), and the terms of all securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, shares of Class A Common Stock and the material rights of the holders thereof in respect thereto.

(s) Indebtedness and Other Contracts. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(s), neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has any outstanding Indebtedness (as defined below), (ii) is a party to any contract, agreement or instrument, the violation of which, or default under which, by the other party(ies) to such contract, agreement or instrument would result in a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) is in violation of any term of or in default under any contract, agreement or instrument relating to any Indebtedness, except where such violations and defaults would not result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect, or (iv) is a party to any contract, agreement or instrument relating to any Indebtedness, the performance of which, in the judgment of the Company’s officers, has or is expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Schedule 3(s) provides a detailed description of the material terms of any such outstanding Indebtedness. For purposes of this Agreement: (x) “Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication (A) all indebtedness for borrowed money, (B) all obligations issued, undertaken or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables entered into in the ordinary course of business), (C) all reimbursement or payment obligations with respect to letters of credit, surety bonds and other similar instruments, (D) all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, including obligations so evidenced incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses, (E) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, or incurred as financing, in either case with respect to any property or assets acquired with the proceeds of such indebtedness (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or bank under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (F) all monetary obligations under any leasing or similar arrangement which, in connection with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied for the periods covered thereby, is classified as a capital lease, (G) all indebtedness referred to in clauses (A) through (F) above secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance upon or in any property or assets (including accounts and contract rights) owned by any Person, even though the Person which owns such assets or property has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such indebtedness, and (H) all Contingent Obligations in respect of indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in clauses (A) through (G) above; and (y) “Contingent Obligation” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect liability, contingent or otherwise, of that Person with respect to any indebtedness, lease, dividend or other obligation of another Person if the primary purpose or intent of the Person incurring such liability, or the primary effect thereof, is to provide assurance to the obligee of such liability that such liability will be paid or discharged, or that any agreements relating thereto will be complied with, or that the holders of such liability will be protected (in whole or in part) against loss with respect thereto.

(t) Absence of Litigation. Except as set forth in Schedule 3(t), there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or by the Principal Market, any court, public board, government agency, self-regulatory organization or body pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company, the Class A Common Stock or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or any of the Company’s or the Company’s Subsidiaries’ officers or directors. Schedule 3(t) sets forth the details of any such litigation.

(u) Insurance. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts

as management of the Company believes to be prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and its Subsidiaries are engaged. Neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for and neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(v) Employee Relations. (i) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or employs any member of a union. Except as set forth on Schedule 3(v), the Company and its Subsidiaries believe that their relations with their employees are good. Except as set forth on Schedule 3(v), no executive officer of the Company (as defined in Rule 501(f) of the 1933 Act) has notified the Company that such officer intends to leave the Company or otherwise terminate such officer’s employment with the Company. No executive officer of the Company, to the knowledge of the Company, is, or is now expected to be, in violation of any material term of any employment contract, confidentiality, disclosure or proprietary information agreement, non-competition agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive covenant, and the continued employment of each such executive officer does not subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any liability with respect to any of the foregoing matters except a would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(ii) The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations respecting labor, employment and employment practices and benefits, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, except where failure to be in compliance would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(w) Title. The Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real property and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them which is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and material defects except such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(x) Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its Subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights or licenses to use (A) patents (and any renewals and extensions thereof), patent rights (and any applications therefor), rights of priority and other rights in inventions; (B) trademarks, service marks, trade names and trade dress, and all registrations and applications therefor and all legal and common-law equivalents of any of the foregoing; (C) copyrights and rights in mask works (and any applications or registrations for the foregoing, and all renewals and extensions thereof), common-law copyrights and rights of authorship including all rights to exploit any of the foregoing in any media and by any manner and means now known or hereafter devised; (D) industrial design rights, and all registrations and applications therefor; (E) rights in

data, collections of data and databases, and all legal or common-law equivalents thereof; (F) rights in domain names and domain name reservations; (G) rights in trade secrets, proprietary information and know-how (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”), collectively with all licenses and other agreements providing the Company or its Subsidiaries the Intellectual Property Rights material to the operation of their businesses as now conducted and as described in the SEC Documents. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has knowledge that any of them has infringed on any of the Intellectual Property Rights of any Person and none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is infringing on any of the Intellectual Property Rights of any Person. There is no action, suit, hearing, claim, notice of violation, arbitration or other proceeding, hearing or investigation that is pending, or to the Company’s knowledge, is threatened against, the Company regarding the infringement of any of the Intellectual Property Rights. The Company is not, to its knowledge, making unauthorized use of any confidential information or trade secrets of any third party, and the Company has not received any notice of any asserted infringement (nor is the Company aware of any reasonable basis for any third party asserting an infringement) by the Company of, any rights of a third party with respect to any Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of their Intellectual Property Rights.

(y) Environmental Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and all Environmental Laws (as hereinafter defined), (ii) have received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval where, in each of the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the failure to so comply could be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. The term “Environmental Laws” means all federal, state, local or foreign laws relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata), including, without limitation, laws relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, or toxic or hazardous substances or wastes (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) into the environment, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials, as well as all authorizations, codes, decrees, demands or demand letters, injunctions, judgments, licenses, notices or notice letters, orders, permits, plans or regulations issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder.

(z) Subsidiary Rights. The Company or one of its Subsidiaries has the unrestricted right to vote, and (subject to limitations imposed by applicable law) to receive dividends and distributions on, all capital securities of its Subsidiaries as owned by the Company or such Subsidiary.

(aa) Tax Status. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries (i) has made or filed all foreign, federal and state income and all other tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject, (ii) has paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges that are material in amount, shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations, except those being contested in good faith and (iii) has set aside on its books provision reasonably adequate for the payment of all taxes for periods subsequent to

the periods to which such returns, reports or declarations apply. There are no unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed to be due by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction, and the officers of the Company know of no basis for any such claim.

(bb) Internal Accounting Controls. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset and liability accountability, (iii) access to assets or incurrence of liabilities is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets and liabilities is compared with the existing assets and liabilities at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any difference.

(cc) Ranking of Notes. Except as set forth on Schedule (cc), no Indebtedness of the Company is senior to or ranks pari passu with the Notes in right of payment, whether with respect of payment of redemptions, interest, damages or upon liquidation or dissolution or otherwise.

(dd) Form S-3 Eligibility. The Company is eligible to register the Notes, Warrants, Additional Investment Right Warrants, Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares for resale by the Buyers using Form S-3 promulgated under the 1933 Act.

(ee) Manipulation of Price. The Company has not, and to its knowledge no one acting on its behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Securities, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the Securities, or (iii) paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company.

(ff) Disclosure. Other than the provision of certain projections as to the financial situation of the Company (the “Disclosed Information”), which disclosed information shall be made public prior to or in conjunction with the Final 8-K Filing (as defined below), the Company confirms that neither it nor any other Person acting on its behalf has provided any of the Buyers or their agents or counsel with any information that constitutes or could reasonably be expected to constitute material, nonpublic information. The Company understands and confirms that each of the Buyers will rely on the foregoing representations in effecting transactions in securities of the Company. All disclosure provided to the Buyers regarding the Company, its business and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Schedules to this Agreement, taken as a whole, furnished by or on behalf of the Company is true and correct in all material respects and does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Each press release issued by the Company during the twelve (12) months preceding the date of this Agreement did not at the time of release contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. No event or circumstance has

occurred or information exists with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or its or their business, properties, prospects, operations or financial conditions, which, under applicable law, rule or regulation, requires public disclosure or announcement by the Company but which has not been so publicly announced or disclosed.

(gg) Independent Accountants. Deloitte & Touche LLP, who have certified the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of January 31, 2004, are independent public accountants within the meaning of the 1933 Act.

(hh) Investment Company. Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries is or, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof, will become an “investment company” or an “affiliated person” of, or “promoter” or “principal underwriter” for an investment company, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(i) 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.

(ii) Each party agrees that during the period from and after the date hereof and prior to the Closing Date, if the Buyers so request, the parties shall work in good faith to amend the Transaction Documents (other than the Issuance Documents (defined below)) to allow for the maximum flexibility with respect to the buying and selling of Notes and Warrants in markets approved by the Buyers, including, without limitation, the creation of an indenture with respect to the issuance of the Notes (the “Indenture”), warrant agreements with respect to the Warrants and the Additional Investment Right Warrants (collectively, the “Warrant Agreements”, and together with the Indenture, the “Issuance Documents”) and amend this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement to reflect any necessary terms of the Issuance Documents.

(b) Form D and Blue Sky. The Company agrees to file a Form D with respect to the Securities as required under Regulation D and to provide a copy thereof to each Buyer promptly after such filing. The Company shall, on or before the Closing Date, take such action as is necessary in order to obtain an exemption for or to qualify the Securities for sale to the Buyers at the Closing pursuant to this Agreement under applicable securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the states of the United States, and shall provide evidence of any such exemption or qualification so taken to the Buyers on or prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall make all filings and reports relating to the offer and sale of the Securities required under applicable securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the states of the United States following the Closing Date.

(c) Reporting Status. Until the date on which the Investors (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) shall have sold all the Securities and none of the Securities is outstanding (the “Reporting Period”), and other than in accordance with the Notes and Warrants, the Company shall timely file all reports required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to the 1934 Act, and the Company shall continue to timely file reports under the 1934 Act even if

the 1934 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder would otherwise no longer require such filings.

(d) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the proceeds from the sale of the Securities for general working capital purposes, including payment of trade creditors. The Company will not use the proceeds from the sale of the Securities for the (i) repayment of any outstanding Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) redemption or repurchase of any of its equity securities.

(e) Financial Information. The Company agrees to send the following to each Investor during the Reporting Period provided that the following does not constitute material, nonpublic information, (i) unless the following are filed with the SEC through EDGAR and are available to the public through the EDGAR system, within one (1) Business Day after the filing thereof with the SEC, a copy of its Annual Reports on Form 10-K or 10-KSB, any interim reports or any consolidated balance sheets, income statements, stockholders’ equity statements and/or cash flow statements for any fiscal quarter, any Current Reports on Form 8-K and any registration statements (other than on Form S-8) or amendments filed pursuant to the 1933 Act, and (ii) promptly after the release thereof, facsimile copies of all press releases issued by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, unless those press releases are timely filed on Form 8-K.

(f) Listing. The Company shall promptly secure the listing of all of the Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares upon each national securities exchange and automated quotation system, if any, upon which the Class A Common Stock is then listed (subject to official notice of issuance) and shall maintain such listing of all Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares from time to time issuable under the terms of the Transaction Documents. The Company shall maintain the Class A Common Stocks’ authorization for quotation on the Principal Market. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall take any action which would be reasonably expected to result in the delisting or suspension of the Class A Common Stock on the Principal Market.

(g) Fees. (i) Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company shall pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including without limitation, all fees, costs and expenses (A) incident to the preparation, issuance, execution, authentication and delivery of the Securities, including any expenses of any trustee or warrant agent, (B) incurred in connection with the registration or qualification and determination of eligibility for investment of the Securities, (C) in connection with the admission for trading of the Notes and Warrants on any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system, (D) related to any filing with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”), (E) the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Sections 6 and 7, in each case whether or not the Closing Date occurs or this Agreement is terminated, and (F) otherwise in connection with satisfying its obligations hereunder. The Company shall be responsible for the payment of any placement agent’s fees, financial advisory fees, or broker’s commissions (other than for Persons engaged by any Buyer) relating to or arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, any fees or commissions payable to any agents. The Company shall pay, and hold each Buyer harmless against, any liability, loss or expense (including,

without limitation, reasonable attorney’s fees and out of pocket expenses) arising in connection with any claim relating to any such payment.

(ii) Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company shall pay or cause to be paid all out-of-pocket costs, fees and expenses (including, without limitation, all fees and other client charges and expenses of Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, counsel for SAC) (“Expenses”) incurred by, or on behalf of, SAC in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, but not limited to, in connection with (i) any accounting, business, environmental, legal, or regulatory due diligence review of the Company and its business and (ii) the revision, negotiation, execution and delivery of all Transaction Documents, the Bridge Facility and any related documents, up to a maximum reimbursement of $600,000 including any payment made under the Exclusivity Agreement dated November 3, 2004 between the Company and SAC (the “Fee Cap”); provided, however, that such Fee Cap shall be increased if SAC determines that such amount does not reasonably reflect the actual or reasonably anticipated Expenses and the Board of the Company approves such increase (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, the Company shall not be obligated to pay more than $250,000 in Expenses if the Company terminates this agreement pursuant to Section 8(d). Subject to the Fee Cap, the Company shall within ten (10) Business Days of any written request by SAC, pay or reimburse SAC for the Expenses set forth in such written request, and SAC shall withhold any Expenses not previously reimbursed from its Purchase Price at the Closing.

(h) Pledge of Securities. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Securities may be pledged by an Investor (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) in connection with a bona fide margin agreement or other loan or financing arrangement that is secured by the Securities. The pledge of Securities shall not be deemed to be a transfer, sale or assignment of the Securities hereunder, and no Investor effecting a pledge of Securities shall be required to provide the Company with any notice thereof or otherwise make any delivery to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, including, without limitation, Section 2(f) hereof; provided that an Investor and its pledgee shall be required to comply with the provisions of Section 2(f) hereof in order to effect a sale, transfer or assignment of Securities to such pledgee. The Company hereby agrees to execute and deliver such documentation as a pledgee of the Securities may reasonably request in connection with a pledge of the Securities to such pledgee by an Investor.

(i) Disclosure of Transactions and Other Material Information. On or before 8:30 a.m., New York time, on the second Business Day following the date of this Agreement, the Company shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K describing the terms of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents in the form required by the 1934 Act and attaching the material Transaction Documents (including, without limitation, this Agreement, all documents relating to the Bridge Facility, the form of the Notes, the form of each of the Warrants and the Registration Rights Agreement) as exhibits to such filing, which Form 8-K shall be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Buyers (including all attachments, the “Initial 8-K Filing”). On or before 8:30 a.m., New York time, on the second Business Day following the date of any material amendment to the terms set forth in this Agreement, the Company shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K describing the terms of such amendment or modification in the form required by the 1934 Act and attaching any material transaction

documents, as entered into, prepared, modified or amended, as exhibits to such filing (including all attachments, an “Amending 8-K Filing”). On or before 8:30 a.m., New York time, on the second Business Day following the Closing Date, the Company shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K describing the Closing and disclosing any previously undisclosed Disclosed Information in the form required by the 1934 Act and attaching any material transaction documents not previously filed as exhibits to such filing (including all attachments, the “Final 8-K Filing”, and collectively with the Initial 8-K Filing and all Amending 8-K Filings, the “8-K Filings”). From and after the filing of the Final 8-K Filing with the SEC, no Buyer shall be in possession of any material, nonpublic information received from the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its respective officers, directors, employees or agents, that is not disclosed in the 8-K Filings. The Company shall not, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and its and each of their respective officers, directors, employees and agents, not to, provide any Buyer with any material, nonpublic information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from and after the filing of the Initial 8-K Filing with the SEC without the express written consent of such Buyer. Subject to the foregoing, neither the Company nor any Buyer shall issue any press releases or any other public statements with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that the Company shall be entitled, without the prior approval of any Buyer, to make any press release or other public disclosure with respect to such transactions (i) in substantial conformity with the 8-K Filings and contemporaneously therewith and (ii) as is required by applicable law and regulations (provided that in the case of clause (i) each Buyer shall be consulted by the Company in connection with any such press release or other public disclosure prior to its release and provided that in any case the Company shall not disclose the identity of any Buyer without such Buyer’s express written consent unless required by applicable law and regulations).

(j) Additional Notes; Variable Securities; Dilutive Issuances. So long as any Buyer beneficially owns any Securities, the Company will not issue any Notes other than to the Buyers as contemplated hereby and the Company shall not issue any other securities that would cause a breach or default under the Notes. For so long as any Notes, the Additional Investment Right Warrants or Warrants remain outstanding, the Company shall not, in any manner, issue or sell any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase Class A Common Stock or directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Class A Common Stock at a price which varies or may vary with the market price of the Class A Common Stock, including by way of one or more reset(s) to any fixed price, unless the conversion, exchange or exercise price of any such security cannot be less than the then applicable Conversion Price (as defined in the Notes) with respect to the Class A Common Stock into which any Note is convertible and the then applicable Exercise Price (as defined in the Warrants) with respect to the Class A Common Stock into which any Warrant is exercisable. For so long as any Notes, the Additional Investment Right Warrants or Warrants remain outstanding, the Company shall not, in any manner, enter into or affect any Dilutive Issuance (as defined in the Notes) if the effect of such Dilutive Issuance is to cause the Company to be required to issue upon conversion of any Note or exercise of any Warrant any shares of Class A Common Stock in excess of that number of shares of Class A Common Stock which the Company may issue upon conversion of the Notes and exercise of the Warrants without breaching the Company’s obligations under the rules or regulations of the Principal Market.

(k) Corporate Existence. So long as any Buyer beneficially owns any Securities, the Company shall not be party to any Fundamental Transaction (as defined in the Notes) unless the Company is in compliance with the applicable provisions governing Fundamental Transactions set forth in the Notes, the Additional Investment Right Warrants and the Warrants.

(l) Reservation of Shares. The Company shall take all action necessary to at all times have authorized, and reserved for the purpose of issuance, after the Closing Date, 130% of the aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of all of the Notes (including the Additional Notes) and issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.

(i) Unless the Company shall otherwise agree in writing with the Majority Buyers (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld) and except as expressly contemplated by the Transaction Documents, during the period from the date of this Agreement to the Closing Date, (i) the Company shall conduct, and it shall cause its Subsidiaries to conduct, its or their businesses in the ordinary course and consistent with past practice, and the Company shall, and it shall cause its Subsidiaries to, use its or their reasonable best efforts to preserve intact its business organization, to keep available the services of its officers and employees and to maintain satisfactory relationships with all Persons with whom it does business and (ii) without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will:

(1) amend or propose to amend its Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws (or comparable governing instruments) in any material respect;

(2) authorize for issuance, issue, grant, sell, pledge, dispose of or propose to issue, grant, sell, pledge or dispose of any shares of, or any options, warrants, commitments, subscriptions or rights of any kind to acquire or sell any shares of, the capital stock or other securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries including, but not limited to, any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of stock of any class of capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for the issuance of shares pursuant to the exercise of either incentive or non-qualified stock options, including management stock options, outstanding on the date of this Agreement in accordance with their present terms;

(4) split, combine or reclassify any shares of its capital stock or declare, pay or set aside any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property or any combination thereof) in respect of its capital stock, other than dividends or distributions to the Company or a Subsidiary, or directly or indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire or offer to acquire any shares of its capital stock or other securities;

(5) (a) create, incur or assume any debt, except refinancings of existing obligations on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or its Subsidiaries

than the existing terms; (b) assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise become liable or responsible (whether directly, indirectly, contingently or otherwise) for the obligations of any Person; (c) make any capital expenditures or make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other Person (other than to a Subsidiary); (d) acquire the stock or assets of, or merge or consolidate with, any other Person; (e) voluntarily incur any material liability or obligation (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise), other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; or (f) other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, sell, transfer, mortgage, pledge or otherwise dispose of, or encumber, or agree to sell, transfer, mortgage, pledge or otherwise dispose of or encumber, any assets or properties, real, personal or mixed material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole other than to secure debt permitted under (a) of this clause (v);

(6) increase in any manner the compensation of any of its officers or employees or enter into, establish, amend or terminate any employment, consulting, retention, change in control, collective bargaining, bonus or other incentive compensation, profit sharing, health or other welfare, stock option or other equity, pension, retirement, vacation, severance, deferred compensation or other compensation or benefit plan, policy, agreement, trust, fund or arrangement with, for or in respect of, any stockholder, officer, director, other employee, agent, consultant or affiliate other than as required pursuant to the terms of agreements in effect on the date of this Agreement and such as are in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

(7) enter into or commit to enter into any material transaction, material monetary commitment or capital expenditure or enter into, amend, modify or terminate any material agreement (including real estate leases that are material in the aggregate);

(8) acquire or agree to acquire, by merging or consolidating with, by purchasing an equity interest in or a portion of the securities of, or by any other manner, any Person, or otherwise acquire or agree to acquire all or substantially all of the assets of any other Person (other than the purchase of assets from suppliers or vendors in the ordinary course of the business of the Company);

(9) settle or compromise any litigation, proceeding, action or claim that could reasonably be expected to result in payments (to the extent not covered by insurance) that exceed $250,000 in the aggregate;

(10) fail to use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply in all material respects with any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws) applicable to it or any of its properties, assets or business and maintain in full force and effect all the Company permits necessary for, or otherwise material to, such business; and

(ii) Notwithstanding the forgoing, to the extent that any of the foregoing shall constitute material, nonpublic information, before seeking the Buyers’ consent hereunder, the Company shall first confirm with such Buyer that it desires to receive such information (without disclosing the nature of any information that may constitute material, nonpublic information) and if the Buyer agrees to receive such information, then such information shall constitute Disclosed Information for all purposes hereof.

(1) “Convertible Securities” means any stock or securities (other than Options) convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Class A Common Stock.

(2) “Options” means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of Class A Common Stock or Convertible Securities.

(3) “Class A Common Stock Equivalents” means, collectively, Options and Convertible Securities.

(ii) From the date hereof until the date that is 30 Trading Days (as defined in the Notes) following the Effective Date (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) (the “Trigger Date”), the Company will not, directly or indirectly, offer, sell, grant any option to purchase, or otherwise dispose of (or announce any offer, sale, grant or any option to purchase or other disposition of) any of its or its Subsidiaries’ equity or equity equivalent securities, including without limitation any debt, preferred stock or other instrument or security that is, at any time during its life and under any circumstances, convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Class A Common Stock or Class A Common Stock Equivalents (any such offer, sale, grant, disposition or announcement being referred to as a “Subsequent Placement”).

(iii) Subject to the satisfaction of the rights set forth in Section 3(bb) of that Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 29, 2004, by and among the Company and the purchasers signatory thereto (the “June 2004 Participation Right”), from the Trigger Date until the thirty-six (36) month anniversary of the later of the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, the Company will not, directly or indirectly, effect any Subsequent Placement unless the Company shall have first complied with this Section 4(n)(iii).

(1) The Company shall deliver to each Buyer a written notice (the ”Offer Notice”) of any proposed or intended issuance or sale or exchange (the “Offer”) of the securities being offered (the “Offered Securities”) in a Subsequent Placement, which Offer Notice shall (w) identify and describe the Offered Securities, (x) describe the price and other terms upon which they are to be issued, sold or exchanged, and the number or amount of the Offered Securities to be issued, sold or exchanged, (y) identify the Persons (if known) to which or with which the Offered Securities are to be offered, issued, sold or exchanged and (z) offer to issue and sell to or

exchange with such Buyers the Offered Securities allocated among such Buyers (a) based on such Buyer’s pro rata portion of the aggregate principal amount of Notes purchased hereunder (the “Basic Amount”), and (b) with respect to each Buyer that elects to purchase its Basic Amount, any additional portion of the Offered Securities attributable to the Basic Amounts of other Buyers as such Buyer shall indicate it will purchase or acquire should the other Buyers subscribe for less than their Basic Amounts (the “Undersubscription Amount”).

(2) To accept an Offer, in whole or in part, such Buyer must deliver a written notice to the Company prior to the end of the tenth (10^th) Business Day after such Buyer’s receipt of the Offer Notice (the “Offer Period”), setting forth the portion of such Buyer’s Basic Amount that such Buyer elects to purchase and, if such Buyer shall elect to purchase all of its Basic Amount, the Undersubscription Amount, if any, that such Buyer elects to purchase (in either case, the “Notice of Acceptance”). If the Basic Amounts subscribed for by all Buyers are less than the total of all of the Basic Amounts, then each Buyer who has set forth an Undersubscription Amount in its Notice of Acceptance shall be entitled to purchase, in addition to the Basic Amounts subscribed for, the Undersubscription Amount it has subscribed for; provided, however, that if the Undersubscription Amounts subscribed for exceed the difference between the total of all the Basic Amounts and the Basic Amounts subscribed for (the “Available Undersubscription Amount”), each Buyer who has subscribed for any Undersubscription Amount shall be entitled to purchase only that portion of the Available Undersubscription Amount as the Basic Amount of such Buyer bears to the total Basic Amounts of all Buyers that have subscribed for Undersubscription Amounts, subject to rounding by the Company to the extent its deems reasonably necessary.

(3) The Company shall have five (5) Business Days from the expiration of the Offer Period above to offer, issue, sell or exchange all or any part of such Offered Securities as to which a Notice of Acceptance has not been given by the Buyers (the “Refused Securities”), but only to the offerees described in the Offer Notice (if so described therein) and only upon terms and conditions (including, without limitation, unit prices and interest rates) that are not more favorable to the acquiring Person or Persons or less favorable to the Company than those set forth in the Offer Notice.

(4) In the event the Company shall propose to sell less than all the Refused Securities (any such sale to be in the manner and on the terms specified in Section 4(n)(iii)(3) above), then each Buyer may, at its sole option and in its sole discretion, reduce the number or amount of the Offered Securities specified in its Notice of Acceptance to an amount that shall be not less than the number or amount of the Offered Securities that such Buyer elected to purchase pursuant to Section 4(n)(iii)(2) above multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which shall be the number or amount of Offered Securities the Company actually proposes to issue, sell or exchange (including Offered Securities to be issued or sold to Buyers pursuant to Section 4(n)(iii)(3) above prior to such reduction) and (ii) the denominator of which shall be the original amount of the Offered Securities. In the event that any Buyer so elects to reduce the number or amount of Offered Securities specified in its Notice of Acceptance, the Company may not

issue, sell or exchange more than the reduced number or amount of the Offered Securities unless and until such securities have again been offered to the Buyers in accordance with Section 4(n)(iii)(1) above.

(5) Upon the closing of the issuance, sale or exchange of all or less than all of the Refused Securities, the Buyers shall acquire from the Company, and the Company shall issue to the Buyers, the number or amount of Offered Securities specified in the Notices of Acceptance, as reduced pursuant to Section 4(n)(iii)(3) above if the Buyers have so elected, upon the terms and conditions specified in the Offer. The purchase by the Buyers of any Offered Securities is subject in all cases to the preparation, execution and delivery by the Company and the Buyers of a purchase agreement relating to such Offered Securities reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Buyers and their respective counsel.

(6) Any Offered Securities not acquired by the Buyers or other Persons in accordance with Section 4(n)(iii)(3) above may not be issued, sold or exchanged until they are again offered to the Buyers under the procedures specified in this Agreement.

(iv) The restrictions contained in subsections (ii) and (iii) of this Section 4(n) shall not apply in connection with the issuance of any Excluded Securities (as defined in the Notes).

(i) The Company shall use its best efforts to prepare and file with the SEC, as promptly as practicable after the date hereof but in no event later than 15 days after the date hereof, preliminary proxy materials, substantially in the form that has been previously reviewed and reasonably approved by SAC and Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP with respect to a special or annual meeting of the stockholders of the Company (the “Stockholder Meeting”), which the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to hold by no later than February 20, 2005, and which shall be held not later than March 20, 2005 (the “Stockholder Meeting Deadline”), for the purpose of approving resolutions (the “Transaction Resolutions”) providing for (A) the Company’s issuance of all of the Securities as described in the Transaction Documents in accordance with applicable law and the rules and regulations of the Principal Market and (B) the increase in the authorized Class A Common Stock from 60,000,000 shares to 150,000,000 shares (such affirmative approval being referred to herein as the “Stockholder Approval”). Thereafter, the Company shall as promptly as possible file with the SEC the definitive proxy statement, substantially in the form that has been previously reviewed and reasonably approved by SAC and Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP. The proxy materials shall not contain any information concerning any Buyer without such Buyer’s consent. The proxy materials at the time they are filed with the SEC, or as of the date of the last amendment thereof, if amended after filing, shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(ii) The Company shall provide each stockholder entitled to vote at the Stockholder Meeting a proxy statement and the Company shall use its best efforts to solicit its

the stockholders’ approval of the Transaction Resolutions (which best efforts shall include, without limitation, the requirement to hire a reputable proxy solicitor) and to cause the Board of Directors of the Company to recommend to the stockholders that they approve the Transaction Resolutions. The Company shall be obligated to obtain the Stockholder Approval by the Stockholder Meeting Deadline.

(iii) If the Company calls a special (or annual) meeting of stockholders pursuant to this Section 4, neither prior to nor at such meeting shall the Company put forth any matter, other than approving the Transaction Resolutions, to the holders of Class A Common Stock or any other voting securities of the Company for their approval without the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) of the Majority Buyers, except that the Company may include in any meeting a proposal regarding the election of directors and a proposal regarding the adoption of an employee stock incentive plan in a form reasonably acceptable to the Majority Buyers.

(iv) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4(o) to the contrary, the Company may satisfy its obligations in this Section 4(o) by obtaining the Stockholder Approval of the Transaction Resolutions by written consent in accordance with applicable law and the Company’s governing documents and the filing of an information statement with the SEC, with such consent and information statement substantially in the form that has been previously reviewed by SAC and Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP.

(p) General Solicitation. None of the Company, any of its affiliates (as defined in Rule 501(b) under the 1933 Act) or any person acting on behalf of the Company or such affiliate will solicit any offer to buy or offer or sell the Securities by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Regulation D, including: (i) any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine or similar medium or broadcast over television or radio; and (ii) any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising.

(q) Integration. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries will offer, sell or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in the 1933 Act) in a manner that would cause the offer and sale of the Securities to fail to be entitled to the exemption from registration afforded by Rule 506 of Regulation D and Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act.

(r) Notification of Certain Matters. The Company shall give prompt notice to each Buyer if any of the following occur after the date of this Agreement: (i) receipt of any notice or other communication in writing from any third party alleging that the consent of such third party is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, provided that such consent would have been required to have been disclosed in this Agreement; (ii) receipt of any material notice or other communication from any Person (including, but not limited to, the SEC, NASD or any securities exchange) in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (iii) the occurrence of an event which would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (iv) the commencement or threat of any litigation involving or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective properties or assets, or, to its knowledge, any employee, agent, director or officer, in his or her

capacity as such, of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which, if pending on the date hereof, would have been required to have been disclosed in this Agreement or which relates to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents; provided, however, that to the extent that any of the foregoing shall constitute material, nonpublic information, the Company shall first confirm with such Buyer that it desires to receive such information (without disclosing the nature of any information that may constitute material, nonpublic information) and if the Buyer agrees to receive such information, then such information shall constitute Disclosed Information for all purposes hereof.

(s) Access and Information. Between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, the Company will give, and shall direct its accountants and legal counsel to give, each Buyer and their respective authorized representatives (including, without limitation, its financial advisors, accountants, consultants and legal counsel), at all reasonable times, access as reasonably requested to all offices and other facilities and to all contracts, agreements, commitments, books and records of or pertaining to the Company and its Subsidiaries, will permit the foregoing to make such reasonable inspections as they may require and will cause its officers and other employees promptly to furnish such Buyer with (a) such financial and operating data and other information with respect to the business and properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries as such Buyer may from time to time reasonably request, and (b) a copy of each material report, schedule and other document filed or received by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the requirements of applicable securities laws or the NASD; provided, however, that to the extent that any of the foregoing shall constitute material, nonpublic information, the Company shall first confirm with such Buyer that it desires to receive such access or information (without disclosing the nature of any information that may constitute material, nonpublic information) and if the Buyer agrees to receive such information, then such information shall constitute Disclosed Information for all purposes hereof.

(i) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to enter into consulting agreements, on terms satisfactory to the Majority Buyers and the Company Board of Directors, with Michael Gold and Tom Brosig within five (5) Business Days after the date hereof.

(ii) The Company shall engage a reputable real estate and lease appraisal consultant reasonably acceptable to the Majority Buyers and the Company Board of Directors, on terms and satisfactory to the Majority Buyers, to perform an evaluation of the store lease obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries and to make recommendations regarding terminations and modifications to such leases. The Company shall cause such consultant to complete such review and make such recommendations to the Company within 60 days after the date hereof. The Company shall permit the Buyers access to such consultant and any work product and recommendations of such consultant; provided, however, that to the extent that any of the foregoing shall constitute material, nonpublic information, the Company shall first confirm with such Buyer that it desires to receive such information (without disclosing the nature of any information that may constitute material, nonpublic information) and if the Buyer agrees to receive such information, then such information shall constitute Disclosed Information for all purposes hereof.

(u) Sales by Officers and Directors. Until the later of (i) the Trigger Date and (ii) 180 Trading Days after the Closing Date, the Company shall not, directly or indirectly, permit any officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to sell any Class A Common Stock pursuant to a contract, instruction or plan in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the 1934 Act.

(v) Regulation M. The Company will not take any action prohibited by Regulation M under the 1934 Act, in connection with the distribution of the Securities contemplated hereby.

(w) Qualification Under Trust Indenture Act. To the extent that the parties enter into an Indenture pursuant hereto, prior to any registration of the Notes or the Conversion Shares pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, or at such earlier time as may be so required, the Company shall qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”) and enter into any necessary supplemental indentures in connection therewith.

(x) Existing Right of Participation. The Company shall have given or shall promptly after the date hereof give proper notice to the holders of the June 2004 Participation Right and the Company shall inform the Buyers party hereto at such time (the “Initial Buyers”) by no later than ten (10) Business Days after the date hereof as to whether or not and to what extent such holders have exercised any such right. To the extent that any holder of a June 2004 Participation Right shall elect to participate in the transaction contemplated hereby (any such holder exercising its June 2004 Participation Right, a “Participating Buyer”), such Participating Buyer shall be required to participate in the Bridge Facility on the same terms and in a proportionate amount as the Initial Buyers. The Initial Buyers, proportionately among the Initial Buyers, shall assign to the Participating Buyers a number of the Series A Warrants issued to the Initial Buyers upon execution of this Agreement that equals the number of Series A Warrants that the Participating Buyers would have received had they been Initial Buyers. The reduction in the amount of Securities being purchased by the Initial Buyers as a result of the participation by the Participating Buyers shall be allocated generally pro rata among the Initial Buyers but shall be proportionately adjusted among all the Buyers if necessary in a manner that leaves SAC with a majority of each of the Securities.

(y) Exclusivity. (i) The Company agrees that, during the period from the date hereof until the Closing Date, it shall not, and shall cause its directors, officers, agents, representatives, affiliates, stockholders and any other person acting on its behalf (collectively, the “Representatives”) not to, directly or indirectly, (1) solicit offers, inquiries or proposals for, or entertain any offer, inquiry or proposal to enter into: (A) a merger, consolidation or other business combination involving the Company, (B) an acquisition of 5% or more of the then-outstanding equity securities of the Company, (C) an acquisition of equity securities, or of debt securities or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities of the Company, which would, after giving effect to such conversion or exchange, constitute more than 5% of the outstanding equity securities of the Company, (D) the issuance of debt securities with no equity component or related equity component of, or other borrowing by, the Company in an amount in excess of $10 million, (E) a sale, transfer, conveyance, lease or disposal of all or any significant portion of the assets of the Company in one transaction or a series of related transactions (other than sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business), (F) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the adoption of a plan of liquidation or dissolution by the Company, (G) the occurrence of individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors or other governing body of the Company (together with any new directors whose election to such Board of Directors or whose nomination for election by the stockholders of the Company was approved by a vote of 66²/₃% of the directors then still in office who were either directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved), ceasing for any reason to constitute a majority of such Board of

Directors then in office or (H) any other transaction in lieu of, or which would impede or prevent, the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (any of the foregoing, a “Competing Transaction”), or (2) conduct any discussions or negotiations, or provide any information to (or any review information of) any other party, or enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding, regarding, or in connection with, a Competing Transaction; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prevent the Company from taking a position contemplated by Rules 14d-9 and 14e-2 promulgated under the 1934 Act with regard to any unsolicited tender offer.

(ii) The Company will promptly notify each Buyer if the Company (or any of its Representatives) receives any such offer, inquiry or proposal and the details thereof, and keep each Buyer informed with respect to each such offer, inquiry or proposal. The Company will provide each Buyer with copies of all such offers, inquiries or proposals which are in writing.

(iii) The Company acknowledges that each Buyer will be entitled to obtain a court order in any court of competent jurisdiction against acts of non-compliance with this Section 4(y), without the posting of bond or other security, in addition to, and not in lieu of, other remedies it may have.

(a) Register. The Company shall maintain at its principal executive offices (or such other office or agency of the Company as it may designate by notice to each holder of Securities), a register for the Notes, the Additional Investment Right Warrants and the Warrants, in which the Company shall record the name and address of the Person in whose name the Notes, the Additional Investment Right Warrants and the Warrants have been issued (including the name and address of each transferee), the principal amount of Notes held by such Person, the number of Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Notes and Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants held by such Person. The Company shall keep the register open and available at all times during business hours for inspection of any Buyer or its legal representatives.

(b) Transfer Agent Instructions. The Company shall issue irrevocable instructions to its transfer agent, and any subsequent transfer agent, to issue certificates or credit shares to the applicable balance accounts at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), registered in the name of each Buyer or its respective nominee(s) or transferee, for the Securities issued at the Closing or upon conversion of the Notes or exercise of the Additional Investment Right Warrants or the Warrants or transfer of the Notes, the Additional Investment Right Warrants or the Warrants in such amounts as specified from time to time by each Buyer to the Company upon conversion or transfer of the Notes or exercise or transfer of the Additional Investment Right Warrants or the Warrants in the form of Exhibit E attached hereto (the “Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions”). The Company warrants that no instruction other than the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions referred to in this Section 5(b), and stop transfer instructions to give effect to Section 2(g) hereof, will be given by the Company to its transfer agent, and that the Securities shall otherwise be freely transferable on the books and records of the Company as and to the extent provided in this Agreement and the other Transaction

Documents. If a Buyer effects a sale, assignment or transfer of the Securities in accordance with Section 2(f), the Company shall permit the transfer and shall promptly instruct its transfer agent to issue one or more certificates or credit shares to the applicable balance accounts at DTC in such name and in such denominations as specified by such Buyer to effect such sale, transfer or assignment. In the event that such sale, assignment or transfer involves Securities sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement or pursuant to Rule 144, the transfer agent shall issue such Securities to the Buyer, assignee or transferee, as the case may be, without any restrictive legend. The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to a Buyer. Accordingly, the Company acknowledges that the remedy at law for a breach of its obligations under this Section 5(b) will be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by the Company of the provisions of this Section 5(b), that a Buyer shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an order and/or 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.

(a) Closing Date. The obligation of the Company hereunder to issue and sell the Notes and the Additional Warrants and the Additional Investment Right Warrants to each Buyer at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at 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 by providing each Buyer with prior written notice thereof:

(i) Such Buyer shall have executed each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and delivered the same to the Company.

(ii) Such Buyer and each other Buyer shall have delivered to the Company the Purchase Price (less, in the case of SAC, the amounts withheld pursuant to Section 4(g)) for the Notes, the Additional Investment Right Warrants and the related Warrants being purchased by such Buyer at the Closing by wire transfer of immediately available funds pursuant to the wire instructions provided by the Company.

(iii) The representations and warranties of such Buyer shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date when 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 such 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 such Buyer at or prior to the Closing Date.

(iv) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer such other documents relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as such Buyer or its counsel may reasonably request.

(a) Closing Date. The obligation of each Buyer hereunder to purchase the Notes and Additional Warrants and the Additional Investment Right Warrants at the Closing is

subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for each Buyer’s sole benefit and may be waived by such Buyer at any time in its sole discretion by providing the Company with prior written notice thereof:

(i) The Company and, to the extent it is a party thereto, each of its Subsidiaries, shall have executed and delivered to such Buyer (i) each of the Transaction Documents (including the Issuance Documents, if any), (ii) the Notes (in such principal amounts as such Buyer shall request) being purchased by such Buyer at the Closing pursuant to this Agreement (iii) the Warrants (in such amounts as such Buyer shall request) being purchased by such Buyer at the Closing pursuant to this Agreement and (iv) the Additional Investment Right Warrants (in such amounts as such Buyer shall request) being purchased by such Buyer at the Closing pursuant to this Agreement.

(ii) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a copy of the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions, in the form of Exhibit E attached hereto, which instructions shall have been delivered to and acknowledged in writing by the Company’s transfer agent.

(iii) Each Buyer shall have received the opinion of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, the Company’s outside counsel, dated as of the Closing Date, substantially covering the matters set forth in Exhibit F attached hereto.

(iv) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a certificate evidencing the formation and good standing of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries in such entity’s jurisdiction of formation issued by the Secretary of State (or comparable office) of such jurisdiction, as of a date within 10 days of the Closing Date.

(v) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a certificate evidencing the Company’s and each Subsidiary’s qualification as a foreign corporation and good standing issued by the Secretary of State (or comparable office) of each jurisdiction in which the Company and each Subsidiary conducts business, as of a date within 10 days of the Closing Date.

(vi) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a certified copy of the Certificate of Incorporation as certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware within ten (10) days of the Closing Date, which shall reflect the increase in the authorized capital stock of the Company as provided in the Transaction Resolutions.

(vii) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a certificate, executed by the Secretary of the Company and dated as of the Closing Date, as to (i) the resolutions consistent with Section 3(b) as adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors in a form reasonably acceptable to such Buyer, (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and (iii) the Bylaws, each as in effect at the Closing, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G.

(viii) The representations and warranties of the Company shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are already

qualified by materiality which shall be true and correct in all respects) as of the date when 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 Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by the Transaction Documents to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Company at or prior to the Closing Date. Such Buyer shall have received a certificate, executed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, to the foregoing effect, certifying as to the fulfillment of the conditions specified in Section 7 of this Agreement and as to such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Buyer in the form attached hereto as Exhibit H.

(ix) No event, circumstances or fact shall have occurred which has resulted in, would result in or could reasonably be expected to result in, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; provided, however, that for purposes of this condition, Material Adverse Effect does not include any event, circumstance or fact that does not or would not reasonably be expected to result in an Event of Default (as defined in either (A) the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of September 22, 2004, by and among the Senior Lenders, the Company and certain of its Subsidiaries, as amended as of the date hereof and without regard to any future waiver or amendment thereof (other than such waiver or amendment wherein the Senior Lenders agree to extend, in the aggregate, no more than $3 million in additional loans to the Company or increase the borrowing availability that would otherwise be available as of the date hereof to the Company), the “Senior Credit Agreement” or (B) the Bridge Facility (other than such Events of Default, which are cured or waived by a waiver or amendment to the Senior Credit Agreement wherein the Senior Lenders agree to extend, in the aggregate, no more than $3 million in additional loans to the Company or increase the borrowing availability that would otherwise be available as of the date hereof to the Company)).

(x) Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained and each Buyer shall have been provided with evidence reasonably satisfactory thereof.

(xi) The size of the Board of Directors of the Company shall have been reduced from 11 to no more than 9 members and the Buyers shall be satisfied as of the Closing Date with the identity of (1) at least a number of directors equal to one less than the minimum number of directors that would constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company and (2) the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company.

(xii) Peter Whitford shall have resigned as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and shall have resigned as a member of the Board of Directors.

(xiii) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a letter from the Company’s transfer agent certifying the number of shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding as of a date within five days of the Closing Date.

(xiv) The Class A Common Stock (i) shall be designated for quotation or listed on the Principal Market and (ii) shall not have been suspended, as of the Closing Date, by the SEC or the Principal Market from trading on the Principal Market nor shall suspension by the SEC or the Principal Market have been threatened, as of the Closing Date, either (A) in

writing by the SEC or the Principal Market or (B) by falling below the minimum listing maintenance requirements of the Principal Market.

(xv) The Company shall have obtained all governmental, regulatory or third party consents and approvals, if any, necessary to be obtained for the sale of the Securities.

(xvi) The Notes, the Additional Investment Rights and the Warrants shall be listed for trading on a securities market or exchange.

(xvii) The actions contemplated by Section 4(a)(ii) shall have been completed to each Buyer’s reasonable satisfaction.

(xviii) Any Person purchasing Securities hereunder pursuant to the exercise of the June 2004 Participation Right shall have funded its Purchase Price in full.

(xix) The Company shall have delivered to each Buyer a schedule setting forth the details of any insurance coverage with respect to the matters set forth on Schedule 3(t), and such details shall not be materially different than as disclosed to the Majority Buyers prior to the date hereof.

(xx) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer such other documents relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as such Buyer or its counsel may reasonably request.

(b) by the Majority Buyers, if the Company executes an agreement, letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or otherwise accepts a proposal or offer from any Person (other than the Majority Buyers) regarding any Competing Transaction;

(c) by either the Company or the Majority Buyers if any Person shall have issued an order, decree, or ruling that permanently restrains, enjoins, or otherwise prohibits consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby;

(d) by the Company, (A) upon a material breach of any covenant or agreement on the part of the Majority Buyers set forth in this Agreement or if any representation or warranty of the Majority Buyers set forth in this Agreement shall not be true and correct, except to the extent that such breach of a covenant or agreement or untrue or incorrect representation or warranty does not constitute a material adverse effect on the Majority Buyers, in either case such that the conditions set forth in Section 7 would not be satisfied or the representations and warranties of the Majority Buyers shall not have been true and correct in all material respects on the date hereof (a “Terminating Buyer Breach”); provided, that such Terminating Buyer Breach shall not have been waived by the Company or, to the extent curable, cured within the earlier of 30 days after written notice of such Terminating Buyer Breach is

given to such breaching Buyers by the Company or the Drop Dead Date (as defined below); or (B) if any condition to the Company’s obligations to close at the Closing set forth in Section 6 is or becomes impossible to fulfill (other than because of the failure of the Company to comply with its obligations under this Agreement or any Transaction Document), and the Company has not waived such condition;

(e) by the Majority Buyers, (A) upon a material breach of any covenant or agreement on the part of the Company set forth in this Agreement or if any representation or warranty of the Company set forth in this Agreement shall not be true and correct, except to the extent that such breach of a covenant or agreement or untrue or incorrect representation or warranty does not constitute a Material Adverse Effect (provided, however, that for purposes of the foregoing, Material Adverse Effect does not include any event, circumstance or fact that does not or would not reasonably be expected to result in an Event of Default (as defined in either (A) the Senior Credit Agreement or (B) the Bridge Facility (other than such Events of Default, which are cured or waived by a waiver or amendment to the Senior Credit Agreement wherein the Senior Lenders agree to extend, in the aggregate, no more than $3 million in additional loans to the Company or increase the borrowing availability that would otherwise be available as of the date hereof to the Company)), in either case such that the conditions set forth in Section 7 would not be satisfied or the representations and warranties of the Company shall not have been true and correct in all material respects on the date hereof (a “Terminating Company Breach”); provided, that such Terminating Company Breach shall not have been waived by such Buyer or, to the extent curable, cured within the earlier of 30 days after written notice of such Terminating Company Breach is given to the Company by such Buyer or the Drop Dead Date; or (B) if any condition to such Buyer’s obligations to close at the Closing set forth in Section 7 is or becomes impossible to fulfill (other than because of the failure of such Buyer to comply with its obligations under this Agreement or any Transaction Document), and such Buyer has not waived such condition;

(f) by the Majority Buyers, upon any Voluntary Bankruptcy or Involuntary Bankruptcy of the Company or its Subsidiaries or any action in furtherance of any Voluntary Bankruptcy or Involuntary Bankruptcy. For the purpose of this Agreement:

(i) “Voluntary Bankruptcy” shall mean, with respect to any Person, (a) an admission in writing by such Person of its inability to pay its debts generally or a general assignment by such Person for the benefit of creditors, (b) the filing of any petition or answer by such Person seeking to adjudicate it bankrupt or insolvent or seeking for itself any liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief or composition of such Person or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking, consenting to or acquiescing in the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for such Person or for any substantial part of its property, or (c) corporate action taken by such Person to authorize any of the actions set forth above; and

(ii) “Involuntary Bankruptcy” shall mean, with respect to any Person, without the consent or acquiescence of such Person, the entering of an order for relief or approving a petition for relief or reorganization or any other petition seeking any

reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or other similar relief under any present or future bankruptcy, insolvency or similar statute, law or regulation or the filing of any such petition against such Person which order or petition shall not be dismissed within 30 days or, without the consent or acquiescence of such Person, the entering of an order appointing a trustee, custodian, receiver or liquidator of such Person or of all or any substantial part of the property of such Person which order shall not be dismissed within 30 days; and

(g) by either the Company or the Majority Buyers, if the Closing Date has not occurred by March 31, 2005 (the “Drop Dead Date”).

9. Effect of Termination. If this Agreement is terminated by any party pursuant to Section 8 and the transactions contemplated hereby are not consummated, this Agreement shall become null and void and of no further force and effect and there shall be no liability on the part of any party hereto (or any shareholder, director, officer, partner, employee, agent, consultant or representative of such party), except as set forth in this Section 9; provided, however, this if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8, the Company shall remain obligated to reimburse SAC for the expenses described in Section 4(g) above; and provided, further, that any termination of this Agreement shall not relieve any party hereto from any liability for any breach of any provisions of this Agreement. This Section 9 shall survive termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms. If this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to a Terminating Buyer Breach, then the Series A Warrants shall be cancelled by the Company and shall be null and void.

(a) Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Trial. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

(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 delivered to the other party; provided that a facsimile signature shall be considered due execution and shall be binding upon the signatory thereto with the same force and effect as if the signature were an original, not a facsimile signature.

(c) Headings. The headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Agreement.

(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 supersedes all other prior oral or written agreements between the Buyers, the Company, their affiliates and Persons acting on their behalf with respect to the matters discussed herein, including the Exclusivity Agreement, by and between S.A.C. Capital Management, LLC and the Company, dated as November 3, 2004, and including the Confidentiality Agreement, by and between S.A.C. Capital Management, LLC and the Company, dated as of October 1, 2004, as amended on October 4, 2004, (other than the standstill provisions contained therein which shall only be superseded as of the Closing Date), and 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 any Buyer makes any representation, warranty, covenant or undertaking with respect to such matters. No provision of this Agreement may be amended other than by an instrument in writing signed by the Company and the Majority Buyers, and any amendment to this Agreement made in conformity with the provisions of this Section 10(e) shall be binding on all Buyers and holders of Securities, as applicable. No provision hereof may be waived other than by an instrument in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought. No such amendment shall be effective to the extent that it applies to less than all of the holders of the applicable Securities then outstanding. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of any of the Transaction Documents unless the same consideration also is offered to all of the parties to the Transaction Documents, holders of Notes, holders of Additional Investment Rights or holders of the Warrants, as the case may be. The Company has not, directly or indirectly, made any agreements with any Buyers relating to the terms or conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents except as set forth in the Transaction Documents.

(f) Notices. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party); or (iii) one Business Day after deposit with an overnight courier service, in each case properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications shall be:

If to a Buyer, to its address and facsimile number set forth on the Schedule of Buyers, with copies to such Buyer’s representatives as set forth on the Schedule of Buyers,

or to such other address and/or facsimile number and/or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party five (5) days prior to the effectiveness of such change. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically generated by the sender’s facsimile machine containing the time, date, recipient facsimile number and an image of the first page of such transmission or (C) provided by an overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by facsimile or receipt from an overnight courier service in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.

(g) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns. The Company shall not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Majority Buyers, including by way of a Fundamental Transaction (unless the Company is in compliance with the applicable provisions governing Fundamental Transactions set forth in the Notes, the Additional Investment Rights and the Warrants). A Buyer may assign some or all of its rights hereunder without the consent of the Company in connection with a transfer by such Buyer of any of the Securities in which event such assignee shall be deemed to be a Buyer hereunder with respect to such assigned rights. In addition to the foregoing, the Company acknowledges that any of the Buyers may assign and transfer some of the rights and obligations in connection with the purchase of the Securities prior to Closing to other Buyers, which Buyers shall become party hereto by execution of a signature to this Agreement and by updating of the Schedule of Buyers hereto in which case such assignee shall be deemed a Buyer for all purposes hereunder as if such assignee executed this Agreement on the date hereof. In the event that any Buyer fails to provide its Purchase Price at the Closing, SAC shall have the right to purchase such Buyer’s Securities hereunder.

(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.

(i) Purchase Price Failure; Participating Buyers. In the event that any Buyer other than a Participating Buyer fails to provide its Purchase Price at the Closing, SAC shall be required to purchase such Buyer’s Securities hereunder. In the event that any Participating Buyer fails to provide its Purchase Price at Closing (a “Breaching Participating Buyer”), SAC shall be entitled to pursue damages, to the same extent as the Company (and SAC shall be deemed a third party beneficiary of the Company’s rights in respect thereof), caused by any Breaching Participating Buyer. In addition to the foregoing, any Breaking Participating Buyer shall be required to assign its participation for the Bridge Facility to SAC.

(j) Survival. Unless this Agreement is terminated under Section 8, the representations and warranties of the Company and the Buyers contained in Sections 2 and 3 and the agreements and covenants set forth in Sections 4, 5 and 10 shall survive the Closing. Each Buyer shall be responsible only for its own representations, warranties, agreements and covenants hereunder.

(k) Further Assurances. 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 any 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) Indemnification. In consideration of each Buyer’s execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and acquiring the Securities thereunder and in addition to all of the Company’s other obligations under the Transaction Documents, the Company shall defend, protect, indemnify and hold harmless each Buyer and each other holder of the Securities and all of their stockholders, partners, members, officers, directors, employees and direct or indirect investors and any of the foregoing Persons’ agents or other representatives (including, without limitation, those retained in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) (collectively, the “Indemnitees”) from and against any and all actions, causes of action, suits, claims, losses, costs, penalties, fees, liabilities and damages, and expenses in connection therewith (irrespective of whether any such Indemnitee is a party to the action for which indemnification hereunder is sought), and including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements (the “Indemnified Liabilities”), incurred by any Indemnitee as a result of, or arising out of, or relating to (a) any misrepresentation or breach of any representation or warranty made by the Company in the Transaction Documents, (b) any breach of any covenant, agreement or obligation of the Company contained in the Transaction Documents or (c) any cause of action, suit or claim brought or made against such Indemnitee by a third party (including for these purposes a derivative action brought on behalf of the Company) and arising out of or resulting from (i) the execution, delivery, performance or enforcement of the Transaction Documents, (ii) any transaction financed or to be financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, with the proceeds of the issuance of the Securities or (iii) the status of such Buyer or holder of the Securities as an investor in the Company pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. To the extent that the foregoing undertaking by the Company may be unenforceable for any reason, the Company shall make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities which is permissible under applicable law. Except as otherwise set forth herein, the mechanics and procedures with respect to the rights and obligations under this Section 10(k) shall be the same as those set forth in Section 6 of the Registration Rights Agreement.

(m) No Strict Construction. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.

(n) Remedies. Each Buyer and each holder of the Securities shall have all rights and remedies set forth in the Transaction Documents and all of the rights which such holders have under any law. Any Person having any rights under any provision of this Agreement shall be entitled to enforce such rights specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights granted by law. Furthermore, the Company recognizes that in the event that it fails to perform, observe, or discharge any or all of its obligations under the Transaction Documents, any remedy at law may prove to be inadequate relief to the Buyers. The Company therefore agrees that the Buyers shall be entitled to seek temporary and permanent injunctive

relief in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages and without posting a bond or other security.

(o) Payment Set Aside. To the extent that the Company makes a payment or payments to the Buyers hereunder or pursuant to any of the other Transaction Documents or the Buyers enforce or exercise their rights hereunder or thereunder, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or exercise or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside, recovered from, disgorged by or are required to be refunded, repaid or otherwise restored to the Company, a trustee, receiver or any other Person under any law (including, without limitation, any bankruptcy law, foreign, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause of action), then to the extent of any such restoration the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred.

(p) Independent Nature of Buyers’ Obligations and Rights. The obligations of each Buyer under any Transaction Document are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Buyer, and no Buyer shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Buyer under any Transaction Document. Nothing contained herein or in any other Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Buyer pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Buyers as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Buyers are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Each Buyer confirms that it has independently participated in the negotiation of the transaction contemplated hereby with the advice of its own counsel and advisors. Each Buyer, other than SAC, acknowledges that (i) Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP solely represented SAC in connection with the transaction contemplated hereby and (ii) SAC did not provide any advice in connection herewith and such Buyer’s determination to participate herein was based solely on its own evaluation of the risks and merits of the investment contemplated hereby. Each Buyer shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including, without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of any other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other Buyer to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.

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


COMPANY:

THE WET SEAL, INC.

By:		/s/ JOSEPH DECKOP
		Name: Joseph Deckop
		Title: Interim Chief Executive Officer

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


BUYERS:

S.A.C. CAPITAL ASSOCIATES, LLC By: S.A.C. Capital Advisors, LLC

By:		/s/ PETER NUSSBAUM
		Name: Peter Nussbaum
		Title: General Counsel

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


GMM CAPITAL, LLC

By:		/s/ DONALD HECHT
		Name: Donald Hecht
		Title: Administrative Trustee

GOLDFARB CAPITAL PARTNERS LLC

By:		/s/ MORRIS GOLDFARB
		Name:
		Title:

		/s/ CHARLES PHILLIPS
Mr. Charles Phillips

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


WLSS CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC

By:		/s/ WAYNE S. MILLER
		Name: Wayne S. Miller
		Title:


The Wet Seal, Inc.
26972 Burbank
Foothill Ranch, California 92610
Telephone:		(800) 735-7325
Facsimile:		(949) 699-4825
Attention:		Chief Executive Officer


Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
Telephone:		(212) 728-8288
Facsimile:		(212) 728-8111
Attention:		Christopher E. Manno, Esq.

and

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
590 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Telephone:		(212) 872-1000
Facsimile:		(212) 872-1002
Attention:		Alan Siegel, Esq.


American Stock Transfer and Trust Company
40 Wall Street
New York, New York
Telephone:		(718) 921-8208
Facsimile:		(718) 921-8335
Attention:		Geraldine Zarbo


Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP
919 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Telephone:		(212) 756-2000
Facsimile:		(212) 593-5955
Attention:		Eleazer N. Klein, Esq.


(1)	(2)	(3)		(4)		(5)			(6)	(7)		(8)
Buyer	Address and Facsimile Number	Aggregate Principal Amount of Initial Notes		Maximum Aggregate Principal Amount of Additional Series A Notes		Maximum Aggregate Principal Amount of Additional Series B Notes		Number of Series A Warrant Shares	Aggregate Number of Additional Warrant Shares	Purchase Price		Legal Representative’s Address and Facsimile Number
S.A.C. Capital Associates, LLC	c/o S.A.C. Capital Advisors, LLC 72 Cummings Point Road Stanford, Connecticut 06902 Attention: General Counsel Facsimile: (203) 890-2393 Residence: Anguila	$	26 Million	$	6,435,000	$	3,867,500	1,495,000	7,345,000	$	25.4 Million	Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP 919 Third Avenue New York, New York 10022 Attention: Eleazer Klein, Esq. Facsimile: (212) 593-5955 Telephone: (212) 756-2376
GMM Capital, LLC	111 West 40^th Street 20^th Floor New York, NY 10018	$	7 Million	$	1,732,500	$	1,041,250	402,500	1,977,500	$	7 Million	Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP Four Times Square New York, NY 10036 Attention: Thomas W. Greenberg, Esq. Facsimile: (917) 777-7886 Telephone: (212) 735-7886
Goldfarb Capital Partners LLC	21 Fairway Drive Mamaroneck, NY 10543	$	4.9 Million	$	1,212,750	$	728,875	281,750	1,384,250	$	4.9 Million	Fulbright and Jaworski 666 Fifth Avenue New York, N.Y. 10103 Attention: Neil Gold, Esq. Facsimile: (212) 318-3400 Telephone: (212) 318-3022
Mr. Charles Phillips	777 Park Avenue New York, NY 10021	$	2 Million	$	495,000	$	297,500	115,000	565,000	$	2 Million
WLSS Capital Partners, LLC	c/o Wayne Miller 1365 York Avenue Apt. 26B New York, NY 10021	$	100,000	$	24,750	$	14,875	5,750	28,250	$	100,000	Fulbright and Jaworski 666 Fifth Avenue New York, N.Y. 10103 Attention: Neil Gold, Esq. Facsimile: (212) 318-3400 Telephone: (212) 318-3022


Exhibit A-1		Form of Initial Notes
Exhibit A-2		Form of Additional Series A Notes
Exhibit A-3		Form of Additional Series B Notes
Exhibit B-1		Form of Series A Additional Investment Right Warrants
Exhibit B-2		Form of Series B Additional Investment Right Warrants
Exhibit C-1		Form of Series A Warrants
Exhibit C-2		Form of Series B Warrants
Exhibit C-3		Form of Series C Warrants
Exhibit C-4		Form of Series D Warrants
Exhibit D		Registration Rights Agreement
Exhibit E		Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions
Exhibit F		Form of Outside Company Counsel Opinion
Exhibit G		Form of Secretary’s Certificate
Exhibit H		Form of Officer’s Certificate