HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP INC
S-1, 1996-06-20
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<PAGE>
     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JUNE 20, 1996
                                                       REGISTRATION NO. 333-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                           --------------------------
                                    FORM S-1
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------
                         HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                              <C>                            <C>
           DELAWARE                          6211                  94-3246636
 (State or other jurisdiction    (Primary Standard Industrial   (I.R.S. Employer
              of                 Classification Code Number)     Identification
incorporation or organization)                                      Number)
</TABLE>
 
                                ONE BUSH STREET
                        SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94104
                                 (415) 576-3300
  (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
                   Registrant's principal executive offices)
 
                               DANIEL H. CASE III
                     PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                               HAMBRECHT & QUIST
                                ONE BUSH STREET
                        SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94104
                                 (415) 576-3300
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agent for service)
                           --------------------------
 
                                   COPIES TO:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                       <C>
          FRANCIS S. CURRIE                        KENNETH L. GUERNSEY
            NEIL J. WOLFF                             KARYN R. SMITH
            GAIL C. HUSICK                              ANN CHIGA
            YOICHIRO TAKU                   COOLEY GODWARD CASTRO HUDDLESON &
       CHRISTOPHER G. NICHOLSON                           TATUM
   WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI                 ONE MARITIME PLAZA
       PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION                         20TH FLOOR
          650 PAGE MILL ROAD               SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94111-3580
   PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94304-1050                   (415) 693-2000
            (415) 493-9300
</TABLE>
 
                           --------------------------
        APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
  As soon as practicable after this registration statement becomes effective.
                           --------------------------
    If  any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to  Rule 415 under the Securities Act  of
1933, please check the following box. / /
 
    If  this form  is filed  to register  additional securities  for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list  the  Securities  Act  registration statement  number  of  the  earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. / /
 
    If  the  only securities  being delivered  pursuant to  this Form  are being
offered pursuant to dividend  or interest reinvestment  plans, please check  the
following box. / /
 
    If  this Form  is a post-effective  amendment filed pursuant  to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act,  check the following box  and list the Securities  Act
registration  statement number  of the earlier  effective registration statement
for the same offering. / /
 
    If delivery of the prospectus is expected  to be made pursuant to Rule  434,
please check the following box. / /
                           --------------------------
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        PROPOSED MAXIMUM
                                       AMOUNT TO      PROPOSED MAXIMUM     AGGREGATE
      TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF               BE          OFFERING PRICE       OFFERING         AMOUNT OF
   SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED       REGISTERED (1)     PER UNIT (1)       PRICE (2)      REGISTRATION FEE
<S>                                 <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>
Common Stock, par value $.01 per
 share............................                           $            $80,000,000         $27,587
</TABLE>
 
(1)  To be provided by amendment.
 
(2)    Estimated  solely  for  the  purpose  of  computing  the  amount  of  the
    registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o).
                           --------------------------
 
    THE REGISTRANT HEREBY  AMENDS THIS  REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON  SUCH DATE  OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE  A  FURTHER  AMENDMENT  WHICH SPECIFICALLY  STATES  THAT  THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE  IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A)  OF
THE  SECURITIES ACT  OF 1933  OR UNTIL  THE REGISTRATION  STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON  SUCH  DATE AS  SEC,  ACTING PURSUANT  TO  SUCH SECTION  8(A),  MAY
DETERMINE.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                         HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP, INC.
                             CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
         PURSUANT TO ITEM 501(B) OF REGULATION S-K SHOWING LOCATION IN
                     PROSPECTUS OF PART I ITEMS OF FORM S-1
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ITEM NUMBER AND HEADING IN FORM S-1 REGISTRATION STATEMENT                       LOCATION IN PROSPECTUS
- ----------------------------------------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                    <C>
                                                                  Outside Front Cover Page
 1.        Forepart of the Registration Statement and Outside
            Front Cover Page of Prospectus......................
                                                                  Inside Front Cover Page; Outside Back Cover Page
 2.        Inside Front and Outside Back Cover Pages
            of Prospectus.......................................
                                                                  Prospectus Summary; Risk Factors
 3.        Summary Information, Risk Factors and Ratio of
            Earnings to Fixed Charges...........................
                                                                  Use of Proceeds
 4.        Use of Proceeds......................................
                                                                  Outside Front Cover Page; Underwriting
 5.        Determination of Offering Price......................
                                                                  Dilution
 6.        Dilution.............................................
                                                                  Not Applicable
 7.        Selling Security Holders.............................
                                                                  Outside and Inside Front Cover Pages; Underwriting;
                                                                   Outside Back Cover Page
 8.        Plan of Distribution.................................
                                                                  Prospectus Summary; Capitalization; Description of
                                                                   Capital Stock; Shares Eligible for Future Sale
 9.        Description of Securities to be Registered...........
                                                                  Legal Matters
10.        Interests of Named Experts and Counsel...............
                                                                  Outside and Inside Front Cover Pages; Prospectus
                                                                   Summary; Risk Factors; The Company; Restructuring;
                                                                   Use of Proceeds; Dividend Policy; Dilution;
                                                                   Capitalization; Selected Combined Financial Data;
                                                                   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
                                                                   Condition and Results of Operations; Business;
                                                                   Regulation; Net Capital Requirements; Management;
                                                                   Certain Transactions; Principal Stockholders;
                                                                   Description of Capital Stock; Shares Eligible for
                                                                   Future Sale; Combined Financial Statements; Outside
                                                                   Back Cover Page
11.        Information with Respect to the Registrant...........
                                                                  Not Applicable
12.        Disclosure of Commission Position on Indemnification
            for Securities Act Liabilities......................
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
INFORMATION   CONTAINED  HEREIN  IS  SUBJECT   TO  COMPLETION  OR  AMENDMENT.  A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT  RELATING TO  THESE SECURITIES  HAS BEEN  FILED WITH  THE
SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES  MAY NOT BE  SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR  TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT  BECOMES
EFFECTIVE.  THIS  PROSPECTUS  SHALL  NOT  CONSTITUTE AN  OFFER  TO  SELL  OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE  SECURITIES
IN  ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER,  SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
<PAGE>
                   SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JUNE 20, 1996
 
PROSPECTUS
                                          SHARES
 
                               HAMBRECHT & QUIST
 
                                  COMMON STOCK
 
    All of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby are being sold by Hambrecht
& Quist  Group ("Hambrecht  & Quist,"  "H&Q" or  the "Company").  Prior to  this
offering,  there has been no public market  for the Common Stock of the Company.
It is currently estimated that the initial public offering price will be between
$     and $     per share. The initial public offering price will be  determined
by  agreement between  the Company and  the Underwriters in  accordance with the
recommendation of  a  "qualified independent  underwriter"  as required  by  the
By-Laws   of  the   National  Association   of  Securities   Dealers,  Inc.  See
"Underwriting" for a  discussion of  the factors considered  in determining  the
initial  public offering price. The  Company has applied for  the listing of its
Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol HMQ.
 
                                 --------------
 
 THE SHARES OFFERED HEREBY INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. SEE "RISK FACTORS" AT
                                    PAGE 5.
                                 -------------
 
THESE SECURITIES  HAVE  NOT  BEEN  APPROVED OR  DISAPPROVED  BY  THE  SECURITIES
  AND   EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  OR  ANY  STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION  NOR  HAS
     THE  SECURITIES  AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  OR  ANY  STATE  SECURITIES
       COMMISSION   PASSED  UPON   THE  ACCURACY  OR   ADEQUACY  OF  THIS
       PROSPECTUS.
           ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              PRICE TO       UNDERWRITING      PROCEEDS TO
                                               PUBLIC        DISCOUNT (1)      COMPANY (2)
<S>                                        <C>              <C>              <C>
Per Share................................         $                $                $
Total (3)................................         $                $                $
</TABLE>
 
(1)  See  "Underwriting"  for  indemnification  arrangements  with  the  several
    Underwriters.
 
(2) Before deducting expenses payable by the Company, estimated at $     .
 
(3)  The Company has granted the Underwriters  a 30-day option to purchase up to
         additional shares of Common Stock  solely to cover over-allotments,  if
    any.  If  such option  is  exercised in  full,  the total  Price  to Public,
    Underwriting Discount and Proceeds to Company will  be $   , $    and $    ,
    respectively. See "Underwriting."
 
                                 --------------
 
    The  shares of Common Stock are  offered by the several Underwriters subject
to prior sale, receipt and  acceptance by them and subject  to the right of  the
Underwriters  to  reject  any  order  in whole  or  in  part  and  certain other
conditions. It is expected that certificates  for such shares will be  available
for  delivery on or about August  , 1996 at the office of the agent of Hambrecht
& Quist LLC in New York, New York.
 
HAMBRECHT & QUIST
                              MORGAN STANLEY & CO.
                                  INCORPORATED
                                                               SMITH BARNEY INC.
 
           , 1996
<PAGE>
    The Company  intends  to  distribute  to  its  stockholders  annual  reports
containing consolidated financial statements audited by its independent auditors
and will make available copies of quarterly reports for the first three quarters
of each fiscal year containing unaudited financial information.
 
    IN  CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK OF
THE COMPANY AT  A LEVEL ABOVE  THAT WHICH  MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL  IN THE  OPEN
MARKET.  SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY BE  EFFECTED ON THE NEW  YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, THE
PACIFIC STOCK  EXCHANGE OR  OTHERWISE. SUCH  STABILIZING, IF  COMMENCED, MAY  BE
DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
    THE  FOLLOWING SUMMARY  IS QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY  THE MORE DETAILED
INFORMATION AND THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  AND NOTES THERETO APPEARING  ELSEWHERE
IN  THIS PROSPECTUS.  THIS PROSPECTUS  CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING  STATEMENTS THAT
INVOLVE RISKS AND  UNCERTAINTIES. ACTUAL  RESULTS COULD  DIFFER MATERIALLY  FROM
THOSE  DISCUSSED  IN  THE  FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS  AS  A  RESULT  OF CERTAIN
FACTORS, INCLUDING THOSE SET  FORTH UNDER "RISK FACTORS"  AND ELSEWHERE IN  THIS
PROSPECTUS. THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK.
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
    Hambrecht  & Quist  is a major  bracket investment bank  focused on emerging
growth companies  and  growth-oriented  investors  in  the  United  States  and,
increasingly,  worldwide.  The  Company's  core  strength  has  been  the  early
identification of trends, industries and entrepreneurial companies that have the
potential to  become broad-based  drivers  of economic  growth and  change.  The
Company  believes that its research-oriented  industry specialization is crucial
to meeting the demands of its investor and issuer clients for sophisticated  and
informed   investment   and  strategic   advice,   and  to   building  long-term
relationships with these clients. Since its inception in 1968, Hambrecht & Quist
has broadened its industry focus from technology and healthcare to encompass the
business information and outsourcing  services, healthcare services and  branded
consumer industries.
 
    H&Q   organizes  its  research,  investment   banking  and  venture  capital
professionals into industry teams. Each  team endeavors to develop and  maintain
an  in-depth  understanding  of the  secular  and cyclical  trends  driving that
particular industry sector.  In addition, each  team of professionals  maintains
close  relationships not only with private and public growth companies, but also
with  venture   capital   and  institutional   investors,   technical   experts,
professional  service  providers and  other  key industry  participants. Through
these relationships, H&Q gains  the opportunity to  participate actively in  the
growth of promising entrepreneurial companies.
 
    H&Q  has leveraged its industry expertise by providing an increasingly broad
range of investment  banking and  brokerage services  and by  investing its  own
capital in emerging growth companies. It has grown its business by expanding the
range  of services it provides to  growth companies and investors, by addressing
the needs of larger companies and by developing expertise in new industries  and
markets.  The Company  has significantly  expanded its  underwriting capability;
added advisory services in mergers, acquisitions and strategic partnerships; and
begun providing private placement, asset-based and mezzanine financing. H&Q also
has achieved  a  leading  role  in Nasdaq  market-making,  expanded  its  retail
brokerage services and increased its trading of NYSE-listed securities.
 
    The  Company brings together  growth companies and  growth investors through
the sponsorship  of eight  regular  conferences, each  focusing on  a  different
industry  or geographic region. In addition, to facilitate the analysis of long-
term trends, the Company  has developed 11 industry  indices, starting with  the
H&Q  Technology Index, a number  of which are regularly  cited in the media. The
Company believes  that these  efforts, together  with the  Company's  investment
banking  and brokerage activities, have closely  associated the name Hambrecht &
Quist with entrepreneurial, high growth companies in its chosen areas of focus.
 
    Hambrecht  &  Quist   believes  that  its   industry  focus  and   long-term
orientation,  together with the  depth of its resources  committed to the growth
company sector,  have made  H&Q a  leading provider  of investment  banking  and
brokerage  services  for emerging  growth companies  and investors.  Since 1968,
Hambrecht & Quist has managed or  co-managed over 600 public offerings for  over
400  growth companies  in the  technology, healthcare,  business information and
outsourcing  services,  healthcare  services,   branded  consumer  and   related
industries, including Adobe, Apple, Genentech and Netscape.
 
                                  THE OFFERING
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                              <C>
Common Stock offered by the Company............  shares
Common Stock to be outstanding after the         shares (1)
  offering.....................................
Use of proceeds................................  General corporate purposes
Proposed New York Stock Exchange symbol........  HMQ
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------------
(1)  Based on shares outstanding at March 31, 1996. Excludes 8,327,384 shares of
    Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Company's stock plans, of which
    5,327,384 shares were issuable upon exercise of stock options outstanding at
    March 31, 1996 at a weighted average exercise price of $6.90 per share.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
                   SUMMARY COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION(1)
              (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AND OPERATING DATA)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH
                                                  FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,                       31,
                                       -----------------------------------------------------  ------------------------
<S>                                    <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>
                                         1991       1992       1993       1994       1995        1995         1996
                                       ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
  DATA:
  Revenues:
    Principal transactions...........  $  23,480  $  33,438  $  30,045  $  36,411  $  53,425   $  22,253    $  43,997
    Agency commissions...............     11,135     12,557     14,221     14,242     24,603       8,852       17,365
    Investment banking...............     23,176     51,517     42,960     29,234     70,360      18,920       84,053
    Corporate finance fees...........      7,409      8,371      9,993     18,561     20,709      12,403       26,256
    Net investment gains.............      7,026      8,193      3,524     10,270     33,852      15,637       15,309
    Other............................      9,620     11,418      9,804     10,612     17,074       8,797       17,521
                                       ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
    Total revenues...................     81,846    125,494    110,547    119,330    220,023      86,862      204,501
                                       ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
  Expenses:
    Compensation and benefits........     37,424     58,044     54,917     60,175    105,370      42,979      103,879
    Brokerage and clearance..........      5,611      6,184      6,892      7,367     10,441       4,073        6,118
    Occupancy and equipment..........      6,003      6,040      6,045      6,679      7,803       3,687        4,593
    Communications...................      3,461      4,135      4,377      6,244      7,394       3,517        4,528
    Interest.........................        303      1,141      1,464        987      1,266         484          762
    Other(3).........................     44,382     32,226     10,256     11,315     15,131       6,474       12,142
                                       ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
    Total expenses...................     97,184    107,770     83,951     92,767    147,405      61,214      132,022
                                       ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
  Minority interest(4)...............        453        794        352        526        719         289          546
                                       ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
  Income (loss) before income tax
   provision.........................    (15,791)    16,930     26,244     26,037     71,899      25,359       71,933
  Income tax provision (credit)......     (5,878)     7,200     10,940     10,119     22,461       6,895       24,352
                                       ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
  Net income (loss)..................  $  (9,913) $   9,730  $  15,304  $  15,918  $  49,438   $  18,464    $  47,581
                                       ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
                                       ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
  Pro forma net income per
   share(5)..........................
  Pro forma weighted average shares
   outstanding(5)....................
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                                                                                            MARCH 31,
                                                                                                              1996
                                                                                                           -----------
                                                                                                             ACTUAL
                                                                                                           -----------
<S>                                    <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>
COMBINED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Total assets.......................                                                                       $ 458,437
  Debt obligations...................                                                                          11,851
  Stockholders' equity...............                                                                         146,398
  Book value per common share
   outstanding.......................
<CAPTION>
                                                            FISCAL YEAR                       SIX MONTHS
                                                        ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,                      ENDED
                                       -----------------------------------------------------   MARCH 31,
                                         1991       1992       1993       1994       1995        1996
                                       ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------
<S>                                    <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>
OPERATING DATA:
  Total employees(7).................        291        327        350        426        500         584
  Return on average equity...........         --        34%        37%        28%        58%         76%(8)
  Compensation and benefits expense
   as a percentage of total
   revenues..........................        46%        46%        50%        50%        48%         51%
  Non-compensation and benefits
   expense as a percentage of total
   revenues..........................        73%        40%        26%        27%        19%         14%
 
<CAPTION>
                                        FISCAL YEAR    SIX MONTHS
                                           ENDED          ENDED
                                       SEPTEMBER 30,    MARCH 31,
                                       -------------  -------------
<S>                                    <C>            <C>
                                           1995           1996
                                       -------------  -------------
                                               PRO FORMA(2)
COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
  DATA:
  Revenues:
    Principal transactions...........    $  53,425      $  43,997
    Agency commissions...............       24,603         17,365
    Investment banking...............       70,360         84,053
    Corporate finance fees...........       20,709         26,256
    Net investment gains.............       26,439         13,331
    Other............................       16,396         17,182
                                       -------------  -------------
    Total revenues...................      211,932        202,184
                                       -------------  -------------
  Expenses:
    Compensation and benefits........      105,370        103,879
    Brokerage and clearance..........       10,441          6,118
    Occupancy and equipment..........        7,803          4,593
    Communications...................        7,394          4,528
    Interest.........................        1,266            762
    Other(3).........................       15,131         12,142
                                       -------------  -------------
    Total expenses...................      147,405        132,022
                                       -------------  -------------
  Minority interest(4)...............          300            227
                                       -------------  -------------
  Income (loss) before income tax
   provision.........................       64,227         69,935
  Income tax provision (credit)......       28,260         30,771
                                       -------------  -------------
  Net income (loss)..................    $  35,967      $  39,164
                                       -------------  -------------
                                       -------------  -------------
  Pro forma net income per
   share(5)..........................
  Pro forma weighted average shares
   outstanding(5)....................
                                                       AS ADJUSTED
                                       PRO FORMA(2)      (2)(6)
                                       -------------  -------------
<S>                                    <C>            <C>
COMBINED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Total assets.......................    $ 411,553      $
  Debt obligations...................       11,851
  Stockholders' equity...............      124,457
  Book value per common share
   outstanding.......................
<S>                                    <C>            <C>
OPERATING DATA:
  Total employees(7).................
  Return on average equity...........
  Compensation and benefits expense
   as a percentage of total
   revenues..........................
  Non-compensation and benefits
   expense as a percentage of total
   revenues..........................
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------------
(1) See Note 1 of Notes to Combined Financial Statements--September 30, 1995 for
    an explanation of the basis of presentation.
(2) Gives effect to the transactions described under "Restructuring" and to  the
    Tax  Distribution. See  "Management's Discussion  and Analysis  of Financial
    Condition and Results of Operations--Overview."
(3) Includes $36.9 million in fiscal 1991  and $22.9 million in fiscal 1992  for
    settlement  of certain  litigation relating  to MiniScribe  Corporation. See
    "Business--Legal Proceedings."
(4) Minority interest represents the pro rata interest of owners other than  the
    Company in the earnings of Hambrecht & Quist Guaranty Finance.
(5)  See  Note 9  of  Notes to  Pro Forma  Combined  Financial Statements  for a
    discussion of the number of shares used in calculating pro forma net  income
    per share.
(6) As adjusted to reflect the sale of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby
    at  an  assumed  initial  public  offering price  of  $  per  share  and the
    application of the estimated net  proceeds therefrom. See "Use of  Proceeds"
    and "Capitalization."
(7) Shown at end of period.
(8) Shown on an annualized basis.
                         ------------------------------
 
    UNLESS  OTHERWISE INDICATED, ALL INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS (I) REFLECTS
THE TRANSACTIONS DESCRIBED  UNDER "RESTRUCTURING,"  PRIOR TO  THE COMPLETION  OF
THIS  OFFERING  WITH  NO EXERCISE  OF  DISSENTERS'  RIGHTS AND  (II)  ASSUMES NO
EXERCISE  OF  THE  UNDERWRITERS'  OVER-ALLOTMENT  OPTION.  SEE  "RESTRUCTURING,"
"DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK" AND "UNDERWRITING."
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
    THIS  PROSPECTUS CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS  THAT INVOLVE RISKS AND
UNCERTAINTIES. ACTUAL RESULTS  COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY  FROM THOSE DISCUSSED  IN
THE  FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A RESULT  OF CERTAIN FACTORS, INCLUDING THOSE
SET FORTH BELOW AND ELSEWHERE IN  THIS PROSPECTUS. THE FOLLOWING FACTORS  SHOULD
BE  CONSIDERED CAREFULLY IN ADDITION TO  THE OTHER INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS BEFORE PURCHASING THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY:
 
    RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SECURITIES BUSINESS.   The securities business is,  by
its  nature, subject to numerous and substantial risks, particularly in volatile
or  illiquid  markets,  including  the   risk  of  losses  resulting  from   the
underwriting   or  ownership  of   securities,  trading,  principal  activities,
counterparty failure  to  meet  commitments, customer  fraud,  employee  errors,
misconduct  and fraud (including unauthorized transactions by traders), failures
in connection with the processing of securities transactions and litigation.
 
    The securities business and its profitability are affected by many  national
and  international factors, including economic, political and market conditions;
the level and volatility of interest rates; legislative and regulatory  changes;
currency  values; inflation;  and the  availability of  short-term and long-term
funding and capital. Any one or more of these factors may contribute to  reduced
levels  of  securities offerings  and merger  and acquisition  activities, which
would result in lower  revenues from the  Company's investment banking,  trading
and sales activities.
 
    The  securities  business  is also  subject  to  declines in  the  volume of
securities transactions and in market liquidity, which generally result in lower
revenues  from  trading  activities  and  commissions.  Lower  price  levels  of
securities  may also  result in  a reduced  volume of  transactions, as  well as
losses from  declines  in  the  market value  of  securities  held  in  trading,
investment and underwriting positions. Sudden sharp declines in market values of
securities  and  the  failure of  issuers  and counterparties  to  perform their
obligations can result  in illiquid markets.  In such markets,  the Company  may
incur losses in its principal trading and market-making activities.
 
    These varied risks associated with the securities business, which are beyond
the Company's control, can adversely affect the Company's investment banking and
sales and trading revenues. Any reduction in revenues or any loss resulting from
the underwriting or ownership of securities could adversely affect the Company's
operating results and financial condition.
 
    DEPENDENCE  ON  SECURITIES  OFFERINGS  BY EMERGING  GROWTH  COMPANIES.   The
Company's business depends  to a  substantial extent  on the  market for  equity
offerings   by  emerging   growth  companies,  particularly   companies  in  the
technology,  healthcare,   business   information  and   outsourcing   services,
healthcare services and branded consumer products industries. These markets have
historically  experienced significant volatility not only in the number and size
of equity offerings, but also in  the after-market trading volume and prices  of
newly issued securities. In addition, the number of major investors and the size
of  managed funds in the market for growth company securities is smaller than in
many other industrial  sectors, producing  higher volatility in  the number  and
size  of corporate  financing transactions,  and in  the volume  of after-market
trading, for growth company securities.
 
    Securities offerings  by  growth companies  can  vary significantly  due  to
economic  and political factors. The recent growth in the Company's revenues has
arisen in  large  part from  the  significantly  increased number  and  size  of
underwritten transactions by companies in the Company's targeted industries, and
by the related increase in after-market trading for such companies during fiscal
1995  and  1996.  During  other periods,  relatively  few  public  offerings for
companies  in  these  industries  were  completed,  which  materially  adversely
affected  the  Company's  operating results.  Underwriting  activities  in H&Q's
targeted  industries  can  decline  for  a  number  of  reasons.  For   example,
underwriting  activities decreased significantly in the period from August 1990,
when hostilities commenced between Iraq and  Kuwait, until the first quarter  of
calendar  1991. Underwriting  activity experienced a  similar drop  in the third
quarter of calendar 1994,  after interest rates in  the United States  increased
sharply.  Underwriting and brokerage  activity can also  be materially adversely
affected for  a  growth  company  or  industry  segment  by  disappointments  in
quarterly  performance  relative to  analysts'  expectations, or  by  changes in
long-term prospects.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
    The market for securities offerings in  each of the industries on which  the
Company focuses may also be subject to industry-specific risks. For example, the
prospects  for  growth in  the personal  computer market  affect companies  in a
number  of  other  industries,  such  as  semiconductor-related  companies   and
companies  in  the  software  and  networking  equipment  industries. Similarly,
changes in policies  by the United  States Food and  Drug Administration or  the
United  States Health Care Financing Administration  can produce sharp swings in
the market for  biotechnology and  healthcare services  companies. Although  the
Company  has recently expanded  its activities in  equity offerings for services
and branded consumer products companies, technology and healthcare  underwriting
transactions  continue  to  play  a  relatively  larger  role  in  the Company's
investment banking and  research activities, continuing  the Company's  historic
exposure to downturns in underwriting activities in these industries.
 
    H&Q  also derives a  significant portion of  its revenues from institutional
brokerage transactions related  to the  securities of growth  companies. In  the
past, revenues from such institutional brokerage transactions have declined when
underwriting  activities  in  these  industry sectors  declined,  the  volume of
trading on  the Nasdaq  National  Market or  New  York Stock  Exchange  ("NYSE")
declined,  or  when industry  sectors or  individual companies  reported results
below investors' expectations.
 
    As a result of  its dependence on revenues  related to securities issued  by
technology,   healthcare,   business  information   and   outsourcing  services,
healthcare services and branded consumer products companies, any downturn in the
market for equity  offerings by  emerging growth companies  in these  industries
could  adversely affect the Company's operating results and financial condition.
See "Business--Investment Banking" and "-- Sales, Trading and Syndicate."
 
    SIGNIFICANT FLUCTUATIONS  IN QUARTERLY  OPERATING  RESULTS.   The  Company's
revenues  and operating results  may fluctuate from quarter  to quarter and from
year to  year  due  to  a  combination  of  factors,  including  the  number  of
underwriting  and merger and acquisition transactions completed by the Company's
clients, access  to  public markets  for  companies  in which  the  Company  has
invested  as a principal, valuations of the Company's principal investments, the
level  of  institutional  and  retail  brokerage  transactions,  variations   in
expenditures   for  personnel,   litigation  expenses,   and  the   expenses  of
establishing new business  units. The  Company's revenues  from an  underwriting
transaction  are recorded only when the underwritten security commences trading,
and revenues from  a merger or  acquisition transaction are  recorded only  when
retainer fees are received or the transaction closes. Accordingly, the timing of
the  Company's  recognition  of  revenue  from  a  significant  transaction  can
materially affect the Company's quarterly operating results. The Company's  cost
structure  currently is  oriented to meeting  the level of  demand for corporate
finance transactions experienced during fiscal 1995 and the first half of fiscal
1996.  As  a   result,  despite  the   variability  of  professional   incentive
compensation,   the  Company  could  experience   losses  if  demand  for  these
transactions declines more quickly than the Company's ability to change its cost
structure. Due to  the foregoing and  other factors, there  can be no  assurance
that  the Company will be able to sustain profitability on a quarterly or annual
basis. See  "Management's Discussion  and Analysis  of Financial  Condition  and
Results of Operations."
 
    DEPENDENCE  ON  ABILITY  TO RETAIN  AND  RECRUIT PERSONNEL.    The Company's
business is  dependent on  the  highly skilled,  and often  highly  specialized,
individuals  it employs.  Retention of  research, investment  banking, sales and
trading, venture capital, money  management and administrative professionals  is
particularly  important to the Company's prospects. Hambrecht & Quist's strategy
is to establish relationships with  the Company's prospective corporate  clients
in  advance of any transaction and to  maintain such relationships over the long
term by providing advisory services to corporate clients in equity,  convertible
debt  and merger and acquisition transactions. Research professionals contribute
significantly to  the Company's  ability to  secure a  role in  managing  public
offerings.  From  time to  time,  Hambrecht &  Quist  has experienced  losses of
research, investment  banking and  sales  and trading  professionals,  including
recent  losses of research analysts. The  level of competition for key personnel
has increased recently, particularly due to the market entry efforts of  certain
international   commercial  banks  and  other   investment  banks  targeting  or
increasing their efforts in  some of the same  industries that H&Q serves,  most
notably  technology and healthcare. There can be no assurance that losses of key
personnel due to such competition or otherwise will not occur in the future. The
loss of an
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
investment banking, research or sales  and trading professional, particularly  a
senior  professional  with  a broad  range  of  contacts in  an  industry, could
materially  and   adversely  affect   the  Company's   operating  results.   See
"Business--Employees" and "Management."
 
    The Company depends on many key employees, including its managing directors,
and in particular on its senior executive officers. The loss of any key employee
could  materially  and adversely  affect the  Company.  While Hambrecht  & Quist
generally does not have employment agreements with its employees, it attempts to
retain its employees  with incentives  such as  long-term deferred  compensation
plans,  the issuance  of Company stock  subject to continued  employment and the
grant of  options to  buy Company  stock that  vest over  a number  of years  of
employment.  These  incentives, however,  may be  insufficient  in light  of the
increasing competition for experienced professionals in the securities industry,
particularly if  the  Company's stock  price  declines or  fails  to  appreciate
sufficiently   to  be  a  competitive  source   of  a  portion  of  professional
compensation.  See  "--Significant  Competition"  and  "Management--Compensation
Plans."
 
    The  Company  expects  further  growth  in  the  number  of  its  personnel,
particularly if current  market conditions continue.  Competition for  employees
with  the  qualifications desired  by the  Company  is intense,  especially with
respect to  research  and investment  banking  professionals with  expertise  in
industries in which underwriting or advisory activity is robust. Competition for
the  recruiting and retention of employees  has recently increased the Company's
compensation costs, and  the Company  expects that  continuing competition  will
cause  its compensation costs to continue to increase. There can be no assurance
that the Company will be  able to recruit a  sufficient number of new  employees
with  the desired qualifications in a timely  manner. The failure to recruit new
employees could materially and adversely affect the Company's operating results.
 
    SIGNIFICANT COMPETITION.  The securities business is intensely  competitive.
The  Company competes worldwide with domestic and foreign securities firms, many
of which have greater capital, financial  and other resources than the  Company.
In  addition to  competition from  firms currently  in the  securities business,
domestic commercial banks and investment banking boutiques have recently entered
the business.  In  recent years,  large  international banks  have  entered  the
markets served by United States investment banks, including the markets in which
the  Company competes. Certain  large international banks  have hired investment
banking, research and sales and trading  professionals from the Company and  its
competitors  in the recent  past, and the  Company expects that  these and other
competitors will continue to try to recruit professionals away from the Company.
The loss  of any  key professional  could materially  and adversely  affect  the
Company's  operating results. The Company  expects competition from domestic and
international  banks  to  increase  as  a  result  of  recent  and   anticipated
legislative and regulatory initiatives in the United States to remove or relieve
certain  restrictions  on  commercial  banks.  The  Company's  focus  on  growth
companies also  subjects it  to direct  competition from  a group  of  specialty
securities  firms and  smaller investment  banking boutiques  that specialize in
providing services to the emerging growth company sector. Such competition could
adversely affect the  Company's operating  results, as  well as  its ability  to
attract  and  retain  highly  skilled individuals.  As  a  result  of increasing
competition,  revenues  from  individual  underwriting  transactions  have  been
increasingly allocated among a greater number of co-managers, which has resulted
in reduced revenues for certain transactions.
 
    The  Company  also  faces  competition  from  companies  offering electronic
brokerage services, a  rapidly developing industry.  These competitors may  have
lower  costs  or provide  fewer  services, and  may  offer these  customers more
attractive pricing or  other terms, than  the Company offers.  The Company  also
anticipates competition from underwriters who attempt to effect public offerings
for  emerging  growth companies  through  new means  of  distribution, including
transactions effected using electronic media such as the Internet. In  addition,
disintermediation may occur as issuers attempt to sell their securities directly
to  purchasers, including sales using electronic  media such as the Internet. To
the extent that issuers and  purchasers of securities transact business  without
the  assistance of financial  intermediaries such as  the Company, the Company's
operating results could be adversely affected. See "Business--Competition."
 
    RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH FEDERAL, STATE AND FOREIGN REGULATION.  The securities
industry and the business of the Company are subject to extensive regulation  in
the  United  States by  the Securities  and  Exchange Commission  ("SEC"), state
securities  regulators  and  other  governmental  regulatory  authorities.   The
business  of the  Company also  is regulated  in the  United States  by industry
self-regulatory organizations ("SROs"), including the
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
National Association of Securities  Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"),  the NYSE and  other
exchanges.  In addition, the business of the Company is subject to regulation by
governmental authorities and SROs in other countries or territories in which the
Company operates, including France, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Kingdom. The Company's  international
operations  also  require  compliance  with the  United  States  Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act.
 
    As a  registered  broker-dealer  and  member  of  the  NYSE,  the  Company's
principal  subsidiary, Hambrecht & Quist LLC ("H&Q  LLC"), is subject to the net
capital rules  of  the  SEC,  NYSE and  NASD.  The  Company's  other  registered
broker-dealer  subsidiary,  RvR  Securities Corp.  ("RvR  Securities"),  is also
subject to the net capital rules of the SEC and NASD. These rules, which specify
minimum net capital requirements for registered broker-dealers and NYSE and NASD
members, are designed to assure that broker-dealers maintain adequate regulatory
capital in  relation  to  their  liabilities and  the  size  of  their  customer
business.  These  requirements have  the  effect of  requiring  that at  least a
substantial portion of a broker-dealer's assets be kept in cash or highly liquid
investments. Compliance  with the  net capital  requirements could  limit  those
operations  that require the intensive use  of capital, such as underwriting and
trading activities. These  rules also  could restrict the  Company's ability  to
withdraw capital from H&Q LLC and RvR Securities even in circumstances where H&Q
LLC  and RvR Securities have  more than the minimum  amount of required capital.
See "Net Capital Requirements."
 
    In connection with  the Company's  venture capital activities,  H&Q and  its
affiliates,  as well as the venture capital  funds that they manage, are relying
on exemptions from registration  under the Investment Advisers  Act of 1940,  as
amended  (the "Advisers Act"),  the Investment Company Act  of 1940, as amended,
state securities laws and laws of various foreign countries. Failure to meet the
requirements of any such exemptions could have a material adverse effect on  the
manner  in which the Company, its affiliates  and the venture capital funds they
manage carry out their investment activities and on the compensation received by
the Company and its affiliates from the venture capital funds.
 
    Compliance with many of the regulations applicable to the Company involves a
number of  risks, particularly  in  areas where  applicable regulations  may  be
subject  to interpretation.  In the  event of non-compliance  by H&Q  LLC or RvR
Securities with an applicable regulation,  governmental regulators and SROs  may
institute  administrative or  judicial proceedings  that may  result in censure,
fine, civil penalties (including treble damages  in the case of insider  trading
violations),  the  issuance of  cease-and-desist  orders, the  deregistration or
suspension  of  the  non-compliant  broker-dealer  or  investment  adviser,  the
suspension  or disqualification of the  broker-dealer's officers or employees or
other adverse consequences. The  imposition of any such  penalties or orders  on
H&Q  LLC could have a material adverse effect on the Company's operating results
and financial condition.
 
    The regulatory  environment in  which  the Company  operates is  subject  to
change.  The Company  may be adversely  affected as  a result of  new or revised
legislation or regulations imposed  by the SEC, other  United States or  foreign
governmental  regulatory authorities or SROs. The  Company also may be adversely
affected by changes in  the interpretation or enforcement  of existing laws  and
rules by these governmental authorities and SROs.
 
    Much  of  the  Company's underwriting  and  market-making  business involves
securities traded  on  Nasdaq.  Nasdaq's operations,  including  allegations  of
collusion  among  Nasdaq  market-makers,  have  been  the  subject  of extensive
scrutiny in the media and by  government regulators, including by the  Antitrust
Division  of the United States  Department of Justice. H&Q  LLC and other Nasdaq
market-makers have responded to Civil Investigation Demands by the Department of
Justice as part of its ongoing investigation. It has been reported in the  media
that  the SEC has recently submitted to Nasdaq a draft of the SEC's disciplinary
complaint concerning Nasdaq's operations. Nasdaq officials have made a number of
proposed changes  in  its operations,  which  currently are  being  reviewed  by
government  regulators. The Company is  unable to predict the  outcome of any of
these proposals, and  certain of the  changes proposed by  Nasdaq officials,  if
effected, could adversely affect the Company's operating results.
 
    The  Company's businesses may be materially affected not only by regulations
applicable to it as a financial market intermediary, but also by regulations  of
general  application.  For example,  the volume  of the  Company's underwriting,
merger and  acquisition and  principal  investment businesses  in a  given  time
period  could  be affected  by, among  other things,  existing and  proposed tax
legislation, antitrust policy and other governmental
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
regulations and policies (including  the interest rate  policies of the  Federal
Reserve Board) and changes in interpretation or enforcement of existing laws and
rules  that affect the business and financial communities. The level of business
and financing activity in  each of the industries  on which the Company  focuses
can  be  affected  not  only  by  such  legislation  or  regulations  of general
applicability, but  also by  industry-specific legislation  or regulations.  See
"Business--Legal Proceedings" and "Regulation."
 
    RISKS  ASSOCIATED WITH PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES.   The Company uses a
portion of its own capital in a variety of principal investment activities, each
of which involves  risks of illiquidity,  loss of principal  and revaluation  of
assets.  The Company purchases  equity securities and, to  a lesser extent, debt
securities, in venture capital  and other high  risk financings of  early-stage,
pre-public  or  "mezzanine stage"  and  turnaround companies.  The  Company also
provides asset-based financing and purchases equity securities as part of bridge
or mezzanine  financing transactions.  The Company's  nonmarketable  investments
represent  a material  portion of  the Company's assets,  and the  report of the
Company's independent  public accountants  on the  Company's combined  financial
statements  includes a statement regarding the inherent uncertainty of valuation
of the Company's nonmarketable investments. The Company's investments, like  its
other  activities,  are  concentrated  in  a  small  number  of  industries  and
companies,  and   the  companies   in  which   the  Company   has  invested   as
principal  face rapidly changing and highly competitive environments, increasing
the risks of illiquidity  and loss of principal,  and creating risks  associated
with  asset revaluation as market conditions change. In addition, the management
of principal investments often requires substantial attention from the Company's
professionals, particularly  if the  entity in  which the  Company has  invested
experiences financial difficulties, a restructuring or a sale.
 
    The  absence  of  a  public  market  for  securities  received  in principal
investments means that  the Company  will not receive  a return  on its  capital
invested  for an indeterminate  period of time,  if at all.  A public market for
these securities  may not  develop for  several years,  if ever.  The timing  of
access  to liquidity depends on the  general market for initial public offerings
of securities or mergers  and acquisitions as well  as the particular  company's
results  and prospects  and trends in  the relevant industry.  Delayed access to
liquidity  could  adversely  affect  the  Company's  returns  on  its  principal
investments, which would adversely affect the Company's operating results.
 
    The  Company also risks the loss of  capital it has invested as a principal.
The companies in which H&Q invests often rely on new or developing  technologies
or novel business models, or concentrate on markets which have not yet developed
and  may never develop sufficiently  to support successful operations. Companies
supported by  venture capital  have a  high incidence  of operating  losses  and
business failure, which typically results in loss of capital invested. Companies
to  which H&Q  provides mezzanine  financing often  require substantial  cash to
support their operations,  risking loss  of H&Q's  principal if  the company  in
which  H&Q has invested is unable to raise additional capital through an initial
public offering of its securities. If  a business that has received  asset-based
financing  from H&Q fails,  H&Q will be required  to repossess collateral, which
may not be salable at a price equal to H&Q's initial investment. The entities in
which H&Q  invests  as a  principal  often  are unable  to  obtain  conventional
financing.  The equity securities  that H&Q receives will  be subordinate to the
issuer's debt, may also be subordinate to other classes of equity and  typically
will  not provide  dividend income.  Debt securities  purchased by  H&Q may rank
subordinate to other debt of the issuer. There can be no assurance that H&Q will
not experience  significant  losses as  a  result of  its  principal  investment
activities.  A material loss  of capital would  adversely affect H&Q's operating
results and financial condition.
 
    H&Q may be  required to  mark up  or mark down  the value  of its  principal
investments  as a result of industry- or company-specific factors over which H&Q
has no control.  Publicly traded  securities held as  principal investments  are
subject  to  significant volatility,  increasing the  risk of  a mark-down  as a
result of a decline in  market prices generally or  the price of the  particular
security.  If a  significant mark-down  of a material  asset were  to occur, the
Company's operating  results and  financial condition  would be  materially  and
adversely  affected.  See  "Management's Discussion  and  Analysis  of Financial
Condition and Results of  Operations," "Business--Venture Capital and  Principal
Investment  Activities"  and "--Risk  Management",  Notes 2  and  6 of  Notes to
Combined Financial Statements--September 30, 1995 and Note 4 of Condensed  Notes
to Combined Financial Statements--March 31, 1996.
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
    RISKS  ASSOCIATED WITH UNDERWRITING  AND TRADING ACTIVITIES.   The Company's
underwriting, securities trading and  market-making activities are conducted  by
the Company as principal and subject the Company's capital to significant risks,
including  market, credit,  counterparty and  liquidity risks.  These activities
often involve the  purchase, sale or  short sale of  securities as principal  in
markets  that  may  be characterized  by  relative  illiquidity or  that  may be
particularly susceptible to  rapid fluctuations in  liquidity. The Company  from
time  to time has large position concentrations in securities of, or commitments
to, a single issuer, or issuers engaged in a specific industry, particularly  as
a  result  of  the  Company's  underwriting  activities.  The  Company  tends to
concentrate its trading positions and underwriting activities in a more  limited
number  of industry sectors  and portfolio companies  than many other investment
banks, which  might result  in higher  trading losses  than would  occur if  the
Company's  positions  and activities  were less  concentrated. In  addition, the
trend in all major  capital markets, for competitive  and other reasons,  toward
larger  commitments on the  part of lead  underwriters means that,  from time to
time, an underwriter  (including a co-manager)  may retain significant  position
concentrations in individual securities. See "Business--Risk Management."
 
    LITIGATION  AND POTENTIAL  SECURITIES LAWS LIABILITY.   Many  aspects of the
Company's business involve  substantial risks  of liability.  An underwriter  is
exposed  to substantial liability under federal and state securities laws, other
federal and state laws and court decisions, including decisions with respect  to
underwriters'  liability and  limitations on indemnification  of underwriters by
issuers. For example, a firm that acts as an underwriter may be held liable  for
material  misstatements or omissions of fact  in a prospectus used in connection
with the  securities being  offered or  for statements  made by  its  securities
analysts or other personnel.
 
    In  recent  years,  there has  been  an increasing  incidence  of litigation
involving the securities industry, including class actions that seek substantial
damages. The  Company has  been active  in the  underwriting of  initial  public
offerings  and follow-on  offerings of the  securities of  emerging and mid-size
growth companies,  which often  involve a  higher degree  of risk  and are  more
volatile  than the securities of more established companies. In comparision with
more established companies, such emerging and mid-size growth companies are also
more likely to be  the subject of securities  class actions, to carry  directors
and  officers  liability  insurance  policies  with  lower  limits,  or  no such
insurance, and  to  become  insolvent.  Each  of  these  factors  increases  the
likelihood  that  an underwriter  of an  emerging  or mid-size  growth company's
securities will be required to contribute to any adverse judgment or  settlement
of a securities lawsuit.
 
    The  plaintiffs' attorneys  in securities  class action  lawsuits frequently
name as defendants the managing underwriters of a public offering. H&Q LLC is  a
named  defendant  in  a  number  of class  action  lawsuits  relating  to public
offerings in which it served as a managing underwriter. In addition, H&Q LLC  is
currently  directly or  indirectly subject to  over 30  shareholder class action
lawsuits relating to public offerings in which H&Q LLC served as a member of the
underwriting syndicate but not as a managing underwriter. Plaintiffs'  attorneys
also  name as  defendants investment  banks which  provide advisory  services in
merger and acquisition  transactions. H&Q LLC  is currently a  defendant in  one
such  lawsuit. The Company  anticipates that additional  securities class action
lawsuits naming H&Q LLC as  a defendant will be filed  from time to time in  the
future,  particularly in light  of the increased number  of public offerings H&Q
LLC has  underwritten,  and  the  increased number  of  merger  and  acquisition
transactions  in which H&Q  LLC has provided advisory  service, in recent years,
and the fact that the securities sold  in certain of such public offerings  have
experienced,  or may  in the future  experience, significant  declines in market
value. In such lawsuits, all members of the underwriting syndicate typically are
included as members of a defendant class and/or are required by law, or pursuant
to the terms of the underwriting agreement, to bear a portion of any expenses or
losses (including amounts paid in settlement of the litigation) incurred by  the
underwriters  as a group  in connection with  the litigation, to  the extent not
covered by  the  indemnification obligation  of  the issuer  of  the  securities
underwritten. H&Q LLC has on occasion participated in settlements of these types
of lawsuits by making payments to the plaintiff class. There can be no assurance
that  the Company, H&Q LLC or RvR Securities  will not find it necessary to make
substantial settlement  payments  in  the  future. The  Company  has  agreed  to
indemnify  H&Q LLC against any  expense or liability it  may incur in connection
with any such lawsuits.
 
    As the number of suits to which  the Company is a party increases, the  risk
to  the Company's assets also increases. If  the plaintiffs in any suits against
the Company were to successfully prosecute their claims, or if the Company  were
to  settle  such suits  by making  significant payments  to the  plaintiffs, the
Company's operating
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
results and financial condition could  be materially and adversely affected.  As
is  common in the securities industry, the Company does not carry insurance that
would cover  any such  payments. In  addition, the  Company's charter  documents
allow  indemnification of  the Company's officers,  directors and  agents to the
maximum extent  permitted  under Delaware  law.  The Company  has  entered  into
indemnification  agreements with these persons. The  Company has been and in the
future may  be the  subject of  indemnification assertions  under these  charter
documents  or agreements by officers, directors or agents of the Company who are
or may become defendants in litigation.
 
    In addition to these  financial costs and risks,  the defense of  litigation
has, to a certain extent, diverted, and is expected to divert in the future, the
efforts  and attention of the Company's management and staff. The amount of time
that management and other  employees are required to  devote in connection  with
the defense of litigation could be substantial and might materially divert their
attention  from  other  responsibilities within  the  Company.  Securities class
action litigation  in  particular  is  highly  complex  and  can  extend  for  a
protracted  period of time, thereby consuming substantial time and effort of the
Company's management and substantially increasing  the cost of such  litigation.
Further,  the laws relating to securities class actions are currently in a state
of flux. The eventual impact  of the recently-passed Federal Private  Securities
Litigation  Reform  Act of  1995 on  securities class  action litigation  is not
known. In  addition, there  are certain  proposed California  ballot  initiative
provisions  which  the Company  believes would,  if passed,  make it  easier for
securities class action plaintiffs to litigate in California state court.
 
    The Company also has been subject to litigation in state and federal  courts
relating to companies in which the Company has invested as a principal. The risk
of  such  litigation is  magnified where  H&Q has  a substantial  or controlling
interest in a  company, or  where one  or more of  H&Q's employees  serves on  a
company's  Board of Directors. On occasion, such litigation has produced results
materially adverse to  H&Q. In  particular, during  1991 and  1992, the  Company
settled  litigation  relating  to MiniScribe  Corporation  ("MiniScribe")  at an
aggregate cost, including expenses, of approximately $59.8 million. All payments
relating to such MiniScribe settlements were  made prior to May 31, 1996.  There
can  be no  assurance that  the Company,  as a  result of  its investments  as a
principal or  the service  of  the Company's  employees  as directors  of  other
entities  or  otherwise,  will  not lead  to  similar  litigation  or settlement
payments in the future.
 
    In the normal course of business, the Company is also a defendant in various
civil actions and arbitrations arising out of its activities as a  broker-dealer
in  securities,  as an  underwriter, as  an employer  and as  a result  of other
business activities. The Company  has in the past  made substantial payments  in
connection with the resolution of disputed claims, and there can be no assurance
that  substantial payments in connection with  the resolution of disputed claims
will not occur in the future.
 
    An adverse resolution of any pending or future lawsuits against H&Q LLC, RvR
Securities or  the  Company  could materially  affect  the  Company's  operating
results and financial condition. See "Business--Legal Proceedings."
 
    MANAGEMENT  OF  GROWTH.    Over  the past  several  years,  the  Company has
experienced significant growth in its business activities and the number of  its
employees.  This  growth has  required and  will  continue to  require increased
investment  in  management  personnel,  financial  and  management  systems  and
controls,  and facilities,  which, in the  absence of  continued revenue growth,
would cause the Company's operating margins  to decline from current levels.  In
addition,  as is  common in  the securities  industry, the  Company is  and will
continue to be highly dependent on  the effective and reliable operation of  its
communications  and information systems.  The Company believes  that its current
and anticipated future growth  will require implementation  of new and  enhanced
communications  and information systems and training of its personnel to operate
such systems.  Any difficulty  or  significant delay  in the  implementation  or
operation  of  existing  or  new  systems or  the  training  of  personnel could
adversely affect  the  Company's ability  to  manage growth.  See  "Management's
Discussion  and Analysis of  Financial Condition and  Results of Operations" and
"Business--Accounting, Administration and Operations."
 
    DEPENDENCE ON  SYSTEMS.   The  Company's  business is  highly  dependent  on
communications  and  information systems.  Any  failure or  interruption  of the
Company's systems, or  of the systems  of the Company's  clearing broker,  could
cause  delays in the Company's securities trading activities, which could have a
material adverse
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
effect on the Company's  operating results. There can  be no assurance that  the
Company  or its  clearing broker  will not  suffer any  such systems  failure or
interruption, whether caused  by an  earthquake, fire,  other natural  disaster,
power  or telecommunications failure,  act of God,  act of war  or otherwise, or
that the Company's back-up procedures and capabilities in the event of any  such
failure or interruption will be adequate.
 
    DEPENDENCE  UPON AVAILABILITY OF CAPITAL AND FUNDING.  A substantial portion
of the Company's total  assets consists of  highly liquid marketable  securities
and  short-term receivables  arising from  securities transactions.  The funding
needs of the Company to date have been satisfied from internally generated funds
and paid-in  capital. In  addition, the  Company borrows  limited amounts  on  a
collateralized  basis from  a bank  to support  the activities  of its Executive
Financial Services group. The  Company's cash at March  31, 1996 will have  been
reduced  prior to the completion of this offering by approximately $32.2 million
through the transactions described under "Restructuring" and the satisfaction of
commitments of Hambrecht & Quist L.P. to make a tax distribution of a portion of
the partnership's taxable income to its partners. There can be no assurance that
adequate financing to support the Company's businesses will be available in  the
future on attractive terms, or at all. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Overview" and "--Liquidity and
Capital Resources."
 
    EFFECTS  OF RESTRUCTURING.   The  transactions described  in "Restructuring"
will involve  a  distribution,  principally to  the  Company's  existing  equity
securityholders,  of approximately $17.0 million in cash (including an estimated
$2.0 million of net profits generated  after March 31, 1996) and a  distribution
of  securities  with a  book  value at  March  31, 1996  of  approximately $19.3
million. These distributions will not only reduce the Company's total assets and
stockholders'  equity  by  approximately   $29.7  million  and  $21.9   million,
respectively,  but will also  reduce the amount  of investment assets, including
the amount of non-marketable  investments, from which  the Company can  generate
future  net investment gains or losses. The restructuring transactions will also
result in a  higher effective income  tax rate on  the Company's future  taxable
income.  Holders of interests in the entities participating in the restructuring
transactions who perfect their statutory dissenters' rights under the California
Corporations Code will not receive shares  of Company Common Stock, but  instead
will  be entitled to have their interests  purchased by the entity in which they
hold an interest for cash at fair market value, determined as of the day  before
the  first announcement of  the terms of the  restructuring transactions. To the
extent  that  holders  of  interests  in  the  entities  participating  in   the
restructuring  transactions exercise their dissenters'  rights, the Company will
be required  to pay  cash for  dissenters' interests,  and fewer  shares of  the
Company's  Common Stock  will be outstanding.  Any substantial  cash payments to
dissenters may  have  a  material  adverse effect  on  the  Company's  financial
condition. See "Restructuring."
 
    CONTROL   OF  THE   COMPANY;  ANTI-TAKEOVER   EFFECTS  OF   CERTAIN  CHARTER
PROVISIONS.   Upon  the  completion  of this  offering,  the  Company's  current
executive  officers and directors will own approximately    % of the outstanding
Common Stock. Accordingly, these stockholders, if  they were to act as a  group,
would  be able to elect all of  the Company's directors, increase the authorized
capital and otherwise control the policies  of the Company. Upon the  completion
of  this offering, the Company's  Board of Directors will  have the authority to
issue up to  5,000,000 shares  of Preferred Stock  and to  determine the  price,
rights,  preferences and privileges of those  shares without any further vote or
action by the stockholders. The  rights of the holders  of Common Stock will  be
subject  to, and may be adversely affected by,  the rights of the holders of any
Preferred Stock that  may be issued  in the  future. The issuance  of shares  of
Preferred Stock, while potentially providing desirable flexibility in connection
with  possible acquisitions and other corporate  purposes, could have the effect
of making it  more difficult  for a  third party to  acquire a  majority of  the
outstanding  voting stock of the Company. In addition, the Company is subject to
the provisions of  Section 203 of  the Delaware General  Corporation Law,  which
will  prohibit the  Company from  engaging in  a "business  combination" with an
"interested stockholder"  for a  period of  three years  after the  date of  the
transaction  in which  the person became  an interested  stockholder, unless the
business combination  is approved  in a  prescribed manner.  The application  of
Section  203 also could  have the effect  of delaying or  preventing a change of
control of  the Company.  Certain  provisions of  the Company's  Certificate  of
Incorporation,  including provisions that provide for  the Board of Directors to
be divided into three classes to serve for staggered three-year terms, may  have
the  effect of delaying or preventing a  change of control of the Company, which
could adversely  affect the  market price  of the  Company's Common  Stock.  See
"Management," "Principal Stockholders" and "Description of Capital Stock."
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
    ABSENCE OF PRIOR MARKET FOR COMMON STOCK.  Prior to this offering, there has
been  no public market for the Common Stock,  and there can be no assurance that
an active  public  market will  develop  or,  if developed,  will  be  sustained
following  this offering. The initial public  offering price of the Common Stock
will  be  determined   through  negotiations   between  the   Company  and   the
Representatives   of  the  Underwriters,  based  upon  several  factors.  For  a
discussion of the factors  to be taken into  account in determining the  initial
public  offering price,  see "Underwriting." Certain  factors, such  as sales of
Common Stock into the market by existing stockholders, fluctuations in operating
results of the Company or its competitors, market conditions for similar  stocks
and  market conditions generally for  emerging growth companies, particularly in
the technology and healthcare  industries, could cause the  market price of  the
Common  Stock  to fluctuate  substantially. In  addition,  the stock  market has
experienced significant  price and  volume fluctuations  that have  particularly
affected the market prices of equity securities of companies and that have often
been  unrelated to the operating performance of such companies. Accordingly, the
market price of  the Common Stock  may decline even  if the Company's  operating
results or prospects have not changed.
 
    SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE.  Sales of a substantial number of shares of
Common  Stock in the  public market, whether  by purchasers in  this offering or
other stockholders of the Company, could adversely affect the prevailing  market
price  of the  Common Stock,  and could impair  the Company's  future ability to
raise capital through an offering of its equity securities. There will be
shares  of  Common  Stock  outstanding  immediately  after  completion  of  this
offering,  all of which will be freely  tradeable in the public markets, subject
in certain cases  to the  volume and  other limitations  set forth  in Rule  144
promulgated  under the  Securities Act  of 1933  ("Securities Act").  All of the
18,620,711 shares outstanding immediately prior to this offering will be subject
to lockup restrictions ("Lockup"), unless released  by all of Hambrecht &  Quist
LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and the Company. The Lockup prohibits the
disposition  of any such shares until the date  18 months after the date of this
Prospectus ("Effective  Date"), provided  that six  months after  the  Effective
Date,  each  stockholder may  sell the  greater of  10,000 shares  or 5%  of the
holder's shares  outstanding on  the  Effective Date  (an aggregate  maximum  of
approximately  2,115,000 shares), and  12 months after  the Effective Date, each
stockholder may sell  an additional  number of shares  equal to  the greater  of
10,000 shares or 5% of the holder's shares outstanding on the Effective Date (an
additional  aggregate  maximum of  approximately  1,519,000 shares).  Any shares
subject to the Lockup may be released at any time with or without notice to  the
public. See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale" and "Underwriting."
 
    IMMEDIATE  AND SUBSTANTIAL  DILUTION.   Purchasers of  Common Stock  in this
offering will experience immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $  per
share, based on an assumed initial public offering price of $  per share. To the
extent  that  currently  outstanding  options  to  purchase  Common  Stock   are
exercised,  purchasers of Common Stock  will experience additional dilution. See
"Dilution."
 
    FORWARD-LOOKING  STATEMENTS.    This  Prospectus  contains   forward-looking
statements  within the meaning of Section 27A  of the Securities Act and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements  may
be  deemed  to  include the  Company's  plans  to identify  emerging  trends and
industries, expand the range of services  it offers, increase the number of  its
investor  and company  clients, expand its  role in capital  markets outside the
United  States  (particularly  in  Europe  and  Asia),  increase  its  principal
investment  activities and increase the number  of its personnel. Actual results
could differ  from those  projected in  any forward-looking  statements for  the
reasons  detailed in the  other sections of  this "Risk Factors"  portion of the
Prospectus.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
                                  THE COMPANY
 
    Hambrecht &  Quist Group,  Inc., a  Delaware corporation,  was formed  as  a
holding  company for all  of the operations  of Hambrecht &  Quist following the
Restructuring described below. The  Restructuring will take  place prior to  the
completion of this offering. The Company will be the successor to the businesses
conducted  by Hambrecht &  Quist Group, a  California corporation established in
1983 ("Group  California"), and  Hambrecht &  Quist L.P.,  a California  limited
partnership  established in 1993  ("LP"). In 1983  Group California succeeded to
the business of  Hambrecht &  Quist, a  California partnership  formed in  1968.
Unless  the  context  otherwise requires,  "Hambrecht  & Quist,"  "H&Q"  and the
"Company" refer to Hambrecht  & Quist Group, Inc.,  a Delaware corporation,  and
its  predecessors, affiliates and  subsidiaries. Hambrecht &  Quist, H&Q and the
H&Q logo are registered trademarks of the Company.
 
    Following the Restructuring, the Company will operate primarily as a holding
company and will own all of the subsidiaries and equity interests in  affiliated
entities  that presently are owned by either Group California or LP. Hambrecht &
Quist LLC ("H&Q LLC") is  the Company's principal investment banking  subsidiary
and  securities  broker-dealer.  In  addition,  the  Company's  other  principal
operating subsidiaries or affiliated entities, which will be wholly owned except
as indicated,  are  as  follows:  RvR Securities  Corp.  ("RvR  Securities"),  a
registered broker-dealer serving companies with smaller capitalizations than H&Q
LLC's  typical  underwriting  clients;  Hambrecht  &  Quist  Capital  Management
Incorporated ("Capital  Management"), a  registered  investment adviser  to  two
publicly  traded  closed-end mutual  funds; Hambrecht  & Quist  Venture Partners
("Venture Partners"), a venture capital fund management partnership in which the
Company has a general partnership interest; Hambrecht & Quist Guaranty  Finance,
L.P.  ("Guaranty Finance"), an 87.5%-owned subsidiary  of the Company engaged in
asset-based  financing;   and  Hambrecht   &  Quist   Transition  Capital,   LLC
("Transition  Capital"), an 87.5%-owned subsidiary of the Company formed in 1996
to provide bridge loans and  mezzanine financings to emerging growth  companies.
In  addition, the  Company's international  activities are  carried out  in part
through Hambrecht & Quist Saint Dominique,  a 50%-owned joint venture formed  in
1996  that provides investment banking services  to emerging growth companies in
Europe. The Company  also maintains  minority investments in  H&Q Asia  Pacific,
Ltd.  ("Asia Pacific"),  which provides  financial advisory  and fund management
services in  the  Asia  Pacific  region,  Beeson  Gregory  Holdings  Limited,  a
London-based  brokerage  firm  and  financial  advisor  specializing  in  growth
companies, De Santis  Capital Management, LP,  a registered investment  adviser,
and  EASDAQ S.A.,  a Nasdaq-type stock  market for emerging  growth companies in
Europe. The Company also has a 20% interest in Lewco Securities Corp. ("Lewco"),
which acts as a clearing broker and  depository for Schroder Wertheim & Co.  and
the Company.
 
    The  Company's  executive  offices  are  located  at  One  Bush  Street, San
Francisco, California 94104,  and its  telephone number is  (415) 576-3300.  The
Company   maintains  a   "home  page"   on  the   World  Wide   Web  at  http://
www.hambrecht.com. Information contained on the Company's home page shall not be
deemed to be a part of this Prospectus.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
                                 RESTRUCTURING
 
    Prior to  the completion  of this  offering, the  Company will  engage in  a
series   of  restructuring  transactions  (collectively,  the  "Restructuring").
Immediately prior  to  the  Restructuring,  the  Company  operated  through  two
entities,  Group California  and LP.  A majority  of the  outstanding shares and
options of Group  California are  owned by members  of the  Board of  Directors,
Managing Directors and Principals of the Company, and ownership positions of the
shareholders  and optionholders of Group California and the beneficial owners of
partnership interests in LP are substantially the same.
 
    Prior to the Restructuring, Group California owned 70% of H&Q LLC and all of
the Company's interests in its subsidiaries and affiliates, other than  Guaranty
Finance,  as well as certain securities held for investment; LP owned 30% of H&Q
LLC and 70% of Guaranty Finance;  and Guaranty Finance was 15% owned  indirectly
by  Daniel H.  Case III,  President and Chief  Executive Officer  of the Company
("Case"), and 15% owned  indirectly by the President  of the General Partner  of
Guaranty Finance, who is otherwise unaffiliated with the Company.
 
    The  principal  objective  of the  Restructuring  is to  eliminate  the dual
ownership structure of  Group California  and LP in  order to  create a  simpler
organizational  structure, while retaining the tax efficiencies achieved to date
with  respect  to   portfolio  investments   presently  held  by   LP.  In   the
Restructuring,  LP will distribute to a liquidating trust for the benefit of its
partners (i) $15.0 million in cash, (ii) an additional cash amount (estimated to
be approximately $2.0 million) representing 50% of LP's profits between June  1,
1996  and the closing date  of the Mergers, as  defined below, and (iii) certain
securities with  a  book value  as  of March  31,  1996 of  approximately  $17.3
million.  These securities represent investments that have a market value higher
than their tax  basis and  are being  distributed in  order to  achieve the  tax
efficiencies  afforded by the  LP partnership structure.  The securities include
519,000 shares of BISYS Group Inc. ("BISYS") (Nasdaq: BSYS) with a book value on
March 31, 1996 of approximately $11.8  million and other securities with a  book
value  on such date of  approximately $700,000, in each  case currently owned by
LP, and other investments with a book  value on such date of approximately  $4.8
million  being distributed to LP by Guaranty Finance. Guaranty Finance will also
distribute to its  minority shareholders  securities with  a book  value, as  of
March  31, 1996, of approximately $2.0 million. Immediately following the LP and
Guaranty Finance distributions,  LP will  be merged  with and  into Hambrecht  &
Quist  Group, Inc.  ("Group Delaware"), and  Group California will  merge with a
subsidiary of  Group Delaware  and become  a wholly  owned subsidiary  of  Group
Delaware  (the "Mergers"). Pursuant to  the Mergers, the partners  of LP and the
shareholders of Group California who do not perfect their statutory  dissenters'
rights  under the California Corporations Code will receive shares of the Common
Stock of Group  Delaware. Such  shares will be  subject to  the restrictions  on
transfer  set forth  in "Shares Eligible  for Future Sale."  The information set
forth in this Prospectus assumes that the Mergers will become effective  without
the  exercise of dissenters' rights. The  Mergers are intended to be non-taxable
transactions under Sections 351 and 368 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended. See "Risk Factors--Effects of Restructuring."
 
    Prior to the effectiveness  of the Mergers,  Group California will  purchase
Case's  interest in Guaranty  Finance at its fair  market value. Case co-founded
Guaranty Finance in 1983 and purchased his interest at fair market value at  the
time Guaranty Finance was initially capitalized in 1985. Subsequently, Case made
additional  investments  or  increased his  percentage  ownership  indirectly in
Guaranty Finance, principally by paying taxes on his share of Guaranty Finance's
partnership income for  which there  were not always  distributions by  Guaranty
Finance,  and by foregoing his  share of a $1.7  million distribution that Group
California received  from Guaranty  Finance  in 1992.  The repurchase  by  Group
California  of this interest will be effected  in order to avoid the possibility
or appearance of a  conflict of interest  between Case and  the Company, and  to
align more directly Case's equity interests related to the Company with those of
other  Company  stockholders.  In  addition, Group  California  will  purchase a
portion of  the  interest  in  Guaranty  Finance  held  by  the  other  minority
shareholder,  and will  sell interests in  Guaranty Finance  to certain Guaranty
Finance employees  and to  a non-officer  employee of  the Company  who  devotes
significant  time to Guaranty Finance. As a  result of such purchases and sales,
the Company  will have  an  87.5% interest  in  Guaranty Finance  following  the
Restructuring. Prior to effectiveness of the Mergers, the Company will also sell
12.5%  of Transition Capital to certain  employees and consultants of Transition
Capital and to  a non-officer employee  of the Company  who devotes  significant
time  to Transition  Capital. Prior to  the effectiveness of  the Mergers, Group
California will  also  create  a  trust ("Group  Trust")  to  hold  its  limited
partnership  interest  in  LP for  the  benefit  of certain  current  and former
employees. See "Certain Transactions."
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
    The net proceeds to be received by  the Company from the sale of the  Common
Stock  offered hereby, based on an assumed initial public offering price of $
per share  and  after  deducting  underwriting  discounts  and  commissions  and
estimated offering expenses, are estimated to be approximately $   ($     if the
Underwriters'  over-allotment option is exercised in full). The proceeds will be
used for general  corporate purposes,  including increased  levels of  principal
investments.  Pending  such use,  the proceeds  will  be invested  in short-term
securities. The  Company expects  that it  will, from  time to  time, engage  in
additional  financings as the need arises to support the growth of the Company's
businesses. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations--Liquidity and  Capital Resources" and  "Business--Venture
Capital and Principal Investment Activities."
 
                                DIVIDEND POLICY
 
    The Company has not previously paid dividends on its Common Stock and has no
present  intention to  pay dividends  in the  future. The  timing and  amount of
future dividends, if any, will be determined by the Board and will depend, among
other factors,  upon  the  Company's  earnings,  financial  condition  and  cash
requirements at the time such payment is considered.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
    The  following table sets forth the  Company's combined capitalization as of
March 31, 1996 (i) on an actual basis,  (ii) on a pro forma basis giving  effect
to  the transactions described under "Restructuring" and to the Tax Distribution
and (iii) on such pro forma basis, as further adjusted to reflect the receipt by
the Company of  the net proceeds  from the sale  of the shares  of Common  Stock
offered  hereby at an assumed initial public offering price  of $     per share,
after deducting estimated  underwriting discounts and  commissions and  offering
expenses  and  the  application  of  the net  proceeds  therefrom.  See  "Use of
Proceeds." This table should be read in conjunction with the Combined  Financial
Statements--March  31,  1996  and Condensed  Notes  thereto,  "Selected Combined
Financial Data" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations" appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         MARCH 31, 1996
                                                                               -----------------------------------
                                                                                 ACTUAL    PRO FORMA   AS ADJUSTED
                                                                               ----------  ----------  -----------
                                                                                         (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                            <C>         <C>         <C>
Long-term debt...............................................................  $       --  $       --   $
                                                                               ----------  ----------  -----------
Stockholders' equity (1):
  Preferred Stock, none authorized, actual; par value $0.01, 5,000,000 shares                      --          --
   authorized, no shares issued and outstanding, pro forma and as adjusted...
  Common Stock, no par value, 40,000,000 shares authorized, 16,031,772 shares      21,738      49,438
   issued and outstanding, actual; par value $.01, 100,000,000 shares
   authorized, pro forma and as adjusted; 18,620,711 shares issued and
   outstanding pro forma;          shares issued and outstanding as
   adjusted..................................................................
Additional paid-in capital...................................................          --          --
Retained earnings............................................................      96,302      75,019
                                                                               ----------  ----------  -----------
  Total stockholders' equity.................................................     118,040     124,457
                                                                               ----------  ----------  -----------
Hambrecht & Quist, L.P. partners' capital....................................      28,358          --          --
                                                                               ----------  ----------  -----------
    Total long-term debt, stockholders' equity and partners' capital.........  $  146,398  $  124,457   $
                                                                               ----------  ----------  -----------
                                                                               ----------  ----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1) Excludes 8,327,384 shares  of Common Stock reserved  for issuance under  the
    Company's  stock  plans,  of  which 5,327,384  were  subject  to outstanding
    options as of March 31, 1996 at  a weighted average exercise price of  $6.90
    per  share.  See "Management--Compensation  Plans" and  Note 7  of Condensed
    Notes to Combined Financial Statements--March 31, 1996.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
                                    DILUTION
 
    The pro forma net tangible  book value of the Company  as of March 31,  1996
was  $       or approximately $       per share  of Common Stock.  Pro forma net
tangible book value per share represents  the amount of the Company's pro  forma
tangible assets, after giving effect to the Restructuring, but prior to the sale
of  the shares offered hereby, less its  pro forma total liabilities, divided by
the pro forma number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. After giving  effect
to the sale of the          shares of Common Stock offered hereby (at an assumed
initial  public offering  price of $       per share,  after deducting estimated
underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses), the pro forma net
tangible book value of the Company as of March 31, 1996 would have been $      ,
or  approximately $      per  share. This represents an  immediate increase of $
    per share to existing stockholders  and an immediate dilution of  $      per
share to new investors. The following table illustrates this per share dilution:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Assumed initial public offering price per share(1)................             $
<S>                                                                 <C>        <C>
  Pro forma net tangible book value per share as of March 31,
   1996...........................................................  $
  Increase per share attributable to new investors................
                                                                    ---------
Pro forma net tangible book value per share after the offering....
                                                                               ---------
Dilution per share to new investors...............................             $
                                                                               ---------
                                                                               ---------
</TABLE>
 
    The  following table summarizes, on a pro  forma basis as of March 31, 1996,
the difference between the number of  shares of Common Stock purchased from  the
Company,  the total consideration paid  and the average price  per share paid by
the existing stockholders and by the investors purchasing shares of Common Stock
offered hereby:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                              TOTAL CONSIDERATION
                                                                      SHARES PURCHASED                                  AVERAGE
                                                                  ------------------------  ------------------------   PRICE PER
                                                                    NUMBER       PERCENT      AMOUNT       PERCENT       SHARE
                                                                  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                               <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Existing stockholders...........................................                         %   $                     %   $
New investors(1)................................................
                                                                       -----        -----        -----        -----
  Total.........................................................                    100.0%   $                100.0%
                                                                       -----        -----        -----        -----
                                                                       -----        -----        -----        -----
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1) Before  deducting  estimated  underwriting  discounts  and  commissions  and
    offering expenses.
 
    The foregoing computations exclude 8,327,384 shares of Common Stock reserved
    for issuance under the Company's stock plans, of which 5,327,384 shares were
    subject  to outstanding stock  options as of  March 31, 1996,  at a weighted
    average  exercise  price  of  $6.90  per  share.  To  the  extent  that  any
    outstanding  options are  exercised, there will  be further  dilution to new
    investors. See  "Management--Compensation Plans"  and  Note 7  of  Condensed
    Notes to Combined Financial Statements--March 31, 1996.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
                        SELECTED COMBINED FINANCIAL DATA
 
    The  selected combined financial  data set forth  below include the combined
operations of Group  California and LP  and should be  read in conjunction  with
"Management's  Discussion  and Analysis  of Financial  Condition and  Results of
Operations" and the  Combined Financial  Statements and  Notes thereto  included
elsewhere  in this  Prospectus. The  combined statement  of operations  data set
forth below with respect to the fiscal years ended September 30, 1993, 1994  and
1995  and the combined balance sheet data as  of September 30, 1994 and 1995 are
derived from  the  audited  Combined  Financial  Statements  and  Notes  thereto
included elsewhere in this Prospectus. The combined statement of operations data
for the six months ended March 31, 1995 and 1996, and the combined balance sheet
data  as  of March  31, 1996,  are derived  from unaudited  financial statements
included  elsewhere  in  this  Prospectus,  and  include,  in  the  opinion   of
management,  all adjustments  (consisting only of  normal recurring adjustments)
necessary for  a fair  presentation of  the financial  position and  results  of
operations  of the  Company for  such periods.  The results  for the  year ended
September 30,  1995  and the  six-month  period ended  March  31, 1996  are  not
necessarily  indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year ending
September 30, 1996 or any future period.  The combined balance sheet data as  of
September  30, 1991, 1992 and 1993 and the combined statement of operations data
for the years ended September 30, 1991  and 1992 have been derived from  audited
financial  statements of the Company which  are not included in this Prospectus.
The selected pro forma combined financial data set forth below should be read in
conjunction with the Pro Forma Combined Balance  Sheet as of March 31, 1996  and
Notes  thereto included  elsewhere in  this Prospectus.  The Pro  Forma Combined
Statements of  Operations for  the year  ended September  30, 1995  and the  six
months  ended  March 31,  1996 present  the results  for the  Company as  if the
Restructuring had occurred on October 1,
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
1994, and are based on the historical Combined Financial Statements after giving
effect to the  Restructuring. The  pro forma  adjustments are  described in  the
accompanying Notes to Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                            FISCAL YEAR
                                                                                   SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH      ENDED
                                       FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,                      31,            SEPTEMBER 30,
                            -----------------------------------------------------  ----------------------  -------------
<S>                         <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>        <C>
                                                                                                               1995
                                                                                                           -------------
                                                                                                           PRO FORMA(1)
                              1991       1992       1993       1994       1995        1995        1996     -------------
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------
COMBINED STATEMENT OF
 OPERATIONS DATA:
Revenues:
  Principal
   transactions...........  $  23,480  $  33,438  $  30,045  $  36,411  $  53,425   $  22,253   $  43,997    $  53,425
  Agency commissions......     11,135     12,557     14,221     14,242     24,603       8,852      17,365       24,603
  Investment banking......     23,176     51,517     42,960     29,234     70,360      18,920      84,053       70,360
  Corporate finance
   fees...................      7,409      8,371      9,993     18,561     20,709      12,403      26,256       20,709
  Net investment gains....      7,026      8,193      3,524     10,270     33,852      15,637      15,309       26,439
  Other...................      9,620     11,418      9,804     10,612     17,074       8,797      17,521       16,396
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------  -------------
  Total revenues..........     81,846    125,494    110,547    119,330    220,023      86,862     204,501      211,932
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------  -------------
Expenses:
  Compensation and
   benefits...............     37,424     58,044     54,917     60,175    105,370      42,979     103,879      105,370
  Brokerage and
   clearance..............      5,611      6,184      6,892      7,367     10,441       4,073       6,118       10,441
  Occupancy and
   equipment..............      6,003      6,040      6,045      6,679      7,803       3,687       4,593        7,803
  Communications..........      3,461      4,135      4,377      6,244      7,394       3,517       4,528        7,394
  Interest................        303      1,141      1,464        987      1,266         484         762        1,266
  Other (2)...............     44,382     33,226     10,256     11,315     15,131       6,474      12,142       15,131
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------  -------------
  Total expenses..........     97,184    107,770     83,951     92,767    147,405      61,214     132,022      147,405
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------  -------------
Minority interest (3).....        453        794        352        526        719         289         546          300
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------  -------------
Income (loss) before
 income tax provision.....    (15,791)    16,930     26,244     26,037     71,899      25,359      71,933       64,227
Income tax provision
 (credit).................     (5,878)     7,200     10,940     10,119     22,461       6,895      24,352       28,260
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------  -------------
Net income (loss).........  $  (9,913) $   9,730  $  15,304  $  15,918  $  49,438   $  18,464   $  47,581    $  35,967
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------  -------------
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------  -------------
Pro forma net income per
 share (4)................
Pro forma weighted average
 shares outstanding (4)...
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                                                                                    SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                                                                     MARCH 31, 1996
                                       FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,              MARCH 31,   ------------------------
                            -----------------------------------------------------  -----------
                              1991       1992       1993       1994       1995        1996       ACTUAL    PRO FORMA(1)
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------  -------------
<S>                         <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>        <C>
COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
 DATA:
Total assets..............  $ 106,314  $ 126,420  $ 131,878  $ 155,160  $ 319,630   $ 458,437   $ 458,437    $ 411,553
Debt obligations..........      1,702      9,242     16,913     12,684     13,771      11,851      11,851       11,851
Stockholders' equity......     23,985     33,219     50,290     63,591    105,462     146,398     146,398      124,457
Book value per common
 share outstanding........         --         --         --         --         --
OPERATING DATA:
Total employees (6).......        291        327        350        426        500         584
Return on average
 equity...................         --        34%        37%        28%        58%         76%(7)
Compensation and benefits
 expense as a percentage
 of total revenues........        46%        46%        50%        50%        48%         51%
Non-compensation and
 benefits expense as a
 percentage of total
 revenues.................        73%        40%        26%        27%        19%         14%
 
<CAPTION>
                              SIX MONTHS
                            ENDED MARCH 31,
                            ---------------
<S>                         <C>
                                 1996
                            ---------------
COMBINED STATEMENT OF
 OPERATIONS DATA:
Revenues:
  Principal
   transactions...........     $  43,997
  Agency commissions......        17,365
  Investment banking......        84,053
  Corporate finance
   fees...................        26,256
  Net investment gains....        13,331
  Other...................        17,182
                            ---------------
  Total revenues..........       202,184
                            ---------------
Expenses:
  Compensation and
   benefits...............       103,879
  Brokerage and
   clearance..............         6,118
  Occupancy and
   equipment..............         4,593
  Communications..........         4,528
  Interest................           762
  Other (2)...............        12,142
                            ---------------
  Total expenses..........       132,022
                            ---------------
Minority interest (3).....           227
                            ---------------
Income (loss) before
 income tax provision.....        69,935
Income tax provision
 (credit).................        30,771
                            ---------------
Net income (loss).........     $  39,164
                            ---------------
                            ---------------
Pro forma net income per
 share (4)................
Pro forma weighted average
 shares outstanding (4)...
                                  AS
                            ADJUSTED(1)(5)
                            ---------------
<S>                         <C>
COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
 DATA:
Total assets..............
Debt obligations..........
Stockholders' equity......
Book value per common
 share outstanding........
OPERATING DATA:
Total employees (6).......
Return on average
 equity...................
Compensation and benefits
 expense as a percentage
 of total revenues........
Non-compensation and
 benefits expense as a
 percentage of total
 revenues.................
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------------
(1)  Gives effect to the transactions described under "Restructuring" and to the
    Tax Distribution.
 
(2) Includes $36.9 million in fiscal 1991  and $22.9 million in fiscal 1992  for
    settlement  of certain  litigation relating  to Miniscribe  Corporation. See
    "Business -- Legal Proceedings."
 
(3) Minority interest represents the pro rata interest of owners other than  the
    Company in the earnings of Hambrecht & Quist Guaranty Finance.
 
(4)  See  Note 9  of  Notes to  Pro Forma  Combined  Financial Statements  for a
    discussion of the number of shares used in calculating pro forma net  income
    per share.
 
(5) As adjusted to reflect the sale of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby
    at  an  assumed initial  public offering  price of  $     per share  and the
    application of  the  net  proceeds  therefrom. See  "Use  of  Proceeds"  and
    "Capitalization"
 
(6) Shown at end of period.
 
(7) Shown on an annualized basis.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
                    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                 FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
    This  discussion  should  be  read in  conjunction  with  "Selected Combined
Financial Data" and the Combined Financial Statements -- September 30, 1995  and
Notes  thereto and Combined Financial Statements -- March 31, 1996 and Condensed
Notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Prospectus. In addition to  historical
information,  the following  Management's Discussion  and Analysis  of Financial
Condition and  Results of  Operations contains  forward-looking statements  that
involve  risks  and uncertainties.  The  Company's actual  results  could differ
significantly from those  anticipated in these  forward-looking statements as  a
result  of  certain factors,  including those  discussed  in "Risk  Factors" and
elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
OVERVIEW
 
    EFFECT OF RECENT MARKET CONDITIONS
 
    The Company's business  depends to a  substantial extent on  the market  for
public  equity offerings by emerging growth companies, particularly companies in
the technology and healthcare industries. These markets are affected by  general
economic  and market conditions,  including fluctuations in  interest rates, the
volume and price levels of  securities and the flow  of investor funds into  and
out  of equity mutual funds, and by factors that apply to particular industries,
such as  technological  advances  and changes  in  the  regulatory  environment.
Substantial  fluctuations can  occur in the  Company's operating  results due to
these and other factors.
 
    Market conditions for equity securities of emerging growth companies in  the
technology,   healthcare,   business  information   and   outsourcing  services,
healthcare services  and branded  consumer products  industries were  negatively
affected  by the increase in interest rates during the second half of the fiscal
year ended  September  30,  1994.  Declining interest  rates  and  an  improving
economic  environment contributed to  a significant increase  in activity in the
equity markets in the United States during fiscal 1995 and the six months  ended
March  31,  1996. The  investment climate  for  emerging growth  company stocks,
particularly technology and healthcare stocks, was strong during these  periods,
with  a series of records established for the Nasdaq Composite Index and for the
Nasdaq average  daily share  volume. These  factors, among  others, resulted  in
increased  revenues in the Company's operations in fiscal 1995 and the first six
months of  fiscal  1996 and  also  contributed  to improved  valuations  of  the
Company's principal investments.
 
    The  Company's results of operations for the six months ended March 31, 1996
were achieved  during extremely  favorable market  conditions. There  can be  no
assurance that such market conditions will continue. Any deterioration in market
conditions will result in reduced Company revenues and profitability.
 
    EFFECTS OF RESTRUCTURING AND TAX DISTRIBUTION
 
    Group  California succeeded in  January 1983 to the  business of Hambrecht &
Quist, a partnership  formed in 1968.  Between January 1983  and November  1993,
Group   California  conducted,  either  directly   or  through  subsidiaries  or
affiliates, all of the Company's activities. LP was formed in November 1993  for
the  purpose of owning and managing investments in certain operating affiliates.
Fiscal 1994  net  income reflects  the  tax efficiencies  associated  with  such
reorganization.  In May 1995, through a  contribution of cash and securities, LP
acquired a 30% ownership interest in the Company's broker-dealer subsidiary that
was reorganized  as H&Q  LLC,  leaving Group  California  with a  70%  ownership
position.  The Selected  Combined Financial Data  set forth  herein includes the
combined operations of Group California and LP.
 
    Immediately prior  to the  completion  of this  offering, the  Company  will
undertake  the Restructuring, pursuant to which, among other things, (i) LP will
transfer cash estimated at $17.0 million (including an estimated $2.0 million of
net profits generated after March 31, 1996) and assets whose book value at March
31, 1996 was approximately $17.3 million to a liquidating trust for the  benefit
of  LP's partners, (ii) Guaranty Finance will distribute assets whose book value
at March 31, 1996 was approximately $2.0 million to its equity owners other than
LP, (iii) LP and Group California will enter into the Mergers, pursuant to which
LP will be  merged into Group  Delaware, Group California  will become a  wholly
owned subsidiary of Group Delaware, and Group Delaware will be a holding company
which  beneficially owns  all of  Hambrecht &  Quist's operations,  and (iv) the
equity holders of  Group California  and LP will  own shares  of Group  Delaware
Common Stock. See "Restructuring."
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
    In  addition to the Restructuring, prior to the completion of this offering,
LP will have paid  to its partners approximately  $17.2 million, which had  been
accrued  as of  March 31,  1996 ("Tax  Distribution"), in  order to  provide the
partners with sufficient cash to enable them to pay income taxes on  partnership
profits  that have  been or  will be  allocated to  the partners  for income tax
reporting purposes.
 
    The Restructuring and the Tax Distribution together will have the effect  of
reducing  the Company's total  assets and stockholders'  equity by approximately
$46.9 million and $21.9 million, respectively. The distribution of securities in
the Restructuring will  not only reduce  the Company's balance  sheet, but  also
will  decrease the amount of investment assets from which the Company can expect
to generate future net  investment gains or losses.  In addition, the  Company's
effective  income tax rate following the Restructuring will increase because the
income of LP was not subject to corporate income tax.
 
    COMPONENTS OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES
 
    REVENUES.   Principal transactions  revenue includes  net revenue  from  the
trading  of securities  by the Company  as principal,  including principal sales
credits and  trading  profits,  and  is primarily  derived  from  the  Company's
activities  as  a  market-maker.  Agency  commissions  revenue  includes revenue
resulting from  executing listed  and  over-the-counter transactions  as  agent,
including  executing trades through a stock exchange. Investment banking revenue
includes the Company's  underwriting revenue, composed  of underwriting  selling
concessions,  management fees and  underwriting fees. The  Company believes that
revenue from principal transactions,  agency commissions and investment  banking
is  substantially  dependent  on  the  market  for  public  offerings  of equity
securities by emerging  growth companies, on  the Company's ability  to lead  or
co-manage  public offerings  of the securities  of such companies  and on Nasdaq
trading volume and spreads in the securities of such companies.
 
    Corporate finance  fees  includes  the  Company's  merger  and  acquisition,
private  placement  and  other  corporate  finance  advisory  fee  revenues. Net
investment gains  includes  realized  and  unrealized  gains  on  the  Company's
long-term  investment portfolio,  which includes investments  in publicly traded
and private companies  and venture capital  and public investment  partnerships.
One  such investment, BISYS, has  had a significant effect  on the Company's net
investment gains in recent years. In 1987,  the Company made an investment in  a
private  company,  Concord Holdings  Corp.  ("Concord"), which  subsequently was
acquired by BISYS. Appreciation in the value of the Company's shares of Concord,
and subsequently in those of BISYS, resulted in pre-tax investment gains for the
Company amounting to  $2.2 million,  $5.5 million  and $19.9  million in  fiscal
1993,  1994 and 1995, respectively,  and $10.4 million for  the six months ended
March 31, 1996. Approximately two-thirds of the Company's BISYS holdings will be
distributed as  part  of  the  Restructuring. Corporate  finance  fees  and  net
investment  gains or losses depend on a small number of significant transactions
and  are  likely  to  fluctuate  significantly.  Other  revenue  includes  asset
management   fees,  profit  participation  distributions  from  managed  venture
investment funds, interest and miscellaneous income.
 
    EXPENSES.  Compensation  and benefits  expense includes  sales, trading  and
incentive   compensation,  which   are  primarily  variable   based  on  revenue
production, and salaries, payroll  taxes, employee benefits, temporary  employee
costs and placement agency fees, which are relatively fixed in nature. Brokerage
and clearance expense includes the cost of securities clearance, floor brokerage
and exchange fees. The Company clears its securities transactions through Lewco,
which  acts as a clearing broker and depository for the Company. A proportionate
share of Lewco's expenses, net of certain revenues, is reimbursed by the Company
based on the volume of transactions processed on its behalf. As a result of  its
relationship  with  Lewco,  the Company  benefits  from the  economies  of scale
provided by a large, externally managed clearing organization.
 
    Occupancy and equipment expense includes  the rent and utility charges  paid
for  the Company's facilities, expenditures for facilities repairs and upgrades,
and  depreciation  of   computer,  telecommunications   and  office   equipment.
Communications   expense   includes  charges   from  third-party   providers  of
telecommunications services and news and market data services. Interest  expense
relates primarily to bank borrowings.
 
    Other expense includes professional services and litigation expenses, travel
and  entertainment  and miscellaneous  expenses.  Although the  Company  has not
experienced significant  fluctuations from  the settlement  of lawsuits  in  the
ordinary  course of  business, a  significant litigation  judgment or settlement
could have a material
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
adverse effect on the  Company's operating results  and financial condition.  In
fiscal  1991 and  1992, the  Company incurred  $36.9 million  and $22.9 million,
respectively, of  pre-tax settlement  expenses related  to litigation  involving
MiniScribe.  Payments of the  settlement accruals were made  in each fiscal year
beginning in fiscal 1991 and ending in  the third quarter of fiscal 1996. As  of
May  31, 1996, all payments related to such litigation settlements had been paid
in full. See "Business--Legal Proceedings."
 
    MINORITY INTEREST.  Minority interest reflects the pro rata interest of  the
owners   other  than   the  Company  in   earnings  of   Guaranty  Finance.  See
"Restructuring."
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
    The following table  sets forth certain  financial data as  a percentage  of
total revenues:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,    SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH
                                                                                 31,              FISCAL YEAR     SIX MONTHS
                                    ----------------------------------  ----------------------  ENDED SEPTEMBER   ENDED MARCH
                                       1993        1994        1995        1995        1996        30, 1995        31, 1996
                                    ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ---------------  -------------
                                                                                                         PRO FORMA(1)
                                                                                                ------------------------------
<S>                                 <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>              <C>
COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
 DATA:
Revenues:
  Principal transactions..........       27.2%       30.5%       24.3%       25.6%       21.5%         25.3%           21.8%
  Agency commissions..............       12.9        11.9        11.2        10.2         8.5          11.6             8.6
  Investment banking..............       38.9        24.5        32.0        21.8        41.1          33.3            41.6
  Corporate finance fees..........        9.0        15.6         9.4        14.3        12.8           9.7            13.0
  Net investment gains............        3.2         8.6        15.4        18.0         7.5          12.5             6.6
  Other...........................        8.8         8.9         7.7        10.1         8.6           7.6             8.4
                                        -----       -----       -----       -----       -----         -----           -----
    Total revenues................      100.0       100.0       100.0       100.0       100.0         100.0           100.0
                                        -----       -----       -----       -----       -----         -----           -----
Expenses:
  Compensation and benefits.......       49.7%       50.4%       47.9%       49.5%       50.8%         49.8%           51.4%
  Brokerage and clearance.........        6.2         6.2         4.7         4.7         3.0           4.9             3.0
  Occupancy and equipment.........        5.4         5.6         3.5         4.2         2.2           3.7             2.3
  Communications..................        4.0         5.2         3.4         4.0         2.2           3.5             2.2
  Interest........................        1.3         0.9         0.6         0.6         0.4           0.6             0.4
  Other...........................        9.3         9.5         6.9         7.5         5.9           7.1             6.0
                                        -----       -----       -----       -----       -----         -----           -----
    Total expenses................       75.9        77.8        67.0        70.5        64.5          69.6            65.3
                                        -----       -----       -----       -----       -----         -----           -----
Minority interest.................        0.3         0.4         0.3         0.3         0.3           0.1             0.1
                                        -----       -----       -----       -----       -----         -----           -----
Income before income tax
 provision........................       23.8        21.8        32.7        29.2        35.2          30.3            34.6
Income tax provision..............       10.0         8.5        10.2         7.9        11.9          13.3            15.2
                                        -----       -----       -----       -----       -----         -----           -----
Net income........................       13.8%       13.3%       22.5%       21.3%       23.3%         17.0%           19.4%
                                        -----       -----       -----       -----       -----         -----           -----
                                        -----       -----       -----       -----       -----         -----           -----
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1)   Gives  effect  to   the  Restructuring  and   the  Tax  Distribution.  See
    "Restructuring" and "-- Overview."
 
SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1995
 
    REVENUES.  Total  revenues increased  135% from  $86.9 million  in the  1995
fiscal period to $204.5 million in the 1996 fiscal period.
 
    Principal  transactions revenue increased 97% from $22.3 million in the 1995
fiscal period to $44.0 million in the 1996 fiscal period. This increase was  due
to  a significant  increase in  underwriting activity,  resulting in substantial
after-market trading, an increase in Nasdaq market activity overall, as well  as
the benefit derived from the Company's expansion of its equity sales and trading
capabilities.
 
    Agency commissions increased 96% from $8.9 million in the 1995 fiscal period
to  $17.4  million in  the  1996 fiscal  period. This  increase  was due  to the
expansion of the Company's institutional listed equity business and an  increase
in  both the number of retail brokers  in its Executive Financial Services group
and the average production of these brokers.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
    Investment banking revenue  increased 345%  from $18.9 million  in the  1995
fiscal  period to $84.1  million in the  1996 fiscal period,  and increased as a
percentage of revenues from 21.8% to 41.1%. The Company managed or co-managed 22
public offerings during the  1995 fiscal period compared  to 75 during the  1996
fiscal period.
 
    Corporate  finance fees increased 112% from $12.4 million in the 1995 fiscal
period to $26.3 million in the 1996 fiscal period. This increase was due to  the
completion of several large advisory assignments during the 1996 fiscal period.
 
    Net  investment gains for the period decreased  2% from $15.6 million in the
1995 fiscal period to  $15.3 million in  the 1996 fiscal  period. The net  gains
related  primarily to  the Company's  investment in  BISYS, which  accounted for
$12.0 million of  total investment  gains in the  1995 fiscal  period and  $10.4
million in the 1996 fiscal period.
 
    Other  revenue increased by 99% from $8.8  million in the 1995 fiscal period
to $17.5 million in the 1996 fiscal period. The increase was due primarily to an
increase in asset management fees,  profit participation distributions from  the
management  of venture investments, and an increase in interest income on margin
loans outstanding.
 
    EXPENSES.  Total  expenses increased  116% from  $61.2 million  in the  1995
fiscal period to $132.0 million for the 1996 fiscal period.
 
    Compensation  and benefits expense increased 142%  from $43.0 million in the
1995 fiscal period to $103.9 million in the 1996 fiscal period. The increase was
due  primarily  to   increased  sales,  trading   and  incentive   compensation.
Compensation  and benefits expense  as a percentage  of total revenues increased
from 49.5% to 50.8%; this change was attributable to a change in revenue mix and
the related differences in compensation  payout rates for the different  sources
of  revenue.  Average  employee headcount  was  440  in the  1995  fiscal period
compared to 538 in the 1996 fiscal period.
 
    Brokerage and clearance expense increased 50% from $4.1 million in the  1995
fiscal  period to  $6.1 million in  the 1996  fiscal period. As  a percentage of
total revenues, brokerage and clearance expense decreased from 4.7% in the  1995
fiscal  period to 3.0% in the 1996 fiscal period. The percentage decline was due
primarily to efficiencies experienced by Lewco.
 
    Occupancy and equipment expense increased 25% from $3.7 million in the  1995
fiscal  period  to  $4.6  million in  the  1996  fiscal period  as  a  result of
expenditures to repair and  upgrade office facilities in  San Francisco and  New
York and an increase in depreciation expense due to acquisitions of computer and
telecommunications equipment.
 
    Communications  expense increased 29%  from $3.5 million  in the 1995 fiscal
period to $4.5  million in  the 1996  fiscal period.  This increase  was due  to
increases  in  telecommunications and  market data  expenses resulting  from the
hiring of additional employees in the 1996 fiscal period.
 
    Interest expense  increased  57% from  approximately  $500,000 in  the  1995
fiscal period to approximately $800,000 in the 1996 fiscal period. This increase
related  primarily  to  fluctuations in  bank  financing levels  during  the two
periods.
 
    Other expense increased 88% from $6.5  million in the 1995 fiscal period  to
$12.1  million in the 1996 fiscal period. Of this increase, $2.6 million was due
to increased accruals for professional services due to higher levels of business
activity,  and  the  remainder  was  due  primarily  to  increases  in   travel,
entertaining, conferences and miscellaneous expenses.
 
    INCOME  TAX PROVISION.  The Company's effective income tax rate was 27.2% in
the 1995 fiscal period  and increased to  33.9% in the  1996 fiscal period.  The
Company's  effective income  tax rate  in each fiscal  period was  less than the
combined federal and state statutory income tax rates because LP was not subject
to corporate federal or state income tax.  The lower effective tax rate for  the
six  months ended March 31,  1995 was due to the  fact that net investment gains
were reported primarily through LP and, therefore, were not subject to corporate
income tax. The Restructuring will result  in higher effective income tax  rates
on the Company's future taxable income.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
FISCAL YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1995 AND 1994
 
    REVENUES.   Total revenues increased 84%  from $119.3 million in fiscal 1994
to $220.0 million in fiscal 1995.
 
    Principal transactions revenue  increased 47% from  $36.4 million in  fiscal
1994  to $53.4 million in fiscal 1995. The  increase was due in part to benefits
realized from investments made in prior periods in the Company's Nasdaq  trading
capabilities  as well as  a significant improvement  in market conditions during
the last six months of fiscal 1995.
 
    Agency commissions increased 73% from $14.2 million in fiscal 1994 to  $24.6
million in fiscal 1995. This increase resulted from increased market activity as
well  as growth in  the number of  brokers in the  Company's Executive Financial
Services and institutional equity businesses.
 
    Investment banking revenue increased 141% from $29.2 million in fiscal  1994
to $70.4 million in fiscal 1995. This increase resulted from the increased level
of  underwriting transactions in fiscal 1995, particularly in the technology and
healthcare industries. The Company managed or co-managed 36 public offerings  in
fiscal 1994 and 71 in fiscal 1995.
 
    Corporate  finance fees increased  11% from $18.6 million  in fiscal 1994 to
$20.7 million in fiscal 1995.
 
    Net investment gains  increased 229% from  $10.3 million in  fiscal 1994  to
$33.9  million in fiscal  1995. The Company's investment  in BISYS accounted for
$5.5 million and $19.9 million of the total net investment gains in fiscal  1994
and  fiscal  1995,  respectively. No  other  single investment  accounted  for a
significant portion of the total gain.
 
    Other revenues increased  61% from  $10.6 million  in fiscal  1994 to  $17.1
million in fiscal 1995. This increase was due primarily to an increase in profit
participation  distributions received from venture  capital investment funds the
Company  manages  and  higher  margin   interest  income  attributable  to   the
above-described expansion of the Executive Financial Services group.
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
    EXPENSES.  Total expenses increased 59% from $92.8 million in fiscal 1994 to
$147.4 million in fiscal 1995.
 
    Compensation and benefits expense increased 75% from $60.2 million in fiscal
1994  to $105.4 million  in fiscal 1995  but decreased as  a percentage of total
revenues  from  50.4%  to  47.9%.  This  percentage  decrease  was  attributable
primarily  to a change  in the mix of  revenue in fiscal  1995, which included a
larger percentage of  net investment gains  with lower incremental  compensation
costs. Average employee headcount was 396 in fiscal 1994 and 458 in fiscal 1995.
 
    Brokerage  and clearance expense  increased 41% from  $7.4 million in fiscal
1994 to  $10.4 million  in fiscal  1995,  consistent with  the increase  in  the
Company's  brokerage business, partially offset  by lower per ticket transaction
costs from economies of scale achieved by Lewco.
 
    Occupancy and equipment expense  increased 17% from  $6.7 million in  fiscal
1994  to $7.8 million in fiscal 1995, primarily due to a scheduled rent increase
for the Company's San Francisco office facility.
 
    Communications expense increased  18% from  $6.2 million in  fiscal 1994  to
$7.4  million in  fiscal 1995,  due in  part to  increases in  telephone, market
quotation  and   news  services   for   new  employees   and  an   increase   in
telecommunications supplies.
 
    Interest  expense increased  28% from  $1.0 million  in fiscal  1994 to $1.3
million in fiscal 1995,  primarily due to an  increase in borrowings to  support
the operations of Guaranty Finance.
 
    Other  expense  increased 34%  from $11.3  million in  fiscal 1994  to $15.1
million in fiscal 1995. Of the increase, $2.5 million was due to an increase  in
the  cost of the industry  conferences sponsored by the  Company. The balance of
the increase was primarily due to an increase in professional services resulting
from the overall increase in the Company's business activities.
 
    INCOME TAX PROVISION.  The Company's effective income tax rate was 38.9%  in
fiscal 1994 and 31.2% in fiscal 1995. The Company's effective income tax rate in
each year was less than the combined federal and state statutory rate due to the
fact  that H&Q LLC and  LP were not subject to  material federal or state income
tax. The decrease in the effective combined tax rate in fiscal 1995 was a result
of the higher percentage of the combined pretax income that was reported through
LP in fiscal 1995.
 
FISCAL YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1994 AND 1993
 
    REVENUES.  Total revenues increased 8% from $110.5 million in fiscal 1993 to
$119.3  million  in  fiscal  1994.  Underwriting  and  sales  activity  declined
significantly during the second half of fiscal 1994 as a result of many factors,
including rising interest rates.
 
    Principal  transactions revenue increased  21% from $30.0  million in fiscal
1993 to $36.4 million in fiscal 1994. The increase occurred primarily during the
first half  of  the  year,  prior to  the  aforementioned  reduction  in  market
activity.
 
    Agency  commissions was unchanged at $14.2  million in each fiscal year. The
effect of the slowdown in market  activity that occurred during the second  half
of  fiscal 1994  was offset  in part by  incremental revenue  resulting from the
addition of new brokers in the Company's Executive Financial Services group.
 
    Investment banking revenue decreased 32%  from $43.0 million in fiscal  1993
to $29.2 million in fiscal 1994. This decline was due to a substantial reduction
in  underwriting activity  during the  second half  of fiscal  1994. The Company
managed or  co-managed 45  public offerings  during fiscal  1993 and  36  during
fiscal 1994.
 
    Corporate  finance fees increased  86% from $10.0 million  in fiscal 1993 to
$18.6 million in  fiscal 1994. This  increase was principally  the result of  an
expansion in H&Q's mergers and acquisitions advisory business.
 
    Net  investment gains  increased 191%  from $3.5  million in  fiscal 1993 to
$10.3 million in fiscal 1994. Net gains attributable to the Company's investment
in BISYS were $2.2  million and $5.5  million for fiscal  1993 and fiscal  1994,
respectively.
 
    Other revenue increased 8% from $9.8 million in fiscal 1993 to $10.6 million
in fiscal 1994.
 
    EXPENSES.  Total expenses increased 11% from $84.0 million in fiscal 1993 to
$92.8 million in fiscal 1994.
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
    Compensation and benefits expense increased 10% from $54.9 million in fiscal
1993  to $60.2  million in fiscal  1994. This  increase was due  primarily to an
increase in performance-related compensation. Compensation and benefits  expense
as  a  percentage  of total  revenues  increased  from 49.7%  to  50.4%. Average
employee headcount was 336 in fiscal 1993 and 396 in fiscal 1994.
 
    Brokerage and clearance  expense increased  7% from $6.9  million in  fiscal
1993  to  $7.4 million  in fiscal  1994.  The increase  was consistent  with the
increase in the Company's brokerage revenue.
 
    Occupancy and equipment expense increased by 10% from $6.0 million in fiscal
1993 to $6.7 million in fiscal 1994. This increase reflected a small addition to
space leased in San  Francisco as well as  normal annual increases in  occupancy
costs.
 
    Communications  expense increased by 42% from $4.4 million in fiscal 1993 to
$6.2 million  in fiscal  1994.  This increase  was  primarily due  to  increased
telecommunications expenditures.
 
    Interest  expense declined by 33%  from $1.5 million in  fiscal 1993 to $1.0
million in fiscal 1994. The decrease was  due to lower interest incurred on  the
principal amount of obligations incurred to settle certain MiniScribe litigation
as a result of scheduled repayments.
 
    Other  expense increased by 11%  from $10.2 million in  fiscal 1993 to $11.3
million in fiscal 1994. This increase was due primarily to increases in  travel,
conference  and professional services resulting  from generally higher levels of
business activities.
 
    INCOME TAX PROVISION.  The Company's combined effective income tax rate  was
41.7%  for fiscal 1993 and 38.9% for fiscal 1994. The lower rate for fiscal 1994
was due to income reported by LP, an entity not subject to corporate tax,  which
was formed in December 1993.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
    The  Company  has  historically satisfied  its  funding needs  with  its own
capital resources, consisting almost  entirely of internally generated  retained
earnings and, more recently, capital raised from the sale of its Common Stock to
employee  shareholders.  As  of  March  31,  1996,  H&Q  LLC  had  liquid assets
consisting  primarily  of  cash  and  cash  equivalents  of  $36.5  million  and
receivables  of  $92.4  million from  Lewco,  its clearing  affiliate.  The cash
equivalents consisted of United States Treasury bills with maturities of 90 days
or less. As of  March 31, 1996,  the Company had  a bank line  of credit in  the
amount  of $12.0 million, with a balance  of $5.0 million outstanding. While the
Company has  not required  additional  bank financing  during the  past  several
years,  it is  currently negotiating  a $20.0  million standby  revolving credit
agreement with a commercial bank.
 
    The Company's balance  sheet reflects the  Company's relatively  unleveraged
financial  position. The  ratio of  assets to  equity as  of March  31, 1996 was
approximately 3:1. Upon completion of this offering, this ratio will decline  to
a  ratio of  approximately         . The  Company's principal  assets consist of
receivables from  customers and  Lewco, securities  held for  trading  purposes,
short-term   investments   and   securities   held   for   investment  purposes.
Substantially  all  of  the  Company's  receivables  are  secured  by   customer
securities  or security  transactions in  the process  of settlement. Securities
held for trading purposes are actively traded and readily marketable. Short-term
investments are comprised  primarily of United  States Treasury securities  with
maturities  of less than  one year. Securities held  for investment purposes are
for the most part illiquid and are carried at valuations that reflect this  lack
of liquidity.
 
    H&Q  LLC and RvR Securities, as  broker-dealers, are registered with the SEC
and are members of  the NASD, and, in  the case of H&Q  LLC, the NYSE. As  such,
they are subject to the capital requirements of these regulatory entities. Their
regulatory  net capital has historically exceeded these minimum requirements. As
of March  31, 1996,  H&Q LLC  was required  to maintain  minimum regulatory  net
capital in accordance with SEC rules of approximately $3.8 million and had total
regulatory  net capital of  approximately $43.2 million,  or approximately $39.4
million in  excess of  its  requirement. H&Q  LLC's  regulatory net  capital  is
expected  to decline as a result of  the Restructuring, and to increase upon the
completion of this offering. RvR Securities had total regulatory net capital  of
$1.7  million and a minimum regulatory  net capital requirement of $250,000. See
"Net Capital Requirements."
 
    The Company believes that its current level of equity capital, combined with
funds anticipated to be generated  from operations and the anticipated  proceeds
of  this offering, will be  adequate to fund its  operations for the foreseeable
future.
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
                                    BUSINESS
 
INDUSTRY BACKGROUND
 
    During the last  three decades, high-growth  entrepreneurial companies  have
played an increasingly important role in the United States and global economies.
These  "growth  companies," which  are characterized  by innovation  and rapidly
evolving markets, have  emerged in a  number of industries.  Technology-oriented
growth  companies have evolved  from a cyclical niche  industry to a significant
driver of economic  growth, job creation  and business productivity.  Healthcare
companies  in the United States, while  continuing to improve human health, have
responded to structural opportunities arising from the aging population and  the
drive  to reduce healthcare costs. Service  companies have also become catalysts
for economic change  as they  add technology to  traditional service  offerings,
particularly in the healthcare, business information and outsourcing industries.
Branded  consumer  companies  are  responding  to  the  convergence  of changing
demographics, structural  changes  in  distribution  channels  and  the  use  of
information technology.
 
    Since  January 1991, publicly  traded growth company  securities in general,
and technology-related equity issues in particular, have generally  outperformed
the  broader market indices. For example,  from January 1991 through March 1996,
the H&Q Technology Index increased by  24.8% compounded annually, while the  S&P
500   increased  by  13.6%  compounded   annually.  This  performance  has  been
accompanied by a  greatly increased  inflow of  funds for  investment in  growth
companies,  and  has  led to  increased  demand by  institutional  investors for
investment information and analysis focused  on the growth company sector.  Many
of  these  investors  believe  that effective  investment  participation  in the
rapidly changing  growth company  universe requires  a deeper  understanding  of
underlying  technologies, products and distribution channels than is required to
invest in more mature, less volatile or slower growing sectors of the economy.
 
    The unique characteristics of the growth company sector have led both growth
companies and  growth-oriented  investors to  seek  the services  of  investment
banking  professionals  with a  high degree  of  industry knowledge  and capital
market expertise.  Growth  companies in  their  early years  of  public  trading
require  a high  level of research,  sales and trading  coverage and aftermarket
consultation from  their investment  bankers. In  addition, as  these  companies
mature,  the  investment  banks serving  them  must provide  expert  advice with
respect to strategic  partnership and  merger and  acquisition transactions  and
financing  strategies. Investment banks serving  growth companies must also meet
the investment  needs  of the  entrepreneurs  who manage  such  companies.  Fund
managers and other growth-oriented investors require focused securities research
both  to understand underlying technologies,  products and distribution channels
for particular growth  industries, and  also to assist  in identifying  specific
growth  companies that are the most likely to succeed in their respective market
segments.
 
HAMBRECHT & QUIST
 
    Hambrecht & Quist  is a major  bracket investment bank  focused on  emerging
growth  companies  in  the  United  States  and,  increasingly,  worldwide.  The
Company's core strength  has been  the early identification  and sponsorship  of
leading  growth  companies in  its  chosen areas  of  focus through  analysis of
industry and technology trends. The Company leverages its industry expertise  by
providing  growth companies and growth investors with a full range of investment
banking and brokerage  services, and by  investing its own  capital in  emerging
growth companies.
 
    Hambrecht  & Quist  was formed  in 1968  to focus  on the  needs of emerging
growth companies and their investors. It has grown its business by expanding the
range of services it  provides to growth companies  and investors, by  servicing
the  needs  of  larger  size  companies,  and  by  developing  expertise  in new
industries and markets.  H&Q, from its  inception, combined equity  underwriting
and  brokerage  services  for  emerging growth  companies  with  venture capital
investing. The Company has  significantly expanded its underwriting  capability;
added advisory services in mergers, acquisitions and strategic partnerships; and
begun providing private placement, asset-based and mezzanine financing. H&Q also
has  achieved  a  leading  role in  Nasdaq  market-making,  expanded  its retail
brokerage services and increased its trading of NYSE-listed securities. From its
early concentration on  the technology  and healthcare  industries, Hambrecht  &
Quist  has  broadened  its  focus  to  encompass  the  business  information and
outsourcing services, healthcare services and branded consumer industries.
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
    H&Q was founded  with and  maintains a  commitment to  working closely  with
entrepreneurial  companies  and  investors  interested  in  such  companies. H&Q
believes that  it has  developed a  strong internal  culture that  emphasizes  a
long-term  investment outlook.  H&Q believes  that its  client focus  on rapidly
growing  entrepreneurial  companies  and   growth-oriented  investors  and   its
tradition  of principal investing, along with its broad internal distribution of
equity ownership, have combined to sustain this culture.
 
    H&Q  organizes  its  research,   investment  banking  and  venture   capital
professionals  into industry teams. Each team develops and maintains an in-depth
understanding of  the  secular  and  cyclical  trends  driving  that  particular
industry  sector.  In  addition,  each  team  of  professionals  maintains close
relationships not only with private and  public growth companies, but also  with
venture capital and key institutional investors, technical experts, professional
service   providers  and   other  key   industry  participants.   Through  these
relationships, H&Q gains the opportunity  to participate actively in the  growth
of promising entrepreneurial companies.
 
    Hambrecht   &  Quist  believes   that  its  industry   focus  and  long-term
orientation, together with the  depth of its resources  committed to the  growth
company  sector,  have made  H&Q a  leading provider  of investment  banking and
brokerage services for emerging growth companies. Hambrecht & Quist has  managed
or  co-managed more than 600 public offerings of equity securities for more than
400 growth companies.
 
STRATEGY
 
    Hambrecht  &  Quist  employs   a  research-oriented  approach  to   building
relationships  with growth companies and growth investors. The Company's overall
strategy is to continue  its commitment to  targeted high-growth industries  and
investors  in those industries by  providing comprehensive research coverage, an
increasing range of  investment banking and  brokerage services, and  investment
capital  to  entrepreneurial  companies.  The  Company's  strategy  includes the
following key elements:
 
    -CONTINUOUSLY IDENTIFY EMERGING  TRENDS AND INDUSTRIES.   Hambrecht &  Quist
     intends  to continue its tradition of identifying, in their nascent stages,
     trends and industries that have the potential to become broad-based drivers
     of economic growth and change. H&Q was an early participant in the personal
     computer  revolution   led  by   Apple   Computer,  the   applications   of
     biotechnology  pioneered by Genentech and,  more recently, the emergence of
     the Internet and the World Wide  Web facilitated by Netscape. H&Q  believes
     that  its  focus  on  the  early  identification  of  emerging  trends  and
     industries  distinguishes  it  from  other  investment  banking  firms  and
     provides it with a key competitive advantage.
 
    -LEAD  WITH IN-DEPTH, FOCUSED INDUSTRY COVERAGE.  H&Q believes that industry
     specialization is  crucial  to  meeting  the demands  of  its  clients  for
     sophisticated  and informed  investment advice.  The Company  organizes its
     research, investment banking and  venture capital activities along  sharply
     defined  industry lines and periodically reexamines its industry categories
     to ensure adequate  coverage of  emerging opportunities.  For example,  the
     Company's  software  focus is  divided into  several subcategories,  one of
     which is enterprise software/Internet, which, in turn, has been  subdivided
     into    client/server,   productivity    software,   database,    and   Web
     software/Internet segments. The Company's strategy is to continue to  focus
     on  a limited number  of high potential growth  industries and the segments
     within such industries.
 
    -BRING GROWTH COMPANIES TO GROWTH INVESTORS.  H&Q's strategy is to add value
     where growth  capital  and  growth  companies  intersect.  Because  of  its
     fundamental  understanding of the industries it covers and its long history
     of providing services  to emerging  growth industries, H&Q  believes it  is
     well-positioned  to bring  together growth companies  and growth investors.
     The Company's  strategy  is to  maintain  strong relationships  with  major
     institutional  investors in emerging growth companies. An important element
     of this strategy is  the Company's sponsorship  of regular conferences  for
     growth   companies  and  growth-oriented  investors,  each  focusing  on  a
     different industry or  geographic region. The  Company's annual  Technology
     Conference  and Healthcare Conference are recognized as leading conferences
     in  their   industries.  The   Company  believes   its  Branded   Consumer,
     plaNET.wall.street  (Internet Conferencing) and other newer conferences are
     gaining similar recognition in their respective areas.
 
    -ESTABLISH   EARLY   AND   LASTING   RELATIONSHIPS   WITH    ENTREPRENEURIAL
     COMPANIES.    H&Q's  strategy  is  to  build  relationships  with promising
     entrepreneurial companies at an early stage in their development. H&Q often
     establishes contact with such companies through its long-term relationships
     with leading venture
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
     capital investors. In some cases,  H&Q participates directly in the  growth
     of these companies by providing venture capital or otherwise investing as a
     principal  in their early  years. As these  entrepreneurial companies grow,
     the Company  sustains  these relationships,  often  on a  long-term  basis,
     through   research  coverage,   equity  and   convertible  debt  offerings,
     institutional  and  retail  brokerage,  Nasdaq  market-making  and  merger,
     acquisition and strategic partnering and general corporate advice.
 
    -OFFER  EXPANDED RANGE OF  SERVICES TO CORPORATE CLIENTS.   In recent years,
     the Company has  greatly enhanced its  equity underwriting and  convertible
     debt  capability  and its  merger and  acquisition advisory  services while
     adding new products  and services,  including private  placement/structured
     finance  and  a  corporate  services  group.  The  Company  has  also added
     asset-based and mezzanine financing to its principal investment activities.
     At the same time, H&Q has  increased the number of its syndicate  personnel
     and  has  begun  offering  specialized brokerage  services  to  the venture
     capital industry. The Company's strategy is to continue to expand the range
     of its investment banking services and principal investment activities.
 
    -INCREASE DISTRIBUTION AND TRADING  FOR GROWTH INVESTORS.   Since 1994,  the
     Company  has increased  the number  of brokers  in its  Executive Financial
     Services group  and  in  domestic and  international  institutional  sales.
     During  this period, the Company also  has increased the number of coverage
     and position traders,  has increased  the amount of  capital available  for
     both  Nasdaq and NYSE-listed securities trading operations and has expanded
     its syndicate desk. The Company intends to continue these efforts, as  well
     as  to expand the number  of research analysts and  the number of companies
     for which it provides research coverage.
 
    -EXPAND GLOBAL  PRESENCE.   H&Q's  strategy  is  to extend  its  success  in
     financing  domestic growth  companies in  United States  capital markets to
     non-U.S. companies and capital  markets. In addition  to its United  States
     underwritings  of European,  Israeli and  Asian companies,  the Company has
     recently made  significant investments  in  Europe through  joint  ventures
     focused  on  enabling European  companies to  access United  States capital
     markets, as well as on making capital available locally to European  growth
     companies.  H&Q also has extensive operations which provide venture capital
     to Asian growth  companies, both  as principal and  as a  manager of  Asian
     venture capital funds.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
RESEARCH FOCUS
 
    H&Q  believes that industry specialization is crucial to meeting the demands
of its clients for sophisticated  and informed investment and strategic  advice.
The Company's approach is to serve its clients through an in-depth understanding
of  sharply  defined industry  segments and  the  leading participants  in those
segments. H&Q's research universe is presently divided into the industry  groups
and industry segments set forth below. Rather than dedicating, for example, just
one  senior analyst  to cover  all aspects  of a  broadly defined  industry, the
Company dedicates focused research support to  many segments within each of  the
industries  it serves. In certain instances an H&Q analyst provides coverage for
more than one industry segment.
 
                           HAMBRECHT & QUIST RESEARCH
 
                                    [CHART]
    There are four rectangular shaped boxes in the graphic.
    In the upper middle part of the rectangular box at the top of the graphic is
a triangular shaped icon with the  letter "T" inside with the word  "Technology"
underneath.  From  the bottom  of the  icon labeled  'Technology' is  a downward
vertical line which perpendicularly connects to a horizontal line from which six
short vertical lines connect to six small rectangular boxes below the horizontal
line.  The  small   rectangular  box  on   the  far  left   contains  the   word
"Communications."  The  small  rectangular box  which  is second  from  the left
contains the words  "Distributed Systems."  The small rectangular  box which  is
third from the left contains the words "Enterprise Software/Internet." The small
rectangular box which is third from the right contains the words "Semiconductor/
Capital Equipment." The small rectangular box which is on the far right contains
the words "Technical Systems."
    From the bottom left corner of the small rectangular box containing the word
"Communications"  is a downward  vertical line from  which five short horizontal
lines connect to five groups of words not enclosed by boxes. The first group  of
words  underneath the small rectangular box containing the word "Communications"
is "Internet Access." The second group of words underneath the small rectangular
box containing  the word  "Communications" is  "Internetworking/LAN." The  third
group  of  words  underneath  the  small  rectangular  box  containing  the word
"Communications"  is  "Mobile  Communications."   The  fourth  group  of   words
underneath  the small  rectangular box  containing the  word "Communications" is
"Telecommunications Equipment." The  fifth group of  words underneath the  small
rectangular    box   containing   the   word   "Communications"   is   "Wireless
Communications."
    From the bottom  left corner  of the  small rectangular  box containing  the
words  "Distributed Systems" is  a downward vertical line  from which four short
horizontal lines connect  to four  groups of words  not enclosed  by boxes.  The
first  group of words underneath the  small rectangular box containing the words
"Distributed Systems" is "Consumer Software  & Digital Media." The second  group
of  words underneath the small rectangular box containing the words "Distributed
Systems" is  "Distribution."  The third  group  of words  underneath  the  small
rectangular  box containing  the words "Distributed  Systems" is "Distribution."
The fourth group of  words underneath the small  rectangular box containing  the
words "Distributed Systems" is "PC Peripherals."
    From the bottom left corner of the small rectangular box containing the word
"Enterprise Software/Internet" is a downward vertical line from which four short
horizontal  lines connect  to four  groups of words  not enclosed  by boxes. The
first group of words underneath the  small rectangular box containing the  words
"Enterprise  Software/ Internet" is "Database tools."  The second group of words
underneath  the  small   rectangular  box  containing   the  words   "Enterprise
Software/Internet"  is "Systems Management." The third group of words underneath
the small rectangular box containing the words "Enterprise Software/Internet" is
"Productivity Applications."  The fourth  group of  words underneath  the  small
rectangular  box  containing  the words  "Enterprise  Software/Internet"  is "PC
Software." The  fifth  group  of  words underneath  the  small  rectangular  box
containing the words "Enterprise Software/Internet" is "Web Software."
    From  the bottom  left corner  of the  small rectangular  box containing the
words "Technical Systems"  is a downward  vertical line from  which three  short
horizontal  lines connect to  three groups of  words not enclosed  by boxes. The
first group of words underneath the  small rectangular box containing the  words
"Technical Systems" is "Design Automation." The second group of words underneath
the  small rectangular box containing the words "Technical Systems" is "Embedded
Control." The  third  group  of  words  underneath  the  small  rectangular  box
containing the words "Technical Systems" is "Technical Software."
    In the upper middle part of the rectangular box in the middle of the graphic
is  a  cross shaped  icon containing  a  serpent wrapped  around a  barbed staff
representing a Caduceus with the words "Healthcare" underneath. From the  bottom
of   the  icon   labeled  "Healthcare"  is   a  downward   vertical  line  which
perpendicularly connects to  a horizontal  line from which  four short  vertical
lines  connect to  four small rectangular  boxes below the  horizontal line. The
small rectangular box  on the far  left contains the  word "Biotechnology."  The
small rectangular box which is second from the left contains the words "Emerging
Pharmaceuticals/Drug  Delivery." The small rectangular  box which is second from
the right contains the words "Medical Devices." The small rectangular box  which
is on the far right contains the words "Healthcare Services."
    From  the bottom  left corner  of the  small rectangular  box containing the
words, "Medical  Devices" is  a downward  vertical line  from which  four  short
horizontal  lines connect  to four  groups of words  not enclosed  by boxes. The
first group of words underneath the  small rectangular box containing the  words
"Medical  Devices" is "Cardiovascular." The second group of words underneath the
small rectangular box containing the  words "Medical Devices" is  "Orthopedics."
The  third group  of words underneath  the small rectangular  box containing the
words "Medical Devices" is "Urology." The  fourth group of words underneath  the
small  rectangular  box  containing  the  words  "Medical  Devices"  is "Women's
Health."
    From the bottom  left corner  of the  small rectangular  box containing  the
words  "Healthcare Services" is  a downward vertical line  from which four short
horizontal lines connect  to four  groups of words  not enclosed  by boxes.  The
first  group of words underneath the  small rectangular box containing the words
"Healthcare Services" is "CROS." The second group of words underneath the  small
rectangular  box containing the words "Healthcare  Services" is "HMO." The third
group of words underneath the small rectangular box containing the words "Health
Care Services"  is "Physician  Network Management."  The fourth  group of  words
underneath  the small rectangular box containing the words "Healthcare Services"
is "Subacute."
    In the upper middle part  of the rectangular box in  the bottom left of  the
graphic  is a  three dimensional  cube with  three faces  visible with  the word
"Services" underneath.  On  the  lower  left  face  of  the  cube  is  the  word
"Business."  On the upper  face of the  cube are the  words "Healthcare." On the
lower right face of  the cube is  the word "Financial." From  the bottom of  the
cube  labeled  "Services"  is  a downward  vertical  line  which perpendicularly
connects to a horizontal  line from which four  short vertical lines connect  to
four  small rectangular boxes  below the horizontal  line. The small rectangular
box on  the far  left left  contains the  words "Financial  Services" The  small
rectangular  box which  is second from  the left contains  the words "Healthcare
Information Services." The small rectangular box which is second from the  right
contains  the words "Business  Services." The small rectangular  box which is on
the far right contains the words "Special Situations."
    From the bottom  left corner  of the  small rectangular  box containing  the
words  "Financial Services"  is a  downward vertical  line from  which two short
horizontal lines connect to two groups of words not enclosed by boxes. The first
group of  words  underneath  the  small rectangular  box  containing  the  words
"Financial  Services" is  "Internet." The second  group of  words underneath the
small rectangular box containing the words "Financial Services" is  "Transaction
Processors."
    In  the upper middle part of the rectangular  box in the bottom right of the
graphic is a square tilted on its  side labeled "Consumer." There is a  downward
vertical  line from which four short horizontal  lines connect to four groups of
words not  enclosed by  boxes. The  first group  of words  underneath the  small
rectangular  box containing the words "Branded Consumer" is "Food and Beverage."
The second group of words beneath the small rectangular box containing the words
"Branded Consumer" is  "Services." The third  group of words  beneath the  small
rectangular  box containing the words "Branded Consumer" is "Specialty Apparel."
The fourth group of  words underneath the small  rectangular box containing  the
words "Branded Consumer" is "Sports & Leisure."
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
    In  order to  achieve this depth  and specialization,  the Company typically
recruits or trains analysts with  significant technical and industry  expertise,
in  addition  to financial  services  expertise. H&Q  believes  this specialized
approach enables it to generate analytical research that enhances the quality of
investment decisions  in  the fast-changing  and  technologically  sophisticated
industries it covers.
 
    H&Q's  research  analysts  cover  over 300  publicly  traded  companies. The
Company's  analysts  also  periodically  publish  comprehensive  studies  of  an
industry  or a long-term investment theme.  In addition to written publications,
the  Company's  analysts  play  a  prominent  role  at  the  Company's  investor
conferences by presenting summaries of key industry trends.
 
    The  Company's  research analysts  and  its investment  banking  and venture
capital professionals work closely together to identify promising privately held
companies. H&Q believes that early contacts with private companies are important
not only to develop its underwriting and principal transactions activities,  but
also  to achieve  and maintain an  understanding of the  rapidly evolving growth
industries on which the Company focuses.  The research analysts also, from  time
to  time,  assist in  screening and/or  evaluating  proposed financings  for the
Company's venture  capital and  investment banking  professionals. In  addition,
H&Q's  research analysts  work closely with  sales and  trading professionals to
enhance the access of the Company's institutional investor clients to up-to-date
industry analysis.
 
    H&Q has been recognized for its success in bringing together leading  growth
companies  and  growth investors  at the  annual  conferences it  sponsors. Each
conference focuses on a  different growth industry  or geographic region.  Since
October 1995, H&Q sponsored the following investment conferences:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        HAMBRECHT & QUIST CONFERENCE               DATE          LOCATION
- ---------------------------------------------  -------------  --------------
<S>                                            <C>            <C>
plaNET.wall.street (Internet Conference)        October 1995  New York
Healthcare Conference                           January 1996  San Francisco
European Growth Company Conference             February 1996  Paris
Interactive Entertainment Conference              March 1996  Snowbird, Utah
Technology Conference                             April 1996  San Francisco
   and plaNET.wall.street West
Investing in Life Sciences                          May 1996  London
Branded Consumer Growth Company Conference         June 1996  Napa Valley
Annual Private Equity CFO Conference               June 1996  San Francisco
</TABLE>
 
    More  than 675 public and private companies made presentations to investment
professionals, venture capitalists and other participants in the securities  and
emerging  growth company industries at the most recent sessions of the Company's
annual conferences. The Hambrecht & Quist Technology Conference, which held  its
24th annual session in 1996, was the first annual investment conference focusing
exclusively on emerging growth companies in the technology sector. For 14 years,
the Company's annual Healthcare Conference has provided a forum for companies in
the  healthcare industry to give presentations  to growth investors, and was the
first conference of  its kind. In  October 1995, H&Q  sponsored the first  major
investment conference dedicated solely to Internet-related companies, and held a
follow-up conference in 1996.
 
    The  Company has developed 11 industry indices to facilitate the analysis of
long-term trends, including the H&Q Technology Index, the H&Q Growth Index,  the
H&Q  Branded Consumer Growth Index, and the H&Q Internet Index. Certain of these
indices are regularly  cited in the  media. These  indices serve as  a tool  for
comparing  certain  technology  industry  groups  with  one  another,  with  the
technology marketplace as  a whole, and  with the overall  economy. Many  growth
companies  use the  H&Q indices  to compare  their stock  price performance with
other companies, for example, in annual proxy statements.
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT BANKING
 
    H&Q is a major bracket underwriter. The Company is a leading participant  in
raising  equity capital  for and providing  financial advice  to emerging growth
companies within  its areas  of  focus throughout  the  United States,  and  has
significantly  expanded its  activities abroad.  Hambrecht &  Quist provides its
corporate clients with a broad  range of services, principally involving  public
offerings  of  equity and  convertible  debt securities,  private  placements of
equity securities, and  advice in merger,  acquisition and strategic  partnering
transactions, as well as after-market services and support.
 
    H&Q's investment banking professionals focus their activities along the same
industry  lines as the Company's research analysts. The Company believes that by
developing an  in-depth  understanding  of  the  industries  they  serve,  these
investment  banking professionals enhance  their ability to  advise issuers with
respect to strategic and financing options.
 
    The following table shows the distribution of the number of public  offering
transactions lead or co-managed by H&Q since 1991 among the different industries
which the Company serves.
 
                  HAMBRECHT & QUIST'S PUBLIC EQUITY OFFERINGS
                        JANUARY 1991 THROUGH MARCH 1996
 
                                  [PIE CHART]
    A  pie chart  representing Hambrecht  & Quist  Public Equity  Offerings from
January 1991  through March  1996 is  divided into  four segments.  The  largest
segment  represents "Technology"  which accounts for  49% of the  pie chart. The
second largest segment represents "Healthcare" which accounts for 35% of the pie
chart. The third largest segment represents "Services" which accounts for 12% of
the pie chart. The smallest segment represents "Branded Consumer" which accounts
for 4% of the pie chart.
 
    DOMESTIC UNDERWRITING
 
    H&Q is a leading  underwriter of public offerings  of equity securities  for
emerging  growth companies.  Between January  1991 and  March 1996,  the Company
managed or co-managed  offerings of  equity and convertible  debt securities  by
over  220 companies  that raised  an aggregate  of over  $15.0 billion.  Of this
amount, approximately $7.6  billion was  raised during the  period from  January
1995  through March 1996. H&Q concentrates  its domestic underwriting efforts in
high-growth industry  sectors  where the  Company  believes it  has  a  relative
competitive  advantage  due  to  its investment  banking  relationships  and its
research, trading and distribution capabilities. Within its selected industries,
the Company  concentrates  on  emerging  companies that  it  believes  have  the
potential  to  become  industry  leaders. H&Q  is  regularly  among  the leading
underwriters of software, communications  and biotechnology company  securities,
and  H&Q has  established a strong  record underwriting  securities of hardware,
semiconductor, Internet,  business  information  and  outsourcing  services  and
healthcare  services companies. The  Company has also  underwritten an increased
number of securities  offerings by  branded consumer products  companies and  is
attempting to establish a leadership position in this area.
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
    H&Q's  strategy is  to maintain  long-term relationships  with its corporate
clients by  serving their  capital  raising needs  beyond their  initial  public
offerings  of securities. H&Q also  seeks to increase its  base of publicly held
clients by serving as a lead or co-manager in follow-on offerings for  companies
which  H&Q believes have  attractive investment characteristics,  whether or not
H&Q participated  as a  lead or  co-manager in  the initial  public offering  of
securities  for such companies.  The Company believes it  has been successful in
retaining clients and obtaining new clients, based on the number of transactions
in which  it  has been  retained  or added  as  lead manager  or  co-manager  of
follow-on offerings.
 
    The   average  size  of  the   Company's  lead  or  co-managed  underwriting
transaction has increased from approximately  $40.0 million in calendar 1991  to
approximately  $60.0 million  in calendar  1995. The  Company has  increased the
number of its lead or  co-managed underwriting transactions above $50.0  million
from  10 in calendar 1991  to 38 in calendar  1995 and  in  the six months ended
June 30,  1996.  In calendar  1995,  H&Q served  as  lead or  co-manager  of  12
underwriting transactions above $100 million.
 
    The  following  table sets  forth the  distribution  among industries,  on a
calendar year basis, of public offerings completed between January 1991 and June
1996 in which the Company acted as lead or co-managing underwriter:
 
                HAMBRECHT & QUIST'S PUBLIC OFFERINGS BY INDUSTRY
                         JANUARY 1991 THROUGH JUNE 1996
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   NUMBER OF TRANSACTIONS COMPLETED
                                             ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 INDUSTRY                       1991         1992         1993         1994         1995       1996 (1)
- -------------------------------------------      ---          ---          ---          ---          ---      -----------
<S>                                          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Technology.................................          15           13           22           19           59
Healthcare.................................          21           19           20           11           16
Services...................................           6            6            3            4            9
Branded Consumer Products..................          --            1            2            3            6
                                                     --            -            -            -            -           --
    Total..................................          42           39           47           37           90
                                                     --            -            -            -            -           --
                                                     --            -            -            -            -           --
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1) As of June 30, 1996
 
    H&Q has recently significantly increased its expertise in providing  private
and  public  offerings  of  convertible  debt  securities.  Since  January 1995,
Hambrecht & Quist  has completed  six convertible debt  transactions (which  are
included  in the data above) involving an aggregate of more than $1.5 billion in
securities. To the extent that interest rates and other market conditions remain
favorable, the Company expects convertible debt securities to be a growing  part
of its underwriting business in the future as its newly public corporate clients
develop in size and begin to leverage their balance sheets.
 
    H&Q  also  offers equity  underwriting services  to smaller  emerging growth
companies through RvR Securities, which  underwrites public equity offerings  of
selected  smaller-capitalization growth companies in cases where the transaction
is smaller and requires less  after-market support than those typically  managed
by  H&Q LLC and  other major bracket  investment banking firms.  Since 1993, RvR
Securities has completed  five underwriting transactions.  The Company  believes
that  RvR Securities enables H&Q to provide  a valuable service to these smaller
capitalization growth companies  and to  maintain a  relationship that  enhances
opportunities  for H&Q LLC to provide  underwriting and advisory services in the
future.
 
    Hambrecht & Quist provides after-market support to its underwriting  clients
through  the supply of information  concerning institutional holdings within the
issuer's shareholder base, as well as data concerning the market performance  of
the  corporate client's stock, as well as other stocks in the issuer's industry.
The  Company's  Corporate  Services  group  identifies  and  accesses   relevant
research,  company news,  market trends,  institutional ownership  data, trading
activity and  performance reporting,  and arranges  meetings with  institutional
shareholders  to  assist newly  public  companies in  developing  their investor
relations efforts.
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
    INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
 
    H&Q is  actively developing  its international  investment banking  business
both by assisting non-U.S. companies in raising capital in the United States and
by improving access to local capital for growth companies in other countries.
 
    The  Company believes it has established itself in underwriting transactions
for European growth companies that seek to issue shares on Nasdaq. From  January
1995  through March 1996, the Company  managed or co-managed five initial public
offerings on Nasdaq for  European technology companies,  and two initial  public
offerings and one follow-on offering on Nasdaq for Israeli growth companies.
 
    Hambrecht & Quist has developed strategic relationships with local financial
institutions  in Europe  in order to  build relationships  with leading European
growth companies and with the financial communities which serve these companies.
These relationships  are  also intended  to  develop H&Q's  European  investment
banking  presence in anticipation of the  launch of the EASDAQ market, currently
expected to occur in late  1996. EASDAQ's charter is  to serve as a  Nasdaq-type
stock market for emerging growth companies in Europe. H&Q is a charter member of
the  European Association of Securities Dealers ("EASD") and a founding investor
in EASDAQ.
 
    In January 1996, Hambrecht  & Quist announced the  formation of a  50%-owned
joint venture with Financiere Saint Dominique, a leading private equity investor
in  France and among the largest in Europe. The joint venture, Hambrecht & Quist
Saint Dominique ("Saint Dominique"), will be an underwriter and market-maker  on
the  EASDAQ market, as well as le Nouveau Marche, a Paris-based stock market for
emerging growth companies that  was launched in  February 1996. Saint  Dominique
has completed two initial public offerings on le Nouveau Marche.
 
    In  the  United Kingdom,  H&Q  holds a  minority  equity position  in Beeson
Gregory, a London-based  brokerage firm  and financial  advisor specializing  in
growth   companies.  In   addition,  the   Company  recently   opened  a  London
institutional sales office.
 
    The Company's  strategy in  Asian markets  has been  to focus  initially  on
venture  capital investments in promising growth companies through Asia Pacific.
H&Q believes that this strategy will enable the Company to develop and  maintain
relationships with growth companies in the region.
 
    MERGER AND ACQUISITION ADVISORY SERVICES
 
    Hambrecht  & Quist  offers a broad  range of merger  and acquisition ("M&A")
advisory services  to growth  companies. The  Company markets  its M&A  advisory
services both to H&Q's existing base of corporate clients and to other companies
that  can  benefit from  the Company's  expertise.  The Company  offers advisory
services with  respect  to purchases  and  sales of  businesses;  strategic  and
cross-border  partnerships; divestitures  and corporate  restructurings; hostile
takeover defense strategies;  fairness opinions in  acquisition, investment  and
defensive transactions; and valuations of businesses and technology assets. From
January  1991 through March 1996,  the Company provided M&A  services in over 90
assignments representing approximately $8.4  billion of completed  transactions.
While a majority of these transactions and fees were for companies for which H&Q
had  previously acted as underwriter, H&Q also completes a substantial number of
advisory assignments for corporations whose first transaction with H&Q is an M&A
advisory transaction. Some  of these advisory  clients have subsequently  become
underwriting clients of H&Q.
 
    The  Company's M&A expertise has been developed  over the years and has been
supported by the close involvement of professionals from the industry groups  in
both   investment  banking  and  research.   The  Company  believes  that  early
identification of emerging industry and technical trends, together with  focused
industry research coverage, enhances the effectiveness of its M&A professionals'
strategic and valuation advice. H&Q's
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
M&A  professionals combine industry, technology,  legal and accounting expertise
with substantial transactional experience. The  group's success is reflected  in
the growth in the volume of completed M&A transactions in which H&Q has provided
advice to emerging growth companies:
 
        HAMBRECHT & QUIST'S MERGER AND ACQUISITION ADVISORY ASSIGNMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      1991       1992       1993       1994       1995      1996 (1)
                                                    ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------
<S>                                                 <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Number of Completed Assignments...................         10          8         11         24         29
Aggregate Transaction Value                         $     237  $     174  $     377  $   2,028  $   3,713   $
 (in millions)....................................
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1) Through June 30, 1996
 
    PRIVATE PLACEMENTS AND STRUCTURED FINANCE
 
    H&Q  formalized its private placement capabilities in 1991 with the creation
of a group  which focuses  on acting as  placement agent  in private  securities
transactions.  H&Q assists in the  placement of these securities  for a fee, but
without underwriting the  offered securities.  The private  placement/structured
finance  group places equity and  convertible debt securities with institutional
investors, strategic  corporate  investors  and sophisticated,  high  net  worth
individuals.  Since  1991, the  group has  completed  over 30  private placement
transactions, raising over $600 million for  growth companies, with 16 of  these
transactions  completed since  January 1995.  This group  often serves corporate
clients in their early stages and, as these entrepreneurial companies grow,  H&Q
seeks  to sustain  the relationship and  provide other services.  The group also
assists publicly  traded  corporate  clients  that  undertake  convertible  debt
financings   or  conduct  private  offerings   of  registered  and  unregistered
securities.
 
SALES, TRADING AND SYNDICATE
 
    H&Q provides  a broad  range  of sales  and  trading services  to  investors
worldwide  and holds  a leading position  as a market-maker  for emerging growth
company equity  securities. The  Company leverages  its research  capability  by
identifying  companies that it believes have  the potential to become leaders in
their respective industries and attempting  to become a leading market-maker  in
the shares of those companies, often taking large positions to satisfy the needs
of institutional clients for a liquid market in this group of companies.
 
    INSTITUTIONAL SALES AND TRADING
 
    H&Q  has over 35 institutional  sales professionals covering growth-oriented
investors worldwide.  H&Q's focus  on growth  industries enables  its sales  and
trading  organization to develop  an in-depth of  understanding of these sectors
and companies and to better serve its investor clients.
 
    H&Q has 15 trading  professionals involved in market  making in both  Nasdaq
and  exchange-listed securities. The  most significant portion  of the Company's
institutional revenues arises from trading in Nasdaq-listed securities. At March
31, 1996, H&Q made a  market in over 300 Nasdaq  stocks. During the period  from
January  1991 through March 1996, H&Q was one  of the top three market makers in
over 70% of the  Nasdaq-listed equity securities issued  by companies for  which
H&Q  served as lead or co-manager in a public offering. Additionally, H&Q has 25
coverage traders, servicing the trading  desks of major institutions  worldwide.
Orders  are executed daily as  principal or agent in  both the listed and Nasdaq
markets for equities, convertible and non-convertible debt, including  municipal
bonds,  options and other derivative securities. The Company's sales and trading
operations are conducted from offices in San Francisco, New York, Boston and San
Diego. Hambrecht & Quist clears its trading transactions through Lewco.
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
    EXECUTIVE FINANCIAL SERVICES
 
    Since  its founding in  1968, H&Q has provided  retail brokerage services to
individual investors  and  small  institutions  interested  in  emerging  growth
company  securities. In 1994, this business unit was renamed Executive Financial
Services ("EFS") and  its strategies  were realigned in  an effort  to grow  the
business.  This strategic realignment entailed: (i) increasing the focus of this
business on broadening the range and depth of services provided to executives of
growth companies; (ii) providing appropriate  services to all employees of  this
client  base, rather than only the top executives; (iii) attracting new high net
worth investors to H&Q by providing differentiated investment ideas and services
and (iv) recruiting and retaining additional experienced and productive  brokers
to serve high net worth individuals.
 
    The  EFS group operates  out of the  Company's San Francisco,  New York, and
Boston offices. In  addition to  handling Nasdaq  and exchange-listed  brokerage
transactions,  EFS brokers provide other services, including sales of restricted
securities, fixed income  investments and consulting  for options, hedging,  the
selection  of outside money managers, mutual funds and cash management. At March
31, 1996, the EFS group included 71 retail brokers.
 
    VENTURE SERVICES
 
    H&Q provides specialized  services to  the general and  limited partners  of
venture  capital and buyout funds,  corporate development functions within large
corporations and certain high net worth individuals who participate actively  in
venture  capital  investments. These  services  include the  sale  of restricted
securities, management of in-kind stock  distributions by venture capital  funds
to their investors, sales of shelf-registered securities, private placements and
acquisition or sale of large equity positions. The Company also provides venture
capitalists  with  timely  information  concerning  the  publicly  traded shares
included in venture capital investment portfolios. This group was established in
1994 as a separate  department within H&Q in  recognition of the strategic  role
played  by venture capital investors in H&Q's areas of focus and in establishing
and developing a  close relationship between  the Company and  the companies  in
which venture capitalists hold equity positions.
 
    SYNDICATE
 
    The  Company participates in public offerings of securities either by acting
as manager or co-manager of an underwriting syndicate, or by acting as a  member
of  an underwriting syndicate managed by  other investment banks. In both cases,
the Company  risks its  capital through  its participation  in a  commitment  to
purchase  securities  from an  issuer  and to  resell  them to  the  public. The
Company's syndicate activities include managing the marketing and  book-building
process  of underwritten transactions the  Company is managing, participating in
discussions leading to the offering price  of securities and the supervision  of
initial  market-making for lead-managed deals.  The Syndicate department is also
responsible for  developing and  maintaining  relationships with  the  syndicate
departments  of  other  investment  banks.  At  March  31,  1996,  the Syndicate
department was comprised of 11 employees, including two senior managers who have
an aggregate of over 50 years of experience in the securities industry, and  was
located in the Company's San Francisco headquarters.
 
VENTURE CAPITAL AND PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES
 
    From  the  Company's  inception,  venture  capital  investing  has  been  an
important  component  of  H&Q's  strategy  of  identifying  and  building  early
relationships with promising emerging growth companies. H&Q currently conducts a
broad  range of venture capital and principal investment activities. H&Q intends
to increase the range and size of these activities.
 
    INSTITUTIONAL VENTURE FUND MANAGEMENT
 
    Hambrecht & Quist raised  its first venture capital  fund shortly after  the
Company  was founded.  The institutional  venture fund  management business grew
substantially, and by the mid-1980s the Company, principally through  affiliated
venture  capital management partnerships,  managed over $600  million in venture
capital assets.  Each institutional  fund  was structured  so that  the  Company
received management fees and a participation in any net profits of the fund.
 
    In  the  late  1980s,  the  Company  determined  that  its  domestic venture
activities would be most  effectively carried out through  a strategy of  making
fewer   and  smaller  venture  capital   investments  and  more  direct  Company
participation in  these investments.  Since then,  the Company  has reduced  the
number of investment
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
professionals  in its venture  capital department. Substantial  assets and funds
have been distributed as  the previously raised funds  have matured, and  assets
under  management by the  venture capital group currently  amount to over $200.0
million.
 
    SOLE PURPOSE VENTURE CAPITAL PARTNERSHIPS AND DIRECT STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS
 
    Since 1992, the Company has  made venture capital and mezzanine  investments
by  means of limited partnerships  that are each formed  for the sole purpose of
enabling the Company, its  senior employees and others  to invest in a  specific
private company. The Company receives no management fees in connection with such
investments,  but it participates in any profits of the partnerships. Certain of
the  Company's  professionals  share  in   the  profit  participation  of   each
partnership based on their specific contribution to identifying, structuring and
managing the partnership's investment. In fiscal 1994 and 1995 and the six month
period  ended March  31, 1996,  approximately $18.0  million, $15.0  million and
$13.0 million, respectively, was  invested in such  partnerships, of which  $2.2
million,  $3.3  million  and $2.7  million,  respectively, was  invested  by the
Company.
 
    Since the mid-1980s, the Company has, from time to time, invested solely for
its own  account in  private  companies that  offer  a strategic  and  financial
opportunity.  The Company in recent years has also invested capital and obtained
minority,  non-controlling   interests  in   a   number  of   relatively   small
asset-management  organizations, including  De Santis Capital  Management, LP, a
registered investment adviser that manages approximately $100 million in assets.
Since January  1995, the  Company has  invested approximately  $4.0 million  for
similar strategic purposes.
 
    STRATEGIC AND SPECIALTY FUNDS
 
    ASIA  PACIFIC.  Asia  Pacific, was established in  1985 to provide financial
advisory and fund management services to investors and entrepreneurs  throughout
the  Asia Pacific region. As  of March 31, 1996,  Asia Pacific's operations were
among the largest of venture capital firms in the region, with 29  professionals
in seven countries. At such date, Asia Pacific managed ten funds with a combined
total  of  over $300.0  million  in committed  capital.  Of this  amount, $258.0
million had been invested in over 150 companies located in Asia, including  $8.5
million  in ten companies located in the  United States with operations in Asia.
Seven of  these  funds,  totaling  $193.0  million  in  committed  capital,  are
generally  available for investment  only in one specific  country, and three of
these funds, totaling $115.0  million in committed capital,  may be invested  in
companies  located in any  one of a  number of countries  in a specified region.
Asia Pacific  has commitments  for an  additional $145.0  million for  a  fourth
regional fund, and is currently raising a second tranche for this new fund. Asia
Pacific  is also raising $35.0 million  for investment in a new country-specific
fund for Indonesia. There can be no assurance that these fund-raising activities
will be completed successfully.
 
    Assuming  the  successful  completion  of  these  fund-raising   activities,
Hambrecht  & Quist  will have a  minority interest in  Asia Pacific's management
entity, with the majority interest held  by Asia Pacific's management team.  H&Q
also is entitled to certain participations in the profits of existing and future
Asia Pacific funds.
 
    HAMBRECHT & QUIST CAPITAL MANAGEMENT.  In 1987, the Company formed Hambrecht
&  Quist  Capital Management  Incorporated  ("Capital Management")  to  make and
manage investments in publicly traded  and privately held companies  principally
engaged  in the development, production or  distribution of products or services
generally  related  to  scientific  advances  in  healthcare,  agriculture   and
environmental  management. As of March 31,  1996, Capital Management managed two
publicly traded closed-end mutual funds: H&Q Healthcare Investors (NYSE:HQH) and
H&Q Life  Sciences Investors  (NYSE:HQL). At  March 31,  1996, these  funds  had
combined  net assets of approximately $276.0 million, of which approximately 31%
was  comprised  of  venture  capital  and  other  private  investments.  Capital
Management is compensated solely on the basis of management fees as a percentage
of assets under management. Capital Management is wholly owned by H&Q.
 
    ADOBE  VENTURES,  L.P.    In  1994,  Hambrecht  &  Quist  formed  a  limited
partnership with Adobe Systems Incorporated ("Adobe") that invests in companies,
products or technologies  strategic to  Adobe's interests.  Adobe has  committed
approximately  $40.0 million in capital to  date. The Company receives an annual
management fee based on assets under management and participates in any  profits
of the partnership. Certain of the Company's venture capital professionals share
in  the  profit participation.  At March  31,  1996, this  fund had  invested an
aggregate of approximately $26.0 million in 13 companies.
 
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<PAGE>
    TI VENTURES  L.P.    In  June  1996, Hambrecht  &  Quist  formed  a  limited
partnership  with Texas Instruments, Inc. ("TI") for the purpose of investing in
companies that operate in the field of digital communications, with an  emphasis
on  applications and  markets requiring  integrated technology,  such as digital
video. TI has committed $30.0 million of capital to the partnership. The Company
will receive an annual management fee based on assets under management and  will
participate in any profits of the partnership.
 
    ASSET-BASED FINANCING AND MEZZANINE INVESTMENTS
 
    HAMBRECHT  & QUIST GUARANTY  FINANCE.  In 1983,  the Company established the
entity that became Hambrecht & Quist Guaranty Finance, L.P. ("Guaranty Finance")
to provide equipment leasing to  emerging technology companies. Today,  Guaranty
Finance provides secured, asset-based financings that include tenant improvement
and  real  estate leases,  equipment leases,  accounts receivable  and inventory
financing and  loan  guarantees  for private  and  public  emerging  technology,
biotechnology and healthcare companies. Guaranty Finance provides financing that
generally  would  not otherwise  be  commercially available  to  emerging growth
companies because they are perceived as  too risky, or because the financing  is
too customized in nature, to be attractive to conventional sources of financing.
In  addition to receiving payments on loans and leases, Guaranty Finance has the
opportunity to purchase warrants  for structuring and  providing the funding  or
for  guaranteeing the repayment of  funds provided by a  bank or other financial
institution. As of  March 31,  1996, Guaranty Finance  had provided  a total  of
$77.0  million of financing to 37 client  companies in 59 transactions, of which
$16.4 million remained outstanding. After  the Restructuring, Hambrecht &  Quist
Group  will own approximately 87.5% of  Guaranty Finance, with the balance owned
by Guaranty  Finance's  senior  management  and  employees,  together  with  one
non-officer employee of the Company.
 
    HAMBRECHT & QUIST TRANSITION CAPITAL.  The Company recently formed Hambrecht
&  Quist Transition Capital, LLC ("Transition  Capital") to provide bridge loans
and mezzanine  financings for  emerging growth  companies. Transition  Capital's
investments   will   consist  of   secured  and   unsecured  debt   with  equity
participation. The term of  the loans will typically  be less than three  years,
and  Transition  Capital  seeks  to obtain  financial  returns  through interest
income, fees and the receipt of  warrants, rights to convert loans into  equity,
or  the right to share in profits. Transition Capital's activities have not been
significant, with only one financing, in  the amount of $3.8 million,  completed
to date. After the Restructuring, Hambrecht & Quist Group will own approximately
87.5%  of Transition  Capital, with  the balance  owned by  Transition Capital's
senior management and employees, together  with one non-officer employee of  the
Company.
 
ACCOUNTING, ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATIONS
 
    H&Q's  accounting, administration  and operations  personnel are responsible
for financial controls,  internal and external  financial reporting,  compliance
with  regulatory  and legal  requirements,  office and  personnel  services, the
Company's  management  information  and  telecommunications  systems,  and   the
processing  of the  Company's securities  transactions. The  Company's employees
perform most of these functions. With the exception of payroll processing, which
is performed by  an outside service  bureau, all data  processing functions  are
performed  by  the  Company's  management  information  systems  department. The
Company believes  that future  growth  will require  implementation of  new  and
enhanced communications and information systems and training of its personnel to
operate  such systems. Any difficulty or significant delay in the implementation
or operation of new systems or the training of personnel could adversely  affect
the  Company's  ability  to  manage  growth.  See  "Risk  Factors--Management of
Growth."
 
    Lewco acts as a clearing broker and depository for the Company. A portion of
Lewco's expenses, net of certain revenues,  are reimbursed by the Company  based
on the level of transactions processed on behalf of the Company.
 
COMPETITION
 
    The  securities  business  is intensely  competitive.  The  Company competes
worldwide with domestic and foreign securities firms, many of which have greater
capital, financial  and  other  resources  than  the  Company.  In  addition  to
competition from firms currently in the securities business, domestic commercial
banks  and investment banking  boutiques have recently  entered the business. In
recent years,  large international  banks have  attempted to  enter the  markets
served  by  United  States  investment banks,  including  the  markets  in which
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
the Company  competes. These  large international  banks have  hired  investment
banking,  research and sales and trading  professionals from the Company and its
competitors  in  the  past,  and  the  Company  expects  that  these  and  other
competitors will continue to try to recruit professionals away from the Company.
The  loss  of any  key professional  could materially  and adversely  affect the
Company's operating results. The Company  expects competition from domestic  and
international   banks  to  increase  as  a  result  of  recent  and  anticipated
legislative and regulatory initiatives in the United States to remove or relieve
certain  restrictions  on  commercial  banks.  The  Company's  focus  on  growth
companies  also  subjects it  to direct  competition from  a group  of specialty
securities firms and  smaller investment  banking boutiques  that specialize  in
providing services to the emerging growth company sector. Such competition could
adversely  affect the  Company's operating  results, as  well as  its ability to
attract and  retain  highly  skilled  individuals. As  a  result  of  increasing
competition,  revenues  from  individual  underwriting  transactions  have  been
increasingly allocated among a greater number of co-managers, which has resulted
in reduced revenues for certain transactions.
 
    The Company  also  faces  competition  from  companies  offering  electronic
brokerage  services, a  rapidly developing  and intensely  competitive industry.
These competitors may undertake promotional activities focused on the  Company's
brokerage  customers and offer these customers  more attractive pricing or other
terms than the  Company offers.  The Company also  anticipates competition  from
underwriters  who  attempt  to  effect  public  offerings  for  emerging  growth
companies through new  means of distribution,  including using electronic  media
such  as  the Internet.  In addition,  disintermediation  may result  as issuers
attempt to sell their securities  directly to purchasers, including sales  using
electronic media such as the Internet. To the extent that issuers and purchasers
of   securities   transact  business   without   the  assistance   of  financial
intermediaries such as  the Company,  the Company's operating  results could  be
adversely affected.
 
    The principal competitive factors influencing the Company's business are its
professional  staff,  industry expertise,  client relationships  and its  mix of
market and product capabilities.
 
EMPLOYEES
 
    At March 31, 1996, the Company had a total of 584 employees, of whom 61 were
engaged in  research, 109  in  investment banking,  258  in sales,  trading  and
syndicate,  37  in venture  capital, principal  investment and  money management
activities and  119  in  accounting, administration  and  operations.  Of  these
employees,  313  were classified  as professionals  and  271 were  classified in
support positions. None of the Company's  employees are subject to a  collective
bargaining agreement. The Company believes that its relations with its employees
are good.
 
PROPERTIES
 
    The  Company's principal  executive offices are  located at  The Hambrecht &
Quist  Building,  One  Bush  Street,   San  Francisco,  California  and   occupy
approximately  132,000 square feet  under a lease  which terminates December 31,
1998, subject  to  two  10-year  extension  options.  The  Company  also  leases
approximately 33,000 square feet at 230 Park Avenue, New York, New York, under a
lease  expiring in  2007; approximately  24,000 square  feet at  50 Rowes Wharf,
Boston, Massachusetts, under a lease expiring  in 1998, subject to an option  to
extend  the term; and  approximately 2,000 square feet  at 4365 Executive Drive,
San Diego, California, under a lease expiring in 1999. The Company believes that
its present facilities, together with its current options to extend lease  terms
and occupy additional space, are adequate for its current and projected needs.
 
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
    OVERVIEW
 
    Many  aspects  of  the  Company's  business  involve  substantial  risks  of
liability. An underwriter is exposed to substantial liability under federal  and
state  securities  laws,  other  federal and  state  laws  and  court decisions,
including decisions with respect to  underwriters' liability and limitations  on
indemnification  of underwriters by issuers. For example, a firm that acts as an
underwriter may be held liable for  material misstatements or omissions of  fact
in  a prospectus  used in  connection with the  securities being  offered or for
statements made by its securities analysts or other personnel.
 
    In recent  years,  there has  been  an increasing  incidence  of  litigation
involving the securities industry, including class actions that seek substantial
damages.    The   Company   has    been   active   in    the   underwriting   of
 
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<PAGE>
initial public offerings and follow-on  offerings of the securities of  emerging
and  mid-size growth companies, which often involve  a higher degree of risk and
often are more volatile  than the securities of  more established companies.  In
comparison  with more established  companies, such emerging  and mid-size growth
companies are also more likely to be the subject of securities class actions, to
carry directors and officers liability insurance policies with lower limits than
more established  companies, and  to  become insolvent.  Each of  these  factors
increases  the likelihood that an underwriter  of an emerging or mid-size growth
company's  securities  will  be  required  to  contribute  to  any  judgment  or
settlement of a securities lawsuit.
 
    The  plaintiffs' attorneys  in securities  class action  lawsuits frequently
name as defendants in lawsuits the  managing underwriters of a public  offering.
H&Q  LLC is named a  defendant in a number of  class action lawsuits relating to
public offerings in which it served as a managing underwriter. In addition,  H&Q
LLC  is currently  directly or indirectly  subject to over  30 shareholder class
action lawsuits relating to public offerings in which H&Q LLC served as a member
of the underwriting  syndicate but  not as a  managing underwriter.  Plaintiffs'
attorneys  also  name  as  defendants investment  banks  which  provide advisory
services in  merger  and  acquisition  transactions.  H&Q  LLC  is  currently  a
defendant   in  one  such  lawsuit.  The  Company  anticipates  that  additional
securities class-action lawsuits  naming H&Q LLC  as a defendant  will be  filed
from  time to time in the future,  particularly in light of the increased number
of public offerings H&Q LLC has underwritten, and the increased number of merger
and acquisition transactions  in which  H&Q LLC provided  advisory services,  in
recent  years and the  fact that the  securities sold in  certain of such public
offerings have experienced or may in the future experience significant  declines
in  market value.  In such lawsuits,  all members of  the underwriting syndicate
typically are included as  members of a defendant  class and/or are required  by
law,  or pursuant to the terms of  the underwriting agreement, to bear a portion
of any  expenses  or  losses  (including  amounts  paid  in  settlement  of  the
litigation)  incurred  by the  underwriters as  a group  in connection  with the
litigation, to the extent not covered  by the indemnification obligation of  the
issuer  of the securities underwritten. H&Q  LLC has on occasion participated in
settlements of  these types  of lawsuits  by making  payments to  the  plaintiff
class.  There can be  no assurance that  the Company, H&Q  LLC or RvR Securities
will not  find it  necessary  to make  substantial  settlement payments  in  the
future.  The Company  has agreed  to indemnify  H&Q LLC  against any  expense or
liability it may incur in connection with any such lawsuits.
 
    As the number of suits to which  the Company is a party increases, the  risk
to  the Company's assets also increases. If  the plaintiffs in any suits against
the Company were to successfully prosecute their claims, or if the Company  were
to  settle  such suits  by making  significant payments  to the  plaintiffs, the
Company's operating  results and  financial condition  could be  materially  and
adversely  affected. As is  common in the securities  industry, the Company does
not carry  insurance  that would  cover  any  such payments.  In  addition,  the
Company's  charter documents  allow indemnification  of the  Company's officers,
directors and agents  to the maximum  extent permitted under  Delaware law.  The
Company  has  entered into  indemnification agreements  with these  persons. The
Company has  been  and in  the  future may  be  the subject  of  indemnification
assertions under these charter documents or agreements by officers, directors or
agents of the Company who are or may become defendants in litigation.
 
    In  addition to these  financial costs and risks,  the defense of litigation
has, to a certain extent, diverted, and is expected to divert in the future, the
efforts and attention of the Company's management and staff. The amount of  time
which  management and other employees are  required to devote in connection with
the defense of litigation could be substantial and might materially divert their
attention from  other  responsibilities  within the  Company.  Securities  class
action  litigation  in  particular  is  highly complex,  and  can  extend  for a
protracted period of time, thereby consuming substantial time and effort of  the
Company's  management and substantially increasing  the cost of such litigation.
Further, the laws relating to securities class actions are currently in a  state
of  flux. The eventual impact of  the recently-passed Federal Private Securities
Litigation Reform  Act of  1995 on  securities class  action litigation  is  not
known.  In  addition, there  are certain  proposed California  ballot initiative
provisions which,  if passed,  the Company  believes would  make it  easier  for
securities class action plaintiffs to litigate in California state court.
 
    The  Company also has been subject to litigation in state and federal courts
relating to companies in which the Company has invested as a principal. The risk
of such  litigation is  magnified where  H&Q has  a substantial  or  controlling
interest  in the Company, or where one or  more of H&Q's employees serves on the
Company's Board
 
                                       41
<PAGE>
of Directors.  On  occasion, such  litigation  has produced  results  materially
adverse  to  H&Q.  In particular,  during  1991  and 1992,  the  Company settled
litigation relating to MiniScribe at  an aggregate cost, including expenses,  of
approximately  $59.8 million. All  of such payments  relating to such MiniScribe
settlements were made prior to May 31, 1996. There can be no assurance that  the
Company,  as a result of  its investments as a principal,  or the service of the
Company's employees as directors of other  entities or otherwise, will not  lead
to similar litigation or settlement payments in the future.
 
    In the normal course of business, the Company is also a defendant in various
civil  actions and arbitrations arising out of its activities as a broker-dealer
in securities,  as an  underwriter, as  an employer  and as  a result  of  other
business activities. H&Q has in the past made substantial payments in connection
with  the resolution  of disputed  claims, and  there can  be no  assurance that
substantial payments in connection with  the resolution of disputed claims  will
not occur in the future.
 
    An adverse resolution of any pending or future lawsuits against H&Q LLC, RvR
Securities  or  the  Company  could materially  affect  the  Company's operating
results and financial condition.
 
    Set forth below are summaries of certain pending litigation matters to which
H&Q LLC is a party. The Company believes that the resolution of such matters and
the other pending litigation matters  to which the Company  is a party will  not
have  a material adverse effect on  the Company's operating results or financial
condition.
 
    SECURITIES LITIGATION
 
    The following paragraphs describe litigation in which H&Q has been named  as
a  defendant  relating to  transactions in  which  H&Q LLC  acted as  a managing
underwriter or provided merger and acquisition advice.
 
    ADOBE SECURITIES  LITIGATION.   In February  1996, H&Q  LLC and  two of  its
employees,  one  of whom  is also  an  outside director  of Adobe  Systems, Inc.
("Adobe") were named as  defendants in a  shareholders' securities class  action
suit  filed in the  Superior Court of  California, County of  Santa Clara. Other
defendants include Adobe, certain of Adobe's officers and directors, and certain
former officers of Frame Technology  Corporation ("Frame"). The lawsuit  relates
to  the merger of Frame into Adobe in October 1995. H&Q LLC acted as a financial
advisor to Frame in the merger.  The complaint alleges that the defendants  made
misrepresentations  regarding  the merger  and/or  Adobe's and  Frame's business
operations and prospects of the merged entity, and omitted to disclose  material
adverse  facts  regarding the  merger and  business prospects  and engaged  in a
scheme to defraud investors, thereby  artificially inflating the price of  Adobe
stock  during the class period. The  lawsuit seeks unspecified damages including
compensatory and punitive  damages, pre- and  post-judgment interest, costs  and
attorneys' fees, and equitable and injunctive relief based on alleged violations
of California law. The Adobe defendants and the H&Q defendents have each filed a
demurrer  on the ground that the allegations are not actionable under state law.
There has been no ruling on the demurrer.
 
    COMPUTERVISION SECURITIES LITIGATION.  On August 14, 1992, H&Q LLC acted  as
one  of four co-managers of  an underwriting of $600  million of debt and equity
issued by Computervision Corporation  ("Computervision"). Numerous class  action
suits   were  filed  against  H&Q  and  other  defendants  after  Computervision
announced, in September 1992,  that revenue and operating  profit for its  third
quarter  would fall substantially  below its plan and  the previous year's third
quarter. These cases were eventually consolidated in the United States  District
Court  in Boston. The operative complaint  alleges claims against H&Q, the other
managing underwriters, Computervision,  certain of its  officers and  directors,
under various sections of the federal securities laws and a claim for common law
misrepresentation.
 
    After  completion of substantially all discovery, the Court, relying in part
on the fact that the prospectus "bespoke caution," issued a decision  dismissing
every  factual allegation in the complaint except  one. On January 20, 1995, the
plaintiffs served a  motion for leave  to file a  further amended complaint.  On
February  24, 1995,  the defendants  served a  response in  opposition, and also
served summary judgment motions to dismiss the sole allegation that survived the
motion to dismiss. By stipulation, dated April 11, 1995, plaintiffs subsequently
withdrew the sole surviving allegation. On September 20, 1995, the court  denied
plaintiffs' motion for leave to
 
                                       42
<PAGE>
amend  the complaint,  dismissed plaintiffs' case  and entered  judgment for all
defendants. Plaintiffs have appealed these rulings to the First Circuit Court of
Appeals, which heard oral argument on May 7, 1996. The appeal is SUB JUDICE.
 
    DATAWARE TECHNOLOGIES SECURITIES  LITIGATION.   Dataware Technologies,  Inc.
("Dataware")  effected  a  $29,250,000  initial  public  offering  in  July 1993
lead-managed by H&Q LLC. In December 1993, Dataware announced that its quarterly
earnings would be below expectations. Its  share price dropped, and in  November
1994,  a shareholder class action  suit was filed in  the United States District
Court in Boston against the Company, certain of its officers and directors,  and
the  managing underwriters, including H&Q LLC,  in connection with the company's
public offering, subsequent sales by its insiders and research reports issued by
H&Q LLC.
 
    Defendants have denied the material  allegations of the complaint. A  motion
for  class  certification  has been  made  and  opposed, and  has  not  yet been
resolved.
 
    OAK TECHNOLOGY SECURITIES LITIGATION.  On June 6, 1996, Oak Technology, Inc.
("Oak"), certain of its  officers and directors, H&Q  LLC, two of its  employees
and  others were named as defendants  in a shareholders' securities class action
suit filed in the Superior Court of  California, County of Santa Clara. H&Q  LLC
acted as the lead manager of Oak's February 1995 initial public offering and May
1995  follow-on equity offering. The complaint alleges, among other things, that
during the alleged class period of July  1995 to May 1996, H&Q LLC issued  false
research  reports and otherwise engaged in wrongdoing in order to please Oak and
obtain large commissions or discounts as well as future investment banking work.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages based on alleged violations of  California
law.  Defendants have not yet filed any pleading responding to the complaint and
no discovery has occurred.
 
    NASDAQ ANTITRUST LITIGATION
 
    In December 1994, a consolidated amended  complaint was filed in the  United
States District Court for the Southern District of New York against thirty-three
broker-dealer  defendants, including H&Q LLC. The consolidated amended complaint
alleged that H&Q LLC and other participants and market-makers on Nasdaq  engaged
in  a conspiracy to fix the "spread" between bid and asked prices for securities
traded on the Nasdaq in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act. The plaintiff
class was  alleged to  include  persons throughout  the  United States  who  are
customers  of  the defendants  or  their affiliates  and  who purchased  or sold
securities on the  Nasdaq during the  period from  May 1, 1989  through May  27,
1994.  Plaintiffs  allege  to have  been  damaged  in that  they  paid  more for
securities purchased on the Nasdaq, or  received less for securities sold,  than
they  would  have  but  for the  alleged  conspiracy.  The  consolidated amended
complaint seeks compensatory damages, treble damages, declaratory and injunctive
relief, attorneys' fees and costs. Judgment  against each of the defendants  was
sought  on a joint  and several basis. In  February 1995, H&Q  LLC and the other
defendants filed a  motion to dismiss.  In August 1995,  the Court granted  such
motion  on the  ground that  plaintiffs had  not specified  the stocks  in which
collusion allegedly occurred, but gave plaintiffs leave to amend. The plaintiffs
thereafter  filed  a  Refiled  Consolidated  Complaint  which  is  identical  in
substance  to the dismissed pleading and lists over one thousand securities that
plaintiffs allege were the subject of the alleged conspiracy. H&Q LLC thereafter
filed its answer, and discovery is proceeding.
 
    On December 15,  1995, a class  action suit alleging  similar claims to  the
class  action pending in New  York was filed in  Alabama state court against the
same defendants.  The  Alabama  case  has been  removed  to  federal  court  and
transferred  to  the  federal judge  hearing  the  pending New  York  action. In
addition, allegations of collusion among the market-makers became the subject of
investigations by the NASD, the SEC and the Antitrust Division of the Department
of Justice ("DOJ").  H&Q LLC  and other market  makers have  responded to  Civil
Investigative  Demands by the DOJ. The DOJ investigation has been ongoing and is
expected to conclude in the near future.
 
RISK MANAGEMENT
 
    The  Company  has  established  various  policies  and  procedures  for  the
management  of its exposure to operating,  principal and credit risks. Operating
risk arises out of the  daily conduct of the  Company's business and relates  to
the  possibility that one  or more of  the Company's personnel  could commit the
Company to imprudent  business activities.  Principal risk relates  to the  fact
that the Company owns a variety of investments
 
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<PAGE>
which  are subject to changes in value and could result in the Company incurring
material gains or losses. Credit risk occurs because the Company extends  credit
to various of its customers in the form of margin and other types of loans.
 
    Operating  risk is monitored by the  Company's Risk Management Committee and
Commitment Committee. The Risk Management Committee reviews the overall business
activities of the Company and makes recommendations for addressing issues which,
in the judgment of its members, could result in a material loss to the  Company.
The  Commitment  Committee  meets  weekly  to  evaluate  and  approve  potential
investment banking transactions prior to their execution by the Company.
 
    Principal risk is managed  primarily through the  daily monitoring of  funds
committed  to  the various  types  of securities  owned  by the  Company  and by
limiting the exposure to any one investment or type of investment. The two  most
common  categories of  securities owned are  those related to  the daily trading
activities of  the Company's  brokerage and  underwriting operations  and  those
which  arise out  of the Company's  principal investing  activities. The Company
attempts to limit its exposure to market risk on securities held as a result  of
its  daily trading activities by limiting its inventory of trading securities to
that needed to provide the appropriate level of liquidity in the securities  for
which it is a market maker. Security inventory positions are balanced daily.
 
    The  Company's  credit  risk is  monitored  by its  Credit  Committee, which
consists of  senior management  from its  brokerage, operations,  financial  and
legal departments. This committee meets when specific situations arise to review
large, concentrated or high profile accounts and to take any appropriate actions
to  limit  the  Company's  exposure  to loss  on  these  accounts.  Such actions
typically  consist  of   setting  higher  margin   requirements  for  large   or
concentrated  accounts, requiring a reduction of either the level of margin debt
or investment in high risk securities or, in some cases, requiring the  transfer
of the account to another broker-dealer.
 
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<PAGE>
                                   REGULATION
 
    H&Q's  business  and  the  securities industry  in  general  are  subject to
extensive regulation in the United States  at both the Federal and state  level,
as  well  as by  SROs. Its  business also  is subject  to regulation  by various
foreign governments and regulatory bodies.
 
    In the United States,  a number of Federal  regulatory agencies are  charged
with  safeguarding the integrity  of the securities  and other financial markets
and with protecting the interests  of customers participating in those  markets.
The  SEC is the Federal agency that  is primarily responsible for the regulation
of broker-dealers and investment advisers  doing business in the United  States,
and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System promulgates regulations
applicable  to  securities  credit  transactions  involving  broker-dealers  and
certain other United States institutions. Broker-dealers and investment advisers
are subject to  registration and  regulation by state  securities regulators  in
those  states in which they  conduct business. Industry SROs,  each of which has
authority over the firms that  are its members, include  the NASD, the NYSE  and
other securities exchanges.
 
    H&Q  LLC is registered as a broker-dealer with  the SEC and in all of the 50
states, Puerto  Rico and  the District  of Columbia,  and is  a member  of,  and
subject  to regulation by, a number  of securities industry SRO's, including the
NASD, the  NYSE, the  American, Chicago  and Pacific  Stock Exchanges,  and  the
Options  Clearing Corporation. RvR  Securities is registered  as a broker-dealer
with the SEC and in 41 states, and is  a member of the NASD. H&Q LLC also has  a
20%  interest in Lewco, which is registered  as a broker-dealer with the SEC and
in 13  states and  is  a member  of  the NASD,  the  NYSE and  other  securities
exchanges.
 
    As  a result of federal and state registration and SRO memberships, H&Q LLC,
RvR Securities and Lewco are subject to overlapping schemes of regulation  which
cover  all aspects of their securities  business. Such regulations cover matters
including capital requirements, the use and safekeeping of customers' funds  and
securities,   record  keeping   and  reporting   requirements,  supervisory  and
organizational procedures intended to assure compliance with securities laws and
to  prevent   the   improper   trading  on   material   nonpublic   information,
employee-related  matters, including qualification, and licensing of supervisory
and  sales  personnel,  limitations  on  extensions  of  credit  in   securities
transactions,   clearance  and  settlement   procedures,  requirements  for  the
registration, underwriting, sale and distribution of securities and rules of the
SROs designed  to  promote high  standards  of  commercial honor  and  just  and
equitable  principles of trade. A particular focus of the applicable regulations
concerns the  relationship  between broker-dealers  and  their customers.  As  a
result,  the many aspects of the broker-dealer customer relationship are subject
to regulation including  in some  instances "suitability"  determinations as  to
certain customer transactions, limitations in the amounts that may be charged to
customers,  timing of proprietary  trading in relation  to customers' trades and
disclosures to customers.
 
    Much of  the  Company's  underwriting and  market-making  business  involves
securities  traded  on  Nasdaq. Nasdaq's  operations,  including  allegations of
collusion among  Nasdaq  market-makers,  have  been  the  subject  of  extensive
scrutiny  in the media and by  government regulators, including by the Antitrust
Division of the United  States Department of Justice.  H&Q LLC and other  Nasdaq
market-makers have responded to Civil Investigation Demands by the Department of
Justice  as part of its ongoing investigation. It has been reported in the media
that the SEC has recently submitted to Nasdaq a draft of the SEC's  disciplinary
complaint concerning Nasdaq's operations. Nasdaq officials have made a number of
proposed  changes  in  its operations,  which  currently are  being  reviewed by
government regulators. The Company  is unable to predict  the outcome of any  of
these  proposals, and  certain of the  changes proposed by  Nasdaq officials, if
effected, could adversely affect the Company's operating results.
 
    Capital Management and two other subsidiaries, Atlantic Investment Advisers,
Inc. and  Hambrecht  &  Quist  Investment  Advisers,  Inc.,  are  registered  as
investment  advisers with the SEC and  in several states. As investment advisers
registered with the SEC, each is  subject to the requirements of the  Investment
Advisers  Act and the SEC's regulations  thereunder, as well as state securities
laws  and  regulations.  Such  requirements  relate  to,  among  other   things,
limitations on the ability of investment advisers to charge performance-based or
non-refundable  fees  to  clients,  record-keeping  and  reporting requirements,
disclosure  requirements,  limitations  on  principal  transactions  between  an
adviser  or its affiliates  and advisory clients, as  well as general anti-fraud
prohibitions. The  state securities  law requirements  applicable to  registered
investment advisers are in certain
 
                                       45
<PAGE>
cases  more comprehensive than those imposed  under the Federal securities laws.
In addition, Capital Management and the  mutual funds it manages are subject  to
the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the SEC's regulations
thereunder.
 
    H&Q LLC and Lewco also are subject to "Risk Assessment Rules" imposed by the
SEC.  These  rules  require,  among other  things,  that  certain broker-dealers
maintain and preserve certain information, describe risk management policies and
procedures and report  on the  financial condition of  certain affiliates  whose
financial  and securities  activities are reasonably  likely to  have a material
impact on the financial and operational condition of the broker-dealers. Certain
"Materially Associated Persons" (as defined in the Risk Assessment Rules) of the
broker-dealers and  the  activities  conducted  by  such  Materially  Associated
Persons  may not be subject  to regulation by the  SEC. However, the possibility
exists that, on the basis of the information it obtains from the Risk Assessment
Rules, the SEC could seek legislative  or regulatory changes in order to  expand
its  authority over  the Company's  unregulated subsidiaries  either directly or
through its existing authority over the Company's regulated subsidiaries.
 
    Violations of federal or  state laws or regulations  or rules of SROs  could
subject  the  Company, its  subsidiaries  and/or its  employees  to disciplinary
proceedings or civil  or criminal liability,  including revocation of  licenses,
censures,  fines or  temporary suspension or  permanent bar from  the conduct of
their business. Any such  proceeding could have a  material adverse effect  upon
the Company's business.
 
    In  addition to being regulated in the United States, the Company's business
is subject to regulation by  various foreign governments and regulatory  bodies.
H&Q  LLC is registered with and subject  to regulation by the Ontario Securities
Commission, the Securities and Futures Authority of the United Kingdom  pursuant
to  the  United Kingdom  Financial Services  Act  of 1986,  and the  Ministry of
Finance, Tokyo, Japan. Foreign regulation governs all aspects of the  investment
business,  including regulatory  capital, sales  and trading  practices, use and
safekeeping of customer funds  and securities, record-keeping, margin  practices
and  procedures, registration standards for  individuals, periodic reporting and
settlement procedures. In addition, Hambrecht  & Quist Asset Management Ltd.,  a
subsidiary  of the Company, is  a member of and is  subject to regulation by the
Investment Management  Regulatory Organization  Limited in  the United  Kingdom,
which  regulates all  aspects of its  investment advisory  business. The Company
recently  formed  and   acquired  an   interest  in  H&Q   Saint  Dominique,   a
broker-dealer,  located in  Paris, France.  It is  subject to  regulation by the
Nouveau Marche and other  French and European regulatory  authorities and is  in
the  process of  preparing an  application to become  an approved  person of the
NYSE.
 
    In connection  with  the  Company's venture  capital  activities,  H&Q,  its
affiliates  and  the venture  capital  funds which  they  manage are  relying on
exemptions from registration under the Advisers Act, the Investment Company  Act
of  1940, as  amended, state  securities laws  and the  laws of  various foreign
countries. Failure to meet the requirements of any such exemptions could have  a
material  adverse effect on the manner in  which the Company, its affiliates and
the venture  capital funds  carry out  their investment  activities and  on  the
compensation received by the Company and its affiliates from the venture capital
funds.
 
    Additional  legislation  and regulations,  including  those relating  to the
activities  of  broker-dealers  and   investment  advisers,  changes  in   rules
promulgated by the SEC or other United States or foreign governmental regulatory
authorities and SROs or changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing
laws and rules may adversely affect the manner of operation and profitability of
the Company. H&Q's businesses may be materially affected not only by regulations
applicable  to it as a financial market intermediary, but also by regulations of
general application. For example, the  volume of H&Q's underwriting, merger  and
acquisition,  or venture  capital activities in  any year could  be affected by,
among other things, existing and proposed tax legislation, antitrust policy  and
other  governmental  regulations  and  policies  (including  the  interest  rate
policies of  the  Federal  Reserve  Board)  and  changes  in  interpretation  or
enforcement  of existing laws  and rules that affect  the business and financial
communities.
 
                                       46
<PAGE>
                            NET CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS
 
    As broker-dealers  registered with  the SEC  and member  firms of  the  NYSE
and/or  the NASD,  H&Q LLC,  RvR Securities  and Lewco  are each  subject to the
capital requirements  of  the SEC,  the  NYSE  and/or the  NASD.  These  capital
requirements  specify  minimum levels  of capital,  computed in  accordance with
regulatory requirements ("net capital"), that each firm is required to  maintain
and  also limit the amount of  leverage that each firm is  able to obtain in its
respective business.
 
    H&Q LLC  has  elected to  compute  its  net capital  requirement  under  the
"alternative  method"  permitted  by the  SEC.  Under  this method,  H&Q  LLC is
required by the SEC to maintain  regulatory net capital, computed in  accordance
with  the SEC's regulations, equal  to the greater of $1.0  million or 2% of the
amount  of  its   securities  "customer-related   receivables,"  calculated   in
accordance with SEC's regulations.
 
    The  customer-related  receivables referred  to  in the  preceding paragraph
(also referred  to  as  "aggregate  debit  items")  are  the  money  owed  to  a
broker-dealer  by its customers and  certain other customer-related assets. "Net
capital" is  essentially defined  as  net worth  (assets minus  liabilities,  as
determined  under  generally  accepted accounting  principles),  plus qualifying
subordinated borrowings, less the value of all of a broker-dealer's assets  that
are  not readily  convertible into  cash (such  as goodwill,  furniture, prepaid
expenses, exchange  seats and  unsecured receivables),  and further  reduced  by
certain  percentages  (commonly  called "haircuts")  of  the market  value  of a
broker-dealer's positions in securities and other financial instruments.
 
    A failure of a broker-dealer to maintain its minimum required capital  would
require  it to  cease executing  customer transactions  until it  came back into
capital compliance, and could cause it to lose its membership on an exchange, or
in an SRO, its registration with  the SEC, or require its liquidation.  Further,
the  decline  in  a broker-dealer's  net  capital below  certain  "early warning
levels," even though  above minimum capital  requirements, could cause  material
adverse  consequences  to  the  broker-dealer. For  example,  the  SEC's capital
regulations  prohibit  payment  of  dividends,  redemption  of  stock  and   the
prepayment  of  subordinated  indebtedness  if  a  broker-dealer's  net  capital
thereafter would be  less than 5%  of aggregate debit  items. These  regulations
also  prohibit principal payments  in respect of  subordinated indebtedness if a
broker-dealer's net capital thereafter would be less than 5% of aggregate  debit
items.  Under NYSE Rule 326, a member firm is required to reduce its business if
its net capital  (after giving  effect to scheduled  maturities of  subordinated
indebtedness  or  other planned  withdrawals  of regulatory  capital  during the
following six months) is less than $312,500  or 4% of aggregate debit items  for
15  consecutive days. NYSE Rule  326 also prohibits the  expansion of a member's
business if its  net capital  (after giving  effect to  scheduled maturities  of
subordinated  indebtedness or  other planned  withdrawals of  regulatory capital
during the following six months) is less  than $375,000 or 5% of aggregate  debt
items for 15 consecutive days.
 
    The  SEC's capital rules also (i)  require that broker-dealers notify it and
the NYSE, in  writing, two business  days prior to  making withdrawals or  other
distributions  of equity capital or lending money to certain related persons, if
those withdrawals would exceed, in any 30-day period, 30% of the broker-dealer's
excess net capital and  that they provide such  notice within two business  days
after  any such withdrawal or loan that  would exceed, in any 30-day period, 20%
of the broker-dealer's excess  net capital, (ii)  prohibit a broker-dealer  from
withdrawing  or otherwise  distributing equity  capital or  making related party
loans if after such distribution or  loan, the broker-dealer has net capital  of
less   than  $300,000  or  5%  of   aggregate  debit  items  and  certain  other
circumstances,  and  (iii)  provide  that  the  SEC  may,  by  order,   prohibit
withdrawals  of capital from a  broker-dealer for a period  of up to 20 business
days, if the withdrawals would exceed, in any 30-day period, 30% of the  broker-
dealer's  excess  net capital  and the  SEC believes  such withdrawals  would be
detrimental to the financial  integrity of the firm  or would unduly  jeopardize
the broker-dealer's ability to pay its customer claims or other liabilities.
 
    Compliance with regulatory capital requirements could limit those operations
of  H&Q LLC, RvR Securities and Lewco that require the intensive use of capital,
such as underwriting and trading  activities, and financing of customer  account
balances, and also could restrict the Company's ability to withdraw capital from
its  affiliated broker-dealers,  which in  turn could  limit its  ability to pay
dividends, repay debt and redeem or  purchase shares of its outstanding  capital
stock.
 
                                       47
<PAGE>
    The  Company believes that  at all times  H&Q LLC, RvR  Securities and Lewco
have been in  compliance in all  material respects with  the applicable  minimum
capital  rules of the SEC, the NYSE, and the NASD. As of March 31, 1996, H&Q LLC
was required to maintain minimum "net capital," in accordance with SEC rules, of
approximately $3.8  million and  had total  net capital  of approximately  $43.2
million,  or approximately $39.2  million in excess of  the amount required. RvR
Securities  also  computes  its  minimum  net  capital  requirement  under   the
alternative  method.  As  of March  31,  1996,  RvR Securities  was  required to
maintain minimum net capital of $250,000. Its total net capital on that date was
$1.75 million,  consisting of  $250,000 in  equity capital  and a  $1.5  million
subordinated  loan from H&Q  Group. Lewco also computes  its minimum net capital
requirement under  the alternative  method.  As of  March  31, 1996,  Lewco  was
required  to maintain  minimum net  capital of  $1.5 million.  Lewco's total net
capital on that date was $8.7 million.
 
                                       48
<PAGE>
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
 
    The  executive officers and  directors of the  Company and their  ages as of
March 31, 1996, are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME                                    AGE     POSITIONS
- -----------------------------------     ---     -----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>        <C>
                                        60      Chairman of the Company and H&Q LLC; Director
William R. Hambrecht...............
                                        38      President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and H&Q LLC;
                                                 Director
Daniel H. Case III.................
                                        60      Vice Chairman of the Company and H&Q LLC; Director
William R. Timken..................
                                        49      Executive Vice President and Director of Institutional Equity, H&Q LLC
Paul L. Hallingby..................
                                        43      Managing Director and Co-Director of Investment Banking, H&Q LLC
Cristina M. Morgan.................
                                        47      Managing Director and Co-Director of Investment Banking, H&Q LLC
David M. McAuliffe.................
                                        40      Managing Director and Director of Research, H&Q LLC
Bruce M. Lupatkin..................
                                        54      Chief Financial Officer of the Company and H&Q LLC; Managing Director
                                                 of H&Q LLC
Raymond J. Minehan.................
                                        46      General Counsel and Secretary of the Company and H&Q LLC; Managing
                                                 Director of H&Q LLC
Steven N. Machtinger...............
                                        34      Vice President, Finance of the Company and H&Q LLC
Patrick J. Allen...................
                                        61      Director
Howard B. Hillman (1)..............
                                        55      Director
William E. Mayer (1)(2)............
                                        66      Director
Edmund H. Shea, Jr. (2)............
                                        50      Director
Lawrence J. Stupski (1)(2).........
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1) Member of the Audit Committee
(2) Member of the Compensation Committee
 
    WILLIAM R.  HAMBRECHT  is  Chairman  of Hambrecht  &  Quist  Group  and  its
principal  subsidiary, Hambrecht &  Quist LLC. He has  continuously served as an
officer, director or principal of those entities or their predecessors since  he
and the late George Quist co-founded Hambrecht & Quist in 1968. Mr. Hambrecht is
primarily  responsible for  directing the  Company's venture  capital investment
activities. He  also  serves  on  the  Boards  of  Directors  of  Adobe  Systems
Incorporated,  a print and electronic  media software company, Redbrick Systems,
Inc., a provider of relational database products and services for data warehouse
applications, Castelle, a provider of network enhancement software and hardware,
and several privately  held companies.  He holds  a B.A.  degree from  Princeton
University.
 
    DANIEL  H.  CASE  III joined  the  Company  in 1981,  and  was  initially an
associate and then  a principal  in the  Corporate Finance  Department. He  also
served  as Vice President and then a  partner in the Venture Capital Department,
both in San Francisco and  in London. In 1983  he co-founded the business  which
became  Hambrecht & Quist Guaranty Finance.  Mr. Case rejoined Corporate Finance
in 1986 as co-director of mergers and acquisitions, and became Managing Director
and head of  Investment Banking in  December 1987.  In October of  1989, he  was
elected Executive Vice President and in October 1991 he was elected to the Board
of  Directors of  the Company.  In April  of 1992  he was  elected President and
Co-Chief Executive Officer. He became  Chief Executive Officer in October  1994.
Mr.  Case also serves as a director of Rational Software Corporation, a maker of
object-oriented  software   development  tools,   Electronic  Arts,   a   global
interactive  entertainment software company, the Securities Industry Association
and the Bay  Area Council. He  has a B.A.  in Economics and  Public Policy  from
Princeton  University and  studied management at  the University of  Oxford as a
Rhodes Scholar.
 
                                       49
<PAGE>
    WILLIAM R. TIMKEN joined Hambrecht & Quist in 1969 and has been employed  by
the  Company  in senior  capacities since  then. Mr.  Timken was  appointed Vice
Chairman of the Company  in 1992. He  is responsible for  the activities of  the
Company's  Syndicate Department.  Mr. Timken  is a past  member of  the Board of
Governors of  the Pacific  Stock Exchange  and  the Board  of Governors  of  the
National  Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Mr. Timken holds a B.A. degree
in Economics from Colby College.
 
    PAUL L. "BARNEY" HALLINGBY  joined the Company in  1983 as an  institutional
salesman.  He was  named Managing  Director of  the Research  Department in June
1988, and was elected Executive Vice President in October 1990. In July 1992  he
became  Managing  Director  of Sales  and  Trading  and in  October  1994 became
Managing Director of Institutional Equity. He holds a B.A. in Political  Science
from  the  University of  Pennsylvania and  an M.B.A.  in Finance  from Columbia
University.
 
    CRISTINA M. MORGAN joined the Company in 1982 as a research analyst,  became
a principal in Corporate Finance in 1984 and has been a Senior Vice President of
H&Q  LLC and its  predecessor entity since  March 1990. In  1990, Ms. Morgan was
elected Managing Director, Technology Equities in Corporate Finance and in  1992
she  was named  Co-Director of  Investment Banking. Ms.  Morgan holds  a B.S. in
Finance and an M.B.A. in Finance from Arizona State University.
 
    DAVID M. MCAULIFFE joined  the Company in July  1995 as Managing Director  &
Co-Director  of Investment Banking. Prior to  joining the Company, Mr. McAuliffe
served in  various capacities  in the  Investment Banking  and Merchant  Banking
divisions  of Kidder Peabody & Co., an  investment bank, from 1974 to 1995. From
April 1992 to May 1995  he served as Kidder Peabody  & Co.'s Co-Director of  the
Global  Investment Banking  Division. Mr. McAuliffe  holds a  B.A. in Accounting
from Boston College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
 
    BRUCE M.  LUPATKIN joined  the Company  in 1984  as a  research analyst  and
became  a Senior Vice President  of H&Q LLC and its  predecessor in May 1991. In
1992, Mr. Lupatkin was  named Co-Director of Research.  Since October 1994,  Mr.
Lupatkin  also served as Director of Research. From October 1995 to June 1996 he
was also responsible for management of  Institutional Sales for the west  coast.
Mr.  Lupatkin holds a B.S.  in Chemistry from the  University of Michigan and an
M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Texas.
 
    RAYMOND J. MINEHAN has served as the Company's Chief Financial Officer,  and
a  Managing Director since November 1989. Prior to joining H&Q, he had been with
Arthur Andersen LLP, a public accounting firm, in San Francisco since 1972,  and
a  partner with that firm from 1984 to 1989. Mr. Minehan holds a B.A. in Finance
and Accounting from Golden Gate University and is a Certified Public Accountant.
 
    STEVEN N.  MACHTINGER  has  served  as the  Company's  General  Counsel  and
Secretary since 1988. He was named Managing Director in 1990. Mr. Machtinger was
an  attorney with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission from 1974
to 1983 and was General Counsel of Birr, Wilson & Co., Inc., an investment bank,
from 1983  to 1988.  Mr. Machtinger  holds  a B.A.  in Government  from  Harvard
College and a J.D. from the University of California, Davis.
 
    PATRICK  J. ALLEN joined  Hambrecht & Quist  in May 1995  as Vice President,
Finance. From November  1993 to  April 1995 Mr.  Allen was  the Chief  Operating
Officer  of  Cruttenden Roth,  an investment  bank. Mr.  Allen was  previously a
Senior Vice  President with  Kemper  Securities, an  investment bank,  and  held
various  positions  from 1988  to 1993  including Chief  Financial Officer  of a
predecessor firm. Mr. Allen had been an auditor with Price Waterhouse, a  public
accounting firm, in Newport Beach from 1984 to 1988 and holds a B.S. in Business
Administration from California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo.
 
    HOWARD B. HILLMAN joined the Board of Directors of the Company in July 1989.
He  was an officer  of Chemical Bank from  1960 to 1969, and  has been a venture
capitalist since  leaving  Chemical  Bank.  Mr. Hillman  became  a  Director  of
Auto-trol   Technology   Corporation,  a   maker  of   computer-based  technical
information management solutions, in  1973 and its President  in April 1985.  He
also currently serves as Auto-trol's Chairman.
 
    WILLIAM E. MAYER has been a director of the Company since April 1992, except
during  the period of March 1995 to  January 1996. Since October 1992, Mr. Mayer
has been Dean of  the College of  Business and Management  at the University  of
Maryland,  College Park. From September 1991 to  July 1992 Mr. Mayer was Dean of
the Simon Graduate School of Business at the University of Rochester. He is  the
former  Chairman and Chief  Executive Officer of CS  First Boston Merchant Bank.
Before the  establishment of  CS First  Boston  Merchant Bank  in 1990,  he  was
President   and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of  the  First  Boston  Corporation.
 
                                       50
<PAGE>
Mr. Mayer  serves  as  a  director of  Chart  House  Enterprises,  a  restaurant
management  company and Schuller  Corporation, a manufacturer  of insulation and
building products, and is  a trustee of  the Colonial Group  of Mutual Funds,  a
mutual fund company. Mr. Mayer holds a B.S. and an M.B.A. from the University of
Maryland.
 
    EDMUND  H. SHEA, JR.  was elected a  director of the  Company in November of
1986. He  is  a co-founder  of  J.F. Shea  Company,  Inc., a  diversified  civil
construction,  land development and  venture capital company,  and has served as
its Executive Vice President in charge  of Venture Capital since 1968. Mr.  Shea
serves  on  the Board  of Directors  of  ADAC Laboratories  Inc., a  supplier of
radiology and  laboratory information  systems, Ironstone  Group, Inc.,  a  real
estate  information services company, and Vanguard Airlines, a passenger airline
company. Mr. Shea is also on the  Advisory Committee of Bay Partners, a  venture
capital  firm. Mr. Shea holds a B.S. in Engineering from Massachusetts Institute
of Technology.
 
    LAWRENCE J. STUPSKI was elected a  director of the Company in October  1994.
He  has been Vice Chairman of The  Charles Schwab Corporation, a brokerage firm,
since August 1992. Mr. Stupski has also  served as a director of Charles  Schwab
since  November  1986. Before  assuming the  position of  Vice Chairman,  he was
President and Chief Operating Officer of  Charles Schwab between March 1986  and
March  1994. Mr. Stupski  also served on  the Board of  Governors of the Pacific
Stock Exchange from  1982 to  1985, as Director  for the  Chicago Board  Options
Exchange  from  1990 to  1991,  and on  the  Securities and  Exchange Commission
Consumer Advisory Committee in 1994. Mr. Stupski holds an A.B. in Politics  from
Princeton University and a J.D. from Yale Law School.
 
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
    The  following table shows compensation earned  during the fiscal year ended
September 30, 1995  to (i) the  Chief Executive Officer  and (ii) the  Company's
four  other most highly compensated individuals  who were serving as officers on
September 30, 1995 and  whose salary plus bonus  exceeded $100,000 for the  year
ended September 30, 1995 (collectively, the "Named Executive Officers").
 
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               LONG-TERM
                                                                                              COMPENSATION
                                             FISCAL 1995 ANNUAL COMPENSATION         ------------------------------
                                      ---------------------------------------------                     SECURITIES
                                                                    OTHER ANNUAL     RESTRICTED STOCK   UNDERLYING      ALL OTHER
                                                                    COMPENSATION          AWARDS         OPTIONS/     COMPENSATION
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION           SALARY ($)   BONUS ($)(1)          ($)                ($)          SARS (#)        ($)(2)
- ------------------------------------  ----------  --------------  -----------------  -----------------  -----------  ---------------
<S>                                   <C>         <C>             <C>                <C>                <C>          <C>
Daniel H. Case III .................     300,000     2,000,000               --                 --         156,636          4,000
 President, Chief Executive
 Officer and Director(3)
William R. Hambrecht ...............     300,000       933,688(4)            --                 --              --          4,000
 Chairman and Director(4)
William R. Timken ..................     240,000       700,000               --                 --          40,000          4,000
 Vice Chairman and Director(5)
Paul L. Hallingby ..................     240,000       907,000               --                 --         180,000          4,000
 Executive Vice President,
 Institutional Equity,
 H&Q LLC(5)
Cristina M. Morgan .................     240,000     1,425,363(6)            --                 --          80,000          4,000
 Managing Director, Co-Director of
 Investment Banking, H&Q LLC(5)
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1)  Includes bonuses earned  in fiscal 1995  and paid in  fiscal 1996; excludes
    bonuses earned in fiscal 1994 which were paid in fiscal 1995.
 
                                       51
<PAGE>
(2) Represents payments  by the Company  pursuant to the  Company's Savings  and
    Employee Stock Ownership Plan under Internal Revenue Code Section 401(k).
 
(3) Excludes amounts received from Guaranty Finance. See "Certain Transactions."
 
(4)  Includes  $933,688 received  in connection  with participations  in venture
    capital funds profits provided by the Company. See "Certain Transactions."
 
(5) Excludes $28,933, $50,950 and $43,400 in SAR payouts received by Mr. Timken,
    Mr. Hallingby and  Ms. Morgan, respectively.  See "--Aggregated SAR  Payouts
    for Fiscal 1995" and "Management--Compensation Plans."
 
(6)  Includes  $45,363 received  in  connection with  participations  in venture
    capital funds profits provided by the Company. See "Certain Transactions."
 
OPTION AND SAR GRANTS DURING FISCAL 1995
 
    The following tables  set forth  for each  of the  Named Executive  Officers
certain  information  concerning stock  options and  SARs granted  during fiscal
1995, giving effect to the Restructuring:
 
OPTIONS.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
                                                           INDIVIDUAL GRANTS                     VALUE AT ASSUMED
                                           -------------------------------------------------     ANNUAL RATES OF
                                            NUMBER OF    PERCENT OF                                STOCK PRICE
                                           SECURITIES   TOTAL OPTIONS  EXERCISE                  APPRECIATION FOR
                                           UNDERLYING    GRANTED TO     OR BASE                  OPTION TERM (1)
                                             OPTIONS    EMPLOYEES IN     PRICE    EXPIRATION  ----------------------
NAME                                       GRANTED (#)   FISCAL YEAR    ($/SH)       DATE      5% ($)      10% ($)
- -----------------------------------------  -----------  -------------  ---------  ----------  ---------  -----------
<S>                                        <C>          <C>            <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>
William R. Hambrecht.....................          --            --           --          --         --          --
Daniel H. Case III.......................     156,636         17.3%       4.7375   12/01/01     205,018     453,037
William R. Timken........................          --            --           --          --         --          --
Paul L. Hallingby........................      40,000          4.4%       4.7375   10/01/01      52,355     115,692
Cristina M. Morgan.......................          --            --           --          --         --          --
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1) Potential Realizable Value is based on certain assumed rates of appreciation
    pursuant to rules  prescribed by  the SEC. Actual  gains, if  any, on  stock
    option exercises are dependent on the future performance of the stock. There
    can  be  no assurance  that  the amounts  reflected  in this  table  will be
    achieved. In  accordance  with  rules  promulgated  by  the  SEC,  Potential
    Realizable  Value is based upon the exercise  price of the options, which is
    substantially less than the expected initial public offering price.
 
SARS.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                    POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
                                                              INDIVIDUAL GRANTS (1)                   VALUE AT ASSUMED
                                                --------------------------------------------------    ANNUAL RATES OF
                                                 NUMBER OF     PERCENT OF                               STOCK PRICE
                                                SECURITIES     TOTAL SARS                             APPRECIATION FOR
                                                UNDERLYING     GRANTED TO       BASE                    SAR TERM (2)
                                                   SARS       EMPLOYEES IN      PRICE    MATURITY   --------------------
NAME                                            GRANTED (#)    FISCAL YEAR     ($/SH)      DATE      5% ($)     10% ($)
- ----------------------------------------------  -----------  ---------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                             <C>          <C>              <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
William R. Hambrecht..........................          --             --            --     --             --         --
Daniel H. Case III............................          --             --            --     --             --         --
William R. Timken.............................      40,000           2.7%         4.975   9/30/95       9,950     19,900
Paul L. Hallingby.............................     140,000           9.4%         4.975   9/30/95      34,825     69,650
Cristina M. Morgan............................      80,000           5.4%         4.975   9/30/95      19,900     39,800
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1) SARs are awarded  for a term of  one fiscal year. At  the end of the  fiscal
    year  the grantee is allocated an amount equal to the number of SARs granted
    multiplied  by  the  increase   in  the  net  book   value  per  share   (if
 
                                       52
<PAGE>
    any)  of the Company's  stock during such  period. This amount  vests and is
    paid out over  a three year  period with one  third paid out  in the  first,
    second  and  third years  after the  grant  date if  the grantee  remains an
    employee of the Company. See "Management--Compensation Plans."
 
(2) Potential Realizable Value is based on certain assumed rates of appreciation
    pursuant to rules prescribed by the SEC.  Actual gains, if any, on SARs  are
    dependent  on the future performance of the stock. There can be no assurance
    that the amounts  reflected in this  table will be  achieved. In  accordance
    with  rules promulgated by the SEC, Potential Realizable Value is based upon
    the base price of  the SARs, which is  substantially less than the  expected
    initial public offering price.
 
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES DURING FISCAL 1995 AND FISCAL YEAR END OPTION VALUES
 
    The  following table  sets forth  for each  of the  Named Executive Officers
certain information concerning options exercised during fiscal year 1995 and the
number of shares subject to both exercisable and unexercisable stock options  as
of  September 30,  1995, giving effect  to the Restructuring.  Also reported are
values for "in-the-money" options that represent the positive spread between the
respective exercise prices of outstanding options  and the fair market value  of
the Company's Common Stock as of September 30, 1995:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                                             NUMBER OF UNEXERCISED        IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
                                  NUMBER OF                        OPTIONS AT               AT SEPTEMBER 30,
                                   SHARES        VALUE       SEPTEMBER 30, 1995 (#)           1995 (1)($)
                                 ACQUIRED ON   REALIZED    --------------------------  --------------------------
NAME                             EXERCISE (#)     ($)      EXERCISABLE  UNEXERCISABLE  EXERCISABLE  UNEXERCISABLE
- -------------------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -------------  -----------  -------------
<S>                              <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>            <C>          <C>
William R. Hambrecht...........          --           --           --            --            --            --
Daniel H. Case III.............     110,000      274,875    1,045,928       192,900     4,053,856       466,444
William R. Timken..............          --           --       32,000         8,000       141,360        35,340
Paul L. Hallingby..............      70,000      203,975       74,000        76,000       199,465       156,210
Cristina M. Morgan.............      72,000      209,460       56,000         4,000       223,205        17,670
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1)  Calculated by determining  the difference between the  fair market value of
    the securities underlying the option at September 30, 1995 and the  exercise
    price  of the  Named Executive  Officer's option.  There was  no established
    public trading market  for the  Common Stock  underlying the  options as  of
    September  30, 1995. Accordingly, the amounts set forth have been calculated
    based on the difference  between the net book  value per share at  September
    30,  1995 ($6.52 per share) and the  exercise price of the option, which the
    Company's Board of Directors determined to  be the fair market value at  the
    date of grant.
 
AGGREGATED SAR PAYOUTS FOR FISCAL 1995
 
    The  following table  sets forth  for each  of the  Named Executive Officers
certain information concerning SAR payouts  during fiscal year 1995, the  number
of  securities  underlying  SARs  outstanding  at  September  30,  1995  and the
unrealized value of unvested SARs at September 30, 1995.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  SAR PAYOUTS IN   SECURITIES UNDERLYING     UNREALIZED VALUE OF
                                                   FISCAL 1995    SARS AT FISCAL YEAR END  SARS AT FISCAL YEAR END
                                                      ($)(1)             (#SAR'S)                  ($)(2)
                                                  --------------  -----------------------  -----------------------
<S>                                               <C>             <C>                      <C>
William R. Hambrecht............................            --                  --                        --
Daniel H. Case III..............................            --                  --                        --
William R. Timken...............................        28,933             120,000                   144,633
Paul L. Hallingby...............................        50,950             280,000                   433,250
Cristina M. Morgan..............................        43,400             200,000                   133,117
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1) SAR payouts for  fiscal 1995 reflect payouts  of SARs granted during  fiscal
    1993 and 1994.
 
(2)  The unrealized value of SARs at the fiscal year end is calculated by adding
    the unvested and unpaid value of SARs granted in fiscal years 1993, 1994 and
    1995.
 
                                       53
<PAGE>
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
 
    The Company entered into an employment agreement with Daniel H. Case III  in
1992.  The currently effective provisions of  this agreement provide that if H&Q
terminates Case's employment without cause, or if Case resigns within six months
after a change in  control of H&Q, then  (i) H&Q shall pay  Case the greater  of
$400,000  or 25% of his compensation during the preceding two years, (ii) 50% of
his unvested options  shall become vested,  (iii) all options  may be  exercised
within  two years after termination for cash or on a net-exercise basis and (iv)
unless within two years he becomes  employed by another full service  investment
bank, Case can co-invest during such period in H&Q venture capital opportunities
on the same basis as H&Q's executive officers.
 
COMPENSATION PLANS
 
    The   Company's  philosophy  is  to  compensate  employees  based  on  their
individual  performance  and  the   Company's  overall  performance.  Two   main
principles  guiding  this philosophy  are  to pay  market  rates and  to provide
long-term employee stock ownership. H&Q considers equity ownership by  employees
to be critical to its long-term success. When calculating total compensation, it
considers  both cash  compensation and equity  awarded through  stock or options
that vest over time.
 
    1996 BONUS AND  DEFERRED SALES  COMPENSATION PLANS.   The Company's  current
intention  is to  pay semi-annual bonuses  to its  research, investment banking,
trading and administrative professionals. If an eligible employee's compensation
amount equals or exceeds $100,000 for the applicable six-month period, then  80%
of  the employee's  bonus will be  paid in cash  and 20% will  consist of Common
Stock, valued at 90% of current market value. Institutional sales  professionals
will  be paid 80%  of their commission earnings  in cash and 20%  in the form of
Common Stock, valued at 90% of current market value, granted at the end of  each
six  month period. The  stock will vest  over three years  following the date of
grant. At the time of  the bonus payment, the employee  will have the choice  of
declining  to accept Common Stock, and instead to receive cash in exchange for a
three-year note payable to the Company. Such stock will vest and such note  will
be  forgiven by the Company only to the  extent that the employee is employed by
the Company on the first three anniversaries of the bonus date.
 
    1996 EQUITY PLAN.  In June 1996 the Company's Board of Directors adopted the
Company's 1996 Equity  Plan (the "1996  Plan"). The 1996  Plan provides for  the
granting  to employees (including officers  and employee directors) of incentive
stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code  of
1986,  as amended  (the "Code"),  and for  the granting  to employees (including
officers and employee directors) and consultants of nonstatutory stock  options.
The  1996 Plan  also provides  for the granting  of contingent  equity rights to
employees. Unless terminated sooner, the 1996 Plan will terminate  automatically
in October 2006. The Board has authority to amend, suspend or terminate the 1996
Plan,  provided  that no  such  action may  affect  any shares  of  Common Stock
previously issued and sold or any option previously granted under the 1996 Plan.
A total of 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock has been reserved for issuance under
the 1996 Plan.  As of  the date  of this  Prospectus, no  options or  contingent
equity rights have been issued under the 1996 Plan.
 
    The  1996 Plan may be administered by  the Board of Directors or a committee
appointed by the Board (the  "Administrator"), and is currently administered  by
the  Board of Directors. With respect to grants to directors and officers of the
Company who are  subject to  short-swing liability  under Section  16(b) of  the
Securities  and  Exchange Act  of  1934, as  amended  (the "Exchange  Act"), the
Administrator will  be constituted  in  a manner  intended  to comply  with  the
requirements   of  Rule  16b-3   under  the  Exchange   Act  pertaining  to  the
disinterested administration  of  employee  benefit  plans.  If  the  1996  Plan
satisfies the disinterested administration and other requirements of Rule 16b-3,
discretionary grants of options and contingent equity rights under the 1996 Plan
to  persons subject to  liability under Section  16(b) will be  exempt from such
liability to the extent provided by Rule 16b-3. The Administrator has the  power
to  determine the  terms of  the options  and contingent  equity rights granted,
including the exercise  price, the  number of shares  subject to  the option  or
contingent  equity  right  and  the  exercisability  thereof,  and  the  form of
consideration payable upon exercise.
 
    Options and contingent  equity rights granted  under the 1996  Plan are  not
generally  transferable by the grantee except by  will or by the laws of descent
or distribution. Options  are exercisable  during the lifetime  of the  optionee
only  by such optionee.  Options granted under  the 1996 Plan  must be exercised
within three months after  the end of  the optionee's status  as an employee  or
consultant    of    the   Company,    or    within   six    months    (or   such
 
                                       54
<PAGE>
other period of time, not exceeding twelve months, as is determined by the Board
of Directors) after such optionee's death  or disability, but in no event  later
than  the expiration of the option term.  The exercise price of all nonstatutory
stock  options  granted  under  the  1996  Plan  shall  be  determined  by   the
Administrator.
 
    With  respect to any participant who owns  stock possessing more than 10% of
the voting power of  all classes of the  Company's outstanding capital stock  (a
"10%  Shareholder"), the  exercise price of  any incentive  stock option granted
must equal at  least 110% of  the fair market  value on the  date of grant.  The
exercise  price of incentive stock  options for all other  employees shall be no
less than 100%  of the fair  market value per  share on the  date of grant.  The
maximum  term of an option granted under the  1996 Plan may not exceed ten years
from the date  of grant (five  years in the  case of an  incentive stock  option
granted to a 10% Shareholder).
 
    In  the event of a change of control of the Company, each outstanding option
under the 1996 Plan may  be assumed or an  equivalent option substituted by  the
successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation. In
the  event that  the option is  not assumed  or substituted, the  vesting of the
option shall  accelerate by  12 months,  the optionee  shall have  the right  to
exercise  the option  for a  period of  15 days  after receiving  notice of such
change of control,  and the option  will terminate upon  the expiration of  such
period. In such event, the vesting of any unvested shares of stock granted under
a contingent equity right shall accelerate by 12 months.
 
    1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN.  The 1995 Stock Option Plan (the "1995 Option Plan")
was  adopted by the Board  of Directors of Group  California and approved by the
shareholders of Group California. In connection with the Restructuring,  options
granted under the 1995 Option Plan were assumed by the Company, and such options
became exercisable for Common Stock of the Company. At March 31, 1996, 3,835,504
shares  were subject to outstanding options  under the 1995 option plan. Options
granted under the 1995  Option Plan will remain  outstanding in accordance  with
their terms, but no further options will be granted under the 1995 Option Plan.
 
    1995 RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN.  The 1995 Restricted Stock Plan (the "1995 Stock
Plan") was adopted by the Board of Directors and approved by the shareholders of
Group  California. In connection with the  Restructuring, shares of common stock
of Group California  sold under the  1995 Stock Plan  were exchanged for  Common
Stock  of the Company. At  March 31, 1996, 1,920,380  shares had been sold under
the 1995 Stock  Plan. No additional  shares will  be sold under  the 1995  Stock
Plan.
 
    1985 STOCK OPTION PLAN.  The 1985 Stock Option Plan (the "1985 Option Plan")
was  adopted by the Board  of Directors of Group  California and approved by the
shareholders of Group California. In connection with the Restructuring,  options
granted under the 1985 Option Plan were assumed by the Company, and such options
became  exercisable for Common Stock of the  Company. The 1985 Plan provided for
the granting of options  to purchase 4,000,000 shares  of Common Stock of  Group
California. At March 31, 1996, options to purchase 774,658 shares under the 1985
Option  Plan were outstanding.  Options granted under the  1985 Option Plan will
remain outstanding in accordance with their terms. The 1985 Option Plan  expired
by its terms in 1994.
 
    1995  PARTNERSHIP UNIT  PLAN.  The  1995 Limited Partnership  Unit Plan (the
"Unit Plan") was adopted by LP in order to sell limited partnership units of  LP
to directors, officers, and key employees of LP and Group California. A total of
28,780  limited partnership units  were sold under the  Unit Plan. In connection
with the Restructuring,  LP was merged  with and into  the Company, and  limited
partnership  units granted under the Unit Plan  were exchanged for shares of the
Company's Common Stock. No further sales will be made under the Unit Plan.
 
    OPTION GRANTS OUTSIDE  OF PLANS.   From time  to time  Group California  has
granted  options outside  of its plans  to certain officers  and directors. Such
options have covered a total of 2,340,700 shares, and have been exercisable at a
per share exercise price equal to  Group California's net book value per  share,
which approximates its fair market value, on the date of grant.
 
    SESOP.   The Company has adopted a Savings and Employee Stock Ownership Plan
("SESOP") in which all salaried employees are eligible to participate after  six
months  of service.  The SESOP is  comprised of  two major benefit  plans: (1) a
salary deferral (or  401(k)) plan,  in which  the Company  matches every  dollar
contributed  by employees  with a  dollar's worth  of its  Common Stock  up to a
certain amount (currently  $4,000.00 per  year); and (2)  a profit-sharing  plan
which  was instituted in 1976 for the predecessor partnership. Subsequent to the
 
                                       55
<PAGE>
adoption of the SESOP no contributions to the profit-sharing plan have been made
and none are anticipated  (although the plan  continues to allocate  participant
forfeitures).  The  Company's  matching  contributions  and  the  employees' own
contributions are always fully vested. Employees' units in their  profit-sharing
accounts  begin vesting after three  years of service, at  30%, and become fully
vested after 7 years of service  with the Company. The Company's total  matching
contribution to the SESOP for fiscal 1995 was $1,246,645.
 
    SAR  PROGRAM.   Effective October  1, 1992  the Company  established a Stock
Appreciation Rights ("SAR")  program for  certain key executives.  The SARs  are
granted  as of each  October 1st, for a  term of one year  (to coincide with the
Company's fiscal year) and vest over three years. The Company awarded 1,260,000,
1,794,000,  and  2,859,520  SARs  as  of  October  1,  1993,  1994,  and   1995,
respectively.  The SARs will result in additional compensation to the executives
based on the increase,  if any, in  the Company's book  value during the  fiscal
year  following the date  of award. Effective  March 31, 1996,  2,179,520 of the
SARs granted as of October 1, 1995 were revised to a six-month term ended  March
31, 1996. The Company does not expect to make SAR grants in the future.
 
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION MATTERS
 
    The Company's Certificate of Incorporation limits the liability of directors
for  monetary  damages to  the maximum  extent permitted  by Delaware  law. Such
limitation of liability has no effect on the availability of equitable remedies,
such as injunctive relief or rescission. The Company's certificate also provides
for indemnification  of any  director, officer  or employee  made party  to  any
action by reason of the fact that the individual holds such a position.
 
    The  Company's Bylaws provide that the  Company will indemnify its directors
and officers and may indemnify its employees and agents (other than officers and
directors) against  certain  liabilities  to the  fullest  extent  permitted  by
Delaware  law. The  Company is  also empowered  under its  Bylaws to  enter into
indemnification agreements  with  its directors  and  officers and  to  purchase
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or
agent  of the corporation or serving in those and certain other positions at the
request of the Company. The Company has entered into indemnification  agreements
with   each  of   its  current   directors  and   officers  which   provide  for
indemnification of, and advancement of expenses to, such persons to the greatest
extent permitted by  Delaware law,  including by  reason of  action or  inaction
occurring in the past and circumstances in which indemnification and advancement
of expenses are discretionary under Delaware law. It is the opinion of the staff
of  the SEC  that indemnification  provisions such  as those  contained in these
agreements have  no effect  on a  director's or  officer's liability  under  the
federal securities laws.
 
                                       56
<PAGE>
                              CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
 
INCREASE IN EQUITY OWNERSHIP OF DANIEL H. CASE III
 
    In  March  1996,  the Company's  Board  of  Directors approved  a  series of
transactions proposed  by  the  Company's  Compensation  Committee  designed  to
increase the equity ownership of Daniel H. Case III, the Company's President and
Chief   Executive  Officer  to  a  level  commensurate  with  his  position  and
responsibilities. Mr. Case  was promoted  to Chief  Executive Officer  effective
October  1, 1994. The  Board of Directors  decided at that  time that Mr. Case's
access to equity ownership in the Company  should be increased as of Mr.  Case's
promotion  date to be  equivalent to the ownership  position of Company Chairman
William R.  Hambrecht. The  Board delegated  to the  Compensation Committee  the
determination   of  Mr.   Case's  equity  programs.   Because  the  Compensation
Committee's determination  was not  completed until  early in  fiscal 1996,  Mr.
Case's  options to  purchase Common  Stock, described  below, were  valued as of
September 30, 1995. As a partial make-up, the Board determined to pay Mr. Case a
bonus of $1,951,929 (the "Make-Up Bonus") which on a pre-tax basis equalled  the
difference  in the fair value of the Company's Common Stock between October 1994
and October  1995. In  March 1996:  (i)  The Board  accelerated the  vesting  of
options  to purchase 161,576 shares of Common Stock; (ii) Mr. Case exercised all
of his then outstanding options covering 1,238,828 shares of Common Stock,  with
a  weighted average exercise price of  approximately $2.838 per share; (iii) Mr.
Case exercised such options with promissory notes for $3,515,352; (iv) Mr.  Case
resold  169,428 of the purchased shares to the Company for $6.518 cash per share
(the then  fair market  value of  the  shares in  the opinion  of the  Board  of
Directors),  or  a total  of $1,104,247;  (v) the  Company's Board  of Directors
granted Mr.  Case a  nonstatutory stock  option to  purchase 892,680  shares  of
Common  Stock at an exercise price of  $6.518 per share. Mr. Case also purchased
3,616 Units  of  LP with  a  promissory note  for  $1,133,698. As  part  of  the
Restructuring,  such Units were exchanged for 86,784 additional shares of Common
Stock. Each of the above-referenced promissory notes has a five-year term, bears
interest of six  percent per annum,  and is to  be repaid from  Mr. Case's  cash
bonuses  at a rate of 20%  of any such bonuses. Mr.  Case has applied all of the
proceeds of the  Make-Up Bonus described  above after withholding  for taxes  to
prepay  approximately $1,260,000 such notes. Mr.  Case also intends to apply all
cash proceeds, net of tax, from his Restructuring distribution and a portion  of
the Guaranty Finance transactions described below as an additional prepayment of
notes.
 
GUARANTY FINANCE
 
    Prior to the Restructuring, LP owned seventy percent of Guaranty Finance and
Mr.  Case  indirectly  owned  approximately 15%  of  the  outstanding  equity of
Guaranty Finance  and indirectly  held an  option to  purchase approximately  3%
additional  equity  in  Guaranty Finance.  Mr.  Case has  also  rendered certain
consulting services to Guaranty Finance. Mr. Case co-founded Guaranty Finance in
1983 and  purchased his  interest at  fair  market value  at the  time  Guaranty
Finance   was  initially  capitalized  in  1985.  Subsequently,  Mr.  Case  made
additional investments  or  increased  his percentage  ownership  indirectly  in
Guaranty Finance, principally by paying taxes on his share of Guaranty Finance's
partnership  income for  which there were  not always  distributions by Guaranty
Finance, and by foregoing  his share of a  $1.7 million distribution that  Group
California  received from Guaranty Finance in 1992. During fiscal 1993, 1994 and
1995 and  the  six months  ended  March 31,  1996,  Mr. Case  received  $86,300,
$51,653,   $241,189  and   $179,583,  respectively  from   Guaranty  Finance  as
compensation  for  consulting  services,  distribution  on  capital  and  profit
sharing.  Of such aggregate of $558,735 paid  to Mr. Case since October 1, 1992,
the portions relating to consulting  services, profit sharing and  distributions
on capital were $86,250, $139,999 and $332,677, respectively.
 
    Immediately prior to the Restructuring, Guaranty Finance will (a) distribute
certain  non-operating assets to its equity  holders, including Case and LP, (b)
repurchase all outstanding  options to  purchase additional  equity in  Guaranty
Finance  and  (c)  accrue  and  pay  out  deferred  profit  sharing  obligations
representing approximately 10% of all net investment gains (the "Distribution").
Mr. Case's proportionate share  of the Distribution  had a value  as of May  31,
1996  of approximately $1.9 million, of  which approximately $325,000 is subject
to repayment in  part if  Mr. Case terminates  his employment  with the  Company
prior to December 31, 1999.
 
    In connection with the Restructuring and in order to avoid any appearance of
conflict  of  interest  in the  future,  the  Company will  purchase  Mr. Case's
interest in Guaranty Finance for  $1,734,000 plus Mr. Case's proportionate  part
of  the  proceeds  from  the  sales,  after  May  31,  1996  and  prior  to  the
Restructuring, of any
 
                                       57
<PAGE>
additional assets which  otherwise would have  been distributed as  part of  the
Distribution.  The $1,734,000 represents the fair  market value at May 31, 1996,
of Mr.  Case's proportionate  part  of assets  expected  to remain  in  Guaranty
Finance  after the Distribution. Following the Restructuring, Mr. Case will have
no further interest in the profits of Guaranty Finance and has waived his rights
to any further consulting fees or profit sharing from Guaranty Finance.
 
ISSUANCES OF SECURITIES TO OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
 
    H&Q has made numerous sales of Common Stock to directors, executive officers
and other employees during the last  three fiscal years and since the  beginning
of  the  current fiscal  year.  The following  table  summarizes such  sales, as
adjusted to reflect the Restructuring:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                    SIX MONTHS
                                                                                                                    ENDED MARCH
                                                                                                                     31, 1996
                                            FISCAL 1993 (1)           FISCAL 1994 (1)          FISCAL 1995 (1)          (1)
                                        ------------------------  ------------------------  ----------------------  -----------
                                                      AGGREGATE                 AGGREGATE                AGGREGATE
                                                      PURCHASE                  PURCHASE                 PURCHASE
NAME                                    SHARES (#)      PRICE     SHARES (#)      PRICE     SHARES (#)     PRICE    SHARES (#)
- --------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------  -----------
<S>                                     <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>        <C>
Daniel H. Case III....................      36,000    $  86,980      265,852    $ 396,714      110,000   $ 266,125   1,541,371
William R. Hambrecht..................      16,000    $  44,880      323,296    $ 258,277           --          --          --
William R. Timken.....................     140,000    $ 297,840      165,600    $ 106,053           --          --          --
Cristina M. Morgan....................      11,080    $  25,152       66,880    $ 146,612       72,000   $ 171,390     115,845
Paul L. Hallingby.....................      50,000    $ 102,000       86,680    $ 145,445       85,680   $ 243,675     278,000
Bruce M. Lupatkin.....................          --           --       24,544    $  29,767       60,000   $ 143,250      66,783
William E. Mayer......................      20,000    $  56,100       25,120    $  80,651       22,400   $  99,500      34,400
Edmund H. Shea, Jr....................       6,664    $  18,693       55,759    $  35,709           --          --      49,984
Patrick J. Allen......................          --           --           --           --           --          --      37,520
Howard B. Hillman.....................      20,000    $  56,100        8,160    $   5,226           --          --          --
Steven N. Machtinger..................      12,000    $  33,660       15,840    $  10,144       44,480   $ 122,100      46,561
David M. McAuliffe....................          --           --           --           --      186,400   $1,039,275     13,281
Raymond J. Minehan....................      12,000    $  33,000       18,720    $  11,989       60,000   $ 157,050      33,121
Lawrence J. Stupski...................          --           --           --           --       22,400   $  99,500          --
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                        AGGREGATE
                                        PURCHASE
NAME                                      PRICE
- --------------------------------------  ---------
<S>                                     <C>
Daniel H. Case III....................  $5,926,661
William R. Hambrecht..................         --
William R. Timken.....................         --
Cristina M. Morgan....................  $ 642,086
Paul L. Hallingby.....................  $1,596,974
Bruce M. Lupatkin.....................  $ 477,323
William E. Mayer......................  $ 100,080
Edmund H. Shea, Jr....................  $ 151,964
Patrick J. Allen......................  $ 271,930
Howard B. Hillman.....................         --
Steven N. Machtinger..................  $ 212,730
David M. McAuliffe....................  $ 174,386
Raymond J. Minehan....................  $ 164,941
Lawrence J. Stupski...................         --
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------------
(1) Share number  and aggregate  purchase price  figures have  been adjusted  to
    reflect  the exchange of Group California shares  and LP units for shares of
    Hambrecht & Quist Group, Inc. in connection with the Restructuring.
 
PARTICIPATION BY EMPLOYEES AND OFFICERS IN VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS
 
    Employees and officers of the Company  are required to offer to the  Company
opportunities  which  they  encounter  to invest  in  private  companies  in the
Company's areas  of  focus.  The Company  has  the  right to  take  its  desired
investment   position  in  such  opportunities.  If  the  Company  rejects  such
opportunity, the originating employee may  make such investment. If the  Company
invests  in such opportunities, it  typically will invest an  amount equal to at
least twice the amount  of the largest investment  by a Company employee.  After
the  Company takes its  desired investment position  it will typically syndicate
such opportunities for  investment by  eligible employees  and selected  outside
investors. Occasionally, H&Q will be asked to participate in an investment which
is  not  a candidate  for syndication  to  all eligible  H&Q employees.  In such
instance, a small number of H&Q employees directly involved with the Company  or
the  transaction may  invest side-by-side with  H&Q (or one  of its wholly-owned
subsidiaries) on a  direct, non-syndicated  basis. A  Small Business  Investment
Company  that is wholly-owned by  William R. Hambrecht and  his family, and J.F.
Shea Co.,  Inc. and  other  affiliates of  Edmund H.  Shea,  a director  of  the
Company,  each regularly invests side-by-side with the Company's venture capital
funds and commits capital  to venture capital funds  affiliated with H&Q.  Other
directors of the Company may also invest side-by-side with the Company's venture
capital  funds or may commit capital to H&Q affiliated venture capital funds and
have from time to time done  so. Side-by-side investments are generally made  on
the   same  terms  as  those  applicable  to  other  participants  in  the  same
transaction. The following table summarizes venture capital investments made and
capital committed  to H&Q  affiliated  venture capital  funds by  the  Company's
Directors  and Executive Officers in each of  the last three fiscal years and in
the six month period ended March 31, 1996:
 
                                       58
<PAGE>
                 VENTURE INVESTMENTS BY OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             SIX MONTHS
                                                                                               ENDED
                                                                                             MARCH 31,
NAME                                              FISCAL 1993   FISCAL 1994   FISCAL 1995       1996
- ------------------------------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
<S>                                               <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
William R. Hambrecht (1)........................  $  1,111,625  $  1,401,668  $    749,354  $    591,312
Daniel H. Case III (2)..........................       234,449       132,145       238,196       207,222
William R. Timken (3)...........................       732,170       764,725       549,771       323,431
Paul L. Hallingby...............................        27,380        32,000        15,000        52,503
Cristina M. Morgan..............................       111,174        88,076        71,215       151,522
David M. McAuliffe..............................            --            --            --            --
Bruce M. Lupatkin...............................        45,565        31,792         6,000        32,992
Raymond J. Minehan..............................            --            --         2,500         8,001
Steven N. Machtinger............................         6,982        11,900        11,500        19,000
Patrick J. Allen................................            --            --         7,000         4,501
William E. Mayer................................       410,161       230,412       240,079       153,002
Howard B. Hillman...............................       567,934       374,310       680,811       447,800
Edmund H. Shea, Jr. (4).........................     2,513,579     7,905,869     2,623,206     1,451,011
Lawrence J. Stupski.............................            --        47,000       180,280        90,502
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1) Includes investments made  by a Small Business  Investment Company owned  by
    Mr.  Hambrecht and  his family. Also  includes investments  in venture funds
    managed by Asia Pacific.
 
(2) Includes investments made by Stacey Case, Mr. Case's wife.
 
(3) Includes investments in venture funds managed by Asia Pacific.
 
(4) Includes investments  made by Edmund  & Mary Shea  Real Property Trust,  and
    J.F. Shea Co., Inc. which Mr. Shea may be deemed to control.
 
    In addition to their pro rata return on investment, the Company allocates to
certain of its professionals, including certain of those listed above, a portion
of  the  profits realized  from particular  venture  investments based  on their
specific contribution to identifying, structuring and managing the investment.
 
INDEBTEDNESS OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
 
    The Company's  executive  officers  and directors  listed  below  have  been
indebted  to the Company in the amounts and for the periods set forth below. The
purpose of the indebtedness in each case is to permit the exercise of options to
purchase Common Stock of the Company, to purchase restricted Common Stock or  to
purchase LP units. All such indebtedness is due five years after issuance, bears
interest  at approximately  the minimum  rate necessary  to avoid  imputation of
interest income for  tax purposes and  is secured by  the shares purchased  with
recourse  against  the borrower  only  to the  extent  of the  borrower's equity
interest in the
 
                                       59
<PAGE>
Company and the borrower's contractual  rights to receive compensation from  the
Company. "Type A" indebtedness is repayable with 15% of the gross amount of each
semi-annual  Company  bonus  withheld  from the  borrower's  net  pay.  "Type B"
indebtedness is forgiven at the rate of 20% of the initial principal amount  and
accrued interest at January 15, of each year of the term of such indebtedness.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                          FISCAL 1993            FISCAL 1994             FISCAL 1995             MARCH 31, 1996
                                      --------------------  ----------------------  ----------------------  ------------------------
                                       TYPE A     TYPE B      TYPE A      TYPE B      TYPE A      TYPE B       TYPE A       TYPE B
                                      ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ------------  ----------
<S>                                   <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>           <C>
William R. Hambrecht................  $      --  $      --  $       --  $   49,184  $       --  $   36,688  $         --  $   24,592
Daniel H. Case III (1)..............         --     67,280          --     173,420     648,523     341,880     5,186,288     302,206
William R. Timken...................     72,368         --          --          --          --          --            --          --
Paul L. Hallingby...................     91,650         --     127,445          --     499,963          --       762,492          --
Cristina M. Morgan..................         --     67,280          --     142,680     143,250     210,805        93,801     174,883
David M. McAuliffe..................         --         --          --          --          --     216,000       246,844     208,519
Bruce M. Lupatkin...................         --     67,280          --      50,460     359,250      33,640       584,999      16,820
Raymond J. Minehan..................     92,328         --      53,828          --     242,130          --       306,370          --
Steven N. Machtinger................     79,828         --      41,328          --     139,515      18,950       272,485      14,970
Patrick J. Allen....................         --         --          --          --     108,000      43,200       204,957      44,781
William E. Mayer....................         --         --          --          --          --          --       170,980          --
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1)  Mr. Case's indebtedness is  repayable in installments of  20% of Mr. Case's
    cash bonuses, if any.
 
SECURITIES TRADING FOR EMPLOYEES
 
    From time to time,  directors, officers and other  employees of the  Company
may buy or sell securities to or from H&Q LLC as principal or through H&Q LLC as
agent   in  its  capacity   as  a  registered   securities  broker-dealer.  Such
transactions are generally  executed on terms  (i.e., commissions, mark-ups  and
mark-downs)  more  favorable to  the employee-customer  than those  available to
similarly-situated non-employee customers of the Company.
 
                                       60
<PAGE>
                             PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
 
    The  following  table  sets  forth  certain  information  with  respect   to
beneficial  ownership of the Company's  Common Stock as of  May 31, 1996, and as
adjusted to reflect the completion of this offering, by (i) each Named Executive
Officer, (ii) each director, (iii) each holder of more than five percent of  the
Company's  Common Stock and (iv) all current directors and executive officers as
a group. Except as indicated in the  footnotes to this table, the persons  named
in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of
Common  Stock shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to community property
laws where applicable.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         PERCENTAGE OF SHARES
                                                                                             BENEFICIALLY
                                                                             NUMBER OF        OWNED (1)
                                                                              SHARES     --------------------
                                                                            BENEFICIALLY  BEFORE      AFTER
DIRECTORS, NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND 5% BENEFICIAL OWNERS                 OWNED (1)   OFFERING   OFFERING
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                         <C>          <C>        <C>
William R. Hambrecht (2)..................................................   2,893,416       15.5%
Daniel H. Case III (3)....................................................   2,000,736       10.7%
William R. Timken (4).....................................................   1,564,644        8.4%
Paul L. Hallingby (5).....................................................     639,546        3.4%
Cristina M. Morgan (6)....................................................     404,918        2.2%
William E. Mayer (7)......................................................     112,800           *          *
Howard B. Hillman (8).....................................................      80,320           *          *
Edmund H. Shea, Jr. (9)...................................................     524,584        2.8%
Lawrence J. Stupski (10)..................................................      43,200           *          *
Savings and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (11)............................   1,920,571       10.3%
All executive officers and directors as a group (14 persons) (12).........   9,229,474       48.6%
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
*   Less than 1%
 
(1) Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the  SEC.
    In  computing the number  of shares beneficially  owned by a  person and the
    percentage ownership  of that  person,  shares of  Common Stock  subject  to
    options  held by that  person that are  currently exercisable or exercisable
    within 60 days of May 31, 1996 are deemed outstanding. Such shares, however,
    are not  deemed outstanding  for the  purposes of  computing the  percentage
    ownership  of each other  person. To the Company's  knowledge, except as set
    forth in the  footnotes to this  table and subject  to applicable  community
    property laws, each person named in the table has sole voting and investment
    power  with respect  to the  shares set  forth opposite  such person's name.
    Except as otherwise indicated,  the address of each  of the persons in  this
    table  is as follows: c/o Hambrecht & Quist, One Bush Street, San Francisco,
    California 94104.
 
(2) Includes 27,560 shares held in trust by SESOP and in the Group Trust.
 
(3) Includes 18,144 shares held in trust by SESOP and in the Group Trust.
 
(4) Includes options to purchase 32,000 shares exercisable within 60 days of May
    31, 1996 and 27,044 shares held in trust by SESOP and in the Group Trust.
 
(5) Includes options to purchase 16,000 shares exercisable within 60 days of May
    31, 1996 and 27,546 shares held in trust by SESOP and in the Group Trust.
 
(6) Includes options to purchase 16,000 shares exercisable within 60 days of May
    31, 1996 and 26,193 shares held in trust by SESOP and in the Group Trust.
 
(7) Includes options to purchase 8,000 shares exercisable within 60 days of  May
    31, 1996.
 
(8) Includes options to purchase 51,200 shares exercisable within 60 days of May
    31, 1996.
 
(9)  Includes options to purchase 1,600 shares exercisable within 60 days of May
    31, 1996.
 
                                       61
<PAGE>
(10) Includes options to  purchase 16,000 shares exercisable  within 60 days  of
    May 31, 1996.
 
(11)  Represents shares held  in the SESOP  for the benefit  of employees of the
    Company. See "Management-- Compensation Plans". The Trustee of the SESOP  is
    BZW Barclays Global Investors located at 420 Montgomery Street, Third Floor,
    San  Francisco,  CA  94104. Each  beneficiary  is entitled  to  instruct the
    Trustee as to  the voting  or tendering  of any  full or  partial shares  of
    Company  Stock held on  his or her  behalf. Excludes 230,468  shares held by
    Group Trust.
 
(12) Includes options to purchase 152,800  shares exercisable within 60 days  of
    May  31, 1996  and 174,701 shares  held in trust  by SESOP and  in the Group
    Trust.
 
                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
    Prior to the closing of this  offering, the authorized capital stock of  the
Company  will consist of 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per
share, and 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share.
 
COMMON STOCK
 
    As of May 31, 1996, there were 18,620,711 shares of Common Stock outstanding
(after giving effect to the Restructuring)  held of record by approximately  260
stockholders.  Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share on all
matters to be voted  upon by the stockholders.  Except as otherwise provided  by
law,  the holders of shares of Common stock vote as one class, together with any
other class or series of stock conferred with general class voting rights by the
Company's Certificate of  Incorporation. Holders  of Common  Stock may  cumulate
their votes in the election of directors. After the completion of this offering,
the  officers  and  directors  of  the Company  will  beneficially  own,  in the
aggregate, approximately --% of the outstanding Common Stock. These persons  may
be  able to elect all of the directors  to be elected at each annual meeting and
to cast a sufficient number of votes  to control all other matters subject to  a
vote  of the stockholders. Subject to preferences  that may be applicable to any
outstanding Preferred Stock, the holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive
ratably such dividends,  if any, as  may be declared  from time to  time by  the
Board  of Directors out  of funds legally  available therefor. Dividend payments
and advances to the Company by H&Q  LLC are restricted by the provisions of  the
net  capital  rules  of  the  NYSE,  the SEC  and  the  NASD.  See  "Net Capital
Requirements." In the event of a  liquidation, dissolution or winding up of  the
Company, the holders of Common Stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets
remaining  after payment of liabilities, subject  to prior liquidation rights of
Preferred Stock, if any, then outstanding. The Common Stock has no preemptive or
conversion rights  or other  subscription  rights. There  are no  redemption  or
sinking  fund provisions applicable to the  Common Stock. All outstanding shares
of Common Stock  are fully  paid and non-assessable,  and the  shares of  Common
Stock  to be  outstanding upon completion  of the offering  contemplated by this
Prospectus will be fully paid and non-assessable.
 
PREFERRED STOCK
 
    The Company's Certificate  of Incorporation authorizes  5,000,000 shares  of
Preferred  Stock, none of which are outstanding.  The Board of Directors has the
authority to issue the shares  of Preferred Stock in one  or more series and  to
fix  the rights, preferences, privileges and  restrictions granted to or imposed
upon any unissued  shares of Preferred  Stock and  to fix the  number of  shares
constituting any series and the designations of such series, without any further
vote  or action by the stockholders. The Board of Directors, without stockholder
approval, can  issue Preferred  Stock with  voting and  conversion rights  which
could  adversely affect  the voting  power of the  holders of  Common Stock. The
issuance of  Preferred Stock  may  have the  effect  of delaying,  deferring  or
preventing  a change of control of the Company. The Company has no present plans
to issue any of the Preferred Stock.
 
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS
 
    Certain provisions of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and  Bylaws
and  applicable law,  could make the  acquisition of  the Company by  means of a
tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise and the removal of incumbent officers
and  directors  more  difficult.  The  Company's  Certificate  of  Incorporation
authorizes  the Board  of Directors  to designate  and issue  Preferred Stock as
described above.
 
                                       62
<PAGE>
    The  Company's  Bylaws  permit  the  Board  of  Directors  to  establish  by
resolution  the authorized  number of directors,  and the  Company currently has
seven directors authorized. The Company's Certificate of Incorporation  provides
for  a classified Board of Directors divided into three classes: Class I expires
at the annual meeting of  stockholders to be held in  1997; Class II expires  at
the annual meeting of the stockholders to be held in 1998; and Class III expires
at  the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 1999. The Class I directors
are Messrs. Timken and Hillman; the  Class II directors are Messrs. Mayer,  Shea
and Case; and the Class III directors are Messrs. Stupski and Hambrecht. At each
annual  meeting  of stockholders  beginning with  the  1996 annual  meeting, the
successors to directors whose terms are  expiring will be elected to serve  from
the  time of election and qualification until the third annual meeting following
election and until their  successors have been duly  elected and qualified.  Any
additional  directorships resulting from an increase  in the number of directors
will be distributed among the three classes so that, as nearly as possible, each
class will consist  of an  equal number of  directors. This  system of  electing
directors  may tend to  discourage a third  party from making  a tender offer or
otherwise attempting  to obtain  control of  the Company  and may  maintain  the
incumbency  of the Board of  Directors, as it generally  makes it more difficult
for stockholders to replace a majority of the directors.
 
    The Company's Bylaws also provide  for cumulative voting. Cumulative  voting
generally  means that each stockholder is entitled to as many votes as there are
directors to be elected at  a meeting or by  written consent, and a  stockholder
can  aggregate all such votes in the  election of one director, or allocate such
votes among the nominees as the stockholder desires. The Bylaws further  provide
that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by the Company's Chief
Executive  officer, the Chairman of the Board,  a majority of the members of the
Company's Board of Directors or stockholders holding shares entitled to cast ten
percent of the votes at a meeting
 
    The Company is subject  to Section 203 of  the Delaware General  Corporation
Law,  which prohibits a public Delaware corporation from engaging in a "business
combination" with an "interested stockholder" for a period of three years  after
the  date  of  the  transaction  in  which  such  person  became  an  interested
stockholder unless: (i)  prior to  such date,  the Board  of Directors  approved
either  the  business  combination  or the  transaction  which  resulted  in the
stockholder becoming  an  interested  stockholder;  or  (ii)  upon  becoming  an
interested  stockholder, the stockholder  then owned at least  85% of the voting
stock, as defined in Section 203; or (iii) subsequent to such date, the business
combination is approved  by both the  Board of  Directors and by  holders of  at
least  66 2/3% of  the corporation's outstanding  voting stock, excluding shares
owned by  the interested  stockholder. For  these purposes,  the term  "business
combination"  includes mergers, asset sales  and other similar transactions with
an "interested  stockholder."  An  "interested stockholder"  is  a  person  who,
together with affiliates and associates, owns (or, within the prior three years,
did own) 15% or more of the corporation's voting stock.
 
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
 
    The  Transfer Agent  and Registrar  for the  Common Stock  is American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company.
 
                        SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
    Upon  completion  of  this  offering,  the  Company  will  have  outstanding
         shares of Common Stock (assuming no exercise of outstanding options. In
reliance  upon "no-action"  letters issued by  the SEC  relating to transactions
under Section  3(a)(10) of  the  Securities Act,  these  shares will  be  freely
tradeable  without restriction under the Securities Act assuming the issuance of
a permit  qualifying the  shares following  a public  hearing conducted  by  the
California  Commissioner  of  Corporations  on the  fairness  of  the  terms and
conditions of the Restructuring.
 
    The            shares issued in the  Restructuring, and the shares  issuable
upon  the exercise of options assumed in connection with the Restructuring, will
be subject to lockup restrictions (the "Lockup"), unless released earlier by all
of Hambrecht & Quist LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and the Company. The
Lockup prohibits the  disposition of any  such shares until  the date 18  months
after  the date of this Prospectus  ("Effective Date"), provided that six months
after the Effective Date each stockholder may sell the greater of 10,000  shares
or  5%  of  such stockholder's  shares  outstanding  on the  Effective  Date (an
aggregate maximum of  approximately 2,115,000 shares),  and twelve months  after
the Effective Date each stockholder may sell an
 
                                       63
<PAGE>
additional  amount equal to the  greater of 10,000 shares  or 5% of the holder's
shares outstanding on  the Effective  Date (an additional  aggregate maximum  of
approximately  1,519,000  shares).  Any  shares subject  to  the  Lockup  may be
released at any time with or without notice to the public.
 
    In addition to the  Lockup, certain stockholders will  be subject to  volume
limitations imposed by Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
 
    At March 31, 1996, the Company had reserved 8,327,384 shares of Common Stock
for issuance pursuant to its stock plans, of which options to purchase 5,327,384
shares  were outstanding under  the stock plans.  The Company intends  to file a
registration statement under the Securities Act approximately 180 days after the
date of this Prospectus to  register shares to be  issued pursuant to the  stock
plans.  Shares of Common Stock issued under  the stock plans after the effective
date of  such registration  statement will  be freely  tradeable in  the  public
market,  subject to  lockup restrictions  and subject  in the  case of  sales by
affiliates to  the  amount,  manner  of  sale,  notice  and  public  information
requirements of Rule 144.
 
    Prior  to this  offering, there  has been  no public  market for  the Common
Stock, and there can be no assurance  that an active public market will  develop
or,   if  developed,  will  be  sustained  following  this  offering.  Sales  of
substantial amounts of Common Stock in the public market could adversely  affect
the market price of the Common Stock.
 
                                       64
<PAGE>
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
    Subject  to  the terms  and conditions  of  the Underwriting  Agreement, the
Underwriters named below, through their Representatives, Hambrecht & Quist  LLC,
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Smith Barney Inc. have severally agreed to
purchase  from the Company the following  respective numbers of shares of Common
Stock:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    NUMBER OF
UNDERWRITER                                                                           SHARES
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------
<S>                                                                                 <C>
Hambrecht & Quist LLC.............................................................
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated.................................................
Smith Barney Inc..................................................................
                                                                                    ----------
      Total.......................................................................
                                                                                    ----------
                                                                                    ----------
</TABLE>
 
    The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the Underwriters
are subject  to  certain conditions  precedent,  including the  absence  of  any
material  adverse change  in the Company's  business and the  receipt of certain
certificates, opinions  and  letters  from  the  Company  and  its  counsel  and
independent  auditors. The nature  of the Underwriters'  obligation is such that
they are committed to purchase all shares of Common Stock offered hereby if  any
of such shares are purchased.
 
    The Underwriters propose to offer the shares of Common Stock directly to the
public  at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover page of this
Prospectus and to certain dealers at such price less a concession not in  excess
of  $     per share. The  Underwriters may allow and such dealers may re-allow a
concession not in  excess of  $       per share  to certain  other dealers.  The
Underwriters  have informed the Company that they do not intend to confirm sales
to any  accounts over  which they  exercise discretionary  authority. After  the
initial  public offering  of the  shares, the  offering price  and other selling
terms may be changed by the Representatives of the Underwriters.
 
    The Company has granted to the Underwriters an option, exercisable no  later
than  30 days after the  date of this Prospectus,  to purchase up to
additional shares of Common Stock at the initial public offering price, less the
underwriting discount, set forth  on the cover page  of this Prospectus. To  the
extent the Underwriters exercise such option, each of the Underwriters will have
a firm commitment to purchase approximately the same percentage thereof that the
number  of shares of Common Stock to be purchased by it shown in the table above
bears to the total number of shares of Common Stock offered hereby. The  Company
will be obligated, pursuant to the option, to sell shares to the Underwriters to
the  extent the option  is exercised. The Underwriters  may exercise such option
only to cover over-allotments made in  connection with the sale of Common  Stock
offered hereby.
 
    The  offering of the shares is made for delivery when, as and if accepted by
the Underwriters and subject  to prior sale and  to withdrawal, cancellation  or
modification  of the offering without notice. The Underwriters reserve the right
to reject an order for the purchase of shares in whole or in part.
 
    The Company  has  agreed  to  indemnify  the  Underwriters  against  certain
liabilities,  including liabilities under the  Securities Act, and to contribute
to payments the Underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof.
 
    The Company has agreed that it will not, without the Representatives'  prior
written consent, offer, sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock,
options,  rights or  warrants to acquire  shares of Common  Stock, or securities
exchangeable for or convertible into shares  of Common Stock during the  180-day
period  commencing on the date  of this Prospectus, except  that the Company may
grant additional options under its stock option plans.
 
    Prior to  this offering,  there has  been no  public market  for the  Common
Stock. The initial public offering price for the Common Stock will be determined
by  negotiation among the Company and  the Representatives. Among the factors to
be considered in determining  the initial public  offering price are  prevailing
market  conditions, revenues and  earnings of the  Company, market valuations of
other companies engaged in activities similar  to the Company, estimates of  the
business   potential  and  prospects  of  the  Company,  the  present  state  of
 
                                       65
<PAGE>
the Company's business  operations, the Company's  management and other  factors
deemed  relevant. The estimated initial public offering price range set forth on
the cover  of  this Prospectus  is  subject to  change  as a  result  of  market
conditions and other factors.
 
    Under  the  provisions  of  Schedule  E  to  the  by-laws  of  the  National
Association of Securities Dealers,  Inc. ("NASD"), when an  NASD member such  as
Hambrecht  & Quist LLC participates in  the distribution of its parent company's
securities, the public offering price can be no higher than that recommended  by
a  "qualified independent underwriter" meeting  certain standards. In accordance
with this requirement, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated has agreed to serve  in
such  role  and to  recommend a  price  in compliance  with the  requirements of
Schedule E.
 
SUBSEQUENT RESTRICTIONS
 
    NYSE Rule 312(g) prohibits a  member corporation, after the distribution  of
securities  of its parent to the  public, from effecting any transaction (except
on an unsolicited  basis) for  the account  of any  customer in,  or making  any
recommendation  with respect to, any such security. Thus, following the offering
of the shares, Hambrecht & Quist  LLC and the Company's other subsidiaries  will
not  be permitted to make recommendations regarding  the purchase or sale of the
Company's Common Stock.
 
    The current by-laws  of the NASD  prohibit employees of  the Company,  their
spouses  and,  under certain  circumstances,  other members  of  their immediate
families who purchase any of the  shares offered hereby from selling,  pledging,
assigning,  hypothecating or transferring such shares for a period of six months
following the effective date of the offering.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
    The validity of  the shares of  Common Stock offered  hereby will be  passed
upon  for  the  Company  by  Wilson  Sonsini  Goodrich  &  Rosati,  Professional
Corporation, Palo Alto, California.  Certain legal matters  will be passed  upon
for  the Underwriters by Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson & Tatum, San Francisco,
California. Each of  these firms has  in the past  represented and continues  to
represent, the Company on a regular basis and in a variety of matters other than
this  offering. In addition,  an investment fund  associated with Cooley Godward
Castro Huddleson  &  Tatum  currently has  approximately  $200,000  invested  in
certain  limited partnerships established by the Company to make venture capital
investments.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
    The audited financial statements included  in this Prospectus and  elsewhere
in  the  Registration  Statement  have  been  audited  by  Arthur  Andersen LLP,
independent public accountants, to the extent  and for the periods indicated  in
their  reports, and are included  herein in reliance upon  the authority of said
firm as experts in giving said reports.
 
                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
    The Company  has  filed  with  the Commission,  Washington,  D.C.  20549,  a
Registration Statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
with  respect  to the  Common  Stock offered  hereby.  This Prospectus  does not
contain all of the information set  forth in the Registration Statement and  the
exhibits  and schedules  thereto. For  further information  with respect  to the
Company and such Common Stock, reference  is made to the Registration  Statement
and  the exhibits and  schedules filed as part  thereof. Statements contained in
this Prospectus  as  to the  contents  of any  contract  or any  other  document
referred  to  are  not necessarily  complete,  and,  in each  instance,  if such
contract or document is filed  as an exhibit, reference is  made to the copy  of
such  contract or  document filed as  an exhibit to  the Registration Statement,
each such statement being  qualified in all respects  by such reference to  such
exhibit.  A copy of  the Registration Statement, and  the exhibits and schedules
thereto, may  be inspected  without charge  at the  public reference  facilities
maintained  by the Commission in Room  1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's regional offices located at the Northwestern
Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661  and
Seven  World Trade Center, 13th  Floor, New York, New  York 10048, and copies of
all or any part of the Registration Statement may be obtained from such  offices
upon the payment of the fees prescribed by the Commission.
 
                                       66
<PAGE>
                     INDEX TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                     <C>
Report of Independent Public Accountants..............................................        F-2
Combined Balance Sheets as of September 30, 1994 and 1995.............................        F-3
Combined Statements of Operations for the years ended September 30, 1993, 1994 and
 1995.................................................................................        F-4
Combined Statements of Changes of Shareholders' Equity and Partners' Capital for the
 years ended September 30, 1993, 1994 and 1995........................................        F-5
Combined Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended September 30, 1993, 1994 and
 1995.................................................................................        F-6
Notes to Combined Financial Statements--September 30, 1995............................        F-8
Combined Balance Sheets as of September 30, 1995 and March 31, 1996 (unaudited).......       F-23
Combined Statements of Operations for the six months ended March 31, 1995 and 1996
 (unaudited)..........................................................................       F-24
Combined Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended March 31, 1995 and 1996
 (unaudited)..........................................................................       F-25
Condensed Notes to Combined Financial Statements--March 31, 1996 (unaudited)..........       F-26
Selected Pro Forma Financial Data (unaudited).........................................       F-30
Pro Forma Combined Balance Sheet as of March 31, 1996 (unaudited).....................       F-31
Pro Forma Combined Statements of Operations for the six months ended March 31, 1996
 and the year ended September 30, 1995 (unaudited)....................................       F-32
Notes to Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements--March 31, 1996 (unaudited)..........       F-34
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
To the Shareholders of
Hambrecht & Quist Group:
 
    We  have audited  the accompanying  combined balance  sheets of  Hambrecht &
Quist Group (a California corporation) and Hambrecht & Quist, L.P. (a California
limited partnership) as of September 30, 1994 and 1995, and the related combined
statements of operations, changes in shareholders' equity and partners'  capital
and  cash flows  for the years  ended September  30, 1993, 1994  and 1995. These
financial statements are  the responsibility of  the Companies' management.  Our
responsibility  is to express an opinion  on these financial statements based on
our audits.
 
    We conducted  our  audits in  accordance  with generally  accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence  supporting
the  amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles used  and  significant estimates  made  by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
    In our opinion, the combined financial statements referred to above  present
fairly, in all material respects, the combined financial position of Hambrecht &
Quist  Group and Hambrecht & Quist, L.P. as  of September 30, 1994 and 1995, and
the results  of  their operations  and  their cash  flows  for the  years  ended
September  30,  1993,  1994  and 1995,  in  conformity  with  generally accepted
accounting principles.
 
    As discussed  in  Notes  2  and 6  to  the  combined  financial  statements,
long-term investments include nonmarketable investments amounting to $24,579,237
and  $44,519,474 (39 and 42 percent  of total shareholders' equity and partners'
capital) as of September 30, 1994 and 1995, respectively, which have been valued
at fair  value as  determined by  management. We  have reviewed  the  procedures
applied  by  management  in  valuing such  investments  and  have  inspected the
underlying documentation, and in the circumstances we believe the procedures are
reasonable and the documentation appropriate.  However, because of the  inherent
uncertainty  of  valuation,  management's  estimate of  fair  values  may differ
significantly from  the values  that would  have been  used had  a ready  market
existed for the securities and the differences could be material.
 
                                          ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
San Francisco, California,
January 11, 1996
 
                                      F-2
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
                            COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS
                       AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1994 AND 1995
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        1994            1995
                                                                                   --------------  --------------
<S>                                                                                <C>             <C>
                                                     ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents........................................................  $    6,782,335  $   34,754,568
Receivables:
  Customers (net of allowance of $177,166 and $170,254, respectively)............      42,840,120     100,435,213
  Lewco Securities Corp..........................................................      17,240,020      41,990,309
  Syndicate managers.............................................................         421,658       9,538,902
  Related parties................................................................       2,417,360       3,340,955
  Lease..........................................................................       1,750,153       3,255,635
  Other..........................................................................       4,470,852       3,274,378
Marketable trading securities, at market value...................................      23,914,140      26,224,167
Long-term investments, at estimated fair value...................................      34,819,316      70,822,157
Deferred income taxes............................................................       9,421,662      10,627,856
Furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements, net of accumulated depreciation
 and amortization................................................................       5,308,337       6,009,696
Leased assets, net of accumulated depreciation...................................       5,117,841       8,700,289
Exchange memberships, at cost (market value--$916,000 and $1,018,100,
 respectively)...................................................................         656,000         656,000
                                                                                   --------------  --------------
      Total assets...............................................................  $  155,159,794  $  319,630,125
                                                                                   --------------  --------------
                                                                                   --------------  --------------
 
                           LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL
Payables:
  Customers......................................................................  $   24,089,348  $   71,654,381
  Compensation and benefits......................................................      21,334,648      46,227,242
  Syndicate settlements..........................................................       1,735,621      25,409,777
  Income taxes payable...........................................................         223,920       6,368,059
  Trade accounts payable.........................................................       2,067,448         944,775
  Customer lease deposits........................................................       2,670,363         478,603
  Accrued expenses and other.....................................................       4,223,073       9,848,303
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at market value..............................      17,359,122      25,218,036
Debt obligations.................................................................      12,683,532      13,770,737
Payable to partners of Hambrecht & Quist, L.P....................................       2,679,918      10,445,367
                                                                                   --------------  --------------
      Total liabilities..........................................................      89,066,993     210,365,280
                                                                                   --------------  --------------
Minority interest in Hambrecht & Quist Guaranty Finance, L.P.....................       2,502,081       3,802,762
                                                                                   --------------  --------------
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders' equity and partners' capital:
  Common stock (no par value--40,000,000 shares authorized in 1994 and 1995,
   12,475,188 and 14,609,188 shares issued and outstanding in 1994 and 1995,
   respectively).................................................................      13,078,867      25,412,585
  Notes receivable from employees for purchases of common stock..................        (966,315)     (7,659,714)
  Retained earnings..............................................................      50,929,131      72,205,112
                                                                                   --------------  --------------
      Total shareholders' equity.................................................      63,041,683      89,957,983
  Hambrecht & Quist, L.P. partners' capital......................................         549,037      15,504,100
                                                                                   --------------  --------------
      Total shareholders' equity and partners' capital...........................      63,590,720     105,462,083
                                                                                   --------------  --------------
      Total liabilities and shareholders' equity and partners' capital...........  $  155,159,794  $  319,630,125
                                                                                   --------------  --------------
                                                                                   --------------  --------------
</TABLE>
 
        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
 
                                      F-3
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
                       COMBINED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
             FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        1993            1994            1995
                                                                   --------------  --------------  --------------
<S>                                                                <C>             <C>             <C>
REVENUES:
  Principal transactions.........................................  $   30,045,592  $   36,410,993  $   53,424,647
  Agency commissions.............................................      14,220,782      14,241,964      24,602,992
  Investment banking.............................................      42,959,978      29,234,148      70,359,967
  Corporate finance fees.........................................       9,992,668      18,561,517      20,709,345
  Interest and dividends.........................................       2,793,020       3,361,970       3,157,489
  Asset management fees..........................................       5,183,960       4,984,956      10,067,390
  Net investment gains from long-term investments................       3,523,810      10,269,641      33,852,073
  Leasing and other..............................................       1,826,941       2,265,037       3,848,687
                                                                   --------------  --------------  --------------
      Total revenues.............................................     110,546,751     119,330,226     220,022,590
                                                                   --------------  --------------  --------------
EXPENSES:
  Compensation and benefits......................................      54,916,825      60,175,102     105,370,141
  Brokerage and clearance........................................       6,891,548       7,367,023      10,441,253
  Occupancy and equipment........................................       6,045,172       6,678,675       7,802,859
  Communications.................................................       4,377,354       6,244,066       7,394,101
  Professional services..........................................       3,006,635       3,700,241       5,347,739
  Travel, entertainment and conference...........................       2,941,736       4,234,523       6,145,108
  Interest.......................................................       1,464,298         987,456       1,265,966
  Other..........................................................       4,306,643       3,380,554       3,637,374
                                                                   --------------  --------------  --------------
      Total expenses.............................................      83,950,211      92,767,640     147,404,541
                                                                   --------------  --------------  --------------
      Income before minority interest and income tax provision...      26,596,540      26,562,586      72,618,049
MINORITY INTEREST IN INCOME OF SUBSIDIARY........................         352,092         525,934         718,651
                                                                   --------------  --------------  --------------
      Income before income tax provision.........................      26,244,448      26,036,652      71,899,398
INCOME TAX PROVISION.............................................      10,940,013      10,119,459      22,461,147
                                                                   --------------  --------------  --------------
      Net income.................................................  $   15,304,435  $   15,917,193  $   49,438,251
                                                                   --------------  --------------  --------------
                                                                   --------------  --------------  --------------
</TABLE>
 
        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
 
                                      F-4
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
  COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL
             FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                              HAMBRECHT & QUIST,
                                                                HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP                              L.P.
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------  ----------------------
                                              NUMBER OF
                                               COMMON       COMMON      NOTES      RETAINED   SUBTOTAL H&Q  PARTNERS'     NOTES
                                               SHARES       STOCK     RECEIVABLE   EARNINGS      GROUP       CAPITAL    RECEIVABLE
                                             -----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ----------
<S>                                          <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>           <C>         <C>
BALANCE, SEPTEMBER 30, 1992................  11,817,908   $9,817,433  $(1,153,443) $24,555,009  $33,218,999
  Sales of common stock....................   1,467,408    3,721,365          --          --    3,721,365
  Notes received for purchases of common
   stock...................................          --           --  (1,677,273)         --   (1,677,273)
  Reductions of notes received for
   purchases of common stock...............          --           --   1,188,824          --    1,188,824
  Repurchases of common stock..............    (524,980)  (1,336,515)         --    (129,974)  (1,466,489)
  Net income...............................          --           --          --  15,304,435   15,304,435
                                             -----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ----------
BALANCE, SEPTEMBER 30, 1993................  12,760,336   12,202,283  (1,641,892) 39,729,470   50,289,861
  Sales of common stock or partners'
   capital additions.......................     901,472    3,342,896          --          --    3,342,896   $1,322,324  $       --
  Notes received for purchases of common
   stock or partnership units..............          --           --    (295,093)         --     (295,093)          --     (69,526)
  Reductions of notes received for
   purchases of common stock...............          --           --     970,670          --      970,670           --          --
  Repurchases of common stock or partners'
   capital withdrawals.....................  (1,186,620)  (2,466,312)         --  (2,524,238)  (4,990,550)    (217,137)         --
  Net income...............................          --           --          --  13,723,899   13,723,899    2,193,294          --
  Partners' capital distributions
   payable.................................          --           --          --          --           --           --          --
                                             -----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ----------
BALANCE, SEPTEMBER 30, 1994................  12,475,188   13,078,867    (966,315) 50,929,131   63,041,683    3,298,481     (69,526)
  Sales of common stock or partners'
   capital additions.......................   2,963,892   14,406,194          --          --   14,406,194    2,557,915          --
  Notes received for purchases of common
   stock or partnership units..............          --           --  (7,935,534)         --   (7,935,534)          --  (2,162,487)
  Reductions of notes received for
   purchases of common stock...............          --           --   1,242,135          --    1,242,135           --          --
  Repurchases of common stock or partners'
   capital withdrawals.....................    (829,892)  (2,072,476)         --  (2,396,760)  (4,469,236)  (1,241,100)         --
  Net income...............................          --           --          --  23,672,741   23,672,741   25,765,510          --
  Partners' capital distributions..........          --           --          --          --           --   (4,186,804)         --
  Partners' capital distributions
   payable.................................          --           --          --          --           --           --          --
  Net unrealized investment gains of
   leasing subsidiary......................          --           --          --          --           --           --          --
                                             -----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ----------
BALANCE, SEPTEMBER 30, 1995................  14,609,188   $25,412,585 $(7,659,714) $72,205,112  $89,957,983 $26,194,002 $(2,232,013)
                                             -----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ----------
                                             -----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ----------
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                                           UNREALIZED
                                             DISTRIBUTIONS GAINS, NET    SUBTOTAL     COMBINED
                                               PAYABLE      (NOTE 2)      H&Q LP        TOTAL
                                             ------------  -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                          <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>
BALANCE, SEPTEMBER 30, 1992................                                          $33,218,999
  Sales of common stock....................                                            3,721,365
  Notes received for purchases of common
   stock...................................                                           (1,677,273)
  Reductions of notes received for
   purchases of common stock...............                                            1,188,824
  Repurchases of common stock..............                                           (1,466,489)
  Net income...............................                                           15,304,435
                                             ------------  -----------  -----------  -----------
BALANCE, SEPTEMBER 30, 1993................                                           50,289,861
  Sales of common stock or partners'
   capital additions.......................   $       --    $      --   $ 1,322,324    4,665,220
  Notes received for purchases of common
   stock or partnership units..............           --           --       (69,526)    (364,619)
  Reductions of notes received for
   purchases of common stock...............           --           --            --      970,670
  Repurchases of common stock or partners'
   capital withdrawals.....................           --           --      (217,137)  (5,207,687)
  Net income...............................           --           --     2,193,294   15,917,193
  Partners' capital distributions
   payable.................................   (2,679,918)          --    (2,679,918)  (2,679,918)
                                             ------------  -----------  -----------  -----------
BALANCE, SEPTEMBER 30, 1994................   (2,679,918)          --       549,037   63,590,720
  Sales of common stock or partners'
   capital additions.......................           --           --     2,557,915   16,964,109
  Notes received for purchases of common
   stock or partnership units..............           --           --    (2,162,487) (10,098,021)
  Reductions of notes received for
   purchases of common stock...............           --           --            --    1,242,135
  Repurchases of common stock or partners'
   capital withdrawals.....................           --           --    (1,241,100)  (5,710,336)
  Net income...............................           --           --    25,765,510   49,438,251
  Partners' capital distributions..........    4,186,804           --            --           --
  Partners' capital distributions
   payable.................................  (11,952,253)          --   (11,952,253) (11,952,253)
  Net unrealized investment gains of
   leasing subsidiary......................           --    1,987,478     1,987,478    1,987,478
                                             ------------  -----------  -----------  -----------
BALANCE, SEPTEMBER 30, 1995................  ($10,445,367)  $1,987,478  $15,504,100  $105,462,083
                                             ------------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                                             ------------  -----------  -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
 
                                      F-5
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
                       COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
             FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            1993          1994          1995
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
<S>                                                                     <C>           <C>           <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
  Net income..........................................................  $ 15,304,435  $ 15,917,193  $ 49,438,251
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash and cash equivalents
   provided by operating activities--
    Depreciation and amortization.....................................     2,624,400     3,229,208     5,664,070
    Net investment gains from long-term investments...................    (3,523,810)  (10,269,641)  (33,852,073)
    Net gain on sales of leased assets................................            --        (1,613)     (407,436)
    Deferred tax provision (benefit)..................................    (1,499,721)    2,005,896    (1,206,194)
    Minority interest in income of subsidiary.........................       352,092       525,934       718,651
    Net decrease in allowance for losses on guarantees, loans and
     leases...........................................................            --       (92,627)     (610,837)
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities--
      Customers, net..................................................     7,006,114    (1,264,519)  (10,030,060)
      Lewco Securities Corp...........................................    (8,465,211)   (2,666,093)  (24,750,289)
      Syndicate managers..............................................    (3,815,234)    4,969,031    (9,117,244)
      Related parties and other receivables...........................    (3,554,384)       57,131    (1,296,032)
      Marketable trading securities, net..............................    (1,896,495)    1,194,830     1,262,314
      Compensation and benefits payable...............................     5,158,694     2,186,557    27,533,054
      Syndicate settlements...........................................     2,786,531    (4,764,232)   23,674,156
      Income taxes payable............................................     2,208,932    (1,176,471)    6,144,139
      Trade accounts payable..........................................            --     2,067,448    (1,122,673)
      Customer lease deposits.........................................            --     2,670,363    (2,191,760)
      Accrued expenses and other payables.............................    (2,291,167)   (1,945,820)    5,625,230
      Other, net......................................................       (73,705)      732,684      (150,606)
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
        Total adjustments.............................................    (4,982,964)   (2,541,934)  (14,113,590)
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
        Net cash and cash equivalents provided by operating
         activities...................................................    10,321,471    13,375,259    35,324,661
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
  Purchases of long-term investments..................................    (2,298,867)   (7,844,120)  (10,690,049)
  Proceeds from sales/distributions of long-term investments..........     8,486,587     5,432,665    15,843,334
  Purchases of furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements........    (1,944,937)   (2,776,824)   (3,060,061)
  Purchases of leased assets..........................................            --    (2,180,943)   (6,504,911)
  Sales of leased assets..............................................         6,831            --       638,002
  Increase in lease receivables.......................................            --    (1,714,108)   (1,505,482)
  Proceeds from payments of lease receivables.........................            --     2,947,756     1,568,911
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
        Net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in) investing
         activities...................................................     4,249,614    (6,135,574)   (3,710,256)
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Proceeds from debt obligations......................................            --     1,100,000    19,738,066
  Repayments of debt obligations......................................   (15,029,367)   (5,328,968)  (18,650,861)
  Proceeds from sales of common stock.................................     3,360,748     3,257,770     5,072,335
  Repurchases of common stock.........................................    (1,466,489)   (4,990,550)   (4,469,236)
  Partners' capital contributions.....................................            --     1,252,798       395,428
  Partners' capital withdrawals.......................................            --      (217,137)   (1,241,100)
  Partners' capital distributions.....................................            --            --    (4,186,804)
  Distributions to minority interestholder............................            --       (90,000)     (300,000)
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
        Net cash and cash equivalents used in financing activities....   (13,135,108)   (5,016,087)   (3,642,172)
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS.................................     1,435,977     2,223,598    27,972,233
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR........................     3,122,760     4,558,737     6,782,335
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR..............................  $  4,558,737  $  6,782,335  $ 34,754,568
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-6
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
                 COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)
             FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            1993          1994          1995
                                                                        ------------  ------------  ------------
<S>                                                                     <C>           <C>           <C>
SCHEDULE OF SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
  Taxes paid to taxing authorities....................................  $  9,900,000  $  9,174,792  $ 14,841,855
  Interest paid.......................................................     1,104,883     2,121,126     4,617,047
SCHEDULE OF NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  H&Q Group long-term investments, net, were reclassified from/(to)
   marketable securities..............................................            --      (656,084)    4,286,573
  H&Q Group common stock sales and H&Q LP partners' capital
   contributions were made with notes receivable from employees.......     1,677,273       364,619    10,098,021
  H&Q Group common stock was issued to employees in exchange for
   reductions in compensation and benefits payable....................            --     1,355,290     3,055,280
  Reductions to H&Q LP's partners' capital were made via accruals of
   distributions payable to partners..................................            --     2,679,918    11,952,253
  Unrealized gains, net, on long-term investments held by H&Q GF were
   recorded as increases in equity and minority interest..............            --            --     2,880,791
  Subordinated notes payable were issued by RvR in exchange for
   subordinated notes receivable of the same amount...................            --     1,800,000            --
  A line of credit receivable was converted into preferred stock of
   the issuer.........................................................     2,000,000            --            --
</TABLE>
 
        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
 
                                      F-7
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
                     NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                               SEPTEMBER 30, 1995
 
NOTE 1 -- ORGANIZATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS
    The  financial  statements include  the combined  operations of  Hambrecht &
Quist Group, a California corporation (H&Q Group or the Company), and  Hambrecht
&  Quist L.P., a  California limited partnership  (H&Q LP). In  fiscal 1996, H&Q
Group and H&Q LP will make distributions and restructure their operations, which
will result  in  one surviving  holding  company,  Hambrecht &  Quist  Group,  a
Delaware corporation (H&Q Group Delaware).
 
PRIOR TO RESTRUCTURING
 
    H&Q Group is owned primarily by its key employees. As of September 30, 1995,
approximately  13.70 percent  of H&Q  Group is  owned by  the Hambrecht  & Quist
Employee Savings and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (see Note 12). As a privately
held company, all of H&Q Group's stock transactions are recorded pursuant to the
terms of the Hambrecht  & Quist Group  Shareholders' Agreement (the  Agreement).
Since inception, all stock issuances and repurchases and all stock option grants
have  been  recorded using  a  formula value,  as  determined by  management and
required by  the Agreement.  The  formula value  results in  transactions  being
recorded  at premiums over the Company's GAAP  net book value. The formula value
approximates fair market  value. There  is no  public market  for the  Company's
stock.  As such, selling shareholders are required  to offer their shares to the
Company first before seeking an independent buyer. Historically, the Company has
repurchased all selling shareholders' shares.
 
    H&Q Group operates primarily as a holding company with various  consolidated
operating  subsidiaries.  Hambrecht &  Quist LLC,  a Delaware  limited liability
company (H&Q  LLC), is  a 70  percent owned  investment banking  subsidiary  and
securities  broker-dealer that  primarily services companies  in the technology,
healthcare, services and  branded consumer products  industries. RvR  Securities
Corp.,   a  California   corporation  (RvR),   is  a   wholly  owned  registered
broker-dealer serving  companies with  smaller  capitalizations than  H&Q  LLC's
typical underwriting clients. Hambrecht & Quist Capital Management Incorporated,
a  California  corporation (H&Q  CM), is  a  wholly owned  registered investment
adviser. H&Q CM  is the  investment adviser  to two  publicly traded  closed-end
mutual  funds,  H&Q  Healthcare  Investors  and  H&Q  Life  Sciences  Investors.
Hambrecht & Quist Venture Partners,  a California limited partnership (H&Q  VP),
is a wholly owned venture capital fund management partnership.
 
    Other  affiliates of the Company include nonconsolidated operating entities.
H&Q Group owns a 50 percent interest in Hambrecht & Quist Asia Pacific, Ltd.,  a
British  Virgin  Islands limited  liability company  (H&Q  AP). H&Q  AP provides
financial advisory and fund management services in the Asia Pacific region.  H&Q
LLC  owns  a 20  percent interest  in Lewco  Securities Corporation,  a Delaware
corporation (Lewco). Lewco is a clearing  broker and depository for H&Q LLC  and
Schroder  Wertheim  &  Co.  (Schroder),  which  owns  the  remaining  80 percent
interest. All expenses, net of certain revenues, are reimbursed by both  owners.
Lewco,  H&Q AP and other affiliated  investment and venture capital partnerships
are recorded in long-term  investments at their estimated  fair value (see  Note
2).
 
    H&Q  LP operates primarily as a  holding partnership for certain current and
prior operating affiliates  of H&Q  Group. H&Q Group  is the  1 percent  general
partner  of  H&Q LP,  and the  same shareholders  of H&Q  Group are  the limited
partners. As of September 30, 1995, H&Q Group also owns a 14.76 percent  limited
partnership  interest.  Similar to  H&Q Group,  all  partnership unit  sales and
repurchases have been recorded at the partnership's formula value, as defined in
the Hambrecht & Quist Limited Partnership Agreement.
 
    H&Q LP owns the  remaining 30 percent interest  of H&Q LLC and  consolidates
its 70 percent limited partner interest in Hambrecht & Quist Guaranty Finance, a
California limited partnership (H&Q GF). The 30 percent general partner interest
is  owned by Guaranty Finance Management  Corp., a California corporation, which
is owned almost equally by the CEO of H&Q Group and an independent third  party.
H&Q GF provides
 
                                      F-8
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               SEPTEMBER 30, 1995
 
NOTE 1 -- ORGANIZATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)
secured,  asset-based financings that include tenant improvement and real estate
leases, equipment leases, accounts receivable and inventory financing, and  loan
guarantees  for emerging technology, biotechnology and healthcare companies. H&Q
LP's other investments in public and private companies are recorded in long-term
investments at their market or estimated fair value (see Note 2).
 
DISTRIBUTIONS AND RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES
 
    H&Q Group plans to sell  shares of its stock  in an initial public  offering
(the  Offering) that  will result  in new shareholders  owning a  portion of the
Company. Prior  to  the  Offering,  the  Company  will  make  distributions  and
restructure (the Transactions) in order to simplify its structure.
 
    H&Q  GF will distribute securities on a  pro rata basis to its partners. H&Q
GF will merge into Hambrecht & Quist  Guaranty Finance, LLC (H&Q GF LLC), a  new
Delaware  limited liability company. H&Q Group  will purchase an additional 17.5
percent of H&Q GF LLC from other members (including 15 percent from H&Q  Group's
CEO).
 
    H&Q  Group  will  distribute  its limited  partnership  interest  in  H&Q LP
primarily  to  a  liquidating  trust  benefiting  certain  current  and   former
employees. H&Q LLC will distribute cash and securities to H&Q LP, resulting in a
reduction  in H&Q  LP's ownership in  H&Q LLC.  H&Q LP will  distribute cash and
securities to a liquidating trust benefiting the partners of H&Q LP.
 
    All shares of  H&Q Group  will be  exchanged for  four shares  of H&Q  Group
Delaware, a new Delaware holding company, and H&Q Group will become a subsidiary
of  H&Q Group  Delaware. All  references to the  number of  shares and per-share
amounts have been restated to reflect the effect of the four-for-one exchange of
shares.
 
    H&Q LP will be merged into H&Q Group Delaware and the partners of H&Q LP who
do  not  perfect  their  statutory  dissenters'  rights  under  the   California
Corporations  Code will receive shares of  the Company's common stock. H&Q Group
Delaware will transfer H&Q LLC and H&Q GF LLC to H&Q Group.
 
POST-TRANSACTIONS STRUCTURE
 
    As a consequence of the foregoing and other Transactions, H&Q Group Delaware
will consolidate 100  percent of H&Q  LLC and 87.5  percent of H&Q  GF LLC.  Its
ownership  of and accounting  for other subsidiaries and  affiliates will be the
same as H&Q Group and will be  unaffected by the Transactions listed above.  H&Q
LP will cease to exist.
 
NOTE 2 -- SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION AND COMBINATION
 
    All  significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated
in consolidation and combination.
 
USE OF ESTIMATES
 
    The preparation of these  combined financial statements  require the use  of
certain estimates by management in determining the entity's assets, liabilities,
revenue  and  expenses.  The most  significant  estimates with  regard  to these
financial statements relate to long-term investments, as discussed below. Actual
results could differ from those estimates.
 
                                      F-9
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               SEPTEMBER 30, 1995
 
NOTE 2 -- SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
    For purposes  of the  statement of  cash flows,  cash and  cash  equivalents
include cash on hand, demand deposits with banks, money market accounts and U.S.
Treasury  bills totaling  $6,782,335 and $34,754,568  at September  30, 1994 and
1995, respectively.  Cash equivalents  have original  maturities of  90 days  or
less.
 
SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS
 
    Customers'  securities transactions are recorded on a settlement-date basis,
with related  commission income  and expenses  recorded on  a trade-date  basis.
Marketable  securities owned and securities sold, not yet purchased are recorded
on  a  trade-date  basis.  Final  underwriting  settlements  are  recorded  when
received.
 
MARKETABLE TRADING SECURITIES
 
    Marketable  trading securities  and securities  sold, not  yet purchased are
reported at prevailing market prices.  Realized and unrealized gains and  losses
on market trading securities and securities sold, not yet purchased are included
in revenues from principal transactions.
 
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS
 
    Long-term investments include marketable equity securities and nonmarketable
securities  (which include  restricted securities of  publicly traded companies,
securities of private  companies and  investment partnership  and other  venture
capital interests).
 
    H&Q  Group and  H&Q LLC own  marketable equity  securities and nonmarketable
investments. Marketable  equity securities  are  reported at  prevailing  market
prices.  Discounts are applied  for holdings in excess  of typical daily trading
volumes. Nonmarketable investments are not  registered for public sale or  carry
restrictions  on sale and are reported at  estimated fair value as determined by
management.  Factors   considered  by   management  in   valuing   nonmarketable
investments  include  the  type  of  investment,  purchase  cost, marketability,
restrictions on  disposition,  subsequent  purchases  of  the  same  or  similar
investments  by other  investors, and  current financial  position and operating
results of  the  investee  entities.  Warrants  and  other  rights  to  purchase
nonmarketable  investments are valued at cost, which approximates estimated fair
value. Realized and unrealized gains  and losses on long-term investments  owned
by H&Q Group and H&Q LLC are included in revenues from net investment gains from
long-term investments.
 
    Also  included in long-term investments are investments owned by H&Q GF. H&Q
GF primarily owns marketable equity  securities. Effective October 1, 1994,  H&Q
GF  adopted  Statement of  Financial Accounting  Standards  No. 115  (SFAS 115),
"Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities." As  required
by  SFAS 115, H&Q GF revalued  its available-for-sale securities at market value
and recorded $3,049,227 as an increase to its partners' capital as of October 1,
1994.  At  September  30,  1995,  H&Q  GF's  unrealized  net  holding  gain  was
$2,880,791.  H&Q LP's  recorded portion of  the unrealized net  holding gain was
$1,987,478 and is recorded  in H&Q LP's partners'  capital. Prior to October  1,
1994, H&Q GF recorded its long-term investments at the lower of cost or market.
 
FURNITURE, EQUIPMENT AND LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS
 
    Furniture,  equipment  and  leasehold  improvements  are  recorded  at cost.
Depreciation of  furniture  and  equipment is  provided  using  accelerated  and
straight-line  methods. These assets  are depreciated over  periods ranging from
five to seven years based on estimated useful lives. Leasehold improvements  are
amortized  over the lesser of the useful life  of the improvement or the term of
the lease. Expenditures for  repairs and maintenance  that do not  significantly
increase the life of the asset are charged to operations as incurred.
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               SEPTEMBER 30, 1995
 
NOTE 2 -- SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
LEASE RECEIVABLES AND LEASED ASSETS
 
    H&Q  GF leases  land, a  building, equipment  and tenant  improvements under
operating leases  and direct  financing leases.  Assets leased  under  operating
leases  are recorded at cost and are  included in leased assets. Depreciation of
the building and  tenant improvements  is provided  using straight-line  methods
over  31.5 years and  accelerated methods over 15  years. Depreciation of leased
equipment is provided using accelerated methods over five to seven years. Direct
financing leases are included in lease receivables and are carried at the  total
of the future minimum lease payments less unearned income.
 
INCOME TAXES
 
    The  Company  accounts for  income  taxes in  accordance  with SFAS  No 109,
"Accounting for  Income  Taxes"  (SFAS  109). Under  this  method,  the  Company
recognizes  taxes payable  or refundable for  the current year  and deferred tax
liabilities and  assets  for  future  consequences  of  events  that  have  been
recognized in the Company's financial statements or tax returns.
 
    No  provision has  been made  in the  financial statements  for income taxes
related to the operations  of H&Q LP. Pursuant  to applicable federal and  state
income  tax regulations,  all income  or loss  of H&Q  LP is  reportable by each
partner directly to the taxing authority.
 
PARTNERS' CAPITAL DISTRIBUTIONS PAYABLE
 
    In accordance with the terms of the H&Q LP partnership agreement, an accrual
has been made for distributions to H&Q LP partners to satisfy their federal  and
state  income tax  obligations for partnership  taxable income.  The accrual was
$2,679,918 and $10,445,367 at September 30, 1994 and 1995, respectively.
 
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
    Substantially all  of the  Company's financial  assets and  liabilities  are
carried  at  market or  estimated  fair value  or  are carried  at  amounts that
approximate current fair value because of their short-term nature. Estimates are
made at  a specific  point in  time, based  on relevant  market information  and
information about the financial instrument.
 
EARNINGS PER SHARE
 
    Earnings  per  share are  not  presented, as  they  would not  be meaningful
because of the impact of the Transactions (see Note 1).
 
STOCK OPTION PLANS
 
    The Company uses  the intrinsic  value method  to account  for stock  option
plans.  Under  this method,  compensation expense  is  recognized for  awards of
options to purchase shares of common stock to employees under compensatory plans
only if the fair market  value of the stock at  the option grant date (or  other
measurement  date, if later) is greater than the amount the employee must pay to
acquire the stock.  In October  1995, the Financial  Accounting Standards  Board
issued  SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" (SFAS 123). SFAS
123 permits companies  to adopt a  new fair  value based method  to account  for
stock  option plans  or to  continue using  the intrinsic  value method.  If the
intrinsic value method is used, information concerning the pro forma effects  on
net  earnings and earnings per share of  adopting the fair value based method is
required to be presented in the  notes to the financial statements. The  Company
intends  to continue using the  intrinsic value method and  will provide the pro
forma disclosures in its 1997 financial statements, as required by SFAS 123.
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               SEPTEMBER 30, 1995
 
NOTE 2 -- SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
RECLASSIFICATIONS
 
    Certain amounts  in  the  1993  and  1994  financial  statements  have  been
reclassified to conform to the 1995 presentation.
 
NOTE 3 -- RECEIVABLES FROM AND PAYABLES TO CUSTOMERS
    Receivables  from and payables  to customers include amounts  due to or from
customers as  a result  of cash  and margin  transactions. Securities  owned  by
customers  are held as collateral for  these receivables. Such collateral is not
reflected in the combined financial statements.
 
NOTE 4 -- RECEIVABLES FROM RELATED PARTIES
    Receivables from  related  parties  include receivables  of  $2,176,299  and
$2,912,333  at September 30, 1994 and 1995, respectively, from H&Q AP (see Notes
1 and 11).
 
NOTE 5 -- MARKETABLE TRADING SECURITIES AND SECURITIES SOLD, NOT YET PURCHASED
    At September 30, 1994 and 1995, marketable trading securities and securities
sold, not yet purchased, consisted of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                1994           1995
                                                                            -------------  -------------
<S>                                                                         <C>            <C>
Marketable trading securities--
  Equity securities.......................................................  $  13,352,773  $  21,385,307
  Convertible bonds.......................................................     10,320,641      3,941,812
  Options.................................................................        240,726        897,048
                                                                            -------------  -------------
                                                                            $  23,914,140  $  26,224,167
                                                                            -------------  -------------
                                                                            -------------  -------------
Securities sold, not yet purchased--
  Equity securities.......................................................  $  16,855,598  $  24,532,549
  Convertible bonds.......................................................        257,500             --
  Options.................................................................        246,024        685,487
                                                                            -------------  -------------
                                                                            $  17,359,122  $  25,218,036
                                                                            -------------  -------------
                                                                            -------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               SEPTEMBER 30, 1995
 
NOTE 6 -- LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS
    At September  30, 1994  and  1995, the  Company's long-term  investments  at
estimated fair value consisted of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                1994           1995
                                                                            -------------  -------------
<S>                                                                         <C>            <C>
Marketable equity securities..............................................  $  10,240,079  $  20,302,683
BISYS Group, Inc. common stock--unrestricted..............................              -      6,000,000
                                                                            -------------  -------------
    Total marketable investments..........................................     10,240,079     26,302,683
                                                                            -------------  -------------
                                                                            -------------  -------------
BISYS Group, Inc. common stock--restricted................................      5,580,000     21,481,390
Nonmarketable securities and investment partnership interests.............      7,653,982     14,906,421
H&Q Venture Partners and affiliated venture capital funds.................      6,829,447      4,790,144
Venture capital funds managed by others...................................      2,405,529      1,231,240
Lewco Securities--
  Equity ownership........................................................      1,810,279      1,810,279
  Subordinated note receivable............................................        300,000        300,000
                                                                            -------------  -------------
    Total nonmarketable investments.......................................     24,579,237     44,519,474
                                                                            -------------  -------------
    Total long-term investments...........................................  $  34,819,316  $  70,822,157
                                                                            -------------  -------------
                                                                            -------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
    The  cost of the  Company's long-term investments at  September 30, 1994 and
1995, were $26,935,646 and $47,046,599, respectively.
 
    Following is an  analysis of the  net investment gains  for the years  ended
September 30, 1993, 1994 and 1995:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  1993          1994           1995
                                                              ------------  -------------  -------------
<S>                                                           <C>           <C>            <C>
Realized gains..............................................  $  4,165,589  $   5,360,747  $   3,346,270
Change in unrealized gains and losses, net..................      (641,779)     4,908,894     30,505,803
                                                              ------------  -------------  -------------
  Net investment gains from long-term investments...........  $  3,523,810  $  10,269,641  $  33,852,073
                                                              ------------  -------------  -------------
                                                              ------------  -------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
    Both  H&Q Group and H&Q  LLC own shares of  BISYS Group, Inc. (BISYS) common
stock. As  of  September 30,  1995,  H&Q Group  owns  restricted shares  with  a
carrying  value of $5,136,390 and H&Q  LLC owns both restricted and unrestricted
shares  with  carrying  values  of  $16,345,000  and  $6,000,000,  respectively.
Included  in net  investment gains  are realized  and unrealized  gains on BISYS
holdings of  $2,190,000, $5,457,500  and $19,948,390  for 1993,  1994 and  1995,
respectively.
 
NOTE 7 -- FURNITURE, EQUIPMENT AND LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS
    The  following summarizes  the Company's furniture,  equipment and leasehold
improvements as of September 30, 1994 and 1995:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                1994           1995
                                                                            -------------  -------------
<S>                                                                         <C>            <C>
Furniture and equipment...................................................  $  12,615,904  $  15,142,026
Leasehold improvements....................................................      4,420,588      4,949,524
Less--Accumulated depreciation and amortization...........................    (11,728,155)   (14,081,854)
                                                                            -------------  -------------
                                                                            $   5,308,337  $   6,009,696
                                                                            -------------  -------------
                                                                            -------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
    For the  years  ended September  30,  1993,  1994 and  1995,  occupancy  and
equipment  expense included depreciation and  amortization expense on furniture,
equipment and leasehold improvements  of $1,865,774, $2,052,512 and  $2,358,337,
respectively.
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               SEPTEMBER 30, 1995
 
NOTE 8 -- LEASING ACTIVITIES
    H&Q  GF negotiates lease lines,  purchases equipment, property and leasehold
improvements for lease to customers under the lines and administers them. H&Q GF
also negotiates and guarantees secured loans and lines of credit for  customers,
which  are generally funded and  administered by a financial  partner, such as a
bank or other financial institution.  H&Q GF's customers are primarily  emerging
technology companies.
 
    At  September  30,  1994  and  1995,  lease  receivables  consist  of direct
financing capital  leases  with  terms  ranging from  three  to  four  years  of
$1,750,153  and $3,255,635, respectively. At September  30, 1994 and 1995, lease
receivables related to noncancelable operating  leases are not material and  are
included  in  other receivables.  Future minimum  rentals  to be  received under
direct financing leases and  operating leases in effect  at September 30,  1995,
are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      DIRECT
                                                                    FINANCING    NONCANCELABLE
                                                                      LEASE        OPERATING
                                                                   RECEIVABLES      LEASES
                                                                   ------------  -------------
<S>                                                                <C>           <C>
1996.............................................................  $  1,502,136   $ 4,019,471
1997.............................................................     1,309,677     3,356,766
1998.............................................................       778,626       108,333
                                                                   ------------  -------------
    Total minimum lease payments.................................     3,590,439   $ 7,484,570
                                                                                 -------------
                                                                                 -------------
Less--Unearned income............................................      (334,804)
                                                                   ------------
Present value of net minimum lease payments......................  $  3,255,635
                                                                   ------------
                                                                   ------------
</TABLE>
 
    At  September  30, 1994  and 1995,  leased  assets subject  to noncancelable
operating leases consist of:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      1994          1995
                                                                  ------------  -------------
<S>                                                               <C>           <C>
Land and building...............................................  $  5,000,000  $   5,000,000
Equipment.......................................................     2,876,694      8,287,004
                                                                  ------------  -------------
                                                                     7,876,694     13,287,004
Less--Accumulated depreciation..................................    (2,758,853)    (4,586,715)
                                                                  ------------  -------------
                                                                  $  5,117,841  $   8,700,289
                                                                  ------------  -------------
                                                                  ------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
    The Company's depreciation expense on leased assets was $758,626, $1,176,696
and  $3,305,733  for  the  years  ended  September  30,  1993,  1994  and  1995,
respectively.
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               SEPTEMBER 30, 1995
 
NOTE 9 -- DEBT OBLIGATIONS
    Debt obligations consist of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          1994           1995
                                                                                      -------------  -------------
<S>                                                                                   <C>            <C>
Lines of credit--
  $7,500,000 bank line of credit (H&Q Group); interest at prime plus 1 percent (9.75
   percent at September 30, 1995); collateralized in full by marketable securities
   and certain customer receivables; average balance outstanding in 1994 and 1995
   was $362,500 and $2,014,951, respectively; advances due December 31, 1995          $   1,100,000  $   3,823,790
  $20,000,000 bank line of credit ($5,000,000 in 1994) (H&Q Group); interest at
   prime plus 2 percent (10.75 percent at September 30, 1995); unsecured; no amounts
   drawn in 1994 or 1995; advances payable within seven days; expires May 1996                   --             --
  $11,000,000 bank line of credit ($7,000,000 in 1994) (H&Q GF); interest at prime
   plus 0.50 percent (9.25 percent at September 30, 1995); unsecured; due December
   10, 1995                                                                                      --      3,515,000
Notes payable--
  Bank note payable (H&Q Group); interest at prime plus 1 percent (8.75 percent at
   September 30, 1994); collateralized by H&Q LLC shares; repaid in 1995                  5,000,000             --
  Bank note payable (H&Q Group); noninterest-bearing; collateralized by
   nonmarketable securities valued at $3,574,380 at September 30, 1994, and U.S.
   Treasury bills valued at $636,659 at September 30, 1995; $687,500 due September
   30, 1995; $637,500 due September 30, 1996                                              1,325,000        637,500
Other--
  Bank nonrecourse loan (H&Q GF); interest at 9 percent, payable monthly;
   collateralized by land and a building leased to a customer; principal payments of
   $63,338 due beginning in 1997 through 2007                                             5,000,000      5,000,000
  Other                                                                                     258,532        794,447
                                                                                      -------------  -------------
                                                                                      $  12,683,532  $  13,770,737
                                                                                      -------------  -------------
                                                                                      -------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
    The  average prime rate for 1994 and 1995 was 6.61 percent and 8.68 percent,
respectively.
 
    The scheduled repayment of debt obligations is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                              <C>
1996...........................................  $8,834,075
1997...........................................      63,338
1998...........................................      63,338
1999...........................................      63,338
2000...........................................      63,338
Thereafter.....................................   4,683,310
                                                 ----------
                                                 $13,770,737
                                                 ----------
                                                 ----------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-15
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               SEPTEMBER 30, 1995
 
NOTE 9 -- DEBT OBLIGATIONS (CONTINUED)
    Interest expense on debt obligations  was $1,420,294, $932,974 and  $960,353
during fiscal 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively.
 
NOTE 10 -- INCOME TAXES
    The income tax provision consisted of the following components for the years
ended September 30, 1993, 1994 and 1995:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   STATE AND
                                                     FEDERAL         CITY           TOTAL
                                                  -------------  -------------  -------------
<S>                                               <C>            <C>            <C>
1993--
  Current.......................................  $   8,989,372   $ 3,450,362   $  12,439,734
  Deferred......................................       (673,418)     (826,303)     (1,499,721)
                                                  -------------  -------------  -------------
    Total.......................................  $   8,315,954   $ 2,624,059   $  10,940,013
                                                  -------------  -------------  -------------
                                                  -------------  -------------  -------------
1994--
  Current.......................................  $   5,833,636   $ 2,279,928   $   8,113,564
  Deferred......................................      1,418,775       587,120       2,005,895
                                                  -------------  -------------  -------------
    Total.......................................  $   7,252,411   $ 2,867,048   $  10,119,459
                                                  -------------  -------------  -------------
                                                  -------------  -------------  -------------
1995--
  Current.......................................  $  15,702,697   $ 7,964,644   $  23,667,341
  Deferred......................................     (1,152,901)      (53,293)     (1,206,194)
                                                  -------------  -------------  -------------
    Total.......................................  $  14,549,796   $ 7,911,351   $  22,461,147
                                                  -------------  -------------  -------------
                                                  -------------  -------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
    The  net deferred  income tax asset  as of  September 30, 1994  and 1995, is
composed of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      1994           1995
                                                                  -------------  -------------
<S>                                                               <C>            <C>
Deferred income tax asset--
  Deferred compensation.........................................  $   6,042,535  $  11,879,290
  Litigation accruals...........................................      4,720,403      2,043,238
  Other.........................................................        273,829        780,205
                                                                  -------------  -------------
                                                                     11,036,767     14,702,733
Gross deferred income tax liabilities...........................     (1,615,105)    (4,074,877)
                                                                  -------------  -------------
    Net deferred income tax asset...............................  $   9,421,662  $  10,627,856
                                                                  -------------  -------------
                                                                  -------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
    There was no valuation  allowance against deferred  tax assets at  September
30, 1994 and 1995.
 
                                      F-16
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               SEPTEMBER 30, 1995
 
NOTE 10 -- INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
    The  following is a reconciliation  of the income tax  expense to the amount
computed by applying  the federal  statutory rate  to income  before income  tax
expense:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                1993                      1994                      1995
                                      ------------------------  ------------------------  ------------------------
                                         AMOUNT        RATE        AMOUNT        RATE        AMOUNT        RATE
                                      -------------  ---------  -------------  ---------  -------------  ---------
<S>                                   <C>            <C>        <C>            <C>        <C>            <C>
Tax expense computed at statutory
 rate...............................  $   9,119,945       34.7% $   9,112,828       35.0% $  25,164,789       35.0%
State and local tax provision, net
 of federal income tax benefit......      1,961,708        7.5      1,735,734        6.7      5,244,299        7.3
Federal income tax rate change......       (182,388)      (0.7)       (66,993)      (0.3)            --         --
Nondeductible expenses..............         40,748        0.2        105,543        0.4        155,164        0.2
H&Q LP income not subject to tax....             --         --       (767,653)      (2.9)    (8,103,105)     (11.3)
                                      -------------        ---  -------------        ---  -------------  ---------
                                      $  10,940,013       41.7% $  10,119,459       38.9% $  22,461,147       31.2%
                                      -------------        ---  -------------        ---  -------------  ---------
                                      -------------        ---  -------------        ---  -------------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
NOTE 11 -- RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS
 
    The  Company makes investments in private companies directly and through the
venture capital funds it manages. H&Q  VP manages the majority of the  Company's
venture  capital  funds  (see  Note  1) and  earns  management  fees  and profit
participation distributions. Included  in asset management  fees are  management
fees  and  profit  participation  distributions from  venture  capital  funds of
$3,067,286, $2,768,287 and $7,653,320 for 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively.
 
    Directors, officers and employees of H&Q Group or its subsidiaries may  have
additional  interests  in such  private  companies directly  or  through various
affiliated venture capital or other  investment entities. Such parties may  also
be  operating officers of and  serve on the boards  of directors of companies in
which the Company has invested.
 
    H&Q GF  provides  lease financing  to  companies  in which  H&Q  Group,  its
subsidiaries and its affiliates have equity investments.
 
OPERATING ADVANCES
 
    H&Q Group pays operating expenses on behalf of certain affiliates, primarily
H&Q  AP (see  Notes 1  and 4)  and is  reimbursed for  those expenses. Operating
expenses that have  not yet  been reimbursed  are included  in receivables  from
related parties (see Note 4).
 
EMPLOYEE NOTES RECEIVABLE
 
    In connection with sales of the Company's common stock, the Company received
notes  from  employees, which,  at September  30, 1994  and 1995,  had principal
balances of  $966,315  and  $7,659,714,  respectively,  and  are  treated  as  a
reduction  of shareholders' equity.  These notes bear  interest at rates ranging
from 6 percent to 8  percent and have maturity  dates ranging from 1996  through
2000.
 
    Receivables  from  H&Q  LP  partners represent  amounts  due  from partners,
including H&Q Group, for their capital contributions to H&Q LP. Such amounts are
recorded as a reduction of partners'  capital. Receivables from H&Q LP  partners
were $69,526 and $2,232,013 at September 30, 1994 and 1995, respectively.
 
                                      F-17
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               SEPTEMBER 30, 1995
 
NOTE 11 -- RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS (CONTINUED)
LEWCO SECURITIES CORP.
 
    H&Q LLC is a co-owner of Lewco (see Note 1), a securities clearing firm that
is  a registered broker-dealer and member of  each major stock exchange. H&Q LLC
holds a subordinated  note for $300,000  issued by Lewco.  The interest on  this
note  is  paid quarterly  at  the prime  rate,  with the  principal  balance due
December 31, 1997. The subordinated note receivable and H&Q LLC's investment  in
Lewco  are carried in  long-term investments (see  Note 6). H&Q  LLC uses Lewco,
which renders its services to its owners on a cost-sharing basis, to process its
securities transactions  and all  other related  clearing services.  Lewco  also
maintains the Company's customer and broker accounts.
 
    Amounts  receivable from Lewco result from  customer and H&Q LLC proprietary
transactions.  Interest  on  amounts  receivable  from  Lewco  is  earned  at  a
fluctuating  rate (5 percent at September 30, 1993, and 6.5 percent at September
30, 1994 and 1995) that generally corresponds to the broker call rate.  Interest
income  recorded by the Company on amounts receivable from Lewco are $1,346,344,
$1,479,547 and $1,482,118 during 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively.
 
NOTE 12 -- EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
 
SAVINGS AND EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP TRUST
 
    Under a Savings and Employee Stock  Ownership Trust (or SESOT), the  Company
established  an Employee Stock  Ownership Plan (ESOP)  and a profit-sharing plan
(PSP) with an employee  salary deferral (or  401(k)) feature. Collectively,  the
ESOP and PSP are referred to as the Hambrecht & Quist Group Savings and Employee
Stock  Ownership Plan (the Plan or SESOP). Substantially all full-time employees
of H&Q  Group  and its  subsidiaries  and  certain affiliates  are  eligible  to
participate in the Plan.
 
    Under  the Plan, the Company matches  employees' 401(k) PSP contributions up
to $4,000 per employee per year by making Company common stock contributions  to
the ESOP. The Company may also make discretionary cash contributions to the PSP.
For  1993, 1994 and 1995, the Company recorded compensation expense of $799,565,
$1,059,812  and  $1,246,645,  respectively,  to  the  ESOP  under  the  matching
provision.  No discretionary contributions were made to the PSP in 1993, 1994 or
1995.
 
STOCK OPTION PLANS
 
    The Company  has two  stock  option plans,  a 1985  Plan  and a  1995  Plan.
Additionally,  the Company has  granted stock options outside  the 1985 and 1995
plans.
 
    The Company's 1985  Plan, which  provided for the  granting of  nonqualified
options  to purchase  4,000,000 shares  of the  Company's common  stock, expired
September 30, 1994,  except as to  the options then  outstanding. The  Company's
1995  Plan  provides  for the  granting  of incentive  options  and nonqualified
options to purchase 2,000,000 shares of  the Company's common stock to  officers
and  key employees at  a price not less  than fair market value  at the date the
option is granted. Outside the 1985 and 1995 plans, 1,448,020 options have  been
granted  to certain  officers and directors.  Such options were  granted with an
exercise price equal to fair  market value (see Notes 1  and 2), at the date  of
grant.
 
    Options become exercisable as determined at the date of grant by a committee
of  the Board  of Directors.  Options expire  10 years  after the  date of grant
unless an earlier expiration date is set at the time of grant.
 
                                      F-18
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               SEPTEMBER 30, 1995
 
NOTE 12 -- EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (CONTINUED)
    Details of stock options are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   NUMBER OF
                                                                    SHARES     EXERCISE PRICE
                                                                  -----------  --------------
<S>                                                               <C>          <C>
Outstanding at September 30, 1992...............................    4,459,288  $ 2.04 - $3.08
  Granted.......................................................      172,168  $         2.81
  Exercised.....................................................     (932,796) $ 2.04 - $2.81
  Canceled......................................................      (90,084) $ 2.10 - $2.81
                                                                  -----------
Outstanding at September 30, 1993...............................    3,608,576  $ 2.04 - $3.08
  Granted.......................................................      301,216  $ 3.84 - $4.53
  Exercised                                                          (475,516) $ 2.10 - $2.88
  Canceled......................................................      (62,000) $ 2.10 - $2.88
                                                                  -----------
Outstanding at September 30, 1994                                   3,372,276  $ 2.04 - $4.53
  Granted                                                             904,636  $ 4.60 - $5.54
  Exercised.....................................................   (1,326,484) $ 2.10 - $2.88
  Canceled......................................................      (16,000) $         2.10
                                                                  -----------
Outstanding at September 30, 1995...............................    2,934,428  $ 2.04 - $5.54
                                                                  -----------
                                                                  -----------
</TABLE>
 
    Of the outstanding options at September  30, 1995, 1,668,404 had vested.  As
of  September 30, 1995, options to  purchase 1,392,000 shares were available for
grant under the 1995 Plan.
 
    No compensation expense  was recorded  in 1993,  1994 and  1995 because  all
options were granted at H&Q Group's fair market value (see Notes 1 and 2).
 
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
 
    In fiscal 1993, 1994 and 1995, the Company awarded Stock Appreciation Rights
(SARs)  to key employees and executives. These SARs have a service period of one
year and result in additional cash compensation to the individuals based on  the
increase  in the Company's formula value (see  Note 1) during the service period
to which the  SARs relate. The  SARs vest and  are paid over  three years,  with
immediate  cancellation  of  vesting upon  employment  termination. Compensation
expense recorded for SARs awards was $361,050, $785,258 and $4,210,216 for 1993,
1994 and 1995, respectively.
 
    The following summarizes SARs as of September 30, 1993, 1994 and 1995:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   1993        1994        1995
                                                ----------  ----------  ----------
<S>                                             <C>         <C>         <C>
Initial grant.................................   1,044,000   1,260,000   1,794,000
Canceled......................................    (196,000)   (142,000)   (146,000)
                                                ----------  ----------  ----------
SARs remaining................................     848,000   1,118,000   1,648,000
                                                ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                ----------  ----------  ----------
SARs issuance price...........................  $     2.81  $     3.84  $     4.98
</TABLE>
 
    The total SARs liability at September 30, 1995, included in compensation and
benefits payable, will be paid out as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal 1996.....................................  $2,117,425
<S>                                               <C>
Fiscal 1997.....................................  1,824,159
Fiscal 1998.....................................  1,398,364
                                                  ---------
  Total.........................................  $5,339,948
                                                  ---------
                                                  ---------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-19
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               SEPTEMBER 30, 1995
 
NOTE 12 -- EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (CONTINUED)
    Subsequent to September  30, 1995,  the Company issued  2,859,520 SARs  that
will  result in additional compensation to the awardees based on the increase in
the Company's net book value in the 1996 fiscal year. These SARs have a  service
period of one year and vest and are paid over three years.
 
NOTE 13 -- NET CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS
    As  a registered  broker-dealer, H&Q  LLC is  subject to  the Securities and
Exchange Commission's Uniform Net Capital Rule 15c3-1 (the Rule) and the capital
rules of the New York  Stock Exchange, Inc., of which  H&Q LLC is a member.  H&Q
LLC  has elected to compute its  net capital requirement under the "alternative"
method, which requires minimum net capital to be the greater of $1,000,000 or  2
percent  of aggregate  debit balances  arising from  customers' transactions, as
defined. The Rule also provides that equity capital may not be withdrawn or cash
distributions paid if the resulting net  capital would be less than the  amounts
required  under the Rule. Accordingly, the payment of distributions and advances
to H&Q  Group by  H&Q  LLC is  limited  to excess  net  capital under  the  most
restrictive  of these  requirements. At September  30, 1994 and  1995, H&Q LLC's
regulatory net  capital of  $14,994,039 and  $30,286,118, respectively,  was  38
percent  and  28 percent,  respectively, of  aggregate debit  items and  its net
capital in  excess of  the  minimum required  was $13,994,039  and  $28,191,905,
respectively.
 
    As a registered broker-dealer, RvR is also subject to the Rule. RvR has also
elected  to compute  its net capital  requirement under  the alternative method.
RvR's minimum net  capital requirement is  $250,000. At September  30, 1994  and
1995, RvR had regulatory net capital under Rule 15c3-1 of $895,904 and $345,010,
respectively, and its net capital in excess of the minimum required was $645,904
and $95,010, respectively.
 
NOTE 14 -- COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
    Aggregate  annual  rentals for  office  space under  noncancelable operating
leases are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FISCAL YEARS
ENDING SEPTEMBER 30
- -----------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                          <C>
1996.......................................................  $   4,897,824
1997.......................................................      4,926,256
1998.......................................................      4,686,662
1999.......................................................      1,818,796
Thereafter.................................................        151,158
                                                             -------------
                                                             $  16,480,696
                                                             -------------
                                                             -------------
</TABLE>
 
    Certain of  these leases  have escalation  clauses. Rental  expense, net  of
sublease  income, charged to occupancy and equipment expense for the years ended
September 30, 1993, 1994  and 1995, was  $3,588,776, $3,731,112 and  $4,297,622,
respectively.
 
    Lewco  Securities Corp. conducts  a stock borrow/stock  lending business. On
behalf of Lewco, the Company has  agreed to guarantee its proportional share  of
secured  loans resulting from this  business. The Company's contingent liability
relating to  its  net unsecured  position  under this  indemnity  agreement  was
$72,211 and $3,796,907 at September 30, 1994 and 1995, respectively.
 
    The  Company has  contingent liabilities,  including contractual commitments
arising  in  the  normal  course  of  business,  the  resolution  of  which,  in
management's opinion, will not have an adverse effect on the Company's financial
position.
 
    As  is the case with many firms in the securities industry, the Company is a
defendant or co-defendant  in a  number of  lawsuits that  seek substantial  and
usually   unspecified   damages.  These   suits  have   arisen  in   the  normal
 
                                      F-20
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               SEPTEMBER 30, 1995
 
NOTE 14 -- COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED)
course of  the Company's  business  and are  incidental  to the  securities  and
investment   banking  business.  Most  of   the  proceedings  relate  to  public
underwritings of securities  in which  H&Q LLC  participated as  a manager,  co-
manager  or member  of the  underwriting syndicate.  These cases  involve claims
under federal and state securities laws and seek compensatory and other monetary
damages. It is possible that  H&Q Group and/or H&Q LLC  may be called upon as  a
member  of  a  class of  defendants  or  under the  terms  of  the underwriting,
indemnification or other  agreements to contribute  to settlements or  judgments
arising  out of  these cases.  The Company is  contesting the  complaints in all
cases and  believes  that  there  are meritorious  defenses  in  each  of  these
lawsuits. Although the ultimate outcome of such litigation cannot be ascertained
at  this  time,  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  Company's  management,  based on
discussions with counsel, that the resolution  of these actions and others  will
not  have a material adverse effect on the Company's combined financial position
or its operations.
 
    H&Q Group has  indemnified certain  of its officers,  directors, agents  and
certain  of  its  affiliates  as permitted  under  California  law.  Under these
provisions,  H&Q  Group  itself  is  and  will  be  subject  to  indemnification
assertions  by officers, directors, agents or  certain of its affiliates who are
or may become defendants in litigation that  may result in the normal course  of
business.   Although   the  ultimate   outcome  of   indemnification  assertions
outstanding as of September 30, 1995, cannot be ascertained at this time, it  is
the opinion of the Company's management, based on discussions with counsel, that
the  resolution of these assertions  will not have a  material adverse effect on
the Company's combined financial position or its operations.
 
NOTE 15 -- FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS WITH MARKET RISK AND CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT
RISK
    In the normal  course of  business, H&Q  LLC enters  into various  financial
transactions  with  off-balance-sheet risk  in  connection with  its proprietary
trading activities. These transactions primarily include purchases and sales  of
index and equity options. H&Q LLC records its options at market value. H&Q LLC's
options  are  primarily executed  to minimize  its market  risk exposure  of its
underlying trading  positions  as  well  as  to  benefit  from  changing  market
conditions.  All options transacted by H&Q  LLC are exchange-traded in organized
markets and have terms of less than one year. H&Q LLC's exposure to market  risk
is  determined  by a  number  of factors,  including  the size,  composition and
diversification of  positions held  and market  volatility. Management  actively
monitors  its market  risk exposure  by reviewing  the effectiveness  of hedging
strategies and setting market risk limits. H&Q LLC's exposure to market risk  is
immaterial.
 
    The market values of options included in the balance sheets are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 1994        1995
                                                              ----------  ----------
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>
Options included in--
  Marketable securities.....................................  $  240,726  $  897,048
  Securities sold, not yet purchased........................     246,024     685,487
</TABLE>
 
    In  the  normal course  of business,  H&Q  LLC's customer  and correspondent
clearance activities involve the execution, settlement and financing of  various
customer  securities  transactions.  These  activities  may  expose  H&Q  LLC to
off-balance-sheet credit  risk in  the  event that  the  customer is  unable  to
fulfill its contracted obligations. H&Q LLC's customer securities activities are
transacted  on either a  cash or margin  basis. In margin  transactions, H&Q LLC
extends credit  to the  customer,  subject to  various regulatory  and  internal
margin  requirements, collateralized  by cash  and securities  in the customer's
account. H&Q  LLC monitors  collateral  and required  margin levels  daily  and,
pursuant to such guidelines, requests customers to deposit additional collateral
or reduce securities positions when necessary. H&Q LLC is also exposed to credit
risk  when  its margin  accounts  or a  margin  account is  collateralized  by a
concentration of  a particular  security  and when  that security  decreases  in
value.
 
                                      F-21
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
               NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                               SEPTEMBER 30, 1995
 
NOTE 15 -- FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS WITH MARKET RISK AND CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT
RISK (CONTINUED)
    In  addition, H&Q LLC executes  and clears customer short-sale transactions.
Such transactions may expose H&Q LLC to off-balance-sheet risk in the event that
margin requirements are not sufficient to fully cover losses that customers  may
incur.  In the event that the customer fails to satisfy its obligations, H&Q LLC
may be required to purchase financial instruments at prevailing market prices in
order to fulfill the customer's obligations.
 
    In accordance with industry practice, H&Q LLC records customer  transactions
on  a settlement-date basis, which is  generally three business days after trade
date. H&Q LLC is therefore exposed to risk of loss on these transactions in  the
event  of  the customers'  or  brokers' inability  to  meet the  terms  of their
contracts, in  which  case  H&Q LLC  may  have  to purchase  or  sell  financial
instruments at prevailing market prices. Settlement of these transactions is not
expected to have a material effect on H&Q LLC's balance sheet.
 
    As  a securities broker-dealer, H&Q LLC  provides services to diverse groups
of corporations  and  institutional  and  individual  investors.  A  substantial
portion   of  H&Q  LLC's  transactions  is   executed  with  and  on  behalf  of
institutional  investors,  including  other  broker-dealers,  commercial  banks,
insurance   companies,  pension   plans,  mutual   funds  and   other  financial
institutions.  H&Q  LLC's   exposure  to   credit  risk   associated  with   the
nonperformance  of these  customers in fulfilling  their contractual obligations
pursuant to securities transactions can be directly impacted by volatile trading
markets.
 
    As  of  September   30,  1995,   the  Company  did   not  have   significant
concentrations  of credit risk  with any single counterparty  or with any single
security.
 
NOTE 16 -- INDUSTRY SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA DATA
    The Company  is  primarily  engaged  in  a single  line  of  business  as  a
securities  firm, which comprises  several types of  services, such as principal
and agency  transactions,  underwriting  and investment  banking  and  long-term
equity investing. These activities constitute a single business segment.
 
    The  assets and revenues related to the company's foreign operations are not
significant.
 
                                      F-22
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
                            COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS
                  AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1995, AND MARCH 31, 1996
                                  (UNAUDITED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                                        1995
                                                                                   --------------  MARCH 31, 1996
                                                                                                   --------------
                                                                                                    (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                                <C>             <C>
                                                     ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents........................................................  $   34,754,568  $   36,554,486
Receivables:
  Customers......................................................................     100,435,213     144,238,724
  Lewco Securities Corp..........................................................      41,990,309      92,424,104
  Syndicate managers.............................................................       9,538,902      15,519,486
  Related parties................................................................       3,340,955      12,315,817
  Lease..........................................................................       3,255,635       4,794,645
  Other..........................................................................       3,274,378      12,448,838
Marketable trading securities, at market value...................................      26,224,167      39,224,593
Long-term investments, at estimated fair value...................................      70,822,157      74,347,711
Deferred income taxes............................................................      10,627,856      10,873,034
Furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements, net of accumulated depreciation
 and amortization................................................................       6,009,696       8,116,544
Leased assets, net of accumulated depreciation...................................       8,700,289       6,922,743
Exchange memberships, at cost....................................................         656,000         656,000
                                                                                   --------------  --------------
      Total assets...............................................................  $  319,630,125  $  458,436,725
                                                                                   --------------  --------------
                                                                                   --------------  --------------
 
                           LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL
Payables:
  Customers......................................................................  $   71,654,381  $  133,790,766
  Compensation and benefits......................................................      46,227,242      90,041,998
  Syndicate settlements..........................................................      25,409,777      29,599,789
  Income taxes payable...........................................................       6,368,059       1,537,452
  Trade accounts payable.........................................................         944,775       2,200,522
  Customer lease deposits........................................................         478,603         452,632
  Accrued expenses and other.....................................................       9,848,303      13,161,777
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at market value..............................      25,218,036       7,888,938
Debt obligations.................................................................      13,770,737      11,850,667
Payable to partners of Hambrecht & Quist, L.P....................................      10,445,367      17,192,631
                                                                                   --------------  --------------
      Total liabilities..........................................................     210,365,280     307,717,172
                                                                                   --------------  --------------
Minority interest in Hambrecht & Quist Guaranty Finance, L.P.....................       3,802,762       4,322,042
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders' equity and partners' capital.......................................     105,462,083     146,397,511
                                                                                   --------------  --------------
      Total liabilities and shareholders' equity and partners' capital...........  $  319,630,125  $  458,436,725
                                                                                   --------------  --------------
                                                                                   --------------  --------------
</TABLE>
 
        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
 
                                      F-23
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
                       COMBINED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996
                                  (UNAUDITED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         1995            1996
                                                                                     -------------  --------------
                                                                                              (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                                  <C>            <C>
REVENUES:
  Principal transactions...........................................................  $  22,252,638  $   43,997,192
  Agency commissions...............................................................      8,852,142      17,364,800
  Investment banking...............................................................     18,920,444      84,053,248
  Corporate finance fees...........................................................     12,403,138      26,255,967
  Net investment gains from long-term investments..................................     15,636,675      15,308,482
  Other............................................................................      8,797,374      17,521,329
                                                                                     -------------  --------------
      Total revenues...............................................................     86,862,411     204,501,018
                                                                                     -------------  --------------
EXPENSES:
  Compensation and benefits........................................................     42,979,149     103,878,913
  Brokerage and clearance..........................................................      4,072,783       6,118,161
  Occupancy and equipment..........................................................      3,687,424       4,593,220
  Communications...................................................................      3,517,148       4,527,791
  Interest.........................................................................        483,830         762,467
  Other............................................................................      6,473,649      12,141,185
                                                                                     -------------  --------------
      Total expenses...............................................................     61,213,983     132,021,737
                                                                                     -------------  --------------
      Income before minority interest and income tax provision.....................     25,648,428      72,479,281
MINORITY INTEREST IN INCOME OF SUBSIDIARY..........................................        289,262         546,206
                                                                                     -------------  --------------
      Income before income tax provision...........................................     25,359,166      71,933,075
INCOME TAX PROVISION...............................................................      6,894,535      24,351,832
                                                                                     -------------  --------------
      Net income...................................................................  $  18,464,631  $   47,581,243
                                                                                     -------------  --------------
                                                                                     -------------  --------------
</TABLE>
 
        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
 
                                      F-24
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
                       COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996
                                  (UNAUDITED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          1995           1996
                                                                                      ------------  --------------
                                                                                              (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                                   <C>           <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES................................................  $  4,782,088  $    1,629,754
                                                                                      ------------  --------------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
  Purchases of long-term investments................................................    (6,415,612)    (14,484,034)
  Proceeds from sales/distributions of long-term investments........................     9,095,597      26,266,962
  Purchases of furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements......................    (1,325,263)     (3,715,820)
  Purchases of leased assets........................................................    (6,517,993)             --
  Other.............................................................................     1,581,467      (1,312,897)
                                                                                      ------------  --------------
      Net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in) investing activities......    (3,581,804)      6,754,211
                                                                                      ------------  --------------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Proceeds from debt obligations....................................................     4,000,000              --
  Repayments of debt obligations....................................................    (6,833,532)     (1,920,070)
  Proceeds from sales of common stock and partners' capital contributions...........     1,699,347       1,399,994
  Repurchases of common stock and partners' capital withdrawals.....................       (82,128)       (655,436)
  Partners' capital distributions...................................................      (160,525)     (5,408,535)
                                                                                      ------------  --------------
      Net cash and cash equivalents used in financing activities....................    (1,376,838)     (6,584,047)
                                                                                      ------------  --------------
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS....................................      (176,554)      1,799,918
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD....................................     6,782,335      34,754,568
                                                                                      ------------  --------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD..........................................  $  6,605,781  $   36,554,486
                                                                                      ------------  --------------
                                                                                      ------------  --------------
</TABLE>
 
        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
 
                                      F-25
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
                CONDENSED NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                 MARCH 31, 1996
                                  (UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 1 -- GENERAL
    The  information contained in the following  notes to the combined financial
statements is condensed  from that  which would  appear in  the annual  combined
financial   statements;   accordingly,  the   accompanying   combined  financial
statements should  be  read in  conjunction  with the  1995  combined  financial
statements and related notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Prospectus. Any
capitalized  terms used but not  defined have the same  meaning given to them in
the 1995 combined financial statements. Accounting measurements at interim dates
inherently involve greater reliance on  estimates than at year-end. The  results
of  operations for the interim periods  presented are not necessarily indicative
of the results to be expected for the entire year.
 
    The combined financial  statements included herein  are unaudited;  however,
they  include all adjustments of a normal recurring nature which, in the opinion
of management, are  necessary to present  fairly the financial  position of  the
Company at March 31, 1996, and the combined results of operations and cash flows
for the six months ended March 31, 1995 and 1996.
 
NOTE 2 -- RECEIVABLES FROM RELATED PARTIES
    Receivables  from  related  parties include  receivables  of  $2,912,333 and
$3,245,720 at September 30, 1995, and March 31, 1996, respectively, from H&Q AP.
Also included  in  receivables from  related  parties  at March  31,  1996,  are
receivables of $7,800,000 for profit participation distributions from H&Q VP and
$1,270,097 for advances made to employees.
 
NOTE 3 -- MARKETABLE TRADING SECURITIES AND SECURITIES SOLD, NOT YET PURCHASED
    At September 30, 1995, and March 31, 1996, marketable trading securities and
securities sold, not yet purchased, consisted of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            SEPTEMBER 30,    MARCH 31,
                                                                                1995           1996
                                                                            -------------  -------------
<S>                                                                         <C>            <C>
Marketable trading securities--
  Equity securities.......................................................   $21,385,307   $  29,404,071
  Convertible bonds.......................................................     3,941,812       8,760,612
  Options.................................................................       897,048       1,059,910
                                                                            -------------  -------------
                                                                             $26,224,167   $  39,224,593
                                                                            -------------  -------------
                                                                            -------------  -------------
Securities sold, not yet purchased--
  Equity securities.......................................................   $24,532,549   $   6,720,896
  Options.................................................................       685,487       1,168,042
                                                                            -------------  -------------
                                                                             $25,218,036   $   7,888,938
                                                                            -------------  -------------
                                                                            -------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-26
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
          CONDENSED NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                                 MARCH 31, 1996
                                  (UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 4 -- LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS
    At  September  30,  1995,  and  March  31,  1996,  the  Company's  long-term
investments at estimated fair value consisted of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            SEPTEMBER 30,    MARCH 31,
                                                                                1995           1996
                                                                            -------------  -------------
<S>                                                                         <C>            <C>
Marketable equity securities..............................................   $20,302,683   $  31,848,477
BISYS Group, Inc. common stock--unrestricted..............................     6,000,000              --
                                                                            -------------  -------------
    Total marketable investments..........................................    26,302,683      31,848,477
                                                                            -------------  -------------
BISYS Group, Inc. common stock--restricted................................    21,481,390      18,559,237
Nonmarketable securities and investment partnership interests.............    14,906,421      16,212,873
H&Q Venture Partners and affiliated venture capital funds.................     4,790,144       4,629,121
Venture capital funds managed by others...................................     1,231,240         987,725
Lewco Securities--
  Equity ownership........................................................     1,810,279       1,810,278
  Subordinated note receivable............................................       300,000         300,000
                                                                            -------------  -------------
    Total nonmarketable investments.......................................    44,519,474      42,499,234
                                                                            -------------  -------------
    Total long-term investments...........................................   $70,822,157   $  74,347,711
                                                                            -------------  -------------
                                                                            -------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
    The costs of the Company's long-term investments at September 30, 1995,  and
March 31, 1996, were $47,046,599 and $58,221,679, respectively.
 
    Following  is an analysis of the net  investment gains for the periods ended
March 31, 1995 and 1996:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                1995           1996
                                                                            -------------  -------------
<S>                                                                         <C>            <C>
Realized gains............................................................  $   1,251,833  $  20,970,368
Change in unrealized gains and losses, net................................     14,384,842     (5,661,886)
                                                                            -------------  -------------
    Net investment gains from long-term investments.......................  $  15,636,675  $  15,308,482
                                                                            -------------  -------------
                                                                            -------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
    At March 31, 1996, both H&Q Group and H&Q LLC own restricted shares of BISYS
Group, Inc. (BISYS) common stock, H&Q Group owns shares with a carrying value of
$6,702,989, and  H&Q LLC  owns  shares with  a  carrying value  of  $11,856,248.
Included  in net  investment gains  are realized  and unrealized  gains on BISYS
holdings  of  $11,985,282  and   $10,437,857  at  March   31,  1995  and   1996,
respectively.
 
NOTE 5 -- RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS
INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS
 
    Included   in  other  revenues  are  asset  management  fees  which  include
management fees  and profit  participation  distributions from  venture  capital
funds  of $3,953,912  and $9,150,795  for the periods  ended March  31, 1995 and
1996, respectively.
 
EMPLOYEE NOTES RECEIVABLE
 
    As of September 30, 1995, and  March 31, 1996, H&Q Group's notes  receivable
from  employees  for  their  stock purchases  were  $7,659,714  and $10,659,409,
respectively, and  H&Q LP's  notes receivable  from partners  for their  capital
contributions were $2,232,013 and $7,475,736, respectively.
 
                                      F-27
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
          CONDENSED NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                                 MARCH 31, 1996
                                  (UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 6 -- STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL
    During the period ended March 31, 1996, 2,002,140 shares of H&Q Group common
stock  were issued to employees  in exchange for cash  and notes receivable (see
Note 5) totaling $7,096,654 and 579,556 shares were repurchased from  terminated
employees for $3,753,136.
 
    Also  during the period, H&Q LP partners' capital contributions, in the form
of cash and notes receivable,  and withdrawals totaled $5,748,693 and  $458,801,
respectively.  Partners' capital  distributions of  $11,643,713 were  accrued as
partners' capital distribution payable and as a deduction to partners' capital.
 
NOTE 7 -- EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
STOCK OPTION PLAN
 
    During the period ended March 31,  1996, the Company amended the 1995  Stock
Option Plan to provide for the granting of 4,972,000 options to purchase company
stock.
 
    Details of stock options are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             NUMBER OF
                                                                              SHARES     EXERCISE PRICE
                                                                            -----------  --------------
<S>                                                                         <C>          <C>
Outstanding at September 30, 1994.........................................    3,372,276  $2.04 - $4.53
  Granted.................................................................      904,636  $4.60 - $5.54
  Exercised...............................................................   (1,326,484) $2.10 - $2.88
  Canceled................................................................      (16,000)     $2.10
                                                                            -----------
Outstanding at September 30, 1995.........................................    2,934,428  $2.04 - $5.54
  Granted.................................................................    4,132,192  $6.52 - $8.38
  Exercised...............................................................   (1,569,628) $2.10 - $4.74
  Canceled................................................................     (169,608) $2.62 - $5.54
                                                                            -----------
Outstanding at March 31, 1996.............................................    5,327,384  $2.04 - $8.38
                                                                            -----------
                                                                            -----------
</TABLE>
 
    During  the period ended March 31, 1996,  504,272 options were granted at an
exercise price below  fair market value  on the  date of grant,  resulting in  a
$940,467 charge to compensation expense.
 
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
 
    Effective  October 1, 1995, 2,859,520 SARs were awarded to employees for the
fiscal 1996 service period. Effective March 31, 1996, modifications were made to
some employees' awards. Of the 2,859,520 SARs issued for the fiscal 1996 service
period, 180,000  SARs were  canceled  in exchange  for  issuances of  stock  and
approximately  2,179,520 were revised to a  six-month service period ended March
31, 1996, from  a fiscal year  period ending September  30, 1996. The  remaining
SARs  stay in effect with their original  terms. For the periods ended March 31,
1995 and 1996, compensation expense recorded for SARs awards was $2,958,756  and
$6,634,876, respectively.
 
    The  total SARs  liability at March  31, 1996, included  in compensation and
benefits payable, will be paid out as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                       <C>
Fiscal 1997.............................................................  $3,721,668
Fiscal 1998.............................................................  3,320,763
Fiscal 1999.............................................................  2,075,000
                                                                          ---------
    Total...............................................................  $9,117,431
                                                                          ---------
                                                                          ---------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-28
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
          CONDENSED NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                                 MARCH 31, 1996
                                  (UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 8 -- NET CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS
    At September 30, 1995, and March 31, 1996, H&Q LLC's regulatory net  capital
of  $30,286,118 and $43,204,179, respectively, was  28 percent and 22.5 percent,
respectively, of aggregate  debit items, and  its net capital  in excess of  the
minimum required was $28,191,905 and $39,370,142, respectively.
 
NOTE 9 -- CONTINGENCIES
    Lewco  Securities Corp. conducts  a stock borrow/stock  lending business. On
behalf of Lewco, the Company has  agreed to guarantee its proportional share  of
secured  loans resulting from this  business. The Company's contingent liability
relating to  its  net unsecured  position  under this  indemnity  agreement  was
$6,826,445 at March 31, 1996.
 
    The  Company has  contingent liabilities,  including contractual commitments
arising  in  the  normal  course  of  business,  the  resolution  of  which,  in
management's opinion, will not have an adverse effect on the Company's financial
position.
 
    As  is the case with many firms in the securities industry, the Company is a
defendant or co-defendant  in a  number of  lawsuits that  seek substantial  and
usually unspecified damages. These suits have arisen in the normal course of the
Company's  business and are incidental to  the securities and investment banking
business. Most of the proceedings  relate to public underwritings of  securities
in  which  H&Q  LLC participated  as  a  manager, co-manager  or  member  of the
underwriting syndicate.  These  cases involve  claims  under federal  and  state
securities laws and seek compensatory and other monetary damages. It is possible
that  H&Q Group  and/or H&Q LLC  may be called  upon as  a member of  a class of
defendants or  under the  terms of  the underwriting,  indemnification or  other
agreements to contribute to settlements or judgments arising out of these cases.
The  Company is contesting the  complaints in all cases  and believes that there
are meritorious  defenses  in each  of  these lawsuits.  Although  the  ultimate
outcome of such litigation cannot be ascertained at this time, it is the opinion
of  the  Company's  management,  based on  discussions  with  counsel,  that the
resolution of these actions and others  will not have a material adverse  effect
on the Company's combined financial position or its operations.
 
    H&Q  Group has  indemnified certain of  its officers,  directors, agents and
certain of  its  affiliates  as  permitted under  California  law.  Under  these
provisions,  H&Q  Group  itself  is  and  will  be  subject  to  indemnification
assertions by officers, directors, agents or  certain of its affiliates who  are
or  may become defendants in litigation that  may result in the normal course of
business.  Although   the  ultimate   outcome  of   indemnification   assertions
outstanding  as of March 31, 1996, cannot be ascertained at this time, it is the
opinion of the Company's management, based on discussions with counsel, that the
resolution of these assertions  will not have a  material adverse effect on  the
Company's combined financial position or its operations.
 
NOTE 10 -- SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
    On April 1, 1996, H&Q Group entered into an agreement (the Recapitalization)
with  H&Q AP to  reduce H&Q Group's  ownership of H&Q  AP from 50  percent to 15
percent. Upon  closing of  the  Recapitalization, H&Q  Group  will loan  H&Q  AP
$850,000.  Also, as part  of the Recapitalization,  H&Q Group's receivables from
H&Q AP (see Note 2) will be restructured into interest- and  noninterest-bearing
term notes receivable.
 
    On  May 1, 1996, H&Q GF sold its  leased land and building to a third party.
Proceeds of $8,208,945  were used to  repay the $5,000,000  nonrecourse loan.  A
$3,298,246 gain was recognized on the sale.
 
                                      F-29
<PAGE>
                       SELECTED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA
 
    The following Pro Forma Combined Balance Sheet as as March 31, 1996 presents
the Restructuring (see "Restructuring") as if it occurred on March 31, 1996. The
following  Pro Forma Combined Statements of  Operations for the six months ended
March 31, 1996 and the year ended September 30, 1995 present the results for the
Company as if the Restructuring had occurred  on October 1, 1994. The pro  forma
information  is  based on  the  historical combined  financial  statements after
giving effect to the Restructuring. The  pro forma adjustments are described  in
the accompanying Notes to Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements.
 
    The  pro  forma financial  statements have  been  prepared by  the Company's
management. The pro forma financial statements do not indicate future results or
the results that would  have occurred if the  Restructuring had occurred on  the
dates   indicated.  The  pro  forma  financial  statements  should  be  read  in
conjunction with the audited combined financial statements of the Company as  of
September  30,  1994 and  1995, the  notes thereto,  and the  unaudited combined
financial statements as  of September  30, 1995 and  March 31,  1996, the  notes
thereto,  and  management's  discussion  thereof,  contained  elsewhere  in this
Prospectus. See "Combined Financial Statements" and "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
                                      F-30
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
                        PRO FORMA COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
                              AS OF MARCH 31, 1996
                                  (UNAUDITED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        PRO FORMA       PRO FORMA
                                                                         COMBINED      ADJUSTMENTS       COMBINED
                                                                        ----------  ------------------  ----------
                                                                                      (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                     <C>         <C>                 <C>
                                                      ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents.............................................  $   36,554  $  (32,170)(1)(2)(5) $    4,384
Receivables:                                                                                  (7)
  Customers...........................................................     144,239                         144,239
  Lewco Securities Corp...............................................      92,424                          92,424
  Syndicate managers..................................................      15,519                          15,519
  Related parties.....................................................      12,316                          12,316
  Lease...............................................................       4,795                           4,795
  Other...............................................................      12,449                          12,449
Marketable trading securities, at market value........................      39,225                          39,225
Long-term investments, at estimated fair value........................      74,348     (19,314)(3)          55,034
Deferred income taxes.................................................      10,873       4,600(6)           15,473
Furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements, net..................       8,116                           8,116
Leased assets, net....................................................       6,923                           6,923
Exchange memberships, at cost.........................................         656                             656
                                                                        ----------     -------          ----------
    Total assets......................................................  $  458,437  $  (46,884)         $  411,553
                                                                        ----------     -------          ----------
                                                                        ----------     -------          ----------
 
                            LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL
Payables:
  Customers...........................................................  $  133,790                      $  133,790
  Compensation and benefits...........................................      90,042  $   (3,954)(4)(5)       86,088
  Syndicate settlements...............................................      29,600                          29,600
  Income taxes payable................................................       1,537                           1,537
  Trade accounts payable..............................................       2,200                           2,200
  Customer lease deposits.............................................         453                             453
  Accrued expenses and other..........................................      13,162                          13,162
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at market value...................       7,889                           7,889
Debt obligations......................................................      11,851                          11,851
Payable to partners of Hambrecht & Quist, L.P.........................      17,193     (17,193)(7)               0
                                                                        ----------     -------          ----------
    Total liabilities.................................................     307,717     (21,147)            286,570
Minority interest in Hambrecht & Quist Guaranty Finance, L.P..........       4,322      (3,796)(2)             526
Shareholders' equity and partners' capital............................     146,398     (21,941)(1)(2)(3)    124,457
                                                                        ----------     -------          ----------
                                                                                               (4)(5)(6
    Total liabilities and shareholders' equity and partners'
     capital..........................................................  $  458,437  $  (46,884)         $  411,553
                                                                        ----------     -------          ----------
                                                                        ----------     -------          ----------
</TABLE>
 
             See Notes to Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements.
 
                                      F-31
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
                  PRO FORMA COMBINED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                    FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996
                                  (UNAUDITED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          PRO FORMA     PRO FORMA
                                                                             COMBINED    ADJUSTMENTS     COMBINED
                                                                            ----------  --------------  ----------
                                                                            (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                                                         <C>         <C>             <C>
Revenues:
  Principal transactions..................................................  $   43,997                  $   43,997
  Agency commissions......................................................      17,365                      17,365
  Investment banking......................................................      84,053                      84,053
  Corporate finance fees..................................................      26,256                      26,256
  Net investment gains from long-term investments.........................      15,309  $  (1,978)(3)       13,331
  Other...................................................................      17,521       (339)(1)(2)     17,182
                                                                            ----------     ------       ----------
    Total revenues........................................................     204,501     (2,317)         202,184
Expenses:
  Compensation and benefits...............................................     103,879                     103,879
  Brokerage and clearance.................................................       6,118                       6,118
  Occupancy and equipment.................................................       4,593                       4,593
  Communications..........................................................       4,528                       4,528
  Interest................................................................         762                         762
  Other...................................................................      12,142                      12,142
                                                                            ----------     ------       ----------
    Total expenses........................................................     132,022          0          132,022
                                                                            ----------     ------       ----------
Minority interest in income of subsidiary.................................         546       (319)(2)          227
                                                                            ----------     ------       ----------
  Income before income tax provision......................................      71,933     (1,998)          69,935
Income tax provision......................................................      24,352      6,419(8)        30,771
                                                                            ----------     ------       ----------
  Net income..............................................................  $   47,581  $  (8,417)      $   39,164
                                                                            ----------     ------       ----------
                                                                            ----------     ------       ----------
Pro forma weighted average shares outstanding (9).........................
Pro forma earnings per share..............................................
</TABLE>
 
             See Notes to Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements.
 
                                      F-32
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
                  PRO FORMA COMBINED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                     FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1995
                                  (UNAUDITED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         PRO FORMA     PRO FORMA
                                                                           COMBINED     ADJUSTMENTS     COMBINED
                                                                          ----------  ---------------  ----------
                                                                           (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                                                       <C>         <C>              <C>
Revenues:
  Principal transactions................................................  $   53,425                   $   53,425
  Agency commissions....................................................      24,603                       24,603
  Investment banking....................................................      70,360                       70,360
  Corporate finance fees................................................      20,709                       20,709
  Net investment gains..................................................      33,852  $   (7,413)(3)       26,439
  Other.................................................................      17,074        (678)(1)(2)     16,396
                                                                          ----------     -------       ----------
    Total revenues......................................................     220,023      (8,091)         211,932
                                                                          ----------     -------       ----------
Expenses:
  Compensation and benefits.............................................     105,370                      105,370
  Brokerage and clearance...............................................      10,441                       10,441
  Occupancy and equipment...............................................       7,803                        7,803
  Communications........................................................       7,394                        7,394
  Interest..............................................................       1,266                        1,266
  Other.................................................................      15,131                       15,131
                                                                          ----------     -------       ----------
    Total expenses......................................................     147,405           0          147,405
                                                                          ----------     -------       ----------
Minority interest in income of subsidiary...............................         719        (419)(2)          300
                                                                          ----------     -------       ----------
  Income before income tax provision....................................      71,899      (7,672)          64,227
Income tax provision....................................................      22,461       5,799(8)        28,260
                                                                          ----------     -------       ----------
  Net income............................................................  $   49,438  $  (13,471)      $   35,967
                                                                          ----------     -------       ----------
                                                                          ----------     -------       ----------
Pro forma weighted average shares outstanding (9).......................
Pro forma earnings per share............................................
</TABLE>
 
             See Notes to Pro Forma Combined Financial Statements.
 
                                      F-33
<PAGE>
              HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
                NOTES TO PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                 MARCH 31, 1996
                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
                                  (UNAUDITED)
 
    (1) Prior to  the Offering,  H&Q LP  will distribute  $15,000 in  cash to  a
liquidating  trust benefiting the partners  of H&Q LP. From  the proceeds of the
distribution, the partners of  H&Q LP will repay  approximately $5.6 million  in
notes  receivable recorded  as a reduction  to partners' capital.  Cash and cash
equivalents totaling $9,400 and the  related interest income (included in  Other
revenues) of $282 and $564 for the six months ended March 31, 1996, and the year
ended  September 30,  1995, respectively, have  been reduced to  reflect the net
reduction in interest-earning assets.
 
    (2) H&Q Group will purchase an additional 17.5 percent of H&Q GF from  other
members  (including 15 percent from H&Q  Group's CEO). Cash and cash equivalents
totaling $1,900 and the related interest income (included in Other revenues)  of
$57  and  $114 for  the six  months ended  March  31, 1996,  and the  year ended
September 30, 1995, respectively, have been reduced to reflect the reduction  in
interest-earning assets.
 
    To  reflect H&Q Group's ownership percentage change and the effects of other
H&Q GF restructuring transactions  described in the  preceding paragraph and  in
Notes  3  and 4,  Minority interest  liability  has been  reduced by  $3,796 and
Minority interest expense has been reduced by  $319 and $419 for the six  months
ended March 31, 1996 and the year ended September 30, 1995, respectively.
 
    (3) Prior to the Offering, H&Q LP and H&Q GF will distribute securities with
a  book  value  of  approximately  $19,314. $17,314  will  be  distributed  to a
liquidating trust  benefiting  the  partners  of  H&Q  LP  and  $2,000  will  be
distributed  to  H&Q  GF's 30%  general  partner. To  reflect  the distribution,
Long-term investments  have been  reduced by  $19,314 and  Net investment  gains
recorded during the periods presented have been reduced by $1,978 and $7,413 for
the  six months  ended March  31, 1996  and the  year ended  September 30, 1995,
respectively.
 
    (4) Certain employees of H&Q GF have been granted options to purchase H&Q GF
partnership interests. As  part of the  Restructuring, H&Q GF  will buy-out  all
options  outstanding for approximately $2,000. A $2,000 Compensation payable has
been recorded for the amount of this deferred buy-out in the Pro Forma  Combined
Balance  Sheet. Pursuant to H&Q GF's profit sharing plan, employees are entitled
to an approximate 10  percent of all  net investment gains. As  a result of  the
distribution of securities by H&Q GF, H&Q GF will record approximately $1,400 of
additional  Compensation payable for the  profit sharing liability. Compensation
expense for the deferred  option buy-out and  deferred profit sharing  liability
are  not reflected in the  Pro Forma Combined Statements  of Operations but will
decrease net income reported in the Company's combined financial statements  for
the quarter ended June 30, 1996.
 
    (5)  H&Q Group  will distribute cash  of $3,677 and  its limited partnership
interest in  H&Q  LP,  with  a recorded  book  value  of  approximately  $3,677,
primarily  to employees. Cash and cash equivalents and the recorded Compensation
payable for  the  total distribution  will  be  reduced by  $3,677  and  $7,354,
respectively.
 
    (6)  As a result of the merger of H&Q LP into H&Q Group, Deferred income tax
assets will increase  by approximately  $4,600 for the  tax effect  of H&Q  LP's
previously  unrecorded temporary differences.  As a partnership,  H&Q LP was not
subject to taxes that  result in temporary differences.  The related income  tax
benefit  of $4,600  is not  reflected in  the Pro  Forma Combined  Statements of
Operations but  will increase  net  income reported  in the  Company's  combined
financial statements for the quarter ended September 30, 1996.
 
    (7)  Prior to the Offering, the $17,193 Liability to partners of H&Q LP will
be paid in cash. Cash and cash equivalents and the Liability to partners will be
reduced by $17,193.
 
    (8) The  Income  tax provision  has  been  adjusted to  reflect  a  combined
effective income tax rate of 44 percent as applied to the pro forma results.
 
    (9) Pro forma earnings per share are calculated using Pro forma combined net
income  divided  by Pro  forma weighted  average  shares outstanding.  Pro forma
weighted average shares outstanding include the shares to be issued prior to the
Offering related to the H&Q Group and H&Q LP merger.
 
                                      F-34
<PAGE>
- ----------------------------------------------
                                  ----------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------
                                  ----------------------------------------------
 
      NO  DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER PERSON  HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
  INFORMATION OR TO  MAKE ANY  REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN  THOSE CONTAINED  IN
  THIS  PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR  MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS
  MUST NOT BE  RELIED UPON AS  HAVING BEEN  AUTHORIZED BY THE  COMPANY OR  THE
  UNDERWRITERS.  THIS PROSPECTUS  DOES NOT  CONSTITUTE AN  OFFER TO  SELL OR A
  SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY TO  ANY PERSON IN ANY JURISDICTION IN  WHICH
  SUCH  OFFER OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS
  UNLAWFUL. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY OFFER OR SALE MADE
  HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT  THERE
  HAS  BEEN NO CHANGE  IN THE AFFAIRS  OF THE COMPANY  OR THAT THE INFORMATION
  CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF.
 
                                 --------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   PAGE
                                                   -----
<S>                                             <C>
Summary.......................................           3
Risk Factors..................................           5
The Company...................................          13
Restructuring.................................          14
Use of Proceeds...............................          15
Dividend Policy...............................          15
Capitalization................................          16
Dilution......................................          17
Selected Combined Financial Data..............          18
Management's Discussion and Analysis of
 Financial Condition and Results of
 Operations...................................          20
Business......................................          26
Regulation....................................          42
Net Capital Requirements......................          44
Management....................................          46
Certain Transactions..........................          53
Principal Stockholders........................          57
Description of Capital Stock..................          58
Shares Eligible for Future Sale...............          59
Underwriting..................................          60
Legal Matters.................................          61
Experts.......................................          61
Additional Information........................          61
Index to Financial Statements.................         F-1
</TABLE>
 
      UNTIL          , 1996 (25 DAYS  AFTER THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS),  ALL
  DEALERS   EFFECTING  TRANSACTIONS  IN  THE  COMMON  STOCK,  WHETHER  OR  NOT
  PARTICIPATING IN THIS DISTRIBUTION, MAY BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS.
  THIS IS IN  ADDITION TO THE  OBLIGATION OF DEALERS  TO DELIVER A  PROSPECTUS
  WHEN  ACTING AS UNDERWRITERS AND WITH  RESPECT TO THEIR UNSOLD ALLOTMENTS OR
  SUBSCRIPTIONS.
 
                                        SHARES
 
                                     [LOGO]
 
                                  COMMON STOCK
 
                                 --------------
 
                                   PROSPECTUS
                                 --------------
 
                               HAMBRECHT & QUIST
 
                              MORGAN STANLEY & CO.
                                  INCORPORATED
 
                               SMITH BARNEY INC.
 
                                        , 1996
 
- ----------------------------------------------
                                  ----------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------
                                  ----------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                                    PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 13.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
 
    The  following table sets forth the estimated costs and expenses, other than
underwriting discounts and commissions, payable  in connection with the sale  of
Common Stock being registered.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                            AMOUNT TO BE
                                                                                              PAID BY
                                                                                              COMPANY
                                                                                            ------------
<S>                                                                                         <C>
SEC registration fee......................................................................   $   27,587
NASD filing fee...........................................................................       30,500
New York Stock Exchange listing fee.......................................................       81,100
Pacific Stock Exchange listing fee........................................................       10,000
Printing and engraving....................................................................       75,000
Legal fees and expenses...................................................................      300,000
Accounting fees and expenses..............................................................      200,000
Blue sky fees and expenses................................................................       15,000
Transfer agent and registrar fees and expenses............................................        5,000
Miscellaneous.............................................................................       55,813
                                                                                            ------------
    Total.................................................................................   $  800,000
                                                                                            ------------
                                                                                            ------------
</TABLE>
 
ITEM 14.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
 
    Article Eight of the registrant's Certificate of Incorporation (Exhibit 3.01
hereto) and Article VI of the registrant's By-laws (Exhibit 3.02 hereto) provide
for  indemnification of its  directors, officers, employees  and other agents to
the maximum extent permitted  by the Delaware Law.  In addition, the  Registrant
has  entered  into Indemnification  Agreements (Exhibit  10.19 hereto)  with its
officers and directors.  Reference is  also made to  the Underwriting  Agreement
contained  in Exhibit  1.01 hereto,  which provides  for the  indemnification of
officers, directors and  controlling persons of  the Registrant against  certain
liabilities.
 
ITEM 15.  RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES
 
    During  the three  year period  ended May 31,  1996, the  Registrant and its
predecessor entities, Hambrecht & Quist Group, a California corporation  ("Group
California") and Hambrecht & Quist L.P., a California limited partnership ("LP")
sold  the following securities without registration under the Securities Act (as
adjusted for the Restructuring, as such term is defined in the Prospectus):
 
(1) Group California sold  a total of  5,477,956 shares of  its Common Stock  to
    employees  and  directors of  the Registrant  and of  Group California  in a
    series of transactions  under stock  plans, for  aggregate consideration  of
    $24,086,587 in the form of cash and promissory notes.
 
(2)  Group California granted options to purchase a total of 4,433,356 shares of
    its Common Stock  to employees  and directors  of the  Registrant and  Group
    California in a series of transactions under stock plans.
 
(3)  Group California granted options to purchase 2,340,700 shares of its Common
    Stock to officers outside of stock plans.
 
(4) LP  sold limited  partnership units  to each  employee and  director of  the
    Registrant  and Group  California holding stock  or options  of the Company,
    with one LP unit issued for each 50 shares of stock or options under a  unit
    plan.
 
(5)  In addition Registrant issued  one share of Common  Stock to an officer for
    $1.00 cash.
 
    There were no underwriters, brokers  or finders employed in connection  with
any  of the transactions set forth above. The sales of the above securities were
deemed to be exempt  from registration under the  Securities Act in reliance  on
Section  4(2) of the Securities Act,  or Regulation D promulgated thereunder, or
Rule 701 promulgated under Section 3(b) of the Securities Act as transactions by
an issuer not involving a public offering
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>
or transactions  pursuant  to  the  compensatory  benefit  plans  and  contracts
relating  to compensation. The recipients of securities in each such transaction
represented their intention to  acquire the securities  for investment only  and
not  with a view to or for sale  in connection with any distribution thereof and
appropriate  legends  were   attached  to  the   certificates  issued  in   such
transactions.  All  recipients  had  adequate access  to  information  about the
registrant.
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>
ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
    (a)  EXHIBITS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT
  NUMBER                                                             EXHIBIT TITLE
- -----------             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>          <C>        <S>
      1.01          --  Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
      2.01          --  Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and among Hambrecht & Quist Group, Hambrecht & Quist, Inc., H &
                         Q Reorganization Subsidiary, Inc., and Hambrecht & Quist, L.P., with exhibits, dated June 10, 1996.
      3.01          --  Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation, dated June 6, 1996.
      3.02          --  Registrant's Bylaws.
      4.01          --  Form of Specimen Certificate for Registrant's Common Stock.*
      5.01          --  Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, A Professional Corporation.*
     10.01          --  Registrant's 1996 Stock Plan.
     10.02          --  Hambrecht & Quist Group 1995 Restricted Stock Plan, 1995 Stock Option Plan, and Hambrecht & Quist, L.P.
                         1995 Limited Partnership Unit Plan.
     10.03          --  Form of Hambrecht & Quist Group 1995 Stock Option Plan Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement.
     10.04          --  Hambrecht & Quist Group Savings and Employee Stock Ownership Plan, effective as of October 1, 1994.
     10.05          --  Lease and Amendment Number Four between The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States and
                         Hambrecht & Quist L.L.C. for office space at One Bush Street, San Francisco, California, dated January
                         8, 1996.*
     10.06          --  Assignment of Lease from Apple Computer, Inc. to Hambrecht & Quist L.L.C. for office space at One Bush
                         Street, San Francisco, California, dated March 27, 1996.*
     10.07          --  Lease and Fifth Amendment between Hambrecht & Quist L.L.C. and Rowes Wharf Associates for office space
                         at 50 Rowes Wharf, Boston, Massachusetts, dated February 6, 1996.*
     10.08          --  Lease, Riders, and Addenda between 230 Park Avenue Associates and Hambrecht & Quist L.L.C. for office
                         space at 230 Park Avenue, New York, New York, dated December 1, 1995.*
     10.09          --  Line of Credit Agreement between The Bank of California, N.A. and Hambrecht & Quist Group, dated
                         October 29, 1993.
     10.10          --  Amended and Restated Line of Credit Agreement between The Bank of California, N.A., and Hambrecht &
                         Quist Group, dated March 21, 1996.
     10.11          --  Line of Credit Note between The Bank of California, N.A., and Hambrecht & Quist Group, dated March 21,
                         1996.
     10.12          --  Continuing Guaranty by Hambrecht & Quist Group in favor of The Bank of California, N.A., dated March
                         21, 1996.
     10.13          --  Employment Agreement between Hambrecht & Quist Group and Daniel H. Case III, dated June 17, 1996.
     10.14          --  Hambrecht & Quist L.L.C.'s Operating Agreement, dated March 6, 1995.
     10.15          --  Hambrecht & Quist Executive Officer Bonus Plan.
     10.16          --  Master Agreement between Hambrecht & Quist Incorporated, Wertheim Schroder & Co. Incorporated, WSCI
                         Limited Partnership and Lewco Securities Corp., dated December 23, 1991, as amended.
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT
  NUMBER                                                             EXHIBIT TITLE
- -----------             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     10.17          --  Clearing and Other Services Agreement between Hambrecht & Quist Incorporated, Wertheim Schroder & Co.
                         Incorporated, WSCI Limited Partnership and Lewco Securities Corp., dated December 23, 1991, as
                         amended.
<C>          <C>        <S>
     10.18          --  Letter Agreement between Hambrecht & Quist Group and H&Q Asia Pacific, Ltd., dated April 1, 1996.
     10.19          --  Form of Indemnification Agreement.*
     11.01          --  Computation of Per Share Earnings.*
     15.01          --  Letter from Arthur Andersen, LLP regarding unaudited interim financial information.*
     21.01          --  List of Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
     23.01          --  Consent of Independent Public Accountants.
     23.02          --  Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.01).*
     24.01          --  Power of Attorney (see page II-4 of this Registration Statement).
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 *  To be provided by amendment.
 
    (b) FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
    Schedules not  listed  above  have  been  omitted  because  the  information
required  to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown in the financial
statements or notes thereto.
 
ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS
 
    The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
 
        (1) That for purposes of determining any liability under the  Securities
    Act  of 1933, the information  omitted from the form  of prospectus filed as
    part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained
    in a form of prospectus filed  by the Registrant pursuant to Rule  424(b)(1)
    or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part
    of this Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective.
 
        (2)  That  for  the  purpose  of  determining  any  liability  under the
    Securities Act of 1933, each  post-effective amendment that contains a  form
    of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
    the  securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
    time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
        (3) To  provide to  the  underwriter at  the  closing specified  in  the
    underwriting  agreement certificates in such denominations and registered in
    such names as required by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to  each
    purchaser.
 
        (4)  Insofar  as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under  the
    Securities  Act  of  1933  may  be  permitted  to  directors,  officers  and
    controlling  persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions,
    or otherwise, the  Registrant has been  advised that in  the opinion of  the
    Securities  and Exchange  Commission such indemnification  is against public
    policy as  expressed  in the  Securities  Act  of 1933  and  is,  therefore,
    unenforceable.  In the event  that a claim  for indemnification against such
    liabilities (other than the payment  by the Registrant of expenses  incurred
    or  paid by a director,  officer or controlling person  of the Registrant in
    the successful defense  of any action,  suit or proceeding)  is asserted  by
    such  director,  officer  or  controlling  person  in  connection  with  the
    securities being registered, the Registrant  will, unless in the opinion  of
    its  counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to
    a  court   of   appropriate   jurisdiction   the   question   whether   such
    indemnification  by  it  is  against  public  policy  as  expressed  in  the
    Securities Act of  1933 and will  be governed by  the final adjudication  of
    such issue.
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES
 
    Pursuant  to the requirements of the  Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
has duly caused this Registration  Statement to be signed  on its behalf by  the
undersigned,  thereunto duly authorized, in the  City of San Francisco, State of
California, on the 20th day of June 1996.
 
                                          HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP, INC.,
                                          a Delaware corporation
                                          By: /s/_DANIEL H. CASE III____________
                                             Daniel H. Case III,
                                             President and Chief Executive
                                          Officer
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
    Know all these  men by  these presents, that  each of  the undersigned  does
hereby  constitute and appoint Daniel H. Case III, Raymond J. Minehan and Steven
Machtinger, or any of them (with full power  to each of them to act alone),  his
true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution, for
him  and on his behalf to sign, execute and file this Registration Statement and
any or all amendments (including, without limitation, post-effective  amendments
and any amendment or amendments or abbreviated registration statement increasing
the  amount  of  securities for  which  registration  is being  sought)  to this
Registration Statement, with all exhibits and any and all documents required  to
be  filed with respect  thereto, with the Securities  and Exchange Commission or
any regulatory authority, granting unto  such attorneys-in-fact and agents,  and
each  of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing requisite and necessary to be done  in and about the premises in order  to
effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do
if   personally  present,  hereby   ratifying  and  confirming   all  that  such
attorneys-in-fact  and  agents,  or  any   of  them,  or  their  substitute   or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done.
 
    Pursuant   to  the  requirements  of  the   Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities and on the date indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      SIGNATURE                                       TITLE                         DATE
- ------------------------------------------------------  ----------------------------------  ---------------------
<C>                                                     <S>                                 <C>
               /s/WILLIAM R. HAMBRECHT
                (William R. Hambrecht)                  Chairman of the Board of Directors      June 20, 1996
                                                        President, Chief Executive Officer
                /s/DANIEL H. CASE III                   and Director (Principal Executive       June 20, 1996
                 (Daniel H. Case III)                   Officer)
                 /s/WILLIAM R. TIMKEN                   Vice Chairman of the Board of
                 (William R. Timken)                    Directors                               June 20, 1996
                                                        Vice President and Chief Financial
                /s/RAYMOND J. MINEHAN                   Officer (Principal Financial and        June 20, 1996
                 (Raymond J. Minehan)                   Accounting Officer)
                 /s/WILLIAM E. MAYER
                  (William E. Mayer)                    Director                                June 20, 1996
                 /s/HOWARD B. HILLMAN
                 (Howard B. Hillman)                    Director                                June 20, 1996
                /s/EDMUND H. SHEA, JR.
                (Edmund H. Shea, Jr.)                   Director                                June 20, 1996
                /s/LAWRENCE J. STUPSKI
                (Lawrence J. Stupski)                   Director                                June 20, 1996
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT
  NUMBER                                                             EXHIBIT TITLE
- -----------             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>          <C>        <S>
      1.01          --  Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
      2.01          --  Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and among Hambrecht & Quist Group, Hambrecht & Quist, Inc., H &
                         Q Reorganization Subsidiary, Inc., and Hambrecht & Quist, L.P., with exhibits, dated June 10, 1996.
      3.01          --  Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation, dated June 6, 1996.
      3.02          --  Registrant's Bylaws.
      4.01          --  Form of Specimen Certificate for Registrant's Common Stock.*
      5.01          --  Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, A Professional Corporation.*
     10.01          --  Registrant's 1996 Stock Plan.
     10.02          --  Hambrecht & Quist Group 1995 Restricted Stock Plan, 1995 Stock Option Plan, and Hambrecht & Quist, L.P.
                         1995 Limited Partnership Unit Plan.
     10.03          --  Form of Hambrecht & Quist Group 1995 Stock Option Plan Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement.
     10.04          --  Hambrecht & Quist Group Savings and Employee Stock Ownership Plan, effective as of October 1, 1994.
     10.05          --  Lease  and Amendment Number Four between The Equitable  Life Assurance Society of the United States and
                         Hambrecht & Quist L.L.C. for office space at One Bush Street, San Francisco, California, dated January
                         8, 1996.*
     10.06          --  Assignment of Lease from Apple Computer, Inc. to Hambrecht & Quist L.L.C. for office space at One  Bush
                         Street, San Francisco, California, dated March 27, 1996.*
     10.07          --  Lease  and Fifth Amendment between Hambrecht & Quist L.L.C. and Rowes Wharf Associates for office space
                         at 50 Rowes Wharf, Boston, Massachusetts, dated February 6, 1996.*
     10.08          --  Lease, Riders, and Addenda between 230 Park Avenue  Associates and Hambrecht & Quist L.L.C. for  office
                         space at 230 Park Avenue, New York, New York, dated December 1, 1995.*
     10.09          --  Line  of Credit  Agreement between  The Bank  of California,  N.A. and  Hambrecht &  Quist Group, dated
                         October 29, 1993.
     10.10          --  Amended and Restated Line  of Credit Agreement between  The Bank of California,  N.A., and Hambrecht  &
                         Quist Group, dated March 21, 1996.
     10.11          --  Line  of Credit Note between The Bank of California, N.A., and Hambrecht & Quist Group, dated March 21,
                         1996.
     10.12          --  Continuing Guaranty by Hambrecht & Quist  Group in favor of The  Bank of California, N.A., dated  March
                         21, 1996.
     10.13          --  Employment Agreement between Hambrecht & Quist Group and Daniel H. Case III, dated June 17, 1996.
     10.14          --  Hambrecht & Quist L.L.C.'s Operating Agreement, dated March 6, 1995.
     10.15          --  Hambrecht & Quist Executive Officer Bonus Plan.
     10.16          --  Master  Agreement between Hambrecht  & Quist Incorporated,  Wertheim Schroder &  Co. Incorporated, WSCI
                         Limited Partnership and Lewco Securities Corp., dated December 23, 1991, as amended.
     10.17          --  Clearing and Other Services Agreement between Hambrecht  & Quist Incorporated, Wertheim Schroder &  Co.
                         Incorporated,  WSCI  Limited Partnership  and  Lewco Securities  Corp.,  dated December  23,  1991, as
                         amended.
     10.18          --  Letter Agreement between Hambrecht & Quist Group and H&Q Asia Pacific, Ltd., dated April 1, 1996.
     10.19          --  Form of Indemnification Agreement.*
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT
  NUMBER                                                             EXHIBIT TITLE
- -----------             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     11.01          --  Computation of Per Share Earnings.*
<C>          <C>        <S>
     15.01          --  Letter from Arthur Andersen, LLP regarding unaudited interim financial information.*
     21.01          --  List of Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
     23.01          --  Consent of Independent Public Accountants.
     23.02          --  Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.01).*
     24.01          --  Power of Attorney (see page II-4 of this Registration Statement).
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 *  To be provided by amendment.

<PAGE>





                       AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
                                        
                                   BY AND AMONG
                                        
                             HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP,
                             a California Corporation
                                        
                          HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP, INC.
                              a Delaware Corporation
                                        
                      H & Q REORGANIZATION SUBSIDIARY, INC.
                             a California Corporation
                                        
                           AND HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.,
                         a California Limited Partnership


<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                         PAGE
                                                                         ---- 

ARTICLE I - THE MERGERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     3

     1.1      Mergers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     3
     1.2      Filing and Effectiveness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     4
     1.3      Closing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     4
     1.4      Effects of the Mergers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     4
     1.5      Tax-Free Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     5
               
ARTICLE II - EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON CAPITAL STOCK OF THE 
     CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS AND ON PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS IN 
     THE CONSTITUENT LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; EXCHANGE OF 
     CERTIFICATES; SUPPLEMENTARY ACTION  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     6

     2.1      Effect on Capital Stock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     6
     2.2      Effect on Partnership Interests. . . . . . . . . . . . .     9
     2.3      Exchange of Certificates; Exchange of Interests  . . . .    10
     2.4      Supplementary Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    13

ARTICLE III - ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    14

     3.1      Fairness Hearing and Permit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    14
     3.2      Hambrecht & Quist California Shareholders' Consent . . .    14
     3.3      LP Limited Partners' Consent . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    14
     3.4      Hambrecht & Quist Group Stockholder's Consent. . . . . .    15
     3.5      Termination of Shareholder Agreement . . . . . . . . . .    15
     3.6      Consents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    15
     3.7      Best Efforts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    15
     3.8      Qualifications; Franchise Tax  . . . . . . . . . . . . .    15
     3.9      Legal Conditions to the Mergers  . . . . . . . . . . . .    15

ARTICLE IV - CONDITIONS PRECEDENT  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    16

     4.1      Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect 
              the Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    16
     4.2      Conditions of Obligations of Hambrecht & Quist 
              Group and Merger Sub in Connection with the 
              California Merger  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    17
     4.3      Conditions of Obligations of Hambrecht & Quist 
              California in Connection with the California Merger. . .    17
     4.4      Conditions of Obligations of LP  . . . . . . . . . . . .    18
     4.5      Conditions of Obligations of Hambrecht & Quist 
              Group with respect to the LP Merger. . . . . . . . . . .    18


                                       -i-

<PAGE>


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                   (CONTINUED)
                                        
                                                                        PAGE
                                                                        ----

ARTICLE V - TERMINATION  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    18

     5.1      Termination  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    18

ARTICLE VI - GENERAL PROVISIONS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    18

     6.1      Survival of Representations and Warranties . . . . . . .    18
     6.2      Amendment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    19
     6.3      Extension; Waiver  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    19
     6.4      Notices  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    19
     6.5      Interpretation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    20
     6.6      Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    20
     6.7      Entire Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    20
     6.8      No Transfer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    20
     6.9      Severability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    20
     6.10     Other Remedies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    20
     6.11     Further Assurances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    20
     6.12     Absence of Third-Party Beneficiary Rights  . . . . . . .    21
     6.13     Mutual Drafting  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    21
     6.14     Governing Law  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    21

EXHIBITS

     Exhibit 1.1(a)      Agreement of Merger between Merger Sub and 
                         Hambrecht & Quist California
     Exhibit 1.1(b)(1)   Agreement of Merger between LP and Hambrecht & 
                         Quist Group
     Exhibit 1.1(b)(2)   Certificate of Merger between LP and Hambrecht & 
                         Quist Group
     Exhibit 1.4(a)      Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of 
                         Hambrecht & Quist Group
     Exhibit 1.4(b)      Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation 
                         of Hambrecht & Quist Group, Inc.
     Exhibit 2.1(c)      Underwriters' Market Stand-off


                                      -ii-

<PAGE>

     This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION (the "Agreement"), is made and
entered into as of June 10, 1996 by and among Hambrecht & Quist Group, a
California corporation ("Hambrecht & Quist California"), Hambrecht & Quist
Group, Inc., a Delaware Corporation ("Hambrecht & Quist Group"), H & Q
Reorganization Subsidiary, Inc., a California corporation and wholly owned
subsidiary of Hambrecht & Quist Group ("Merger Sub"), and Hambrecht & Quist,
L.P. ("LP"), a California limited partnership (each, a "Party" and collectively,
the "Parties").

                                    RECITALS
                                        
     A.   Hambrecht & Quist California is a corporation duly organized and
existing under the  laws of the State of California and has an authorized
capital of 10,000,000 shares, all of which are  designated "Common Stock", no 
par value. As of May 31, 1996, 4,007,942 shares of  Common Stock were issued 
and outstanding and 1,331,846 options to purchase Common Stock were issued 
and outstanding.

     B.   Hambrecht & Quist Group is a corporation duly organized and existing
under the laws  of the State of Delaware and has an authorized capital of
105,000,000 shares, 100,000,000 of which  are designated "Common Stock", $.0l
par value and 5,000,000 of which are designated "Preferred  Stock", $.01 par
value. As of the date of this Agreement, one (1) share of Common Stock was 
issued and outstanding and no shares of Preferred Stock were issued and
outstanding.

     C.   Merger Sub is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws
of the State of  California and has an authorized capital of 10,000 shares, all
of which are designated "Common  Stock", $. 001 par value. As of the date of
this Agreement, 10,000 shares of Common Stock were  issued and outstanding, all
of which were held by Hambrecht & Quist Group.

     D.   LP is a limited partnership duly organized and existing under the laws
of the state of  California. Hambrecht & Quist California is the sole general
partner of LP (the "General Partner") and  has a one percent (1%) general 
partnership interest in LP. As of May 31,1996, the  outstanding limited 
partnership interests, representing in the aggregate a 99% interest in LP, 
consisted  of 106,795.78 Class A Units, calculated on an as-converted basis, 
(the "LP Units"), which are held by the  partners of LP (the "Limited 
Partners").

     E.   LP intends to establish, pursuant to a Liquidating Trust Agreement
with the trustees  named therein (the "Liquidating Trust Agreement") a
Liquidating Trust (the "Liquidating Trust") for  the benefit of the partners of
LP. LP intends to distribute, immediately prior to the LP Merger, as  defined
below, the Assets, as defined in the Liquidating Trust Agreement, which will be
held in the  Liquidating Trust for the benefit of the partners of LP in
accordance with the Liquidating Trust  Agreement.



                                       -1-

<PAGE>

     F.   The boards of directors of Hambrecht & Quist Group, Hambrecht & Quist
California,  and Merger Sub, respectively, have determined that it is advisable
and in the best interests of their  respective entities and their respective
shareholders to merge Merger Sub with and into Hambrecht &  Quist California in
a merger under Chapter 11 of the California General Corporation Law (the 
"CGCL") (the "California Merger"). Under the terms of the merger, among other
things, all of the  outstanding shares of Common Stock, no par value, of
Hambrecht & Quist California ("California  Common Stock") shall be converted
into the right to receive a number of shares of Common Stock,  $.01 par value,
of Hambrecht & Quist Group ("Group Common Stock") in the ratio and upon the 
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

     G.   The respective boards of directors of Hambrecht & Quist California,
Hambrecht &  Quist Group, and Merger Sub have approved this Agreement and the
California Merger contemplated  hereby and directed that this Agreement be
executed by the undersigned officers of such entities.

     H.   The board of directors of Hambrecht & Quist California has directed
that the principal  terms of the California Merger be submitted to a vote of the
shareholders of Hambrecht & Quist  California. Pursuant to Section 1201 of the
CGCL, the approval by affirmative vote of a majority of  outstanding shares of
California Common Stock is required to approve the California Merger.

     I.   Pursuant to Section 1201(b) of the CGCL, no vote of Merger Sub
shareholders is  required to approve the California Merger.

     J.   The board of directors of Hambrecht & Quist Group and Hambrecht &
Quist California, as the general partner of LP, have determined that it is
advisable and in the best interests of Hambrecht & Quist Group and its
stockholders and LP and its partners to merge LP with and into Hambrecht & Quist
Group in a merger pursuant to Article 7.5 of the California Revised Limited
Partnership Act ("CRLPA") and Section 263 of the Delaware General Corporation
Law (the "DGCL") (the "LP Merger"). Under the terms of the merger, among other
things, all of the partnership interests in LP shall be converted into the right
to receive a number of shares of Group Common Stock in the ratio and upon the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

     K.   Hambrecht & Quist California, the general partner of LP, has approved
this Agreement and the LP Merger contemplated hereby and has directed that the
principal terms of the LP Merger he submitted to a vote of the Limited Partners
and that this Agreement be executed by the General Partner. Pursuant to Section
263 of the DGCL and Section 15678.2 of the CRLPA, the approval of a majority in
interest of the holders of LP Units is required to approve the LP Merger.

     L.   The board of directors of Hambrecht & Quist Group has approved this
Agreement and the LP Merger contemplated hereby and has directed that the
principal terms of the LP Merger be submitted to a vote of the stockholder of
Hambrecht & Quist Group and that this Agreement be executed by the undersigned
officers of Hambrecht & Quist Group. Pursuant to Sections 263(c) and

                                       -2-

<PAGE>

251 of the DGCL, a vote of the sole stockholder of Hambrecht & Quist Group is
required to approve the LP Merger.

     M.   Hambrecht & Quist Group will, as part of the LP Merger, amend its
certificate of incorporation to change its name from Hambrecht & Quist Group,
Inc. to Hambrecht & Quist Group.

     N.   Hambrecht & Quist California will, as part of the California Merger,
amend its articles of incorporation to change its name from Hambrecht & Quist
Group to Hambrecht & Quist California, Inc.

     0.   The Parties intend, by executing this Agreement, to adopt, with
respect to the California Merger, a plan of reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code"), as amended, and,
with respect to the LP Merger, except with respect to cash payments in lieu of
fractional shares, a tax-free transaction under Section 351 of the Code.

     P.   The Parties desire to make certain agreements in connection with the
California Merger and the LP Merger (collectively, the "Mergers") and also to
prescribe various conditions to the Mergers.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, mutual agreements and
covenants herein, the Parties hereby agree, subject to the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth, as follows:


                                    ARTICLE I
                                        
                                   THE MERGERS
                                        
     1.1  MERGERS.

          (a)  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and as
contemplated by the Agreement of Merger between Merger Sub and Hambrecht & Quist
California attached hereto as EXHIBIT 1.1(a)(the "Agreement of California
Merger"), Merger Sub will be merged with and into Hambrecht & Quist California
in accordance with the applicable provisions of the CGCL.

          (b)  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and as
contemplated by the Agreement of Merger between LP and Hambrecht & Quist Group
to be filed pursuant to Section 263 of the DCGL attached hereto as EXHIBIT
1.1(b)(1) (the "Agreement of LP Merger") and the Certificate of Merger of
Hambrecht & Quist Group and LP to be filed pursuant to Section 15678.4 of the
CRLPA attached hereto as EXHIBIT 1.1(b)(2) (the "California Certificate of LP
Merger"), LP will be merged with and into Hambrecht & Quist Group.


                                       -3-

<PAGE>

          (c)  The California Merger and the LP Merger collectively shall herein
be called the "Mergers".

     1.2  FILING AND EFFECTIVE

          (a)  Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Agreement of
California Merge, together with the required officers certificates, shall be
executed and filed with the California Secretary of State in accordance with the
CGCL following satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions precedent set
forth in ARTICLE IV.

     The date and time upon which the California Merger shall become effective
is herein called the "Effective Time of the California Merger" or "California
Effective Time." The date upon which the California Effective Time occurs shall
be herein called the "California Effective Date."

          (b)  Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Agreement of LP
Merger shall be executed and filed with the Delaware Secretary State in
accordance with the DGCL and the California Certificate of LP Merger with the
California Secretary of State shall be executed and filed in accordance with the
CRLPA following satisfaction or waiver of all of the Conditions Precedent set
forth in ARTICLE IV.

     The date and time upon which the LP Merger shall become effective is herein
called the "Effective Time of the LP Merger" or "LP Effective Time." The date
upon which the LP Effective Time occurs shall be herein called the "LP Effective
Date."

     1.3  CLOSING. The closing of the Mergers shall take place as soon as
practicable after each of the filings described in SECTION 1.2 has been made, at
the offices of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C., 650 Page Mill Road, Palo
Alto, California, unless a different date or place is agreed to in writing by
the Parties hereto.

     1.4  EFFECTS OF THE MERGER.

          (a)  At the Effective Time of the California Merger,

               (i)    the separate existence of Merger Sub shall cease and
Merger Sub shall be merged with and into Hambrecht & Quist California (Hambrecht
& Quist California shall sometimes be referred to herein as the "Surviving
Subsidiary");

               (ii)   the Articles of Incorporation of Hambrecht & Quist
California will be amended and restated in their entirety to read as they appear
in Exhibit 1.4(a) until duly amended in accordance with the provisions thereof
and applicable law;



                                       -4-

<PAGE>

               (iii)  the By-Laws of Hambrecht & Quist California as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time of the California Merger shall be the
By-Laws of the Surviving Subsidiary until duly amended in accordance with the
provisions thereof and applicable law;

               (iv)   the officers and directors of Hambrecht & Quist California
immediately prior to the Effective Time of the California Merger shall be the
officers and directors, respectively, of the Surviving Subsidiary each to hold
office in accordance with the Articles and By-laws of the Surviving Subsidiary;

               (v)    the California Merger shall, from and after the Effective
Time of the California Merger, have all the effects provided by applicable law.

          (b)  At the effective time of the LP Merger,

               (i)    the separate existence of LP shall cease and LP shall be
merged with and into Hambrecht & Quist Group (Hambrecht & Quist Group shall
sometimes be referred to herein as the "Surviving Corporation");

               (ii)   the Certificate of Incorporation of Hambrecht & Quist
Group will be amended and restated in its entirety to read as it appears in
Exhibit 1.4(b) until duly amended in accordance with the provisions thereof and
applicable law;

               (iii)  the By-Laws of Hambrecht & Quist Group as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time of the LP Merger shall be the By-Laws of
the Surviving Corporation until duly amended in accordance with the provisions
thereof and applicable law;

               (iv)   the officers and directors of Hambrecht & Quist Group
immediately prior to the Effective Time of the LP Merger shall be the officers
and directors, respectively, of the Surviving Corporation, each to hold office
in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of the Surviving
Corporation;

               (v)    the LP Merger shall, from and after the Effective Time of
the LP Merger, have all the effects provided by applicable law.

     1.5  TAX-FREE TREATMENT. The California Merger is intended to be a tax-free
reorganization within the meaning of 368 of the Code. Except with respect to
cash payments in lieu of fractional shares, the LP Merger is intended to be tax-
free under Section 351 of the Code.


                                       -5-

<PAGE>

                                    ARTICLE II

                  EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON CAPITAL STOCK OF THE 
                          CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS AND 
                  ON PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS IN THE CONSTITUENT 
                        LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; EXCHANGE OF 
                       CERTIFICATES; SUPPLEMENTARY ACTION

     2.1  EFFECT ON CAPITAL STOCK. As of the Effective Time of the California
Merger, by virtue of the California Merger and without any action on the part of
any holder of any securities of Hambrecht & Quist California:

          (a)  CAPITAL STOCK OF MERGER SUB. All issued and outstanding shares of
capital stock of Merger Sub shall continue to be issued and outstanding and
shall be converted into 10,000 shares of California Common Stock. Each stock
certificate of Merger Sub evidencing ownership of any such shares shall continue
to evidence ownership of such shares of California Capital Stock.

          (b)  CANCELLATION OF CALIFORNIA COMMON STOCK.

               (i)    All shares of California Common Stock that are owned
directly or indirectly by Hambrecht & Quist California shall be canceled and no
Group Common Stock or other consideration shall be delivered in exchange
therefor.

               (ii)   Each holder of a certificate representing any shares of
California Common Stock after the Effective Time of the California Merger,
except the shares of California Common Stock issued upon conversion of shares of
Merger Sub, shall cease to have any rights with respect to such shares, except
the right either to (A) receive the California Merger Consideration Per Share,
(as defined in SECTION 2.1(c) below) multiplied by the number of shares
represented by such certificate, upon surrender of such certificate, or (B) to
exercise such holder's dissenters' rights as provided in SECTION 2.1(f) hereof
and the CGCL.

          (c)  CONVERSION OF CALIFORNIA COMMON STOCK OR CAPITAL STOCK RIGHTS OF 
HAMBRECHT & QUIST CALIFORNIA. Each share of California Common Stock, except
canceled shares, Dissenting California Shares (as defined in SECTION 2.1(f)
below) and shares of California Common Stock issued upon conversion of shares of
Merger Sub but including shares issued upon the exercise of any Hambrecht &
Quist California Option (as defined in Section 2.1(d) below) prior to the
Effective Time of the California Merger, that is issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time of the California Merger shall
automatically be canceled and extinguished and converted, without any action on
the part of the holder thereof, into the right to receive four (4) shares of
Group Common Stock (the "California Merger Consideration Per Share"). All shares
of Group Common Stock received pursuant to this SECTION 2.1(c) ("California
Merger Group Common Stock") shall be subject to the terms and conditions on
transfer of the "Underwriters' Market Stand-


                                       -6-

<PAGE>

Off" set forth in EXHIBIT 2.1(c) and each certificate representing any such
share shall carry a legend describing the terms and conditions on transfer as
described in the Underwriters' Market Stand-Off. Any reference to California
Merger Group Common Stock, including without limitation references contained in
SECTION 2.1(d) below, shall be deemed to refer to Group Common Stock restricted
by the Underwriters' Market Stand-Off. The ratio pursuant to which each share of
California Common Stock & Quist California, including assumed convertible and
exercisable securities, will be exchanged for shares of Hambrecht & Quist Group,
determined in accordance with the foregoing provisions, is hereinafter referred
to as the "California Exchange Ratio."

          (d)  ASSUMPTION OF HAMBRECHT & QUIST CALIFORNIA OPTIONS.

               (i)    At the Effective Time of the California Merger, each
unexpired and unexercised option to purchase shares of California Common Stock
(a "Hambrecht & Quist California Option") granted under the stock option plans
and agreements of Hambrecht & Quist California outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time of the California Merger shall be assumed by Hambrecht &
Quist Group (an "Assumed Hambrecht & Quist California Option") together with the
stock option plans under which those options are outstanding (the "Assumed
Option Plans"). Each Hambrecht & Quist California Option so assumed by Hambrecht
& Quist Group will continue to have, and be subject to, substantially the same
terms and conditions set forth in the documents governing such Hambrecht & Quist
California Option, including the Assumed Option Plans, immediately prior to the
Effective Time of the California Merger, except that (A) such Assumed Hambrecht
& Quist California Option will be exercisable for that number of whole shares of
California Merger Group Common Stock (which shall be subject to the
Underwriters' Market Stand-Off) equal to the product of the number of shares of
California Common Stock that were purchasable under such Assumed Hambrecht &
Quist California Option immediately prior to the Effective Time of the
California Merger multiplied by the California Exchange Ratio, and (B) the per
share exercise price for the shares of California Merger Group Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of such Assumed Hambrecht & Quist California Option will
be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the exercise price per share of
California Common Stock (on an as converted to Common Stock basis) at which such
Assumed Hambrecht & Quist California Option was exercisable immediately prior to
the Effective Time of the California Merger by the California Exchange Ratio,
rounded up to the nearest whole cent. Consistent with the terms of the Hambrecht
& Quist California Options and the documents governing such Hambrecht & Quist
California Options, including the Assumed Option Plans, the California Merger
will not terminate or accelerate any Assumed Hambrecht & Quist California Option
or any right of exercise, vesting or repurchase relating thereto with respect to
shares of California Merger Group Common Stock acquired upon exercise of the
Assumed Hambrecht & Quist California Option. Holders of Assumed Hambrecht &
Quist California Options will not be entitled to acquire California Common Stock
following the Merger.

               (ii)   As soon as practicable after the Effective Time of the
California Merger, Hambrecht & Quist Group shall issue to each holder of an
Assumed Hambrecht & Quist California Option a document evidencing the stock
option assumption by Hambrecht & Quist Group.


                                       -7-

<PAGE>

The right to receive an Assumed Hambrecht & Quist California Option may not be
assigned or transferred, except as provided under the Assumed Option Plan under
which that option was granted. Any attempted assignment contrary to this 
SECTION 2.1(d) shall be null and void.

               (iii)  It is the intention of the Parties that the Hambrecht &
Quist California Options assumed by Hambrecht & Quist Group qualify following
the Effective Time of the California Merger as incentive stock options as
defined in Section 422 of the Code to the extent the Hambrecht & Quist
California Options qualified as incentive stock options prior to the Effective
Time of the California Merger.

          (e)  CALIFORNIA COMMON STOCK SUBJECT TO REPURCHASE. All shares of
California Merger Group Common Stock that are received in the California Merger
in exchange for shares of California Common Stock that, under applicable stock
purchase, stock restriction or similar agreements with Hambrecht & Quist
California, are unvested or subject to a repurchase option or other condition of
forfeiture which by its terms does not terminate due to the California Merger
("Hambrecht & Quist California Restricted Stock") will also be unvested or
subject to the same repurchase option or other condition, as the case may be,
and all such repurchase options shall automatically inure to Hambrecht & Quist
Group in the California Merger and shall thereafter be exercisable by Hambrecht
& Quist Group upon the same terms and conditions in effect for Hambrecht & Quist
California immediately prior to the Effective Time of the California Merger,
except that the shares purchasable under any such repurchase option shall be
shares of California Merger Group Common Stock and the price payable by
Hambrecht & Quist Group shall be equal to the quotient determined by dividing
the aggregate purchase price at which the California Common Stock was
repurchasable under each applicable agreement by the California Exchange Ratio
and rounding the resulting aggregate price payable by Hambrecht & Quist Group to
the nearest whole cent. The certificates evidencing such shares will be marked
with appropriate legends.

          (f)  DISSENTERS' RIGHTS. If, as of the Effective Time of the
California Merger, holders of California Common Stock have properly exercised
and not lost dissenters' rights ("Dissenting California Shares") in connection
with the California Merger under Chapter 13 of the CGCL, such Dissenting
California Shares shall not be converted into California Merger Group Common
Stock but shall be converted into the right to receive such consideration as may
be determined to be due with respect to such Dissenting California Shares
pursuant to the CGCL. Hambrecht & Quist California shall give Hambrecht & Quist
Group prompt notice of any demand received by Hambrecht & Quist California to
require Hambrecht & Quist California to purchase shares of California Common
Stock, and Hambrecht & Quist Group shall have the right to participate in all
negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demand. Each holder of
Dissenting California Shares (a "Dissenting California Security Holder") who,
pursuant to the provisions of the CGCL, becomes entitled to payment of the value
of shares of California Common Stock shall receive payment therefor (but only
after the value therefor shall have been agreed upon or finally determined
pursuant to such provisions). In the event of a legal obligation, after the
Effective Time of be California Merger, to deliver shares of California Merger
Group Common Stock to any holder of


                                       -8-

<PAGE>

shares of California Common Stock who shall have failed to make an effective
purchase demand or shall have lost his status as a Dissenting California
Security Holder, Hambrecht & Quist Group shall issue and deliver, upon surrender
by such Dissenting California Security Holder of his certificate or certificates
representing shares of California Common Stock, the shares of California Merger
Group Common Stock to which such Dissenting California Security Holder is then
entitled under this SECTION 2.1.

          (g)  ADJUSTMENT TO EXCHANGE RATIO. If, between the date of this
Agreement and the Effective Time of the California Merger, the outstanding
shares of California Common Stock shall have been changed into a different
number of shares or a different class by reason of any reclassification,
recapitalization, split-up, combination, exchange of shares or readjustment, the
California Exchange Ratio shall be correspondingly adjusted.

     2.2  EFFECT ON PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS. As of the Effective Time of the LP
Merger, by virtue of the LP Merger and without any action on the part of any
partner, limited or general, of LP:

          (a)  CANCELLATION OF GENERAL PARTNERSHIP INTEREST: CONVERSION OF
GENERAL PARTNERSHIP. The General Partner shall cease to have any rights with
respect to its general partnership interest in LP except the right to receive
25,889 shares of Hambrecht & Quist Group Common Stock (the "LP Merger General
Partner Consideration Per Share"). All shares of Hambrecht & Quist Group Common
Stock received pursuant to this SECTION 2.2(a) ("LP Merger General Partner Group
Common Stock") shall be subject to the terms and conditions on transfer of the
"Underwriters' Market Stand-Off" set forth in EXHIBIT 2.1(c) and each such share
shall carry a legend describing the terms and conditions on transfer as
described in the Underwriters' Market Stand-Off. Any reference herein to LP
Merger General Partner Group Common Stock shall be deemed to refer to Group
Common Stock restricted by the Underwriters' Market Stand-Off.

          (b)  CANCELLATION OF LP UNITS. Each holder of an LP Unit after the
Effective Time of the LP Merger shall cease to have any rights with respect to
such LP Unit, except the right either to receive the LP Merger Consideration Per
Share, as defined in SECTION 2.2(c) below, plus any cash in lieu of fractional
shares pursuant to SECTION 2.2(e) below, upon delivery of written notice of
ownership and surrender of such Units, or to exercise such holder's dissenters'
rights as provided in SECTION 2.2(d) hereof and the CRLPA.

          (c)  CONVERSION OF LP UNITS. Each LP Unit outstanding prior to the
Effective Time of the LP Merger except Dissenting LP Units (as defined in
SECTION 2.2(d) below) shall automatically be canceled and extinguished and
converted, without any action on the part of the holder thereof, into the right
to receive 24 shares of Group Common Stock (the "LP Merger Consideration Per
Share"). All shares of Group Common Stock received pursuant to this SECTION
2.2(c) ("LP Merger Group Common Stock") shall be subject to the terms and
conditions on transfer of the "Underwriters' Market Stand-Off" set forth in
EXHIBIT 2.1(c) and each such share shall carry a legend describing the terms and
conditions on transfer as described in the Underwriters' Market Stand-Off. Any
reference


                                       -9-

<PAGE>

herein to LP Merger Group Common Stock shall be deemed to refer to Group Common
Stock restricted by the Underwriters' Market Stand-Off. The ratio pursuant to
which each LP Unit will be exchanged for shares of Hambrecht & Quist Group,
determined in accordance with the foregoing provisions, is hereinafter referred
to as the "LP Exchange Ratio."

         (d) DISSENTERS' RIGHTS. If, as of the Effective Time of the LP Merger,
holders of LP Units have properly exercised and not lost dissenters' rights
("Dissenting LP Units") in connection with the LP Merger under Article 7.6 of
the CRLPA, such Dissenting LP Units shall not be converted into LP Merger Group
Common Stock but shall be converted into the right to receive such consideration
as may be determined to be due with respect to such Dissenting LP Units pursuant
to the CRLPA. LP shall give Hambrecht & Quist Group prompt notice of any demand
received by LP to require LP to purchase LP Units, and Hambrecht & Quist Group
shall have the right to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with
respect to such demand. Each holder of Dissenting LP Units (a "Dissenting LP
Unitholder") who, pursuant to the provisions of the CGCL, becomes entitled to
payment of the value of LP Units shall receive payment therefor (but only after
the value therefor shall have been agreed upon or finally determined pursuant to
such provisions). In the event of a legal obligation, after the Effective Time
of the LP Merger, to deliver shares of LP Merger Group Common Stock to any
holder of LP Units who shall have failed to make an effective purchase demand or
shall have lost his status as a Dissenting LP Unitholder, Hambrecht & Quist
Group shall issue and deliver, upon delivery by such Dissenting LP Unitholder of
a written notice of the ownership and surrender of such LP Units, the shares of
LP Merger Group Common Stock to which such Dissenting LP Unitholder is then
entitled under this SECTION 2.2.

          (e)  FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional shares of LP Merger Group Common
Stock shall be issued, but in lieu thereof each holder of LP Units who would
otherwise be entitled to receive a fraction of a share of LP Merger Group Common
Stock shall receive from Hambrecht & Quist Group an amount of cash equal to the
price at which shares of Group Common Stock are offered to the public pursuant
to Hambrecht & Quist Group's initial public offering multiplied by the fraction
of a share of LP Merger Group Common Stock to which such holder would otherwise
be entitled. The fractional interests of each holder of LP Units shall be
aggregated, so that no holder of LP Limited Partnership Units shall receive cash
in an amount greater than the value of one (1) full share of LP Merger Group
Common Stock.

          (f)  ADJUSTMENT TO EXCHANGE RATIO. If, between the date of this
Agreement and the Effective Time of the LP Merger, the outstanding LP Units
shall have been changed into a different number of Units or a different class by
reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, split-up, combination,
exchange of Units or readjustment, the LP Exchange Ratio shall be
correspondingly adjusted.

     2.3  EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES; EXCHANGE OF INTERESTS.





                                       -10-

<PAGE>

          (a)  EXCHANGE AGENT. Prior to the Closing Date, Hambrecht & Quist
Group shall appoint a third party to act as exchange agent (the "Exchange
Agent") in the Mergers.

          (b)  HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP TO PROVIDE COMMON STOCK AND CASH.
Promptly after the earlier of (i) the Effective Date of the California Merger
and (ii) the Effective Date of the LP Merger (but in no event later than thirty
(30) business days thereafter), Hambrecht & Quist Group shall make available for
exchange in accordance with this ARTICLE II, through such reasonable procedures
as Hambrecht & Quist Group may adopt, the California Merger Group Common Stock
issuable pursuant to SECTION 2.1 in exchange for outstanding shares of
California Common Stock, the LP Merger Group Common Stock issuable pursuant to
SECTION 2.2 in exchange for LP Units, and the LP Merger General Partner Group
Common Stock issuable pursuant to SECTION 2.2 in exchange for the general
partnership interest in LP, and cash in an amount sufficient to satisfy any
obligations with respect to fractional shares pursuant to SECTION 2.2(e).

          (c)  EXCHANGE PROCEDURES FOR CALIFORNIA COMMON STOCK. Within thirty
(30) calendar days after the Effective Time of the California Merger, the
Exchange Agent shall mail to each holder of record of a certificate or
certificates that immediately prior to the Effective Time of the California
Merger represented outstanding shares of California Common Stock (the
"California Certificates") whose interests are being converted into California
Merger Group Common Stock pursuant to SECTION 2.1 hereof (i) a letter of
transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of
loss and title to the California Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of
the California Certificates to the Exchange Agent and shall be in such form and
have such other provisions as Hambrecht & Quist Group may reasonably specify)
and (ii) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the California
Certificates in exchange for California Merger Group Common Stock. Upon
surrender of a California Certificate for cancellation to the Exchange Agent or
to such other agent or agents as may be appointed by Hambrecht & Quist Group,
together with such letter of transmittal, duly executed and completed in
accordance with the instructions thereto, the holder of such California
Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor the number of
shares of California Merger Group Common Stock to which the holder of such
certificate is entitled pursuant to SECTION 2.1 hereof The California
Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be canceled. In the event of a
transfer of ownership of California Common Stock that is not registered on the
transfer records of Hambrecht & Quist California, the appropriate number of
shares of California Merger Group Common Stock may be delivered to a transferee
if the California Certificate representing such California Common Stock is
presented to the Exchange Agent and accompanied by all documents required to
evidence and effect such transfer and to evidence that any applicable stock
transfer taxes have been paid. Until surrendered as contemplated by this SECTION
2.3, each California Certificate shall be deemed at all times after the
Effective Time of the California Merger to represent the right to receive upon
such surrender the number of shares of California Merger Group Common Stock as
provided by this Article II and the provisions of the CGCL but shall, subject to
SECTION 2.1(f), have no other right; provided, however, that customary and
appropriate certifications and indemnities allowing exchange against lost or
destroyed certificates shall be provided; and provided further that nothing in
this SECTION 2.3(c) shall require Hambrecht & Quist Group to issue California


                                       -11-


<PAGE>

Merger Group Common Stock to any holder of California Common Stock who shall
fail to surrender a certificate representing such shares or the certification
and indemnities relating to a lost certificate. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
neither the Exchange Agent nor any Party hereto shall be liable to a holder of
shares of California Common Stock for any California Merger Group Common Stock
delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property,
escheat and similar laws. Promptly following the date that is six (6) months
after the California Effective Date, the Exchange Agent shall return to the
Surviving Subsidiary all shares of California Merger Group Common Stock in its
possession relating to the transactions described in this Agreement, and the
Exchange Agent's duties shall terminate. Thereafter, each holder of a California
Certificate may surrender such Certificate to the Surviving Subsidiary and
(subject to applicable abandoned property, escheat and similar laws) receive in
exchange therefor the shares of California Merger Group Common Stock to which
such holder is entitled pursuant hereto.

          (d)  EXCHANGE PROCEDURES FOR LP GENERAL PARTNER. Within thirty (30)
calendar days after the Effective Time of the LP Merger, the Exchange Agent
shall deliver to the General Partner, whose interest is being converted into LP
Merger General Partner Group Common Stock pursuant to SECTION 2.2 hereof
certificates representing the total number of LP Merger General Partner Group
Common Stock to which the holder of such general partnership interest is
entitled pursuant to SECTION 2.2 hereof. The general partnership interest shall
forthwith be canceled. Until the shares are delivered as contemplated by this
SECTION 2.3(d), the general partnership interest in LP shall be deemed at all
times after the Effective Time of the LP Merger to represent the right to
receive the number of shares of LP Merger General Partner Group Common Stock as
provided by this Article II and the provisions of the CGCL but shall have no
other right.

          (e)  EXCHANGE PROCEDURES FOR LP LIMITED PARTNERSHIP UNITS. Within
thirty (30) calendar days after the Effective Time of the LP Merger, the
Exchange Agent shall mail to each holder of record of LP Units immediately prior
to the Effective Time of the LP Merger whose interests are being converted into
LP Merger Group Common Stock pursuant to SECTION 2.2 hereof (i) a letter of
transmittal and (ii) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the LP
Units in exchange for Hambrecht & Quist Group Common Stock. Upon delivery of a
written notice of ownership and surrender of LP Units to the Exchange Agent or
to such other agent or agents as may be appointed by Hambrecht & Quist Group,
together with such letter of transmittal, duly executed and completed in
accordance with the instructions thereto, the holder of any such LP Units shall
be entitled to receive in exchange therefor the number of shares of LP Merger
Group Common Stock, and cash in lieu of any fractional LP Units, to which the
holder of such LP Units is entitled pursuant to SECTION 2.2 hereof. The LP Unit
so surrendered shall forthwith be canceled. In the event of a transfer of
ownership of an LP Unit that is not registered on the transfer records of LP,
the appropriate number of shares of LP Merger Group Common Stock may be
delivered to a transferee if written notice of the ownership and surrender of
the LP Unit is presented to the Exchange Agent and accompanied by all documents
required to evidence and effect such transfer and to evidence that any
applicable transfer taxes have been paid. Until surrendered as contemplated by
this SECTION 2.3, each LP Unit shall be deemed at all times after the Effective
Time of the LP Merger to represent the right


                                       -12-

<PAGE>

to receive upon written notice of such surrender the number of shares of LP
Merger Group Common Stock, and cash in lieu of any fractional LP Units, as
provided by this Article II and the provisions of the CGCL but shall, subject to
SECTION 2.2(d), have no other right, provided that nothing in this SECTION
2.3(d) shall require Hambrecht & Quist Group to exchange LP Merger Group Common
Stock to any holder of LP Units who shall fail to deliver a written notice of
the surrender of such LP Units. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the
Exchange Agent nor any Party hereto shall be liable to a holder of shares of LP
Units for any LP Merger Group Common Stock delivered to a public official
pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat and similar laws. Promptly
following the date that is six (6) months after the LP Effective Date, the
Exchange Agent shall return to the Hambrecht & Quist Group all shares of LP
Merger Group Common Stock in its possession relating to the transactions
described in this Agreement, and the Exchange Agent's duties shall terminate.
Thereafter, each holder of an LP Unit may deliver written notice of the
surrender of such Unit to Hambrecht & Quist Group and (subject to applicable
abandoned property, escheat and similar laws) receive in exchange therefor the
shares of LP Merger Group Common Stock to which such holder is entitled pursuant
hereto.

          (f)  NO FURTHER OWNERSHIP RIGHTS IN CAPITAL STOCK HAMBRECHT & QUIST
CALIFORNIA. All California Group Common Stock delivered upon the surrender for
exchange of shares of California Common Stock in accordance with the terms
hereof shall be deemed to have been delivered in full satisfaction of all rights
pertaining to such shares of California Common Stock. There shall be no further
registration of transfers on the stock transfer books of the Surviving
Subsidiary of the shares of California Common Stock which were outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time of the California Merger. If, after the
Effective Time of the California Merger, California Certificates are presented
to the Surviving Subsidiary for any reason, they shall be canceled and exchanged
as provided in this ARTICLE II.

          (g)  NO FURTHER OWNERSHIP RIGHTS IN GENERAL PARTNERSHIP INTEREST IN
LP. LP Merger General Partner Group Common Stock delivered in exchange for the
general partnership interest of LP in accordance with the terms hereof shall be
deemed to have been delivered in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to
such general partnership interest in LP.

          (h)  NO FURTHER OWNERSHIP RIGHTS IN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP UNITS OF LP.
LP Merger Group Common Stock delivered upon the delivery of written notice of
surrender of LP Units in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to
have been delivered in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such LP
Units. If, after the Effective Time of the LP Merger, written notice of
surrender of outstanding LP Units is given to Hambrecht & Quist Group, such LP
Units shall be canceled and exchanged as provided in this Article II.

     2.4  SUPPLEMENTARY ACTION.

          (a)  If at any time after the Effective Time of the California Merger,
any further assignment or assurances in law or any other things necessary or
desirable to vest or perfect or


                                       -13-

<PAGE>

confirm of record in the Surviving Subsidiary the title to any property or
rights of either Hambrecht & Quist California or Merger Sub, or otherwise to
carry out the provisions of this Agreement, the officers and directors of
Surviving Subsidiary are hereby authorized and empowered, in the name of and on
behalf of Hambrecht & Quist California and Merger Sub, to execute and deliver
any and all things necessary or proper to vest or to perfect or confirm title to
such property or rights in the Surviving Subsidiary, and otherwise to carry out
the purposes and provisions of this Agreement.

          (b)  If at any time after the Effective Time of the LP Merger, any
further assignment or assurances in law or any other things necessary or
desirable to vest or perfect or confirm of record in Hambrecht & Quist Group the
title to any property or rights of LP, or otherwise to carry out the provisions
of this Agreement, the officers and directors of Hambrecht & Quist Group are
hereby authorized and empowered, in the name of and on behalf of LP, to execute
and deliver any and all things necessary or proper to vest or to perfect or
confirm title to such property or rights in Hambrecht & Quist Group, and
otherwise to carry out the purposes and provisions of this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE III
                                        
                              ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
                                        

     3.1  FAIRNESS HEARING AND PERMIT. The Parties shall prepare an Application
for Qualification of Securities by Permit under Section 25121 of the California
Corporate Securities Law of 1968, as amended (the "CCSL"), a related Notice of
Hearing and a written consent solicitation or other disclosure material (the
"Disclosure Document") to be supplied to the securityholders of Hambrecht &
Quist California and the LP Unitholders in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby (collectively, the "Hearing Documents"). The Parties will
file the Hearing Documents as promptly as practicable with the California
Department of Corporations and request a hearing on the fairness of the Mergers
pursuant to Section 25142 of the CCSL. The Parties will thereafter endeavor in
good faith to obtain a finding of fairness and the issuance of a Permit (as
defined in the Section 25121 of the CCSL) to such effect by the California
Department of Corporations as result of such hearing, but they shall in no event
be required to alter the terms of the Mergers in order to obtain such finding
and issuance.

     3.2  HAMBRECHT & QUIST CALIFORNIA SHAREHOLDERS' CONSENT. Hambrecht & Quist 
California shall solicit the consent of its shareholders as promptly as
practicable after the date of issuance of a permit as described in SECTION 3.1
for the purpose of obtaining shareholder approval required in connection with
the transactions contemplated hereby, and shall use its best effort to obtain
such approval.

     3.3  LP LIMITED PARTNERS' CONSENT. LP shall solicit the consent of its
limited partners as promptly as practicable after the date of issuance of a
permit as described in SECTION 3.1 for the


                                       -14-

<PAGE>

purpose of obtaining limited partner approval required in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby, and shall use its best effort to obtain such
approval.

     3.4  HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP STOCKHOLDER'S CONSENT. Hambrecht & Quist Group
shall solicit the consent of its sole stockholder as promptly as practicable
after the date of issuance of a permit as described in SECTION 3.1 for the
purpose of obtaining stockholder approval required in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby, and shall use its best effort to obtain such
approval.

     3.5  TERMINATION OF SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT. The board of directors of
Hambrecht & Quist California has agreed and hereby consents to permanently waive
as of the Effective Time of the California Merger all rights pursuant to Section
11 of the Shareholder Agreement (the "Shareholder Agreement") dated January 1,
1983, as amended, entered into among Hambrecht & Quist California and certain
holder of Hambrecht & Quist California common stock, and to release all Shares,
Shareholders and their Transferees (as defined in the Shareholder Agreement )
pursuant to Section 11 of the Shareholder Agreement and hereby votes to
terminate the Shareholder Agreement pursuant to Section 15 of the Shareholder.
In connection with the solicitation of the shareholders of Hambrecht & Quist
California of approval of the principal terms of the California Merger,
Hambrecht & Quist  California shall solicit votes to terminate the Shareholder
Agreement pursuant to Section 15 thereof.

     3.6  CONSENTS. Each of the Parties shall promptly apply for or otherwise
seek, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, all consents and
approvals required to be obtained by it for the consummation of the Mergers.
Hambrecht & Quist California shall use its best efforts to obtain all necessary
consents, waivers and approvals under any of Hambrecht & Quist California's
agreements, contracts, licenses or leases in connection with the California
Merger, except such consents and approvals as Hambrecht & Quist Group and
Hambrecht & Quist California agree Hambrecht & Quist California shall not seek
to obtain. LP shall use its best efforts to obtain all necessary consents,
waivers and approvals under any of LP's agreements, contracts, licenses or
leases in connection with the LP Merger, except such consents and approvals as
Hambrecht & Quist Group and LP agree LP shall not seek to obtain.

     3.7  BEST EFFORTS. Each of the Parties shall use best efforts to effectuate
the transactions contemplated hereby and to fulfill and cause to be fulfilled
the conditions to closing under this Agreement.

     3.8  QUALIFICATIONS: FRANCHISE TAX. Hambrecht & Quist Group shall qualify
to do business as a foreign corporation in the State of California and in
connection therewith irrevocably appoint an agent for service of process as
required under the provisions of Section 2105 of the CGCL and shall file any and
all documents with the California Franchise Tax Board necessary for the
assumption by Hambrecht & Quist Group of all of the tax liabilities of LP

     3.9  LEGAL CONDITIONS TO THE MERGERS.


                                       -15-



<PAGE>

     Each of the Parties shall take all reasonable actions necessary to comply
promptly with all legal requirements that may be imposed on such party with
respect to the Mergers and will promptly cooperate with and furnish information
to the other Parties in connection with any such requirements imposed upon any
of the Parties or any other subsidiary of any of the Parties in connection with
the Mergers. Each of the Parties will take, and cause its subsidiaries to take,
all reasonable actions to obtain (and to cooperate with the other Parties in
obtaining) any consent, authorization, order or approval of, or exemption by,
any Governmental Entity (as defined in SECTION 4.1(a) below) required to be
obtained or made by such Party or any of its subsidiaries in connection with the
Mergers or the taking of any action contemplated thereby or by this Agreement,
and to defend such lawsuits or other legal proceedings challenging this
Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby as the
Parties deem advisable in good faith, to lift or rescind any injunction or
restraining order or other order adversely affecting the ability of the Parties
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby as the Parties deem advisable
in good faith, and to effect all necessary registrations and filings and
submissions of information as the Parties deem advisable in good faith, required
by any Governmental Entity, and to fulfill all conditions to this Agreement.

                                    ARTICLE IV
                                        
                               CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
                                        
     4.1  CONDITIONS TO EACH PARTY'S OBLIGATION TO EFFECT THE MERGER. The
respective obligation of each Party to effect the Mergers shall be subject to
the satisfaction prior to the Closing of the following conditions:

          (a)  APPROVALS: HART-SCOTT-RODINO; FIRPTA. All authorizations, 
consents, orders or approvals of, or declarations or filings with, or 
expiration of waiting periods imposed by, any court, administrative agency, 
commission, regulatory authority or other governmental or administrative body 
or instrumentality, whether domestic or foreign (a "Governmental Entity") 
necessary for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this 
Agreement shall have been filed, occurred or been obtained. Such filings and 
consents include, but are not limited to, requirements under federal and 
state securities laws, a Notification and Report Form under the 
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 and any submissions 
required thereunder and any filings required by the the Internal Revenue 
Service under Treasury Reg. Section 1.897-2(h) ("FIRPTA"), relating to stock 
that is a "U.S. Real Property Interest."

          (b)  ISSUANCE OF PERMIT. The California Department of Corporations
shall have issued a Permit under Section 25121 of the CCSL, covering the offer
and issuance of the Hambrecht & Quist Group Common Stock and the assumption of
exercisable securities following a hearing as to the fairness of the Mergers
conducted pursuant to Section 25142 of the CCSL.



                                       -16-



<PAGE>

          (c)  HAMBRECHT & QUIST CALIFORNIA SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. The principal
terms of the California Merger shall, pursuant to Section 1201 of the CGCL, have
been approved and adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of outstanding
shares of California Common Stock outstanding.

          (d)  LIMITED PARTNERSHIP APPROVAL. The principal terms of the LP
Merger shall, pursuant to Section 15678.2 of the CRLPA, have been approved and
adopted by holders of a majority of LP Units.

          (e)  HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL. The principal terms
of the LP Merger shall pursuant to Section 251 of the DGCL shall have been
approved and adopted by an affirmative vote of the sole stockholder of Hambrecht
& Quist Group.

          (f)  TAX-FREE TREATMENT. Each of Hambrecht & Quist California,
Hambrecht & Quist Group and LP shall have received a written opinion from Greene
Radovksy Maloney & Share in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
board of directors of Hambrecht & Quist Group to the effect that the California
Merger will constitute a tax-free reorganization within the meaning of Section
368 of the Code and, except with respect to cash paid in lieu of fractional
shares, the LP Merger will be tax-free under Section 351 of the Code. In
preparing the Hambrecht & Quist California, Hambrecht & Quist Group and LP tax
opinions, counsel may make reasonable assumptions related thereto and may rely
on (and to the extent reasonably required, the Parties, holders of California
Common Stock and LP limited partners shall make) reasonable representations
related thereto.

          (g)  EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING 
CONTEMPLATED. Both the board of directors of Hambrecht & Quist California and
Hambrecht & Quist Group respectively shall have determined that, in their
reasonable business judgment, a registration statement with respect to an
initial public offering of the Common Stock of Hambrecht & Quist Group is
reasonably certain to become effective with one week of such determination.

     4.2  CONDITIONS OF OBLIGATIONS OF HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP AND MERGER SUB IN
CONNECTION WITH THE CALIFORNIA MERGER. The obligations of Hambrecht & Quist
Group and Merger Sub to effect the California Merger are subject to the
following condition, unless waived by Hambrecht & Quist Group and Merger Sub:

          (a)  PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS OF HAMBRECHT & QUIST CALIFORNIA.
Hambrecht & Quist California shall have performed in all material respects all
obligations and covenants required to be performed by it under this Agreement
and the Agreement of California Merger prior to the Closing Date.

     4.3  CONDITIONS OF OBLIGATIONS OF HAMBRECHT & QUIST CALIFORNIA IN
CONNECTION WITH THE CALIFORNIA MERGER. The obligation of Hambrecht & Quist
California to effect the California Merger is subject to the following
condition, unless waived by Hambrecht & Quist California:


                                       -17-



<PAGE>

          (a)  PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS OF HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP. Hambrecht
& Quist Group shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and
covenants required to be performed by it under this Agreement and the Agreement
of California Merger prior to the Closing Date.

     4.4  CONDITIONS OF OBLIGATIONS OF LP. The obligation of LP to effect the LP
Merger is subject to the following condition, unless waived by LP:

          (a)  PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS OF HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP. Hambrecht
& Quist group shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and
covenants required to be performed by it under this Agreement, the Agreement of
LP Merger and the California Certificate of Merger prior to the Closing Date.

     4.5  CONDITIONS OF OBLIGATIONS OF HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP WITH RESPECT TO
THE LP MERGER. The obligation of Hambrecht & Quist Group to effect the LP Merger
is subject to the following condition, unless waived by Hambrecht & Quist Group:

          (a)  PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS OF LP. LP shall have performed in all 
material respects all obligations and covenants required to be performed by it
under this Agreement, the Agreement of LP Merger and the California Certificate
of Merger prior to the Closing Date..

                                    ARTICLE V
                                        
                                   TERMINATION
                                        
     5.1  TERMINATION.

          (a)  This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the earlier
of (i) the California Effective Time and (ii) the LP Effective Time, whether
before or after approval of the Mergers by the security holders of Hambrecht &
Quist California and the limited partners of LP, by mutual agreement among
Hambrecht & Quist California as General Partner of LP and the Boards of
Directors of Hambrecht & Quist California and Hambrecht & Quist Group;

          (b)  Where action is taken to terminate this Agreement pursuant to
this SECTION 5.1, it shall be sufficient authorization for such action to be
authorized by the board of directors of the party taking such action, or in the
case of LP, Hambrecht & Quist California as general partner of LP

                                    ARTICLE VI
                                        
                                GENERAL PROVISIONS
                                        
                                        
                                       -18-


<PAGE>

     6.1  SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. All representations and
warranties in this Agreement or delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall
terminate at such time as the later of (i) the California Effective Time and
(ii) the LP Effective Time. Except for fraud, no securityholder of Hambrecht &
Quist California or any officer, director, or employee of Hambrecht & Quist
California or of Hambrecht & Quist Group or any limited partner of LP, shall
have any liability hereunder Hambrecht & Quist Group shall have no liability
hereunder except for its actual fraud, and only to the extent that the facts and
circumstances underlying such actual fraud were known to an executive officer or
member of the Hambrecht & Quist Group board of directors.

     6.2  AMENDMENT. This Agreement may be amended by the Parties hereto at any
time before or after approval of the California Merger by the shareholders of
Hambrecht & Quist California or the LP Merger by the limited partners of LP;
provided, however, that following approval of the Merger by the shareholders of
Hambrecht & Quist California, no amendment shall be made which by law requires
the further approval of such shareholders without obtaining such further
approval and that following approval of the LP Merger by the limited partners of
LP, no amendment shall be made which by law requires the further approval of
such limited partners without obtaining such approval. This Agreement may not be
amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the
Parties hereto.

     6.3  EXTENSION; WAIVER. At any time prior to the earlier of (i) the
California Effective Time and (ii) the LP Effective Time, each of Hambrecht &
Quist Group, Hambrecht & Quist California and LP, to the extent legally allowed,
(a) may extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other
acts of the other, (b) may waive any inaccuracies in the representations and
warranties made to it contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant
hereto, and (c) may waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions
for the benefit of it contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a Party
hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an
instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party.

     6.4  NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed given (a) on the same day if delivered personally,
(b) three (3) business days after being mailed by registered or certified mail
(return receipt requested), or (c) on the same day if sent by telecopy,
confirmation received, to the Parties at the following addresses and telecopy
numbers (or at such other address or number for a Party as shall be specified by
like notice):

     (w)  Hambrecht & Quist
          One Bush Street
          San Francisco, CA 94104
          Attn: Daniel H. Case III
          Telephone No: (415) 576-3300
          Facsimile No: (415) 576-3320

     With copy to:

                                       -19-
                                        

<PAGE>

     (v)  Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.
          650 Page Mill Road
          Palo Alto, CA 94304
          Attn: Francis S. Currie
          Telephone No: (415) 493-9300 x5150
          Facsimile No: (415) 493-6811

     6.5  INTERPRETATION. When a reference is made in this Agreement to Sections
or Exhibits, such references shall be to a Section or Exhibit to this Agreement
unless otherwise indicated. The words "include," "includes" and "including" when
used herein shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words "without
limitation."


     6.6  COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and
shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of
the Parties and delivered to each of the other Parties.

     6.7  ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement and the documents and instruments and
other agreements among the Parties delivered pursuant hereto constitute the
entire agreement among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among
the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and are not intended to
confer upon any other person any rights or remedies hereunder except as
otherwise expressly provided herein.

     6.8  NO TRANSFER. This Agreement and the rights and obligations set forth
herein may not be transferred or assigned by operation of law or otherwise
without the consent of each Party] hereto. This Agreement is binding upon and
will inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors
and permitted assigns.

     6.9  SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application
thereof, will for any reason and to any extent be invalid or unenforceable, the
remainder of this Agreement and application of such provision to other persons
or circumstances will be interpreted so as reasonably to effect the intent of
the Parties hereto. The Parties further agree to replace such void or
unenforceable provision of this Agreement with a valid and enforceable provision
that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other
purposes of the void or unenforceable provision.

     6.10 OTHER REMEDIES. Any and all remedies herein expressly conferred upon a
Party will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy
conferred hereby or by law or equity on such Party; and the exercise of any one
remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other.

     6.11 FURTHER ASSURANCES. Each Party agrees to cooperate fully with the
other Parties and to execute such further instruments, documents and agreements
and to give such further written assurances as may be reasonably requested by
any other Party to evidence and reflect the transactions

                                       -20-
                                        

<PAGE>

described herein and contemplated hereby and to carry into effect the intents
and purposes of this Agreement.

     6.12 ABSENCE OF THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARY RIGHTS. No provision of this
Agreement is intended, or will be interpreted, to provide to or create for any
third-party beneficiary rights or any other rights of any kind in any client,
customer, affiliate, stockholder, employee, partner or any Party hereto or any
other person or entity, and all provisions hereof will be personal solely
between the Parties to this Agreement.

     6.13 MUTUAL DRAFTING. This Agreement is the joint product of Hambrecht &
Quist Group, Hambrecht & Quist California, LP, and each provision hereof has
been subject to the mutual consultation, negotiation and agreement of Hambrecht
& Quist Group, Hambrecht & Quist California and LP, and shall not be construed
for or against any Party hereto.

     6.14 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed in all respects,
including validity, interpretation and effect, by the laws of the State of
California (without giving effect to its choice of law principles), except to
the extent that the substantive provision of the DGCL applies to the Mergers.







                                       -21-



<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Hambrecht & Quist Group, Hambrecht & Quist California,
Merger Sub, and LP have caused this Agreement to be signed, all as of the date
first written above.

HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP,
a California Corporation


By: /s/ Daniel H. Case III
   __________________________
Daniel H. Case III, President


HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP, INC.
a Delaware corporation


By:/s/ Daniel H. Case III
   __________________________
Daniel H. Case III, President


 H & Q REORGANIZATION SUBSIDIARY
 a California corporation


By:/s/ Daniel H. Case III
   __________________________
Daniel H. Case III, President


HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
a California Limited Partnership
By: Hambrecht & Quist Group,
a California corporation, as General Partner


By:/s/ Daniel H. Case III
   __________________________
Daniel H. Case III, President




                                       -22-



 
<PAGE>

                               Exhibit 1.1(a)

                             AGREEMENT OF MERGER

                                  Merging

           H & Q REORGANIZATION SUBSIDIARY, INC, A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION

                                 with and into

                HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION



    This AGREEMENT MERGER (the "Agreement"), is made and entered into as of
June 10, 1996 by and between Hambrecht & Quist Group, a California corporation
("Hambrecht & Quist California" or the "Company") and H & Q Reorganization
Subsidiary, Inc. a California corporation ("Merger Sub")  (Hambrecht & Quist
California and Merger Sub, together, the "Constituent Corporations") and the 
wholly owned subsidiary of Hambrecht & Quist Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Parent") (each,  a "Party" and collectively, the "Parties").


                                        RECITALS
                                           
    A.   Parent, Hambrecht & Quist California, Hambrecht & Quist, L.P., a
California limited  partnership, and Merger Sub have entered into that certain
Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated  June 10, 1996 (the "Reorganization
Agreement"), providing, among other things, for the execution and  filing of
this Merger Agreement and the merger of Merger Sub with and into Hambrecht &
Quist  California upon the terms set forth in the Reorganization Agreement and
this Merger Agreement (the  "Merger").

    B.   The respective Boards of Directors of each of the Constituent
corporations deem it  advisable and in the best interests of each of such
corporations and their respective stockholders that  Merger Sub be merged with
and into Hambrecht & Quist California.


                                       AGREEMENT
                                           
    NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants, promises and mutual
agreements  contained in this Merger Agreement, the Constituent Corporations
hereby agree that Merger Sub shall  be merged with and into Hambrecht & Quist
California in accordance with the Reorganization Agreement  and the provisions
of the laws of the State of California, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set  forth as follows:


<PAGE>


                                           
                                       ARTICLE I
                                           
                                      THE MERGER
                                           
    1.1  FILING.  This Merger Agreement, together with the officers' 
certificates of each of the Constituent Corporations required by the General
Corporation Law of the State of California (the "California Law", shall be filed
with the Secretary of State of the State of California at the time specified in
the Reorganization Agreement.

    1.2  EFFECTIVENESS. The Merger shall become effective upon the filing of 
this Merger Agreement with the Secretary of State of the State of California
(the "Effective Time").

    1.3  MERGER. At the Effective Time, Merger Sub shall be merged into
Hambrecht & Quist California and the separate corporate existence of Merger 
Sub shall thereupon cease.  Hambrecht & Quist California will be the 
Surviving Corporation in the merger and the separate corporate existence of 
Hambrecht & Quist California shall continue unaffected and unimpaired by 
the Merger.

    1.4  FURTHER ACTION. If at any time after the Effective Time any further
action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Merger 
Agreement or to vest the Surviving Corporation with the full right, title 
and possession to all assets, property, rights, privileges, immunities, 
powers and franchises of either or both of the constituent corporations, 
the officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation are fully 
authorized (in the name of either or both of the constituent Corporations 
or otherwise) to take all such action.

                                       ARTICLE 2
                                           
                             CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS
                                           
    The Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation shall be 
amended and restated in full as of the Effective Time as set forth in 
Exhibit A attached hereto.

                                       ARTICLE 3
                                           
              MANNER OF CONVERTING SHARES OF THE CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS
                                           
    3.1  EFFECT ON CAPITAL STOCK. As of the Effective Time of the Merger, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of any holder of 
any securities of the Company:

         (A)  CAPITAL STOCK OF MERGER SUB. All issued and outstanding shares of
capital stock of Merger Sub shall continue to be issued and outstanding and
shall be converted into 10,000 shares of the common stock of the Surviving
Corporation (the "California Common Stock").  Each stock certificate

                                          -2-


<PAGE>


of Merger Sub evidencing ownership of any such shares shall continue to evidence
ownership of such  shares of California Capital Stock.

         (b)  CANCELLATION OF CALIFORNIA COMMON STOCK.

              (i)  All shares of California Common Stock that are owned
directly or  indirectly by the Company shall be canceled and no common stock of
Parent or other consideration shall  be delivered in exchange therefor.

              (ii) Each holder of a certificate representing any shares of 
California Common  Stock after the Effective Time of the Merger, except 
shares of California Common Stock issued upon  conversion of shares of 
Merger Sub, shall cease to have any rights with respect to such shares, 
except  the right either to (A) receive the California Merger Consideration 
Per Share, (as defined in Section 3.1(c) below) multiplied by the number of 
shares represented by such certificate, upon surrender of such  
certificate, or (B) to exercise such holder's dissenters' rights as 
provided in Section 3. 1 (f) hereof and the California Law.

         (c)  CONVERSION OF CALIFORNIA COMMON STOCK OR CAPITAL STOCK RIGHTS OF 
HAMBRECHT  & QUIST CALIFORNIA.  Each share of California Common stock, except
canceled shares, Dissenting  California Shares (as defined in Section 
3.1(f) below) and shares of California Common Stock issued  upon conversion 
of shares of Merger Sub, but including shares issued upon the exercise of 
any  Hambrecht & Quist California Option (as defined in Section 3.1(d) 
below) prior to the Effective Time  of the Merger, that is issued and 
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time of the Merger shall  
automatically be canceled and extinguished and converted, without any 
action on the part of the holder  thereof, into the right to receive four 
(4) shares of Common Stock of Parent ("Group Common Stock")  (the "Merger 
Consideration Per Share").  All shares of Group Common Stock received 
pursuant to this  Section 3.1(c) ("California Merger Group Common Stock") 
shall be subject to restrictions on transfer  of the "Underwriters' Market 
Stand-Off" set forth in Exhibit B hereto and each certificate representing  
any such share shall carry a legend describing the terms and conditions on 
transfer as described in the  Underwriters' Market Stand-Off Any reference 
to California Merger Group Common Stock, including  without limitation 
references contained in Section 3.1(d) below, shall be deemed to refer to 
Group Common Stock so restricted.  The ratio pursuant to which each share 
of California Common Stock  including assumed convertible and exercisable 
securities, will be exchanged for shares of Common Stock  of Parent, 
determined in accordance with the foregoing provisions, is hereinafter 
referred to as the "Exchange Ratio."

         (d)  ASSUMPTION OF HAMBRECHT & QUIST CALIFORNIA OPTIONS.

              (i)  At the Effective Time of the Merger, each unexpired and
unexercised  option to purchase shares of California Common Stock (a "Hambrecht
& Quist California Option") granted under the stock option plans and agreements
of Hambrecht & Quist California outstanding  immediately prior to the Effective
Time of the Merger shall be assumed by Parent (an "Assumed  Hambrecht & Quist
California Option") together with the stock option plans under which those
options  are outstanding (the "Assumed Option Plans").  Each Hambrecht & Quist
California Option so assumed

                                          -3-
                                           

<PAGE>

by Parent will continue to have, and be subject to, substantially the same 
terms and conditions set forth in the documents governing such Hambrecht & 
Quist California Option, including the Assumed Option Plans, immediately 
prior to the Effective Time of the Merger, except that (A) such Assumed 
Hambrecht & Quist California Option will be exercisable for that number of 
whole shares of California Merger Group Common Stock (which shall be 
subject to the restrictions on transfer) equal to the product of the number 
of shares of California Common Stock that were purchasable under such 
Assumed Hambrecht & Quist California Option immediately prior to the 
Effective Time of the California Merger multiplied by the Exchange Ratio, 
and (B) the per share exercise price for the shares of California Merger 
Group Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such Assumed Hambrecht & Quist 
California Option will be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the 
exercise price per share of California Common Stock (on an as converted to 
Common Stock basis) at which such Assumed Hambrecht & Quist California 
Option was exercisable immediately prior to the Effective Time of the 
Merger by the Exchange Ratio, rounded up to the nearest whole cent.  
Consistent with the terms of the Hambrecht & Quist California Options and 
the documents governing such Hambrecht & Quist California Options, 
including the Assumed Option Plans, the Merger will not terminate or 
accelerate any Assumed Hambrecht & Quist California Option or any right of 
exercise, vesting or repurchase relating thereto with respect to shares of 
California Merger Group Common Stock acquired upon exercise of the Assumed 
Hambrecht & Quist California Option. Holders of Assumed Hambrecht & Quist 
California Options will not be entitled to acquire California Common Stock 
following the Merger.

              (ii) As soon as practicable after the Effective Time of the 
Merger, Hambrecht & Quist Group shall issue to each holder of an Assumed 
Hambrecht & Quist California Option a document evidencing the stock option 
assumption by parent.  The right to receive an Assumed Hambrecht & Quist 
California Option may not be assigned or transferred, except as provided 
under the Assumed Option Plan under which that option was granted.  Any 
attempted assignment contrary to this Section 3.1(d) shall be null and void.

              (iii)     It is the intention of the Parties that the 
Hambrecht & Quist California Options assumed by Hambrecht & Quist Group 
qualify following the Effective Time of the Merger as incentive stock 
options as defined in Section 422 of me Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as 
amended (the "Code") to the extent the Hambrecht & Quist California Options 
qualified as incentive stock options prior to the Effective Time of the 
Merger.

         (e)  CALIFORNIA COMMON STOCK SUBJECT TO REPURCHASE. ALL SHARES OF
California Merger Group Common Stock that are received in the Merger in 
exchange for shares of California Common Stock that, under applicable stock 
purchase, stock restriction or similar agreements with Hambrecht & Quist 
California, are unvested or subject to a repurchase option or other 
condition of forfeiture which by its terms does not terminate due to the 
Merger ("Hambrecht & Quist California Restricted Stock") will also be 
unvested or subject to the same repurchase option or other condition, as 
the case may be, and all such repurchase options shall automatically inure 
to Parent in the Merger and shall thereafter be exercisable by Parent upon 
the same terms and conditions in effect for Hambrecht & Quist California 
immediately prior to the Effective Time of the Merger, except that the 
shares purchasable under any such repurchase option shall be shares of 
Merger Group Common Stock and the price payable by Parent shall be equal to 
the quotient determined by dividing the aggregate purchase price at which 
the California Common Stock was repurchasable under each applicable 
agreement by the Exchange Ratio and rounding the resulting aggregate price 
payable by Hambrecht & Quist Group to the nearest whole cent.  The 
certificates evidencing such shares will be marked with appropriate legends.

                                          -4-
                                           

<PAGE>

         (f)  DISSENTERS' RIGHTS. If, as of the Effective Time of the Merger,
holders of California Common Stock have properly exercised and not lost 
dissenters' rights ("Dissenting California  Shares") in connection with the 
Merger under Chapter 13 of the California Law, such Dissenting  California 
Shares shall not be converted into California Merger Group Common Stock but 
shall be  converted into the right to receive such consideration as may be 
determined to be due with respect to  such Dissenting California Shares 
pursuant to the California Law. Hambrecht & Quist California shall  give 
Parent prompt notice of any demand received by Hambrecht & Quist California 
to require  Hambrecht & Quist California to purchase shares of California 
Common Stock, and Parent shall have the  right to participate in all 
negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demand.  Each holder of  
Dissenting California Shares (a "Dissenting California Security Holder") 
who, pursuant to the provisions  of the California Law, becomes entitled to 
payment of the value of shares of California Common Stock  shall receive 
payment therefor (but only after the value therefor shall have been agreed 
upon or finally  determined pursuant to such provisions).  In the event of 
a legal obligation, after the Effective Time of  the Merger, to deliver 
shares of Merger Group Common Stock to any holder of shares of California  
Common Stock who shall have failed to make an effective purchase demand or 
shall have lost his status  as a Dissenting California Security Holder, 
Parent shall issue and deliver, upon surrender by such  Dissenting 
California Security Holder of his certificate or certificates representing 
shares of California  Common Stock, the shares of California Merger Group 
Common Stock to which such Dissenting  California Security Holder is then 
entitled under this Section 3.1.

    3.2  SURRENDER OF CERTIFICATES; PAYMENT OF MERGER CONSIDERATION.

         (a)  EXCHANGE AGENT. Prior to the Closing Date, Parent shall appoint a
third party  to act as exchange agent (the "Exchange Agent") in the Mergers.

         (b)  HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP TO PROVIDE COMMON STOCK AND CASH.
Promptly after the earlier of (i) the Effective Date of this Merger and 
(ii) the effective Date of the LP Merger (as defined  in the Reorganization 
Agreement) (but in no event later than thirty (30) business days 
thereafter), Parent shall make available for exchange in accordance with 
this Article 2, through such reasonable procedures  as Parent may adopt, 
the California Merger Group Common Stock issuable pursuant to Section 3.1 
in  exchange for outstanding shares of California Common Stock.

         (c)  EXCHANGE PROCEDURES FOR CALIFORNIA COMMON STOCK. Within thirty
(30) calendar  days after the Effective Time of the Merger, the Exchange 
Agent shall mail to each holder of record of  a certificate or certificates 
that immediately prior to the Effective Time of the Merger represented  
outstanding shares of California Common Stock (the "California 
Certificates") whose interests are being  converted into California Merger 
Group Common Stock pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof (i) a letter of  
transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk 
of loss and title to the California  Certificates shall pass, only upon 
delivery of the California Certificates to the Exchange Agent and shall  be 
in such form and have such other provisions as Hambrecht & Quist Group may 
reasonably specify)  and (ii) instructions for use in effecting the 
surrender of the California Certificates in exchange for  California Merger 
Group Common Stock.  Upon surrender of a California Certificate for 
cancellation to  the Exchange Agent or to such other agent or agents as may 
be appointed by Parent, together with such

                                        -5-
                                           
<PAGE>


letter of transmittal, duly executed and completed in accordance with the 
instructions thereto, the holder of such California Certificate shall be 
entitled to receive in exchange therefor the number of shares of California 
Merger Group Common Stock to which the holder of such certificate is 
entitled pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof.  The California Certificate so 
surrendered shall forthwith be canceled.  In the event of a transfer of 
ownership of California Common Stock that is not registered on the transfer 
records of Hambrecht & Quist California, the appropriate number of shares 
of California Merger Group Common Stock may be delivered to a transferee if 
the California Certificate representing such California Common Stock is 
presented to the Exchange Agent and accompanied by all documents required 
to evidence and effect such transfer and to evidence that any applicable 
stock transfer taxes have been paid.  Until surrendered as contemplated by 
this Section 3.2, each California Certificate shall be deemed at all times 
after the Effective Time of the Merger to represent the right to receive 
upon such surrender the number of shares of California Merger Group Common 
Stock as provided by this Article 3 and the provisions of the California 
Law but shall, subject to Section 3.1(f), have no other right; provided, 
however, that customary and appropriate certifications and indemnities 
allowing exchange against lost or destroyed certificates shall be provided; 
and provided further that nothing in this Section 3.2(c) shall require 
Parent to issue California Merger Group Common Stock to any holder of 
California Common Stock who shall fail to surrender a certificate 
representing such shares or the certification and indemnities relating to a 
lost certificate.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Exchange 
Agent nor any Party hereto shall be liable to a holder of shares of 
California Common Stock for any California Merger Group Common Stock 
delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, 
escheat and similar laws. Promptly following the date that is six (6) 
months after the California Effective Date, the Exchange Agent shall return 
to the Surviving Corporation all shares of California Merger Group Common 
Stock in its possession relating to the transactions described in his 
Agreement, and the Exchange Agent's duties shall terminate.  Thereafter 
each holder of a California Certificate may surrender such Certificate to 
the Surviving Corporation and (subject to applicable abandoned property, 
escheat and similar laws) receive in exchange therefor the shares of 
California Merger Group Common Stock to which such holder is entitled 
pursuant hereto.

         (d)  NO FURTHER OWNERSHIP RIGHTS IN CAPITAL STOCK OF HAMBRECHT & QUIST 
CALIFORNIA. All California Merger Group Common Stock delivered upon the
surrender for exchange of shares of California Common Stock in accordance 
with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been delivered in full 
satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such shares of California Common 
Stock.  There shall be no further registration of transfers on the stock 
transfer books of the Surviving Corporation of the shares of California 
Common Stock which were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time 
of the California Merger.  If, after the Effective Time of the Merger, 
California Certificates are presented to the Surviving Corporation for any 
reason, they shall be canceled and exchanged as provided in this Article 3.

                                       ARTICLE 4
                                           
                               TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT
                                           
    4.1  TERMINATION. Notwithstanding the approval of this Merger Agreement by
the sole stockholder of Merger Sub and the shareholders of Hambrecht & 
Quist California, this Merger

                                          -6-
                                           

<PAGE>

Agreement shall terminate forthwith in the event that the Reorganization
Agreement shall be terminated as therein provided.

    4.2  AMENDMENT. This Merger Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto
at any time before or after approval hereof by the shareholders of either 
Merger Sub or Hambrecht & Quist California, but, after any such approval, 
no amendment shall be made without the further approval of such 
shareholders if such amendment would (i) have a material adverse effect on 
the shareholders of either Merger Sub or Hambrecht & Quist California, (ii) 
change any of the principal terms of the Merger Agreement, or (iii) change 
any time of the Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation.  
This Merger Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing 
signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.

                                          -7-
                                           

<PAGE>


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

 Hambrecht & Quist Group,              H & Q Reorganization Subsidiary, Inc.,
 a California corporation              a California corporation

 By: _____________________             By: ________________________
    Daniel H. Case III,                    Daniel H. Case III,
    President and Chief Executive          President and Chief Executive 
    Officer                                Officer


By: ______________________             By: _______________________
    Steven N. Machtinger,                  Steven N. Machtinger,
    Secretary                              Secretary






                                         -8-

<PAGE>

                                           
                                       EXHIBIT A
                                           
                                           
                    AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
                                           
                                          OF
                                           
                                Hambrecht & Quist Group
                                           
                                           

    ONE. The name of this corporation is Hambrecht & Quist California, Inc.

    TWO. The purpose of this corporation is to engage in any lawful act or 
activity for which a corporation may be organized under the General 
Corporation Law of California other than the banking business, the trust 
company business or the practice of a profession permitted to be 
incorporated by the California Corporations Code.

    THREE.    This corporation is authorized to issue only one class of 
stock, designated "Common Stock" and the total number of shares which this 
corporation is authorized to issue is ten thousand (10,000).

    FOUR.          (a) The liability of the directors of the corporation 
for monetary damages shall be eliminated to the fullest extent permissible 
under California law.

              (b) The corporation is authorized to provide indemnification 
of agents (as defined in Section 317 of the California Corporations Code) 
through bylaw provisions, agreements with the agents, vote of shareholders 
or disinterested directors, or otherwise, in excess of the indemnification 
otherwise permitted by Section 317 of the limits set forth in Section 204 
of the California Corporations Code with respect to actions for breach of 
duty to the corporation or its shareholders.  The corporation is further 
authorized to provide insurance for agents as set forth in Section 317 of 
the California Corporations Code, provided that, in cases where the 
corporation owns all or a portion of the shares of the company issuing the 
insurance policy, the company and/or the policy must meet one of the two 
sets of conditions set forth in Section 317, as amended.

         (c) Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this 
Article Four by the shareholders of this corporation shall not adversely 
affect any right or protection of an agent of this corporation existing at 
the time of such repeal or modification.


<PAGE>

                                           
                                       EXHIBIT B 
                                           
                            UNDERWRITERS' MARKET STAND-OFF
                                           


    In addition to other applicable restrictions, all shares of Common 
Stock (i) issued by  Hambrecht & Quist Group in connection with the Mergers 
or (ii) issuable upon the exercise of options  or other rights to acquire 
such shares assumed by Hambrecht & Quist Group in connection with the  
Mergers (together, the "Merger Shares") shall be issued subject to the 
resale restrictions set forth in  this Exhibit.  All capitalized terms and 
entity names used in this Exhibit and not otherwise defined  shall have the 
meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated 
June 10, 1996 to which this Exhibit is attached.

1.  EIGHTEEN MONTH LOCKUP. For a period of eighteen (18) months after the date
(the "Trade  Date") of the initial public offering (the "Offering") of 
Hambrecht & Quist Group Common Stock  ("Common Stock"), no person holding 
Merger Shares or having the right to obtain Merger Shares as  described in 
clause (ii) of the preceding paragraph (each such person, a "Holder") 
shall, directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract to sell, transfer the 
economic risk of ownership in, make any short sale,  pledge or otherwise 
dispose of any Merger Shares or any securities convertible into or 
exchangeable or  exercisable for Merger Shares, without the prior written 
consent of each of (i) Hambrecht & Quist  Group, (ii) Hambrecht & Quist LLC 
and (iii) Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated.

2.  EXCEPTION FOR SHARES ACQUIRED AFTER OFFERING. The foregoing restrictions
shall not apply to  securities of Hambrecht & Quist Group acquired after 
the Trade Date except to the extent that such  securities are acquired 
pursuant to the exercise, conversion, or exchange of securities of 
Hambrecht &  Quist Group held immediately prior to the Trade Date.

3.  SCHEDULED PARTIAL RELEASES. Notwithstanding the restrictions set forth in
Section 1, a portion of the Merger Shares held by each Holder shall be 
released from such restrictions as follows:

    (a)  FIRST RELEASE. On the date six months following the Trade Date, a
number of Merger Shares equal to the greater of (i) 10,000 or (ii) five 
percent (5%) of the outstanding Common Stock  owned directly by such Holder 
immediately prior to the record date relating to the votes of  
securityholders with respect to the Mergers, (the "Owned Shares") shall be 
permanently released from  the restrictions of Section 1.

    (b)  SECOND RELEASE. On the date twelve months following the Trade Date, an
additional  number of Merger Shares equal to the greater of (i) 10,000 or 
(ii) five percent (5%) of the Owned  Shares shall be permanently released 
from the restrictions of Section 1.

    (c)  AGGREGATION WITH TRANSFEREES. In the event that a Holder transfers
Merger Shares to a  permitted transferee pursuant to Section 4, below, the 
number of Merger Shares to be released from  the restrictions of Section 1 
under this Section 3 shall be calculated without regard to such transfers  
and the particular Merger Shares held or transferred by the transferring 
Holder (the "Transfer Merger  Shares") to be released shall be allocated 
among the Holder and all such transferees (and transferees of

<PAGE>



such transferees, if any) of such Holder pro rata in proportion to the 
number of Transfer Merger Shares held by each of them.

4.  CERTAIN PERMITTED TRANSFERS. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if the 
Holder is an individual, he or she may transfer any shares of Merger Shares 
or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for the Merger 
Shares either during his or her lifetime or on death by will or intestacy to 
his or her immediate family or to a trust the beneficiaries of which are 
exclusively the Holder and/or a member or members of his or her immediate 
family, (ii) if the Holder is a partnership, it may transfer any shares of 
Merger Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable 
for the Merger Shares to its constituent partners, retired partners or the 
estates of constituent partners or retired partners (including partners which 
are corporations and which may transfer such securities to their respective 
shareholders) or (iii) if the Holder is a limited liability company, it may 
transfer any shares of Merger Shares or securities convertible into or 
exchangeable or exercisable for the Merger Shares to its members (including 
members which are corporations and which may transfer such securities to 
their respective shareholders); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that prior to any such 
transfer each transferee (including shareholders of corporate transferees to 
whom such shares are subsequently transferred) shall execute an agreement, 
satisfactory to Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, pursuant to which each 
transferee shall agree to receive and hold such shares of Merger Shares, or 
securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for the Merger 
Shares, subject to the provisions hereof, and there shall be no further 
transfer except in accordance with the provisions hereof. For the purposes of 
this paragraph, "immediate family" shall mean spouse, lineal descendant, 
father, mother, brother or sister of the transferor.

5.  BINDING ON SUCCESSORS: STOP TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS: LEGEND. The restrictions 
contained herein shall be binding upon the Holder's heirs, legal 
representatives, successors and assigns.  Hambrecht & Quist Group shall 
issue stop transfer instructions to its transfer agent against the transfer 
of Merger Shares except in compliance with the terms of this Exhibit.  Each 
certificate evidencing Merger Shares shall be imprinted with a legend 
substantially as follows:

     THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE, ARE SUBJECT TO A  
     LOCKUP PERIOD OF EIGHTEEN MONTHS FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC  OFFERING OF 
     THE ISSUERS COMMON STOCK PURSUANT TO THE FIRST  REGISTRATION 
     STATEMENT OF THE ISSUER FILED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS 
     AMENDED, AS SET FORTH IN EXHIBIT 2.1 (c)  TO THAT CERTAIN AGREEMENT 
     AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION DATED  JUNE 10, 1996, A COPY OF WHICH 
     MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE PRINCIPAL  OFFICE OF THE ISSUER SUCH LOCKUP 
     PERIOD IS BINDING ON  TRANSFEREES OF THESE SHARES.

6.  THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. Hambrecht & Quist LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated and Smith Barney Inc., as managing underwriters of the 
Offering, are hereby expressly made third party beneficiaries entitled to 
the benefits of this Underwriters' Market Stand-off.

                                          -2-
                                           
<PAGE>

                                           
                               HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP
                              (A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION)
                                           
                         OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL OF
                                 AGREEMENT OF MERGER
                                           

Daniel H. Case III and Steven N. Machtinger hereby certify that:

1.  They are the President and Secretary, respectively, of Hambrecht &
    Quist Group, a California corporation (the "Corporation").

2.  The Agreement of Merger to which this Certificate is attached (the "Merger
    Agreement") has been duly approved by the Board of Directors of the
    Corporation.

3.  Pursuant to Section 1201(b) of the California General Corporation Law,
    no approval of the outstanding shares of the Corporation is required.

4.  The required vote of the stockholders of Hambrecht & Quist Group, Inc., a
    Delaware corporation, the parent of the Corporation was obtained.


<PAGE>


    Each of the undersigned declares under penalty of perjury under the 
laws of the State of California that the matters set forth in this 
Certificate are true and correct of his own knowledge.

Executed at San Francisco, California on June _____, 1996.


                                     ______________________
                                     Daniel H. Case III,
                                     President


                                     ______________________
                                     Steven N. Machtinger,
                                     Secretary



<PAGE>

                                           
                         H & Q REORGANIZATION SUBSIDIARY, INC.
                              (A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION)
                                           
                         OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL OF
                                 AGREEMENT OF MERGER
                                           

Daniel H. Case III and Steven N. Machtinger hereby certify that:

1.  They are the President and Secretary, respectively, of H & Q
    Reorganization Subsidiary,  Inc.,  a California corporation (the
    "Corporation").

2.  The Agreement of Merger to which this Certificate is attached (the "Merger
    Agreement") has  been duly approved by the Board of Directors and
    Shareholders of the Corporation.

3.  The Corporation has one class of stock outstanding designated "Common
    Stock", of which  [1,000] shares were outstanding and entitled to vote on
    the merger.

4.  The principal terms of the Merger Agreement were approved by the
    Corporation by a vote of  a number of shares of each class which equaled
    or exceeded the vote required.  The vote  required was greater than 50%
    of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.

5.  The required vote of the stockholders of Hambrecht & Quist Group, Inc., a
    Delaware corporation, the parent of the Corporation was obtained.

<PAGE>






    Each of the undersigned declares under penalty of perjury under the 
laws of the State of California that the matters set forth in this 
Certificate are true and correct of his own knowledge.

Executed at San Francisco, California on June    , 1996.
                                             ----



                                        ________________________
                                        Daniel H. Case III,
                                        President



                                        ________________________
                                        Steven N. Machtinger,
                                        Secretary

<PAGE>

                                  Exhibit 1.1(b)(1)

           Agreement of Merger between LP and Hambrecht & Quist California

                                OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE
                            HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP, INC.


    I, Daniel H. Case III, the President of Hambrecht & Quist Group, Inc.,
pursuant to Section 102(a)(1) of the Delaware General Corporation Law and in
connection with the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
Hambrecht & Quist Group, Inc., attached hereto to be filed in connection with
the Agreement of Merger between this corporation and Hambrecht & Quist, L.P., a
California limited partnership, which will, among other things, change the name
of this corporation from "Hambrecht & Quist Group, Inc." to "Hambrecht & Quist
Group", I do hereby certify that Hambrecht & Quist Group, Inc. has total assets
in excess of 10 million dollars.

    Executed this_________ day of ________________ ,1996 at San Francisco,
California.


                                       By: ___________________________
                                           ---------------------------
                                             Daniel H. Case III, President

    Under penalty of perjury, this signature constitutes acknowledgement that
this instrument is the act and deed of Hambrecht & Quist Group, Inc., and that
the facts stated herein are true.

                                          By: ___________________________
                                              ---------------------------
                                             Daniel H. Case III, President
ATTEST:
________________________________
- --------------------------------
Steven N. Machtinger, Secretary


<PAGE>

                             CERTIFICATE OF THE SECRETARY
                                          OF
                            HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP, INC.,
                               a Delaware Corporation.



    I, Steven Machtinger, the Secretary of Hambrecht & Quist Group, Inc.,
hereby certify that the Agreement of Merger to which this certificate is
attached, after having been first duly signed on behalf of the corporation by
the President and Secretary of said corporation, was duly approved and adopted
by the written consent of stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding
stock entitled to vote thereon.

    Executed on this _________________ day of July, 1996.




                                       ---------------------------
                                           Steven N. Machtinger
                                           Secretary



<PAGE>

                                 AGREEMENT OF MERGER

                                       Merging

              HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P., A CALIFORNIA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                    with and into

                HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION

         (PURSUANT TO SECTION 263 OF THE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW OF DELAWARE)

    This AGREEMENT OF MERGER (the "Merger Agreement"), is made and entered into
as of June 10, 1996 by and between Hambrecht & Quist Group, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Hambrecht & Quist Group", the "Company" or the "Surviving
Corporation") and Hambrecht & Quist, L.P., a California limited partnership
("LP") (each, a "Party" together, the "Parties" or "Constituent Entities").


                                       RECITALS

    A.   Hambrecht & Quist Group, Hambrecht & Quist Group, a California
corporation ("Hambrecht & Quist California"), LP, and H & Q Reorganization
Subsidiary, Inc., a California corporation, have entered into that certain
Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated June 10, 1996 (the "Reorganization
Agreement"), providing, among other things, for the execution and filing of this
Merger Agreement and the merger of LP with and into Hambrecht & Quist Group upon
the terms set forth in the Reorganization Agreement and this Merger Agreement
(the "Merger").

    B.   The board of directors of Hambrecht & Quist Group deems it advisable
and in the best interests of its stockholders and Hambrecht & Quist California,
the General Partner of LP (the "General Partner"), deems it advisable and in the
best interests of LP and its partners that LP be merged with and into Hambrecht
& Quist Group.


                                      AGREEMENT

    NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants, promises and mutual
agreements contained in this Merger Agreement, the Constituent Entities hereby
agree that LP shall be merged with and into Hambrecht & Quist Group in
accordance with the Reorganization Agreement and the provisions of the laws of
the State of Delaware and the laws of the State of California, upon the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth as follows:


                                         -2-

<PAGE>

                                      ARTICLE I

                                      THE MERGER

      1.1     FILING.  This Merger Agreement shall be filed with the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware and a Certificate of Merger shall be filed
with the Secretary of State of the State of California at the time specified in
the Reorganization Agreement.

      1.2     EFFECTIVENESS.  The Merger shall become effective upon the filing
of this Merger Agreement with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
(the "Effective Time").

      1.3     MERGER.  At the Effective Time, LP shall be merged into Hambrecht
& Quist Group and the separate legal existence of LP shall thereupon cease.
Hambrecht & Quist Group will be the Surviving Corporation in the merger.

      1.4     FURTHER ACTION.  If at any time after the Effective Time any
further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this
Merger Agreement or to vest the Surviving Corporation with the full right, title
and possession to all assets, property, rights, privileges, immunities, powers
and franchises of either or both of the Constituent Entities, the officers and
directors of the Surviving Corporation are fully authorized (in the name of
either or both of the Constituent Entities or otherwise) to take all such
action.


                                      ARTICLE 2

                             CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS

      The Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation shall be
amended and restated in full as of the Effective Time as set forth in Exhibit A
attached hereto.

                                      ARTICLE 3

             MANNER OF CONVERTING SECURITIES OF THE CONSTITUENT ENTITIES

      3.1     EFFECT ON PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS.  As of the Effective Time of the
Merger, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of any
partner, limited or general, of LP:

      (a)     CANCELLATION OF GENERAL PARTNERSHIP INTEREST: CONVERSION OF
GENERAL PARTNERSHIP.  The General Partner shall cease to have any rights with
respect to its general partnership interest in LP except the right to receive
25,872 shares of Common Stock of the Company ("Group Common Stock") (the "LP
Merger General Partner Consideration Per Share").  All shares of Hambrecht &
Quist Group Common Stock received pursuant to this Section 3.1(a) ("LP Merger
General Partner Group Common Stock") shall be subject to the terms and
conditions on transfer of the "Underwriters' Market Stand-Off" set forth in
Exhibit B and each such share shall carry a legend describing the terms and
conditions on transfer as


                                         -3-

<PAGE>

described in the Underwriters' Market Stand-Off.  Any reference herein to LP
Merger General Partner Group Common Stock shall be deemed to refer to Group
Common Stock so restricted.

      (b)     CANCELLATION OF LP UNITS.  Each holder of a Class A limited
partnership Unit ("LP Unit") (as defined in that certain Agreement and Articles
of Limited Partnership by and among General Partner and the limited partners of
LP dated November 1, 1993, as amended), after the Effective Time of the Merger
shall cease to have any rights with respect to such LP Unit, except the right
either to receive the LP Merger Consideration Per Share, as defined in Section
3.1(c) below, plus any cash in lieu of fractional shares pursuant to Section
3.1(e) below, upon delivery of written notice of ownership and surrender of such
Units, or to exercise such holder's dissenters' rights as provided in Section
3.1(d) hereof and the California Revised Limited Partnership Act ("CRLPA").

      (c)     CONVERSION OF LP UNITS.  Each LP Unit outstanding prior to the
Effective Time of the LP Merger except Dissenting LP Units (as defined in
Section 3.1(d) below) shall automatically be canceled and extinguished and
converted, without any action on the part of the holder thereof, into the right
to receive twenty four (24) shares of Group Common Stock (the "LP Merger
Consideration Per Share").  All shares of Group Common Stock received pursuant
to this Section 3.1(c) ("LP Merger Group Common Stock") shall be subject to
terms and conditions on transfer of the Underwriters' Market Stand-Off and each
such share shall carry a legend describing the terms and conditions on transfer
as described in the Underwriters' Market Stand-Off.  Any reference herein to LP
Merger Group Common Stock shall be deemed to refer to Group Common Stock so
restricted. The ratio pursuant to which each LP Unit will be exchanged for
shares of Hambrecht & Quist Group, determined in accordance with the foregoing
provisions, is hereinafter referred to as the "LP Exchange Ratio."

      (d)     DISSENTERS' RIGHTS.  If, as of the Effective Time of the Merger,
holders of LP Units have properly exercised and not lost dissenters' rights
("Dissenting LP Units") in connection with the LP Merger under Article 7.6 of me
CRLPA, such Dissenting LP Units shall not be converted into LP Merger Group
Common Stock but shall be converted into the right to receive such consideration
as may be determined to be due with respect to such Dissenting LP Units pursuant
to the CRLPA.  LP shall give Hambrecht & Quist Group prompt notice of any demand
received by LP to require LP to purchase LP Units, and Hambrecht & Quist Group
shall have the right to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with
respect to such demand.  Each holder of Dissenting LP Units (a "Dissenting LP
Unitholder") who, pursuant to the provisions of the CRLPA, becomes entitled to
payment of the value of LP Units shall receive payment therefor (but only after
the value therefor shall have been agreed upon or finally determined pursuant to
such provisions).  In the event of a legal obligation, after the Effective Time
of the Merger, to deliver shares of LP Merger Group Common Stock to any holder
of LP Units who shall have failed to make an effective purchase demand or shall
have lost his status as a Dissenting LP Unitholder, Hambrecht & Quist Group
shall issue and deliver, upon delivery by such Dissenting LP Unitholder of a
written notice of the ownership and surrender of such LP Units, the shares of LP
Merger Group Common Stock to which such Dissenting LP Unitholder is then
entitled under this Section 3.1.

      (e)     FRACTIONAL SHARES.  No fractional shares of LP Merger Group
Common Stock shall be issued, but in lieu thereof each holder of LP Units who
would otherwise be entitled to receive a fraction of a share of L.P Merger Group
Common Stock shall receive from Hambrecht & Quist Group an amount of cash equal
to the price at which shares of Group Common Stock are offered to the public
pursuant to Hambrecht & Quist Group's initial public offering multiplied by the
fraction of a share of LP Merger Group Common Stock to which such holder would
otherwise be entitled.  The fractional interests of each


                                         -4-

<PAGE>

holder of LP Units shall be aggregated, so that no holder of LP Limited
Partnership Units shall receive cash in an amount greater than the value of one
(1) full share of LP Merger Group Common Stock.

      3.2     EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES; EXCHANGE OF INTERESTS.

      (a)     EXCHANGE AGENT.  Prior to the Closing Date, Hambrecht & Quist
Group shall appoint a third party to act as exchange agent (the "Exchange
Agent") in the Merger.

      (b)     HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP TO PROVIDE COMMON STOCK AND CASH.
Promptly after the earlier of (i) the Effective Date of the California Merger as
defined in the Reorganization Agreement and (ii) the Effective Date of the LP
Merger (but in no event later than thirty (30) business days thereafter),
Hambrecht & Quist Group shall make available for exchange in accordance with
this Article 3, through such reasonable procedures as Hambrecht & Quist Group
may adopt, the LP Merger Group Common Stock issuable pursuant to Section 3.1 in
exchange for LP Units, and the LP Merger General Partner Group Common Stock
issuable pursuant to Section 3.1 in exchange for the general partnership
interest in LP, and cash in an amount sufficient to satisfy any obligations with
respect to fractional shares pursuant to Section 3.1(e).

      (c)     EXCHANGE PROCEDURES FOR LP GENERAL PARTNER.  Within thirty (30)
calendar days after the Effective Time of the LP Merger, the Exchange Agent
shall deliver to the General Partner, whose interest is being converted into LP
Merger General Partner Group Common Stock pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof
certificates representing the total number of LP Merger General Partner Group
Common Stock to which the holder of such general partnership interest is
entitled pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof. The general partnership interest shall
forthwith be canceled.  Until the shares are delivered as contemplated by this
Section 3.2, the general partnership interest in LP shall be deemed at all times
after the Effective Time of the Merger to represent the right to receive the
number of shares of LP Merger General Partner Group Common Stock as provided by
this Article 3 and the provisions of the CRLPA but shall have no other right.

      (d)     EXCHANGE PROCEDURES FOR LP UNITS. Within thirty (30) calendar
days after the Effective Time of the Merger, the Exchange Agent shall mail to
each holder of record of LP Units immediately prior to the Effective Time of the
Merger whose interests are being converted into LP Merger Group Common Stock
pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof (i) a letter of transmittal and (ii) instructions
for use in effecting the surrender of the LP Units in exchange for LP Merger
Group Common Stock.  Upon delivery of a written notice of ownership and
surrender of LP Units to the Exchange Agent or to such other agent or agents as
may be appointed by Hambrecht & Quist Group, together with such letter of
transmittal, duly executed and completed in accordance with the instructions
thereto, the holder of any such LP Units shall be entitled to receive in
exchange therefor the number of shares of LP Merger Group Common Stock, and cash
in lieu of any fractional LP Units, to which the holder of such LP Units is
entitled pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof The LP Unit so surrendered shall
forthwith be canceled.  In the event of a transfer of ownership of an LP Unit
that is not registered on the transfer records of LP, the appropriate number of
shares of LP Merger Group Common Stock may be delivered to a transferee if
written notice of the ownership and surrender of the LP Unit is presented to the
Exchange Agent and accompanied by all documents required to evidence and effect
such transfer and to evidence that any applicable transfer taxes have been paid.
Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 3.2, each LP Unit shall be
deemed at


                                         -5-

<PAGE>

all times after the Effective Time of the Merger to represent the right to
receive upon written notice of such surrender the number of shares of LP Merger
Group Common Stock, and cash in lieu of any fractional LP Units, as provided by
this Article 3 and the provisions of the CRLPA but shall, subject to Section
3.1(d), have no other right, provided that nothing in this Section 3.2(d) shall
require Hambrecht & Quist Group to exchange LP Merger Group Common Stock to any
holder of LP Units who shall fail to deliver a written notice of the surrender
of such LP Units.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Exchange Agent nor
any Party hereto shall be liable to a holder of shares of LP Units for any LP
Merger Group Common Stock delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable
abandoned property, escheat and similar laws.  Promptly following the date that
is six (6) months after the Effective Time, the Exchange Agent shall return to
the Hambrecht & Quist Group all shares of LP Merger Group Common Stock in its
possession relating to the transactions described in this Agreement, and the
Exchange Agent's duties shall terminate.  Thereafter, each holder of an LP Unit
may deliver written notice of the surrender of such Unit to Hambrecht & Quist
Group and (subject to applicable abandoned property, escheat and similar laws)
receive in exchange therefor the shares of LP Merger Group Common Stock to which
such holder is entitled pursuant hereto.

      (e)     NO FURTHER OWNERSHIP RIGHTS IN GENERAL PARTNERSHIP INTEREST IN
LP.  LP Merger General Partner Group Common Stock delivered in exchange for the
general partnership interest of LP in accordance with the terms hereof shall be
deemed to have been delivered in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to
such general partnership interest in LP.

      (f)     NO FURTHER OWNERSHIP RIGHTS IN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP UNITS OF LP.
LP Merger Group Common Stock delivered upon the delivery of written notice of
surrender of LP Units in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to
have been delivered in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such LP
Units.  If, after the Effective Time of the LP Merger, written notice of
surrender of outstanding LP Units is given to Hambrecht & Quist Group, such LP
Units shall be canceled and exchanged as provided in this Article 3.


                                      ARTICLE 4

                              TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT


      4.1     TERMINATION.  Notwithstanding the approval of this Merger
Agreement by the limited partners of LP and stockholders of Hambrecht & Quist
Group, this Merger Agreement shall terminate forthwith in the event that the
Reorganization Agreement shall be terminated as therein provided.

      4.2     AMENDMENT.  This Merger Agreement may be amended by the parties
hereto at any time before or after approval hereof by the limited partners of LP
or the stockholders Hambrecht & Quist California, but, after any such approval,
no amendment shall be made without the further approval of such shareholders if
such amendment would (i) have a material adverse effect on the limited partners
of either LP or stockholders of Hambrecht & Quist Group, (ii) change any of the
principal terms of the Merger Agreement.  This Merger Agreement may not be
amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the
parties hereto.


                                         -6-

<PAGE>

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


Hambrecht & Quist Group,               H & Q Reorganization Subsidiary, Inc.,
a California corporation               a California corporation


By:                                     By:
   ---------------------------------       -----------------------------------
      Daniel H. Case III                    Daniel H. Case, III
      President and Chief Executive         President and Chief Executive
      Officer                               Officer


By:                                     By:
   ---------------------------------       -----------------------------------
      Steven N. Machtinger,                        Steven N. Machtinger,
      Secretary                             Secretary




      Under penalty of perjury, this signature constitutes the acknowledgment
that this instrument is the act and deed of Hambrecht & Quist Group, Inc., and
that the facts stated herein are true.

                                       By:
                                          ----------------------------------
                                            Daniel H. Case, III
                                            President and Chief Executive
                                            Officer


ATTEST:

- -----------------------------------
      Steven N. Machtinger,
      Secretary


                                         -7-

<PAGE>

                                      EXHIBIT A

                  AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

                                          OF

                            HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP, INC.

      ONE.      The name of this corporation is Hambrecht & Quist Group.

      TWO.      The address of the corporation's registered office in the State
of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New
Castle, Delaware 19801.  The name of its registered agent at such address is The
Corporation Trust Company.

      THREE.    The purpose of the corporation is to engage in any lawful act
or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General
Corporation Law of Delaware.

      FOUR.     (a)     CLASSES OF STOCK AUTHORIZED.  The corporation is
authorized to issue two classes of stock to be designated, respectively, "Common
Stock" and "Preferred Stock." The total number of shares of Common Stock that
the corporation is authorized to issue is 100,000,000, with a par value of $0.01
per share.  The total number of shares of Preferred Stock that the corporation
is authorized to issue is 5,000,000 with a par value of $0.01 per share.  The
shares of Common Stock may be issued from time to time for such consideration as
the board of directors may determine.

                (b)     DESIGNATION OF FUTURE SERIES OF PREFERRED STOCK.  The 
Board of Directors is authorized, subject to any limitations prescribed by 
the law of the State of Delaware, to provide in a resolution or resolutions 
for the issuance of the shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, and, 
by filing a Certificate of Designation pursuant to the applicable law of the 
State of Delaware, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be 
included in each such series, to fix the designation, powers, preferences and 
rights of the shares of each such series and any qualifications, limitations 
or restrictions thereof, and to increase or decrease the number of shares of 
any such series (but not below the number of shares of such series then 
outstanding).  The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be 
increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then 
outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the 
Stock of the Company entitled to a vote, unless a vote of any other holders 
is required pursuant to a Certificate of Designation establishing a series of 
Preferred Stock.

                (c)     VOTING RIGHTS OF COMMON STOCK.  Each holder of shares
of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock
held of record on all matters on which the holders of Common Stock are entitled
to vote.


<PAGE>

      FIVE.     In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by
statute, the board of directors of the corporation is expressly authorized to
adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the corporation.

      SIX.      Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the
Bylaws of the corporation shall so provide.

      SEVEN.    (a)     LIMITATION OF DIRECTOR'S LIABILITY. To the fullest
extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware as the same exists
or as may hereafter be amended, a director of the corporation shall not be
personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages
for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

                (b)     INDEMNIFICATION OF CORPORATE AGENTS.  The corporation
shall indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by law any person made or
threatened to be made a party to an action or proceeding, whether criminal,
civil, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he, his
testator or intestate is or was a director, officer or employee of the
corporation or any predecessor of the corporation or serves or served at any
other enterprise as a director, officer or employee at the request of the
corporation or any predecessor to the corporation.

                (c)     REPEAL OR MODIFICATION.  Neither any amendment or
repeal of this Article Seven, nor the adoption of any provision of this
corporation's Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article Seven,
shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article Seven, in respect of any
matter occurring, or any action or proceeding accruing or arising or that, but
for this Article Seven, would accrue or arise, prior to such amendment, repeal
or adoption of an inconsistent provision.


                                         -2-

<PAGE>

                                      EXHIBIT B


                            UNDERWRITERS' MARKET STAND-OFF

            In addition to other applicable restrictions, all shares of Common
Stock (i) issued by Hambrecht & Quist Group in connection with the Mergers or
(ii) issuable upon the exercise of options or other rights to acquire such
shares assumed by Hambrecht & Quist Group in connection with the Mergers
(together, the "Merger Shares") shall be issued subject to the resale
restrictions set forth in this Exhibit.  All capitalized terms and entity names
used in this Exhibit and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed
to them in the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated June 10, 1996 to which
this Exhibit is attached.

1.    EIGHTEEN MONTH LOCKUP.  For a period of eighteen (18) months after the
date (the "Trade Date") of the initial public offering (the "Offering") of
Hambrecht & Quist Group Common Stock ("Common Stock"), no person holding Merger
Shares or having the right to obtain Merger Shares as described in clause (ii)
of the preceding paragraph (each such person, a "Holder") shall, directly or
indirectly, sell, offer, contract to sell, transfer the economic risk of
ownership in, make any short sale, pledge or otherwise dispose of any Merger
Shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for
Merger Shares, without the prior written consent of each of (i) Hambrecht &
Quist Group, (ii) Hambrecht & Quist LLC and (iii) Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated.

2.    EXCEPTION FOR SHARES ACQUIRED AFTER OFFERING.  The foregoing restrictions
shall not apply to securities of Hambrecht & Quist Group acquired after the
Trade Date except to the extent that such securities are acquired pursuant to
the exercise, conversion, or exchange of securities of Hambrecht & Quist Group
held immediately prior to the Trade Date.

3.    SCHEDULED PARTIAL RELEASES.  Notwithstanding the restrictions set forth
in Section 1, a portion of the Merger Shares held by each Holder shall be
released from such restrictions as follows:

      (a)   FIRST RELEASE.  On the date six months following the Trade Date, a
number of Merger Shares equal to the greater of (i) 10,000 or (ii) five percent
(5%) of the outstanding Common Stock owned directly by such Holder immediately
prior to the record date relating to the votes of securityholders with respect
to the Mergers, (the "Owned Shares") shall be permanently released from the
restrictions of Section 1.

      (b)   SECOND RELEASE.  On the date twelve months following the Trade
Date, an additional number of Merger Shares equal to the greater of (i) 10,000
or (ii) five percent (5%) of the Owned Shares shall be permanently released from
the restrictions of Section 1.

      (c)   AGGREGATION WITH TRANSFEREES.  In the event that a Holder transfers
Merger Shares to a permitted transferee pursuant to Section 4, below, the number
of Merger Shares to be released from the restrictions of Section 1 under this
Section 3 shall be calculated without regard to such transfers and the
particular Merger Shares held or transferred by the transferring Holder (the
"Transfer Merger Shares") to be released shall be allocated among the Holder and
all such transferees (and transferees of such


<PAGE>

transferees, if any) of such Holder pro rata in proportion to the number of
Transfer Merger Shares held by each of them.

4.    CERTAIN PERMITTED TRANSFERS.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if the
Holder is an individual, he or she may transfer any shares of Merger Shares or
securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for the Merger Shares
either during his or her lifetime or on death by will or intestacy to his or her
immediate family or to a trust the beneficiaries of which are exclusively the
Holder and/or a member or members of his or her immediate family, (ii) if the
Holder is a partnership, it may transfer any shares of Merger Shares or
securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for the Merger Shares
to is constituent partners, retired partners or the estates of constituent
partners or retired partners (including partners which are corporations and
which may transfer such securities to their respective shareholders) or (iii) if
the Holder is a limited liability company, it may transfer any shares of Merger
Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for the
Merger Shares to its members (including members which are corporations and which
may transfer such securities to their respective shareholders); PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that prior to any such transfer each transferee (including shareholders
of corporate transferees to whom such shares are subsequently transferred) shall
execute an agreement, satisfactory to Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated,
pursuant to which each transferee shall agree to receive and hold such shares of
Merger Shares, or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for
the Merger Shares, subject to the provisions hereof, and there shall be no
further transfer except in accordance with the provisions hereof, For the
purposes of this paragraph "immediate family" shall mean spouse, lineal
descendant, father, mother, brother or sister of the transferor.

5.    BINDING ON SUCCESSORS: STOP TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS: LEGEND.  The
restrictions contained herein shall be binding upon the Holder's heirs, legal
representatives, successors and assigns.  Hambrecht & Quist Group shall issue
stop transfer instructions to its transfer agent against the transfer of Merger
Shares except in compliance with the terms of this Exhibit.  Each certificate
evidencing Merger Shares shall be imprinted with a legend substantially as
follows:

      THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A LOCKUP PERIOD
      OF EIGHTEEN MONTHS FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE ISSUERS COMMON
      STOCK PURSUANT TO THE FIRST REGISTRATION STATEMENT OF THE ISSUER FILED
      UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AS SET FORTH IN EXHIBIT
      2.1(c) TO THAT CERTAIN AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION DATED JUNE
      10, 1996, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE
      ISSUER.  SUCH LOCKUP PERIOD IS BINDING ON TRANSFEREES OF THESE SHARES.

6.    THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES.  Hambrecht & Quist LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated and Smith Barney Inc., as managing underwriters of the Offering,
are hereby expressly made third party beneficiaries entitled to the benefits of
this Underwriters' Market Stand-off.


                                         -2-
<PAGE>

                                  Exhibit 1.1(b)(2)

                                        Form 9

                                 State of California

                                  Secretary of State

                                CERTIFICATE OF MERGER



                              [Preprinted Form Omitted]



    Box 1:    Hambrect & Quist Group, Inc.

    Box 3:    One Bush Street
              San Francisco, CA  94104

    Box 4:    Deleware

    Box 5:    Hambrecht & Quist, L.P.

    Box 7:    CA

    Box 8:    July 1996

    Box 9:    Hambrecht & Quist, L.P.            50%

    Box 12:   Hambrect & Quist Group, Inc.       Hambrecht & Quist, L.P.




1993-3 SUPPLEMENT
<PAGE>

                                    Exhibit 1.4(a)

                    AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

                                          OF

                               HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP


    ONE.      The name of this corporation is Hambrecht & Quist California,
Inc.

    TWO.      The purpose of this corporation is to engage in any lawful act or
activity for which a corporation may be organized under the General Corporation
Law of California other than the banking business, the trust company business or
the practice of a profession permitted to be incorporated by the California
Corporations Code.

    THREE.    This corporation is authorized to issue only one class of stock,
designated "Common Stock," and the total number of shares which this corporation
is authorized to issue is ten thousand (10,000).

    FOUR.     (a) The liability of the directors of the corporation for
monetary damages shall be eliminated to the fullest extent permissible under
California law.

              (b)  The corporation is authorized to provide indemnification of
agents (as defined in Section 317 of the California Corporations Code) through
bylaw provisions, agreements with the agents, vote of shareholders or
disinterested directors, or otherwise, in excess of the indemnification
otherwise permitted by Section 317 of the limits set forth in Section 204 of the
California Corporations Code with respect to actions for breach of duty to the
corporation or its shareholders.  The corporation is further authorized to
provide insurance for agents as set forth in Section 317 of the California
Corporations Code, provided that, in cases where the corporation owns all or a
portion of the shares of the company issuing the insurance policy, the company
and/or the policy must meet one of the two sets of conditions set forth in
Section 317, as amended.

              (c)  Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of
this Article Four by the shareholders of this corporation shall not adversely
affect any right or protection of an agent of this corporation existing at the
time of such repeal or modification.
<PAGE>

                                    Exhibit 1.4(b)

                  AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

                                          OF

                            HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP, INC.


    ONE.      The name of this corporation is Hambrecht & Quist Group.

    TWO.      The address of the corporation's registered office in the State
of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New
Castle, Delaware 19801.  The name of its registered agent at such address is The
Corporation Trust Company.

    THREE.    The purpose of the corporation is to engage in any lawful act or
activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation
Law of Delaware.

    FOUR.     (a) CLASSES OF STOCK AUTHORIZED.  The corporation is authorized
to issue two classes of stock to be designated, respectively, "Common Stock" and
"Preferred Stock." The total number of shares of Common Stock that the
corporation is authorized to issue is 100,000,000, with a par value of $0.01 per
share.  The total number of shares of Preferred Stock that the corporation is
authorized to issue is 5,000,000 with a par value of $0.01 per share.  The
shares of Common Stock may be issued from time to time for such consideration as
the board of directors may determine.

              (b)  DESIGNATION OF FUTURE SERIES OF PREFERRED STOCK.  The Board
of Directors is authorized, subject to any limitations prescribed by the law of
the State of Delaware), to provide in a resolution or resolutions for the
issuance of the shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, and, by filing
a Certificate of Designation pursuant to the applicable law of the State of
Delaware, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in
each such series, to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the
shares of each such series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions
thereof, and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any such series
(but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding).  The
number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased
(but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative
vote of the holders of a majority of the Stock of the Company entitled to a
vote, unless a vote of any other holders is required pursuant to a Certificate
of Designation establishing a series of Preferred Stock.

              (c)  VOTING RIGHTS OF COMMON.  Each holder of shares of Common
Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held of
record on all matters on which the holders of Common Stock are entitled to vote.


    FIVE.     In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by
statute, the board of directors of the corporation is expressly authorized to
adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the corporation.

<PAGE>

    SIX.      Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the
Bylaws of the corporation shall so provide.

    SEVEN.    (a) LIMITATION OF DIRECTOR'S LIABILITY.  To the fullest extent
permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware as the same exists or as
may hereafter be amended, a director of the corporation shall not be personally
liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of
fiduciary duty as a director.

              (b) INDEMNIFICATION OF CORPORATE AGENTS.  The corporation shall
indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by law any person made or threatened
to be made a party to an action or proceeding, whether criminal, civil,
administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he, his testator or
intestate is or was a director, officer or employee of the corporation or any
predecessor of the corporation or serves or served at any other enterprise as a
director, officer or employee at the request of the corporation or any
predecessor to the corporation.

              (c) REPEAL OR MODIFICATION.  Neither any amendment or repeal of
this Article Seven, nor the adoption of any provision of this corporation's
Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article Seven, shall
eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article Seven, in respect of any matter
occurring, or any action or proceeding accruing or arising or that, but for this
Article Seven, would accrue or arise, prior to such amendment, repeal or
adoption of an inconsistent provision.


                                         -2-
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT 2.1(c)

                            UNDERWRITERS' MARKET STAND-OFF

    In addition to other applicable restrictions, all shares of Common Stock
(i) issued by Hambrecht & Quist Group in connection with the Mergers or (ii)
issuable upon the exercise of options or other rights to acquire such shares
assumed by Hambrecht & Quist Group in connection with the Mergers (together, the
"Merger Shares") shall be issued subject to the resale restrictions set forth in
this Exhibit.  All capitalized terms and entity names used in this Exhibit and
not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement
and Plan of Reorganization dated June 10, 1996 to which this Exhibit is
attached.

1.  EIGHTEEN MONTH LOCKUP.  For a period of eighteen (18) months after the date
(the "Trade Date") of the initial public offering (the "Offering") of Hambrecht
& Quist Group Common Stock ("Common Stock"), no person holding Merger Shares or
having the right to obtain Merger Shares as described in clause (ii) of the
preceding paragraph (each such person, a "Holder") shall, directly or
indirectly, sell, offer, contract to sell, transfer the economic risk of
ownership in, make any short sale, pledge or otherwise dispose of any Merger
Shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for
Merger Shares, without the prior written consent of each of (i) Hambrecht &
Quist Group, (ii) Hambrecht & Quist LLC and (iii) Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated.

2.  EXCEPTION FOR SHARES ACQUIRED AFTER OFFERING.  The foregoing restrictions
shall not apply to securities of Hambrecht & Quist Group acquired after the
Trade Date except to the extent that such securities are acquired pursuant to
the exercise, conversion, or exchange of securities of Hambrecht & Quist Group
held immediately prior to the Trade Date.

3.  SCHEDULED PARTIAL RELEASES.  Notwithstanding the restrictions set forth in
Section 1, a portion of the Merger Shares held by each Holder shall be released
from such restrictions as follows:

    (a)  FIRST RELEASE.  On the date six months following the Trade Date, a
number of Merger Shares equal to the greater of (i) 10,000 or (ii) five percent
(5%) of the outstanding Common Stock owned directly by such Holder immediately
prior to the record date relating to the votes of securityholders with respect
to the Mergers, (the "Owned Shares") shall be permanently released from the
restrictions of Section 1.

    (b)  SECOND RELEASE.  On the date twelve months following the Trade Date,
an additional number of Merger Shares equal to the greater of (i) 10,000 or (ii)
five percent (5%) of the Owned Shares shall be permanently released from the
restrictions of Section 1.

    (c)  AGGREGATION WITH TRANSFEREES.  In the event that a Holder transfers
Merger Shares to a permitted transferee pursuant to Section 4, below, the number
of Merger Shares to be released from the restrictions of Section 1 under this
Section 3 shall be calculated without regard to such transfers and the
particular Merger Shares held or transferred by the transferring Holder (the
"Transfer Merger Shares") to be released shall be allocated among the Holder and
all such transferees (and transferees of

<PAGE>

such transferees, if any) of such Holder pro rata in proportion to the number of
Transfer Merger Shares held by each of them.

4.  CERTAIN PERMITTED TRANSFERS.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if the
Holder is an individual, he or she may transfer any shares of Merger Shares or
securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for the Merger Shares
either during his or her lifetime or on death by will or intestacy to his or her
immediate family or to a trust the beneficiaries of which are exclusively the
Holder and/or a member or members of his or her immediate family, (ii) if the
Holder is a partnership, it may transfer any shares of Merger Shares or
securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for the Merger Shares
to its constituent partners, retired partners or the estates of constituent
partners or retired partners (including partners which are corporations and
which may transfer such securities to their respective shareholders) or (iii) if
the Holder is a limited liability company, it may transfer any shares of Merger
Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for the
Merger Shares to its members (including members which are corporations and which
may transfer such securities to their respective shareholders); PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that prior to any such transfer each transferee (including shareholders
of corporate transferees to whom such shares are subsequently transferred) shall
execute an agreement, satisfactory to Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated,
pursuant to which each transferee shall agree to receive and hold such shares of
Merger Shares, or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for
the Merger Shares, subject to the provisions hereof, and there shall be no
further transfer except in accordance with the provisions hereof.  For the
purposes of this paragraph, "immediate family" shall mean spouse, lineal
descendant, father, mother, brother or sister of the transferor.

5.  BINDING ON SUCCESSORS: STOP TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS: LEGEND.  The
restrictions contained herein shall be binding upon the Holder's heirs, legal
representatives, successors and assigns.  Hambrecht & (Quist Group shall issue
stop transfer instructions to its transfer agent against the transfer of Merger
Shares except in compliance with the terms of this Exhibit.  Each certificate
evidencing Merger Shares shall be imprinted with a legend substantially as
follows:

    TRUE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A LOCKUP PERIOD
    OF EIGHTEEN MONTHS FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE ISSUERS COMMON
    STOCK PURSUANT TO THE FIRST REGISTRATION STATEMENT OF THE ISSUER FILED
    UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AS SET FORTH IN EXHIBIT
    2.1(c) TO THAT CERTAIN AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION DATED JUNE 10,
    1996, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE
    ISSUER.  SUCH LOCKUP PERIOD IS BINDING ON TRANSFEREES OF THESE SHARES.

6.  THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES.  Hambrecht & Quist LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated and Smith Barney Inc., as managing underwriters of the Offering,
are hereby expressly made third party beneficiaries entitled to the benefits of
this Underwriters' Market Stand-off.

<PAGE>


                               STATE OF DELAWARE                          PAGE 1
                           OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE

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

    I, EDWARD J. FREEL, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, DO HEREBY
CERTIFY "HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP, INC." IS DULY INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF
THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND IS IN GOOD STANDING AND HAS A LEGAL CORPORATE
EXISTENCE SO FAR AS THE RECORDS OF THIS OFFICE SHOW, AS OF THE SIXTH DAY OF
JUNE, A.D. 1996.

    AND I DO HEREBY FURTHER CERTIFY THAT THE FRANCHISE TAXES HAVE NOT BEEN
ASSESSED TO DATE.



[SEAL]                                 /s/ Edward J. Freel
                                       ----------------------------------
                                       EDWARD J. FREEL, SECRETARY OF STATE

                                       AUTHENTICATION:
2631045    8300                                                   7975943
                                                 DATE:

960165245                                                         06-06-96


<PAGE>

                               STATE OF DELAWARE                          PAGE 1

                           OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE

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

    I, EDWARD J. FREEL, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, DO HEREBY
CERTIFY THE ATTACHED IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION OF "HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP, INC.", FILED IN THIS OFFICE ON THE
SIXTH DAY OF JUNE, A.D. 1996, AT 9 O'CLOCK A.M.

    A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS CERTIFICATE HAS BEEN FORWARDED TO THE NEW CASTLE
COUNTY RECORDER OF DEEDS FOR RECORDING.



[SEAL]                                 /s/ Edward J. Freel
                                       ----------------------------------
                                       EDWARD J. FREEL, SECRETARY OF STATE

                                       AUTHENTICATION:
2631045    8100                                                   7975875
                                                 DATE:

960164833                                                         06-06-96


<PAGE>

                             CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                          OF
                            HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP, INC.


     ONE.            The name of this corporation is Hambrecht & Quist Group,
Inc.

     TWO.            The address of the corporation's registered office in the
State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of
New Castle, Delaware 19801.  The name of its registered agent at such address is
The Corporation Trust Company.

     THREE.          The purpose of the corporation is to engage in any lawful
act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General
Corporation Law of Delaware.

     FOUR.           (a)   CLASSES OF STOCK AUTHORIZED.  The corporation is
authorized to issue two classes of stock to be designated, respectively, "Common
Stock" and "Preferred Stock." The total number of shares of Common Stock that
the corporation is authorized to issue is 100,000,000, with a par value of $0.01
per share.  The total number of shares of Preferred Stock that the corporation
is authorized to issue is 5,000,000 with a par value of $0.01 per share.  The
shares of Common Stock may be issued from time to time for such consideration as
the board of directors may determine.

                     (b)   DESIGNATION OF FUTURE SERIES OF PREFERRED STOCK.
The Board of Directors is authorized, subject to any limitations prescribed by
the law of the State of Delaware, to provide in a resolution or resolutions for
the issuance of the shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, and, by
filing a Certificate of Designation pursuant to the applicable law of the State
of Delaware, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included
in each such series, to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of
the shares of each such series and any qualifications, limitations or
restrictions thereof, and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any
such series (but not below the number of shares of such series then
outstanding).  The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be
increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then
outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Stock
of the Company entitled to a vote, unless a vote of any other holders is
required pursuant to a Certificate of Designation establishing a series of
Preferred Stock.

                     (c)   VOTING RIGHTS OF COMMON STOCK.  Each holder of
shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Common
Stock held of record on all matters on which the holders of Common Stock are
entitled to vote.


<PAGE>

     FIVE.           The name and mailing address of the incorporator are as
follows:

                           Francis S. Currie
                           c/o Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.
                           650 Page Mill Road
                           Palo Alto, CA 94304-1050

     SIX.            In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers
conferred by statute, the board of directors of the corporation is expressly
authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the corporation.

     SEVEN.          Elections of directors need not be by written ballot
unless the Bylaws of the corporation shall so provide.

     EIGHT.          (a)   LIMITATION OF DIRECTOR'S LIABILITY.  To the fullest
extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware as the same exists
or as may hereafter be amended, a director of the corporation shall not be
personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages
for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

                     (b)   INDEMNIFICATION OF CORPORATE AGENTS.  The
Corporation shall indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by law any person
made or threatened to be made a party to an action or proceeding, whether
criminal, civil, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that
he, his testator or intestate is or was a director, officer or employee of the
corporation or any predecessor of the corporation or serves or served at any
other enterprise as a director, officer or employee at the request of the
corporation or any predecessor to the corporation.

                     (c)   REPEAL OR MODIFICATION.  Neither any amendment or
repeal of this Article Eight, nor the adoption of any provision of this
corporation's Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article Eight,
shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article Eight, in respect of any
matter occurring, or any action or proceeding accruing or arising or that, but
for this Article Eight, would accrue or arise, prior to such amendment, repeal
or adoption of an inconsistent provision.


     THE UNDERSIGNED, for the purpose of forming a corporation under the laws
of the State of Delaware, does make this Certificate, hereby declaring and
certifying that the facts herein stated are true, and accordingly has hereunto
set his hand this 3rd day of June, 1996.


                                       /s/ Francis S. Currie
                                       --------------------------------------
                                       Francis S. Currie, Incorporator



                                         -2-

<PAGE>


                                        BYLAWS

                                          OF

                            HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP, INC.

<PAGE>

                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                      PAGE
                                                                      ----

ARTICLE I - CORPORATE OFFICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1

    1.1  REGISTERED OFFICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
    1.2  OTHER OFFICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1

ARTICLE II - MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1

    2.1  PLACE OF MEETINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
    2.2  ANNUAL MEETING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
    2.3  SPECIAL MEETING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
    2.4  NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
    2.5  MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE. . . . . . . . .   3
    2.6  QUORUM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
    2.7  ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
    2.8  VOTING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
    2.9  WAIVER OF NOTICE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
    2.10 STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT
         A MEETING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
    2.11 RECORD DATE FOR STOCKHOLDER NOTICE; VOTING;
         GIVING CONSENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
    2.12 PROXIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
    2.13 LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE . . . . . . . . . . . .   7

ARTICLE III - DIRECTORS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8

    3.1  POWERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
    3.2  NUMBER OF DIRECTORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
    3.3  ELECTION, QUALIFICATION AND TERM OF OFFICE
         OF DIRECTORS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
    3.4  RESIGNATION AND VACANCIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
    3.5  PLACE OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE. . . . . . . . . . .  10
    3.6  FIRST MEETINGS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
    3.7  REGULAR MEETINGS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
    3.8  SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
    3.9  QUORUM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
    3.10 WAIVER OF NOTICE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
    3.11 ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
    3.12 BOARD ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING . . . . . .  12
    3.13 FEES AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
    3.14 APPROVAL OF LOANS TO OFFICERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
    3.15 REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13


                                         -i-

<PAGE>

                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                     (continued)

                                                                      PAGE
                                                                      ----

ARTICLE IV - COMMITTEES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14

    4.1  COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
    4.2  COMMITTEE MINUTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
    4.3  MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15

ARTICLE V - OFFICERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15

    5.1  OFFICERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
    5.2  ELECTION OF OFFICERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
    5.3  SUBORDINATE OFFICERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
    5.4  REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
    5.5  VACANCIES IN OFFICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
    5.6  CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
    5.7  PRESIDENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
    5.8  VICE PRESIDENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
    5.9  SECRETARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
    5.10 TREASURER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
    5.11 ASSISTANT SECRETARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
    5.12 ASSISTANT TREASURER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
    5.13 AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19

ARTICLE VI - INDEMNITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19

    6.1  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS . . . . . . . . . .  19
    6.2  INDEMNIFICATION OF OTHERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
    6.3  INSURANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20

ARTICLE VII - RECORDS AND REPORTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20

    7.1  MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF RECORDS . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
    7.2  INSPECTION BY DIRECTORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
    7.3  ANNUAL STATEMENT TO STOCKHOLDERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
    7.4  REPRESENTATION OF SHARES OF OTHER CORPORATIONS. . . . . . . .  22

ARTICLE VIII - GENERAL MATTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22

    8.1  CHECKS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
    8.2  EXECUTION OF CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS. . . . . . .  22
    8.3  STOCK CERTIFICATES; PARTLY PAID SHARES. . . . . . . . . . . .  22
    8.4  SPECIAL DESIGNATION ON CERTIFICATES . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
    8.5  LOST CERTIFICATES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24


                                         -ii-

<PAGE>

                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                     (continued)

                                                                      PAGE
                                                                      ----

    8.6  CONSTRUCTION; DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
    8.7  DIVIDENDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
    8.8  FISCAL YEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
    8.9  SEAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
    8.10 TRANSFER OF STOCK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
    8.11 STOCK TRANSFER AGREEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
    8.12 REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25

ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26

ARTICLE X - DISSOLUTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26

ARTICLE XI - CUSTODIAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27

    11.1 APPOINTMENT OF A CUSTODIAN IN CERTAIN CASES . . . . . . . . .  27
    11.2 DUTIES OF CUSTODIAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27


                                        -iii-

<PAGE>

                                        BYLAWS

                                          OF

                            HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP, INC.



                                      ARTICLE I

                                  CORPORATE OFFICES


         1.1  REGISTERED OFFICE

    The registered office of the corporation shall be in the City of
Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware.  The name of the registered
agent of the corporation at such location is CT CORPORATION SYSTEM.

         1.2  OTHER OFFICES

    The board of directors may at any time establish other offices at any place
or places where the corporation is qualified to do business.


                                      ARTICLE II

                               MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

         2.1  PLACE OF MEETINGS

    Meetings of stockholders shall be held at any place, within or outside the
State of Delaware, designated by the board of directors or by the written
consent of all of the persons entitled to vote at such meeting, such written
consent shall be filed with the Secretary of the Corporation.  In the absence of
any such designation, stockholders' meetings shall be held at the registered
office of the corporation.

         2.2  ANNUAL MEETING

    The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held each year on a date and at
a time designated by the board of directors.  In the absence of such
designation, the annual meeting of stockholders shall be held on any date and
time which may from time to time be designated.  However, if such day falls on a
legal holiday, then the meeting shall be held at the same time and place on the
next

<PAGE>

succeeding full business day.  At the meeting, directors shall be elected and
any other proper business may be transacted.

         2.3  SPECIAL MEETING

              (a)   Special meetings of the shareholders, for any purpose or
purposes, may be called by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the board of
Directors, the President, or the holders of shares entitled to cast not less
than ten percent (10%) of the votes at the meeting.

              (b)  Upon written request to the Chairman of the Board of
Directors, the President, any Vice President or the Secretary of the corporation
by any person or persons (other than the Board of Directors) entitled to call a
special meeting of the shareholders, such officer forthwith shall cause notice
to be given to the shareholders entitled to vote, that a meeting will be held at
a time requested by the person or persons calling the meeting, such time to be
not less than thirty-five (35) nor more than sixty (60) days after receipt of
such request.  If such notice is not given within twenty (20) days after receipt
of such request, the person or persons calling the meeting may be given notice
thereof in the manner provided by law or in these Bylaws.  Nothing contained in
this Section 7 shall be construed as limiting, fixing or affecting the time or
date when a meeting of shareholders called by action of the Board of Directors
may be held.

    2.4  NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS

    Except as otherwise may be required by law and subject to subsection 2.3(b)
above, written notice of each meeting of shareholders shall be given to each
shareholder entitled to vote at that meeting (see Section 2.8 below), by the
secretary, Assistant Secretary or other person charged with that duty, not less
than ten (10) (or, if sent by third class mail, thirty (30)) nor more than sixty
(60) days before such meeting.

    Notice of any meeting of shareholders shall state the date, place and hour
of the meeting and,

         (a) in the case of a special meeting, the general nature of the
business to be transacted, and no other business may be transaction at such
meeting;

         (b) in the case of an annual meeting, the general nature of matters
which the Board of Directors, at the time the notice is given, intends to
present for action by the shareholders;


                                         -2-

<PAGE>

         (c) in the case of any meeting at which directors are to be elected,
the names of the nominees intended at the time of the notice to be presented by
management for election; and

         (d) in the case of any meeting, if action is to be taken on any of the
following proposals, the general nature of such proposal:

              (1) a proposal to approve a transaction within the provisions of
Delaware General Corporations law, Section 144 (relating to certain transactions
in which a director has an interest);

              (2) a proposal to approve a transaction within the provisions of
Delaware General Corporation Law, Section 254 (relating to amending the
Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation);

              (3) a proposal to approve a transaction within the provisions of
Delaware General Corporation Law, Sections 251 (relating to merger or
consolidation); and

              (4) a proposal to approve a transaction within the provisions of
Delaware General Corporation Law, Section 275 (dissolution).

    At a special meeting, notice of which has been given in accordance with
this Section, action may not be taken with respect to business, the general
nature of which has not been stated in such notice.  At an annual meeting,
action may be taken with respect to business stated in the notice of such
meeting, given in accordance with this section, and, subject to subsection
2.4(d) above, with respect to any other business as may properly come before the
meeting.

    2.5  MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE

         Notice of any meeting of shareholders shall be given either personally
or by first-class mail, or, if the corporation has outstanding shares held of
record by 500 or more persons on the record date for such meeting, third-class
mail, or telegraphic or other written communication, addressed to the
shareholder at the address of that shareholder appearing on the books of the
corporation or given by the shareholder to the corporation for the purpose of
notice.  If no such address appears on the corporation's books or is given,
notice shall be deemed to have been given if sent to that shareholder by first-
class mail or telegraphic or other written communication to the corporation's
principal


                                         -3-

<PAGE>

executive office, or if published at least once in a newspaper of general
circulation in the county where that office is located.  Notice shall be deemed
to have been given at the time when delivered personally or deposited in the
mail or sent by telegram or other means of written communication.

         If any notice addressed to a shareholder at the address of that
shareholder appearing on the books of the corporation is returned to the
corporation by the United States Postal Service marked to indicate that the
United States Postal Service is unable to deliver the notice to the shareholder
at that address, all future notices shall be deemed to have been duly given
without further mailing if these shall be available to the shareholder on
written demand by the shareholder at the principal executive office of the
corporation for a period of one year from the date of the giving of the notice.

    An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary or of the transfer
agent of the corporation that the notice has been given shall, in the absence of
fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

    2.6  QUORUM

         (a) At any meeting of the shareholders, a majority of the shares
entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum.
If a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of the majority of shares
represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on any matter shall be the act
of the shareholder, unless the vote of a greater number of voting by classes is
required by law or by the Articles of Incorporation, and except as provided in
subsection (b) below.

         (b) The shareholders present at a duly called or held meeting of the
shareholders at which a quorum is present may continue to do business until
adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough shareholders to leave less
than a quorum, provided that any action taken (other than adjournment) is
approved by at least a majority of the shares required to constitute a quorum.

         (c) In the absence of a quorum, no business other than adjournment may
be transacted, except as described in subsection (b) above.


                                         -4-

<PAGE>

    2.7  ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE

    Any meeting of shareholders may be adjourned from time to time, whether or
not a quorum is present, by the affirmative vote of a majority of shares
represented at such meeting either in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at
such meeting.  When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, unless
these bylaws otherwise require, notice need not be given of the adjourned
meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the
adjournment is taken.  At the adjourned meeting the corporation may transact any
business that might have been transacted at the original meeting.  If the
adjournment is for more than forty-five (45) days, or if after the adjournment a
new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned
meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the
meeting.

    2.8  VOTING

    The stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be
determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.11 of these bylaws,
subject to the provisions of Sections 217 and 218 of the General Corporation Law
of Delaware (relating to voting rights of fiduciaries, pledgors and joint owners
of stock and to voting trusts and other voting agreements).

    Except as provided in the last paragraph of this Section 2.8, or as may be
otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, each stockholder shall
be entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock held by such
stockholder.

    At a stockholders' meeting at which directors are to be elected, or at
elections held under special circumstances, a stockholder shall be entitled to
cumulate votes (i.e., cast for any candidate a number of votes greater than the
number of votes which such stockholder normally is entitled to cast).  Each
holder of stock, or of any class or classes or of a series or series thereof,
who elects to cumulate votes shall be entitled to as many votes as equals the
number of votes which (absent this provision as to cumulative voting) he would
be entitled to cast for the election of directors with respect to his shares of
stock multiplied by the number of directors to be elected by him, and he may
cast all of such votes for a single director or may distribute them among the
number to be voted for, or for any two or more of them, as he may see fit
provided, however, no shareholder shall be entitled to so cumulate such
shareholder's votes unless the candidates for which such shareholder is voting
have been placed in nomination prior to


                                         -5-

<PAGE>

the voting and a shareholder has given notice at the meeting, prior to the vote,
of an intention to cumulate votes.

    2.9  WAIVER OF NOTICE

    Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware or of the certificate of incorporation or these
bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the person entitled to notice,
whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to
notice.  Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice
of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express
purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any
business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.  Neither the
business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting
of the stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice unless so
required by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws.  All waivers,
consents and approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part
of the minutes of the meeting.

    2.10 STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING

    Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, any action
required by this chapter to be taken at any annual or special meeting of
stockholders of a corporation, or any action that may be taken at any annual or
special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without
prior notice, and without a vote if a consent in writing, setting forth the
action so taken, is signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less
than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take
such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were
present and voted.

    Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by
less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who
have not consented in writing.  If the action which is consented to is such as
would have required the filing of a certificate under any section of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware if such action had been voted on by stockholders at
a meeting thereof, then the certificate filed under such section shall state, in
lieu of any statement required by such section concerning any vote of
stockholders, that written notice and written consent have been given as
provided in Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware.


                                         -6-

<PAGE>

    2.11 RECORD DATE FOR STOCKHOLDER NOTICE; VOTING; GIVING CONSENTS

    In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to
notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof,
or entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting,
or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or
allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any
change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful
action, the board of directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall
not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such
meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action.

    If the board of directors does not so fix a record date:

         (i)  The record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice
of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on
the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is
waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the
meeting is held.

         (ii) The record date for determining stockholders entitled to express
consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action
by the board of directors is necessary, shall be the day on which the first
written consent is expressed.


         (iii)  The record date for determining stockholders for any other
purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the board of
directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

or the sixtieth (60th) day prior to date of such other action, whichever is
later.


    A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote
at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting;
provided, however, that the board of directors may fix a new record date for the
adjourned meeting.


                                         -7-

<PAGE>

    2.12 PROXIES

    Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to
express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may
authorize another person or persons to act for him by a written proxy, signed by
the stockholder and filed with the secretary of the corporation, but no such
proxy shall be voted or acted upon after eleven (11) months from its date,
unless the proxy provides for a longer period.  A proxy shall be deemed signed
if the stockholder's name is placed on the proxy (whether by manual signature,
typewriting, telegraphic transmission or otherwise) by the stockholder or the
stockholder's attorney-in-fact.  The revocability of a proxy that states on its
face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section
212(c) of the General Corporation Law of Delaware.

    2.13 LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE

    The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of a corporation shall
prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a
complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in
alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number
of shares registered in the name of each stockholder.  Such list shall be open
to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting,
during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to
the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held,
which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so
specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held.  The list shall also be
produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time
thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.

    Stock of the corporation held by its subsidiary or subsidiaries are not
entitled to vote in any matter.

    2.14 INSPECTORS OF ELECTION.

    Before any meeting of shareholders, the Board of Directors may appoint any
persons, other than nominees for the office, to act as inspectors of election at
the meeting or its adjournment. If no inspectors of election are so appointed,
the chairman of the meeting may, and on the request of any stockholder or a
stockholder's proxy shall, appoint inspectors of election at the meeting.  The
number of inspectors shall be either one (1) or three (3).  If inspectors are
appointed at a meeting on the request of one or more shareholders or proxies,
the majority of shares


                                         -8-

<PAGE>

represented in person or proxy shall determine whether one (1) or three (3)
inspectors are to be appointed.  If any person appointed as inspector fails to
appear or fails or refuses to act, the chairman of the meeting may, and upon the
request of any shareholder or a shareholder's proxy shall, appoint a person to
fill that vacancy.

         These inspectors shall:

         (a)  Determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power
of each, the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, and
the authenticity, validity, and effect of proxies;

         (b)  Receive votes, ballots, or consents;

         (c)  Hear and determine all challenges and questions in any way
arising in connection with the right to vote;

         (d)  Count and tabulate all votes or consents;

         (e)  Determine when the polls shall close;

         (f)  Determine the result; and

         (g)  Do any other acts that may be proper to conduct the election or
vote with fairness to all shareholders.

                                     ARTICLE III

                                      DIRECTORS

    3.1  POWERS

    Subject to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of Delaware and
any limitations in the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws relating to
action required to be approved by the stockholders or by the outstanding shares,
the business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed and all corporate
powers shall be exercised by or under the direction of the board of directors.

    3.2  NUMBER OF DIRECTORS

    The authorized number of directors shall be one (1).  This number may be
changed by a duly adopted amendment to the certificate of incorporation or by an
amendment to this bylaw adopted by the vote or written consent of the holders of
a majority


                                         -9-

<PAGE>

of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote or by resolution of a
MAJORITY of the board of directors.

    No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of
removing any director before that director's term of office expires.

    3.3  ELECTION, QUALIFICATION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS

    (a)  For so long as the Board of Directors consists of more than two 
directors, the directors shall be divided into three classes, designated 
Class I, Class II and Class III.  Each class shall consist, as nearly as 
possible of one-third (1/3) of the total number of directors constituting the 
entire Board of Directors.  At any time following the effectiveness of this 
provision, but before the first annual meeting of the stockholders held after 
the effectiveness of this provision, the Board of Directors may designate by 
resolution the classification of existing directors.  At the first annual 
meeting following the effectiveness of this provision, the classes shall be 
elected as follows: Class I directors shall be elected for a one-year term, 
Class II directors for a two-year term and Class III directors for a 
three-year term.  At each succeeding annual meeting of stockholders, 
successors to the class of directors whose term expires at the annual meeting 
shall be elected for three-year terms.  If the number of directors is 
changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so 
as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as 
possible, and any additional directors of any class elected to fill a vacancy 
resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for a term that 
shall coincide with the remaining term of that class, but in no case will a 
decrease in the number of directors shorten the term of any incumbent 
director.  Notwithstanding the forgoing, this provision will become effective 
only when the corporation becomes a listed corporation within the meaning of 
Section 301.5 of the California Corporations Code, until such time, all 
directors shall be elected at each annual meeting of stockholders to hold 
office until the next annual meeting.


    (b)  A director shall hold office until the annual meeting for the year in
which his or her term expires and until his or her successor shall be elected
and shall qualify, subject, however, to prior death, resignation, retirement,
disqualification or removal from office.  Except as otherwise required by law,
any vacancy on the Board of Directors that results from an increase in the
number of directors or any other vacancy occurring in the Board of


                                         -10-

<PAGE>

Directors shall be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, even if
less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director.  Any director elected to
fill a vacancy not resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall
have the same remaining term as that of his or her predecessor.


    (c)  Directors need not be stockholders unless so required by the
certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, wherein other qualifications for
directors may be prescribed.  Each director, including a director elected to
fill a vacancy, shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified
or until his earlier resignation or removal.

    Elections of directors need not be by written ballot.

    3.4  RESIGNATION AND VACANCIES

    Any director may resign at any time upon written notice to the 
corporation. When one or more directors so resigns and the resignation is 
effective at a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, 
including those who have so resigned, shall have power to fill such vacancy 
or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or 
resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold 
office as provided in this section in the filling of other vacancies.

    Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or these
bylaws:

              (a)  Vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any
increase in the authorized number of directors elected by all of the
stockholders having the right to vote as a single class may be filled by a
majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a
sole remaining director.

         (b)  Whenever the holders of any class or classes of stock or series
thereof are entitled to elect one or more directors by the provisions of the
certificate of incorporation, vacancies and newly created directorships of such
class or classes or series may be filled by a majority of the directors elected
by such class or classes or series thereof then in office, or by a sole
remaining director so elected.

    If at any time, by reason of death or resignation or other cause, the
corporation should have no directors in office, then any officer or any
stockholder or an executor, administrator, trustee


                                         -11-

<PAGE>

or guardian of a stockholder, or other fiduciary entrusted with like
responsibility for the person or estate of a stockholder, may call a special
meeting of stockholders in accordance with the provisions of the certificate of
incorporation or these bylaws, or may apply to the Court of Chancery for a
decree summarily ordering an election as provided in Section 211 of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware.

    If, at the time of filling any vacancy or any newly created directorship,
the directors then in office constitute less than a majority of the whole board
(as constituted immediately prior to any such increase), then the Court of
Chancery may, upon application of any stockholder or stockholders holding at
least ten (10) percent of the total number of the shares at the time outstanding
having the right to vote for such directors, summarily order an election to be
held to fill any such vacancies or newly created directorships, or to replace
the directors chosen by the directors then in office as aforesaid, which
election shall be governed by the provisions of Section 211 of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware as far as applicable.

    3.5  PLACE Of MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE

    The board of directors of the corporation may hold meetings, both regular
and special, either within or outside the State of Delaware.

    Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these
bylaws, members of the board of directors, or any committee designated by the
board of directors, may participate in a meeting of the board of directors, or
any committee, by means of conference telephone or similar communications
equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear
each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in
person at the meeting.

    3.6  FIRST MEETINGS

    The first meeting of each newly elected board of directors shall be held at
such time and place as shall be fixed by the vote of the stockholders at the
annual meeting and no notice of such meeting shall be necessary to the newly
elected directors in order legally to constitute the meeting, provided a quorum
shall be present. In the event of the failure of the stockholders to fix the
time or place of such first meeting of the newly elected board of directors, or
in the event such meeting is not held at the time and place so fixed by the
stockholders, the meeting may be held at such time and place as shall be
specified in a notice given as herein-


                                         -12-

<PAGE>

after provided for special meetings of the board of directors, or as shall be
specified in a written waiver signed by all of the directors.

    3.7  REGULAR MEETINGS

    Regular meetings of the board of directors may be held without notice at
such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the
board.

    3.8  SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE

    Special meetings of the board of directors for any purpose or purposes may
be called at any time by the chairman of the board, the president, any vice
president, the secretary or any two (2) directors.

    Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be delivered
personally or by telephone to each director or sent by first-class mail or
telegram, charges prepaid, addressed to each director at that director's address
as it is shown on the records of the corporation.  If the notice is mailed, it
shall be deposited in the United States mail at least four (4) days before the
time of the holding of the meeting.  If the notice is delivered personally or by
telephone or by telegram, it shall be delivered personally or by telephone or to
the telegraph company at least forty-eight (48) hours before the time of the
holding of the meeting.  Any oral notice given personally or by telephone may be
communicated either to the director or to a person at the office of the director
who the person giving the notice has reason to believe will promptly communicate
it to the director.  The notice need not specify the purpose or the place of the
meeting, if the meeting is to be held at the principal executive office of the
corporation.

    3.9  QUORUM

    At all meetings of the board of directors, A MAJORITY of the authorized
number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business
and the act of A MAJORITY of the directors present at any meeting at which there
is a quorum shall be the act of the board of directors except as may be
otherwise specifically provided by statute or by the certificate of
incorporation.  If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the board of
directors, then the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time
to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum
is present.

    3.10 WAIVER OF NOTICE


                                         -13-

<PAGE>

    Whenever notice is required to he given under any provision of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware or of the certificate of incorporation or these
bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the person entitled to notice,
whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to
notice.  Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice
of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express
purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any
business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the
business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting
of the directors, or members of a committee of directors, need be specified in
any written waiver of notice unless so required by the certificate of
incorporation or these bylaws.

    3.11 ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE

    If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the board of directors, then
the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without
notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.

    3.12 BOARD ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING

    Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these
bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the board
of directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all
members of the board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in
writing and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of
the board or committee.

    3.13 FEES AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

    Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these
bylaws, the board of directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation
of directors.

    3.14 APPROVAL OF LOANS TO OFFICERS

    The corporation may lend money to, or guarantee any obligation of, or
otherwise assist any officer or other employee of the corporation or of its
subsidiary, including any officer or employee who is a director of the
corporation or its subsidiary, whenever, in the judgment of the directors, such
loan, guaranty or assistance may reasonably be expected to benefit the
corporation.  The loan, guaranty or other assistance may be with or without
interest and may be unsecured, or secured in such manner as the board of direc-


                                         -14-

<PAGE>

tors shall approve, including, without limitation, a pledge of shares of stock
of the corporation.  Nothing in this section contained shall be deemed to deny,
limit or restrict the powers of guaranty or warranty of the corporation at
common law or under any statute.

    3.15 REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS

    The Board of Directors may declare vacant the office of a director who has
been declared of unsound mind by an order of court or who has been convicted of
a felony.

    The entire Board of Directors or any individual director may be removed
from office without cause by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
outstanding shares entitled to vote on such removal; provided, however, that
unless the entire Board is removed, no individual director may be removed when
the votes cast against such director's removal, or not consenting in writing to
such removal, would be sufficient to elect that director if voted cumulatively
at an election at which the same total number of votes cast were cast (or, if
such action is taken by written consent, all shares entitled to vote were voted)
and the entire number of directors authorized at the time of such director's
most recent election were then being elected.

    Unless otherwise restricted by statute, by the certificate of incorporation
or by these bylaws, any director or the entire board of directors may be
removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then
entitled to vote at an election of directors.

    No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of
removing any director prior to the expiration of such director's term of office.


                                      ARTICLE IV

                                      COMMITTEES


    4.1  COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS

    The board of directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the 
whole board, designate one or more committees, with each committee to consist 
of one or more of the directors of the corporation.  The board may designate 
one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace 
any absent or disquali-

                                         -15-

<PAGE>

fied member at any meeting of the committee.  In the absence or disqualification
of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting
and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum,
may unanimously appoint another member of the board of directors to act at the
meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.  Any such
committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the board of directors or
in the bylaws of the corporation, shall have and may exercise all the powers and
authority of the board of directors in the management of the business and
affairs of the corporation, and may authorize the seal of the corporation to be
affixed to all papers that may require it; but no such committee shall have the
power or authority to (i) amend the certificate of incorporation (except that a
committee may, to the extent authorized in the resolution or resolutions
providing for the issuance of shares of stock adopted by the board of directors
as provided in Section 151(a) of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, fix
any of the preferences or rights of such shares relating to dividends,
redemption, dissolution, any distribution of assets of the corporation or the
conversion into, or the exchange of such shares for, shares of any other class
or classes or any other series of the same or any other class or classes of
stock of the corporation), (ii) adopt an agreement of merger or consolidation
under Sections 251 or 252 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, (iii)
recommend to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or
substantially all of the corporation's property and assets, (iv) recommend to
the stockholders a dissolution of the corporation or a revocation of a
dissolution, or (v) amend the bylaws of the corporation; and, unless the board
resolution establishing the committee, the bylaws or the certificate of
incorporation expressly so provide, no such committee shall have the power or
authority to declare a dividend, to authorize the issuance of stock, or to adopt
a certificate of ownership and merger pursuant to Section 253 of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware.

    4.2  COMMITTEE MINUTES

    Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the
same to the board of directors when required.

    4.3  MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES

    Meetings and actions of committees shall be governed by, and held and taken
in accordance with, the provisions of Article III of these bylaws, Section 3.5
(place of meetings and meetings by telephone), Section 3.7 (regular meetings),
Section 3.8 (special meetings and notice), Section 3.9 (quorum), Section 3.10
(waiver of notice), Section 3.11 (adjournment and notice of adjournment), and


                                         -16-

<PAGE>

Section 3.12 (action without a meeting), with such changes in the context of
those bylaws as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for
the board of directors and its members; provided, however, that the time of
regular meetings of committees may also be called by resolution of the board of
directors and that notice of special meetings of committees shall also be given
to all alternate members, who shall have the right to attend all meetings of the
committee.  The board of directors may adopt rules for the government of any
committee not inconsistent with the provisions of these bylaws.


                                      ARTICLE V

                                       OFFICERS


    5.1  OFFICERS

    The officers of the corporation shall be a Chairman of the Board, a
President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary, and a Chief Financial
Officer, and any such other officers with such titles and duties as the Board of
Directors may determine.

    5.2  ELECTION OF OFFICERS

    The officers of the corporation, except such officers as may be appointed
in accordance with the provisions of Sections 5.3 or 5.5 of these bylaws, shall
be chosen by the board of directors, subject to the rights, if any, of an
officer under any contract of employment.

    5.3  SUBORDINATE OFFICERS

    The board of directors may appoint, or empower the president to appoint,
such other officers and agents as the business of the corporation may require,
each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and perform
such duties as are provided in these bylaws or as the board of directors may
from time to time determine.

    5.4  REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS

    Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of
employment, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by an
affirmative vote of the majority of the board of directors at any regular or
special meeting of the board or, except in the case of an officer chosen by the
board of directors,


                                         -17-

<PAGE>

by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the board of
directors.

    Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the
corporation.  Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of
that notice or at any later time specified in that notice; and, unless otherwise
specified in that notice, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be
necessary to make it effective.  Any resignation is without prejudice to the
rights, if any, of the corporation under any contract to which the officer is a
party.

    5.5  VACANCIES IN OFFICES

    Any vacancy occurring in any office of the corporation shall be filled by
the board of directors.

    5.6  CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

    The Chairman of the Board, if there be such an officer, shall, if present,
preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and shall exercise and perform
such other powers and duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Board
of Directors or prescribed by these Bylaws. If no President is appointed, the
Chairman of the Board is the general manager and Chief Executive Officer of the
corporation, and shall exercise all powers of the President described in Section
42 below.

    5.7  PRESIDENT

    Subject to such powers, if any, as may be given by the Board of Directors
to the Chairman of the Board, if there be such an officer, the President shall
be the general manager and Chief Executive Officer of the corporation and shall
have general supervision and control over the business and affairs of the
corporation, subject to the control of the Board of Directors.  The President
may sign and execute, in the name of the corporation, any instrument authorized
by the Board of Directors, except when the signing and execution thereof shall
have been expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to
some other officer or agent of the corporation.  The President shall have all
the general powers and duties of management usually vested in the president of a
corporation, and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed
from time to time by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws.  The President
shall have discretion to prescribe the duties of other officers and employees of
the corporation in a manner not inconsistent with the provisions of these Bylaws
and the directions of the Board of Directors.


                                         -18-

<PAGE>

    5.8  VICE PRESIDENTS

    In the absence or disability of the President, in the event of a vacancy 
in the office of President, or in the event such officer refuses to act, the 
Vice President shall perform all the duties of the President and, when so 
acting, shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions 
on, the President.  If at any such time the corporation has more than one 
vice president, the duties and powers of the President shall pass to each 
Vice President in order of such Vice President's rank as fixed by the Board 
of Directors or, if the Vice Presidents are not so ranked, to the Vice 
President designated by the Board of Directors. The Vice Presidents shall 
have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed for 
them from time to time by the Board of Directors or pursuant to Sections 35 
and 36 of these Bylaws or otherwise pursuant to these Bylaws.

    5.9  SECRETARY

   The Secretary shall:

              (a)  Keep, or cause to be kept, minutes of all meetings of the
corporation's shareholders, Board of Directors, and committees of the Board of
Directors, if any.  Such minutes shall be kept in written form.

              (b)  Keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office
of the corporation, or at the office of its transfer agent or registrar, if any,
a record of a corporation's shareholders, showing the names and addresses of all
shareholders and the number of classes of shares held by each.  Such records
shall be kept in written form or any other form capable of being converted into
written form.

              (c)  Keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office
of the corporation, or if the principal office is not in California, at its
principal business office in California, an original or copy of these Bylaws, as
amended.

              (d)  Give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of
shareholders, directors and committees of the Board of Directors, as required by
law or by these Bylaws.

              (e)  Keep the seal of the corporation, if any, in safe custody.

              (f)  Exercise such powers and perform such duties as are usually
vested in the office of secretary of a corporation, and


                                         -19-

<PAGE>

exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed
from time to time by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws.

         If any Assistant Secretaries are appointed, the Assistant Secretary,
or one of the Assistant Secretaries in the order of their rank as fixed by the
Board of Directors or, if they are not so ranked, the Assistant Secretary
designated by the Board of Directors, in the absence or disability of the
Secretary or in the event of such officer's refusal to act or if a vacancy
exists in the office of Secretary, shall perform the duties and exercise the
powers of the Secretary and discharge such duties as may be assigned from time
to time pursuant to these Bylaws or by the Board of Directors.

    5.10 CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

   The Chief Financial Officer shall:

              (a)  Be responsible for all functions and duties of the treasurer
of the corporation.

              (b)  keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained,
adequate and correct books and records of account for the corporation.

              (c)  Receive or be responsible for receipt of all monies due 
and payable to the corporation from any source whatsoever; have charge and 
custody off, and be responsible for, all monies and other valuables of the 
corporation and be responsible for deposit of all such monies in the name and 
to the credit of the corporation with such depositories as may be designated 
by the Board of Directors or a duly appointed and authorized committee of the 
Board of Directors.

              (d)  Disburse or be responsible for the disbursement of the funds
of the corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors or a duly
appointed and authorized committee of the Board of Directors.

              (e)  Render to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of
Directors a statement of the financial condition of the corporation if called
upon to do so.

              (f)  Exercise such powers and perform such duties as are usually
vested in the office of chief financial officer of a corporation, and exercise
such other powers and perform such other


                                         -20-

<PAGE>

duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws.

         If any Assistant Financial Officer is appointed, the Assistant
Financial Officer, or one of the Assistant Financial Officers, if there are more
than one, in the order of their ranks as fixed by the Board of Directors or, if
they are not so ranked, the Assistant Financial Officers designated by the Board
of Directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the Chief Financial Officer
or in the event of such officer's refusal to act, perform the duties and
exercise the powers of the Chief Financial Officer, and shall have such powers
and discharge such duties as may be assigned from time to time pursuant to these
Bylaws or by the Board of Directors.

    5.11 COMPENSATION  The compensation of the officers shall be fixed from
time to time by the Board of Directors, and no officer shall be prevented from
receiving such compensation by reason of the fact that such officer is also a
director of the corporation.


    5.12 AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS

    In addition to the foregoing authority and duties, all officers of the
corporation shall respectively have such authority and perform such duties in
the management of the business of the corporation as may be designated from time
to time by the board of directors or the stockholders.


                                      ARTICLE VI

                                      INDEMNITY


    6.1  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

    The corporation shall, to the maximum extent and in the manner permitted by
the General Corporation Law of Delaware, indemnify each of its directors and
officers against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines,
settlements, and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection
with any proceeding, arising by reason of the fact that such person is or was an
agent of the corporation.  For purposes of this Section 6.1, a "director" or
"officer" of the corporation includes any person (i) who is or was a director or
officer of the corporation, (ii) who is or was serving at the request of the
corporation as a director or officer


                                         -21-

<PAGE>

of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
or (iii) who was a director or officer of a corporation which was a predecessor
corporation of the corporation or of another enterprise at the request of such
predecessor corporation.

    6.2  INDEMNIFICATION OF OTHERS

    The corporation shall have the power, to the extent and in the manner 
permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, to indemnify each of 
its employees and agents (other than directors and officers) against expenses 
(including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts 
actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any proceeding, arising 
by reason of the fact that such person is or was an agent of the corporation. 
 For purposes of this Section 6.2, an "employee" or "agent" of the 
corporation (other than a director or officer) includes any person (i) who is 
or was an employee or agent of the corporation, (ii) who is or was serving at 
the request of the corporation as an employee or agent of another 
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or (iii) 
who was an employee or agent of a corporation which was a predecessor 
corporation of the corporation or of another enterprise at the request of 
such predecessor corporation.

    6.3  INSURANCE

    The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any 
person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the 
corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a 
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, 
joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted 
against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his 
status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to 
indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of the General 
Corporation Law of Delaware.

                                     ARTICLE VII

                                 RECORDS AND REPORTS


    7.1  MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF RECORDS

    The corporation shall, either at its principal executive office or at such
place or places as designated by the board of directors, keep a record of its
shareholders listing their names


                                         -22-

<PAGE>

and addresses and the number and class of shares held by each shareholder, a
copy of these bylaws as amended to date, accounting books, and other records.

    Any stockholder of record, in person or by attorney or other agent, shall,
upon written demand under oath stating the purpose thereof, have the right
during the usual hours for business to inspect for any proper purpose the
corporation's stock ledger, a list of its stockholders, and its other books and
records and to make copies or extracts therefrom. A proper purpose shall mean a
purpose reasonably related to such person's interest as a stockholder.  In every
instance where an attorney or other agent is the person who seeks the right to
inspection, the demand under oath shall be accompanied by a power of attorney or
such other writing that authorizes the attorney or other agent to so act on
behalf of the stockholder.  The demand under oath shall be directed to the
corporation at its registered office in Delaware or at its principal place of
business.

    The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of a corporation shall
prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a
complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in
alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number
of shares registered in the name of each stockholder.  Such list shall be open
to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting,
during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to
the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held,
which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so
specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held.  The list shall also be
produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time
thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.

    7.2  INSPECTION BY DIRECTORS

    Any director shall have the right to examine the corporation's stock
ledger, a list of its stockholders, and its other books and records for a
purpose reasonably related to his position as a director.  The Court of Chancery
is hereby vested with the exclusive jurisdiction to determine whether a director
is entitled to the inspection sought.  The Court may summarily order the
corporation to permit the director to inspect any and all books and records, the
stock ledger, and the stock list and to make copies or extracts therefrom.  The
Court may, in its discretion, prescribe any limitations or conditions with
reference to the inspection, or award such other and further relief as the Court
may deem just and proper.


                                         -23-

<PAGE>

    7.3  ANNUAL STATEMENT TO STOCKHOLDERS

    The board of directors shall present at each annual meeting, and at any
special meeting of the stockholders when called for by vote of the stockholders,
a full and clear statement of the business and condition of the corporation.

    7.4  REPRESENTATION OF SHARES OF OTHER CORPORATIONS

    The chairman of the board, the president, any vice president, the
treasurer, the secretary or assistant secretary of this corporation, or any
other person authorized by the board of directors or the president or a vice
president, is authorized to vote, represent, and exercise on behalf of this
corporation all rights incident to any and all shares of any other corporation
or corporations standing in the name of this corporation. The authority granted
herein may be exercised either by such person directly or by any other person
authorized to do so by proxy or power of attorney duly executed by such person
having the authority.


                                     ARTICLE VIII

                                   GENERAL MATTERS

    8.1  CHECKS

    From time to time, the board of directors shall determine by resolution
which person or persons may sign or endorse all checks, drafts, other orders for
payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness that are issued in
the name of or payable to the corporation, and only the persons so authorized
shall sign or endorse those instruments.

    8.2  BANK ACCOUNTS

    The Board of Directors or its duly appointed and authorized committee from
time to time may authorize the opening and keeping of general and/or special
bank accounts with such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as may be
selected by the Board of Directors, its duly appointed and authorized committee
or by any officer or officers, agent or agents, of the corporation to whom such
power may be delegated from time to time by the Board of Directors.  The Board
of Directors or its duly appointed and authorized committee may make such rules
and regulations with respect to said bank accounts, not inconsistent with the
provisions of these Bylaws, as are deemed advisable.


                                         -24-

<PAGE>

    8.3  EXECUTION OF CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS

    The board of directors, except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, may
authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any
contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the
corporation; such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
Unless so authorized or ratified by the board of directors or within the agency
power of an officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or
authority to bind the corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its
credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.

    8.4  LOANS

    No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the corporation and no negotiable
paper shall be issued in its name, unless and except as authorized by the Board
of Directors or its duly appointed and authorized committee.  When so authorized
by the Board of Directors or such committee, any officer or agent of the
corporation may effect loans and advances at any time for the corporation from
any bank, trust company, or other institution, or from any firm, corporation or
individual, and for such loans and advances may make, execute and deliver
promissory notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness of the corporation
and, when authorized as aforesaid, may mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or transfer
any and all stocks, securities and other property, real or personal, at any time
held by the corporation, and to that end endorse, assign and deliver the same as
security for the payment of any and all loans, advances, indebtedness, and
liabilities of the corporation.  Such authorization may be general or confined
to specific instances.

    8.5  STOCK CERTIFICATES; PARTLY PAID SHARES

    The shares of a corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided
that the board of directors of the corporation may provide by resolution or
resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall
be uncertificated shares.  Any such resolution shall not apply to shares
represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the
corporation.  Notwithstanding the adoption of such a resolution by the board of
directors, every holder of stock represented by certificates and upon request
every holder of uncertificated shares shall be entitled to have a certificate
signed by, or in the name of the corporation by the chairman or vice-chairman of
the board of directors, or the president or vice-president, and by the treasurer
or an assistant treasurer, or the secretary or an assistant secretary of such
corporation representing the number of shares registered in certificate form.
Any or all of the signatures on the certificate


                                         -25-

<PAGE>

may be a facsimile.  In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has
signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has
ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate
is issued, it may be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if he
were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

    The corporation may issue the whole or any part of its shares as partly
paid and subject to call for the remainder of the consideration to be paid
therefor.  Upon the face or back of each stock certificate issued to represent
any such partly paid shares, upon the books and records of the corporation in
the case of uncertificated partly paid shares, the total amount of the
consideration to be paid therefor and the amount paid thereon shall be stated.
Upon the declaration of any dividend on fully paid shares, the corporation shall
declare a dividend upon partly paid shares of the same class, but only upon the
basis of the percentage of the consideration actually paid thereon.

    8.6  SPECIAL DESIGNATION ON CERTIFICATES

    If the corporation is authorized to issue more than one class of stock or
more than one series of any class, then the powers, the designations, the
preferences, and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights
of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or
restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or
summarized on the face or back of the certificate that the corporation shall
issue to represent such class or series of stock; provided, however, that,
except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the General Corporation Law of
Delaware, in lieu of the foregoing requirements there may be set forth on the
face or back of the certificate that the corporation shall issue to represent
such class or series of stock a statement that the corporation will furnish
without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, the designations,
the preferences, and the relative, participating, optional or other special
rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.

    8.7  LOST CERTIFICATES

    Except as provided in this Section 8.5, no new certificates for shares
shall be issued to replace a previously issued certificate unless the latter is
surrendered to the corporation and canceled at the same time.  The corporation
may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of
any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost,


                                         -26-

<PAGE>

stolen or destroyed, and the corporation may require the owner of the lost,
stolen or destroyed certificate, or his legal representative, to give the
corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made
against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such
certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.

    8.8  CONSTRUCTION; DEFINITIONS

    Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of
construction, and definitions in the Delaware General Corporation Law shall
govern the construction of these bylaws.  Without limiting the generality of
this provision, the singular number includes the plural, the plural number
includes the singular, and the term "person" includes both a corporation and a
natural person.

    8.9  DIVIDENDS

    The directors of the corporation, subject to any restrictions contained in
the certificate of incorporation, may declare and pay dividends upon the shares
of its capital stock pursuant to the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the corporation's
capital stock.

    The directors of the corporation may set apart out of any of the funds of
the corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper
purpose and may abolish any such reserve.  Such purposes shall include but not
be limited to equalizing dividends, repairing or maintaining any property of the
corporation, and meeting contingencies.

    8.10 FISCAL YEAR

    The fiscal year of the corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the
board of directors and may be changed by the board of directors.

    8.11 SEAL

(NOTE:   DEL.  CODE ANN., TITLE 8, SECTION 122(3) (1981), PROVIDES FOR THE
ADOPTION OF A CORPORATE SEAL AS FOLLOWS:

         EVERY CORPORATION CREATED UNDER THIS CHAPTER SHALL HAVE POWER TO HAVE
         A CORPORATE SEAL, WHICH MAY BE ALTERED AT PLEASURE, AND USE THE SAME
         BY CAUSING IT OR A FACSIMILE THEREOF, TO BE IMPRESSED OR AFFIXED OR IN
         ANY OTHER MANNER REPRODUCED.


                                         -27-

<PAGE>

PLEASE COMPLETE THIS Section ACCORDINGLY.]

    8.12 TRANSFER OF STOCK

    Upon surrender to the corporation or the transfer agent of the corporation
of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of
succession, assignation or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the
corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel
the old certificate, and record the transaction in its books.

    8.13 STOCK TRANSFER AGREEMENTS

    The corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement
with any number of shareholders of any one or more classes of stock of the
corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the corporation of
any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited
by the General Corporation Law of Delaware.

    8.14 REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS

    The corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a
person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and
to vote as such owner, shall be entitled to hold liable for calls and
assessments the person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and shall
not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such
share or shares on the part of another person, whether or not it shall have
express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of
Delaware.


                                      ARTICLE IX

                                      AMENDMENTS


    The original or other bylaws of the corporation may be adopted, amended or
repealed by the stockholders entitled to vote; provided, however, that the
corporation may, in its certificate of incorporation, confer the power to adopt,
amend or repeal bylaws upon the directors.  The fact that such power has been so
conferred upon the directors shall not divest the stockholders of the power, nor
limit their power to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws.


                                      ARTICLE X


                                         -28-

<PAGE>

                                     DISSOLUTION


    If it should be deemed advisable in the judgment of the board of directors
of the corporation that the corporation should be dissolved, the board, after
the adoption of a resolution to that effect by a majority of the whole board at
any meeting called for that purpose, shall cause notice to be mailed to each
stockholder entitled to vote thereon of the adoption of the resolution and of a
meeting of stockholders to take action upon the resolution.

    At the meeting a vote shall be taken for and against the proposed
dissolution.  If a majority of the outstanding stock of the corporation entitled
to vote thereon votes for the proposed dissolution, then a certificate stating
that the dissolution has been authorized in accordance with the provisions of
Section 275 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware and setting forth the
names and residences of the directors and officers shall be executed,
acknowledged, and filed and shall become effective in accordance with Section
103 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware.  Upon such certificate's
becoming effective in accordance with Section 103 of the General Corporation Law
of Delaware, the corporation shall be dissolved.

    Whenever all the stockholders entitled to vote on a dissolution consent in
writing, either in person or by duly authorized attorney, to a dissolution, no
meeting of directors or stockholders shall be necessary.  The consent shall be
filed and shall become effective in accordance with Section 103 of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware.  Upon such consent's becoming effective in
accordance with Section 103 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, the
corporation shall be dissolved.  If the consent is signed by an attorney, then
the original power of attorney or a photocopy thereof shall be attached to and
filed with the consent.  The consent filed with the Secretary of State shall
have attached to it the affidavit of the secretary or some other officer of the
corporation stating that the consent has been signed by or on behalf of all the
stockholders entitled to vote on a dissolution; in addition, there shall be
attached to the consent a certification by the secretary or some other officer
of the corporation setting forth the names and residences of the directors and
officers of the corporation.


                                      ARTICLE XI

                                      CUSTODIAN


                                         -29-

<PAGE>

    11.1 APPOINTMENT OF A CUSTODIAN IN CERTAIN CASES

    The Court of Chancery, upon application of any stockholder, may appoint one
or more persons to be custodians and, if the corporation is insolvent, to be
receivers, of and for the corporation when:

         (a)  at any meeting held for the election of directors the
stockholders are so divided that they have failed to elect successors to
directors whose terms have expired or would have expired upon qualification of
their successors; or

         (b)  the business of the corporation is suffering or is threatened
with irreparable injury because the directors are so divided respecting the
management of the affairs of the corporation that the required vote for action
by the board of directors cannot be obtained and the stockholders are unable to
terminate this division; or

         (c)  the corporation has abandoned its business and has failed within
a reasonable time to take steps to dissolve, liquidate or distribute its assets.

    11.2 DUTIES OF CUSTODIAN

    The custodian shall have all the powers and title of a receiver appointed
under Section 291 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, but the authority
of the custodian shall be to continue the business of the corporation and not to
liquidate its affairs and distribute its assets, except when the Court of
Chancery otherwise orders and except in cases arising under Sections 226(a)(3)
or 352(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of Delaware.


                                         -30-

<PAGE>

                          CERTIFICATE OF ADOPTION OF BYLAWS

                                          OF

                            HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP, INC.



                               ADOPTION BY INCORPORATOR


    The undersigned person appointed in the Certificate of Incorporation to act
as the Incorporator of Hambrecht & Quist Group, Inc. hereby adopts the foregoing
bylaws, comprising twenty eight (28) pages, as the Bylaws of the corporation.

    Executed this ______ day of ___________ 19 ____.



                                       -------------------------------
                                       Francis S. Currie, Incorporator



                 CERTIFICATE BY SECRETARY OF ADOPTION BY INCORPORATOR

    The undersigned hereby certifies that he is the duly elected, qualified,
and acting Secretary of Hambrecht & Quist Group, Inc. and that the foregoing
Bylaws, comprising twenty seven (27) pages, were adopted as the Bylaws of the
corporation on ______________,19 ___, by the person appointed in the Certificate
of Incorporation to act as the Incorporator of the corporation.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand and affixed
the corporate seal this _______ day of ______________ 19 ___.



                                       -------------------------------
                                       Steven N. Machtinger, Secretary


                                         -31-

<PAGE>

                                    (ALTERNATIVE)

                          CERTIFICATE OF ADOPTION OF BYLAWS

                                          OF

                            HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP, INC.


              CERTIFICATE BY SECRETARY OF ADOPTION BY SHAREHOLDERS' VOTE


    The undersigned hereby certifies that he is the duly elected, qualified,
and acting Secretary of Hambrecht & Quist Group, Inc. and that the foregoing
Bylaws, comprising twenty seven (27) pages, were submitted to the shareholders
at their first meeting held on _______________, 19 ___, and recorded in the
minutes thereof and were ratified by the vote of shareholders entitled to
exercise the majority of the voting power of the corporation.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand and affixed
the corporate seal this ______ day of _______________ 19 ___.




                                       -------------------------------
                                       Steven N. Machtinger, Secretary


                                         -32-





<PAGE>


                            HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP, INC.
                                   1996 EQUITY PLAN


SECTION 1.    ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE.

    The purpose of the Plan is to offer the Employees, Directors and
Consultants an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the success of
the Company and to increase such interest by purchasing Shares of the Company's
Common Stock.  Options granted under the Plan may include NSOs as well as ISOs
intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Code.  Contingent Equity Rights may
also be granted under the Plan.

SECTION 2.    DEFINITIONS.

    (a)  "Applicable Laws" shall mean the legal requirements relating to the
administration of stock option plans under U.S. state corporate laws, U.S.
federal and state securities laws, the Code and the applicable laws of any
foreign country or jurisdiction where Options or Rights are, or will be, granted
under the Plan.

    (b)  "Board" shall mean the Company's Board of Directors, as constituted
from time to time.

    (c)  "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

    (d)  "Committee" shall mean a committee of the Board, as described in
Section 3(a) hereof, or, if no such committee has been appointed, the Board.

    (e)  "Company" shall mean Hambrecht & Quist Group, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.

    (f)  "Consultant" shall mean any person, including an advisor, engaged by
the Company or a Subsidiary to render services and who is compensated for such
services.  The term shall also include any Director, whether or not compensated
for his or her services as a Director.

    (g)  "Contingent Equity Right" shall mean the cash-denominated bonus amount
that is earned by an Employee over a given six-month bonus period and that is
paid in Restricted Stock pursuant to Section 9.

    (h)  "Director" shall mean a member of the Board.

    (i)  "Employee" shall mean any individual who is an employee (within the
meaning of Section 3401(c) of the Code and the regulations thereunder) of the
Company or a Subsidiary.  Neither service as a Director nor payment of a
Director's fee by the Company shall be sufficient to constitute "employment" by
the Company.

<PAGE>

    (j)  "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

    (k)  "Exercise Price" shall mean the amount for which one Share may be
purchased upon exercise of an Option, as specified by the Committee in the
applicable Stock Option Agreement.

    (l)  "Fair Market Value" shall mean, as of any date, the value of the Stock
determined as follows:

             (i)   If the Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or
a national market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq National
Market or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market of the Nasdaq Stock Market, its Fair Market
Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no
sales are reported) as quoted on such exchange or system for the last market
trading day prior to the date of determination, as reported in THE WALL STREET
JOURNAL or such other source as the Committee deems reliable.

            (ii)   If the Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities
dealer but selling prices are not reported, its Fair Market Value shall be the
mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Stock on the last market
trading day prior to the date of determination, as reported in THE WALL STREET
JOURNAL or such other source as the Committee deems reliable.

           (iii)   In the absence of an established market for the Stock, its
Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Committee.

    (m)  "ISO" shall mean an incentive stock option described in Section 422 of
the Code.

    (n)  "NSO" shall mean an Option not intended to qualify as an ISO.

    (o)  "Officer" shall mean a person who is an officer of the Company within
the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.

    (p)  "Option" shall mean an ISO or NSO granted under the Plan.

    (q)  "Optionee" shall mean an individual who holds an Option.

    (r)  "Plan" shall mean this Hambrecht & Quist Group, Inc. 1996 Stock Plan.

    (s)  "Restricted Stock" shall mean shares of Common Stock granted under a
Contingent Equity Right and subject to a repurchase right of the Company as
specified in the Restricted Stock Agreement.

    (t)  "Restricted Stock Agreement" means a written agreement between the
Company and the Optionee evidencing the terms and restrictions applying to stock
granted under a Contingent Equity Right.


                                         -2-

<PAGE>

    (u)  "Right" means a Contingent Equity Right.

    (v)  "Rule 16b-3" shall mean Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any
successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect when discretion is being exercised with
respect to the Plan.

    (w)  "Section 16(b)" shall mean Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.

    (x)  "Service" shall mean service as an Employee, Consultant or Director of
the Company or a Subsidiary.

    (y)  "Share" shall mean a share of Stock, as adjusted in accordance with
Section 10 hereof.

    (z)  "Stock" shall mean the Common Stock of the Company.

    (aa) "Stock Option Agreement" shall mean the agreement between the Company
and an Optionee which contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining
to his or her Option.

    (bb) "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation, if the Company and/or one or
more other Subsidiaries own not less than 50 percent of the total combined
voting power of all classes of outstanding stock of such corporation.  A
corporation that attains the status of a Subsidiary on a date after the adoption
of the Plan shall be considered a Subsidiary commencing as of such date.

    (cc) "Test Rate" shall mean the lowest rate of interest which will not
result in the imputation of additional interest under the applicable provision
of the Code.

SECTION 3.      ADMINISTRATION.

    (a)  Procedure.

             (i)   If permitted by Rule 16b-3, the Plan may be administered by
different bodies with respect to Directors, Officers who are not Directors, and
Employees who are neither Directors nor Officers.

            (ii)   With respect to Options and Rights granted to Employees and
Consultants who are also Officers or Directors subject to Section 16(b) of the
Exchange Act, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board, if the Board may
administer the Plan in a manner complying with the rules under Rule 16b-3
relating to the disinterested administration of employee benefit plan under
which Section 16(b) exempt discretionary grants and awards of equity securities
are to be made, or (B) a Committee designated by the Board to administer the
Plan, which Committee shall be constituted to comply with the rules under
Rule 16b-3 related to the disinterested administration of employee benefit plans
under which Section 16(b) exempt discretionary grants and awards of equity
securities are to be made.  Once appointed, such Committee shall continue to
serve in its designated


                                         -3-

<PAGE>

capacity until otherwise directed by the Board.  From time to time the Board may
increase the size of the Committee and appoint additional members, remove
members (with or without cause) and substitute new members, fill vacancies
(however caused), and remove all member of the Committee and thereafter directly
administer the Plan, all to the extent permitted by the rules under Rule 16b-3
relating to the disinterested administration of employee benefit plans under
which Section 16(b) exempt discretionary grants and awards of equity securities
are to be made.

           (iii)   With respect to Options and Rights granted to Employees and
Consultants who are neither Directors nor Officers of the Company, the Plan
shall be administered by (A) the Board, or (B) a Committee designated by the
Board, which Committee shall be constituted to satisfy Applicable Laws.  Once
appointed, such Committee shall serve in its designated capacity until otherwise
directed by the Board.  The Board may increase the size of the Committee and
appoint additional members, remove members (with or without cause) and
substitute new members, fill vacancies (however caused), and remove all members
of the Committee and thereafter directly administer the Plan, all to the extent
permitted by Applicable Laws.

    (b)  Committee Procedures.  The Board shall designate one of the members of
the Committee as chairman.  The Committee may hold meetings at such times and
places as it shall determine.  The acts of a majority of the Committee members
present at meetings at which a quorum exists, or acts reduced to or approved in
writing by a majority of all Committee members, shall be valid acts of the
Committee.

    (c)  Committee Responsibilities.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan and
any directions of the Board, the Committee shall have full authority and
discretion to take the following actions:

             (i)   To interpret the Plan and to apply its provisions;

            (ii)   To adopt, amend or rescind rules, procedures and forms
                   relating to the Plan;

           (iii)   To authorize any person to execute, on behalf of the
Company, any instrument required to carry out the purposes of the Plan;

            (iv)   To determine when Options and Rights are to be granted under
the Plan;

             (v)   To select the Optionees and the Employees to whom Rights are
                   to be granted;

            (vi)   To determine the number of Shares to be made subject to each
Option and Right;

           (vii)   To prescribe the terms and conditions of each Option and
Right, including (without limitation) the Exercise Price, to determine whether
any Option is to be classified as an ISO or as a NSO, and to specify the
provisions of the Stock Option Agreement or Restricted Stock Agreement relating
to such Option or Right;


                                         -4-

<PAGE>

          (viii)   To amend any outstanding Stock Option Agreement or
Restricted Stock Agreement, subject to applicable legal restrictions and to the
consent of the Optionee who entered into such agreement; and

            (ix)   To take any other actions deemed necessary or advisable for
the administration of the Plan.

    All decisions, interpretations and other actions of the Committee shall be
final and binding on all Optionees and on all persons deriving their rights from
an Optionee.  No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action that he
or she has taken or has failed to take in good faith with respect to the Plan or
any Option or Right.

SECTION 4.      ELIGIBILITY.

    (a)  General Rule.  Only Employees (including Officers and Directors of the
Company who are also Employees) shall be eligible for grants of ISOs and Rights;
all Employees, Consultants and Directors of the Company or a Subsidiary shall be
eligible for grants of NSOs.

    (b)  Ten-Percent Stockholders.  An Employee who owns more than 10 percent
of the total combined voting power of all classes of outstanding stock of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall not be eligible for the grant of an ISO
unless (i) the Exercise Price under such Option is at least 110 percent of the
Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant and (ii) such Option by its
terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date of
grant.

    (c)  Attribution Rules.  For purposes of Subsection (b) above, in
determining stock ownership, an Employee shall be deemed to own the stock owned,
directly or indirectly, by or for his or her brothers, sisters, spouse,
ancestors and lineal descendants.  Stock owned, directly or indirectly, by or
for a corporation, partnership, estate or trust shall be deemed to be owned
proportionately by or for its stockholders, partners or beneficiaries.  Stock
with respect to which such Employee holds an option shall not be counted.

    (d)  Outstanding Stock.  For purposes of Subsection (b) above, "outstanding
stock" shall include all stock actually issued and outstanding immediately after
the grant of the Option to the Optionee.  "Outstanding stock" shall not include
reacquired shares or shares authorized for issuance under outstanding options
held by the Optionee or by any other person.

    (e)  Limitations.  The following limitations shall apply to grants of
Options to Employees:

             (i)   No Employee shall be granted, in any fiscal year of the
Company, Options to purchase more than 500,000 Shares.


                                         -5-

<PAGE>

            (ii)   In connection with his or her initial employment, an
Employee may be granted Options to purchase up to an additional 500,000 Shares
which shall not count against the limit set forth in subsection (i) above.

           (iii)   The foregoing limitations shall be adjusted proportionately
in connection with any change in the Company's capitalization as described in
Section 10.

            (iv)   If an Option is canceled in the same fiscal year of the
Company in which it was granted (other than in connection with a transaction
described in Section 10), the canceled Option will be counted against the limit
set forth in subsection (i) above.  For this purpose, if the exercise price of
an Option is reduced, the transaction will be treated as a cancellation of the
Option and the grant of a new Option.

SECTION 5.      STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN.

    (a)  Basic Limitation.  The aggregate number of Shares which may be issued
under the Plan shall not exceed 3,000,000 Shares, subject to adjustment pursuant
to Section 10 hereof.  The number of Shares that may be issued upon exercise of
Options shall not exceed 1,000,000 Shares, subject to adjustment as above.  The
number of Shares that may be issued upon exercise of Rights shall not exceed
2,000,000 Shares, subject to adjustment as above.  The number of Shares which
are subject to Options and Rights outstanding at any time under the Plan shall
not exceed the number of Shares which then remain available for issuance upon
exercise of Options and Rights, respectively, under the Plan.  The Company,
during the term of the Plan, shall at all times reserve and keep available
sufficient Shares to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

    (b)  Additional Shares.  In the event that any outstanding Option for any
reason expires is canceled or otherwise terminated, the Shares allocable to the
unexercised portion of such Option shall again be available for the purposes of
the Plan.  In the event that Restricted Stock is forfeited to the Company, such
Shares shall again be available for grant under the Plan.

SECTION 6.      TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.

    (a)  Stock Option Agreement.  Each grant of an Option under the Plan shall
be evidenced by a Stock Option Agreement between the Optionee and the Company.
Such Option shall be subject to all applicable terms and conditions which are
not inconsistent with the Plan and which the Committee deems appropriate for
inclusion in a Stock Option Agreement.  The provisions of the various Stock
Option Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.

    (b)  Number of Shares.  Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the
number of Shares that are subject to the Option and shall provide for the
adjustment of such number in accordance with Section 10 hereof.  The Stock
Option Agreement shall also specify whether the Option is an ISO or a NSO.


                                         -6-

<PAGE>

    (c)  Exercise Price.  Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the
Exercise Price.  The Exercise Price shall not be less than 85 percent of the
Fair Market Value, in the case of an NSO, or 100 percent of the Fair Market
Value, in the case of an ISO, of a Share on the date of grant, except as
otherwise provided in Section 4(b).  Subject to the preceding sentence, the
Exercise Price under any Option shall be determined by the Committee at its sole
discretion.  The Exercise Price shall be payable in accordance with Section 7
hereof.

    (d)  Withholding Taxes.  As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the
Optionee shall make such arrangements as the Committee may require for the
satisfaction of any Federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations
that may arise in connection with such exercise.  The Optionee shall also make
such arrangements as the Committee may require for the satisfaction of any
Federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in
connection with the disposition of Shares acquired by exercising an Option.

    (e)  Exercisability and Term.  Each Option shall be exercisable at such
times and under such conditions as specified in the Stock Option Agreement.
Options held by an Officer, Director or Consultant may be subject to additional
or greater restrictions.  The Stock Option Agreement shall also specify the term
of the Option.  The term shall not exceed ten years from the date of grant,
except as otherwise provided in Section 4(b) hereof.

    (f)  Nontransferability.  During an Optionee's lifetime, his or her
Option(s) shall be exercisable only by the Optionee and shall not be
transferable.  In the event of an Optionee's death, his or her Option(s) shall
not be transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution.

    (g)  Termination of Service (Except by Death).  If an Optionee's Service
terminates for any reason other than the Optionee's death, then his or her
Option(s) shall expire on the earliest of the following occasions:

             (i)   The expiration date determined pursuant to Subsection (e)
                   above;

            (ii)   The date three months after the termination of the
Optionee's Service (other than upon a discharge for Cause (defined below) or
because the Optionee is disabled);

           (iii)   The time when the Optionee is notified (orally or in
writing) that he or she is being discharged for Cause; or

            (iv)   The date six months after the termination of the Optionee's
service because the Optionee is disabled.

    "Cause" shall mean (i) gross negligence by the Optionee in the performance
of his or her duties; (ii) any act of fraud, misappropriation, dishonesty,
embezzlement or similar conduct against the Company; (iii) conviction of a
felony or any crime involving moral turpitude; or (iv) willful and


                                         -7-

<PAGE>

continuing failure by the Optionee to comply with any policy of the Company
which is applicable to Employees of the Company.

    The Optionee may exercise all or part of his or her Option(s) to the extent
exercisable on the date of termination at any time before the expiration of such
Option(s) under this subsection (g).  The balance of such Option(s) shall lapse
when the Optionee's Service terminates.  In the event that the Optionee dies
after the termination of the Optionee's Service but before the expiration of his
or her Option(s), all or part of such Option(s) may be exercised (prior to
expiration) to the extent exercisable on the date of termination by the
executors or administrators of the Optionee's estate or by any person who has
acquired such Option(s) directly from the Optionee by bequest or inheritance.

    (h)  Leave of Absence.  For purposes of Subsection (g) above, Service shall
be deemed to continue while the Optionee is on military leave, sick leave, or
other bona fide leave of absence (as determined by the Committee).  The
foregoing notwithstanding, in the case of an ISO granted under the Plan, Service
shall not be deemed to continue beyond the first 90 days of such leave, unless
the Optionee's reemployment rights are guaranteed by statute or by contract.

    (i)  Death of Optionee.  If an Optionee dies while he or she is in Service,
then his or her Option(s) shall expire on the earlier of the following dates:

             (i)   The expiration date determined pursuant to Subsection (e)
                   above; or

            (ii)   The date six months after the Optionee's death.

    All or part of the Optionee's Option(s) may be exercised at any time before
the expiration of such Option(s) under the preceding sentence by the executors
or administrators of the Optionee's estate or by any person who has acquired
such Option(s) directly from the Optionee by bequest or inheritance, but only to
the extent that such Option(s) had become exercisable before his or her death.

    (j)  No Rights as a Stockholder.  An Optionee, or a transferee of an
Optionee, shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares
covered by an Option until the date of the issuance of a stock certificate for
such Shares.  No adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or
extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property), distributions or
other rights for which the record date is prior to the date when such stock
certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 10 hereof.

    (k)  Modification, Extension and Renewal of Options.  Within the
limitations of the Plan, the Committee may modify, extend or renew outstanding
Options or may accept the cancellation of outstanding Options (to the extent not
previously exercised) for the granting of new Options in substitution therefor.
The foregoing notwithstanding, no modification of an Option shall, without the
consent of the Optionee, alter or impair his or her rights or obligations under
such Option.


                                         -8-

<PAGE>

    (l)  Restrictions on Transfer of Shares.  Subject to the limitations of
applicable state and federal securities law, any Shares issued upon exercise of
any Option shall, in addition to federal and state securities laws restrictions,
be subject to such special rights of repurchase, rights of first refusal and
other transfer restrictions as the Committee may determine.  Such restrictions
shall be set forth in the applicable Stock Option Agreement and shall apply in
addition to any general transfer restrictions that may apply to all holders of
Shares and that may be permitted under applicable state and federal securities
law.

    (m)  Buyout Provisions.  The Committee may at any time offer to buy out for
a payment in cash an Option previously granted, or authorize an Optionee to
elect to cash out an Option previously granted, in either case at such time and
based upon such terms and conditions as the Committee shall establish.  Any such
buy-out offer or cash-out election made with respect to Options granted or held
by persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall comply with the
applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act.

    (n)  Rule16b-3.  Options granted to individuals subject to Section 16 of
the Exchange Act must comply with the applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 and
shall contain such additional conditions or restrictions as may be required
thereunder to qualify for the maximum exemption from Section 16 to the Exchange
Act with respect to Plan transactions.

SECTION 7.      PAYMENT FOR SHARES.

    (a)  General Rule.  The Committee shall determine the acceptable form of
consideration for exercising an Option, including the method of payment.  In the
case of an ISO, the Committee shall determine the acceptable form of
consideration at the time of grant.  Such consideration may consist entirely of
(i) cash; (ii) check; (iii) surrender of stock as described in Subsection (b)
below; (iv) promissory note as described in Subsection (c) below; (v) delivery
of a properly executed exercise notice together with such other documentation as
the Committee and the broker, if applicable, shall require to effect an exercise
of the Option and delivery to the Company of the sale or loan proceeds required
to pay the exercise price; (vii) any combination of the foregoing methods of
payment; or (viii) any other means by which the Committee, in its sole
discretion, determines both to provide legal consideration for the Shares and to
be consistent with the purposes of the Plan.

    (b)  Surrender of Stock.  To the extent that this Subsection (b) is
applicable, payment may be made with Shares which have already been owned by the
Optionee for more than six months and which are surrendered to the Company in
good form for transfer.  Such Shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value
on the date when the new Shares are purchased under the Plan.

    (c)  Promissory Notes.  To the extent that this Subsection (c) is
applicable, payment may be made with a limited-recourse promissory note executed
by the Optionee.  Such note shall bear interest at a rate not less than the
applicable Test Rate.  Subject to the preceding sentence, the Committee (at is
sole discretion) shall specify the term, interest rate, amortization
requirements (if any), and other provisions of such note.  The Committee may
require that the Optionee pledge his or


                                         -9-

<PAGE>

her Shares to the Company for the purpose of securing the payment of such note,
and the committee may require that the certificate(s) representing such Shares
be held in escrow in order to perfect the Company's security interest.

SECTION 8.      LIMITATION ON ANNUAL ISO AWARDS.

    To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the
date when an Option is granted) of the stock for which any ISO first becomes
exercisable in any calendar year under this Plan and under all other plans
maintained by the Company or its Subsidiaries exceeds $100,000, such excess
Shares shall be treated as having been granted subject to an NSO.

SECTION 9.      CONTINGENT EQUITY RIGHTS.

    (a)  General.  The Company's 1996 Bonus Plan provides that, if the amount
of an Employee's compensation for a given six-month period exceeds $100,000, 80%
of the amount of such Employee's bonus (the "Bonus Amount") for such six-month
period shall be paid in cash.  The remaining 20% may, at the election of the
Employee and subject to the consent of the Committee, be paid either in cash,
subject to the terms of the 1996 Bonus Plan, or in the form of a Contingent
Equity Right granted under this Plan.

    (b)  Form of Payment.  Each Contingent Equity Right shall be paid in the
form of Restricted Stock.  The number of Shares shall be determined by dividing
the cash-denominated value of 20% of the Bonus Amount by 90% of the Fair Market
Value of a Share on the date of grant of the Right, rounded up to the nearest
whole Share.  The payment of the Restricted Stock shall be evidenced by a Notice
of Award of Restricted Stock that, together with a Restricted Stock Agreement,
shall specify the applicable vesting restrictions, the amount of Restricted
Stock awarded, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee, in its sole
discretion, shall determine.

    (c)  Termination of Employment.  In the event a Participant's status as an
Employee of the Company terminates for any or no reason, any unvested Restricted
Stock previously awarded to the Participant shall be forfeited to the Company
without consideration to the Participant.

    (d)  Rule 16b-3.  Contingent Equity Rights granted to persons subject to
Section 16(b), and Shares granted to persons in connection with such Rights,
shall be subject to any restrictions applicable thereto in compliance with Rule
16b-3.

    (e)  Other Provisions.  The Restricted Stock Agreement shall contain such
other terms, provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be
determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.  In addition, the provisions
of Restricted Stock Agreements need not be the same with respect to each
purchaser.

    (f)  Rights as a Stockholder.  Once Restricted Stock is granted to an
Employee pursuant to a Contingent Equity Right, such Employee shall have rights
equivalent to those of a stockholder and shall be a stockholder when the grant
is entered upon the records of the duly authorized transfer


                                         -10-

<PAGE>

agent of the Company.  No adjustment shall be made for a dividend or other right
for which the record date is prior to the date the Restricted Stock is granted,
except as provided in Section 10 of the Plan.

    (g)  Non-Transferability of Rights.  Rights may not be sold, pledged,
assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by
will or by the laws of descent or distribution.

SECTION 10.     ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES.

    (a)  Changes in Capitalization.  Subject to any required action by the
stockholders of the Company, the number of shares of Stock covered by each
outstanding Option and Right, and the number of shares of Stock which have been
authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Options or Rights have
yet been granted or which have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or
expiration of an Option or Right, as well as the price per share of Stock
covered by each such outstanding Option or Right, shall be proportionately
adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Stock
resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination
or reclassification of the Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the
number of issued shares of Stock effected without receipt of consideration by
the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of
the Company shall not be deemed to have been "effected without receipt of
consideration."  Such adjustment shall be made by the Board, whose determination
in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive.  Except as expressly
provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or
securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no
adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price
of shares of Stock subject to an Option or Right.

    (b)  Dissolution or Liquidation.   In the event of the proposed dissolution
or liquidation of the Company, the Committee shall notify each Optionee as soon
as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction.  The
Committee in its discretion may provide for an Optionee to have the right to
exercise his or her Option until ten (10) days prior to such transaction as to
some or all of the Stock covered thereby, including Shares as to which the
Option would not otherwise be exercisable.  In addition, the Committee may
provide that any Company repurchase option applicable to any Shares purchased
upon exercise of an Option or Right shall lapse as to some or all such Shares,
provided the proposed dissolution or liquidation takes place at the time and in
the manner contemplated.  To the extent not previously exercised, Options and
Rights shall terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed
action.

    (c)  Change of Control.  In the event of a Change of Control (as defined
below) of the Company, outstanding Options may be assumed or equivalent options
substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or Subsidiary of the
successor corporation.  In the event that the successor corporation refuses to
assume or substitute for an Option, such Option shall thereupon become vested to
the extent that it would otherwise have been vested twelve months after the date
of the Change of Control, assuming the continued employment or consulting
relationship of the Optionee


                                         -11-

<PAGE>

with the Company.  In such event, the Committee shall notify the Optionee that
such Option shall be exercisable for a period of fifteen (15) days from the date
of such notice, and such Option  shall terminate upon the expiration of such
period.

         In addition, in such event any shares granted under a Right shall
automatically become vested to such extent, assuming the continued employment of
the Employee with the Company.

         For purposes of this Section 10(c), an Option shall be considered
assumed if, following the Change of Control, the option or right confers the
right to purchase or receive, for each Share of Optioned Stock subject to the
Option immediately prior to the Change of Control, the consideration (whether
stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Change of Control
by holders of Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the Change of
Control (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of
consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares);
provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Change of Control
is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent
corporation, the Committee may, with the consent of the successor corporation,
provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of the Option,
for each Share of Optioned Stock subject to the Option, to be solely common
stock of the successor corporation or its parent corporation equal in fair
market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Stock in the
Change of Control.

         For purposes of this Section 10(c), a "Change of Control" of the
Company shall be deemed to occur upon any of the following:  (i) a merger or
other reorganization in which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior
to such transaction do not hold directly or indirectly at least 50% of the
voting power of the surviving entity or the parent corporation of the surviving
entity immediately following such merger or other reorganization; or (ii) the
sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets.

SECTION 11.     LEGAL REQUIREMENTS.

    Shares shall not be issued under the Plan unless the issuance and delivery
of such Shares complies with (or is exempt from) all applicable requirements of
law, including (without limitation) the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, state securities laws and
regulations, and the regulations of any stock exchange on which the Company's
securities may then be listed.

SECTION 12.     NO EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS.

    No provision of the Plan, nor any Option or Right granted under the Plan,
shall be construed to give any person any right to remain an Employee, Director,
Consultant or stockholder.  The Company and its Subsidiaries reserve the right
to terminate any person's Service at any time, with or without cause.


                                         -12-

<PAGE>

SECTION 13.     DURATION AND AMENDMENTS.

    (a)  Term of the Plan.  The Plan, as set forth herein, shall become
effective on the effective date of its adoption by the Board, subject to the
approval of the Company's stockholders.  The Plan shall terminate automatically
ten years after its effective date, and may be terminated on any earlier date
pursuant to Subsection (b) below.

    (b)  Stockholder Approval.  The Board may at any time amend, alter, suspend
or terminate the Plan.  The Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any
Plan amendment to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Rule 16b-3
or with Section 422 of the Code (or any successor rule or statute or other
applicable law, rule or regulation, including the requirements of any exchange
or quotation system on which the Stock is listed or quoted).  Such stockholder
approval, if required, shall be obtained in such a manner and to such a degree
as is required by the applicable law, rule or regulation.

    (c)  Effect of Amendment or Termination.  No Shares shall be issued or sold
under the Plan after the termination thereof, except upon exercise of an Option
or Right granted prior to such termination.  The termination of the Plan, or any
amendment thereof, shall not affect any Shares previously granted or sold, or
any Option or Right previously granted under the Plan.

SECTION 14.     USE OF PROCEEDS.

    All cash proceeds received by the Company from the sale of Shares under the
Plan shall be used for general corporate purposes.


                                         -13-


<PAGE>

                               HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP
                               A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION
                                           
                              1995 RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN
                                1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                                           
                               HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.
                           A CALIFORNIA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                                           
                          1995 LIMITED PARTNERSHIP UNIT PLAN
                                           
                      CONFIDENTIAL PRIVATE PLACEMENT MEMORANDUM
                                           
                  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH OR
                  APPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                 OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION. THIS MEMORANDUM
                   DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER IN ANY JURISDICTION
                         IN WHICH AN OFFER IS NOT AUTHORIZED.
                                           

THE SHARES OF HAMBRECHT AND QUIST GROUP COMMON STOCK DESCRIBED HEREIN ARE
SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF A SHAREHOLDERS' AGREEMENT AND A STOCK PURCHASE
AGREEMENT CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, TERMS AND CONDITIONS,
INCLUDING SUBSTANTIAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. ANY SALES OF OR INVESTMENTS IN
COMMON STOCK SHOULD BE MADE ONLY AFTER A COMPLETE AND THOROUGH REVIEW OF THIS
MEMORANDUM AND THE PROVISIONS OF THE STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT AND THE
SHAREHOLDERS' AGREEMENT. THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP UNITS OF HAMBRECHT & QUIST,
L.P. ARE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT AND A
SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, TERMS AND
CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SUBSTANTIAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. ANY SALES OF OR
INVESTMENTS IN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP UNITS SHOULD BE MADE ONLY AFTER A COMPLETE
AND THOROUGH REVIEW OF THIS MEMORANDUM AND THE PROVISIONS OF THE LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT AND THE SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT.

    Securities under the Plans are offered, as set forth herein, to eligible
directors, officers and employees of and consultants to Hambrecht & Quist Group
and its affiliated companies, as determined by Hambrecht & Quist Group's Board
of Directors.  For a description of the Securities being offered, see
"Description of Common Stock" and "Description of Limited Partnership Units" in
this Confidential Private Placement Memorandum.


                                     JANUARY 1996

<PAGE>

THE SALE OR TRANSFER OF THE SHARES DESCRIBED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED BY THE
PROVISIONS OF A SHAREHOLDERS' AGREEMENT, AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED, AMONG THE
PARTIES NAMED THEREIN, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE INSPECTED AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE
OF THE ISSUER OF SUCH SHARES, AND ALL OF THE PROVISIONS OF WHICH ARE HEREBY
INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE, WHICH AGREEMENT ALSO PROVIDES THAT IN CERTAIN
EVENTS SPECIFIED THEREIN, THE SHARES OFFERED HEREBY MAY BE PURCHASED FROM THE
HOLDER BY SUCH ISSUER OR ANY ASSIGNEE.


THE SALE OR TRANSFER OF THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP UNITS DESCRIBED HEREIN IS
RESTRICTED BY THE PROVISION'S OF THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT, AS THE SAME
MAY BE AMENDED, AMONG THE PARTIES NAMED THEREIN, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE
INSPECTED AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE ISSUER OF SUCH UNITS, AND ALL OF THE
PROVISIONS OF WHICH ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE, WHICH AGREEMENT ALSO
PROVIDES THAT IN CERTAIN EVENTS SPECIFIED THEREIN, THE UNITS OFFERED HEREBY MAY
BE PURCHASED FROM THE HOLDER BY SUCH ISSUER OR ANY ASSIGNEE.


THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT OF 1933.  THEY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED IN
THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AS TO THE SECURITIES UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT, AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL
SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.



NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATION OTHER THAN AS CONTAINED IN THIS MEMORANDUM, AND, IF GIVEN OR
MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED BY HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP OR BY HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.


<PAGE>


                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                     PAGE

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1

CHANGE IN CORPORATE STRUCTURE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1

RISK FACTORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1

    1.  Illiquid Securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
    2.  Dependence on Key Personnel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
    3.  Securities Industry Risks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
    4.  Underwriting and Trading Risks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
    5.  Long-Term Investments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
    6.  Regulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
    7.  Litigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
    8.  No Dividends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2

DESCRIPTION OF SHAREHOLDERS' AND LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3

    1.  Right of First Refusal Option. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
    2.  Permitted Transfers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
    3.  Right of Repurchase. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
    4.  Computation and Payment of Purchase Price. . . . . . . . . .   4
    5.  Option to Purchase Assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
    6.  Amendment or Termination of Agreements . . . . . . . . . . .   5
    7.  Investment Representations; Custody of Certificates. . . . .   5
    8.  Authority of Board of Directors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5

USE OF PROCEEDS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5

DESCRIPTION OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP UNITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6

DIVIDEND AND INVESTMENT POLICIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6

BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6

    1.  General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
    2.  Results of Operations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
    3.  Investment Banking Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
    4.  Brokerage Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
    5.  Dealer and Market-Making Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
    6.  Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
    7.  Venture Capital Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
    8.  H & Q Asia Pacific, Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
    9.  Investment Advisory Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
    10. Regulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11


                                          i

<PAGE>

                             TABLE OF CONTENTS, CONTINUED


    11. Employees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
    12. Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13

MANAGEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13

    1.  Directors and Senior Executive Officers. . . . . . . . . . .  13
    2.  Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15

PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16

PRINCIPAL UNIT HOLDERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17

CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
LITIGATION AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS             . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20


EXHIBITS

    Exhibit A - Description of the 1995 Stock Option Plan
    Exhibit B - 1995 Stock Option Plan
    Exhibit C - Description of the 1995 Restricted Stock Plan
    Exhibit D - 1995 Restricted Stock Plan
    Exhibit E - Shareholders' Agreement
    Exhibit F - Description of the 1995 Limited Partnership Unit Plan
    Exhibit G - 1995 Limited Partnership Unit Plan
    Exhibit H - Limited Partnership Agreement


                                         -ii-

<PAGE>

                                     INTRODUCTION

    This Confidential Private Placement Memorandum (the "Memorandum") describes
Hambrecht & Quist Group ("H&Q Group") and Hambrecht & Quist, L.P. (H&Q LP) or,
together with their subsidiaries, the "Firm" and the options to purchase Common
Stock of H&Q Group to be issued under the 1995 Stock Option Plan (the "SOP"),
the Common Stock of H&Q Group to be issued under the 1995 Restricted Stock Plan
(the "RSP"), and the limited partnership units ("Units") of H&Q LP to be issued
under the 1995 Limited Partnership Unit Plan (the "LPUP") (collectively referred
to as the "Securities" and the "Plans").  Under the Plans, Securities are
offered and sold exclusively to directors, officers and employees of and
consultants to the Firm and its affiliated companies.

                            CHANGE IN CORPORATE STRUCTURE

    On May 1, 1995, Hambrecht & Quist LLC ("H&Q LLC") was formed as a successor
to Hambrecht & Quist Incorporated ("H&Q Inc."), a wholly owned subsidiary of H&Q
Group, and the contribution of securities and cash from H&Q LP.  For their
contributions, H&Q Group and H&Q LP became 70% and 30% owners of the new entity,
respectively.  References to the surviving entity, H&Q LLC, should also be
considered references to the predecessor entity, H&Q Inc., if the context so
requires.

                                     RISK FACTORS

    Substantial risks are inherent in the operation of a securities
broker/dealer and in the investment in the Firm's Securities.  Prospective
investors should consider, among other factors, the   following:

1.  ILLIQUID SECURITIES

    The Firm's Securities are illiquid and are subject to the restrictions on
transfer and right of first refusal and repurchase options provided for in the
Shareholders' Agreement and the Limited Partnership Agreement.  See "Description
of Shareholders' Agreement and Limited Partnership Agreement." Such restrictions
on transfer and options limit the time and price at which security holders may
transfer Securities.  There is no established trading market for the Securities
and there can be no assurance that one will ever develop.
    
2.  DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL

    The operation of the Firm is dependent on the continued services of certain
key personnel.  The termination of any key employee's employment with the Firm
could have a material adverse effect on its operations.

3.  SECURITIES INDUSTRY RISKS

    Risks are inherent in the nature of the securities business.  The
investment industry is affected by national and international economic
conditions, broad trends in business-and finance and changes in legislation or
regulation by governmental or other regulatory agencies.  See "Business --
Results of Operations." The Firm's profits are heavily dependent on investment
banking, "over-the-counter" and listed securities sales and trading profits and
securities price levels.

    The Firm is particularly dependent on the market's receptiveness to
securities offerings involving high growth companies in the technology,
biotechnology, medical products, health care services, and branded consumer
growth companies.  Accordingly, revenues are subject to significant fluctuations
from year to year.  See "Business -- Results of Operations." Reduced


                                         -1-

<PAGE>

trading volume and lower securities prices can result in lower commission and
trading revenues and losses in trading inventory accounts and syndication
positions.  Operating and overhead expenses generally do not decline immediately
or in direct response to reduced levels of business activity.  In recent years,
there has been increasing incidence of litigation involving the securities
industry.  See "Litigation".

4.  UNDERWRITING AND TRADING RISKS

    In connection with both the participation in securities underwriting and
the maintenance of trading positions in securities, the Firm is exposed to
substantial risk of loss from fluctuations in the market price of securities. 
There can be no assurances that the Firm will not be exposed to future market
volatility given its capital commitment to market making activities.  In
addition, as an underwriter, the Firm is subject to risk of substantial
liability, expense and adverse publicity resulting from claims against
underwriters that may be made under the federal and state securities laws.

5.  LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS

    The Firm has invested a significant portion of its total assets in venture
capital and similar long-term investments, which are illiquid and subject to a
high degree of risk.  A decline in the value of these investments would result
in a decrease in the Net Book Value of the Firm and a reduction in the value of
the Firm's Securities as presently computed.  Furthermore, due to their
illiquidity, long-term investments are not immediately available to satisfy the
regulatory capital needs of H&Q LLC.

6.  REGULATION

    H&Q LLC is registered as a broker-dealer with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") and the securities regulatory authorities of each state,
and is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers and the New
York, American, Midwest and Pacific Stock Exchanges.  The Firm's investment
advisory and venture capital activities are also subject to various securities
laws.  Failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations could result in
censures, fines, suspensions or expulsions which could have a materially adverse
effect on the Firm's business and financial condition.  See "Business --
Regulation."

7.  LITIGATION

    Litigation risks arise not only from the Firm's traditional investment
banking and securities brokerage activities, but also because the Firm's venture
capital funds have substantial investments in, and its officers and employees
may be directors of, a number of companies which may experience significant
fluctuations in operating results and stock prices.  Securities suits frequently
purport to be brought for the benefit of large classes of investors and
typically seek substantial amounts in damages.  The Firm has been named as a
defendant in a number of such suits.  If the plaintiffs in such suits are
successful, the damage awards or settlement amounts payable by the Firm could be
substantial and could have a significant adverse effect on the Firm's financial
condition.  See "Litigation and Contingent Liabilities."

8.  NO DIVIDENDS

    The Firm does not intend to pay dividends on, or make any other
distributions with respect to, its Common Stock.  H&Q LP willl, however, use its
best efforts to distribute cash to limitedpartners to facilitate their payment
of current tax obligations; there can be no assurane, however, that such
distributions will be made. (See "Description of Limited Partnership Units").


                                         -2-

<PAGE>

                  DESCRIPTION OF SHAREHOLDERS' AGREEMENT AND LIMITED
                                PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

    Each person who acquires Securities through purchase under the RSP or the
LPUP, or pursuant to the exercise of an option issued under the SOP
("Securityholder"), will be required to enter into a Shareholders' Agreement or
in the case of limited partnership units, a Limited Partnership Agreement,
providing for (a) a right of first refusal option in favor of the Firm and its
other shareholders or limited partners in the event he of she desires to sell or
otherwise transfer Securities (except in limited circumstances), and (b) a right
of repurchase in favor of the Firm and its other shareholders or limited
partners upon termination of employment.


    THE RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE SHAREHOLDERS' AGREEMENT AND LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL EFFECT ON THE ECONOMIC AND OTHER
CHARACTERISTICS OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE SECURITIES.  THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY IS
NOT A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF EITHER OF THESE AGREEMENTS.  A COPY OF THE FULL
TEXT OF THE AGREEMENTS IS ATTACHED TO THIS OFFERING CIRCULAR AS EXHIBITS E AND
H, RESPECTIVELY. ALL PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS OF SECURITIES ARE URGED TO REVIEW
THE FULL AGREEMENTS CAREFULLY. 

1.  RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL OPTION

    The Shareholder's Agreement and the Limited Partnership Agreement provide
that, except as described in "Permitted Transfers" below, no Securityholder may
transfer or encumber any Securities in any manner without first notifying the
Firm of the terms (including price) of the intended transfer or encumbrance. 
Upon such notice, the Firm has the exclusive option for 60 days to purchase all
of the Securities proposed to be transferred at the the price stated in the
notice.

    The Board has the right to waive or assign the right of first refusal
option.  If such option is waived or expires unexercised (which could have
adverse tax consequences for the Securityholder), the Securityholder is entitled
to complete the proposed transfer on the terms described in the notice at any
time within 60 days.

    No purported transfer of Securities in violation of the Shareholder's
Agreement or the Limited Partnership Agreement is valid or effective.

2.  PERMITTED TRANSFERS

    For the purpose of accommodating Securityholders' estate planning needs,
limited transfers of Securities may be made, provided that (a) each transferee
becomes a party to the applicable agreement, and (b) the Firm and its counsel
are satisfied that the restrictions imposed by the applicable agreement have
become legally binding on such transferee and such transfer complies with all
applicable laws and regulations and will not subject the Firm or any affiliated
entity to any additional regulatory requirements.  The only transfers permitted
by this provision are (i) gifts by a Securityholder to one or more trustees for
the benefit of the transferor or his spouse or descendants, and (ii) transfers
by such a trustee or custodian back to the original transferor.

It should be noted that further transfers may not be made by trustees or
custodians to beneficial owners other than the original transferor.


                                         -3-

<PAGE>

3.  RIGHT OF REPURCHASE

    Under the Shareholder's Agreement and the Limited Partnership Agreement,
the Firm has the right (for a period of 90 days from the date the Firm is
advised of such event having taken place), BUT NOT THE OBLIGATION, to repurchase
any or all Securities held by a Securityholder who has his employment with the
Firm or any affiliated entity terminated for any reason.

    The purchase price of any Securities repurchased in connection with the
Firm exercising its right to repurchase is equal to the then fair market value
of the Securities as determined in good faith by the Board.  One of the factors
considered in determining fair market value will be the Securities' Net Book
Value as of the end of the calendar quarter preceding the event giving rise to
the repurchase.

    The right of repurchase is waived in the case of any employee who confirms
to the Firm in writing within ten days after resignation or termination, of
employment that he has not and does not intend to become employed by any other
broker-dealer or any investment adviser within the next two years, and who also
agrees that in the event he nevertheless does become so employed, he shall
immediately notify the Firm and offer to the Firm the right to repurchase his
Securities for a period of ninety days at Net Book Value as of the last business
day of the calendar quarter immediately preceding his resignation or termination
of employment.  The Board has the right to assign or further waive the right of
repurchase.

    The right of repurchase terminates upon an initial public offering of the
Securities.

4.  COMPUTATION AND PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE

    The term "Net Book Value" of the Firm means the sum of H&Q Group's
consolidated shareholders' equity and H&Q LP's consolidated Member's Equity, as
determined by the Board in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, subject, however, to special procedures (to the extent they may
differ from generally accepted accounting principles) to determine the fair
value of investment entities, securities and exchange memberships.

    The price of any Securities purchased under the right of first refusal
option or the right of repurchase will be paid to persons who are not officers,
directors or consultants to the Firm by check for the amount of the purchase
price.  Subject to the additional limitations described below, for officers,
directors and consultants of the Firm, an amount up to 2% of the Firm's total
Net Book Value will be paid by check promptly after determination of the
purchase price; any amount in excess of 2% of the Firm's total Net Book Value
will be paid by delivery of one or more unsecured interest-bearing promissory
notes payable over a period of up to three years, as described more fully in the
Shareholder's Agreement and the Limited Partnership Agreement.

    Aggregate payments to repurchase Securities from officers, directors or
consultants in any 12-month period may not exceed 20% of the Firm's total Net
Book Value unless the Board waives the 20% limit.  If the 20% limit is enforced,
payments to all affected persons will be delayed until such time as payments can
be made without exceeding the limit.  In no event may the Firm make any payment
to a former Securityholder who is an officer, director or conultant if the
payment would violate or subject the Firm or any affiliated entity or individual
to liability under any applicable law, rule or regulation.  Interest will accrue
on all payments which are delayed as a result of the foregoing limitations.

5.  OPTION TO PURCHASE ASSETS

    If the amount of Common Stock being repurchased from a Shareholder
constitutes 2% or more of H&Q Group's outstanding Common Stock, the Shareholder
will have the option (subject to certain limitations) to purchase from H&Q Group
for cash, at the values used in computing the


                                         -4-

<PAGE>

fair market value of the Common Stock being repurchased, a pro rata portion of
the Firm's securities and other assets held for investment.  If the amount of
Units being repurchased from a limited partner constitutes 2% or more of H&Q
LP's outstanding Units, the limited partner will have the option (subject to
certain limitations) to purchase from H&Q LP for cash, at the values used in
computing the fair market value of the Units being purchased, a pro rata portion
of H&Q LP's securities and other assets held for investment.

6.  AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF AGREEMENTS

    The Shareholders' Agreement may be amended or terminated only with the
consent of the, Firm and Shareholders holding a majority of the Securities
outstanding on the effective date of the amendment.  However, no amendment which
materially increases the restrictions imposed upon, or materially and adversely
alters the computation or payment of the purchase price of, any Securities will
be applicable to such shares until the holder has consented to the amendment. 
By signing the Shareholder's Agreement, each Shareholder appoints each of the
officers of the Firm his attorney-in-fact to execute any amendment to the
Shareholder's Agreement for the sole purpose of adding or deleting Shareholders
or making other non-substantive changes.  Similar provisions are found in the
Limited Partnership Agreement.

7.  INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS; CUSTODY OF CERTIFICATES

    The Shareholder's Agreement and the Limited Partnership Agreement contain
customary representations by each Securityholder that he is acquiring Securities
solely for his own account and not with a view to any sale or distribution
thereof.  All certificates will bear restrictive legends describing the various
legal and contractual restrictions on the transfer of Securities, and the Firm's
transfer records will contain appropriate notations of such restrictions.  The
Secretary of the Firm will hold certificates in escrow for Shares or Units
subject to vesting provisions or purchased with a promissory note.

8.  AUTHORITY OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

    Although it is contemplated that each person who acquires Common Stock will
become a party to the Shareholders' Agreement, the Board is authorized to waive
this requirement in any case and to permit any person to acquire Common Stock at
any time, from H&Q Group or otherwise, without becoming subject to the
Shareholders' Agreement.  The Board is also authorized to release any
shareholder or shares of Common Stock from coverage under the Shareholders'
Agreement, although such an action could have adverse tax consequences for the
shareholder.

                                   USE OF PROCEEDS

    All cash proceeds to H&Q Group from sales of Common Stock and to H&Q LP
from sales of Units under the Plans will be used by the Firm as general working
capital to support the Firm's operations.  No part of the proceeds from the
Plans has been allocated for any particular purpose.

                             DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

    H&Q Group is currently authorized to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of
Common Stock and is not authorized to issue any shares of preferred stock or
other capital stock.  Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share
on all matters to be voted on by shareholders, except that holders are entitled
to cumulate their votes in the election of directors.  Holders of Common Stock
are entitled to receive such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to
time by the Board of Directors in its discretion from funds legally available
therefor.  See "Dividend and Investment Policies." Upon any liquidation or
dissolution of H&Q Group, the assets of H&Q Group remaining after satisfaction
of all liabilities and obligations would be distributed ratably


                                         -5-

<PAGE>

among the holders of Common Stock.  The Common Stock has no preemptive or other
subscription rights, and there are no conversion rights or redemption or sinking
fund provisions with respect to such shares.  All of the shares of Common Stock
are fully paid and non assessable and holders thereof are not liable to further
calls or assessments by the issuer.  There were 3,645,839 shares of Common
Stock, and options covering 733,607 shares (which includes 362,005 options
issued outside of the 1985 Stock Option Plan and 152,000 options which the Firm
has agreed to issue pending qualification with the California Department of
Corporations) of Common Stock, outstanding as of September 30, 1995.

                       DESCRIPTION OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP UNITS

    Class A Units may only be issued to shareholders of H&Q Group, and Class B
Units may only be issued to holders of options to purchase the Common Stock of
H&Q Group, at a ratio of one Class A Unit for every fifty shares of Common Stock
of H&Q Group held, and one Class B Unit for every option to purchase fifty
shares of Common Stock of H&Q Group held.  Class B Units are converted to Class
A Units upon the exercise of options to purchase the Common Stock of H&Q Group. 
Class B Units for which the option to purchase H&Q Group Common Stock has lapsed
are repurchased by H&Q LP at the original purchase price for each Class B Unit. 
Except with respect to the identity of the persons who may hold Class B Units,
and the conversion and purchase provisions specified above, Class A Units and
Class B Units are identical.

    H&Q LP is currently authorized to issue up to 200,000 Class A Units and
50,000 Class B Units, and is not authorized to issue any other class of
partnership units.  Holders of Class A and Class B Units are entitled to one
vote per Unit on all matters to be voted on by limited partners.  The General
Partner must make reasonable efforts to make distributions as necessary to the
holders of Units to cover their federal and state income tax liabilities.  Upon
any liquidation or dissolution of H&Q LP, the assets of H&Q LP remaining after
satisfaction of all liabilities and obligations would be distributed ratably
among the holders of Units.  All of the outstanding Units are fully paid and non
assessable.  There were 72,917 Class A Units and 14,672 Class B Units
outstanding as of September 30, 1995.

                           DIVIDEND AND INVESTMENT POLICIES

    H&Q Group plans to retain all of its net income as working capital or for
investment in fixed assets or investment securities.  Accordingly, H&Q Group
does not plan to pay any dividends on Common Stock for the foreseeable future. 
A substantial part of the Firm's income and financial resources is expected to
be provided by H&Q LLC, which is subject to significant restrictions on its
ability to pay dividends to H&Q Group.  See "Business-Regulation."

    H&Q LP plans to make distributions as necessary to holders of Units to
cover estimated individual tax liabilities based on estimated K-1 income.

                                       BUSINESS

1.  GENERAL

    The Firm, with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a venture capital and
investment banking firm founded in 1968 which serves companies in the
technology, life sciences, consumer products, environmental and service
industries exhibiting substantial growth potential, and investors interested in
such companies.  The Firm conducts its business nationally as well as
internationally (primarily in Europe and the Pacific Rim).  It provides venture
capital, securities brokerage and investment banking services to individual,
corporate and institutional clients and makes markets in approximately 297 over-
the-counter securities.  The Firm's broker-dealer subsidiary, H&Q LLC, is a
member of the New York, American, Pacific and Midwest Stock Exchanges as well as
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and Options Clearing
Corporation.
                                         -6-

<PAGE>

    H&Q Group operates primarily as a holding company with five operating
subsidiaries or associated entities: H&Q LLC (a 70%-owned subsidiary of H&Q
Group which conducts investment banking and securities broker-dealer
activities), Hambrecht & Quist Venture Partners (a venture capital management
partnership in which H&Q Group has a general partnership interest ("H&QVP")),
H&Q Asia Pacific, Ltd. (a 50% owned subsidiary), and Hambrecht & Quist Capital
Management, Inc. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of H&Q Group which is a registered
investment adviser)("HQCM").

    H&Q LP, a sister company to H&Q Group, primarily operates as the managing
partner of the broker/dealer subsidiary with a 30% ownership interest and is
also the limited partner of H&Q Guaranty Finance, L.P. and a member of
OptionsLink LLC, 70% and 80% ownership interests, respectively.

    The Firm is headquartered in San Francisco and also has offices located in
New York, Boston, La Jolla (California), Taipei, Hong Kong, Manila, Bangkok,
Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and Singapore.  The Asia Pacific offices are involved
primarily in venture capital activities.  The New York office carries out
investment banking, trading, research, and institutional, international and
retail sales activities.  The Boston office provides investment banking, money
management, institutional and retail sales services.

    The Firm's primary objective is to provide a full range of securities
services to high-quality emerging growth companies, as well as to investors in
such companies.  Typically, these companies will have a high technology, health
care, or branded consumer orientation and will exhibit high growth potential
because of special characteristics in their product offering, market approach or
management capability.  The Firm is one of the few investment banks seeking to
provide the continuum of support needed by such companies: during their start-up
years, with venture financing; through their high growth years, with private
placements and underwriting of initial public offerings; and through their years
of mature growth and expansion, with research coverage, market-making, follow-on
equity and debt placements and merger and acquisition capability.

    Since 1968, the Firm has managed or co-managed over 560 public offerings
totaling more than $20.0 billion and has been a major investor in over 450
venture capital investments.  In addition, the Firm participates in other
underwritings managed by the major investment banking firms of Wall Street.

2.  RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

    The Firm operates primarily as a venture capital company and a broker-
dealer.  The Firm makes venture investments and earns fees and override
distributions from the management of venture investment partnerships.  The
Firm's broker-dealer subsidiary, H&Q LLC, derives its revenues from the sale of
securities to institutional and individual investors, trading as a principal in
securities, underwriting activities, fees earned advising others on mergers and
acquisitions, issuing valuation opinions and from its private placement
activities.  Other operating subsidiaries primarily earn revenues from
investment management activities.

    COMBINED H&Q GROUP AND H&Q LP RESULTS FOR FISCAL 1995

    Pretax operating income for fiscal 1995 was $40.9 million compared to $16.1
million for the previous year.  Securities/investment gains were $33.2 million
versus $13.1 million in fiscal 1994.  Net income for the year was $51.6 million
compared to $19.1 million for the previous year.

    Total revenues increased to $185.6 million from $108.3 million.  The
increase is primarily attributable to a $41.1 million, or 141%, increase in
underwriting revenue due to the heavy


                                         -7-

<PAGE>

underwriting calendar in fiscal 1995.  The Firm managed or co-managed 71
underwritings compared to 36 the previous year.  Operating expense for the year
was $144 million compared to $91.9 million the previous year.  This increase was
primarily due to compensation expense related to the increase in revenues, as
well as a 17% increase in personnel.  The largest component of
securities/investment gains was the mark-up of the Firm's position in Bisys
(formerly Concord), accounting for $19.9 million and $5.3 million in fiscal 1995
and 1994.

    YEARS ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1994 AND 1993

         NET INCOME     Net income for fiscal 1994 was $13.7 million compared
to $15.3 million in fiscal 1993.  Operating profits dropped $10 million between
fiscal '93 and '94, but securities gains increased $7.7 million due mainly to
the gain in the aforementioned Concord Holding Corporation.

         REVENUES  The Firm's consolidated revenues were $108.3 million in
fiscal 1994 compared to $109 million in 1993.

         EXPENSES  The increase in operating expenses between fiscal 93 and 94
was directly attributable to the increased staffing and businesses added in the
year.  Also, some key personnel had 50% of their salaries charged to operating
expense rather than directly to pools to provide for their administrative
capacities on a firmwide basis.

3.  INVESTMENT BANKING ACTIVITIES

    As an investment banking Firm, the Firm acts as an underwriter of
securities for technology, life sciences, services (including healthcare,
information, environmental and business services) and branded consumer product
companies in both initial public offerings and subsequent issues.  Mergers and
acquisitions, private placements and other financial advisory services are also
provided.

    In addition to the market risks and their economic effects described above,
there are other significant risks involved in the underwriting of securities,
especially initial public offerings.  Such securities have demonstrated a much
higher than average price volatility.  Also, many companies underwritten by the
Firm have a minimal operating history on which the pricing of such issues can be
based.  If the securities underwritten cannot be sold in whole, or in part at
the public offering price, the Firm is exposed to potential losses which could
significantly impair its financial condition.

4.  BROKERAGE ACTIVITIES

    As a securities broker, H&Q LLC acts as agent for its customers in the
purchase and sale of securities traded on exchanges or in the over-the-counter
market.  A major portion of its revenues is derived from commissions on such
transactions.  The Firm's own personnel execute the majority of over-the-counter
agency and New York Stock Exchange securities transactions, and independent
floor brokers execute most orders on the American, Pacific and Midwest Stock
Exchanges which are not routed to the various exchanges' small order execution
systems.

    The commission rate schedule for both exchange and over-the-counter
transactions is determined by management.  Institutional sales are most often
executed at negotiated rates, whereas commissions on retail sales are generally
negotiated only on large transactions.  There is pressure from institutional
buyers on commissions charged by brokerage firms.

    The Firm has established approximately 30,000 brokerage accounts with
customers located throughout the United States, Europe and Asia of which a
significant percentage are financial institutions.  Institutional investors
include mutual funds, banks, insurance companies, investment


                                         -8-

<PAGE>

advisers, pension funds, foundations and endowment funds.  A substantial
majority of the Firm's brokerage revenue has historically been derived from
institutional accounts.  The Firm also derives a substantial portion of its
revenues from foreign sources, primarily in Western Europe and Japan.

    The most significant portion of the Firm's brokerage business is in the
over-the-counter market.  However, a wider variety of products has been made
available to customers, including listed stocks and bonds, listed options and
municipal bonds.

    H&Q LLC self-clears its brokerage business through Lewco Securities
Corporation.  Lewco is a joint venture with Schroeder Wertheim, Inc., and it
provides operations and computer services to the Firm.

5.  DEALER AND MARKET-MAKING ACTIVITIES
    H&Q LLC makes over-the-counter markets in approximately 297 securities. 
When the Firm has been the managing or co-managing underwriter of a securities
offering, it generally makes a market in that security following completion of
the offering.  The Firm's market-making activities are conducted with other
dealers in the "wholesale" market through the use of NASDAQ and a network of
direct lines and in the "retail" market in which, as dealer, the Firm buys from
and sells to its own customers.

    So long as it holds securities in inventory, the Firm is exposed to all of
the customary risks of securities ownership, including the substantial risk of
fluctuations in market value.  It is anticipated that the Firm's market-making
activities will continue in the future.

6.  RESEARCH

    An experienced institutional research team provides analytical coverage
spanning a number of industries with a focus primarily on life sciences,
technology, services and branded consumer products companies.  In addition to
continual monitoring and publishing reports and investment studies on over 300
such companies, the research team publishes comprehensive investment studies on
emerging areas of electronic and life sciences technology.  The research team
also assists in screening and/or evaluating financing for the Firm's venture
capital and corporate finance groups.

7.  VENTURE CAPITAL ACTIVITIES

    The Firm makes venture investments for itself and on the behalf of others. 
At September 30, 1995 the Firm owned direct investments in emerging growth
companies and in venture investment companies totaling $58.8 million.  In
addition, in August, 1992, the Firm began a program of making investments for
others for which it receives override rights but no management fee.  As of
November 30, 1995, $35.7 million had been invested under this program.

    The Firm's venture capital activities are carried out primarily by H&QVP. 
H&QVP and other affiliated general partnerships presently manage five offshore
venture capital funds (Venture Associates (BVI) Limited, Anglo-Continental
Venture Investors (BVI) Limited, H&Q Ventures International C.V., Phoenix
Venture (BVI) Limited, and H&Q Taiwan Ventures), and four domestic venture
capital funds (H&Q Environmental Technology Fund, H&Q Ventures II, H&Q Ventures
III and H&Q Ventures IV).  Through H&Q Asset Management Ltd., H&QVP is the
manager of London American Growth Fund, a publicly traded investment company.
H&QVP also provides investment advisory services (for a portion of the
portfolio) to Ivory & Sime Enterprise Capital, a publicly traded investment
company in the United Kingdom.  The funds managed by H&QVP and its affiliates
have original committed capital in excess of $300 million.  In addition, H&Q
Group, through other affiliates, manages one corporate partnership, Adobe
Ventures, a $40 million fund.


                                         -9-

<PAGE>

    As general partner or fund manager, H&QVP or one of its affiliates
generally receives cash management fees as well as a share of the net gain
("override"), if any, of each of the funds it manages.  As a general partner of
the venture management partnerships, H&Q Group receives a portion of such
override units.  The aggregate cash management fees generated by these venture
management activities are generally greater than or equal to the total expenses
of the venture capital group.

    Management of H&QVP's venture capital is performed by William R. Hambrecht,
who serves as Managing Director of the group, with support from seven other
partners.  H&QVP's venture capital staff includes approximately 11 other
individuals.


    The Firm also serves as a minority general partner of H&Q LSV Managers, H&Q
LST Managers I, Northwest Venture Management Company, Wescot Management Company
and H&Q ETF Principals.  These venture capital management partnerships include
other partners, and each partnership acts as general partner of one or more
venture capital funds with an investment focus on companies in a particular
industry.  The Firm is also a limited partner of the general partner of LGM
Associates and Enterprise Management Partners, venture capital management
partnerships which include other individual partners located in Menlo Park and
Newport Beach, California, respectively.

8.  H&Q ASIA PACIFIC, LTD.

    H&Q Asia Pacific, Ltd. ("H&Q AP") was established in February 1990 as the
corporate successor to a business effort initiated by H&Q Group in 1985 with a
view toward creating one of the leading private equity investment firms of the
Asia Pacific region.  Today H&QAP employs approximately 53 employees including
29 professionals who operate from headquarters in San Francisco and offices in
Bangkok, Manila, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and Taipei.  H&QAP
manages ten venture funds with over $300 million of capital.  H&QAP's
professional employees own 50% of its equity with the balance being held by H&Q
Group.  Dr. Ta-lin Hsu, a Managing Director of H&Q Group, is the Chairman of H&Q
AP.

    Established in July 1986, H&Q Taiwan Co., Ltd. is a joint venture between
H&QAP (80%) and ORIX Capital (10%) and Baring Brothers (10%) and is the manager
of two fund companies, HanTech Venture Capital Corporation and HanMore Venture
Capital Investment Corporation.  HanTech is a US$28 million venture capital
company formed in 1986.  In 1990, US$7 million of HanTech's profits were
capitalized following realization of several of the fund's early investments. 
Approximately US$10 million of HanTech's original capital was used to form H&Q
Taiwan Ventures, C.V., which co-invests with other funds managed by H&Q Group in
U.S.-based technology and healthcare companies.  HanMore is a US$16 million fund
established in 1989 for investment in high technology companies in Taiwan and
the U.S. M.R. Lin is President of H&Q Taiwan.

    H&Q Philippines, Inc. was established in 1988 and is the manager of H&Q
Philippine Ventures, Inc., a venture capital fund organized in 1988 with the
assistance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).  This fund has committed capital
of US$16 million from international institutions as well as from leading local
corporations.  H&Q Philippines is also the Manager of H&Q Philippines Ventures
II, Inc., a US$16 million fund which closed in 1994.  Eduardo David is the
President of H&Q Philippines.

    H&Q Asia Pacific Venture Management Pte Ltd. (H&QAPVM) was established in
Singapore in 1988 to pursue venture capital investments in the countries of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).  In November of 1988, ASEAN Fund
Limited, a US$150 million fund raised by Nomura Securities, selected our firm to
establish and manage a portfolio of investments in unlisted companies.  With
approximately US$14 million allocated for this purpose,


                                         -10-

<PAGE>

H&QAPVM began making investments in early 1989.  H&QAPVM is also the manager of
H&Q Asia Ventures Ltd., a Singapore-based fund with capital of approximately
US$26 million.  William Seymour is Managing Director of H&QAPVM.

    In 1990, H&QAP teamed up with two prominent Thai institutions -- Bangkok
Bank Limited and Asia Securities Trading Co., Ltd. -- to form a joint venture
company in Thailand.  Today, H&Q (Thailand) Ltd. provides consulting services to
H&Q BVI Limited, which is engaged primarily in the management of Siam Ventures
N.V., a US$20 million fund which seeks to provide expansion capital to unlisted
companies based in Thailand.  Virapan Pulges is the Managing Director of H&Q
(Thailand), and William Chao is the Managing Director of H&Q BVI Limited.

    In 1991, H&QAP was selected by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation
(OPIQ to manage the Asia Pacific Growth Fund, which is a US$75 million fund that
closed in 1992, The fund invests in rapidly growing companies in the ASEAN
countries, Taiwan and Micronesia.  OPIC is a self-sustaining agency of the U.S.
government which provides political risk insurance and loan guarantees to U.S.
businesses.

    In 1993, H&Q AP formed a joint venture with the Malaysia Technology
Development Corporation to form a venture management company in Kuala Lumpur. 
MTDC-H&Q Venture Capital Management Sdn Bhd manages Malaysia Technology Venture
One Sdn Bhd a US$14 million fund.  Additionally, in 1995, a second fund,
Malaysia Technology Ventures 11 Sdn Bhd was closed with committed capital of
US$25.8 million.

    In 1994, H&Q AP teamed up with Aetna Investment Management (Bermuda)
Holding Limited and Bank of China Trust & Consultancy Company to raise and
manage the China Dynamic Growth Fund, L.P. This fund will focus on private
equity investments in China and currently has committed capital of US$76
million.

    H & Q Asia Pacific (Hong Kong) Limited also provides advisory services for
the funds portfolio companies.

9.  INVESTMENT ADVISORY ACTIVITIES

    HQCM is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act
of 1940 (the "Advisers Act").  Organized in October 1986, HQCM manages H&Q
Healthcare Investors, a registered investment company funded in a public
offering co-managed by H&Q LLC in April 1987 with total assets as of September
30, 1995 of approximately $120 million.  In May 1992 HQCM completed the
successful offering of H&Q Life Sciences Investors, also a registered investment
company for which H&Q LLC was also co-manager.  In addition, a rights offer by
that fund was successfully concluded in January, 1994.  It had total assets as
of September 30, 1995 of approximately $ 100 million.

    Atlantic Investment Advisers, Inc. is a registered investment adviser that
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of HQCM.  H&Q Asset Management Ltd. ("HQAM") is a
London-based asset management company (wholly owned by H&Q Group) that manages
the investments of H&Q London Ventures (LAVT).  H&Q Investment Advisers, Inc.
("HQIA") is a Boston-based investment adviser registered under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940.  HQIA manages the portfolios of individual investors.

11. REGULATION

    The Firm is subject to regulation by governmental authorities, securities
exchanges and other self-regulatory organizations.  These regulations are
primarily intended to benefit the Firm's customers rather than its shareholders
or employees.


                                         -11-

<PAGE>

    As a registered broker-dealer, H&Q LLC is subject to the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") Uniform Net Capital Rule 15c3-1 (the "Rule") and
the capital rules of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "Exchange"), of
which H&Q LLC is a member.  H&Q LLC has elected to compute its net capital
requirements under the "alternative" method, which requires net capital to be
the greater of $1,000,000 or 2% of the aggregate debit balances arising from
customers' transactions, as defined under the Rule.  As of September 30, 1995,
the Firm's net capital exceeded required minimum net capital by approximately
$28.2 million.  The Rule provides that equity capital may not be withdrawn or
cash dividends paid if the resulting net capital of a broker-dealer would be
less than the amounts required under the Rule.  Accordingly, the payment of
dividends and advances to H&Q Group by H&Q LLC is limited to excess net capital
under the most restrictive of these requirements.

    H&Q LLC is registered with the SEC as a broker-dealer under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act").  The Exchange Act regulates
securities exchanges and many aspects of the business of a registered broker-
dealer, including the hypothecation of securities held for customers' accounts
and certain trading activities such as short-selling and stabilization. 
Pursuant to the Exchange Act, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System has adopted regulations regarding margin requirements of broker-dealers.

    H&Q LLC is also a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. (the "NASD").  The NASD has promulgated rules governing member Firms to
promote just and equitable principles of trade, including guidelines respecting
the amount of commissions or markup which a broker-dealer or underwriter may
charge for its services, requirements for the underwriting, sale and
distribution of securities, rules governing the administration of customers'
margin accounts, and the requirement that salesmen take qualifying examinations.
All persons employed as account executives, office managers and securities
traders are required to be registered with the NASD.

    H&Q LLC is registered as a broker-dealer and is subject to regulation under
the securities or "blue sky" laws of most states.  These laws impose certain
restrictions on the manner in which securities may be advertised and sold and
also require the registration or licensing of personnel and the filing of
reports.

    The Firm is also subject to the various provisions of the Securities Act of
1933 (the "Securities Act") and to other provisions of the Exchange Act and
state laws which impose penalties and civil liabilities for fraud, manipulation
and unfairness in the conduct of securities transactions.

    As registered investment advisers, HQCM, Atlantic Investment Advisers, Inc.
and HQIA are subject to regulation by the SEC under the Advisers Act and by the
California Department of Corporations and/or other state regulatory agencies. 
HQAM is a member of and is subject to regulation by the Investment Management
Regulatory Organization Limited in London, England.

    The venture capital funds managed by H&Q Group and its affiliates are
relying on exemptions from the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Advisers
Act to avoid regulation under such acts.  A failure to qualify for such
exemptions in the future could have a material adverse effect on the manner in
which the funds carry out their investment activities and on the compensation
received by the Firm from the funds.

    Violations of federal or state laws or the regulatory provisions of the
agencies or authorities having jurisdiction over the Firm could subject it or
its employees to disciplinary proceedings or civil or criminal liability,
including revocations of licenses, censures, fines or temporary or permanent
suspension from the conduct of its business.  Such proceedings could have
serious adverse effects upon all phases of the Firm's business.


                                         -12-

<PAGE>

12. EMPLOYEES

    As of September 30, 1995, the Firm had approximately 500 full-time
employees, of whom 221 were engaged in sales and sales support functions
(including brokerage, market making and operations), 90 were engaged in
investment banking, 54 were engaged in research, 48 were engaged in venture
capital and investment advisory activities, and 87 were engaged in management,
administration and general support functions.

13. PROPERTIES

    The Firm's facilities (a total of approximately 160,000 square feet) are
leased.  The leases for these offices have terms ranging from 1 to 10 years with
options.  The annual rent for offices of the Firm in fiscal 1995 was $4.6
million (including subtenant income).  The Firm's annual rent in fiscal 1996 is
projected to be $4.9 million.


                                      MANAGEMENT

1.  DIRECTORS AND SENIOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

    As of September 30, 1995, the directors and senior executive officers of
H&Q Group and H&Q LLC are as follows:

 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                            H&Q GROUP                     H&Q LLC
    NAME                     AGE            OFFICE(S)                     OFFICE(S)
    ----                     ---            ---------                     ---------

  <S>                        <C>       <C>                           <C>
  William R. Hambrecht       60        Chairman of the Board         Chairman of the Board
                                            of Directors                  of Directors

  Daniel H. Case III         38             President,                    President,
                                       Chief Executive Officer       Chief Executive Officer
                                            and Director                  and Director

  William R. Timken          60        Vice Chairman                 Vice Chairman

  Paul L. Hallingby          49                                      Executive Vice President

  Cristina M. Morgan         43                                      Senior Vice President

  David M. McAuliffe         46                                      Senior Vice President

  Bruce M. Lupatkin          39                                      Senior Vice President

  Raymond J. Minehan         54        Vice President and            Senior Vice President and
                                       Chief Financial Officer        Chief Financial Officer

  Steven N. Machtinger       46    Vice President, General Counsel     Senior Vice President,
                                            and Secretary                 General Counsel
                                                                           and Secretary

  William E. Mayer           55               Director

  Howard B. Hillman          61               Director

  Edmund H. Shea, Jr.        66               Director

  Lawrence J. Stupski        50               Director

</TABLE>
 


                                         -13-

<PAGE>

    William R. Hambrecht is Chairman of H&Q Group and its principal subsidiary,
H&Q LLC.  He has continuously served as an officer, director or principal of
those entities or their predecessors since he and the late George Quist co-
founded Hambrecht & Quist in 1968.  Mr. Hambrecht also serves on the Board of
Directors of Adobe Systems, Inc., Redbrick Systems, Inc., Castelle, Vanguard
Airlines, Inc. and several private companies.  He holds a B. A. degree from
Princeton University.

    William R. Timken has been a Director of the Firm since its incorporation
in 1983 and was made Vice Chairman in April of 1992.  He was a founder and
managing general partner of Hambrecht & Quist (the predecessor partnership).  He
heads the Firm's syndicate department.

    Daniel H. Case III joined the firm in 1981 as an associate in the Corporate
Finance Department.  He has also served as an associate in the Venture Capital
Group, both in San Francisco and London.  Mr. Case rejoined Corporate Finance
and became its Managing Director and a Senior Vice President of the Firm in
December of 1987.  In October of 1989 he was elected Executive Vice President. 
In April of 1992 he was elected President and Co-Chief Executive Officer and
elected a Director of H&Q Group.  He was elected Chief Executive Officer in
October 1994.

    Paul L. Hallingby joined the Firm in 1983 as an institutional salesman.  He
was named Managing Director of the Research Department in June of 1988, and was
elected Executive Vice President in October of 1990.  In July 1992 he was named
Managing Director of Sales and Trading.

    Cristina M. Morgan joined the firm in 1982 as an Associate Analyst in the
Research department.  In 1985 she transferred to the position of Principal in
the Corporate Finance department.  In 1990 Ms. Morgan was elected Managing
Director and Head of Technology Equities Group in Corporate Finance and in 1992
she was named Co-Head of Investment Banking.

    David M. McAuliffe joined H&Q Group during July 1995 as Managing Director &
CoHead of Investment Banking.  Prior to joining the Firm, David spent twenty
years in Investment Banking and Merchant Banking at Kidder Peabody & Co. At
Kidder Peabody & Co., David served as Executive Managing Director and Co-Head of
the Global Investment Banking Division.  He also served on Kidder's Executive
Committee, Management Committee and Board of Directors.  David currently serves
on H&Q Group's Operating Committee and Commitment Committee.

    Bruce M. Lupatkin joined the Firm in 1984 as a Research Analyst.  In 1990
Mr. Lupatkin was appointed Co-Head of Technology Strategy, and in 1991 was
promoted to Managing Director.  In 1992 he was named Co-Head of Research and
also became a member of the Operating Committee.  During October, 1994 Mr.
Lupatkin assumed the title of Director of Research and assumed responsibility
for management of the west coast Institutional Sales Group.
    
    Raymond J. Minehan came to the Finn as Managing Director and Chief
Financial Officer in November of 1989.  Prior to joining that, he had been with
Arthur Andersen & Co. in San Francisco since 1972, and had been a partner with
that firm since 1984.

    Steven N. Machtinger joined the Firm in 1988 as Vice President and General
Counsel.  In 1990, he was elected a Managing Director.  Prior to joining the
Firm, he spent 5 years at Birr Wilson Securities as Executive Vice President and
General Counsel.  He was an attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission
from 1974 to 1983.


                                         -14-

<PAGE>

    William E. Mayer was elected to the Board of Directors in April of 1992. 
In October, 1992 Mr. Mayer was appointed dean of the College of Business and
Management at the University of Maryland, College Park.  He is the former
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CS First Boston Merchant Bank.  Before
the establishment of CS First Boston Merchant Bank in 1990, he was President and
Chief Executive Officer of the First Boston Corporation.

    Howard B. Hillman joined the Board of H&Q Group in July of 1989.  He was an
Officer of Chemical Bank from 1960 to 1969, and has been a venture capitalist
since leaving Chemical Bank.  Mr. Hillman became a Director of Auto-trol
Technology in 1973 and its President in April, 1985.  He also currently serves
as Auto-trol's Chairman.

    Edmund H. Shea, Jr. was elected a Director of 14&Q Group in November of
1986.  He is a co-founder of J.F. Shea Co., Inc., a diversified civil
construction, land development and venture investments company, and has served
as its Executive Vice President in charge of Venture Capital since 1968.  He
serves on the Board of Directors of ADAC Laboratories Inc., Vanguard Airlines,
Rexon, Inc., Zymed, Inc. and various subsidiaries of JR Shea Co., Inc.  Mr. Shea
is also on the Advisory Committee of Bay Partners and Oak Investment Partners.

    Lawrence J. Stupski was elected a Director of H&Q Group in October of 1984. 
He is Vice Chairman of The Charles Schwab Corporation.  Before assuming the
position of Vice Chairman, he was President and Chief Operating Officer for more
than a decade.  Mr. Stupski's industry affiliations include serving on the Board
of Governors of the Pacific Stock Exchange from 1982 to 1985, Director for the
Chicago Board Options Exchange from 1990 to 1991, and serving on the Securities
and Exchange Commission Consumer Advisory Committee in 1994.

2.  BENEFITS

    The Firm has employed various incentive compensation plans in order to
attract, retain and motivate highly qualified individuals.  In addition to
salaries, professionals (including officers) whose activities generate
commissions or fees are paid a substantial percentage of those commissions or
fees.

    The Firm has established discretionary bonus pools for distribution to
personnel whose compensation is not based on commission income.  Contributions
to these pools are based principally on revenue production and distributions are
made based on an overall appraisal of individual performance including
contributions to revenue production.  Executive and administrative management
bonus pool contributions are based on Firm earnings and distributions are made
based on individual performance appraisals.

    The Firm has adopted a Savings and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the
"SESOP") in which all United States employees are eligible to participate after
six months of service.  The SESOP is comprised of two major benefit plans: (1) a
salary deferral (or 401(k)) plan, in which the Firm matches every dollar
contributed by employees with a dollar's worth of its Common Stock up to a
certain amount (currently $3500.00 per year); and (2) a profit-sharing plan
which was instituted in 1976 for the predecessor partnership.  Subsequent to the
adoption of the SESOP no contributions to the profit-sharing plan have been made
and none are anticipated (although the plan continues to allocate participant
forfeitures).  Employees' units in their discretionary ESOP and profit-sharing
accounts begin vesting after three years of service, at 30%, and become fully
vested after 7 years of service with the Firm.  The amount of the annual
matching contribution is discretionary except that it must be sufficient to
enable the Plan to match participant salary deferrals up to the annual maximum
amount.  The Firm's ESOP contribution for Fiscal 1995 was $1,078,037.

    The Firm established a Stock Option Plan (the 1985 Option Plan) as of
September 30, 1985.  A total of 1,000,000 shares were authorized for granting of
options.  As of September 30,


                                         -15-

<PAGE>

1995 options for 219,602 shares had been granted and are exercisable at prices
ranging from $8.41 to $18.10 per share.  Of the outstanding options at September
30, 1995, 196,802 have "vested" and are no longer subject to the Company's right
of first repurchase at the exercise price.

    In addition to the options issued under the 1985 Option Plan, the Firm has
granted 362,005 options outside of the 1985 Option Plan.  These options, of
which 220,298 have vested, have been granted to officers and directors of the
Firm and are exercisable at prices ranging from $8.41 to $21.60 per share.

    Additionally, the Firm has agreed to issue options for 152,000 shares under
the 1995 Stock Option Plan, pending approval of the Plan by the shareholders of
H&Q Group and qualification with the California Department of Corporations. 
Such options will be exercisable at $21.60 per share.  The 1995 Stock Option
Plan authorizes a total of 500,000 shares pursuant to the exercise of options.

    Effective October 1, 1992 the Finn established a Stock Appreciation Rights
(SAR) program for certain key executives.  The SARs are granted as of each
October 1st, for a term of one year (to coincide with the Firm's fiscal year)
and vest over three years.  The Firm awarded 307,500, 438,000, and 529,500 SARs
as of October 1, 1993, 1994, and 1995, respectively.  The SARs will result in
additional compensation to the executives based on the increase, if any, in the
Firm's book value during the fiscal year following the date of award.

    The Firm provides its employees with group life, medical and long-term
disability insurance and other benefits which are believed competitive with
similar programs offered by other employers in the securities industry.

                                PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

    The following table shows the beneficial ownership (including any shares
which a person has the right to acquire within 60 days) of the Common Stock
(which is H&Q Group's only class of authorized and outstanding securities) as of
September 30, 1995 by (a) each person with beneficial ownership of more than 10%
of the outstanding Common Stock, (b) all other directors and senior executive
officers of H&Q Group and H&Q LLC, taken together.

 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NAME AND ADDRESS                       NUMBER OF SHARES OWNED             PERCENT OF
  OF OWNER                           (INCLUDING VESTED OPTIONS)         VOTABLE SHARES
  --------                           --------------------------         --------------

<S>                                  <C>                                <C>
William R. Hambrecht                           645,965                      17.71%
One Bush St.
S.F., CA 94104


All other directors and senior               1,312,405
executive officers of H&Q         (300,980 of which are vested options)     27.74%
Group and H&Q LLC
(13 persons)

</TABLE>

 

    All shares owned by the SESOP have been allocated to participants.  The
Trustees, William R. Hambrecht, Raymond J. Minehan and Steven N. Machtinger, are
required to vote shares that have been allocated to participants according to
the participants' directions.


                                         -16-

<PAGE>

                                PRINCIPAL UNIT HOLDERS

    The following table shows the beneficial ownership (including any Units
which a person has the right to acquire within 60 days) of Class A and Class B
Units of H&Q LP (taken together) as of September 30, 1995 by (a) each person
with beneficial ownership of more than 10% of the outstanding Class A and Class
B Units (taken together), (b) all other directors and senior executive officers
of H&Q Group and H&Q LLC, taken together.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NAME AND ADDRESS                                                PERCENT OF
   OF OWNER                  NUMBER OF UNITS OWNED              TOTAL UNITS
   --------                  ---------------------              -----------

<S>                          <C>                                <C>
William R. Hambrecht                12,794                         14.61%
One Bush St.
S.F., CA 94104

H&Q Group                           12,596                         14.38%
One Bush Street
S.F., CA 94104

Daniel H. Case III                  9,220                          10.53%
One Bush Street
S.F., CA 94104

All other directors and senior      23,038                         22.42%
executive officers of H&Q
Group and H&Q LLC
(12 persons)

</TABLE>

                                 CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

    H&Q Group has made numerous sales of Common Stock to directors, officers
and other employees since it incorporated on January 1, 1983.  In each case, the
investor purchased the stock at the Net Book Value as of the date of issuance,
as determined by the Board, and executed the Shareholders' Agreement dated as of
January 1, 19839 if not already a party.  A copy of the Shareholders' Agreement
is attached as Exhibit E to this Memorandum.

    During fiscal year 1993 15,000 shares of stock at $11.22 were repurchased
from officers and directors; 229,720 shares were sold to officers and directors
at prices ranging from $8.16 to $11.22 per share; and 2,000 options to purchase
stock were granted at $11.22 per share and 41,042 options were granted at $11.22
per share outside the 1985 Stock Option Plan.

    During fiscal year 1994, 2,500 shares of stock at $15.37 were repurchased
from officers and directors; 42,000 shares, were sold to officers and directors
at $15.37 per share; and 41,304 options were granted at $15.37 per share outside
the 1985 Stock Option Plan.

    During fiscal year 1995, 3,700 shares of stock at $21.60 were repurchased
from officers and directors; 216,750 shares were sold to officers and directors
at prices ranging from $9.38 to $21.60 per share, of which 63,250 shares are
pending qualification with the California Department of Corporations; and 80,159
options to purchase shares of stock were granted at prices ranging from $18.38
to $21.60 per share, of which 74,159 were issued outside the 1985 Stock Option
Plan and 6,000 are pending qualification with the California Department of
Corporations.


                                         -17-

<PAGE>

    During fiscal year 1994, the initial offering year for H&Q LP, 27,704 Class
A Units and 11,401 Class B Units were sold to officers and directors of H&Q
Group and H&Q LLC at prices ranging from $15.37 to $47.50 per Unit. No Units
were repurchased from such officers or directors.  In connection with the
exercise of H&Q Group stock options, 20 Class B Units were converted to Class A
Units.

    During fiscal year 1995, 74 Class A Units and 1,348 Class B Units were
repurchased from officers and directors of H&Q Group and H&Q LLC at prices
ranging from $47.50 to $194.75 per Unit, and 2,355 Class A Units and 1,603 Class
B Units were sold to officers and directors at prices ranging from $15.37 to
$194.75 per Unit.  In connection with the exercise of H&Q Group stock options,
2,313 Class B Units were converted to Class A Units.

    Consistent with the Firm's policy of encouraging professional employees to
invest personally in companies with which the Firm has established a
relationship, directors, officers and other employees of the Firm often make
venture capital investments side-by-side with H&Q Group or venture capital funds
managed by the Firm.  H&Q Group (or one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries) acts
as general partner of Hamquist, H&Q Investors and H&Q Nova 1983, each of which
is a venture capital limited partnership consisting of investors who are all
shareholders, employees or former employees of the Firm and who meet certain
suitability requirements regarding investment sophistication and financial net
worth.  Employees of the Firm are also permitted to invest in partnerships which
are created for the purpose of making investments in specific venture companies.
Hamco Capital Corporation, a Small Business Investment Company that is wholly-
owned by William R. Hambrecht and his family, also regularly invests side-by-
side with the Firm's venture capital funds.  Side-by-side investments are
generally made on the same terms as those applicable to other participants in
the same transaction.

    Investments are also made from time to time by the above-described venture
capital funds as well as directly by directors, officers and other employees in
private placements for which H&Q LLC acts as placement agent and receives a
placement fee from the issuer.  Such purchases, made directly or through special
purpose partnerships, are made on the same terms that pertain to investors
unaffiliated with the Firm.

    The amount, if any, invested by any director, officer or other employee in
any side-by-side investment or venture capital fund is determined by that person
in light of the amount of investment offered to him and his personal financial
resources and investment objectives.

    From time to time, directors, officers and other employees of the Firm may
buy or sell securities to or from H&Q LLC as principal or through H&Q LLC as
agent in its capacity as a registered securities broker-dealer.  Such
transactions are generally executed on terms (i.e., commissions, mark-ups and
mark-downs) more favorable to the employee-customer than those available to
similarly-situated non-employee customers of the Firm.

                        LITIGATION AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

    As is the case with many firms in the securities industry, H&Q LLC, the
Firm's wholly-owned brokerage subsidiary, is a defendant or co-defendant in a
number of lawsuits which seek substantial but unspecified damages.  These suits
have arisen in the normal course of business and are incidental to the
securities and investment banking business.  Most of the proceedings relate to
public underwriting of securities in which H&Q LLC participated as a manager,
co-manager or member of the underwriting syndicate.  In these cases, it is
possible that H&Q LLC may be called upon under the terms of the underwriting
agreements to contribute to settlements or judgments.


                                         -18-

<PAGE>

    In class action suits of this type, the Firm has the greatest potential
exposure in litigation involving underwritings it managed or co-managed.  H&Q
LLC has been included among the defendants in civil class actions filed in
connection with underwritings in which it acted as co-managing underwriter, as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                     H&Q
                                  Offering       Underwriting    Size of
    Issuer                          Date          Percentage     0ffering
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    <S>                           <C>            <C>           <C>
    ComputerVision Corporation      8/92              25       $300,000,000
    Dataware Technologies, Inc.     6/93              29         29,250,000

</TABLE>

The ComputerVision case was dismissed by the District Court but the plaintiffs
have appealed.

    In addition to the above litigation, H&Q Group and affiliated entities are
among several defendants in a purported class action lawsuit brought by a
purchaser of $25,000 of MiniScribe Corporation debt securities.  The district
court has declined to certify a similar claim as a class action.  In addition,
H&Q Group is a defendant in two lawsuits relating to its venture capital
activities.  One lawsuit was brought by a corporation which was a co-investor in
a company in which H&Q Group had a venture capital investment; it claims that an
offering in which H&Q Group and others participated was unfairly dilutive to its
investment.  The other such lawsuit is a purported class action by a shareholder
of a company in which H&Q Group was a co-founder and substantial shareholder;
H&Q Group is a defendant based on allegations that it was a controlling person
and a participant in an alleged conspiracy to commit securities law violations. 
In addition, the Firm has been advised that it has been named as a defendant in
a lawsuit recently filed in California State court relating to a merger in which
it served as a financial adviser to the acquired company.  Finally, H&Q LLC was
named as one of approximately thirty-three broker-dealers who are defendants in
purported class action cases alleging anti-trust violations in connection with
NASDAQ market-making activities.  Substantial damages are sought in each of
these lawsuits.

    In addition to the above actions, the Firm is aware of approximately 33
pending lawsuits concerning underwritings in which H&Q LLC participated as a
member of the underwriting syndicate from March 1983 to May 1995.  H&Q Group has
agreed to indemnify H&Q LLC against any expense or liability it may incur in
connection with such lawsuits.  In such lawsuits, all members of the
underwriting syndicate are typically included as members of a defendant class
and/or are required by law or pursuant to the terms of the underwriting
agreement to bear a portion of any expenses or losses (including amounts paid in
settlement of the litigation) incurred by the underwriters as a group in
connection with the litigation (to the extent not covered by the indemnification
obligation of the issuer of the securities underwritten pursuant to the
underwriting agreement).

    In addition to the securities litigation described above, the Firm and
certain current and former employees are the subject of a lawsuit filed by a
former employee alleging discrimination in employment based on race and
disability, and defamation.

    H&Q Group's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws allow indemnification of
the Firm's officers, directors and agents to the maximum extent permitted under
California law.  Under these provisions, the Firm itself has been and will be
the subject of indemnification assertions by officers, directors or agents of
the Firm who are or may become defendants in the above-described or other
litigation.

    The Firm is contesting the allegations and believes that it has meritorious
defenses in each of these lawsuits.  Although the ultimate outcome of such
litigation cannot be ascertained at this time, it is the opinion of the Firm's
management that the resolution of these actions will not have a


                                         -19-

<PAGE>

material adverse effect on the Firm's consolidated financial position or its
operations.  An adverse resolution of any of these lawsuits would materially
affect the Firm's financial position.

    Because of the Firm's investment banking, securities brokerage, money
management and venture capital activities, as well as the directorships in
client companies held by the Firm's officers and employees, there is a risk of
contingent or actual liabilities in the future from securities litigation.  As
the number of suits in which the Firm is a party (or is an indemnifying party)
increases, the exposure and risk to the Firm's assets also increases.  A large
judgment or settlement against an underwriter defendant class, or against the
Firm alone, would have an adverse effect on the Net Book Value of the Firm's
Stock.  In addition, the amount of time which management and other employees are
required to devote in connection with the defense of such litigation could be
substantial and might detract materially from their attention to their other
responsibilities with the Firm.

                                 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

    Following are unaudited consolidated financial statements of H&Q Group and
subsidiaries and of H&Q LP as of December 31, 1995 and audited consolidated
financial statements of H&Q Group and subsidiaries and of H&Q LP as of September
30, 1995.  Audited consolidated financial statements of H&Q Group and
subsidiaries and of H&Q LP for prior years are available upon request from the
Legal Department.


                                         -20-

<PAGE>



                               HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP

                     UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1995



<PAGE>



                               HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.

                            UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1995



<PAGE>



                               HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP

                      AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                               AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1995



<PAGE>



                               HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.

                             AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                               AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1995



<PAGE>



                      DESCRIPTION OF THE 1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN



                                    - Exhibit A -



<PAGE>

                      DESCRIPTION OF THE 1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN

1.  GENERAL

    The 1995 Stock Option Plan (the "SOP") was established to enable the Firm
to attract and provide an incentive to directors, officers, key employees and
consultants by offering them an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in
the Firm.  The SOP is administered by a Committee (the "Committee") made up of
members of the Board of Directors of H&Q Group (the "Board").  The SOP was
approved by the Board on January 8, 1996 and became effective on September 30,
1995.  Approval of the shareholders of H&Q Group was received on January
25,1996. The SOP will terminate automatically on September 29, 2005 unless
sooner terminated by the Board.  The full text of the SOP is contained in
Exhibit B, and the following description of the essential features of the SOP is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the SOP.

2.  SHARES AUTHORIZED AND PURCHASE PRICE

    The SOP authorizes issuance of ISOs and NSOs which grant options for the
sale of up to 500,000 shares of Common Stock.  At this time the Firm is no
longer granting ISO stock options.

Options will be granted with option prices set at at least 85% of the Common
Stock's fair market value at the time of issuance as determined in good faith by
the Board.

3.  ELIGIBILITY

    ISOs may be granted only to employees of the Firm, while NSOs may be
granted to directors, officers, key employees and consultants.  The issuance of
options to specific eligible individuals is authorized by the Committee, based
upon the recommendation of management.

4.  SPECIAL RIGHT OF REPURCHASE

    In the case of both ISOs and NSOs, one hundred percent (100%) of the shares
granted to an individual under the SOP are subject to a special right (but not
an obligation) of repurchase by the Company at the original exercise price,
which right is in addition to whatever similar rights are provided under the
Shareholders' Agreement.  This repurchase right lapses at the rate of 20% per
year from the date of grant of the option until the special right of repurchase
completely terminates on the fifth anniversary of the date of grant.  Options
held by an officer or director of or consultant to the Company may be subject to
additional or greater restrictions.  The terms and conditions of this special
right of repurchase (essentially equivalent to a "vesting" provision) are set
forth in the specific Option Agreement between the optionee and the Firm.

5.  EXERCISE OF OPTION AND TERMS OF SALE

    The number of shares to be purchased and the purchase price, type of
consideration and other terms and conditions applicable to each purchase made
pursuant to the option are established by the terms of the Option Agreement
between the optionee and the Firm.  The terms and conditions of the Stock
Purchase Agreement and Shareholders' Agreement which are utilized in connection
with sales under the SOP are described in the Memorandum under the heading
"Description of Shareholders' Agreement and Limited Partnership Agreement."

6.  NO UNDERWRITERS OR DEALERS

    Sales are made under the SOP without the use of any underwriters or
dealers, and no discount, commission or other compensation is allowed or paid to
any such persons in connection with sales of shares under the SOP.

<PAGE>

7.  EXERCISE OF OPTION

    When an optionee decides to exercise his option, he must submit (within 
the term of the option) his exercise notice, full payment in whatever form 
has been designated, and a signed Stock Purchase Agreement, which sets forth 
the basic terms and conditions of the sale, including the number of shares, 
purchase price and type of consideration to be paid at the time of purchase.  
Execution of the Stock Purchase Agreement constitutes effective execution of 
the Shareholders' Agreement, unless a different arrangement is made in a 
particular instance by the Board.

8.  LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY OF COMMON STOCK

    Shares of Common Stock purchased under the SOP are generally subject to the
following restrictions on transfer:

    (a)  SHAREHOLDERS' AGREEMENT. Each purchaser under the SOP will become 
subject to the Shareholders' Agreement, which contains a right of repurchase 
(this is in addition to the special right of repurchase specified in tile 
Option Agreement, described above) and a right of first refusal option as 
described in the Memorandum under "Description of Shareholders' Agreement and 
Limited Partnership Agreement." All certificates for shares of Common Stock 
will bear a legend stating that they are subject to the foregoing restrictions.

    (b)  ABSENCE OF PUBLIC MARKET.  The shares of Common Stock sold under the 
SOP are not traded on any exchange or in any other public market, and the 
Firm does not presently anticipate taking any steps to cause such a public 
market to exist. Consequently, purchasers should not expect to find a public 
market for any shares of Common Stock.  The sale of the shares of Common 
Stock is being made in reliance on an exemption from registration provided by 
the Securities Act of 1933 and all shares being acquired under the SOP are to 
be acquired for investment for the purchaser's own account, not as nominee or 
agent, and not with a view to the sale or distribution of any shares.

    (c)  THE SOP.  In the event the Option is exercised prior to the expiration
of the Film's special right of repurchase, the certificates will bear a 
legend reflecting the Firm's special right of repurchase at the original 
exercise price.


<PAGE>


                               HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP
                                1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                         NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


       THIS AGREEMENT, entered into as of  _________________________,
_________ between Hambrecht & Quist Group, a California corporation (the
"Company"), and __________________ _______________________  (the "Optionee"),

                                     WITNESSETH:

       WHEREAS, the Company's Board of Directors has established the Hambrecht
& Quist Group 1995 Stock Option Plan in order to provide the employees,
directors of and Consultants to the Company and its Subsidiaries with an
opportunity to acquire Common Stock of the Company; and

       WHEREAS, the Committee has determined that it would be in the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders to grant the nonstatutory stock
option described in this Agreement to the Optionee as an inducement to enter
into or remain in the service of the Company and as an incentive for
extraordinary efforts during such service:

       NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed as follows:

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

       (a)  "AGREEMENT" shall mean this Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement.

       (b)  "BOARD" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company, as
constituted from time to time.

       (c)  "CODE" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

       (d)  "COMMITTEE" shall mean the Committee of the Board described in
Section 3 of the Plan or, if none has been appointed, the full Board.

       (e)  "CONSULTANT" shall mean any individual who is a consultant to the
Company or a Subsidiary.

       (f)  "DATE OF GRANT" shall mean the date on which the Committee resolved
to grant this Option, which is the date as of which this Agreement is entered
into.

       (g)  "EMPLOYEE" shall mean any individual who is an employee (within the
meaning of Section 3401(c) of the Code and the regulations thereunder) of the
Company or of a Subsidiary.

       (h)  "EXERCISE PRICE" shall mean the amount for which one Share may be
purchased upon exercise of this option, as specified in Section 2(a) hereof.

       (i)  "NONSTATUTORY OPTION" shall mean a stock option not intended to be
an "Incentive Stock Option" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.


<PAGE>

       (j)  "OPTION" shall mean the nonstatutory stock option granted under
this Agreement.

       (k)  "PARTIAL EXERCISE" shall mean an exercise with respect to less than
all of the remaining Shares subject to this Option.

       (l)  "PLAN" shall mean the Hambrecht & Quist Group 1995 Stock Option
Plan, as in effect on the Date of Grant.

       (m)  "PURCHASE PRICE" shall mean the Exercise Price multiplied by the
number of Shares with respect to which this Option is being exercised.

       (n)  "RESTRICTED SHARES" shall mean a Share which is subject to the
Company's right of repurchase under Section 8 hereof.

       (o)  "RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL" shall mean the Company's right of first
refusal described in Section 9 hereof.

       (p)  "SECURITIES ACT" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

       (q)  "SERVICE" shall mean service as an Employee, Consultant or as a
director of the Company or a Subsidiary.

       (r)  "SHARE" shall mean one share of Stock, as adjusted in accordance
with Section 14 hereof (if applicable).

       (s)  "SHAREHOLDERS' AGREEMENT" shall mean the Shareholders' Agreement
dated as of January 1, 1983, as amended, among all of the Company's
shareholders, or any successor agreement thereto.

       (t)  "STOCK" shall mean the Common Stock of the Company.

       (u)  "SUBSIDIARY" shall mean any corporation, if the Company and/or one
or more other Subsidiaries own not less than 50% of the total combined voting
power of all classes of outstanding stock of such corporation.

       (v)  "TEST RATE" shall mean the lowest rate of interest which will not
result in the imputation of additional interest under the applicable provision
of the Code.

       (w)  "TRANSFEREE" shall mean any person to whom the Optionee has
directly or indirectly transferred any Share acquired under this Agreement.

SECTION 2. GRANT OF OPTION.

       (a)  OPTION.  On the terms and conditions stated below, the Company
hereby grants to the Optionee the Option to purchase _________________ (______)
Shares for the sum of_________________ ($________ per Share), which is agreed to
be 100% of the fair market value thereof on the Date of Grant.

       (b)  STOCK OPTION PLAN.  This Option is granted pursuant to the Plan, a
copy of which the Optionee acknowledges having received and read.


                                          2

<PAGE>

       (c)  TAX TREATMENT.  This Option is a nonstatutory stock option and is
not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

SECTION 3. NO TRANSFER OR ASSIGNMENT OF OPTION.

       Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, this Option and the
rights and privileges conferred hereby shall not be transferred, assigned,
pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise)
and shall not be subject to sale under execution, attachment or similar process.
Upon any attempt to transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose
of this Option, or of any right or privilege conferred hereby, contrary to the
provisions hereof, or upon any attempted sale under any execution, attachment or
similar process upon the rights and privileges conferred hereby, this Option and
the rights and privileges conferred hereby shall immediately become null and
void.

SECTION 4. RIGHT TO EXERCISE.

       (a)  EXERCISABILITY.  Subject to Subsection (b) below, this Option shall
be exercisable in its entirety at any time prior to its expiration.  No Partial
Exercise of this Option may be made for a number of Shares other than 100 Shares
or a multiple thereof (without regard to adjustments).

       (b)  SHAREHOLDERS' AGREEMENT.  No part of this Option shall be
exercisable unless the Optionee or his representative has delivered, or delivers
contemporaneously with his notice of exercise, an executed signature page to the
Shareholders' Agreement, to which he and his Shares shall become subject.

SECTION 5. EXERCISE PROCEDURES.

       (a)  NOTICE OF EXERCISE.  The Optionee or the Optionee's representative
may exercise this Option by giving written notice to the Secretary of the
Company pursuant to Section 15(d) hereof.  The notice shall specify the election
to exercise this Option and the number of Shares for which it is being
exercised.  The notice may also request a form of payment other than cash under
Sections 6(b) or (c) hereof.  The notice, along with a signature page to the
Shareholders' Agreement and any other documentation required thereunder, shall
be signed by the person or persons exercising this Option.  In the event that
this Option is being exercised by the representative of the Optionee, the notice
shall be accompanied by proof satisfactory to the Company of the
representative's right to exercise this Option.  The Optionee or the Optionee's
representative shall deliver to the Secretary of the Company, at the time of
giving the notice, payment in a form which conforms to Section 6 hereof for the
full amount of the Purchase Price.  A copy of the Shareholders' Agreement, as
amended, will be delivered to the Optionee promptly after receipt of notice.


                                          3

<PAGE>

       (b)  ISSUANCE OF SHARES.  After receiving a proper notice of exercise
and accompanying documentation, the Company shall cause to be issued a
Certificate or certificates for the Shares as to which this Option has been
exercised, registered in the name of the person exercising this Option (or in
the names of such person and his or her spouse as community property or as joint
tenants with right of survivorship).  The certificate or certificates of
Restricted Shares will be held by the Secretary of the Company pursuant to the
terms of the Escrow Agreement signed as part of the Shareholders' Agreement.
Shares that are not Restricted Shares and that are not security for a promissory
note for the purchase price of the Shares shall be issued to the Optionee and
shall not be subject to the Escrow Agreement.

SECTION 6. PAYMENT FOR STOCK

       (a)  PAYMENT IN CASH.  The entire Purchase Price may be paid in U.S.
Dollars.

       (b)  SURRENDER OF STOCK.  With the Committee's express consent and at
its sole discretion, all or part of the Purchase Price may be paid by the
surrender of Shares in good form for transfer.  Such Shares must have been owned
for more than 6 months by the Optionee or the Optionee's representative and must
have a fair market value (as determined by the Committee) on the date of
exercise of this Option which, together with any amount paid in a form other
than Shares, is equal to the Purchase Price.

       (c)  PROMISSORY NOTE.  With the Committee's express consent and at its
sole discretion, and if the Optionee still qualifies as an Employee or director
of or Consultant to the Company or a Subsidiary at the time of exercise, all or
part of the Purchase Price may be paid with a limitedrecourse promissory note
executed by the Optionee.  The terms of such note shall be one of the following:

            (i)     BONUS NOTE.  If the Optionee is a salaried employee, the
            term of such note shall be 60 months, and such note shall be
            payable in full at the Company's option immediately upon
            termination of Service of the Optionee.  Such note shall bear
            interest at a fixed rate equal to the Test Rate and shall be
            deducted from the Optionee's wages each pay period.  Such note
            shall be repaid in full by way of payroll deductions from future
            bonuses until the principal is fully repaid, and shall be secured
            by a pledge of the Shares so acquired.

            (ii)    COMMISSION NOTE.  If the Optionee is an employee paid by
            commissions, the term of such note shall be 60 months, and such
            note shall be payable in full at the Company's option immediately
            upon termination of Service of the Optionee.  Such note shall bear
            interest at a fixed rate equal to the Test Rate and shall be
            deducted from the Optionee's wages each pay period.  Such note
            shall be repaid in full by way of payroll deductions at a
            percentage of the net monthly commission (before withholdings) in
            excess of $10,000 earned by the Optionee for any month until the
            Note has been fully repaid.  Should the net gross commissions for
            any month be less than


                                          4

<PAGE>

            $10,000, the amount by which the net commissions for that month is
            less than $10,000 shall be carried forward to the following months
            for the purpose of determining amounts then due until the shortage
            is fully offset by future amounts in excess of $10,000.  Such note
            shall be secured by a pledge of the Shares so acquired.

       (d)  CASHLESS EXERCISE.  With the Committee's express consent and at its
sole discretion, by delivery of a properly executed exercise notice together
with such other documentation as the Committee and the broker, if applicable,
shall require to effect an exercise of the Option and delivery to the Company of
the sale or loan proceeds required to pay the exercise price.

SECTION 7. TERM AND EXPIRATION.

       (a)  BASIC TERM.  This Option shall in any event expire on
____________,____.

       (b)  TERMINATION OF SERVICE (EXCEPT BY DEATH).  If the Optionee's
Service terminates for any reason other than death, then this Option shall
expire on the earliest of the following occasions:

            (i)     The expiration date determined pursuant to Subsection (a)
                    above;

            (ii)    The date three months after the termination of the
                    Optionee's Service (other than a discharge for Cause or
                    because the Optionee is disabled);

            (iii)   The time when the Optionee is notified (orally or in
                    writing) that he or she is being discharged for Cause; or

            (iv)    The date six months after the termination of the Optionee's
                    service as an Employee because the Optionee is disabled.

For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean (i) gross negligence by the
Employee in the performance of his or her duties; (ii) any act of fraud,
misappropriation, dishonesty, embezzlement or similar conduct against the
Company; (iii) conviction of a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude; or
(iv) willful and continuing failure by the Employee to comply with any policy of
the Company which is applicable to Employees of the Company.

The Optionee may exercise all or part of this Option at any time before its
expiration under this Section 7(b).  The balance of this Option shall lapse when
the Optionee's Service terminates.  In the event that the Optionee dies after
the termination of Service but before the expiration of this Option, all or part
of this Option may be exercised (prior to expiration) by the executors or
administrators of the Optionee's estate or by any person who has acquired this
Option directly from the Optionee by bequest or inheritance.

       (c)  DEATH OF OPTIONEE.  If the Optionee dies in Service, then this
Option shall expire on the earlier of the following dates:


                                          5

<PAGE>

            (i)     The expiration date determined pursuant to Subsection (a)
                    above; or

            (ii)    The date six months after the Optionee's death.

All or part of this Option may be exercised at any time before its expiration
under the preceding sentence by the executors or administrators of the
Optionee's estate or by any person who has acquired this Option directly from
the Optionee by bequest or inheritance.

       (d)  LEAVE OF ABSENCE. For purposes of this Section 7, the Employee
relationship shall be deemed to continue while the Optionee is on military
leave, sick leave or other bona fide leave of absence (to be determined in the
sole discretion of the Committee).

SECTION 8. THE COMPANY'S RIGHT OF REPURCHASE.

       (a)  BASIC REPURCHASE RIGHT.  All Shares purchased pursuant to this
Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Shareholders'
Agreement.  Except to the extent otherwise provided in Subsection (d), Shares
purchased pursuant to this Agreement shall also be subject to a special right
(but not an obligation) of repurchase by the Company which is in addition to
whatever similar rights are provided under the Shareholders' Agreement.  Shares
subject to this special right of repurchase are referred to as "Restricted
Shares." The per share repurchase price of the Restricted Shares shall be equal
to the Exercise Price.  The Optionee shall not transfer, assign, encumber, or
otherwise dispose of any Restricted Shares.

       (b)  CONDITION PRECEDENT TO EXERCISE.  The Company's special right of
repurchase shall be exercisable only during the 60day period next following the
later of (i) the date when the Optionee's Service terminates for any reason,
with or without cause, or (ii) the date when the Optionee purchases the
Restricted Shares.  The determination of whether or when the Optionee's Service
has terminated shall be made by the Committee in its sole and absolute
discretion.

       (c)  EXERCISE OF REPURCHASE RIGHT.  The Company's right of repurchase
shall be exercisable only by written notice delivered to the Optionee prior to
the expiration of the 60day period specified in Subsection (b) above.  The
notice shall indicate the number of Restricted Shares to be repurchased and the
date on which the repurchase is to be effected.  Such date shall not be more
than 30 days after the date of the notice.  The certificate(s) representing the
Restricted Shares to be repurchased shall, if in the possession or under the
control of the Optionee, prior to the close of business on the date specified
for the repurchase, be delivered to the Secretary of the Company.  Each
certificate shall be properly endorsed for transfer.  The Company shall,
concurrently with the receipt of such certificate(s), pay to the Optionee an
amount equal to the Exercise Price multiplied by the number of the Restricted
Shares to be repurchased.  Payment shall be made, first, by the


                                          6

<PAGE>

discharge of any outstanding indebtedness (principal plus accrued but unpaid
interest) under any promissory note used by the Optionee to pay for the
Restricted Shares under Section 6(c) hereof and, second, in cash or cash
equivalents.  The Company's right of repurchase shall terminate with respect to
any Restricted Shares for which it has not been timely exercised pursuant to
this Section (c).

       (d)  PHASE-OUT OF REPURCHASE RIGHT.  On and after each date specified in
the following schedule, the Company's special right of repurchase under this
Agreement shall terminate and shall not be exercisable with respect to that
number of Shares purchased pursuant to this Agreement which does not exceed the
percentage set forth opposite such date multiplied by the total number of Shares
subject to this Option.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

               Anniversary                              Percentage of Shares
               of Date of                                No Longer Subject
                  Grant                                   to Repurchase
                   -----                                   -------------

               <S>                                      <C>
               Date of Grant . . . . . . . . . . . . .           0%
               First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          20%
               Second. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          40%
               Third . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          60%
               Fourth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          80%
               Fifth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         100%

</TABLE>

The termination and phaseout of the Company's special repurchase right will have
no effect on any rights the Company may have (as to repurchase or otherwise)
under the Shareholders' Agreement, which will continue in full force and effect.

       (e)  ESTABLISHMENT OF ESCROW.  In conformance with the terms of the
Shareholders' Agreement and in order to facilitate the exercise of the Company's
special right of repurchase, the Optionee shall, concurrently with the exercise
of this Option, execute joint escrow instructions prescribed by the Committee.
The Optionee shall also deliver to and deposit with the designated escrow agent
the certificate(s) for any Restricted Shares.  As long as the Company retains
any special right of repurchase, or as long as the Shares are security for a
promissory note for the purchase price of the Shares, the Optionee shall deliver
to such escrow agent, promptly upon receipt, any additional securities or other
property (including money paid other than as a cash dividend) distributed with
respect to any Restricted Shares, except as provided in any such security
agreement.  Any certificate(s) delivered into escrow shall be accompanied by an
assignment of stock powers properly endorsed by the Optionee.

       (f)  CANCELLATION OF SHARES.  If the Company makes available, at the
time and place and in the amount and form provided in this Agreement, the
consideration for the Restricted Shares to be repurchased in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement, then after such time, the person from whom such
Restricted Shares are to be repurchased shall no longer have any rights as a


                                          7

<PAGE>

holder of such Restricted Shares (other than the right to receive payment of
such consideration in accordance with this Agreement).  Such Restricted Shares
shall be deemed to have been repurchased in accordance with the applicable
provisions hereof, whether or not the certificates) therefor have been delivered
as required by this Agreement.

       (g)  ADDITIONAL SHARES OR SUBSTITUTED SECURITIES.  In the event of any
stock dividend, stock split, adjustment in conversion ratio, recapitalization or
similar transaction affecting the Company's outstanding securities without
receipt of consideration, any new, substituted or additional securities or other
property (including money paid other than as a cash dividend) which are by
reason of such transaction distributed with respect to any Restricted Shares or
into which such Restricted Shares thereby become convertible shall immediately
be subject to the Company's special right of repurchase.  Appropriate
adjustments to reflect the distribution of such securities or property shall be
made to the number and/or class of the Restricted Shares.  Appropriate
adjustments shall also, after each such transaction, be made to the price per
share to be paid upon the exercise of the special right of repurchase in order
to reflect any change in the Company's outstanding securities effected without
receipt of consideration therefor; provided, however, that the aggregate
purchase price payable for the Restricted Shares shall remain the same.

       (h)  BINDING EFFECT.  The Company's special right of repurchase shall
inure to the benefit of its successors and assigns and shall be binding upon any
representative, executor, administrator, heir or legatee of the Optionee.

       (i)  TAX CONSEQUENCES.  The Optionee understands that the exercise of
the Option to purchase Restricted Shares may subject the Optionee to federal and
state income tax liability.  The Optionee has reviewed with the Optionee's own
tax advisors the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of this
investment and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  The Optionee is
relying solely on such advisors and not any statements or representations of the
Company or any of its agents.  The Optionee understands that the Optionee (and
not the Company) shall be responsible for the Optionee's own tax liability that
may arise as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  The
Optionee understands that Section 83 of the Code taxes as ordinary income the
difference between the purchase price for the Shares and the fair market value
of the Shares as of the date any restrictions on the Shares lapse.  In this
context, "restriction" includes the right of the Company to buy back the Shares
pursuant to the Company's special right of repurchase.  The Optionee understands
that the Optionee may elect to be taxed at the time the Shares are purchased
rather than when and as the repurchase option expires by filing an election
under Section 83(b) of the Code with the IRS within thirty days from the date of
purchase.

       THE OPTIONEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS THE OPTIONEE'S SOLE RESPONSIBILITY
AND NOT THE COMPANY'S TO TIMELY FILE THE ELECTION


                                          8

<PAGE>

UNDER SECTION 83(b), EVEN IF THE OPTIONEE REQUESTS THE COMPANY OR ITS
REPRESENTATIVES TO MAKE THIS FILING ON THE OPTIONEE'S BEHALF.

SECTION 9. THE COMPANY'S RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.

       In the event that the Optionee or a Transferee proposes to sell, pledge
or otherwise transfer to any person any Shares acquired under this Agreement, or
any interest in such Shares, the Company shall have the Right of First Refusal
set forth in Section 4 of the Shareholders' Agreement.

SECTION 10.  LEGALITY OF INITIAL ISSUANCE.

       No Shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Option unless and
until the Company has determined that:

            (a)     It and the Optionee have taken any actions required to
                    register the Shares under the Securities Act or to perfect
                    an exemption from the registration requirements thereof;

            (b)     Any applicable listing requirement of any stock exchange on
                    which Stock is listed has been satisfied; and

            (c)     Any other applicable provision of state, federal or foreign
                    law has been satisfied.

SECTION 11. NO REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

       The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, register or qualify the
sale of Shares under the Securities Act or any other applicable law.  The
Company shall not be obligated to take any affirmative action in order to cause
the sale of Shares under this Agreement to comply with any law.

SECTION 12. RESTRICTIVE LEGENDS.

       Optionee understands and agrees that the Company shall cause the legend
set forth below or legends substantially equivalent thereto, in addition to the
legends set forth in the Shareholders' Agreement, to be placed upon any
certificate(s) evidencing ownership of the Shares together with any other
legends that may be required by the Company or by state or federal securities
laws:

            IT IS UNLAWFUL TO CONSUMMATE A SALE OR TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY,,
            OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, OR TO RECEIVE ANY CONSIDERATION THEREFOR,
            WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF


                                          9

<PAGE>

            CORPORATIONS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, EXCEPT AS PERMITTED IN THE
            COMMISSIONER'S RULES.

       Optionee understand that transfer of the Shares may be restricted by
Section 260.141.11 of the Rules of the California Corporations Commissioner, a
copy of which is attached as Exhibit A.

SECTION 13. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF SHARES.

       (a)  RESTRICTIONS.  Regardless of whether the offering and sale of
Shares under the Plan have been registered under the Securities Act or have been
registered or qualified under the securities laws of any state, the Company may
impose restrictions upon the sale, pledge, or other transfer of such Shares
(including the placement of appropriate legends on stock certificates) if, in
the judgment of the Company and its counsel, such restrictions are necessary or
desirable in order to achieve compliance with the provisions of the Securities
Act, the securities laws of any state or any other law.

       (b)  INVESTMENT INTENT AT GRANT.  The Optionee represents and agrees
that the Shares to be acquired upon exercising this Option will be acquired for
investment, and not with a view to the sale or distribution thereof.

       (c)  INVESTMENT INTENT AT EXERCISE.  In the event that the sale of
Shares under the Plan is not registered under the Securities Act but an
exemption is available which requires an investment representation or other
representation, the Optionee shall represent and agree at the time of exercise
that the Shares being acquired upon exercising this Option are being acquired
for investment, and not with a view to the sale or distribution thereof, and
shall make such other representations as are set forth in the Shareholders'
Agreement or which are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company and its
counsel.

       (d)  LEGEND.  All certificates evidencing Shares acquired under this
Agreement in an unregistered transaction shall bear the restrictive legends set
forth in Section 10 of the Shareholders' Agreement (and such other restrictive
legends as are required or deemed advisable under the provisions of any
applicable law).

       (e)  REMOVAL OF LEGENDS.  If, in the opinion of the Company and its
counsel, any legend placed on a stock certificate representing Shares sold under
this Agreement is no longer required, the holder of such certificate shall be
entitled to exchange such certificate for a certificate representing the same
number of Shares but lacking such legend.

       (f)  ADMINISTRATION.  Any determination by the Company and its counsel
in connection with any of the matters set forth in this Section 13 shall be
conclusive and binding on the Optionee and all other persons.


                                          10

<PAGE>

SECTION 14. SHARES AND ADJUSTMENTS.

       (a)  ADJUSTMENT.  In the event that the outstanding Shares are hereafter
increased or decreased or changed into or exchanged for a different number or
kind of shares or other securities of the Company or of another corporation, by
reason of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, recapitalization,
reclassification, stock split, reverse stock split, combination of shares or
declaration of stock dividends, the total number and/or kind of Shares for the
purchase of which Options may be granted under the Plan, and the number and/or
kind of Shares as to which Options (or portions thereof) are outstanding, shall
be adjusted proportionately by the Committee.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the 100share minimum for partial exercise under Section 4(a) hereof shall not
change as a result of any such adjustment unless the outstanding Shares are
exchanged for or changed into other securities of the Company or another
corporation.  Any such adjustment of an outstanding Option shall be made without
a change in the total Exercise Price applicable to the unexercised portion of
such Option and with a corresponding adjustment in the Exercise Price per Share.
Any such adjustment under this Section 14 shall be subject to the provisions of
the Company's Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and applicable law.

       (b)  ADMINISTRATION.  All such adjustments shall be made by the
Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

SECTION 15. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

       (a)  WITHHOLDING TAXES.  In the event that the Company determines that
it is required to withhold Federal, state, local or foreign taxes as a result of
the exercise of this Option, the Optionee, as a condition to the exercise of
this Option, shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Company to enable it to
satisfy all withholding requirements.  The Optionee shall also make arrangements
satisfactory to the Company to enable it to satisfy any withholding requirements
that may arise in connection with the disposition of Shares purchased by
exercising this Option.

       (b)  RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER.  Neither the Optionee nor the Optionee's
representative shall have any rights as a shareholder with respect to any Shares
subject to this Option until such Shares have been issued in the name of the
Optionee or the Optionee's representative.

       (c)  NO EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed
as giving the Optionee the right to be retained as an Employee, director or
Consultant.  The Company reserves the right to terminate the Optionee's Service
at any time, with or without cause.

       (d)  NOTICE.  Any notice required by the terms of this Agreement shall
be given in writing and shall be deemed effective upon personal delivery or upon
deposit with the United States Postal Service, by registered or certified mail
with postage and fees prepaid and addressed to the party entitled to such notice
at the address shown below such party's signature on this Agreement, or at


                                          11

<PAGE>

such other address as such party may designate by 10 days' advance written
notice to the other party to this Agreement.

       (e)  ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  This Agreement, the Plan and the Shareholders'
Agreement constitute the entire contract between the parties hereto with regard
to the subject matter hereof.

       (f)  CHOICE OF LAW.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed
in accordance with, the laws of the State of California, as such laws are
applied to contracts entered into and performed in such State.

       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed
on its behalf by its officer duly authorized to act on behalf of the Committee,
and the Optionee has personally executed this Agreement.


                                       HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP

                                       By:
                                              -------------------------------
                                              Its:
                                                  ---------------------------
                                              One Bush Street
                                              San Francisco, California 94104

                                       OPTIONEE:


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


                                       Optionee's Address:

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

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

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


                                          12

<PAGE>




                                HAMBRECHT & QUIST
                                GROUP SAVINGS AND
                          EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

                            PLAN AND TRUST AGREEMENT



                             AS AMENDED AND RESTATED
                            EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 1994


<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


1    DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1

2    ELIGIBILITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
     2.1   Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
     2.2   Ineligible Employees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
     2.3   Ineligible or Former Participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9

3    PARTICIPANT CONTRIBUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
     3.1   401(k) Contribution Election. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
     3.2   After-Tax Contribution Election . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
     3.3   Changing a Contribution Election. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
     3.4   Revoking and Resuming a Contribution Election . . . . . . . . . .  10
     3.5   Contribution Percentage Limits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
     3.6   Refunds When Contribution Dollar Limit Exceeded . . . . . . . . .  11
     3.7   Timing, Posting and Tax Considerations. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12

4    ROLLOVERS AND TRANSFERS FROM AND TO OTHER QUALIFIED PLANS . . . . . . .  13
     4.1   Rollovers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
     4.2   Transfers From and To Other Qualified Plans . . . . . . . . . . .  13

5    EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
     5.1   401(k) Match Contributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
     5.2   Profit Sharing Contributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
     5.3   ESOP Allocation Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15

6    ACCOUNTING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
     6.1   Individual Participant Accounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
     6.2   Sweep Account is Transaction Account. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
     6.3   Trade Date Accounting and Investment Cycle. . . . . . . . . . . .  16
     6.4   Accounting for Investment Funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
     6.5   Payment of Fees and Expenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
     6.6   Accounting for Participant Loans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
     6.7   Error Correction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
     6.8   Participant Statements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
     6.9   Special Accounting During Conversion Period . . . . . . . . . . .  18
     6.10  Accounts for QDRO Beneficiaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18

7    INVESTMENT FUNDS AND ELECTIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
     7.1   Investment Funds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
     7.2   Investment Fund Elections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
     7.3   Responsibility for Investment Choice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
     7.4   Default if No Election. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
     7.5   Timing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
     7.6   Investment Fund Election Change Fees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20



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<PAGE>

8    VESTING & FORFEITURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
     8.1   Fully Vested Contribution Accounts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
     8.2   Full Vesting upon Certain Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
     8.3   Vesting Schedule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
     8.4   Forfeitures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
     8.5   Rehired Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22

9    PARTICIPANT LOANS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
     9.1   Participant Loans Permitted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
     9.2   Loan Application, Note and Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
     9.3   Spousal Consents  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
     9.4   Loan Approval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
     9.5   Loan Funding Limits, Account Sources and Funding Order. . . . . .  23
     9.6   Maximum Number of Loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
     9.7   Source and Timing of Loan Funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
     9.8   Interest Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
     9.9   Loan Payment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
     9.10  Loan Payment Hierarchy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
     9.11  Repayment Suspension. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
     9.12  Loan Default. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
     9.13  Call Feature. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25

10   IN-SERVICE WITHDRAWAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
     10.1  InService Withdrawals Permitted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
     10.2  InService Withdrawal Application and Notice . . . . . . . . . . .  26
     10.3  Spousal Consent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
     10.4  InService Withdrawal Approval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
     10.5  Minimum Amount, Payment Form and Medium . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
     10.6  Source and Timing of InService Withdrawal Funding . . . . . . . .  27
     10.7  Hardship Withdrawals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27
     10.8  AfterTax Account Withdrawals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  29
     10.9  Rollover Account Withdrawals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  29

11   DISTRIBUTIONS ONCE EMPLOYMENT ENDS OR AS REQUIRED BY LAW. . . . . . . .  30
     11.1  Benefit Information, Notices and Election . . . . . . . . . . . .  30
     11.2  Spousal Consent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  30
     11.3  Payment Form and Medium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  30
     11.4  Distribution of Small Amounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  31
     11.5  Source and Timing of Distribution Funding . . . . . . . . . . . .  31
     11.6  Deemed Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  31
     11.7  Latest Commencement Permitted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  32
     11.8  Incidental Benefit Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  32
     11.9  Payment to Beneficiary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  32
     11.10 Beneficiary Designation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33


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                                       ii
<PAGE>

12   ADP AND ACP TESTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
     12.1  Contribution Limitation Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
     12.2  ADP and ACP Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
     12.3  Correction of ADP and ACP Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
     12.4  Multiple Use Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38
     12.5  Correction of Multiple Use Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
     12.6  Adjustment for Investment Gain or Loss. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
     12.7  Testing Responsibilities and Required Records . . . . . . . . . .  39
     12.8  Separate Testing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39

13   MAXIMUM CONTRIBUTION AND BENEFIT LIMITATIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
     13.1  "Annual Addition" Defined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
     13.2  Maximum Annual Addition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
     13.3  Avoiding an Excess Annual Addition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
     13.4  Correcting an Excess Annual Addition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
     13.5  Correcting a Multiple Plan Excess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
     13.6  "Defined Benefit Fraction" Defined. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
     13.7  "Defined Contribution Fraction" Defined . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
     13.8  Combined Plan Limits and Correction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42

14   TOP HEAVY RULES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  43
     14.1  Top Heavy Definition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  43
     14.2  Special Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
     14.3  Special Vesting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  45
     14.4  Adjustment to Combined Limits for Different Plans . . . . . . . .  45

15   PLAN  ADMINISTRATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
     15.1  Plan Delineates Authority and Responsibility. . . . . . . . . . .  46
     15.2  Fiduciary Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
     15.3  Company is ERISA Plan Administrator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
     15.4  Administrator Duties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  47
     15.5  Advisors May be Retained. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  47
     15.6  Delegation of Administrator Duties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48
     15.7  Committee Operating Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48

16   MANAGEMENT OF INVESTMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49
     16.1  Trust Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49
     16.2  Investment Funds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49
     16.3  Authority to Hold Cash. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
     16.4  Trustee to Act Upon Instructions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
     16.5  Administrator Has Right to Vote Registered
           Investment Company Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
     16.6  Custom Fund Investment Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
     16.7  Authority to Segregate Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  51
     16.8  Investment in Company Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  51
     16.9  Participants Have Right to Vote and Tender Company Stock  . . . .  51
     16.10 Registration and Disclosure for Company Stock . . . . . . . . . .  52


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                                       iii
<PAGE>

17   TRUST ADMINISTRATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  53
     17.1  Trustee to Construe Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  53
     17.2  Trustee To Act As Owner of Trust Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . .  53
     17.3  United States Indicia of Ownership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  53
     17.4  Tax Withholding and Payment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  54
     17.5  Trust Accounting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  54
     17.6  Valuation of Certain Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  54
     17.7  Legal Counsel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  55
     17.8  Fees and Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  55
     17.9  Trustee Duties and Limitations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  55

18   RIGHTS, PROTECTION, CONSTRUCTION AND JURISDICTION . . . . . . . . . . .  56
     18.1  Plan Does Not Affect Employment Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  56
     18.2  Limited Return of Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  56
     18.3  Assignment and Alienation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  56
     18.4  Facility of Payment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  57
     18.5  Reallocation of Lost Participant's Accounts . . . . . . . . . . .  57
     18.6  Put Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  57
     18.7  Claims Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  57
     18.8  Construction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  58
     18.9  Jurisdiction and Severability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  58
     18.10 Indemnification by Employer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  59

19   AMENDMENT, MERGER, DIVESTITURES AND TERMINATION . . . . . . . . . . . .  60
     19.1  Amendment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  60
     19.2  Merger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  60
     19.3  Divestitures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  60
     19.4  Plan Termination. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  61
     19.5  Amendment and Termination Procedures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  61
     19.6  Termination of Employer's Participation . . . . . . . . . . . . .  62
     19.7  Replacement of the Trustee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  62
     19.8  Final Settlement and Accounting of Trustee. . . . . . . . . . . .  62

APPENDIX A  INVESTMENT FUNDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  64

APPENDIX B  PAYMENT OF PLAN FEES AND EXPENSES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  65

APPENDIX C  LOAN INTEREST RATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  66


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                                       iv
<PAGE>

1    DEFINITIONS

     When capitalized, the words and phrases below have the following meanings
     unless different meanings are clearly required by the context:

     1.1  "Account".  The records maintained for purposes of accounting for a
          Participant's interest in the Plan.  "Account" may refer to one or all
          of the following accounts which have been created on behalf of a
          Participant to hold specific types of Contributions under the Plan:

          (a)  "401(k) Account".  An account created to hold 401(k)
               Contributions.

          (b)  "AfterTax Account".  An account created to hold AfterTax
               Contributions.

          (c)  "Rollover Account".  An account created to hold Rollover
               Contributions.

          (d)  "401(k) Match Account".  An account created to hold 401(k) Match
               Contributions.

          (e)  "Profit Sharing Account".  An account created to hold Profit
               Sharing Contributions.

          (f)  "ESOP Allocation Account".  An account created to hold ESOP
               Allocation Contributions.

          A Participant's 401(k) Account, AfterTax Account, Rollover Account and
          Profit Sharing Account constitute his or her accounts held under the
          profit sharing plan and a Participant's 401(k) Match Account and ESOP
          Allocation Account constitute his or her accounts held under the stock
          bonus employee stock ownership plan.

     1.2  "ACP" or "Average Contribution Percentage".  The percentage calculated
          in accordance with Section 12.1.

     1.3  "Administrator".  The Company, which may delegate all or a portion of
          the duties of the Administrator under the Plan to a Committee in
          accordance with Section 15.6.

     1.4  "ADP" or "Average Deferral Percentage".The percentage calculated in
          accordance with Section 12.1.

     1.5  "Beneficiary".  The person or persons who is to receive benefits after
          the death of the Participant pursuant to the "Beneficiary Designation"
          paragraph in Section 11, or as a result of a QDRO.

     1.6  "Break in Service".  The fifth anniversary (or sixth anniversary if
          absence from employment was due to a Parental Leave) of the date on
          which a Participant's employment ends.


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                                        1
<PAGE>


     1.7  "Code".  The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  Reference to
          any specific Code section shall include such section, any valid
          regulation promulgated thereunder, and any comparable provision of any
          future legislation amending, supplementing or superseding such
          section,

     1.8  "Committee".  If applicable, the committee which has been appointed by
          the Company to administer the Plan in accordance with Section 15.6.

     1.9  "Company".  Hambrecht & Quist Group or any successor by merger,
          purchase or otherwise.

     1.10 "Company Stock".  Shares of common stock of the Company, its
          predecessor(s) or its successors or assigns, or any corporation with
          or into which said corporation may be merged, consolidated or
          reorganized, or to which a majority of its assets may be sold.

     1.11 "Compensation".  The sum of a Participant's Taxable Income and salary
          reductions, if any, pursuant to Code sections 125, 402(e)(3), 402(h),
          403(b), 414(h)(2) or 457.

          For purposes of determining benefits under this Plan, Compensation is
          limited to $150,000, (as adjusted for the cost of living pursuant to
          Code sections 401(a)(17) and 415(d)) per Plan Year. For purposes of
          the preceding sentence, in the case of an HCE who is a 5% Owner or one
          of the 10 most highly compensated Employees, (i) such HCE and such
          HCE's family group (as defined below) shall be treated as a single
          employee and the Compensation of each family group member shall be
          aggregated with the Compensation of such HCE, and (ii) the limitation
          on Compensation shall be allocated among such HCE and his or her
          family group members in proportion to each individual's Compensation
          before the application of this sentence.  For purposes of this
          Section, the term "family group" shall mean an Employee's spouse and
          lineal descendants who have not attained age 19 before the close of
          the year in question.

          For purposes of determining HCEs and key employees, Compensation for
          the entire Plan Year shall be used.  For purposes of determining ADP
          and ACP, Compensation shall be limited to amounts paid to an Eligible
          Employee while a Participant.

     1.12 "Contribution".  An amount contributed to the Plan by the Employer or
          an Eligible Employee, and allocated by contribution type to
          Participants' Accounts, as described in Section 1.1. Specific types of
          contribution include:

          (a)  "401(k) Contribution".  An amount contributed by an eligible
               Participant in conjunction with his or her Code section 401(k)
               salary deferral election which shall be treated as made by the
               Employer on an eligible Participant's behalf.


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                                        2

<PAGE>

          (b)  "After-Tax Contribution".  An amount contributed by an eligible
               Participant on an after-tax basis.

          (c)  "Rollover Contribution".  An amount contributed by an Eligible
               Employee which originated from another employer's or an
               Employer's qualified plan.

          (d)  "401(k) Match Contribution".  An amount contributed by the
               Employer on an eligible Participant's behalf based upon the
               amount contributed by the eligible Participant.

          (e)  "Profit Sharing Contribution".  An amount contributed by the
               Employer on an eligible Participant's behalf and allocated on a
               pay based formula.

          (f)  "ESOP Allocation Contribution". An amount contributed by the
               Employer on an eligible Participant's behalf and allocated on a
               pay based formula.

          401(k) Contributions, After-Tax Contributions, Rollover Contributions
          and Profit Sharing Contributions constitute contributions under the
          profit sharing plan and 401(k) Match Contributions and ESOP Allocation
          Contributions constitute contributions under the stock bonus employee
          stock ownership plan.

     1.13 "Contribution Dollar Limit".  The annual limit placed on each
          Participant's 401 (k)Contributions, which shall be $7,000 per calendar
          year (as adjusted for the cost of living pursuant to Code sections
          402(g)(5) and 415(d)).  For purposes of this Section, a Participant's
          401(k) Contributions shall include (i) any employer contribution made
          under any qualified cash or deferred arrangement as defined in Code
          section 401(k) to the extent not includible in gross income for the
          taxable year under Code section 402(e)(3) or 402(h)(1)(B) (determined
          without regard to Code section 402(g)), and (ii) any employer
          contribution to purchase an annuity contract under Code section 403(b)
          under a salary reduction agreement (within the meaning of Code section
          3121(a)(5)(D)).

     1.14 "Conversion Period".  The period of converting the prior accounting
          system of the Plan and Trust, if such Plan and Trust were in existence
          prior to the Effective Date, or the prior accounting system of any
          plan and trust which is merged into this Plan and Trust subsequent to
          the Effective Date, to the accounting system described in Section 6.

     1.15 "Direct Rollover".  An Eligible Rollover Distribution that is paid
          directly to an Eligible Retirement Plan for the benefit of a
          Distributee.

     1.16 "Disability".  A Participant's total and permanent, mental or physical
          disability resulting in termination of employment as evidenced by
          presentation of medical evidence satisfactory to the Administrator.


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                                        3
<PAGE>

     1.17 "Distributee".  An Employee or former Employee, the surviving spouse
          of an Employee or former Employee and a spouse or former spouse of an
          Employee or former Employee determined to be an alternate payee under
          a QDRO.

     1.18 "Effective Date".  The date upon which the provisions of this document
          become effective.  This date is October 1, 1994, unless stated
          otherwise.  In general, the provisions of this document only apply to
          Participants who are Employees on or after the Effective Date.
          However, investment and distribution provisions apply to all
          Participants with Account balances to be invested or distributed after
          the Effective Date.

     1.19 "Eligible Employee".  A salaried Employee of an Employer, except any
          Employee:

          (a)  whose compensation and conditions of employment are covered by a
               collective bargaining agreement to which an Employer is a party
               unless the agreement calls for the Employee's participation in
               the Plan; or

          (b)  who is treated as an Employee because he or she is a Leased
               Employee.

     1.20 "Eligible Retirement Plan".  An individual retirement account
          described in Code section 408(a), an individual retirement annuity
          described in Code section 408(b), an annuity plan described in Code
          section 403(a), or a qualified trust described in Code section 401(a),
          that accepts a Distributee's Eligible Rollover Distribution, except
          that with regard to an Eligible Rollover Distribution to a surviving
          spouse, an Eligible Retirement Plan is an individual retirement
          account or individual retirement annuity.

     1.21 "Eligible Rollover Distribution".  A distribution of all or any
          portion of the balance to the credit of a Distributee, excluding a
          distribution that is one of a series of substantially equal periodic
          payments (not less frequently than annually) made for the life (or
          life expectancy) of a Distributee or the joint lives (or joint life
          expectancies) of a Distributee and the Distributee's designated
          Beneficiary, or for a specified period of ten years or more; a
          distribution to the extent such distribution is required under Code
          section 401(a)(9); and the portion of a distribution that is not
          includible in gross income (determined without regard to the exclusion
          for net unrealized appreciation with respect to Employer securities).

     1.22 "Employee".  An individual who is:

          (a)  directly employed by any Related Company and for whom any income
               for such employment is subject to withholding of income or social
               security taxes, or

          (b)  a Leased Employee.


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                                                                        07/12/95


                                        4
<PAGE>

     1.23 "Employer".  The Company and any Subsidiary or other Related Company
          of either the Company or a Subsidiary which adopts one or both of the
          two separate plans of which this Plan is composed with the approval of
          the Company.  As of the Effective Date each Employer has adopted both
          plans.

     1.24 "ERISA".  The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
          amended.  Reference to any specific section shall include such
          section, any valid regulation promulgated thereunder, and any
          comparable provision of any future legislation amending, supplementing
          or superseding such section.

     1.25 "Fiscal Year".  The annual accounting period of the Company which ends
          on each September 30.

     1.26 "Forfeiture Account".  An account holding amounts forfeited by
          Participants who have terminated employment with all Related
          Companies, invested in interest bearing deposits of the Trustee and
          shares of the Company Stock Fund, pending disposition as provided in
          this Plan and Trust and as directed by the Administrator.

     1.27 "HCE" or "Highly Compensated Employee".  An Employee described as a
          Highly Compensated Employee in Section 12.

     1.28 "Ineligible".  The Plan status of an individual during the period in
          which he or she is (1) an Employee of a Related Company which is not
          then an Employer, (2) an Employee, but not an Eligible Employee, or
          (3) not an Employee.

     1.29 "Investment Fund" or "Fund".  An investment fund as described in
          Section 16.2. The Investment Funds authorized by the Administrator to
          be offered under the Plan as of the Effective Date are set forth in
          Appendix A.

     1.30 "Leased Employee".  An individual who is deemed to be an employee of
          any Related Company as provided in Code section 414(n) or (o).

     1.31 "Leave of Absence".  A period during which an individual is deemed to
          be an Employee, but is absent from active employment, provided that
          the absence:

          (a)  was authorized by a Related Company; or

          (b)  was due to military service in the United States armed forces and
               the individual returns to active employment within the period
               during which he or she retains employment rights under federal
               law.

     1.32 "Loan Account".  The record maintained for purposes of accounting for
          a Participant's loan and payments of principal and interest thereon.

     1.33 "NHCE" or "Non-Highly Compensated Employee".  An Employee described as
          a Non-Highly Compensated Employee in Section 12.

     1.34 "Normal Retirement Date".  The date of a Participant's 65th birthday.



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                                        5
<PAGE>

     1.35 "Owner".  A person with an ownership interest in the capital, profits,
          outstanding stock or voting power of a Related Company within the
          meaning of Code section 318 or 416 (which exclude indirect ownership
          through a qualified plan).

     1.36 "Parental Leave".  The period of absence from work by reason of
          pregnancy, the birth of an Employee's child, the placement of a child
          with the Employee in connection with the child's adoption, or caring
          for such child immediately after birth or placement as described in
          Code section 410(a)(5)(E).

     1.37 "Participant".  An Eligible Employee who begins to participate in the
          Plan after completing the eligibility requirements.  An Eligible
          Employee who makes a Rollover Contribution prior to completing the
          eligibility requirements as described in Section 2.1 shall also be
          considered a Participant, except that he or she shall not be
          considered a Participant for purposes of provisions related to
          Contributions, other than a Rollover Contribution, until he or she
          completes the eligibility requirements as described in Section 2.1. A
          Participant's participation continues until his or her employment with
          all Related Companies ends and his or her Account is distributed or
          forfeited.

     1.38 "Pay".  All cash compensation paid to an Eligible Employee by an
          Employer while a Participant during the current period.  Pay excludes
          reimbursements or other expense allowances, cash and noncash fringe
          benefits, moving expenses, deferred compensation and welfare benefits.

          Pay is neither increased by any salary credit or decreased by any
          salary reduction pursuant to Code sections 125 or 402(e)(3).  Pay is
          limited to $150,000 (as adjusted for the cost of living pursuant to
          Code sections 401 (a)(17) and 415(d)) per Plan Year.

          For purposes of the Contributions described in Sections 5.2 and 5.3,
          the limitations as described in the second paragraph of Section 1.11
          shall also apply.

     1.39 "Period of Employment".  The period beginning on the date an Employee
          first performs an hour of service and ending on the date his or her
          employment ends, Employment ends on the date the Employee quits,
          retires, is discharged, dies "Period of Employment". The period
          beginning on the date an Employee first or (if earlier) the first
          anniversary of his or her absence for any other reason. The period of
          absence starting with the date an Employee's employment temporarily
          ends and ending on the date he or she is subsequently reemployed is
          (1) included in his or her Period of Employment if the period of
          absence does not exceed one year, and (2) excluded if such period
          exceeds one year.

          Period of Employment includes the period prior to a Break in Service.


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                                        6
<PAGE>


          An Employee's service with a predecessor or acquired company shall
          only be counted in the determination of his or her Period of
          Employment for eligibility and/or vesting purposes if (1) the Company
          directs that credit for such service be granted, or (2) a qualified
          plan of the predecessor or acquired company is subsequently maintained
          by any Employer or Related Company.

     1.40 "Plan".  The Hambrecht & Quist Group Savings and Employee Stock
          Ownership Plan set forth in this document, as from time to time
          amended, The Plan consists of two separate plans, a qualified profit
          sharing plan, as described in code section 401(a), which includes a
          qualified cash or deferred arrangement, as described in (Code section
          401(k), and a qualified stock bonus plan, as described in Code section
          401 (a) and designated as an employee stock ownership plan under Code
          section 4975(e).

     1.41 "Plan Year".  The annual accounting period of the Plan and Trust which
          ends on each September 30.

     1.42 "QDRO".  A domestic relations order which the Administrator has
          determined to be a qualified domestic relations order within the
          meaning of Code section 414(p).

     1.43 "Related Company".  With respect to any Employer, that Employer and
          any corporation, trade or business which is, together with that
          Employer, a member of the same controlled group of corporations, a
          trade or business under common control, or an affiliated service group
          within the meaning of Code sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) and except
          that for purposes of Section 13 "within the meaning of Code sections
          414(b), (c), (m) or (o), as modified by Code section 415 (h)" shall be
          substituted for the preceding reference to "within the meaning of Code
          section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o)".

     1.44 "Settlement Date".  For each Trade Date, the Trustee's next business
          day.

     1.45 "Spousal Consent".  The written consent given by a spouse to a
          Participant's Beneficiary designation.  The spouse's consent must
          acknowledge the effect on the spouse of the Participant's designation,
          and be duly witnessed by a notary public.  Spousal Consent shall be
          valid only with respect to the spouse who signs the Spousal Consent
          and only for the particular choice made by the Participant which
          requires Spousal Consent.  A Participant may revoke (without Spousal
          Consent) a prior designation that required Spousal Consent at any time
          before payments begin, Spousal Consent also means a determination by
          the Administrator that there is no spouse, the spouse cannot be
          located, or such other circumstances as may be established by
          applicable law.

     1.46 "Subsidiary".  A company which is 50% or more owned, directly or
          indirectly, by the Company.

     1.47 "Sweep Account".  The subsidiary Account for each Participant through
          which all transactions are processed, which is invested in interest
          bearing deposits of the Trustee.


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                                        7
<PAGE>

     1.48 "Sweep Date".  The cut off date and time for receiving instructions
          for transactions to be processed on the next Trade Date.

     1.49 "Taxable Income".  Compensation in the amount reported by the Employer
          or a Related Company as "Wages, tips, other compensation" on Form W2,
          or any successor method of reporting under Code section 6041(d).

     1.50 "Trade Date".  Each day the Investment Funds are valued, which is
          normally every day the assets of such Funds are traded.

     1.51 "Trust".  The legal entity created by those provisions of this
          document which relate to the Trustee.  The Trust is part of the Plan
          and holds the Plan assets which are comprised of the aggregate of
          Participants' Accounts, any unallocated funds invested in deposit or
          money market type assets pending allocation to Participants' Accounts
          or disbursement to pay Plan fees and expenses and the Forfeiture
          Account.

          The Trust consists of two separate trusts, one established for the
          qualified profit sharing plan and one established for the qualified
          stock bonus employee stock ownership plan.

     1.52 "Trustee".  Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.

     1.53 "Year of Vesting Service".  A 12 month Period of Employment.

          Years of Vesting Service shall include service credited prior to
          January 1, 1983 and October 1, 1984, the original effective dates of
          the two plans.


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                                        8
<PAGE>

2    ELIGIBILITY

     2.1  Eligibility

          All Participants as of October 1, 1994 shall continue their
          eligibility to participate.  Each other Eligible Employee shall become
          a Participant on the later of October 1, 1994 or, on the first January
          1 , April 1 , July 1 or October 1 after the date he or she completes a
          six month Period of Employment.  The eligibility period begins on the
          date an Employee's Period of Employment commences.

     2.2  Ineligible Employees

          If an Employee completes the above eligibility requirements, but is
          Ineligible at the time participation would otherwise begin (if he or
          she were not Ineligible), he or she shall become a Participant on the
          first subsequent date on which he or she is an Eligible Employee.

     2.3  Ineligible or Former Participants

          A Participant may not make or share in Plan Contributions, nor
          generally be eligible for a new Plan loan, during the period he or she
          is Ineligible, but he or she shall continue to participate for all
          other purposes. An Ineligible Participant or former Participant shall
          automatically become an active Participant on the date he or she again
          becomes an Eligible Employee.


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                                        9
<PAGE>


3    PARTICIPANT CONTRIBUTIONS

     3.1  401(k) Contribution Election

          Upon becoming a Participant, an Eligible Employee may elect to reduce
          his or her Pay by an amount which does not exceed the Contribution
          Dollar Limit, within the limits described in the Contribution
          Percentage Limits paragraph of this Section 3, and have such amount
          contributed to the Plan by the Employer as a 401(k) Contribution.  The
          election shall be made as a whole percentage of Pay in such manner and
          with such advance notice as prescribed by the Administrator.  In no
          event shall an Employee's 401(k) Contributions under the Plan and
          comparable contributions to all other plans, contracts or arrangements
          of all Related Companies exceed the Contribution Dollar Limit for the
          Employee's taxable year beginning in the Plan Year.

     3.2  After Tax Contribution Election

          Upon becoming a Participant an Eligible Employee may elect to make
          After Tax Contributions to the Plan in an amount which does not exceed
          the limits described in the Contribution Percentage Limits paragraph
          of this Section 3. The election shall be made as a whole percentage of
          Pay in such manner and with such advance notice as prescribed by the
          Administrator.

     3.3  Changing a Contribution Election

          A Participant who is an Eligible Employee may change his or her 401(k)
          and/or AfterTax Contribution election as of any January 1, April 1,
          July 1 or October 1 in such manner and with such advance notice as
          prescribed by the Administrator, and such election shall be effective
          with the first payroll paid after such date.  Participants'
          Contribution election percentages shall automatically apply to Pay
          increases or decreases.

     3.4  Revoking and Resuming a Contribution Election

          A Participant may revoke his or her Contribution election at any time
          in such manner and with such advance notice as prescribed by the
          Administrator, and such revocation shall be effective with the fist
          payroll paid after such date.

          A Participant who is an Eligible Employee may resume Contributions by
          making a new Contribution election at the same time in which a
          Participant may change his or her election in such manner and with
          such advance notice as prescribed by the Administrator, and such
          election shall be effective with the first payroll paid after such
          date.


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                                       10
<PAGE>

     3.5  Contribution Percentage Limits

          The Administrator may establish and change from time to time, in
          writing, without the necessity of amending this Plan and Trust, the
          separate minimum, if applicable, and maximum 401(k) and After Tax
          Contribution percentages, and/or a maximum combined 401(k) and
          After Tax Contribution percentage, prospectively or retrospectively
          (for the current Plan Year), for all Participants.  In addition, the
          Administrator may establish any lower percentage limits for Highly
          Compensated Employees as it deems necessary to satisfy the tests
          described in Section 12.  As of the Effective Date, the maximum
          Contribution percentages are:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        HIGHLY
                 CONTRIBUTION         COMPENSATED            ALL OTHER
                     TYPE              EMPLOYEES           PARTICIPANTS
                     ----              ---------           ------------
                 <S>                  <C>                  <C>
                    401(k)                10%                   1O%
                   AfterTax               10%                   10%
                  Sum of Both             20%                   20%
</TABLE>

          Irrespective of the limits that may be established by the
          Administrator in accordance with this paragraph, in no event shall the
          contributions made by or on behalf of a Participant for a Plan Year
          exceed the maximum allowable under Code section 415.

     3.6  Refunds When Contribution Dollar Limit Exceeded

          A Participant who makes 401(k) Contributions for a calendar year to
          this Plan and comparable contributions to any other qualified defined
          contribution plan in excess of the Contribution Dollar Limit may
          notify the Administrator in writing by the following March 1 (or as
          late as April 14 if allowed by the Administrator) that an excess has
          occurred. In this event, the amount of the excess specified by the
          Participant, adjusted for investment gain or loss, shall be refunded
          to him or her by April 15 and shall not be included as an Annual
          Addition under Code section 415 for the year contributed.  Refunds
          shall not include investment gain or loss for the period between the
          end of the applicable calendar year and the date of distribution.
          Excess amounts shall first be taken from unmatched 401(k)
          Contributions and then from matched 401(k) Contributions.  Any 401(k)
          Match Contributions attributable to refunded excess 401(k)
          Contributions as described in this Section shall be forfeited and used
          as described in Section 8.4 or to reduce Contributions made by an
          Employer to the stock bonus employee stock ownership plan as soon as
          administratively feasible.


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                                       11
<PAGE>

     3.7  Timing, Posting and Tax Considerations

          Participants' Contributions, other than Rollover Contributions, may
          only be made through payroll deduction.  Such amounts shall be paid to
          the Trustee in cash and posted to each Participant's Account(s) as
          soon as such amounts can reasonably be separated from the Employer's
          general assets and balanced against the specific amount made on behalf
          of each Participant.  In no event, however, shall such amounts be paid
          to the Trustee more than 90 days after the date amounts are deducted
          from a Participant's Pay. 401(k) Contributions shall be treated as
          Contributions made by an Employer in determining tax deductions under
          Code section 404(a).


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                                       12
<PAGE>


4    ROLLOVERS AND TRANSFERS FROM AND TO OTHER QUALIFIED PLANS

     4.1  Rollovers

          The Administrator may authorize the Trustee to accept a rollover
          contribution, within the meaning of Code section 402(c) or
          408(d)(3)(A)(ii), in cash, into the profit sharing plan, directly from
          an Eligible Employee or as a Direct Rollover from another qualified
          plan on behalf of the Eligible Employee, even if he or she is not yet
          a Participant.  The Employee shall be responsible for furnishing
          satisfactory evidence, in such manner as prescribed by the
          Administrator, that the amount is eligible for rollover treatment.  A
          rollover contribution received directly from an Eligible Employee must
          be paid to the Trustee in cash within 60 days after the date received
          by the Eligible Employee from a qualified plan or conduit individual
          retirement account.  Contributions described in this paragraph shall
          be posted to the applicable Employee's Rollover Account as of the date
          received by the Trustee.

          If it is later determined that an amount contributed pursuant to the
          above paragraph did not in fact qualify as a rollover contribution
          under Code section 402(c) or 408(d)(3)(A)(ii), the balance credited to
          the Employee's Rollover Account shall immediately be (1) segregated
          from all other Plan assets, (2) treated as a nonqualified trust
          established by and for the benefit of the Employee, and (3)
          distributed to the Employee.  Any such nonqualifying rollover shall be
          deemed never to have been a part of the Plan.

     4.2  Transfers From and To Other Qualified Plans

          The Administrator may instruct the Trustee to receive assets in cash
          or in kind directly from another qualified plan or transfer assets
          directly to another qualified plan; provided that a transfer should
          not be directed if:

          (a)  any amounts are not exempted by Code section 401(a)(11)(B) from
               the annuity requirements of Code section 417 unless, in the event
               of a receipt of assets, the Plan complies with such requirements
               or, in the event of a transfer of assets, the receiving Plan
               complies with such requirements; or

          (b)  any amounts include benefits protected by Code section 411(d)(6)
               which would not be preserved under applicable Plan provisions, in
               the event of a receipt of assets or, under the applicable
               provisions of the receiving plan, in the event of a transfer of
               assets.

          The Trustee may refuse the receipt of any transfer if:

          (a)  the Trustee finds the in kind assets unacceptable; or

          (b)  instructions for posting amounts to Participants' Accounts are
               incomplete.

          Such amounts shall be posted to the appropriate Accounts of
          Participants as of the date received by the Trustee.


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                                       13
<PAGE>

5    EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS

     5.1  401(k) Match Contributions

          (a)  Frequency and Eligibility.  For each Plan Year, the Employer
               shall make 401(k) Match Contributions, as described in the
               following Allocation Method paragraph, on behalf of each
               Participant who contributed during the period and was an Employee
               on the last day of the period.

               Such Contributions shall also be made on behalf of each
               Participant who contributed during the period but who ceased
               being an Employee during the period by reason of his or her
               Disability or death.

          (b)  Allocation Method.  The 401(k) Match Contributions for each
               period shall total 100% of each eligible Participant's 401(k)
               Contributions.  Notwithstanding, the maximum 401(k) Match
               Contribution made on behalf of a Participant shall not exceed
               $4,000 for such period.

          (c)  Timing, Medium and Posting.  The Employer shall make each
               period's 401(k) Match Contribution in cash as soon as
               administratively feasible, and for purposes of deducting such
               Contribution, not later than the Employer's federal tax filing
               date, including extensions.  The Trustee shall post such amount
               to each Participant's 401(k) Match Account once the total
               Contribution received has been balanced against the specific
               amount to be credited to each Participant's 401(k) Match Account.

     5.2  Profit Sharing Contributions

          (a)  Frequency and Eligibility.  For each Plan Year, the Employer may
               make a Profit Sharing Contribution on behalf of each Participant
               who was an Employee on the last day of the period.

               If such Contributions are made, such Contributions shall also be
               made on behalf of each Participant who was an Eligible Employee
               at any time during the period but who ceased being an Employee
               during the period by reason of his or her Disability or death.

          (b)  Allocation Method.  The Profit Sharing Contribution (including
               any Forfeiture Account amounts applied as Profit Sharing
               Contributions in accordance with Section 8.4) for each period,
               shall be in an amount determined by the Employer and allocated
               among eligible Participants in direct proportion to their Pay.
               Notwithstanding, the maximum Profit Sharing Contribution made on
               behalf of a Participant shall not exceed $15,000 for or such
               period.


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                                       14
<PAGE>

          (c)  Timing, Medium and Posting.  The Employer shall make each
               period's Profit Sharing Contribution in cash as soon as
               administratively feasible, and for purposes of deducting such
               Contribution, not later than the Employer's federal tax filing
               date, including extensions.  The Trustee shall post such amount
               to each Participant's Profit Sharing Account once the total
               Contribution received has been balanced against the specific
               amount to be credited to each Participant's Profit Sharing
               Account.

     5.3  ESOP Allocation Contributions

          (a)  Frequency and Eligibility.  For each Plan Year, the Employer may
               make an ESOP Allocation Contribution on behalf of each
               Participant who was an Employee on the last day of the period.

          (b)  Allocation Method.  The ESOP Allocation Contribution (including
               any Forfeiture Account amounts applied as ESOP Allocation
               Contributions in accordance with Section 8.4) for each period,
               shall be in an amount determined by the Employer and allocated
               among eligible Participants in direct proportion to their Pay.

          (c)  Timing, Medium and Posting.  The Employer shall make each
               period's ESOP Allocation Contribution in cash as soon as
               administratively feasible, and for purposes of deducting such
               Contribution, not later than the Employer's federal tax filing
               date, including extensions.  The Trustee shall post such amount
               to each Participant's ESOP Allocation Account once the total
               Contribution received has been balanced against the specific
               amount to be credited to each Participant's ESOP Allocation
               Account.


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                                       15
<PAGE>

6   ACCOUNTING
    ----------
    6.1  Individual Participant Accounting

         The Administrator shall maintain an individual set of Accounts for
         each Participant in order to reflect transactions both by type of
         Contribution and investment medium.  Financial transactions shall be
         accounted for at the individual Account level by posting each
         transaction to the appropriate Account of each affected Participant.
         Participant Account values shall be maintained in shares for the
         Investment Funds and in dollars for the Sweep and Loan Accounts. At
         any point in time, the Account value shall be determined using the
         most recent Trade Date values provided by the Trustee.

    6.2  Sweep Account is Transaction Account

         All transactions related to amounts being contributed to or
         distributed from the Trust shall be posted to each affected
         Participant's Sweep Account.  Any amount held in the Sweep Account
         shall be credited with interest up until the date on which it is
         removed from the Sweep Account.

    6.3  Trade Date Accounting and Investment Cycle

         Participant Account values shall be determined as of each Trade Date.
         For any transaction to be processed as of a Trade Date, the Trustee
         must receive instructions for the transaction by the Sweep Date.  Such
         instructions shall apply to amounts held in the Account on that Sweep
         Date. Financial transactions of the Investment Funds shall be posted to
         Participants' Accounts as of the Trade Date, based upon the Trade Date
         values provided by the Trustee, and settled on the Settlement Date.

    6.4  Accounting for Investment Funds

         Investments in each Investment Fund shall be maintained in shares.
         The Trustee is responsible for determining the share values of each
         Investment Fund as of each Trade Date.  To the extent an Investment
         Fund is comprised of collective investment funds of the Trustee, or
         any other fiduciary to the Plan, the share values shall be determined
         in accordance with the rules governing such collective investment
         funds, which are incorporated herein by reference.  All other share
         values shall be determined by the Trustee. The share value of each
         Investment Fund shall be based on the fair market value of its
         underlying assets.

    6.5  Payment of Fees and Expenses

         Except to the extent Plan fees and expenses related to Account
         maintenance, transaction and Investment Fund management and
         maintenance, as set forth below, are paid by the Employer directly, or
         indirectly, through the Forfeiture



                                          16


<PAGE>


         Account as directed by the Administrator, such fees and expenses shall
         be paid as set forth below.  The Employer may pay a lower portion of
         the fees and expenses allocable to the Accounts of Participants who are
         no longer Employees or who are not Beneficiaries, unless doing so
         would result in discrimination.

         (a)  Account Maintenance: Account maintenance fees and expenses, may
              include but are not limited to, administrative, Trustee,
              government annual report preparation, audit, legal,
              nondiscrimination testing and fees for any other special
              services.  Account maintenance fees shall be charged to
              Participants on a per Participant basis provided that no fee
              shall reduce a Participant's Account balance below zero.

         (b)  Transaction: Transaction fees and expenses, may include but are
              not limited to Investment Fund election change and loan fees.
              Transaction fees shall be charged to the Participant's Account
              involved in the transaction provided that no fee shall reduce a
              Participant's Account balance below zero.

         (c)  Investment Fund Management and Maintenance: Management and
              maintenance fees and expenses related to the Investment Funds
              shall be charged at the Investment Fund level and reflected in
              the net gain or loss of each Fund.

         As of the Effective Date, a breakdown of which Plan fees and expenses
         shall generally be borne by the Trust (and charged to individual
         Participants' Accounts or charged at the Investment Fund level and
         reflected in the net gain or loss of each Fund) and those that shall
         be paid by the Employer is set forth in Appendix B and may be changed
         from time to time by the Administrator, in writing, without the
         necessity of amending this Plan and Trust.

         The Trustee shall have the authority to pay any such fees and
         expenses, which remain unpaid by the Employer for 60 days, from the
         Trust.

    6.6  Accounting for Participant Loans

         Participant loans shall be held in a separate Loan Account of the
         Participant and accounted for in dollars as an earmarked asset of the
         borrowing Participant's Account.

    6.7  Error Correction

         The Administrator may correct any errors or omissions in the
         administration of the Plan by restoring any Participant's Account
         balance with the amount that would be credited to the Account had no
         error or omission been made.  Funds necessary for any such restoration
         shall be provided through payment made by the Employer, or by the
         Trustee to the extent the error or omission is




                                          17

<PAGE>


         attributable to actions or inactions of the Trustee, or if the
         restoration involves an Account holding amounts contributed by an
         Employer, the Administrator may direct the Trustee to use amounts from
         the Forfeiture Account.

    6.8  Participant Statements

         The Administrator shall provide Participants with statements of their
         Accounts as soon after the end of each quarter of the Plan Year as
         administratively feasible.

    6.9  Special Accounting During Conversion Period

         The Administrator and Trustee may use any reasonable accounting
         methods in performing their respective duties during any Conversion
         Period.  This includes, but is not limited to, the method for
         allocating net investment gains or losses and the extent, if any, to
         which contributions received by and distributions paid from the Trust
         during this period share in such allocation.

    6.10 Accounts for QDRO Beneficiaries

         A separate Account shall be established for an alternate payee
         entitled to any portion of a Participant's Account under a QDRO as of
         the date and in accordance with the directions specified in the QDRO.
         In addition, a separate Account may be established during the period
         of time the Administrator, a court of competent jurisdiction or other
         appropriate person is determining whether a domestic relations order
         qualifies as a QDRO.  Such a separate Account shall be valued and
         accounted for in the same manner as any other Account.

         (a)  Distributions Pursuant to QDROs.  If a QDRO so provides, the
              portion of a Participant's Account payable to an alternate payee
              may be distributed, in a form as permissible under Section 11, to
              the alternate payee at the time specified in the QDRO, regardless
              of whether the Participant is entitled to a distribution from the
              Plan at such time.

         (b)  Participant Loans.  Except to the extent required by law, an
              alternate payee, on whose behalf a separate Account has been
              established, shall not be entitled to borrow from such Account.
              If a QDRO specifies that the alternate payee is entitled to any
              portion of the Account of a Participant who has an outstanding
              loan balance, all outstanding loans shall generally continue to
              be held in the Participant's Account and shall not be divided
              between the Participant's and alternate payee's Accounts.

         (c)  Investment Direction.  Where a separate Account has been
              established on behalf of an alternate payee and has not yet been
              distributed, the alternate payee may direct the investment of
              such Account in the same manner as if he or she were a
              Participant.


                                          18

<PAGE>



7   INVESTMENT FUNDS AND ELECTION
    -----------------------------
    7.1  Investment Funds

         Except for Participants' Sweep and Loan Accounts, the Trust shall be
         maintained in various Investment Funds.  The Administrator shall
         select the Investment Funds offered to Participants and may change the
         number or composition of the Investment Funds, subject to the terms
         and conditions agreed to with the Trustee.  As of the Effective Date,
         a list of the Investment Funds offered under the Plan is set forth in
         Appendix A, and may be changed from time to time by the Administrator,
         in writing, and as agreed to by the Trustee, without the necessity of
         amending this Plan and Trust.

    7.2  Investment Fund Elections

         Each Participant shall direct the investment of all of his or her
         Contribution Accounts except for these Accounts:

              401(k) Match Account
              ESOP Allocation Account

         which shall be entirely invested in the Investment Fund specified by
         the Administrator, which Investment Fund as of the Effective Date is
         set forth in Appendix A. However, a Participant who has attained age 55
         may, beginning in the Plan Year following the Plan Year in which he or
         she attained age 55, direct the investment of the balances in his or
         her 401(k) Match Account and ESOP Allocation Accounts annually on a
         date as mutually agreed upon by the Administrator and the Trustee which
         date is in compliance with Code section 401(a)(28) and after a
         determination of the fair market value of the Company Stock for the
         Company's preceding Fiscal Year. To the extent administratively
         feasible this date shall be the same date for all affected
         Participants.  The share value for the Company Stock Fund shall be
         based on such fair market value of the Company Stock.

         Future amounts allocated to his or her 401(k) Match Account and ESOP
         Allocation Account shall continue to be entirely invested in the
         Investment Fund specified by the Administrator, until otherwise
         directed by the Participant.

         A Participant shall make his or her investment election in any
         combination of one or any number of the Investment Funds offered in
         accordance with the procedures established by the Administrator and
         Trustee.  However, during any Conversion Period, Trust assets may be
         held in any investment vehicle permitted by the Plan, as directed by
         the Administrator, irrespective of Participant investment elections.

         The Administrator may set a maximum percentage of the total election
         that a Participant may direct into any specific Investment Fund, which
         maximum, if



                                          19

<PAGE>


         any, as of the Effective Date is set forth in Appendix A, and may be
         changed from time to time by the Administrator, in writing, without
         the necessity of amending this Plan and Trust.

    7.3  Responsibility for Investment Choice

         Each Participant shall be solely responsible for the selection of his
         or her Investment Fund choices.  No fiduciary with respect to the Plan
         is empowered to advise a Participant as to the manner in which his or
         her Accounts are to be invested, and the fact that an Investment Fund
         is offered shall not be construed to be a recommendation for
         investment.

    7.4  Default if No Election

         The Administrator shall specify an Investment Fund for the investment
         of that portion of a Participant's Account which is not yet held in an
         Investment Fund and for which no valid investment election is on file.
         The Investment Fund specified as of the Effective Date is set forth in
         Appendix A, and may be changed from time to time by the Administrator,
         in writing, without the necessity of amending this Plan and Trust.

    7.5  Timing

         A Participant shall make his or her initial investment election upon
         becoming a Participant and may change his or her investment election
         at any time in accordance with the procedures established by the
         Administrator and Trustee.  Investment elections received by the
         Trustee by the Sweep Date shall be effective on the following Trade
         Date.

    7.6  Investment Fund Election Change Fees

         A reasonable processing fee may be charged directly to a Participant's
         Account for Investment Fund election changes in excess of a specified
         number per year as determined by the Administrator.


                                          20


<PAGE>


8   VESTING & FORFEITURES
    ---------------------
    8.1  Fully Vested Contribution Accounts

         A Participant shall be fully vested in these Accounts at all times:

              401(k) Account
              After-Tax Account
              Rollover Account
              401(k) Match Account

    8.2  Full Vesting upon Certain Events

         A Participant's entire Account shall become fully vested once he or
         she has attained his or her Normal Retirement Date as an Employee or
         upon his or her terminating employment with all Related Companies due
         to his or her Disability or death.

    8.3  Vesting Schedule

         In addition to the vesting provided above, a Participant's Profit
         Sharing Account and ESOP Allocation Account shall become vested in
         accordance with the following schedule:

                   Years of Vesting                Vested
                        Service                  Percentage
                        --------                 -----------
                         Less than 3                    0%
                      3 but less than 4                30%
                      4 but less than 5                40%
                      5 but less than 6                60%
                      6 but less than 7                80%
                          7 or more                   100%

         If this vesting schedule is changed, the vested percentage for each
         Participant shall not be less than his or her vested percentage
         determined as of the last day prior to this change, and for any
         Participant with at least three Years of Vesting Service when the
         schedule is changed, vesting shall be determined using the more
         favorable vesting schedule.

    8.4  Forfeitures

         A Participant's non-vested Account balance shall be forfeited as of
         the Settlement Date following the Sweep Date on which the
         Administrator has reported to the Trustee that the Participant's
         employment has terminated with all Related Companies.  Forfeitures
         from all Employer Contribution Accounts shall be transferred to and
         maintained in a single Forfeiture Account, which shall be invested in
         interest bearing deposits of the Trustee and with regard to a
         Participant's non-vested Account balance attributable to his or her
         ESOP Allocation Account, shares of the Company Stock Fund Fund, until
         such time as such shares of the Company Stock Fund are liquidated as
         described below.  Within the single Forfeiture Account, forfeited
         amounts and earnings thereon


                                          21


<PAGE>


         attributable to the profit sharing plan are accounted for separately
         from forfeited amounts and earnings thereon attributable to the stock
         bonus employee stock ownership plan.

         The portion of the Forfeiture Account invested in shares of the
         Company Stock Fund attributable to non-vested amounts from
         Participants' ESOP Allocation Accounts shall be liquidated on a date
         as mutually agreed upon by the Administrator and the Trustee, This
         date shall be in the Plan Year following the Plan Year in which the
         forfeiture occurred, and after a determination of the fair market
         value of the Company Stock for the Company's preceding Fiscal Year.
         The share value for the Company Stock Fund shall be based on such fair
         market value of the Company Stock.  The proceeds shall be reinvested
         in interest bearing deposits of the Trustee and continue to be held in
         the Forfeiture Account.

         Forfeiture Account amounts attributable to the profit sharing plan
         shall be utilized to restore Profit Sharing Accounts, to pay profit
         sharing plan fees and expenses or may increase the amount allocated as
         Profit Sharing Contributions as directed by the Administrator.

         Forfeiture Account amounts attributable to the stock bonus employee
         stock ownership plan shall be utilized to restore ESOP Allocation
         Accounts, to pay stock bonus employee stock ownership plan fees and
         expenses or may increase the amount allocated as ESOP Allocation
         Contributions as directed by the Administrator.

    8.5  Rehired Employees

         (a)  Service.  If a former Employee is rehired, all Periods of
              Employment credited when his or her employment last terminated
              shall be counted in determining his or her vested interest.

         (b)  Account Restoration.  If a former Employee is rehired before he
              or she has a Break in Service, the amount forfeited from his or
              her Profit Sharing Account when his or her employment last
              terminated shall be restored to his or her Account and shall
              include the interest which would have been credited had such
              forfeiture been invested in the Sweep Account from the date
              forfeited until the date the restoration amount is restored and
              the number of shares of the Company Stock Fund forfeited from his
              or her ESOP Allocation Account when his or her employment last
              terminated shall be restored to his or her Account. The amount or
              number of shares of the Company Stock Fund, as applicable, shall
              come from the Forfeiture Account to the extent possible, and any
              additional amount, or an amount representing the value of the
              shares of the Company Stock Fund, as applicable, needed shall be
              contributed by the Employer.  The vested interest in his or her
              restored Account shall then be equal to:

                   V% times (AB + D) - D

              where:

              V% =  current vested percentage
              AB =  current account balance
              D  =  amount previously distributed



                                          22


<PAGE>


9   PARTICIPANT LOANS
    -----------------
    9.1  Participant Loans Permitted

         Loans to Participants are permitted pursuant to the terms and
         conditions set forth in this Section.

    9.2  Loan Application, Note and Security

         A Participant shall apply for any loan in such manner and with such
         advance notice as prescribed by the Administrator.  All loans shall be
         evidenced by a promissory note, secured only by the portion of the
         Participant's Account from which the loan is made, and the Plan shall
         have a lien on this portion of his or her Account.

    9.3  Spousal Consent

         A Participant is not required to obtain Spousal Consent in order to
         take out a loan under the Plan.

    9.4  Loan Approval

         The Administrator, or the Trustee, if otherwise authorized by the
         Administrator and agreed to by the Trustee, is responsible for
         determining that a loan request conforms to the requirements described
         in this Section and granting such request.

    9.5  Loan Funding Limits, Account Sources and Funding Order

         The loan amount must meet all of the following limits as determined as
         of the Sweep Date the loan is processed and shall be funded from the
         Participant's Accounts as follows:

         (a)  Plan Minimum Limit.  The minimum amount for any loan is $1,000.

         (b)  Plan Maximum Limit, Account Sources and Funding Order.  Subject
              to the legal limit described in (c) below, the maximum a
              Participant may borrow, including the outstanding balance of
              existing Plan loans, is 100% of the following of the
              Participant's Accounts which are fully vested in the priority
              order as follows:

                   401(k) Account
                   Profit Sharing Account
                   Rollover Account
                   After-Tax Account


                                          23

<PAGE>


         (c)  Legal Maximum Limit.  The maximum a Participant may borrow,
              including the outstanding balance of existing Plan loans, is 50%
              of his or her vested Account balance, not to exceed $50,000.
              However, the $50,000 maximum is reduced by the Participant's
              highest outstanding loan balance during the 12 month period
              ending on the day before the Sweep Date as of which the loan is
              made.  For purposes of this paragraph, the qualified plans of all
              Related Companies shall be treated as though they are part of
              this Plan to the extent it would decrease the maximum loan
              amount.

    9.6  Maximum Number of Loans

         A Participant may have a maximum of three loans outstanding at any
         given time.

    9.7  Source and Timing of Loan Funding

         A loan to a Participant shall be made solely from the assets of his or
         her own Account.  The available assets shall be determined first by
         Account type and then within each Account used for funding a loan,
         amounts shall first be taken from the Sweep Account and then taken by
         Investment Fund in direct proportion to the market value of the
         Participant's interest in each Investment Fund as of the Trade Date on
         which the loan is processed.

         The loan shall be funded on the Settlement Date following the Trade
         Date as of which the loan is processed.  The Trustee shall make
         payment to the Participant as soon thereafter as administratively
         feasible.

    9.8  Interest Rate

         The interest rate charged on Participant loans shall be a fixed
         reasonable rate of interest, determined from time to time by the
         Administrator, which provides the Plan with a return commensurate with
         the prevailing interest rate charged by persons in the business of
         lending money for loans which would be made under similar
         circumstances.  As of the Effective Date, the interest rate is
         determined as set forth in Appendix C, and may be changed from time to
         time by the Administrator, in writing, without the necessity of
         amending this Plan and Trust.

    9.9  Loan Payment

         Substantially level amortization shall be required of each loan with
         payments made at least monthly, generally through payroll deduction.
         Loans may be prepaid in full at any time.  The Participant may choose
         the loan repayment period, not to exceed 5 years.


                                          24

<PAGE>


    9.10 Loan Payment Hierarchy

         Loan principal payments shall be credited to the Participant's
         Accounts in the inverse of the order used to fund the loan.  Loan
         interest shall be credited to the Participant's Accounts in direct
         proportion to the principal payment.  Loan payments are credited to
         the Investment Funds based upon the Participant's current investment
         election for new Contributions.

    9.11 Repayment Suspension

         The Administrator may agree to a suspension of loan payments for up to
         six months for a Participant who is on a Leave of Absence without pay.
         During the suspension period interest shall continue to accrue on the
         outstanding loan balance.  At the expiration of the suspension period
         all outstanding loan payments and accrued interest thereon shall be
         due unless otherwise agreed upon by the Administrator.

    9.12 Loan Default

         A loan is treated as a default if scheduled loan payments are more
         than 90 days late.  A Participant shall then have 30 days from the
         time he or she receives written notice of the default and a demand for
         past due amounts to cure the default before it becomes final.

         In the event of default, the Administrator may direct the Trustee to
         report the outstanding principal balance of the loan and accrued
         interest thereon as a taxable distribution.  As soon as a Plan
         withdrawal or distribution to such Participant would otherwise be
         permitted, the Administrator may instruct the Trustee to execute upon
         its security interest in the Participant's Account by distributing the
         note to the Participant.

    9.13 Call Feature

         The Administrator shall have the right to call any Participant loan
         once a Participant's employment with all Related Companies has
         terminated or if the Plan is terminated.


                                          25


<PAGE>


10  IN-SERVICE WITHDRAWALS
    ----------------------
    10.1 In-Service Withdrawals Permitted

         In-service withdrawals to a Participant who is an Employee are
         permitted pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this
         Section and as required by law as set forth in Section 11.

    10.2 In-Service Withdrawal Application and Notice

         A Participant shall apply for any in-service withdrawal in such manner
         and with such advance notice as prescribed by the Administrator.  The
         Participant shall be provided the notice prescribed by Code section
         402(f).

         If an in-service withdrawal is one to which Code sections 401(a)(11)
         and 417 do not apply, such in-service withdrawal may commence less
         than 30 days after the aforementioned notice is provided, if:

         (a)  the Participant is clearly informed that he or she has the right
              to a period of at least 30 days after receipt of such notice to
              consider his or her option to elect or not elect a Direct
              Rollover for all or a portion, if any, of his or her in-service
              withdrawal which shall constitute an Eligible Rollover
              Distribution; and

         (b)  the Participant after receiving such notice, affirmatively elects
              a Direct Rollover for all or a portion, if any, of his or her in-
              service withdrawal which shall constitute an Eligible Rollover
              Distribution or alternatively elects to have all or a portion made
              payable directly to him or her, thereby not electing a Direct
              Rollover for all or a portion thereof.

    10.3 Spousal Consent

         A Participant is not required to obtain Spousal Consent in order to
         make an in-service withdrawal under the Plan.

    10.4 In-Service Withdrawal Approval

         The Administrator, or the Trustee, if otherwise authorized by the
         Administrator and agreed to by the Trustee, is responsible for
         determining that an in-service withdrawal request conforms to the
         requirements described in this Section and granting such request.

    10.5 Minimum Amount, Payment Form and Medium

         The minimum amount for any type of withdrawal is $500.


                                          26

<PAGE>


         The form of payment for an in-service withdrawal shall be a single
         lump sum and payment shall be made in cash.  With regard to the
         portion of a withdrawal representing an Eligible Rollover
         Distribution, a Participant may elect a Direct Rollover for all or a
         portion of such amount.

    10.6 Source and Timing of In-Service Withdrawal Funding

         An in-service withdrawal to a Participant shall be made solely from
         the assets of his or her own Account and shall be based on the Account
         values as of the Trade Date the in-service withdrawal is processed.
         The available assets shall be determined first by Account type and
         then within each Account used for funding an in-service withdrawal,
         amounts shall first be taken from the Sweep Account and then taken by
         Investment Fund in direct proportion to the market value of the
         Participant's interest in each Investment Fund (which excludes his or
         her Loan Account balance) as of the Trade Date on which the in-service
         withdrawal is processed.

         The in-service withdrawal shall be funded on the Settlement Date
         following the Trade Date as of which the in-service withdrawal is
         processed.  The Trustee shall make payment as soon thereafter as
         administratively feasible.

    10.7 Hardship Withdrawals

         (a)  Requirements.  A Participant who is an Employee may request the
              withdrawal of up to the amount necessary to satisfy a financial
              need including amounts necessary to pay any federal, state or
              local income taxes or penalties reasonably anticipated to result
              from the withdrawal.  Only requests for withdrawals (1) on
              account of a Participant's "Deemed Financial Need", and (2) which
              are "Deemed Necessary" to satisfy the financial need shall be
              approved.

         (b)  "Deemed Financial Need".  An immediate and heavy financial need
              relating to:

              (1)  the payment of unreimbursable medical expenses described
                   under Code section 213(d) incurred (or to be incurred) by
                   the Employee, his or her spouse or dependents;

              (2)  the purchase (excluding mortgage payments) of the Employee's
                   principal residence:

              (3)  the payment of unreimbursable tuition and related
                   educational fees (which effective January 1, 1995, include
                   room and board) for up to the next 12 months of post-
                   secondary education for the Employee, his or her spouse or
                   dependents;


                                          27

<PAGE>


              (4)  the payment of amounts necessary for the Employee to prevent
                   losing his or her principal residence through eviction or
                   foreclosure on the mortgage; or

              (5)  any other circumstance specifically permitted under Code
                   section 401(k)(2)(B)(i)(IV).

         (c)  "Deemed Necessary".  A withdrawal is "deemed necessary" to
              satisfy the financial need only if the withdrawal amount does not
              exceed the financial need and all of these conditions are met:

              (1)  the Employee has obtained all possible withdrawals (other
                   than hardship withdrawals) and nontaxable loans available
                   from this Plan and all other plans maintained by Related
                   Companies;

              (2)  the Administrator shall suspend the Employee from making any
                   contributions to this Plan and all other qualified and
                   nonqualified plans of deferred compensation and all stock
                   option or stock purchase plans maintained by Related
                   Companies for 12 months from the date the withdrawal payment
                   is made; and

              (3)  the Administrator shall reduce the Contribution Dollar Limit
                   for the Employee with regard to this Plan and all other
                   plans maintained by Related Companies, for the calendar year
                   next following the calendar year of the withdrawal by the
                   amount of the Employee's 401(k) Contributions for the
                   calendar year of the withdrawal.

         (d)  Account Sources and Funding Order.  All available amounts must
              first be withdrawn from a Participant's After-Tax Account.  The
              remaining withdrawal amount shall come from the following of the
              Participant's fully vested Accounts, in the priority order as
              follows:

                   Rollover Account
                   Profit Sharing Account
                   401(k) Account

              The amount that may be withdrawn from a Participant's 401(k)
              Account shall not include any earnings credited to his or her
              401(k) Account after December 31, 1988.

         (e)  Suspension from Further Contributions.  Upon making a Hardship
              withdrawal, a Participant may not make additional 401(k) or
              After-Tax Contributions (or additional contributions to all other
              qualified and nonqualified plans of deferred compensation and all
              stock option or stock purchase plans maintained by Related
              Companies) for a period of 12 months from the date the withdrawal
              payment is made.


                                          28

<PAGE>


         (f)  Permitted Frequency.  There is no restriction on the number of
              Hardship withdrawals permitted to a Participant.

    10.8 After-Tax Account Withdrawals

         (a)  Requirements.  A Participant who is an Employee may withdraw from
              the Accounts listed in paragraph (b) below.

         (b)  Account Sources and Funding Order.  The withdrawal amount shall
              come from a Participant's After-Tax Account.

         (c)  Permitted Frequency.  The maximum number of After-Tax Account
              withdrawals permitted to a Participant in any six-month period is
              one.

         (d)  Suspension from Further Contributions.  An After-Tax Account
              withdrawal shall not affect a Participant's ability to make or be
              eligible to receive further Contributions.

    10.9 Rollover Account Withdrawals

         (a)  Requirements.  A Participant who is an Employee may withdraw from
              the Accounts listed in paragraph (b) below.

         (b)  Account Sources and Funding Order.  The withdrawal amount shall
              come from a Participant's Rollover Account.

         (c)  Permitted Frequency.  The maximum number of Rollover Account
              withdrawals permitted to a Participant in any six-month period is
              one.

         (d)  Suspension from Further Contributions.  A Rollover Account
              withdrawal shall not affect a Participant's ability to make or be
              eligible to receive further Contributions.


                                          29


<PAGE>


11  DISTRIBUTIONS ONCE EMPLOYMENT ENDS OR AS REQUIRED BY LAW
    --------------------------------------------------------
    11.1 Benefit Information, Notices and Election

         A Participant, or his or her Beneficiary in the case of his or her
         death, shall be provided with information regarding all optional times
         and forms of distribution available, to include the notices prescribed
         by Code section 402(f) and Code section 411(a)(11).  Subject to the
         other requirements of this Section, a Participant, or his or her
         Beneficiary in the case of his or her death, may elect, in such manner
         and with such advance notice as prescribed by the Administrator, to
         have his or her vested Account balance paid to him or her beginning
         upon any Settlement Date following the Participant's termination of
         employment with all Related Companies or, if earlier, at the time
         required by law as set forth in Section 11.7.

         If a distribution is one to which Code sections 401(a)(11) and 417 do
         not apply, such distribution may commence less than 30 days after the
         aforementioned notices are provided, if:

         (a)  the Participant is clearly informed that he or she has the right
              to a period of at least 30 days after receipt of such notices to
              consider the decision as to whether to elect a distribution and
              if so to elect a particular form of distribution and to elect or
              not elect a Direct Rollover for all or a portion, if any, of his
              or her distribution which shall constitute an Eligible Rollover
              Distribution; and

         (b)  the Participant after receiving such notices, affirmatively
              elects a distribution and a Direct Rollover for all or a portion,
              if any, of his or her distribution which shall constitute an
              Eligible Rollover Distribution or alternatively elects to have
              all or a portion made payable directly to him or her, thereby not
              electing a Direct Rollover for all or a portion thereof.

    11.2 Spousal Consent

         A Participant is not required to obtain Spousal Consent in order to
         receive a distribution under the Plan.

    11.3 Payment Form and Medium

         A Participant shall be paid in the form of a single lump sum.

         Distributions shall be made in cash, except to the extent a
         distribution consists of a loan call as described in Section 9.
         Alternatively, a Participant may elect that payment be made in the
         form of whole shares of Company Stock and cash in lieu of fractional
         shares to the extent invested in the Company Stock Fund.  With regard
         to the portion of a distribution representing an Eligible Rollover
         Distribution, a Distributee may elect a Direct Rollover for all or a
         portion of such amount.


                                          30

<PAGE>


    11.4 Distribution of Small Amounts

         If, after a Participant's employment with all Related Companies ends,
         the Participant's vested Account balance is $3,500 or less, and if at
         the time of any prior in-service withdrawal or distribution the
         Participant's vested Account balance did not exceed $3,500, the
         Participant's benefit shall be paid as a single lump sum as soon as
         administratively feasible in accordance with procedures prescribed by
         the Administrator.

    11.5 Source and Timing of Distribution Funding

         (a)  Source of Distribution Funding.  A distribution to a Participant
              shall be made solely from the assets of his or her own Accounts
              and shall be based on the Account values as of the Trade Date the
              distribution is processed.  The available assets shall be
              determined first by Account type and then within each Account
              used for funding a distribution, amounts shall first be taken
              from the Sweep Account and then taken by Investment Fund in
              direct proportion to the market value of the Participant's
              interest in each Investment Fund as of the Trade Date on which
              the distribution is processed.

         (b)  Timing of Distribution Funding.  The distribution shall be funded
              on the Settlement Date following the Trade Date as of which the
              distribution is processed.  The Trustee shall make payment as
              soon thereafter as administratively feasible.

              The portion of a Participant's distribution attributable to his
              or her Account balance invested in the Company Stock Fund shall
              be processed on a date as mutually agreed upon by the
              Administrator and the Trustee.  This date shall be in the Plan
              Year following the Plan Year in which the Participant elected to
              have his or her vested Account balance paid to him or her after
              his or her termination of employment with all Related Companies
              or payment commenced as required by law as set forth in Section
              11.7, and after a determination of the fair market value of such
              Company Stock for the Company's preceding Fiscal Year.  To the
              extent administratively feasible this date shall be the same date
              for all affected Participants.  The sale price shall be equal to
              such fair market value.

              Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, no distribution shall be
              delayed to the extent a distribution must be made to comply with
              Code section 401(a)(9).

    11.6 Deemed Distribution

         For purposes of Section 8.4, if at the time a Participant's employment
         with all Related Companies has terminated, the Participant's vested
         Account balance


                                          31

<PAGE>


         attributable to Accounts subject to vesting as described in Section 8,
         is zero, his or her vested Account balance shall be deemed distributed
         as of the Settlement Date following the Sweep Date on which the
         Administrator has reported to the Trustee that the Participant's
         employment with all Related Companies has terminated.

    11.7 Latest Commencement Permitted

         In addition to any other Plan requirements and unless a Participant
         elects otherwise, his or her benefit payments shall begin not later
         than 60 days after the end of the Plan Year in which he or she attains
         his or her Normal Retirement Date or retires, whichever is later.
         However, if the amount of the payment or the location of the
         Participant (after a reasonable search) cannot be ascertained by that
         deadline, payment shall be made no later than 60 days after the
         earliest date on which such amount or location is ascertained but in
         no event later than as described below.  A Participant's failure to
         elect in such manner as prescribed by the Administrator to have his or
         her vested Account balance paid to him or her, shall be deemed an
         election by the Participant to defer his or her distribution.

         Benefit payments shall begin by the April 1 immediately following the
         end of the calendar year in which the Participant attains age 70 1/2,
         whether or not he or she is an Employee.

         If benefit payments cannot begin at the time required because the
         location of the Participant cannot be ascertained (after a reasonable
         search), the Administrator may, at any time thereafter, treat such
         person's Account as forfeited subject to the provisions of Section
         18.5.

    11.8 Incidental Benefit Rule

         The Participant's payment election must be consistent with the
         requirement that, if the Participant's spouse is not his or her sole
         primary Beneficiary, the minimum annual distribution for each calendar
         year, beginning with the year in which he or she attains age 70 1/2,
         shall not be less than the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the
         Participant's vested Account balance as of the last Trade Date of the
         preceding year by (b) the applicable divisor as determined under the
         incidental benefit requirements of Code section 401(a)(9).

    11.9 Payment to Beneficiary

         Payment to a Beneficiary must be completed by the end of the calendar
         year that contains the fifth anniversary of the Participant's death,
         except that:

         (a)  If the Participant dies after the April 1 immediately following
              the end of the calendar year in which he or she attains age
              70 1/2, payment to his or her Beneficiary must be made at least as
              rapidly as provided in the Participant's distribution election;


                                          32

<PAGE>


         (b)  If the surviving spouse is the Beneficiary, payments need not
              begin until the end of the calendar year in which the Participant
              would have attained age 70 1/2 and must be completed within the
              spouse's life or life expectancy; and

         (c)  If the Participant and the surviving spouse who is the
              Beneficiary die (1) before the April 1 immediately following the
              end of the calendar year in which the Participant would have
              attained age 70 1/2 and (2) before payments have begun to the
              spouse, the spouse shall be treated as the Participant in
              applying these rules.

    11.10 Beneficiary Designation

         Each Participant may complete a beneficiary designation form
         indicating the Beneficiary who is to receive the Participant's
         remaining Plan interest at the time of his or her death.  The
         designation may be changed at any time.  However, a Participant's
         spouse shall be the sole primary Beneficiary unless the designation
         includes Spousal Consent for another Beneficiary.  If no proper
         designation is in effect at the time of a Participant's death or if
         the Beneficiary does not survive the Participant, the Beneficiary shall
         be, in the order listed, the:

         (a)  Participant's surviving spouse,

         (b)  Participant's children, in equal shares, (or if a child does not
              survive the Participant, and that child leaves issue, the issue
              shall be entitled to that child's share, by right of
              representation) or

         (c)  Participant's estate.


                                          33
<PAGE>

12      ADP AND ACP TESTS
        -----------------
        12.1    Contribution Limitation Definitions

The following definitions are applicable to this Section 12 (where a 
definition is contained in both Sections 1 and 12, for purposes of 
Section 12 the Section 12 definition shall be controlling):

        (a) "ACP" or "Average Contribution Percentage".  The 
            Average Percentage calculated using Contributions allocated to 
             Participants as of a date within the Plan Year.

        (b)  "ACP Test".  The determination of whether the ACP 
             is in compliance with the Basic or Alternative Limitation for a 
             Plan Year (as defined in Section 12.2).

        (c)  "ADP" or "Average Deferral Percentage".  The 
             Average Percentage calculated using Deferrals allocated to 
             Participants as of a date within the Plan Year.

        (d)  "ADP Test".  The determination of whether the ADP is in
             compliance with the
             Basic or Alternative Limitation for a Plan Year (as defined in
             Section 12.2).

        (e)  "Average Percentage".  The average of the 
             calculated percentages for Participants within the specified 
             group.  The calculated percentage refers to either the 
             "Deferrals" or "Contributions" (as defined in this Section) made 
             on each Participant's behalf for the Plan Year, divided by his or 
             her Compensation for the portion of the Plan Year in which he or 
             she was an Eligible Employee while a Participant. (401(k) 
             Contributions to this Plan or comparable contributions to plans 
             of Related Companies which shall be refunded solely because they 
             exceed the Contribution Dollar Limit are included in the 
             percentage for the HCE Group but not for the NHCE Group.)

        (f)  "Contributions" shall include 401(k) Match 
             Contributions and After-Tax Contributions.  In addition, 
             Contributions may include 401(k) Contributions, but only to the 
             extent that (1) the Employer elects to use them, (2) they are not 
             used or counted in the ADP Test and (3) they otherwise satisfy 
             the requirements as prescribed under Code section 401(m) 
             permitting treatment as Contributions for purposes of the ACP 
             Test.

        (g)  "Deferrals" shall include 401(k) Contributions.  
             In addition, Deferrals may include 401(k) Match Contributions, 
             but only to the extent that (1) the Employer elects to use them, 
             (2) they are not used or counted in the ACP Test, (3) they are 
             fully vested when made, not withdrawable

                                                                  34
<PAGE>
             by an Employee before he or she attains age 59 1/2 and 
             (4) they otherwise satisfy the requirements as prescribed
             under Code section 401(k) permitting treatment as Deferrals 
             for purposes of the ADP Test.
                     
        (h)  "Family Member".  An Employee who is, at any time 
             during the Plan Year or Lookback Year, a spouse, lineal ascendant 
             or descendant, or spouse of a lineal ascendant or descendant of 
             (1) an active or former Employee who at any time during the Plan 
             Year or Lookback Year is a more than 5% Owner (within the meaning 
             of Code section 414(q)(3)), or (2) an HCE who is among the 10 
             Employees with the highest Compensation for such Year.

        (i)  "HCE" or "Highly Compensated Employee", With 
             respect to each Employer and its Related Companies, an Employee 
             during the Plan Year or Lookback Year who (in accordance with 
             Code section 414(q)(3),

             (1) Was a more than 5% Owner at any time during the Lookback Year
                 or Plan Year;

             (2) Received Compensation during the 
                 Lookback Year (or in the Plan Year if among the 100 
                 Employees with the highest Compensation for such Year) in 
                 excess of (i) $75,000 (as adjusted for such Year pursuant 
                 to Code sections 414(q)(1) and 415(d)), or (ii) $50,000 
                 (as adjusted for such Year pursuant to Code sections 
                 414(q)(1) and 415(d)) in the case of a member of the 
                 "top-paid group" (within the meaning of Code section 
                 414(q)(4)) for such Year), provided, however, that if the 
                 conditions of Code section 414(q)(12)(B)(ii) are met, the 
                 Company may elect for any Plan Year to apply clause (i) 
                 by substituting $50,000 for $75,000 and not to apply 
                 clause (ii);

             (3) Was an officer of a Related Company and received 
                 Compensation during the Lookback Year (or in the Plan 
                 Year if among the 100 Employees with the highest 
                 Compensation for such Year) that is greater than 50% of 
                 the dollar limitation in effect under Code section 
                 415(b)(1)(A) and (d) for such Year (or if no officer has 
                 Compensation in excess of the threshold, the officer with 
                 the highest Compensation), provided that the number of 
                 officers shall be limited to 50 Employees (or, if less, 
                 the greater of three Employees or 10% of the Employees); 
                 or

             (4) Was a Family Member at any time during the 
                 Lookback Year or Plan Year, in which case the Deferrals, 
                 Contributions and Compensation of the HCE and his or her 
                 Family Members shall be aggregated and they shall be 
                 treated as a single HCE.


                                                                  35
<PAGE>

                 A former Employee shall be treated as an HCE if (1) such 
                 former Employee was an HCE when he separated from 
                 service, or (2) such former Employee was an HCE in 
                 service at any time after attaining age 55.

                 The determination of who is an HCE, including the 
                 determinations of thenumber and identity of Employees in 
                 the top-paid group, the top 100 Employees and the number 
                 of Employees treated as officers shall be made in 
                 accordance with Code section 414(q).

        (j) "HCE Group" and "NHCE Group".  With respect to each Employer 
            and its Related Companies, the respective group of HCEs and NHCEs
            who are eligible to have amounts contributed on their behalf for
            the Plan Year, including Employees who would be eligible but for
            their election not to participate or to contribute, or because
            their Pay is greater than zero but does not exceed a stated minimum.

             (1) If the Reined Companies maintain two or more 
                 plans which are subject to the ADP or ACP Test and are 
                 considered as one plan for purposes of Code sections 
                 401(a)(4) or 410(b), all such plans shall be aggregated 
                 and treated as one plan for purposes of meeting the ADP 
                 and ACP Tests, provided that the plans may only be 
                 aggregated if they have the same Plan Year.

             (2) If an HCE, who is one of the top 10 paid 
                 Employees or a more than 5% Owner has any Family Members, 
                 the Deferrals, Contributions and Compensation of such HCE 
                 and his or her Family Members shall be combined and 
                 treated as a single HCE. Such amounts for all other 
                 Family Members shall be removed from the NHCE Group 
                 percentage calculation and be combined with the HCE's.

             (3) If an HCE is covered by more than one cash or 
                 deferred arrangement, or more than one arrangement 
                 permitting employee and matching contributions, 
                 maintained by the Related Companies, all such plans shall 
                 be aggregated and treated as one plan (other than those 
                 plans that may not be permissively aggregated) for 
                 purposes of calculating the separate percentage for the 
                 HCE which is used in the determination of the Average 
                 Percentage.

        (k)  "Lookback Year".  Pursuant to Code section 
             414(q), the Company elects as the Lookback Year the 12 months 
             ending immediately prior to the start of the Plan Year.

             (1) "Multiple Use Test".  The test described in Section 12.4 which
                 a Man must meet where the Alternative Limitation (described
                 in Section 12.2(b)) is used to meet both the ADP and ACP Tests.




                                                                  36
<PAGE>

        (m) "NHCE" or "Non-Highly Compensated Employee".  An Employee who is not
            an HCE.

        12.2    ADP and ACP Tests

        For each Plan Year, the ADP and ACP for the HCE Group must 
        meet either the Basic or Alternative Limitation when compared
        to the respective ADP and ACP for the NHCE Group, defined as follows:

        (a)  Basic Limitation.  The HCE Group Average Percentage may 
             not exceed 1.25 times the NHCE Group Average 
             Percentage.

        (b)  Alternative Limitation.  The HCE Group Average 
             Percentage is limited by reference to the NHCE Group Average 
             Percentage as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                IF THE NHCE GROUP                 THEN THE MAXIMUM HCE
                AVERAGE PERCENTAGE IS:            GROUP AVERAGE PERCENTAGE IS:
                ----------------------            ---------------------------
                <S>                                <C>
                Less than 2%                       2 times NHCE Group Average %
                2% to 8%                           NHCE Group Average % plus 2%
                More than 8%                       NA - Basic Limitation applies

</TABLE>

        12.3    Correction of ADP and ACP Tests

        If the ADP or ACP Tests are not met, the Administrator shall 
        determine, no later than the end of the next Plan Year, a maximum 
        percentage to be used in place of the calculated percentage for all 
        HCEs that would reduce the ADP and/or ACP for the HCE group by a 
        sufficient amount to meet the ADP and ACP Tests.  ADP and/or ACP 
        corrections shall be made in accordance with the leveling method as 
        described below.

        (a)  ADP Correction.  The HCE with the highest Deferral 
             percentage shall have his or her Deferral percentage reduced to 
             the lesser of the extent required to meet the ADP Test or to 
             cause his or her Deferral percentage to equal that of the HCE 
             with the next highest Deferral percentage.  The process shall 
             be repeated until the ADP Test is met.

             To the extent an HCE's Deferrals were determined to be reduced 
             as described in the paragraph above, 401(k) Contributions 
             shall, by the end of the next Plan Year be refunded to the HCE 
             in an amount equal to the actual Deferrals minus the product of 
             the maximum percentage and the HCE's Compensation, except that 
             such amount to be refunded shall be reduced by 401(k) 
             Contributions previously refunded because they exceeded the 
             Contribution Dollar Limit.  The excess amounts shall first be 
             taken from unmatched 401(k) Contributions and then from matched 
             401(k) Contribution. Any 401(k) Match Contributions 
             attributable to refunded excess 401(k) Contributions as 
             described in
        


                                                                  37

<PAGE>

             this Section shall be forfeited and used as described in 
             Section 8.4 or to reduce Contributions made by an Employer to 
             the stock bonus employee stock ownership plan as soon as 
             administratively feasible.

        (b)  ACP Correction.  The HCE with the highest Contribution 
             percentage shall have his or her Contribution percentage 
             reduced to the lesser of the extent required to meet the ACP 
             Test or to cause his or her Contribution percentage to equal 
             that of the HCE with the next highest Contribution percentage.  
             The process shall be repeated until the ACP Test is met.

             To the extent an HCE's Contributions were determined to be 
             reduced as described in the paragraph above, Contributions 
             shall, by the end of the next Plan Year, be refunded to the HCE 
             in an amount equal to the actual Contributions minus the 
             product of the maximum percentage and the HCE's Compensation.  
             The excess amounts shall first be taken from After-Tax 
             Contributions and then from 401(k) Match Contributions.

        (c)  Investment Fund Sources.  Once the amount of excess 
             Deferrals and/or Contributions is determined and with regard to 
             excess Contributions, allocated by type of Contribution, 
             amounts shall first be taken from the Sweep Account and then 
             taken by investment Fund in direct proportion to the market 
             value of the Participant's interest in each Investment Fund 
             (which excludes his or her Loan Account balance) as of the 
             Trade Date on which the correction is processed.

        (d)  Family Member Correction. To the extent any reduction 
             is necessary with respect to an HCE and his or her Family 
             Members that have been combined and treated for testing 
             purposes as a single Employee, the excess Deferrals and 
             Contributions from the ADP and/or ACP Test shall be prorated 
             among each such Participant in direct proportion to his or her 
             Deferrals or Contributions included in each Test.

        12.4    Multiple Use Test

        If the Alternative Limitation (defined in Section 12.2) is used to 
        meet both the ADP and ACP Tests, the ADP and ACP for the HCE Group 
        must also comply with the requirements of Code section 401(m)(9).  
        Such Code section requires that the sum of the ADP and ACP for the 
        HCE Group (as determined after any corrections needed to meet the 
        ADP and ACP Tests have been made) not exceed the sum (which produces 
        the most favorable result) of:
        
        (a)  the Basic Limitation (defined in Section 12.2) applied 
             to either the ADP or ACP for the NHCE Group, and

        (b)  the Alternative Limitation applied to the other NHCE 
             Group percentage.



                                                                  38
                                                                   
<PAGE>
        12.5    Correction of Multiple Use Test

        If the multiple use limit is exceeded, the Administrator shall 
        determine a maximum percentage to be used in place of the calculated 
        percentage for all HCEs that would reduce either or both the ADP or 
        ACP for the HCE Group by a sufficient amount to meet the multiple 
        use limit.  Any excess shall be handled in the same manner that the 
        distribution of excess Deferrals or Contributions are handled.
        
        12.6    Adjustment for Investment Gain or Loss

        Any excess Deferrals or Contributions to be refunded to a 
        Participant in accordance with Section 12.3 or 12.5 shall be 
        adjusted for investment gain or loss.  Refunds shall not include 
        investment gain or loss for the period between the end of the 
        applicable Plan Year and the date of distribution.

        12.7    Testing Responsibilities and Required Records

        The Administrator shall be responsible for ensuring that the Plan 
        meets the ADP Test, the ACP Test and the Multiple Use Test, and that 
        the Contribution Dollar Limit is not exceeded.  In carrying out its 
        responsibilities, the Administrator shall have sole discretion to 
        limit or reduce Deferrals or Contributions at any time.  The 
        Administrator shall maintain records which are sufficient to 
        demonstrate that the ADP Test, the ACP Test and the Multiple Use 
        Test have been met for each plan Year for at least as long as the 
        Employer's corresponding tax year is open to audit,

        12.8    Separate Testing

        (a)  Multiple Employers: The determination of HCEs, NHCEs, 
             and the performance of the ADP Test, the ACP Test and Multiple 
             Use Test, and any corrective action resulting therefrom, shall 
             be made separately with regard to the Employees of each 
             Employer (and its Related Companies) that is not a Related 
             Company with the other Employer(s).

        (b)  Collective Bargaining Units: The performance of the ADP 
             Test, and if applicable, the ACP Test and Multiple Use Test, 
             and any corrective action resulting therefrom, shall be applied 
             separately to Employees who are eligible to participate in the 
             Plan as a result of a collective bargaining agreement.
             
        In addition, separate testing may be applied, at the discretion of the
        Administrator and to the extent permitted under Treasury regulations, to
        any group of Employees for whom separate testing is permissible.
        


                                                                  39
                                                                   
<PAGE>

13  MAXIMUM CONTRIBUTION AND BENEFIT LIMITATIONS
        
        13.1    "Annual Addition" Defined

        The sum of all amounts allocated to the Participant's Account for a 
        Plan Year.  Amounts include contributions (except for rollovers or 
        transfers from another qualified plan), forfeitures and, if the 
        Participant is a Key Employee (pursuant to Section 14) for the 
        applicable or any prior Plan Year, medical benefits provided 
        pursuant to Code section 419A(d)(1).  For purposes of this Section 
        13.1, "Account" also includes a Participant's account in all other 
        defined contribution plans currently or previously maintained by any 
        Related Company.  The Plan Year refers to the year to which the 
        allocation pertains, regardless of when it was allocated.  The Plan 
        Year shall be the Code section 415 limitation year.

        13.2    Maximum Annual Addition

        The Annual Addition to a Participant's accounts under this Plan and 
        any other defined contribution plan maintained by any Related 
        Company for any Plan Year shall not exceed the lesser of (1) 25% of 
        his or her Taxable Income or (2) the greater of $30,000 or 
        one-quarter of the dollar limitation in effect under Code section 
        415(b)(1)(A), except that for Plan Years commencing after December 
        31, 1994, "(2) $30,000 (as adjusted for the cost of living pursuant 
        to Code section 415 (d)) "shall be substituted for the preceding 
        reference to"(2) the greater of $30,000 or one-quarter of the dollar 
        limitation in effect under Code section 415(b)(1)(A)".

        13.3    Avoiding an Excess Annual Addition

        If, at any time during a Plan Year, the allocation of any additional 
        Contributions would produce an excess Annual Addition for such year, 
        Contributions to be made for the remainder of the Plan Year shall be 
        limited to the amount needed for each affected Participant to 
        receive the maximum Annual Addition.

        13.4    Correcting an Excess Annual Addition

        Upon the discovery of an excess Annual Addition to a Participant's 
        Account (resulting from forfeitures, allocations, reasonable error 
        in determining Participant compensation or the amount of elective 
        contributions, or other facts and circumstances acceptable to the 
        Internal Revenue Service) the excess amount (adjusted to reflect 
        investment gains) shall first be returned to the Participant to the 
        extent of his or her After-Tax Contributions, and then to the extent 
        of his or her 401(k) Contributions (however to the extent 401(k) 
        Contributions were matched, the applicable 401(k) Match 
        Contributions shall be forfeited in proportion to the returned 
        matched 401(k) Contributions) and the remaining excess, if any, 
        shall be forfeited by the Participant first from Profit Sharing 
        Contributions, then from 401(k) Match Contributions and then


                                                                  40
                                                                   
<PAGE>

        from ESOP Allocation Contributions.  Forfeited amounts from the 
        profit sharing plan and forfeited amounts from the stock bonus 
        employee stock ownership plan shall be used as described in Section 
        8.4 or to reduce Contributions made by an Employer to the profit 
        sharing plan or stock bonus employee stock ownership plan, 
        respectively, as soon as administratively feasible.

        13.5    Correcting a Multiple Plan Excess

        If a Participant, whose Account is credited with an excess Annual 
        Addition, received allocations to more than one defined contribution 
        plan, the excess shall be corrected by reducing the Annual Addition 
        to this Plan only after all possible reductions have been made to 
        the other defined contribution plans. Excess amounts within this 
        Plan are corrected in the order as described in Section 13.4.
        
        13.6    "Defined Benefit Fraction" Defined

        The fraction, for any Plan Year, when the numerator is the 
        "projected annual benefit" and the denominator is the greater of 
        125% of the "protected current accrued benefit" or the normal limit 
        which is the lesser of (1) 125% of the maximum dollar limitation 
        provided under Code section 415(b)(1)(A) for the Plan Year or (2) 
        140% of the amount which may be taken into account under Code 
        section 415(b)(1)(B) for the Plan Year, where a Participant's:
        
        (a)  "projected annual benefit" is the annual benefit 
             provided by the Plan determined pursuant to Code section 
             415(e)(2)(A), and

        (b)  "protected current accrued benefit" in a defined 
             benefit plan in existence (1) on July 1, 1982, shall be the 
             accrued annual benefit provided for under Public Law 97-248, 
             section 235(g)(4), as amended, or (2) on May 6, 1 986, shall be 
             the accrued annual benefit provided for under Public Law 
             99-514, section 1106(i)(3).

        13.7    "Defined Contribution Fraction" Defined

        The fraction where the numerator is the sum of the Participant's 
        Annual Addition for each Plan Year to date and the denominator is 
        the sum of the "annual amounts" for each year in which the 
        Participant has performed service with a Related Company.  The 
        "annual amount" for any Plan Year is the lesser of (1) 125% of the 
        Code section 415(c)(1)(A) dollar limitation (determined without 
        regard to subsection (c)(6)) in effect for the Plan Year and (2) 
        140% of the Code section 415(c)(1)(B) amount in effect for the Plan 
        Year, where:
        
        (a)  each Annual Addition is determined pursuant to the Code 
             section 415(c) rules in effect for such Plan Year, and
             
        (b)  the numerator is adjusted pursuant to Public Law 
             97-248, section 235(g)(3), as amended, or Public Law 99-514, 
             section 1106(i)(4).
             

                                                                  41

<PAGE>
        13.8    Combined Plan Limits and Correction

        If a Participant has also participated in a defined benefit plan 
        maintained by a Related Company, the sum of the Defined Benefit 
        Fraction and the Defined Contribution Fraction for any Plan Year may 
        not exceed 1.0. If the combined fraction exceeds 1.0 for any Plan 
        Year, the Participant's benefit under any defined benefit plan to 
        the extent it has not been distributed or used to purchase an 
        annuity contract) shall be limited so that the combined fraction 
        does not exceed 1.0 before any defined contribution limits shall be 
        enforced.



                                                                  42
                                                                   
<PAGE>

14      TOP HEAVY RULES
        ---------------
        14.1    Top Heavy Definitions

        When capitalized, the following words and phrases have the following 
        meanings when used in this Section:
        
        (a)  "Aggregation Group".  The group consisting of each 
             qualified plan of an Employer (and its Related Companies) (1) 
             in which a Key Employee is a participant or was a participant 
             during the determination period (regardless of whether such 
             plan has terminated), or (2) which enables another plan in the 
             group to meet the requirements of Code sections 401(a)(4) or 
             410(b).  The Employer may also treat any other qualified plan 
             as part of the group if the group would continue to meet the 
             requirements of Code sections 401(a)(4) and 410(b) with such 
             plan being taken into account.

        (b)  "Determination Date", The last Trade Date of the 
             preceding Plan Year or, in the case of the Plan's first year, 
             the last Trade Date of the first Plan Year.

        (c)  "Key Employee".  A current or former Employee (or his 
             or her Beneficiary) who at any time during the five year period 
             ending on the Determination Date was:

             (1) an officer of a Related Company whose 
                 Compensation (i) exceeds 50% of the amount in effect under 
                 Code section 415(b)(1)(A) and (ii) places him within the 
                 following highest paid group of officers:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

        NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES               NUMBER OF
        NOT EXCLUDED UNDER CODE           HIGHEST PAID
        SECTION 414(Q)(8)                 OFFICERS INCLUDED
        -----------------                 ------------------
        <S>                               <C>
        Less than 30                             3
        30 to 500                          10 % of the number of
                                           Employees not excluded
                                           under Code section
                                           414(q)(8)
        More than 500                      50

</TABLE>

             (2)     a more than 5% Owner,

             (3)     a more than 1% Owner whose Compensation exceeds $150,000,
                     or


                                                                   
                                                                  43
                                                                   
<PAGE>

             (4) a more than 0.5% Owner who is among the 10 Employees owning the
                 largest interest in a Related Company and whose Compensation
                 exceeds the amount in effect under Code section 415(c)1)(A).

        (d)  "Plan Benefit".  The sum as of the Determination Date 
             of (1) an Employee's Account, (2) the present value of his or 
             her other accrued benefits provided by all qualified plans 
             within the Aggregation Group, and (3) the aggregate 
             distributions made within the five year period ending on such 
             date.  Plan Benefits shall exclude rollover contributions and 
             plan to plan transfers made after December 31, 1983 which are 
             both employee initiated and from a plan maintained by a 
             non-related employer.

        (e)  "Top Heavy".  The Plan's status when the Plan Benefits 
             of Key Employees account for more than 60% of the Plan Benefits 
             of all Employees who have performed services at any time during 
             the five year period ending on the Determination Date.  The 
             Plan Benefits of Employees who were, but are no longer, Key 
             Employees (because they have not been an officer or Owner 
             during the five year period), are excluded in the determination.

        14.2    Special Contributions

        (a)  Minimum Contribution Requirement.  For each Plan Year 
             in which the Plan is Top Heavy, the Employer shall not allow 
             any contributions (other than a Rollover Contribution) to be 
             made by or on behalf of any Key Employee unless the Employer 
             makes a contribution (other than contributions made by an 
             Employer in accordance with a Participant's salary deferral 
             election or contributions made by an Employer based upon the 
             amount contributed by a Participant) on behalf of all 
             Participants who were Eligible Employees as of the last day of 
             the Plan Year in an amount equal to at least 3% of each such 
             Participant's Taxable Income.  The Administrator shall remove 
             any such contributions (including applicable investment gain or 
             loss) credited to a Key Employee's Account in violation of the 
             foregoing rule and return them to the Employer or Employee to 
             the extent permitted by the Limited Return of Contributions 
             paragraph of Section 18.

        (b)  Overriding Minimum Benefit.  Notwithstanding, 
             contributions shall be permitted on behalf of Key Employees if 
             the Employer also maintains a defined benefit plan which 
             automatically provides a benefit which satisfies the Code 
             section 416(c)(1) minimum benefit requirements, including the 
             adjustment provided in Code section 416(h)(2)(A), if 
             applicable.  If this Plan is part of an aggregation group in 
             which a Key Employee is receiving a benefit and no minimum is 
             provided in any other plan, a minimum contribution of at least 
             3% of Taxable Income


                                                                  44

<PAGE>
                                                                   
             shall be provided to the Participants specified in the 
             preceding paragraph.  In addition, the Employer may offset a 
             defined benefit minimum by contributions (other than 
             contributions made by an Employer in accordance with a 
             Participant's salary deferral election or contributions made by 
             an Employer based upon the amount contributed by a Participant) 
             made to this Plan.

        14.3   Special Vesting

        If the Plan becomes Top Heavy after the Effective Date, vesting for 
        all Employees shall thereafter be accelerated to the extent the 
        following vesting schedule produces a greater vested percentage for 
        the Employee than the normal vesting schedule at any relevant time:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                YEARS OF VESTING    VESTED
                SERVICE             PERCENTAGE
                --------            ----------
                <S>                 <C>
                Less than 2               0%
                2 but less than 3        20%
                3 but less than 4        40%
                4 but less than 5        60%
                5 but less than 6        80%
                6 or more               100%
</TABLE>

        14.4    Adjustment to Combined Limits for Different Plans

        For each Plan Year in which the Plan is Top Heavy, 100% shall be 
        substituted for 125% in determining the Defined Benefit Fraction and 
        the Defined Contribution Fraction.



                                                                  45

<PAGE>

15      PLAN ADMINISTRATION
        -------------------
        15.1    Plan Delineates Authority and Responsibility

        Plan fiduciaries include the Company, the Administrator, the 
        Committee and/or the Trustee, as applicable, whose specific duties 
        are delineated in this Plan and Trust.  In addition, Plan 
        fiduciaries also include any other person to whom fiduciary duties 
        or responsibility is delegated with respect to the Plan, Any person 
        or group may serve in more than one fiduciary capacity with respect 
        to the Plan.  To the extent permitted under ERISA section 405, no 
        fiduciary shall be liable for a breach by another fiduciary.

        15.2    Fiduciary Standards

        Each fiduciary shall:

        (a)  discharge his or her duties in accordance with this 
             Plan and Trust to the extent they are consistent with ERISA;

        (b)  use that degree of care, skill, prudence and diligence 
             that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar 
             with such matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of 
             a like character and with like aims;

        (c)  act with the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to 
             Participants and their Beneficiaries, and defraying reasonable 
             expenses of administering the Plan;

        (d)  diversify Plan investments, to the extent such 
             fiduciary is responsible for directing the investment of Plan 
             assets, so as to minimize the risk of large losses, unless 
             under the circumstances it is clearly prudent not to do so; and
             
        (e)  treat similarly situated Participants and Beneficiaries 
             in a uniform and nondiscriminatory manner,

        15.3    Company is ERISA Plan Administrator

        The Company is the plan administrator, within the meaning of ERISA 
        section 3(16), which is responsible for compliance with all 
        reporting and disclosure requirements, except those that are 
        explicitly the responsibility of the Trustee under applicable law.  
        The Administrator and/or Committee shall have any necessary 
        authority to carry out such functions through the actions of the 
        Administrator, duly appointed officers of the Company, and/or the 
        Committee.


                                                                  46

<PAGE>
                                                                   
        15.4    Administrator Duties

        The Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to construe 
        this Plan and Trust, other than the provisions which relate to the 
        Trustee, and to do all things necessary or convenient to effect the 
        intent and purposes thereof, whether or not such powers are 
        specifically set forth in this Plan and Trust. Actions taken in good 
        faith by the Administrator shall be conclusive and binding on all 
        interested parties, and shall be given the maximum possible 
        deference allowed by law.  In addition to the duties listed 
        elsewhere in this Plan and Trust, the Administrator's authority 
        shall include, but not be limited to, the discretionary authority to:

        (a)  determine who is eligible to participate, if a 
             contribution qualifies as a rollover contribution, the 
             allocation of Contributions, and the eligibility for loans, 
             withdrawals and distributions;

        (b)  provide each Participant with a summary plan 
             description no later than 90 days after he or she has become a 
             Participant (or such other period permitted under ERISA section 
             104(b)(1)), as well as informing each Participant of any 
             material modification to the Plan in a timely manner;

        (c)  make a copy of the following documents available to 
             Participants during normal work hours: this Plan and Trust 
             (including subsequent amendments), all annual and interim 
             reports of the Trustee related to the entire Plan, the latest 
             annual report and the summary plan description;

        (d)  determine the fact of a Participant's death and of any 
             Beneficiary's right to receive the deceased Participant's 
             interest based upon such proof and evidence as it deems 
             necessary;

        (e)  establish and review at least annually a funding policy 
             bearing in mind both the short-run and long-run needs and goals 
             of the Plan.  To the extent Participants may direct their own 
             investments, the funding policy shall focus on which Investment 
             Funds are available for Participants to use; and

        (f)  adjudicate claims pursuant to the claims procedure 
             described in Section 18.

        15.5    Advisors May be Retained

        The Administrator may retain such agents and advisors (including 
        attorneys accountants, actuaries, consultants record keepers, 
        investment counsel and administrative assistants) as it considers 
        necessary to assist it in the performance of its duties.  The 
        Administrator shall also comply with the bonding requirements of 
        ERISA section 412.


                                                                  47

<PAGE>

        15.6    Delegation of Administrator Duties

        The Company, as Administrator of the Plan, has appointed a Committee 
        to administer the Plan on its behalf.  The Company shall provide the 
        Trustee with the names and specimen signatures of any persons 
        authorized to serve as Committee members and act as or on its 
        behalf.  Any Committee member appointed by the Company shall serve 
        at the pleasure of the Company, but may resign by written notice to 
        the Company.  Committee members shall serve without compensation 
        from the Plan for such services.  Except to the extent that the 
        Company otherwise provides, any delegation of duties to a Committee 
        shall carry with it the full discretionary authority of the 
        Administrator to complete such duties.

        15.7    Committee Operating Rules

        (a)  Actions of Majority.  Any act delegated by the Company 
             to the Committee may be done by a majority of its members.  The 
             majority may be expressed by a vote at a meeting or in writing 
             without a meeting, and a majority action shall be equivalent to 
             an action of all Committee members.

        (b)  Meetings.  The Committee shall hold meetings upon such 
             notice, place and times as A determines necessary to conduct 
             its functions properly.
             
        (c)  Reliance by Trustee.  The Committee may authorize one 
             or more of its members to execute documents on As behalf and 
             may authorize one or more of its members or other individuals 
             who are not members to give written direction to the Trustee in 
             the performance of its duties.  The Committee shall provide 
             such authorization in writing to the Trustee with the name and 
             specimen signatures of any person authorized to act on its 
             behalf.  The Trustee shall accept such direction and rely upon 
             it until notified in writing that the Committee has revoked the 
             authorization to give such direction.  The Trustee shall not be 
             deemed to be on notice of any change in the membership of the 
             Committee, parties authorized to direct the Trustee in the 
             performance of its duties, or the duties delegated to and by 
             the Committee until notified in writing.


                                                                  48

<PAGE>

16      MANAGEMENT OF INVESTMENTS
        -------------------------
        16.1    Trust Agreement

        All Plan assets shall be held by the Trustee in trust, in accordance 
        with those provisions of this Plan and Trust which relate to the 
        Trustee, for use in providing Plan benefits and paying Plan fees and 
        expenses not paid directly by the Employer.  Plan Benefits shall be 
        drawn solely from the Trust and paid by the Trustee as directed by 
        the Administrator.  Notwithstanding, the Administrator may appoint, 
        with the approval of the Trustee, another trustee to hold and 
        administer Plan assets which do not meet the requirements of Section 
        16.2.

        Assets held in the profit sharing plan accounts and related trust as 
        described in this document are not available to pay benefits or fees 
        and expenses under the stock bonus employee stock ownership plan and 
        assets held in the stock bonus employee stock ownership plan 
        accounts and related trust as described in this document are not 
        available to pay benefits or fees and expenses under the profit 
        sharing plan.

        16.2    Investment Funds

        The Administrator is hereby granted authority to direct the Trustee 
        to invest Trust assets in one or more Investment Funds.  The number 
        and composition of Investment Funds may be changed from time to 
        time, without the necessity of amending this Plan and Trust.  The 
        Trustee may establish reasonable limits on the number of Investment 
        Funds as well as the acceptable assets for any such Investment Fund. 
        Each of the Investment Funds may be comprised of any of the 
        following:

        (a)  shares of a registered investment company, whether or 
             not the Trustee or any of its affiliates is an advisor to, or 
             other service provider to, such company:

        (b)  collective investment funds maintained by the Trustee, 
             or any other fiduciary to the Plan, which are available for 
             investment by trusts which are qualified under Code sections 
             401(a) and 501(a);

        (c)  individual equity and fixed income securities which are 
             readily tradeable on the open market;

        (d)  guaranteed investment contracts issued by a bank or 
             insurance company;

        (e)  interest bearing deposits of the Trustee; and

        (f)  Company Stock.


                                                                  49

<PAGE>
                                                                   

        Any Investment Fund assets invested in a collective investment fund, 
        shall be subject to all the provisions of the instruments 
        establishing and governing such fund.  These instruments, including 
        any subsequent amendments, are incorporated herein by reference.
        
        16.3    Authority to Hold Cash

        The Trustee shall have the authority to cause the investment manager 
        of each Investment Fund to maintain sufficient deposit or money 
        market type assets in each Investment Fund to handle the Fund's 
        liquidity and disbursement needs. Each Participant's and 
        Beneficiary's Sweep Account, which is used to hold assets pending 
        investment or disbursement, shall consist of interest bearing 
        deposits of the Trustee.

        16.4    Trustee to Act Upon Instructions

        The Trustee shall carry out instructions to invest assets in the 
        Investment Funds as soon as practicable after such instructions 
        are received from the Administrator, Participants, or Beneficiaries. 
        Such instructions shall remain in effect until changed by the 
        Administrator, Participants or Beneficiaries.

        16.5    Administrator Has Right to Vote Registered Investment Company
                Shares

        The Administrator shall be entitled to vote proxies or exercise any 
        shareholder rights relating to shares held on behalf of the Plan in 
        a registered investment company.  Notwithstanding, the authority to 
        vote proxies and exercise shareholder rights related to such shares 
        held in a Custom Fund is vested as provided otherwise in Section 16.

        16.6    Custom Fund Investment Management

        The Administrator may designate, with the consent of the Trustee, an 
        investment manager for any Investment Fund established by the 
        Trustee solely for Participants of this Plan (a "Custom Fund").  The 
        investment manager may be the Administrator, Trustee or an 
        investment manager pursuant to ERISA section 3(38). The 
        Administrator shall advise trustee in writing of the appointment of 
        an investment manager and shall cause the investment manager to 
        acknowledge to the Trustee in writing that the investment manager is 
        a fiduciary to the Plan.

        A Custom Fund shall be subject in the following:

        (a)  Guidelines. Written guidelines, acceptable to 
             the Trustee, shall be established for a Custom Fund. If a 
             Custom Fund consists solely of collective investment funds or 
             share registered investment company (and sufficient deposit or 
             money market type assets to handle the Fund's liquidity and 
             disbursement needs, its underlying instruments shall constitute 
             the guidelines.

                                                                  50
                                                                   

<PAGE>

        (b)  Authority of Investment Manager.  The 
             investment manager of a Custom Fund shall have the authority to 
             vote or execute proxies, exercise shareholder rights, manage, 
             acquire, and dispose of Trust assets.  Notwithstanding, the 
             authority to vote proxies and exercise shareholder rights 
             related to shares of Company Stock held in a Custom Fund is 
             vested as provided otherwise in Section 16.

        (c)  Custody and Trade Settlement.  Unless otherwise agreed 
             to by the Trustee, the Trustee shall maintain custody of all 
             Custom Fund assets and be responsible for the settlement of all 
             Custom Fund trades.  For purposes of this section, shares of a 
             collective investment fund, shares of a registered investment 
             company and guaranteed investment contracts issued by a bank or 
             insurance company, shall be regarded as the Custom Fund assets 
             instead of the underlying assets of such instruments.

        (d)  Limited Liability of Co-Fiduciaries.  Neither the 
             Administrator nor the Trustee shall be obligated to invest or 
             otherwise manage any Custom Fund assets for which the Trustee 
             or Administrator is not the investment manager nor shall the 
             Administrator or Trustee be liable for acts or omissions with 
             regard to the investment of such assets except to the extent 
             required by ERISA.

        16.7    Authority to Segregate Assets

        The Company may direct the Trustee to split an investment Fund into 
        two or more funds in the event any assets in the Fund are illiquid 
        or the value is not readily determinable.  In the event of such 
        segregation, the Company shall give instructions to the Trustee on 
        what value to use for the split-off assets, and the Trustee shall 
        not be responsible for confirming such value.

        16.8    Investment in Company Stock

        The Company Stock Fund shall be comprised of Company Stock and 
        sufficient deposit or money market type assets to handle the Fund's 
        liquidity and disbursement needs.  The Fund may be as large as 
        necessary to constitute the total investment of Participants' and 
        Beneficiaries' 401(k) Match Accounts and ESOP Allocation Accounts, 
        except to the extent amounts in such Accounts are otherwise invested 
        pursuant to Section 7.2.

        16.9    Participants Have Right to Vote and Tender Company Stock

        Each Participant or Beneficiary shall be entitled to instruct the 
        Trustee as to the voting or tendering of any full or partial shares 
        of Company Stock held on his or her behalf in the Company Stock Fund 
        Prior to such voting or tendering of Company Stock, each Participant 
        or Beneficiary shall receive a copy of the proxy solicitation or 
        other material relating to such vote or tender decision and


                                                                  51

<PAGE>


        a form for the Participant or Beneficiary to complete which 
        confidentially instructs the Trustee to vote or tender such shares 
        in the manner indicated by the Participant or Beneficiary.  Upon 
        receipt of such instructions, the Trustee shall act with respect to 
        such shares as instructed.  The Administrator shall instruct the 
        Trustee with respect to how to vote or tender any shares for which 
        instructions are not received from Participants or Beneficiaries.

        16.10   Registration and Disclosure for Company Stock

        The Administrator shall be responsible for determining the 
        applicability (and, if applicable, complying with) the requirements 
        of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the California Corporate 
        Securities Law of 1968, as amended, and any other applicable blue 
        sky law.  The Administrator shall also specify what restrictive 
        legend or transfer restriction, if any, is required to be set forth 
        on the certificates for the securities and the procedure to be 
        followed by the Trustee to effectuate a resale of such securities.


                                                                  52

<PAGE>

17   TRUST ADMINISTRATION
     --------------------
     17.1 Trustee to Construe Trust

          The Trustee shall have the discretionary authority to construe those
          provisions of this Plan and Trust which relate to the Trustee and to
          do all things necessary or convenient to the administration of the
          Trust, whether or not such powers are specifically set forth in this
          Plan and Trust.  Actions taken in good faith by the Trustee Shall be
          conclusive and binding on all interested parties, and shall be given
          the maximum possible deference allowed by law.

     17.2 Trustee To Act As Owner of Trust Assets

          Subject to the specific conditions and limitations set forth in this
          Plan and Trust, the Trustee shall have all the power, authority,
          rights and privileges of an absolute owner of the Trust assets and,
          not in limitation but in amplification of the foregoing, may:


          (a)  receive, hold, manage, invest and reinvest set tender exchange,
               dispose of, encumber, hypothecate, pledge, mortgage, lease, grant
               options respecting, repair, alter, insure, or distribute any and
               all property in the Trust;

          (b)  borrow money, participate in reorganizations, pay calls and
               assessments, vote or execute proxies, exercise subscription or
               conversion privileges, exercise options and register any
               securities in the Trust in the name of the nominee, in federal
               book entry form or in any other form as shall permit title
               thereto to pass by delivery;

          (c)  renew, extend the due date, compromise, arbitrate, adjust,
               settle, enforce or foreclose, by judicial proceedings or
               otherwise, or defend against the same, any obligations or claims
               in favor of or against the Trust; and

          (d)  lend, through a collective investment fund, any securities held
               in such collective investment fund to brokers, dealers or other
               borrowers and to permit such securities to be transferred into
               the name and custody and be voted by the borrower or others.


     17.3 United States Indicia of Ownership

          The Trustee shall not maintain the indicia of ownership of any Trust
          assets outside the jurisdiction of the United States, except as
          authorized by ERISA section 404(b).

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                                       53

<PAGE>

     17.4 Tax Withholding and Payment

          (a)  Withholding. The Trustee shall calculate and withhold federal
               (and, if applicable, state) income taxes with regard to any
               Eligible Rollover Distribution that is not paid as a Direct
               Rollover in accordance with the Participant's withholding
               election or as required by law if no election is made or the
               election is less than the amount required by law.  With regard to
               any taxable distribution that is not an Eligible Rollover
               Distribution, the Trustee shall calculate and withhold federal
               (and, if applicable, state) income taxes in accordance with the
               Participant's withholding election or as required by law if no
               election is made.

          (b)  Taxes Due From Investment Funds.  The Trustee shall pay from the
               Investment Fund any taxes or assessments imposed by any taxing or
               governmental authority on such Fund or its income, including
               related interest and penalties.


     17.5 Trust Accounting


          (a)  Annual Report.  Within 60 days (or other reasonable period)
               following the close of the Plan Year, the Trustee shall provide
               the Administrator with an annual accounting of Trust assets and
               information to assist the Administrator in meeting ERISA's annual
               reporting and audit requirements.

          (b)  Periodic Reports.  The Trustee shall maintain records and provide
               sufficient reporting to allow the Administrator to properly
               monitor the Trust's assets and activity.

          (c)  Administrator Approval.  Approval of any Trustee accounting shall
               automatically occur 90 days after such accounting has been
               received by the Administrator, unless the Administrator files a
               written objection with the Trustee within such time period.  Such
               approval shall be final as to all matters and transactions rated
               or shown therein and binding upon the Administrator.


     17.6 Valuation of Certain Assets

          If the Trustee determines the Trust holds any asset which is not
          readily tradeable and listed on a national securities exchange
          registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the
          Trustee may engage a qualified independent appraiser to determine the
          fair market value of such property, and the appraisal fees shall be
          paid from the Investment Fund containing the asset.

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                                       54

<PAGE>

     17.7 Legal Counsel

          The Trustee may consult with legal counsel of its choice, including
          counsel for the Employer or counsel of the Trustee, upon any question
          or matter arising under this Plan and Trust.  When relied upon by the
          Trustee, the opinion of such counsel shall be evidence that the
          Trustee has acted in good faith.

     17.8 Fees and Expenses

          The Trustee's fees for its services as Trustee shall be such as may be
          mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Trustee.  Trustee fees and
          all reasonable expenses of counsel and advisors retained by the
          Trustee shall be paid in accordance with Section 6.

     17.9 Trustee Duties and Limitations

          The Trustee's duties, unless otherwise agreed to by the Trustee, shall
          be confined to construing the terms of the Plan and Trust as they
          relate to the Trustee, receiving funds on behalf of and making
          payments from the Trust, safeguarding and valuing Trust assets,
          investing and reinvesting Trust assets in the Investment Funds as
          directed by the Administrator, Participants or Beneficiaries and those
          duties as described in this Section 17.

          The Trustee shall have no duty or authority to ascertain whether
          Contributions are in compliance with the Plan, to enforce collection
          or to compute or verify the accuracy or adequacy of any amount to be
          paid to it by the Employer.  The Trustee shall not be liable for the
          proper application of any part of the Trust with respect to any
          disbursement made at the direction of the Administrator.









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                                       55

<PAGE>

18   RIGHTS, PROTECTION, CONSTRUCTION AND JURISDICTION
     -------------------------------------------------

     18.1 Plan Does Not Affect Employment Rights

          The Plan does not provide any employment rights to any Employee.  The
          Employer expressly reserves the right to discharge an Employee at any
          time, with or without cause, without regard to the effect such
          discharge would have upon the Employee's interest in the Plan.

     18.2 Limited Return of Contributions

          Except as provided in this paragraph, (1) Plan assets shall not revert
          to the Employer nor be diverted for any purpose other than the
          exclusive benefit of Participants or their Beneficiaries; and (2) a
          Participant's vested interest shall not be subject to divestment.  As
          provided in ERISA section 403(c)(2), the actual amount of a
          Contribution made by the Employer (or the current value of the
          Contribution if a net loss has occurred) may revert to the Employer
          if:


          (a)  such Contribution is made by reason of a mistake of fact;

          (b)  initial qualification of the Plan under Code section 401(a) is
               not received and a request for such qualification is made within
               the time prescribed under Code section 401(b) (the existence of
               and Contributions under the Plan are hereby conditioned upon such
               qualification); or

          (c)  such Contribution is not deductible under Code section 404 (such
               Contributions are hereby conditioned upon such deductibility) in
               the taxable year of the Employer for which the Contribution is
               made.

          The reversion to the Employer must be made (if at all) within one year
          of the mistaken payment of the Contribution, the date of denial of
          qualification, or the date of disallowance of deduction, as the case
          may be.  A Participant shall have no rights under the Plan with
          respect to any such reversion.

     18.3 Assignment and Alienation

          As provided by Code section 401(a)(13) and to the extent not otherwise
          required by law, no benefit provided by the Plan may be anticipated,
          assigned or alienated, except:


          (a)  to create, assign or recognize a right to any benefit with
               respect to a Participant pursuant to a QDRO, or

          (b)  to use a Participant's vested Account balance as security for a
               loan from the Plan which is permitted pursuant to Code section
               4975.







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                                       56

<PAGE>

     18.4 Facility of Payment

          If a Plan benefit is due to be paid to a minor or if the Administrator
          reasonably believes that any payee is legally incapable of giving a
          valid receipt and discharge for any payment due him or her, the
          Administrator shall have the payment of the benefit, or any part
          thereof, made to the person (or persons or institution) whom it
          reasonably believes is caring for or supporting the payee, unless it
          has received due notice of claim therefor from a duly appointed
          guardian or conservator of the payee.  Any payment shall to the extent
          thereof, be a complete discharge of any liability under the Plan to
          the payee.

     18.5 Reallocation of Lost Participant's Accounts

          If the Administrator cannot locate a person entitled to payment of a
          Plan benefit after a reasonable search, the Administrator may at any
          time thereafter treat such person's Account as forfeited and use such
          amount as described in Section 8.4 or to reduce Contributions made by
          an Employer to the profit sharing plan or stock bonus employee stock
          ownership plan, respectively, as soon as administratively feasible.
          If such person subsequently presents the Administrator with a valid
          claim for the benefit, such person shall be paid the amount treated as
          forfeited, plus the interest that would have been earned in the Sweep
          Account to the date of determination.  The Administrator shall pay the
          amount through an additional amount contributed by the Employer or
          direct the Trustee to pay the amount from the Forfeiture Account.

     18.6 Put Options

          In the event that a Participant receives a distribution of Company
          Stock as provided in Section 11 that is not readily tradeable on an
          established market at the time of receipt, he or she shall have the
          option to sell the Company Stock to the Company at any time during two
          option periods by written notice to the Company.  The first option
          period shall commence at the time the Company Stock is distributed and
          shall extend for 60 days thereafter.  The sale price shall be equal to
          the fair market value of such Company Stock for the Company's
          preceding Fiscal Year.  The sale price shall be paid within 30 days
          after the option is exercised.  The second option period shall
          commence immediately after the one year anniversary of the date the
          Company Stock was distributed (subject to any applicable regulations)
          and shall extend for sixty days thereafter.  The sale price shall be
          equal to the fair market value of such Company Stock for the Company's
          preceding Fiscal Year. The sale price shall be paid within 30 days
          after the option is exercised.

     18.7 Claims Procedure


          (a)  Right to Make Claim.  An interested party who disagrees with the
               Administrator's determination of his or her right to Plan
               benefits must submit a written claim and exhaust this claim
               procedure before legal recourse of any type is sought.  The claim
               must include the important


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                                                                        07/12/96
                                       57

<PAGE>

               issues the interested party believes support the claim.  The
               Administrator, pursuant to the authority provided in this Plan,
               shall either approve or deny the claim.

          (b)  Process for Denying a Claim. The Administrator's partial or
               complete denial of an initial claim must include an
               understandable, written response covering (1) the specific
               reasons why the claim is being denied (with reference to the
               pertinent Plan provisions) and (2) the steps necessary to perfect
               the claim and obtain a final review.

          (c)  Appeal of Denial and Final Review.  The interested party may make
               a written appeal of the Administrator's initial decision, and the
               Administrator shall respond in the same manner and form as
               prescribed for denying a claim initially.

          (d)  Time Frame.  The initial claim, its review, appeal and final
               review shall be made in a timely fashion, subject to the
               following time table:


                                                                 Days to Respond
               Action                                           From Last Action
               ------                                           ----------------

               Administrator determines benefit                               NA
               Interested party files initial request                    60 days
               Administrator's initial decision                          90 days
               Interested party requests final review                    60 days
               Administrator's final decision                            60 days

               However, the Administrator may take up to twice the maximum
               response time for its initial and final review if it provides an
               explanation within the normal period of why an extension is
               needed and when its decision shall be forthcoming.

     18.8 Construction

          Headings are included for reading convenience.  The text shall control
          if any ambiguity or inconsistency exists between the headings and the
          text.  The singular and plural shall be interchanged wherever
          appropriate.  References to Participant shall include Beneficiary when
          appropriate and even if not otherwise already expressly stated.
          References to Plan shall mean the profit sharing plan and the stock
          bonus employee stock ownership plan wherever appropriate.  References
          to Trust shall mean the profit sharing plan trust and the stock bonus
          employee stock ownership plan trust wherever appropriate.

     18.9 Jurisdiction and Severability

          The Plan and Trust shall be construed, regulated and administered
          under ERISA and other applicable federal laws and, where not otherwise
          preempted, by the

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                                       58

<PAGE>


          laws of the State of California.  If any provision of this Plan and
          Trust shall become invalid or unenforceable, that fact shall not
          affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
          Plan and Trust.  All provisions of this Plan and Trust shall be so
          construed as to render them valid and enforceable in accordance with
          their intent.

     18.10     Indemnification by Employer

          The Employers hereby agree to indemnify all Plan fiduciaries against
          any and all liabilities resulting from any action or inaction,
          (including a Plan termination in which the Company fails to apply for
          a favorable determination from the Internal Revenue Service with
          respect to the qualification of the Plan upon its termination), in
          relation to the Plan or Trust (1) including (without limitation)
          expenses reasonably incurred in the defense of any claim relating to
          the Plan or its assets, and amounts paid in any settlement relating to
          the, Plan or its assets but (2) excluding liability resulting from
          actions or inactions made in bad faith, or resulting from the
          negligence or willful misconduct of the Trustee.  The Company shall
          have the right, but not the obligation, to conduct the defense of any
          action to which this Section applies.  The Plan fiduciaries are not
          entitled to indemnity from the Plan assets relating to any such
          action.







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<PAGE>

19   AMENDMENT, MERGER, DIVESTITURES AND TERMINATION
     ----------------------------------------------

     19.1 Amendment


          The Company reserves the right to amend this Plan and Trust at any
          time, to any extent and in any manner it may deem necessary or
          appropriate.  The Company (and not the Trustee) shall be responsible
          for adopting any amendments necessary to maintain the qualified status
          of this Plan and Trust under Code sections 401(a) and 501(a).  If the
          Committee is acting as the Administrator in accordance with Section
          15.6, it shall have the authority to adopt Plan and Trust amendments
          which have no substantial adverse financial impact upon any Employer
          or the Plan.  All interested parties shall be bound by any amendment,
          provided that no amendment shall:


          (a)  become effective unless it has been adopted in accordance with
               the procedures set forth in Section 19.5;

          (b)  except to the extent permissible under ERISA and the Code, make
               it possible for any portion of the Trust assets to revert to an
               Employer or to be used for, or diverted to, any purpose other
               than for the exclusive benefit of Participants and Beneficiaries
               entitled to Plan benefits and to defray reasonable expenses of
               administering the Plan;

          (c)  decrease the rights of any Employee to benefits accrued
               (including the elimination of optional forms of benefits) to the
               date on which the amendment is adopted, or if later, the date
               upon which the amendment becomes effective, except to the extent
               permitted under ERISA and the Code; nor

          (d)  permit an Employee to be paid the balance of his or her 401(k)
               Account unless the payment would otherwise be permitted under
               Code section 401(k).


     19.2 Merger

          This Plan and Trust may not be merged or consolidated with, nor may
          its assets or liabilities be transferred to, another plan unless each
          Participant and Beneficiary would, if the resulting plan were then
          terminated, receive a benefit just after the merger, consolidation or
          transfer which is at least equal to the benefit which would be
          received if either plan had terminated just before such event.

     19.3 Divestitures

          In the event of a sale by an Employer which is a corporation of: (1)
          substantially all of the Employer's assets used in a trade or business
          to an unrelated corporation, or (2) a sale of such Employer's interest
          in a subsidiary



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<PAGE>

          to an unrelated entity or individual, lump sum distributions shall be
          permitted from the Plan, except as provided below, to Participants
          with respect to Employees who continue employment with the corporation
          acquiring such assets or who continue employment with such subsidiary,
          as applicable.

          Notwithstanding, distributions shall not be permitted if the purchaser
          agrees, in connection with the sale, to be substituted as the Company
          as the sponsor of the Plan or to accept a transfer of the assets and
          liabilities representing the Participants' benefits into a plan of the
          purchaser or a plan to be established by the purchaser.

     19.4 Plan Termination

          The Company may, at any time and for any reason, terminate the Plan in
          accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 19.5, or
          completely discontinue contributions.  Upon either of these events, or
          in the event of a partial termination of the Plan within the meaning
          of Code section 411(d)(3), the Accounts of each affected employee who
          has not yet incurred a Break in Service shall be fully vested.  If no
          successor plan is established or maintained, lump sum distributions
          shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Plan as in effect at
          the time of the Plan's termination or as thereafter amended provided
          that a post-termination amendment shall not be effective to the extent
          that it violates Section 19.1 unless it is required in order to
          maintain the qualified status of the Plan upon its termination.  The
          Trustee's and Employer's authority shall continue beyond the Plan's
          termination date until all Trust assets have been liquidated and
          distributed.

     19.5 Amendment and Termination Procedures

          The following procedural requirements shall govern the adoption of any
          amendment or termination (a "Change") of this Plan and Trust:


          (a)  The Company may adopt any change by action of its board of
               directors in accordance with its normal procedures.

          (b)  The Committee, if acting as Administrator in accordance with
               Section 15.6, may adopt any amendment within the scope of its
               authority provided under Section 19.1 and in the manner specified
               in Section 15.7(a).

          (c)  Any Change must be (1) set forth in writing, and (2) signed and
               dated by an executive officer of the Company or, in the case of
               an amendment adopted by the Committee, at least one of its
               members.

          (d)  If the effective date of any Change is not specified in the
               document setting forth the Change, it shall be effective as of
               the date it is signed by the last person whose signature is
               required under clause (2) above,



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                                       61

<PAGE>

               except to the extent that another effective date is necessary to
               maintain the qualified status of this Plan and Trust under Code
               sections 401(a) and 501(a).



          (e)  No Change shall become effective until it is accepted and signed
               by the Trustee (which acceptance shall not unreasonably be
               withheld).


     19.6 Termination of Employer's Participation

          Any Employer may, at any time and for any reason, terminate its Plan
          participation by action of its board of directors in accordance with
          its normal procedures.  Written notice of such action shall be signed
          and dated by an executive officer of the Employer and delivered to the
          Company.  If the effective date of such action is not specified, it
          shall be effective on, or as soon as reasonably practicable after, the
          date of delivery.  Upon the Employer's request, the Company may
          instruct the Trustee and Administrator to spin off all affected
          Accounts and underlying assets into a separate qualified plan under
          which the Employer shall assume the powers and duties of the Company.
          Alternatively, the Company may treat the event as a partial
          termination described above or continue to maintain the Accounts under
          the Plan.

     19.7 Replacement of the Trustee

          The Trustee may resign as Trustee under this Plan and Trust or may be
          removed by the Company at any time upon at least 90 days written
          notice (or less if agreed to by both parties).  In such event, the
          Company shall appoint a successor trustee by the end of the notice
          period.  The successor trustee shall then succeed to all the powers
          and duties of the Trustee under this Plan and Trust.  If no successor
          trustee has been named by the end of the notice period, the Company's
          chief executive officer shall become the trustee, or if he or she
          declines, the Trustee may petition the court for the appointment of a
          successor trustee.

     19.8 Final Settlement and Accounting of Trustee


          (a)  Final Settlement.  As soon as administratively feasible after its
               resignation or removal as Trustee, the Trustee shall transfer to
               the successor trustee all property currently held by the Trust.
               However, the Trustee is authorized to reserve such sum of money
               as it may deem advisable for payment of its accounts and expenses
               in connection with the settlement of its accounts or other fees
               or expenses payable by the Trust.  Any balance remaining after
               payment of such fees and expenses shall be paid to the successor
               trustee.

          (b)  Final Accounting.  The Trustee shall provide a final accounting
               to the Administrator within 90 days of the date Trust assets are
               transferred to the successor trustee.



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                                       62

<PAGE>

          (c)  Administrator Approval.  Approval of the final accounting shall
               automatically occur 90 days after such accounting has been
               received by the Administrator, unless the Administrator files a
               written objection with the Trustee within such time period.  Such
               approval shall be final as to all matters and transactions stated
               or shown therein and binding upon the Administrator.


















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                                       63

<PAGE>

                          APPENDIX A - INVESTMENT FUNDS


I.   Investment Funds Available

     As of the Effective Date, the Investment Funds offered under the Plan to
     which a Participant or Beneficiary may direct investment include this set
     of daily valued funds:


               CATEGORY                        FUNDS
               --------                        -----

               MONEY MARKET                    U.S. Government Money Market
               ------------

               INCOME                          Income Accumulation
               ------                          U.S. Treasury Allocation

               BALANCED                        Asset Allocation
               --------

               EQUITY                          Equity Value
               ------                          Neuberger & Berman Guardian Trust
                                               Templeton Foreign

               COMBINATION                     H&Q Life Sciences Investors
               -----------

     Investment in the Company Stock Fund is restricted to investment of a
     Participant's or Beneficiary's 401(k) Match Account and ESOP Allocation
     Account as directed by the Administrator.

II.  Default Investment Fund

     As of the Effective Date, the default Investment Fund is the U.S.
     Government Money Market Fund.

III. Contribution Accounts For Which Investment is Restricted

     A Participant or Beneficiary may direct the investment of his or her entire
     Account except for the following Contribution Accounts, and except as
     otherwise provided in Section 7, which shall be invested as of the
     Effective Date as follows:

          401(k) Match Account               Company Stock Fund
          ESOP Allocation Account            Company Stock Fund

IV.  Maximum Percentage Restrictions Applicable to Certain Investment Funds

     As of the Effective Date, there are no maximum percentage restrictions
     applicable to any Investment Fund designated as an Investment Fund to which
     a Participant or Beneficiary may direct investment.



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<PAGE>

                 APPENDIX B - PAYMENT OF PLAN FEES AND EXPENSES


As of the Effective Date, payment of Plan fees and expenses shall be as follows:

1)   Investment Management and Special Custom Fund Fees:  These are paid by
     Participants in that management fees reduce the investment return reported
     and credited to Participants, except that the Employer shall pay the fees
     related to the Company Stock Fund and the H&Q Life Sciences Investors Fund.
     These are paid by the Employer on a quarterly basis.

2)   Recordkeeping Fees: These are paid by the Employer on a quarterly basis.

3)   Loan Fees: A $3.50 per month fee is assessed and billed/collected quarterly
     from the Account of each Participant who has an outstanding loan balance.

4)   Investment Fund Election Changes: For each Investment Fund election change
     by a Participant, in excess of 4 changes per year, a $10 fee shall be
     assessed and billed/collected quarterly from the Participant's Account.

5)   Additional Fees Paid by Employer: All other Plan related fees and expenses
     shall be paid by the Employer.  To the extent that the Administrator later
     elects that any such fees shall be borne by Participants, estimates of the
     fees shall be determined and reconciled, at least annually, and the fees
     shall be assessed monthly and billed/collected from Accounts quarterly.







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                                       65

<PAGE>

                         APPENDIX C - LOAN INTEREST RATE


As of the Effective Date, the interest rate charged on Participant loans shall
be equal to the Trustee's prime rate, plus 1%.















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                                       66

<PAGE>

                            LINE OF CREDIT AGREEMENT



     This Agreement is made as of October 29, 1993 between HAMBRECHT & QUIST
GROUP, a California corporation ("Borrower"), and THE BANK OF CALIFORNIA,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ("Bank").

                            ARTICLE ONE - DEFINITIONS

     The following definitions shall be applicable to both the singular and
plural forms of the defined terms:

     1.1  "Advance" means an extension of credit under this Agreement.

     1.2  "Advance Request" means the form of Advance request attached hereto as
EXHIBIT A, to be completed, executed and delivered by Borrower
to Bank each time Borrower requests an Advance under the Line of Credit.

     1.3   "Affiliate" means any Person which directly or indirectly controls,
is controlled by, or is under common control with, Borrower.  "Control,"
"controlled by" and "under common control with" means direct or indirect
possession of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or
policies (whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise); provided that control shall be conclusively presumed when any Person
or affiliated group directly or indirectly owns five percent or more of the
securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of a
corporation.

     1.4  "Agreement" means this Line of Credit Agreement as it may be amended
from time to time.

     1.5  "Closing Date" means the date of this Agreement.

     1.6   "Customer" means a client of Borrower to whom Borrower makes an
advance under Borrower's "Restricted Stock Loan Program", which advance Borrower
requests Bank to finance under the Line of Credit.

     1.7  "Customer Advance" means an advance by Borrower to a Customer under
Borrower's "Restricted Stock Loan Program" secured by the Customer's pledge of
various marketable certificated securities owned by the Customer. Each Customer
Advance shall be on a full recourse basis, without restriction on Borrower's
right or ability to seek recourse against all of the assets or properties of the
Customer in the event of a default under the applicable Customer Note.

     1.8  "Customer Note" means the promissory note executed by a Customer in
favor of Borrower to evidence a Customer Advance, in form and substance
satisfactory to Bank.

<PAGE>

     1.9  "Customer Pledge Agreement" means the pledge agreement or related
security document executed by Customer in favor of Borrower, pursuant to which
the Customer pledges the Pledged Securities as security for the applicable
Customer Note, in form and substance satisfactory to Bank.

     1.10 "Event of Default" means any event described in Article 7.

     1.11  "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles and practices
consistently applied.

     1.12 "Lien" means any voluntary or involuntary security interest, mortgage,
pledge, claim, charge, encumbrance, title retention agreement, or third party
interest, covering all or any part of the property of Borrower or any other
Person.

     1.13 "Line of Credit" means the credit accommodation being provided
Borrower as more fully described in Article 2.

     1.14 "Line of Credit Note" means the promissory note in form and substance
satisfactory to Bank executed by Borrower to evidence the Line of Credit.

     1.15 "Loan Documents" means, individually and collectively, this Agreement,
the Line of Credit Note, each Advance Request, any rate option agreement,
guaranty, security or pledge agreement, deed of trust, and all other contracts,
instruments, addenda and documents executed in connection with the extension of
credit which is the subject of this Agreement.

     1.16 "Maximum Advance Rate" means with respect to each Advance an amount
equal to the lesser of (a) TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND AND NO/100 DOLLARS
($2,500,000), or (b) forty percent (40%) of the fair market value of the Pledged
Securities securing the Customer Note pledged to Bank in connection with the
Advance, as determined by Bank referenced to outside sources.

     1.17 "Person" means any individual or entity.

     1.18 "Pledged Securities" means the certificated securities pledged by a
Customer to Borrower to secure the Customer's obligations to Borrower in
connection with a Customer Advance.

     1.19 "Related Person" means any Affiliate of Borrower, or any officer,
employee, director or shareholder of Borrower or any Affiliate, or a relative of
any of them.

     1.20 "Tangible Net Worth", unless otherwise defined in an addendum to this
Agreement, means the net book value of (a) all Borrower's assets, exclusive of
intangibles, and loans to


                                        2
<PAGE>

and notes and receivables from Related Persons, minus (b) all Borrower's
liabilities determined in accordance with GAAP.

     1.21 "Termination Date" means the earlier of (a) August 1, 1994; or (b) the
date Bank may terminate making advances pursuant to the rights of Bank under
Article 7.


                          ARTICLE TWO - LINE OF CREDIT
                          
     2.1  ADVANCES AND LINE OF CREDIT NOTE.  Subject to the terms and 
conditions of this Agreement, from time to time prior to the Termination Date,
upon request by Borrower, Bank will make Advances to Borrower which, in the
aggregate, shall not exceed at any time the principal amount of FIVE MILLION AND
N0/100 DOLLARS ($5,000,000.00); provided, however, that no single Advance shall
exceed the Maximum Advance Rate applicable thereto.  The Line of Credit shall be
evidenced by the Line of Credit Note. Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow
under the Line of Credit, as Borrower may elect, subject to all limitations,
terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Loan Documents. Borrower shall
pay to Bank all sums outstanding under the Line of Credit, and due under this
Agreement no later than the Termination Date.

     2.2  REQUESTS FOR ADVANCES.  Advances shall be used solely to 
finance Customer Advances by Borrower. Each Advance shall be requested in
writing in the form of an Advance Request, accompanied by a statement of purpose
under Regulation U (as defined in Section 5.1 below) executed by the applicable
Customer, in form and substance satisfactory to Bank, and such other documents
or information as Bank may reasonably require. Borrower assumes all risks
regarding the validity, authenticity and due authorization of any request
purporting to be made by or on behalf of Borrower. Borrower promises to repay
any sums, with interest, that are advanced by Bank pursuant to any request which
Bank in good faith believes to be authorized, or when the proceeds of any
Advance are deposited to the account of Borrower with Bank, regardless of
whether any Person other than Borrower may have authority to draw against such
account.

     2.3  ADVANCES AND PAYMENTS.

          (a)  Each Advance shall be made by a deposit to Borrower's account no.
N/A at Bank's San Francisco Main Office, unless Borrower shall otherwise
direct Bank in writing.

          (b)  The obligation of Bank to make any Advance to Borrower, the
proceeds of which are, at Borrower's request, to be wire transferred to Borrower
or any other Person, shall be subject to all applicable laws and regulations,
and the policy of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System on
Reduction


                                        3

<PAGE>

of Payments System Risk in effect from time to time ("Applicable Law and
Policy").  Borrower acknowledges that, as a result of Applicable Law and Policy,
the transmission of the proceeds of any Advance which Borrower has requested to
be wire-transferred may be significantly delayed.

          (c)  Principal, interest, and all other sums owed Bank under any Loan
Document shall be evidenced by entries in records maintained by Bank for such
purpose.  Each payment on and any other credits with respect to principal,
interest and all other sums outstanding under any Loan Document shall be
evidenced by entries in such records.  Bank's records shall be conclusive
evidence thereof.

          (d)  Borrower hereby expressly authorizes Bank to debit Borrower's
account no. N/A for the amount of each payment of principal and interest and
all other sums owed Bank under any Loan Document.  Borrower shall have
sufficient collected balances in said account in order that each such payment
shall be available when due.

          (e)  Without limiting any other rights or remedies that may be
available to Bank hereunder or under any other Loan Documents or applicable law,
Bank hereby reserves the right to decline making any Advance to Borrower if any
litigation or administrative or regulatory proceeding affecting Borrower or
Hambrecht & Quist Incorporated, a California corporation ("H & Q Inc.") has been
initiated where the granting of the relief requested would have a material
adverse effect on the financial condition or business of Borrower or H & Q Inc.

     2.4  INTEREST.

          (a)  Interest on the outstanding principal balance of the Line of
Credit shall accrue daily from the date of the first Advance until the
Termination Date at a fluctuating rate per annum at all times equal to the rate
Bank announces to be in effect from time to time as its prime rate (the "Prime
Rate") plus one percent (1.0%). The Prime Rate is a rate set by Bank based upon
various factors including general economic and market conditions, and is used as
a reference point for pricing certain loans.  Bank may price its loans at, above
or below the Prime Rate.  Interest shall be payable on the first day of each
consecutive month, beginning on the first such date after the first Advance and
continuing through the Termination Date, on which date all accrued interest and
principal remaining unpaid shall be due and payable in full.

          (b)  The unpaid principal balance and all payments of interest on the
Line of Credit shall bear interest from their respective maturities, whether
scheduled or accelerated, at a fluctuating rate per annum at all times equal to
the Prime Rate

                                        4

<PAGE>

plus five percent (5%), until paid in full, whether before or after judgment.

          (c)  Interest and fees shall be calculated for actual days elapsed on
the basis of a 360-day year, which results in higher interest payments than if a
365-day year were used.  Each change in the rate of interest shall become
effective on the date each Prime Rate change is announced within the Bank. In no
event shall Borrower be obligated to pay interest at a rate in excess of the
highest rate permitted by applicable law from time to time in effect.

     2.5  PRINCIPAL PAYMENTS.  All unpaid principal shall be due and 
payable on the Termination Date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, if at
any time Bank determines that the outstanding principal balance of any Advance
exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the fair market value of the Pledged Securities
securing the Customer Note pledged by Borrower to Bank in connection with such
Advance, as determined by Bank reference to outside sources, then Borrower shall
immediately upon Bank's demand make principal repayments of the Advance,
together with all accrued interest thereon, in an amount sufficient to establish
a forty percent (40%) or lower Advance-to-value ratio.

     2.6  FEES.  Borrower has paid or shall pay to Bank no later than 
the Closing Date a non-refundable fee of $12,500.00 for this Line of Credit.

     2.7  COLLATERAL. Borrower shall ensure Bank is granted 
concurrently with, and as a condition to, making any Advance, a security
interest of first priority in the Customer Note, which shall be freely
negotiable by Borrower, Borrower's right, title and interest in the Customer
Pledge Agreement, which shall be freely assignable by Borrower, and in such
other collateral as might be required by Bank under a pledge agreement, deed of
trust, or other security agreement, as appropriate, in form and substance
satisfactory to Bank.  Prior to or concurrently with Bank making an Advance,
Bank shall take possession of the applicable Customer Note pledged to it as
security for Borrower's obligations and any Pledged Securities that are covered
by the applicable Customer Pledge Agreement assigned to Bank. Each such Customer
Note shall be endorsed in blank and each such Pledged Security shall be endorsed
in blank or have stock powers attached, accompanied by a fully executed copy of
the applicable Customer Pledge Agreement.


                 ARTICLE THREE - REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

  Borrower represents and warrants that as of the Closing Date and the date of
each Advance under the Line of Credit:


                                        5

<PAGE>

     3.1  DUE ORGANIZATION.  Borrower is duly organized and validly 
existing in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
organization, and is duly qualified to conduct business in each jurisdiction in
which its business is conducted.

     3.2  AUTHORIZATION, VALIDITY AND ENFORCEABILITY.  The execution, 
delivery and performance of all Loan Documents executed by Borrower are within
Borrower's powers, have been duly authorized, and are not in conflict with
Borrower's articles of incorporation or by-laws, or the terms of any charter or
other organizational document of Borrower; and all such Loan Documents
constitute valid and binding obligations of Borrower, enforceable in accordance
with their terms.

     3.3  COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.  Borrower has complied with 
all licensing, permit and fictitious name requirements necessary to lawfully
conduct the business in which it is engaged and with all laws and regulations
applicable to any sales, leases or the furnishing of services by Borrower,
including without limitation those requiring consumer or other disclosures.

     3.4  LICENSES, TRADEMARKS.  Borrower has all patents, licenses, 
trademarks, trademark rights, trade names, trade name rights, copyrights,
permits and franchises required in order for Borrower to conduct its business
and operate its properties as now or proposed to be conducted without conflict
with the rights of others.

     3.5  NO CONFLICT.  The execution, delivery, and performance by 
Borrower of all Loan Documents are not in conflict with any law, rule,
regulation, order or directive, or any indenture, agreement, or undertaking to
which Borrower is a party or by which Borrower may be bound or affected.

     3.6  NO LITIGATION, CLAIMS OR PROCEEDINGS. There is no 
litigation, tax claim, proceeding or dispute pending, or, to the knowledge of
Borrower, threatened against or affecting Borrower or its property, except as
disclosed in writing to Bank prior to the Closing Date.

     3.7  CORRECTNESS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.  Borrower's financial 
statements which have been delivered to Bank fairly and accurately reflect
Borrower's financial condition as of July 31, 1993; and, since that date, there
has been no material adverse change in Borrower's financial condition or
business.

     3.8  NO SUBSIDIARIES.  Borrower is not a majority owner of or in 
a control relationship with any other business entity except for H & Q Inc.,
Hambrecht & Quist Capital Management, a California corporation, Hambrecht &
Quist Guaranty Finance, a


                                        6

<PAGE>

California general partnership, and such other business entities disclosed in
writing to Bank prior to the Closing Date.

     3.9  NO EVENT OF DEFAULT. No Event of Default has occurred and is 
continuing.

                                        
                       ARTICLE FOUR - CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

     4.1  REQUIRED DELIVERY.  The obligation of Bank to make the first 
Advance under the Line of Credit is subject to the condition that, on or before
the date of such Advance, there shall have been delivered to Bank, in form and
substance satisfactory to Bank, and duly executed as required by Bank:

          (a)  This Agreement and the Line of Credit Note;

          (b)  Any and all Loan Documents Bank may require to evidence any
security interest or Lien granted to Bank in connection with the Line of Credit;

          (c)  Financing statement(s) and other security interest perfection
documentation in form and substance satisfactory to Bank, duly filed under the
Uniform Commercial Code in all jurisdictions as may be necessary, or in Bank's
opinion, desirable to perfect Bank's security interests created under any
security or pledge agreement; and all filings, recordings, and other actions
that are necessary or advisable, in the opinion of Bank, in order to establish,
perfect, preserve and protect Bank's security interests and Liens as legal,
valid and enforceable security interests and Liens in such collateral shall have
been effected; and all property or documents of title, in cases in which
possession is required for the perfection of Bank's security interest, including
without limitation any applicable Customer Note(s), endorsed in blank, and any
applicable Pledged Securities, endorsed in blank or with stock powers attached.

          (d)  Evidence that the security interest and Liens in favor of Bank
are perfected, valid, enforceable, and prior to the rights and interests of
others as required by Bank;

          (e)  Certified copies of Requests for Information from the appropriate
governmental or regulatory authorities listing the financing statements referred
to in paragraph (c) above and all other effective financing statements which
name Borrower as debtor, together with copies of all such other financing
statements, none of which shall cover the collateral purported to be covered by
the security or pledge agreement(s) referred to in paragraph (b) above except as
Bank may expressly allow;

                                        7

<PAGE>

          (f)  Such authorization documents as Bank may require;

          (g)  Evidence that any insurance required by this Agreement is in
effect;

          (h)  Payment in full of any fees or other charges due by the Closing
Date under the terms of any Loan Documents; and

          (i)  Such other documents, instruments or agreements as Bank may
require to evidence the Line of Credit.


                      ARTICLE FIVE - AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     During the term of this Agreement and until its performance of all
obligations to Bank, Borrower will, unless Bank otherwise consents in writing:

     5.1  USE OF PROCEEDS.  Use the proceeds of the Line of Credit 
only to finance a Customer Advance specified in an Advance Request; and not
directly or indirectly to purchase or carry any margin stock, as defined from
time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in Federal
Regulation U ("Regulation U").

     5.2  FINANCIAL COVENANTS.

          (a)  TANGIBLE NET WORTH.  Maintain a Tangible Net Worth of 
not less than $30,000,000.00;

          (b)  MINIMUM NET CAPITAL.  Cause H & Q, Inc. to maintain a 
minimum net capital position, as measured under SEC Uniform Net Capital Rule
15c3-1 and under the capital maintenance rules of the New York Stock Exchange,
of at least $10,000,000.00 at all times.

          (c) PROFITABILITY.  Maintain profitable operations on an 
annual fiscal year basis.

     5.3  ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL COVENANTS.  Comply with the terms of 
all financial covenants contained in any addendum to this Agreement.

     5.4  NOTICE TO BANK.  Promptly give written notice to Bank of:

          (a)  Any litigation or administrative or regulatory proceeding
affecting Borrower or H & Q, Inc. where the granting of the relief requested
would have a material adverse effect on Borrower's or H & Q, Inc.'s financial
condition or business;

                                        8

<PAGE>

          (b)  Any substantial dispute which may exist between Borrower and any
governmental or regulatory authority;

          (c)  Any discovery or determination by Borrower, based on its daily
tracking of the value of Pledged Securities, that the fair market value of
Pledged Securities securing a Customer Note at any time is less than two and
one-half times the outstanding principal balance of the Advance in connection
with which such Customer Note was pledged to Bank;

          (d)  Any Event of Default;

          (e)  Any change in the location of any of Borrower's places of
business or of the establishment of any new, or the discontinuance of any
existing, place of business;

          (f)  Any other matter which has resulted or might result in a material
adverse change in Borrower's financial condition or business.

     5.5  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Deliver to Bank in form and detail 
satisfactory to Bank the following financial information, which Borrower
warrants shall be accurate and complete in all material respects:

          (a)  INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.  As soon as available 
but no later than thirty (30) days after the end of each month, Borrower's
balance sheet as of the end of such period, and Borrower's income statement for
such period and for that portion of Borrower's financial reporting year ending
with such period, prepared and attested by a responsible financial officer of
Borrower as being complete and correct and fairly presenting Borrower's
financial condition and the results of Borrower's operations;

          (b)  YEAR-END FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.  As soon as available 
but no later than ninety (90) days after the end of each financial reporting
year, a complete copy of Borrower's audit report, which shall include balance
sheet, income statement, statement of changes in equity and statement of cash
flows for such year, prepared and certified by an independent certified public
accountant selected by Borrower and satisfactory to Bank (the "Accountant"). 
The Accountant's certification shall not be qualified or limited due to a
restricted or limited examination by the Accountant of any material portion of
Borrower's records or otherwise.  The certification shall include, or be
accompanied by, a statement from the Accountant that during the examination
there was observed no Event of Default, or a statement of the Event of Default,
if any is found.  Borrower shall not change its financial reporting year end
from the current September 30 without Bank's prior written consent;


                                        9

<PAGE>

          (c)  PLEDGED SHARE REPORT.  Not later than ten (10) days 
after the end of each month, a written report listing all Pledged Securities and
their value as of the end of such month, prepared and attested by a responsible
financial officer of Borrower;

          (d)  GOVERNMENT REQUIRED REPORTS. Promptly after sending, 
making available, or filing, copies of all reports, proxy statements, and
financial statements that Borrower sends or makes available to its stockholders
and all registration statements and reports that Borrower files with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other governmental or regulatory
authority;

          (e)  OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION.  Such other statements, 
lists of property and accounts, budgets, forecasts, reports, or other financial
information as Bank may from time to time request.

     5.6  LITIGATION REPORTS.  Not later than thirty (30) days after 
the end of each quarter, Borrower shall deliver to Bank in form and detail
satisfactory to Bank a report describing all litigation to which Borrower or any
of its Affiliates is a party, which Borrower warrants shall be accurate and
complete in all material respects.

     5.7  EXISTENCE. Maintain and preserve Borrower's existence, 
present form of business, and all rights, privileges and franchises necessary or
desirable in the normal course of its business; and keep all Borrower's property
in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

     5.8  INSURANCE.  Maintain and keep in force insurance with 
companies acceptable to Bank and in such amounts and types as is usual in the
business carried on by Borrower, or as Bank may reasonably request.  Such
insurance policies must be in form and substance satisfactory to Bank.

     5.9  ACCOUNTING RECORDS.  Maintain adequate books, accounts and 
records, and prepare all financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and in
compliance with the regulations of any governmental or regulatory authority
having jurisdiction over Borrower or Borrower's business; and permit employees
or agents of Bank at such reasonable times as Bank may request to inspect
Borrower's properties, and to examine, audit, and make copies and memoranda of
Borrower's books, accounts and records.


     5.10 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS.  Comply with all laws, rules, 
regulations, orders and directives of any governmental or regulatory authority
having jurisdiction over Borrower or Borrower's business, and with all material
agreements to which Borrower is a party.


                                       10

<PAGE>

     5.11 TAXES AND OTHER LIABILITIES.  Pay all Borrower's obligations 
when due; pay all taxes and other governmental or regulatory assessments before
delinquency or before any penalty attaches thereto, except as may be contested
in good faith by the appropriate procedures and for which Borrower shall
maintain appropriate reserves; and timely file all required tax returns.


                        ARTICLE SIX - NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     During the term of this Agreement and until the performance of all
obligations to Bank, Borrower will not, without Bank's prior written consent:

     6.1  INDEBTEDNESS.  Be indebted for borrowed money, the deferred 
purchase price of property, or leases which would be capitalized in accordance
with GAAP; or become liable as a surety, guarantor, accommodation party or
otherwise for or upon the obligation of any other Person, except:

          (a)  The acquisition of supplies or inventory on normal trade credit;

          (b)  The endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or
collection in the ordinary course of Borrower's business;

          (c)  The indebtedness of Borrower under the Agreement; and

          (d)  Any indebtedness approved by Bank prior to the Closing Date.

     6.2  LIENS. Create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien, or 
grant any other Person a negative pledge, on any of Borrower's property, except:

          (a)  Involuntary Liens which, in the aggregate, would not have a
material adverse effect on Borrower's financial condition or business;

          (b)  Liens for current taxes or other governmental or regulatory
assessments which are not delinquent, or which are contested in good faith by
the appropriate procedures and for which appropriate reserves are maintained;

          (c)  Liens in favor of Bank; and

          (d)  Liens which have been approved by Bank prior
to the Closing Date.


                                       11

<PAGE>

     6.3  DIVIDENDS.  If Borrower is a corporation, pay any dividends 
except those payable solely in Borrower's capital stock; or purchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire for value or make any other distribution with respect to any
of Borrower's capital stock.

     6.4  CHANGES/MERGERS.  Change its name; liquidate or dissolve, 
or enter into any consolidation, merger, partnership, joint venture 
or other combination; issue, redeem, purchase, retire or otherwise 
acquire any shares of any class of capital stock of Borrower, or 
grant or issue any warrant, right or option pertaining thereto or 
other security convertible into any of the foregoing; reorganize, 
reclassify or recapitalize its capital stock; prepay any 
subordinated debt, debt for borrowed money, or debt secured by any 
permitted Lien, or enter into or modify any agreement as a result of 
which the terms of payment of any such debt are waived or modified.

     6.4  SALES OF ASSETS.  Sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose 
of any of Borrower's assets except for fair consideration and in the ordinary
course of its business; or enter into any sale or leaseback agreement covering
any of Borrower's fixed or capital assets.

     6.6  ACQUISITIONS.  Acquire or purchase all or substantially all 
the assets or business of any other Person or any controlling interests therein.

     6.7  TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS.  Directly or indirectly 
enter into any transaction with or for the benefit of a Related Person on terms
more favorable to the Related Person than would have been obtainable in an
"arms' length" dealing.

     6.8  OTHER BUSINESS.  Conduct any business other than the 
business Borrower conducts as of the Closing Date.

                        ARTICLE SEVEN - EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     7.1  EVENTS OF DEFAULT.  The occurrence of any of the following 
shall (1) terminate any obligation of Bank to make or continue the Line of
Credit; and shall, at Bank's option, (2) make all sums of interest, principal
and any other amounts owing under any Loan Documents immediately due and payable
without notice of default, presentment or demand for payment, protest or notice
of nonpayment or dishonor or any other notices or demands; and (3) give Bank the
right to exercise any other right or remedy provided by contract or applicable
law:

          (a)  Borrower shall fail to make any payment of principal or interest
when due under this Agreement or to pay any fees or other charges when due, or
Borrower or any other Person
                                       12

<PAGE>

shall fail to provide Bank with, or to perform any obligation under any Loan
Document;

          (b)  Any representation or warranty made, or financial statement,
certificate or other document provided, by Borrower or any Person who guaranties
all or any portion of Borrower's obligations to Bank (each a "Guarantor") shall
prove to have been false or misleading;

          (c)  Borrower, any of its Affiliates or any Guarantor shall fail to
pay its debts generally as they become due or shall file any petition or action
for relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
creditor composition law, or any other law for the relief of or relating to
debtors; an involuntary petition shall be filed under any bankruptcy law against
Borrower, any of its Affiliates or any Guarantor, or a custodian, receiver,
trustee, assignee for the benefit of creditors, or other similar official, shall
be appointed to take possession, custody or control of the properties of
Borrower, any of its Affiliates or any Guarantor; or the death, incapacity,
dissolution or termination of the business of Borrower, any of its Affiliates or
any Guarantor;

          (d)  Borrower, any of its Affiliates or any Guarantor shall fail to
perform under any other agreement involving the borrowing of money, the purchase
of property, the advance of credit or any other monetary liability of any kind
to any Person; or any guaranty of Borrower's obligations to Bank shall be
revoked or terminated;

          (e)  Any governmental or regulatory authority shall take any action,
any defined benefit pension plan maintained by Borrower, any of its Affiliates
or any Guarantor shall have any unfunded liabilities, or any other event shall
occur, any of which, in the judgment of Bank, might have a material adverse
effect on the financial condition or business of Borrower, any of its Affiliates
or any Guarantor;

          (f)  Any sale, transfer or other disposition of all or a substantial
or material part of the assets of Borrower, any of its Affiliates or any
Guarantor, including without limitation to any trust or similar entity, shall
occur;

          (g)  Any Person shall fail to perform its obligations under the terms
of any promissory note, contract or other obligation that is held by Bank as
collateral for the obligations evidenced by the Loan Documents; or Bank shall
not have a perfected security interest in, or shall deem itself insecure with
respect to the value of, any collateral being held for the obligations evidenced
by the Loan Documents;



                                       13

<PAGE>

          (h)  Any judgment(s) shall be entered against Borrower, any of its
Affiliates or any Guarantor, or any involuntary lien(s) of any kind or character
shall attach to any assets or property of Borrower, any of its Affiliates or any
Guarantor, any of which, in the judgment of Bank, might have a material adverse
effect on the financial condition or business of Borrower, any of its Affiliates
or any Guarantor;

          (i)  Without Bank's prior written consent: if Borrower is a
corporation, Borrower's shareholders of record as of the Closing Date shall
cease to own a majority of the voting interest in Borrower; or any change shall
occur in the executive management or managing partner(s) of Borrower; or any
change shall occur in the corporate or legal structure of Borrower or any of its
Affiliates.

          (j)  Borrower shall fail to perform any of its duties or obligations
under any Loan Document not specifically referenced in this Article 7.

     
                       ARTICLE EIGHT - GENERAL PROVISIONS

     8.1  NOTICES.  Any notice given by any party under any Loan 
Document shall be in writing and personally delivered, sent by United States
mail, postage prepaid, or sent by telex or other authenticated message, charges
prepaid and addressed as follows:

               To Borrower:   Hambrecht & Quist Group
                              One Bush Street
                              San Francisco, California 94104
                              Attn:     Raymond J. Minehan 
                                        Chief Financial officer
                              FAX: (415) 576-3638

                    To Bank:  The Bank of California, N.A. 
                              400 California Street 
                              San Francisco, CA 94104
                              Attn: Steven M. Crane 
                                    Vice President
                              FAX: (415) 765-2144

Each party may change the address to which notices, requests and other
communications are to be sent by giving written notice of such change to each
other party.

     8.2  DISPUTE RESOLUTION.

          (a)  MANDATORY ARBITRATION.  Any controversy or claim 
between or among the parties including but not limited to those arising out of
or relating to this Agreement or any related

                                       14

<PAGE>

agreements or instruments ("Subject Documents"), including any claim based on or
arising from an alleged tort, shall be determined by arbitration in accordance
with Title 9 of the U.S. Code and the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the
American Arbitration Association ("AAA"). All statutes of limitations which
would otherwise be applicable shall apply to any arbitration proceeding under
this subparagraph (a).  Judgment upon the award rendered may be entered in any
court having jurisdiction.  This subparagraph (a) shall apply only if, at the
time of the proposed submission to AAA, none of the obligations to Bank
described in or covered by any of the Subject Documents are secured by real
property collateral or, if so secured, all parties consent to such submission.

          (b)  JUDICIAL REFERENCE.  If the controversy or claim is 
not submitted to arbitration as provided and limited in subparagraph (a), but
becomes the subject of a judicial action, any party may elect to have all
decisions of fact and law determined by a reference in accordance with
applicable state law.  If such an election is made, the parties shall designate
to the court a referee or referees selected under the auspices of the AAA in the
same manner as arbitrators are selected in AAA-sponsored proceedings.  The
referee, or presiding referee of the panel, shall be an active attorney or
retired judge.  Judgment upon the award rendered shall be entered in the court
in which such proceeding was commenced.

          (c)  PROVISIONAL REMEDIES, SELF HELP, AND FORECLOSURE.  No 
provision of, or the exercise of any rights under, subparagraph (a), shall limit
the right of any party to exercise self help remedies such as setoff, to
foreclose against any real or personal property collateral, or to obtain
provisional or ancillary remedies such as injunctive relief or the appointment
of a receiver from a court having jurisdiction before, during or after the
pendency of any arbitration. At Bank's option, foreclosure under a deed of trust
or mortgage may be accomplished either by exercise of power of sale under the
deed of trust or mortgage, or by judicial foreclosure.  The institution and
maintenance of an action for judicial relief or pursuit of provisional or
ancillary remedies or exercise of self help remedies shall not constitute a
waiver of the right of any party, including the plaintiff, to submit the
controversy or claim to arbitration.

     To the extent any provision of this dispute resolution clause is different
than the terms of this Agreement, the terms of this dispute resolution clause
shall prevail.

     8.3  BINDING EFFECT. The Loan Documents shall be binding upon and 
inure to the benefit of Borrower and Bank and their successors and assigns;
provided, however, that Borrower may not assign or transfer Borrower's rights or
obligations under


                                       15

<PAGE>

any Loan Document without Bank's prior written consent.  Bank reserves the right
to sell, assign, transfer, negotiate or grant participations in all or any part
of, or any interest in, Bank's rights and obligations under the Loan Documents. 
In that connection, Bank may disclose all documents and information which Bank
now or hereafter may have relating to the Line of Credit, Borrower, or any
Guarantor or their business.

     8.4  NO WAIVER. Any waiver, consent or approval by Bank of any Event of 
Default or breach of any provision, condition, or covenant of any Loan 
Document must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent set 
forth in writing.  No waiver of any breach or default shall be deemed a 
waiver of any later breach or default of the same or any other provision of 
any Loan Document. No failure or delay on the part of Bank in exercising any 
power, right, or privilege under any Loan Document shall operate as a waiver 
thereof, and no single or partial exercise of any such power, right, or 
privilege shall preclude any further exercise thereof or the exercise of any 
other power, right or privilege.

     8.5  RIGHTS CUMULATIVE.  All rights and remedies existing under 
the Loan Documents are cumulative to, and not exclusive of, any other rights or
remedies available under contract or applicable law.

     8.6  UNENFORCEABLE PROVISIONS.  Any provision of any Loan 
Document executed by Borrower which is prohibited or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction, shall be so only as to such jurisdiction and only to the extent of
such prohibition or unenforceability, but all the remaining provisions of any
such Loan Document shall remain valid and enforceable.

     8.7  GOVERNING LAW.  Except as may be otherwise expressly stated 
therein, the Loan Documents shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of California.

     8.8  ACCOUNTING TERMS.  Except as otherwise provided in this 
Agreement, accounting terms and financial covenants and information shall be
determined and prepared in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the date of this
Agreement.

     8.9  INDEMNIFICATION.  Borrower shall indemnify Bank against, and 
hold Bank harmless from, all claims, actions, losses, and expenses, including
attorneys' fees and costs incurred by Bank, arising from any contention that
Borrower has failed to comply with any law, rule, regulation, order or directive
applicable to Borrower's sales or leases to or performance of services for
Borrower's customers, including without limitation those sales, leases, and
services requiring consumer or other disclosures.  This indemnification shall

                                       16

<PAGE>

survive the repayment of all principal, interest and fees payable in connection
with the Line of Credit.

     8.10 REIMBURSEMENT.  Borrower shall reimburse Bank for all costs 
and expenses, including without limitation reasonable attorneys' fees expended
or incurred by Bank in any arbitration judicial reference, legal action or
otherwise in connection with (a) the negotiation, preparation, amendment and
enforcement of the Loan Documents, including without limitation during any
workout, attempted workout, and/or in connection with the rendering of legal
advice as to Bank's rights, remedies and obligations under the Loan Documents,
(b) collecting any sum which becomes due Bank under any Loan Document, (c) any
proceeding for declaratory relief, any counterclaim to any proceeding, or any
appeal, or (d) the protection, preservation or enforcement of any rights of
bank.

     8.11 EXECUTION IN COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed 
in any number of counterparts which, when taken together, shall constitute but
one agreement.

     8.12 ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  The Loan Documents are intended by the 
parties as the final expression of their agreement and therefore contain the
entire agreement between the parties and supersede all prior understandings or
agreements concerning the subject matter hereof.  This Agreement may be amended
only in a writing signed by Borrower and Bank.



                                       17

<PAGE>

     8.13 JOINT AND SEVERAL.  Should more than one Person sign this 
Agreement as Borrower, the obligations of each signer shall be joint and
several.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrower and Bank have executed this Agreement as of
the date set forth in the preamble.


          BORROWER: HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP, 
                    a California corporation


                    By:  /s/ Raymond J. Minehan
                       ------------------------

                    Its: CFO

          BANK:     THE BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.


                    By:  /s/ Steven M. Crane
                       -------------------------

                    Its: Vice President


                                       18
                                        

<PAGE>

               FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED LINE OF CREDIT AGREEMENT
               ---------------------------------------------------


          This Agreement is made as of March 21, 1996, between HAMBRECHT & QUIST
GROUP, a California corporation ("Borrower"), and THE BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N. A.
("Bank").

                                    RECITALS
                                    --------

          A.   Borrower currently is indebted to Bank pursuant to that certain
Line of Credit Agreement dated October 29, 1993, as amended August 8, 1994,
September 8, 1994, October 31, 1994, November 14, 1994, May 3, 1995, July 21,
1995, December 8, 1995, January 26, 1996, February 8, 1996, and February 28,
1996 (the "Prior Credit Agreement").

          B.   The purpose of this Agreement is to amend and restate the Prior
Credit Agreement in its entirety.


                             AGREEMENT
                             ---------

     NOW, THEREFORE, Borrower and Bank agree as follows:


                            ARTICLE ONE - DEFINITIONS
                            -------------------------

          The following definitions shall be applicable to both the singular and
plural forms of the defined terms:

          1.1  "ADVANCE" means an extension of credit under this Agreement.

          1.2  "ADVANCE REQUEST" means the form of Advance request attached
hereto as EXHIBIT A, to be completed, executed and delivered by Borrower to Bank
each time Borrower requests an Advance under the Line of Credit.

          1.3  "AFFILIATE" means any Person which directly or indirectly
controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, Borrower.
"Control," "controlled by" and "under common control with" means direct or
indirect possession of the power to direct or cause the direction of management
or policies (whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise); provided that control shall be conclusively presumed when any Person
or affiliated group directly or indirectly owns five percent or more of the
securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of a
corporation.

          1.4  "AGREEMENT" means this First Amended and Restated Line of Credit
Agreement as it may be amended from time to time.

          1.5  "BISYS SHARES" means the 293,508 shares of common stock of The
Bisys Group, Inc. owned by Borrower, which shares

                                       1.

<PAGE>

have been pledged to Bank to support Advance(s) under the Prior Credit
Agreement.

     1.6  "CLOSING DATE" means the date of this Agreement.

     1.7  "CUSTOMER" means a client of Borrower to whom Borrower makes an
advance under Borrowers "Restricted Stock Loan Program", which advance Borrower
requests Bank to finance under the Line of Credit.

     1.8  "CUSTOMER ADVANCE" means an advance by Borrower to a Customer under
Borrowers "Restricted Stock Loan Program" secured by the Customer's pledge of
various marketable certificated securities owned by the Customer.  Each Customer
Advance shall be on a full recourse basis, without restriction on Borrower's
right or ability to seek recourse against all of the assets or properties of the
Customer in the event of a default under the applicable Customer Note.

     1.9  "CUSTOMER NOTE" means the promissory note executed by a Customer in
favor of Borrower to evidence a Customer Advance, in form and substance
satisfactory to Bank.

     1.10 "CUSTOMER PLEDGE AGREEMENT" means the pledge agreement or related
security document executed by Customer in favor of Borrower, pursuant to which
the Customer pledges the Pledged Securities as security for the applicable
Customer Note, in form and substance satisfactory to Bank.

     1.11 "EVENT OF DEFAULT" means any event described in Article 7.

     1.12 "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles and practices
consistently applied.

     1.13 "LIEN" means any voluntary or involuntary security interest, mortgage,
pledge, claim, charge, encumbrance, title retention agreement, or third party
interest, covering all or any part of the property of Borrower or any other
Person.

     1.14 "LINE OF CREDIT" means the credit accommodation being provided
Borrower as more fully described in Article 2.

     1.15 "LINE OF CREDIT NOTE" means the promissory note in form and substance
satisfactory to Bank executed by Borrower to evidence the Line of Credit.

     1.16 "LOAN DOCUMENTS" means, individually and collectively, this Agreement,
the Line of Credit Note, each Advance Request, any rate option agreement,
guaranty, security or pledge agreement, deed of trust, and all other contracts,
instruments, addenda and documents executed in connection with the extension of
credit which is the subject of this Agreement.


                                       2.

<PAGE>

     1.17 "MAXIMUM ADVANCE RATE" means with respect to each Advance an amount
equal to the lesser of: (a) TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND AND N0/100 DOLLARS
($2,500,000.00), (b) with respect to any Advance not used to finance Stock
Option Advances by Borrower, fifty percent (50%) of the fair market value of the
Pledged Securities securing the Customer Note pledged to Bank in connection with
the Advance, as determined by Bank referenced to outside sources, or (c) with
respect to an Advance used to finance Stock Option Advances by Borrower, forty
percent (40%) of the fair market value of the Pledged Stock Options securing the
Customer Note pledged to Bank in connection with the Advance, as determined by
Bank reference to outside sources; provided, however, that the "Maximum Advance
Rate" with respect to Advances supported by a pledge of the Bisys Shares means,
in the aggregate, an amount equal to the lesser of: (a) THREE MILLION AND N0/100
DOLLARS ($3,000,000.00), or (b) fifty percent (50%) of the fair market value of
the Bisys Shares, as determined by Bank referenced to outside sources.

     1.18 "PERSON" means any individual or entity.

     1.19 "PLEDGED SECURITIES" means the certificated securities pledged by a
Customer to Borrower to secure the Customer's obligations to Borrower in
connection with a Customer Advance.

     1.20 "PLEDGED STOCK OPTIONS" means the stock options pledged by a Customer
to Borrower to secure the Customer's obligations to Borrower in connection with
a Stock Option Advance.  Where appropriate, the term "Pledged Securities" shall
be deemed to include "Pledged Stock Options."

     1.21 "RELATED PERSON" means any Affiliate of Borrower, or any officer,
employee, director or shareholder of Borrower or any Affiliate, or a relative of
any of them.

     1.22 "STOCK OPTION ADVANCE" means a Customer Advance that is secured by
vested stock options (as opposed to marketable certificated securities) owned by
the Customer, which options are convertible into marketable certificated
securities.

     1.23 "TANGIBLE NET WORTH", unless otherwise defined in an addendum to this
Agreement, means the net book value of (a) all Borrower's assets, exclusive of
intangibles, and loans to and notes and receivables from Related Persons, minus
(b) all Borrower's liabilities determined in accordance with GAAP.

     1.24 "TERMINATION DATE" means the earlier of (a) January 31, 1997; or (b)
the date Bank may terminate making advances pursuant to the rights of Bank under
Article 7.


                                       3.

<PAGE>

                          ARTICLE TWO - LINE OF CREDIT
                          -----------------------------

     2.1  LINE OF CREDIT: RESTRICTIONS ON AMOUNTS OF ADVANCES.  Subject to the
terms and conditions of this  Agreement, from time to time prior to the
Termination Date, upon request by Borrower, Bank will make Advances to Borrower
which, in the aggregate, shall not exceed at any time the principal amount of
TWELVE MILLION AND NO/100 DOLLARS ($12,000,000.00); provided, however, that: (a)
no single Advance (or aggregate Advances supported by a pledge of the Bisys
Shares) shall exceed the Maximum Advance Rate applicable thereto; (b) the
aggregate principal amount of Advances used to finance Stock Option Advances
shall at no time exceed TWO MILLION AND NO/100 DOLLARS ($2,000,000,00); and (c)
the aggregate principal amount of Advances supported by Pledged Securities or
Pledged Stock Options of a single issuer shall at no time exceed THREE MILLION
AND N0/100 DOLLARS ($3,000,000.00).

     2.2  LINE OF CREDIT NOTE; PRIOR FACILITY.  The Line of Credit shall be
evidenced by the Line of Credit Note.  Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow
under the Line of Credit, as Borrower may elect, subject to all limitations,
terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Loan Documents.  Borrower shall
pay to Bank all sums outstanding under the Line of Credit and due under this
Agreement no later than the Termination Date. The Line of Credit replaces the
line of credit extended to Borrower pursuant to the Prior Credit Agreement and
all indebtedness of Borrower thereunder shall constitute indebtedness of
Borrower to Bank under the Line of Credit.

     2.3  REQUESTS FOR ADVANCES.  Advances shall he used solely to finance
Customer Advances by Borrower.  Each Advance shall be requested in writing in
the form of an Advance Request, accompanied by a statement of purpose under
Regulation U (as defined in Section 5.1 below) executed by the applicable
customer, in form and substance satisfactory to Bank, and such other documents
or information as Bank may reasonably require.  Borrower assumes all risks
regarding the validity, authenticity and due authorization of any request
purporting to be made by or on behalf of Borrower.  Borrower promises to repay
any sums, with interest, that are advanced by Bank pursuant to any request which
Bank in good faith believes to be authorized, or when the proceeds of any
Advance are deposited to the account of Borrower with Bank, regardless of
whether any Person other than Borrower may have authority to draw against such
account.

     2.4  ADVANCES AND PAYMENTS.

          (a)  Each Advance shall be made by a deposit to Borrower's account no.
001-032562 at Bank's San Francisco Main office, unless Borrower shall otherwise
direct Bank in writing.

          (b)  The obligation of Bank to make any Advance to Borrower, the
proceeds of which are, at Borrower's request, to be

                                       4.

<PAGE>

wire transferred to Borrower or any other Person, shall be subject to all
applicable laws and regulations, and the policy of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System on Reduction of Payments System Risk in effect from time
to time ("Applicable Law and Policy").  Borrower acknowledges that, as a result
of Applicable Law and Policy, the transmission of the proceeds of any Advance
which Borrower has requested to be wire-transferred may be significantly
delayed.

          (c)  Principal, interest, and all other sums owed Bank under any Loan
Document shall be evidenced by entries in records maintained by Bank for such
purpose, Each payment on and any other credits with respect to principal,
interest and all other sums outstanding under any Loan Document shall be
evidenced by entries in such records.  Bank's records shall be conclusive
evidence thereof.

          (d)  Borrower hereby expressly authorizes Bank to debit Borrower's
account no. 001-032562 for the amount of each payment of principal and, at
Borrower's election, interest and all other sums owed Bank under any Loan
Document.  Borrower shall have sufficient collected balances in said account in
order that each such payment shall be available when due.

          (e)  Without limiting any other rights or remedies that may be
available to Bank hereunder or under any other Loan Documents or applicable law,
Bank hereby reserves the right to decline making any Advance to Borrower if any
litigation or administrative or regulatory proceeding affecting Borrower or
Hambrecht & Quist LLC, a California limited liability company ("H & Q LLC") has
been initiated where the granting of the relief requested would have a material
adverse effect on the financial condition or business of Borrower or H & Q LLC.

     2.5  INTEREST.

          (a)  Interest on the outstanding principal balance of the Line of
Credit shall accrue daily from the date of the first Advance until the
Termination Date at a fluctuating rate per annum at all times equal to the rate
Bank announces to be in effect from time to time as its prime rate (the "Prime
Rate") plus three quarters of one percent (0.75%), unless Borrower elects to
have all or a portion of principal accrue at a fixed rate of interest based on
the Eurodollar Rate, as defined in and pursuant to the terms and conditions of
the Eurodollar Rate Option Agreement between Bank and Borrower of even date
herewith, as may be amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time
("Eurodollar Rate Option Agreement").  The Prime Rate is a rate set by Bank
based upon various factors including general economic and market conditions, and
is used as a reference point for pricing certain loans.  Bank may price its
loans at, above or below the Prime Rate.  Interest shall be payable on the first
day of each consecutive month, beginning on the first such date after the first
Advance and continuing through the Termination Date, on


                                       5.

<PAGE>

which date all accrued interest and principal remaining unpaid shall be due and
payable in full.

          (b)  The unpaid principal balance and all payments of interest on the
Line of Credit shall bear interest from their respective maturities, whether
scheduled or accelerated, at a fluctuating rate per annum at all times equal to
the Prime Rate plus five percent (5%), until paid in full, whether before or
after judgment.

          (c)  Interest and fees shall be calculated for actual days elapsed on
the basis of a 360-day year, which results in higher interest payments than if a
365-day year were used.  Each change in the rate of interest shall become
effective on the date each Prime Rate change is announced within the Bank.  In
no event shall Borrower be obligated to pay interest at a rate in excess of the
highest rate permitted by applicable law from time to time in effect.

     2.6  PREPAYMENT.  If any portion of the principal balance of the Line of
Credit bears interest at a fixed rate and Bank, for any reason, including
acceleration or foreclosure, receives all or any portion of such principal prior
to its scheduled payment date, then, in consideration thereof, Borrower shall
pay to Bank on demand a prepayment fee as liquidated damages as described in the
Eurodollar Rate Option Agreement, since such prepayment may result in Bank
incurring additional costs, expenses or liabilities.

     2.7  PRINCIPAL PAYMENTS.  All unpaid principal shall be due and payable on
the Termination Date, except as provided below:

          (a)  With regard to any Advance neither secured by a pledge of the
Bisys Shares nor used to finance Stock Option Advances, if at any time Bank
determines that the outstanding principal balance of such Advance exceeds fifty
percent (50%) of the fair market value of the Pledged Securities securing the
Customer Note pledged by Borrower to Bank in connection with such Advance, as
determined by Bank reference to outside sources, then Borrower shall immediately
upon Bank's demand make principal repayments of the Advance, together with all
accrued interest thereon, in an amount sufficient to establish a fifty percent
(50%) or lower Advance-to-value ratio;

          (b)  With regard to Advances secured by a pledge of the Bisys Shares,
to the extent that the Bank determines that the outstanding aggregate principal
balance of such Advances exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the fair market value of
the Bisys Shares, as determined by Bank reference to outside sources, then
Borrower shall immediately upon Bank's demand make principal repayments of such
Advances, together with all accrued interest thereon, in an amount sufficient to
establish a fifty percent (50%) or lower Advance-to-value ratio;

                                       6.

<PAGE>

          (c)  With regard to any Advance used to finance Stock Option Advances
by Borrower, to the extent that Bank determines that the outstanding principal
balance of any such Advance exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the fair market value
of the applicable Pledged Stock Options, Borrower shall immediately upon Bank's
demand make principal payments of the applicable Advance in an amount sufficient
to establish a forty percent (40%) or lower Advance-to-value ratio.

     2.8  FEES. Borrower has paid or shall pay to Bank no later than the Closing
Date a non-refundable fee of $30,000.00 for this Line of Credit.

     2.9  COLLATERAL. Borrower shall ensure Bank is granted concurrently with,
and as a condition to, making any Advance, a security interest of first priority
in the Customer Note, which shall be freely negotiable by Borrower, Borrower's
right, title and interest in the Customer Pledge Agreement, which shall be
freely assignable by Borrower and in such other collateral as might be required
by Bank under a pledge agreement, deed of trust, or other security agreement, as
appropriate, in form and substance satisfactory to Bank; provided, however, that
Bank and Borrower acknowledge that the Bisys Shares are owned directly by
Borrower and any Advance supported thereby shall be secured by a first priority
security interest in the Bisys Shares rather than by a pledge of a Customer Note
or Customer Pledge Agreement since such documents are not applicable to the
Advance.  Prior to or concurrently with Bank making an Advance, Bank shall take
possession of the applicable Customer Note pledged to it as security for
Borrower's obligations and any Pledged Securities that are covered by the
applicable Customer Pledge Agreement assigned to Bank.  Each such Customer Note
shall be endorsed in blank and each such Pledged Security shall be endorsed in
blank or have stock powers attached, accompanied by a fully executed copy of the
applicable Customer Pledge Agreement.  Prior to, and as a condition to, making
any Advance that is used to finance a Stock Option Advance, Bank may require, in
addition to the documentation described above, such financing statements and
such acknowledgements of Bank's security interest (including confirmation that
Borrower and/or Bank are registered as pledgee or owner with respect to the
Pledged Stock Options) as Bank may require to perfect the security interests in
the Pledged Stock Options.

                 ARTICLE THREE - REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                 -----------------------------------------------

Borrower represents and warrants that as of the Closing Date and the date of
each Advance under-the Line of Credit:

     3.1  DUE ORGANIZATION. Borrower is duly organized and validly existing in
good standing under the laws of the Jurisdiction of its organization, and is
duly qualified to conduct business in each jurisdiction in which its business is
conducted.


                                       7.

<PAGE>

     3.2  AUTHORIZATION, VALIDITY AND ENFORCEABILITY.  The execution, delivery
and performance of all Loan Documents executed by Borrower are within Borrower's
powers, have been duly authorized, and are not in conflict with Borrower's
articles of incorporation or by-laws, or the terms of any charter or other
organizational document of Borrower; and all such Loan Documents constitute
valid and binding obligations of Borrower, enforceable in accordance with their
terms.

     3.3  COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.  Borrower has complied with
licensing, permit and fictitious name requirements necessary to lawfully conduct
the business in which it is engaged and with all laws and regulations applicable
to any sales, leases or the furnishing of services by Borrower, including
without limitation those requiring consumer or other disclosures.

     3.4  LICENSES, TRADEMARKS. Borrower has all patents, licenses, trademarks,
trademark rights, trade names, trade name rights, copyrights, permits and
franchises required in order for Borrower to conduct its business and operate
its properties as now or proposed to be conducted without conflict with the
rights of others.

     3.5  NO CONFLICT.  The execution, delivery, and performance by Borrower of
all Loan Documents are not in conflict with any law, rule, regulation, order or
directive, or any indenture, agreement, or undertaking to which Borrower is a
party or by which Borrower may be bound or affected.

     3.6  NO LITIGATION, CLAIMS OR PROCEEDINGS.  There is no litigation, tax
claim, proceeding or dispute pending, or, to the knowledge of Borrower,
threatened against or affecting Borrower or its property, except as disclosed in
writing to Bank prior to the Closing Date.

     3.7  CORRECTNESS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.  Borrower's financial statements
which have been delivered to Bank fairly and accurately reflect Borrower's
financial condition as of July 31, 1993; and, since that date, there has been no
material adverse change in Borrower's financial condition or business.

     3.8  NO SUBSIDIARIES.  Borrower is not a majority owner of or in a control
relationship with any other business entity except for H & Q LLC, Hambrecht &
Quist Capital Management, a California corporation, Hambrecht & Quist Guaranty
Finance, a California general partnership, and such other business entities
disclosed in writing to Bank prior to the Closing Date.

3.9  NO EVENT OF DEFAULT.  No Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.


                                       8.

<PAGE>

                       ARTICLE FOUR - CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
                       -----------------------------------

     4.1  REQUIRED DELIVERY.  The obligation of Bank to make the first Advance
under the Line of Credit is subject to the condition that, on or before the date
of such Advance, there shall have been delivered to Bank, in form and substance
satisfactory to Bank, and duly executed as required by Bank:

          (a)  This Agreement and the Line of Credit Note;

          (b)  Any and all Loan Documents Bank may require to evidence any
security interest or Lien granted to Bank in connection with the Line of Credit;

          (c)  Financing statements and other security interest perfection
documentation in form and substance satisfactory to Bank, duly filed under the
Uniform Commercial Code in all jurisdictions as may be necessary, or in Bank's
opinion, desirable to perfect Bank's security interests created under any
security or pledge agreement; and all filings, recordings, and other actions
that are necessary or advisable, in the opinion of Bank, in order to establish,
perfect, preserve and protect Bank's security interests and Liens as legal,
valid and enforceable security interests and Liens in such collateral shall have
been effected; and all property or documents of title, in cases in which
possession is required for the perfection of Bank's security interest, including
without limitation any applicable Customer Note(s), endorsed in blank, and any
applicable Pledged Securities, endorsed in blank or with stock powers attached.

          (d)  Evidence that the security interest and Liens in favor of Bank
are perfected, valid, enforceable, and prior to the rights and interests of
others as required by Bank;

          (e)  Certified copies of Requests for Information from the appropriate
governmental or regulatory authorities listing the financing statements referred
to in paragraph (c) above and all other effective financing statements which
name Borrower as debtor, together with copies of all such other financing
statements, none of which shall cover the collateral purported to be covered by
the security or pledge agreements referred to in paragraph (b) above except as
Bank may expressly allow;

          (f)  Such authorization documents as Bank may require;

          (g)  Evidence that any insurance required by this Agreement is in
effect;

          (h)  Payment in full of any fees or other charges due by the Closing
Date under the terms of any Loan Documents; and

                                       9.

<PAGE>


               (i)  Such other documents, instruments or agreements as Bank may
require to evidence the Line of Credit.

                      ARTICLE FIVE - AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
                      ------------------------------------

          During the term of this Agreement and until its  performance of all
obligations to Bank, Borrower will, unless Bank otherwise consents in writing:

     5.1  USE OF PROCEEDS.  Use the proceeds of the Line of Credit only to
finance a Customer Advance specified in an Advance Request; and not directly or
indirectly to purchase or carry any margin stock, as defined from time to time
by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in Federal Regulation U
("Regulation U").

     5.2  FINANCIAL COVENANTS.

          (a)  TANGIBLE NET WORTH.  Maintain a Tangible Net Worth of not less
than $75,000,000.00;

          (b)  MINIMUM NET CAPITAL.  Cause H &  Q LLC to maintain a minimum net
capital position, as measured under SEC Uniform Net Capital Rule 15c3-1 and
under the capital maintenance rules of the New York Stock Exchange, of at least
$25,000,000,00 at all times.

          (c)  PROFITABILITY.  Maintain profitable operations on an annual
fiscal year basis.

     5.3  ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL COVENANTS.  Comply with the terms of all
financial covenants contained in any addendum to this Agreement.

5.4  NOTICE TO BANK.  Promptly give written notice to Bank of:

          (a)  Any litigation or administrative or regulatory proceeding
affecting Borrower or H & Q LLC where the granting of the relief requested would
have a material adverse effect on Borrower's or H Q LLC's financial condition or
business;

          (b)  Any substantial dispute which may exist between Borrower and any
governmental or regulatory authority;

          (c)  Any discovery or determination by Borrower, based on its daily
tracking of the value of Pledged Securities, that the fair market value of
Pledged Securities securing a Customer Note at any time is less than two and
one-half times the outstanding principal balance of the Advance in connection
with which such Customer Note was pledged to Bank;


                                       10.

<PAGE>

          (d)  Any Event of Default;

          (e)  Any change in the location of any of Borrower's places of
business or of the establishment of any new, or the discontinuance of any
existing, place of business;

          (f)  Any other matter which has resulted or might result in a material
adverse change in Borrower's financial condition or business.

     5.5  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Deliver to Bank in form and detail satisfactory
to Bank the following financial information, which Borrower warrants shall be
accurate and complete in all material respects:

          (a)  INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.  As soon as available but no later
than thirty (30) days after the end of each month, Borrower's balance sheet as
of the end of such period, and Borrower's income statement for such period and
for that portion of Borrower's financial reporting year ending with such period,
prepared and attested by a responsible financial officer of Borrower as being
complete and correct and fairly presenting Borrower's financial condition and
the results of Borrower's operations;

          (b)  YEAR-END FINANCIAL-STATEMENTS.  As soon as available but no later
than ninety (90) days after the end of each financial reporting year, a complete
copy of Borrower's audit report, which shall include balance sheet, income
statement, statement of changes in equity and statement of cash flows for such
year, prepared and certified by an independent certified public accountant
selected by Borrower and satisfactory to Bank (the "Accountant").  The
Accountant's certification shall not be qualified or limited due to a restricted
or limited examination by the Accountant of any material portion of Borrower's
records or otherwise.  The certification shall include, or be accompanied by, a
statement from the Accountant that during the examination there was observed no
Event of Default, or a statement of the Event of Default, if any is found.
Borrower shall not change its financial reporting year end from the current
September 30 without Bank's prior written consent;

          (c)  PLEDGED SHARE REPORT.  Not later than ten (10) days after the end
of each month, a written report listing all Pledged Securities and Bisys Shares
and their value as of the end of such month, prepared and attested by a
responsible financial officer of Borrower;

          (d)  GOVERNMENT REQUIRED REPORTS.  Promptly after sending, making
available, or filing, copies of all reports, proxy statements, and financial
statements that Borrower sends or makes available to its stockholders and all
registration statements and reports that Borrower files with the Securities


                                       11.

<PAGE>

and Exchange Commission, or any other governmental or regulatory authority;

          (e)  OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION.  Such other statements, lists of
property and accounts, budgets, forecasts, reports, or other financial
information as Bank may from time to time request.

     5.6  LITIGATION REPORTS.  Not later than thirty (30) days after the end of
each quarter, Borrower shall deliver to Bank in form and detail satisfactory to
Bank a report describing all litigation to which Borrower or any of its
Affiliates is a party, which Borrower warrants shall be accurate and complete in
all material respects.

     5.7  EXISTENCE.  Maintain and preserve Borrower's existence, present form
of business, and all rights, privileges and franchises necessary or desirable in
the normal course of its business; and keep all Borrower's property in good
working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

     5.8  INSURANCE.  Maintain and keep in force insurance with companies
acceptable to Bank and in such amounts and types as is usual in the business
carried on by Borrower, or as Bank may reasonably request.  Such insurance
policies must be in form and substance satisfactory to Bank.

     5.9  ACCOUNTING RECORDS.  Maintain adequate books, accounts and records,
and prepare all financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and in compliance
with the regulations of any governmental or regulatory authority having
jurisdiction over Borrower or Borrower's business; and permit employees or
agents of Bank at such reasonable times as Bank may request to inspect
Borrower's properties, and to examine, audit, and make copies and memoranda of
Borrower's books, accounts and records.

     5.10 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS.  Comply with all laws, rules, regulations,
orders and directives of any governmental or regulatory authority having
jurisdiction over Borrower or Borrower's business, and with all material
agreements to which Borrower is a party.

     5.11 TAXES AND OTHER LIABILITIES.  Pay all Borrower's obligations when due;
pay all taxes and other governmental or regulatory assessments before
delinquency or before any penalty attaches thereto, except as may be contested
in good faith by the appropriate procedures and for which Borrower shall
maintain appropriate reserves; and timely file all required tax returns.


                                       12.

<PAGE>

                        ARTICLE SIX - NEGATIVE COVENANTS
                        --------------------------------

          During the term of this Agreement and until the performance of all
obligations to Bank, Borrower will not, without Bank's prior written consent:

     6.1  INDEBTEDNESS.  Be indebted for borrowed money, the deferred purchase
price of property, or leases which would be capitalized in accordance with GAAP;
or become liable as a surety, guarantor, accommodation party or otherwise for or
upon the obligation of any other Person, except:

          (a)  The acquisition of supplies or inventory on normal trade credit;

          (b)  The endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or
collection in the ordinary course of Borrower's business;

          (c)  The indebtedness of Borrower under the Agreement; and

          (d)  Any indebtedness approved by Bank prior to the Closing Date.

     6.2  LIENS.  Create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien, or grant
any other Person a negative pledge, on any of Borrower's property, except;

          (a)  Involuntary Liens which, in the aggregate, would not have a
material adverse effect on Borrower's financial condition or business;

          (b)  Liens for current taxes or other governmental or regulatory
assessments which are not delinquent, or which are contested in good faith by
the appropriate procedures and for which appropriate reserves are maintained;

          (c)  Liens in favor of Bank; and

          (d)  Liens which have been approved by Bank prior to the Closing Date.

     6.3  DIVIDENDS.  If Borrower is a corporation, pay any dividends except
those payable solely in Borrower's capital stock; or purchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire for value or make any other distribution with respect to any
of Borrower's capital stock.

     6.4  CHANGES/MERGERS.  Change its name; liquidate or dissolve, or enter
into any consolidation, merger, partnership, joint venture or other combination;
issue, redeem, purchase, retire or otherwise acquire any shares of any class of
capital stock of Borrower, or grant or issue any warrant, right or option

                                       13.

<PAGE>

pertaining thereto or other security convertible into any of the foregoing;
reorganize, reclassify or recapitalize its capital stock; prepay any
subordinated debt, debt for borrowed money, or debt secured by any permitted
Lien, or enter into or modify any agreement as a result of which the terms of
payment of any such debt are waived or modified.

     6.5  SALES OF ASSETS.  Sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any of
Borrower's assets except for fair consideration and in the ordinary course of
its business; or enter into any sale or leaseback agreement covering any of
Borrower's fixed or capital assets.

     6.6  ACQUISITIONS.  Acquire or purchase all or substantially all the assets
or business of any other Person or any controlling interests therein.

     6.7  TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS.  Directly or indirectly enter into
any transaction with or for the benefit of a Related Person on terms more
favorable to the Related Person than would have been obtainable in an "arms'
length" dealing.

     6.8  OTHER BUSINESS.  Conduct any business other than the business Borrower
conducts as of the Closing Date.


                        ARTICLE SEVEN - EVENTS OF DEFAULT
                        ---------------------------------

     7.1  EVENTS OF DEFAULT.  The occurrence of any of the following shall (1)
terminate any obligation of Bank to make or continue the Line of Credit; and
shall, at Bank's option, (2) make all sums of interest, principal and any other
amounts owing under any Loan Documents immediately due and payable without
notice of default, presentment or demand for payment, protest or notice of
nonpayment or dishonor or any other notices or demands; and (3) give Bank the
right to exercise any other right or remedy provided by contract or applicable
law:

          (a)  Borrower shall fail to make any payment of principal or interest
when due under this Agreement or to pay any fees or other charges when due, or
Borrower or any other Person shall fail to provide Bank with, or to perform any
obligation under, any Loan Document;

          (b)  Any representation or warranty made, or financial statement
certificate or other document provided, by Borrower or any Person who guaranties
all or any portion of Borrower's obligations to Bank (each a "Guarantor") shall
prove to have been false or misleading;

          (c)  Borrower, any of its Affiliates or any Guarantor shall fail to
pay its debts generally as they become due or shall file any petition or action
for relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
creditor


                                       14.

<PAGE>

composition law, or any other law for the relief of or relating to debtors; an
involuntary petition shall be filed under any bankruptcy law against Borrower,
any of its Affiliates or any Guarantor, or a custodian, receiver, trustee,
assignee for the benefit of creditors, or other similar official, shall be
appointed to take possession, custody or control of the properties of Borrower,
any of its Affiliates or any Guarantor; or the death, incapacity, dissolution or
termination of the business of Borrower, any of its Affiliates or any Guarantor;

          (d)  Borrower, any of its Affiliates or any Guarantor shall fail to
perform under any other agreement involving the borrowing of money, the purchase
of property, the advance of credit or any other monetary liability of any kind
to any Person; or any guaranty of Borrower's obligations to Bank shall be
revoked or terminated;


          (e)  Any governmental or regulatory authority shall take any action,
any defined benefit pension plan maintained by Borrower, any of its Affiliates
or any Guarantor shall have any unfunded liabilities, or any other event shall
occur, any of which, in the judgment of Bank, might have a material adverse
effect on the financial condition or business of Borrower, any of its Affiliates
or any Guarantor;

          (f)  Any sale, transfer or other disposition of all or a substantial
or material part of the assets of Borrower any of its Affiliates or any
Guarantor, including without limitation to any trust or similar entity, shall
occur;

          (g)  Any Person shall fail to perform its obligations under the terms
of any promissory note, contract or other obligation that is held by Bank as
collateral for the obligations evidenced by the Loan Documents; or Bank shall
not have a perfected security interest in, or shall deem itself insecure with
respect to the value of, any collateral being held for the obligations evidenced
by the Loan Documents;

          (h)  Any judgments shall be entered against Borrower, any of its
Affiliates or any Guarantor, or any involuntary lien(s) of any kind or character
shall attach to any assets or property of Borrower, any of its Affiliates or any
Guarantor, any of which, in the judgment of Bank, might have a material adverse
effect on the financial condition or business of Borrower, any of its Affiliates
or any Guarantor;

          (i)  Without Bank's prior written consent: if Borrower is a
corporation, Borrower's shareholders of record as of the Closing Date shall
cease to own a majority of the voting interest in Borrower; or any change shall
occur in the executive management or managing partner(s) of Borrower; or any
change shall occur in the corporate or legal structure of Borrower or any of its
Affiliates.


                                       15.

<PAGE>

          (j)  Borrower shall fail to perform any of its duties or obligations
under any Loan Document not specifically referenced in this Article 7.


                       ARTICLE EIGHT - GENERAL PROVISIONS
                       ----------------------------------

     8.1  NOTICES.  Any notice given by any party under any Loan Document shall
be in writing and personally delivered, sent by United States mail, postage
prepaid, or sent by telex or other authenticated message, charges prepaid and
addressed as follows:

               TO BORROWER:   Hambrecht & Quist Group
                              One Bush Street
                              San Francisco, California 94104
                              Attn:     Raymond J. Minehan
                              Chief Financial Officer
                              FAX: (415) 576-3638

               TO BANK:       The Bank of California, N.A.
                              400 California Street
                              San Francisco, CA 94104
                              Attn:     William E. Hinch
                              Vice President
                              FAX:      (415) 765-2801


Each party may change the address to which notices, requests and other
communications are to be sent by giving written notice of such change to each
other party.

     8.2  DISPUTE RESOLUTION.

          (a)  MANDATORY MEDIATION/ARBITRATION.  Any controversy or claim
between or among the parties, their agents, employees and affiliates, including
but not limited to those arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any
related agreements or instruments ("Subject Documents"), including without
limitation any claim based on or arising from an alleged tort, shall, at the
option of any party, and at that party's expense, be submitted to mediation,
using either the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") or Judicial
Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. ("JAMS").  If mediation is not used, or
if it is used and it fails to resolve the dispute within 30 days from the date
AAA or JAMS is engaged, then the dispute shall be determined by arbitration in
accordance with the rules of either JAMS or AAA (at the option of the party
initiating the arbitration) and Title 9 of the U. S. Code, notwithstanding any
other choice of law provision in the Subject Documents.  All statutes of
limitations or any waivers contained herein which would otherwise be applicable
shall apply to any arbitration proceeding under this subparagraph (a).  The
parties agree that related arbitration proceedings may be consolidated.  The
arbitrator shall prepare written reasons for the award, Judgment

                                       16.

<PAGE>

upon the award rendered may be entered in any court having jurisdiction.  This
subparagraph (a) shall apply only if, at the time of the proposed submission to
AAA or JAMS, none of the obligations to Bank described in or covered by any of
the Subject Documents are secured by real property collateral or, if so secured,
all parties consent to such submission.

          (b)  JURY WAIVER/JUDICIAL REFERENCE.  If the controversy or claim is
not submitted to arbitration as provided and limited in subparagraph (a), but
becomes the subject of a judicial action, each party hereby waives its
respective right to trial by jury of the controversy or claim.  In addition, any
party may elect to have all decisions of fact and law determined by a referee
appointed by the court in accordance with applicable state reference procedures.
The party requesting the reference procedure shall ask AAA or JAMS to provide a
panel of retired judges and the court shall select the referee from the
designated panel.  The referee shall prepare written findings of fact and
conclusions of law.  Judgment upon the award rendered shall be entered in the
court in which such proceeding was commenced.

          (c)  PROVISIONAL REMEDIES, SELF HELP, AND FORECLOSURE. No provision
of, or the exercise of any rights under, subparagraph (a) shall limit the right
of any party to exercise self help remedies such as setoff, to foreclose against
any real or personal property collateral, or to obtain provisional or ancillary
remedies such as injunctive relief or the appointment of a receiver from a court
having jurisdiction before, during or after the pendency of any mediation or
arbitration.  At Bank's option, foreclosure under a deed of trust or mortgage
may be accomplished either by exercise of power of sale under the deed of trust
or mortgage, or by judicial foreclosure.  The institution and maintenance of an
action for judicial relief or pursuit of provisional or ancillary remedies or
exercise of self help remedies shall not constitute a waiver of the right of any
party, including the plaintiff, to submit the controversy or claim to mediation
or arbitration.

     To the extent any provision of the dispute resolution clause is different
than the terms of this Agreement, the terms of this dispute resolution clause
shall prevail.

     8.3  BINDING EFFECT.  The Loan Documents shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of Borrower and Bank and their successors and assigns; provided,
however, that Borrower may not assign or transfer Borrower's rights or
obligations under any Loan Document without Bank's prior written consent.  Bank
reserves the right to sell, assign, transfer, negotiate or grant participations
in all or any part of, or any interest in, Bank's rights and obligations under
the Loan Documents. In that connection, Bank may disclose all documents and
information which Bank now or hereafter may have relating to the Line of Credit,
Borrower, or any Guarantor or their business.


                                       17.

<PAGE>

     8.4  NO WAIVER.  Any waiver, consent or approval by Bank of any Event of
Default or breach of any provision, condition, or covenant of any Loan Document
must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent set forth in
writing.  No waiver of any breach or default shall be deemed a waiver of any
later breach or default of the same or any other provision of any Loan Document.
No failure or delay on the part of Bank in exercising any power, right, or
privilege under any Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, and no
single or partial exercise of any such power, right, or privilege shall preclude
any further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other power, right or
privilege.

     8.5  RIGHTS CUMULATIVE.  All rights and remedies existing under the Loan
Documents are cumulative to, and not exclusive of, any other rights or remedies
available under contract or applicable law.

     8.6  UNENFORCEABLE PROVISIONS.  Any provision of any Loan Document executed
by Borrower which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, shall be
so only as to such jurisdiction and only to the extent of such prohibition or
unenforceability, but all the remaining provisions of any such Loan Document
shall remain valid and enforceable.

     8.7  GOVERNING LAW. Except as may be otherwise expressly stated therein,
the Loan Documents shall be governed by and construed in accordance with, the
laws of the State of California.

     8.8  ACCOUNTING TERMS.  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement,
accounting terms and financial covenants and information shall be determined and
prepared in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the date of this Agreement.

     8.9  INDEMNIFICATION.  Borrower shall pay and protect, defend and indemnify
Bank and Bank's employees, officers, directors, shareholders, affiliates,
correspondents, agents and representatives (other than Bank, collectively
"Agents") against, and hold Bank and each such Agent harmless from, all claims,
actions, proceedings, liabilities, damages, losses, expenses (including, without
limitation, attorneys' fees and costs) and other amounts incurred by Bank and
each such Agent, arising from (i) the matters contemplated by this Agreement or
any Loan Document or (ii) any contention that Borrower has failed to comply with
any law, rule, regulation, order or directive applicable to Borrower's sales,
leases or performance of services to Borrower's customers, including without
limitation those sales, leases and services requiring consumer or other
disclosures; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this indemnification shall not apply to any
of the foregoing incurred solely as the result of Bank's or any Agent's gross
negligence or willful misconduct.  This indemnification shall survive the
payment and satisfaction of all of Borrower's obligations and liabilities to
Bank.


                                       18.

<PAGE>

     8.10 REIMBURSEMENT.  Borrower shall reimburse Bank for all costs and
expenses, including without limitation reasonable attorneys' fees and
disbursements (and fees and disbursements of Bank's in-house counsel) expended
or incurred by Bank in any arbitration, mediation, judicial reference, legal
action or otherwise in connection with (a) the negotiation, preparation,
amendment, interpretation and enforcement of the Loan Documents, including
without limitation during any workout, attempted workout, and/or in connection
with the rendering of legal advice as to Bank's rights, remedies and obligations
under the Loan Documents, (b) collecting any sum which becomes due Bank under
any Loan Document, (c) any proceeding for declaratory relief, any counterclaim
to any proceeding, or any appeal, or (d) the protection, preservation or
enforcement of any rights of Bank.  For the purposes of this section, attorneys'
fees shall include, without limitation, fees incurred in connection with the
following: (1) contempt proceedings; (2) discovery; (3) any motion, proceeding
or other activity of any kind in connection with a bankruptcy proceeding or case
arising out of or relating to any petition under Title 11 of the United States
Code, as the same shall be in effect from time to time, or any similar law; (4)
garnishment, levy, and debtor and third party examinations and (5) postjudgment
motions and proceedings of any kind, including without limitation any activity
taken to collect or enforce any judgment.

     8.11 EXECUTION IN COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts which, when taken together, shall constitute but one
agreement.

     8.12 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. The Loan Documents are intended by the parties as
the final expression of their agreement and therefore contain the entire
agreement between the parties and supersede all prior understandings or
agreements concerning the subject matter hereof.  This Agreement may be amended
only in a writing signed by Borrower and Bank.


                                       19.

<PAGE>

     8.13 JOINT AND SEVERAL.  Should more than one Person sign this Agreement as
Borrower, the obligations of each signer shall be joint and several.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrower and Bank have executed this Agreement as of
the date set forth in the preamble.


          BORROWER:                     HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP,
                                        a California corporation



                                        By:  /s/ P.J. ALLEN
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Its: VP FINANCE
                                                  ------------------------------


          BANK:                         THE BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.


                                        By:  /s/ WILLIAM E. HINCH
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Its: Vice President
                                                  ------------------------------






                                       20.


<PAGE>

                ADVANCE REQUEST MATRIX, ASSIGNMENT AS COLLATERAL
                       AND ADDENDUM TO SECURITY AGREEMENT
                       ----------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

(1)            (2)            (3)            (4)            (5)            (6)            (7)

<S>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
                                                                           Date           Description of Pledged
Amount                                       Issuer                        Pledged        Securities (including
of             Name           Date and       of             Date of        Securities     certificate nos.,
Advance        of             Amount of      Pledged        Pledge         Acquired by    applicable restric-
Request        Customer       of Note        Securities     Agreement      Customer       tions and values)
- ---------      -------        ---------      ----------     ----------     -----------    ----------------------
</TABLE>


                                 SEE ATTACHMENT


The undersigned hereby assigns and grants to The Bank of California, N.A.
("Bank") a security interest in all of the undersigned's right, title and
interest in and to the following: (a) 293,508 shares of common stock of The
Bisys Group, Inc., and (b) all promissory notes and pledge agreements shown on
the Attachment to this Addendum, as well as the pledged securities listed
thereon, and agrees that all of same shall constitute "Collateral" under the
Security Agreement executed by Borrower in favor of Bank dated October 29, 1993,
as amended or restated from time to time ("Security Agreement").  The
undersigned acknowledges and agrees that, as a condition to Bank's making
Advances under the credit facility for which this grant of security interest has
been given, the undersigned shall deliver all original promissory notes endorsed
in blank and all original pledged securities endorsed in blank or with stock
powers attached.  This Advance Request Matrix, Assignment as Collateral and
Addendum to Security Agreement shall be attached to the Security Agreement and
constitutes a valid and binding part thereof.

Dated:                                  HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP,
      ------------------------          a California corporation

                                        By
                                           ------------------------
                                        Its
                                            -----------------------





<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A


BANKCAL
THE BANK OF CALIFORNIA







                                   March 21, 1996



Hambrecht & Quist Group
One Bush Street
San Francisco, California 94104

Attn:     Raymond J. Minehan,
          Chief Financial Officer

          RE: EURODOLLAR RATE OPTION AGREEMENT
              --------------------------------

Dear Mr. Minehan:

          As of this date, you, Hambrecht & Quist Group, have with The Bank of
California, N.A, ("Bank") a credit facility in the maximum principal amount of
$12,000,0000, as such amount may change in accordance with its terms ("Credit
Facility"), the terms and conditions of which are governed by a promissory note
and/or loan agreement and various other documents ("Loan Documents). In
conjunction with your current Credit Facility, Bank is pleased to offer you a
chance to participate in a special commercial pricing program.

          1.   AVAILABILITY AND MATURITY

               Bank usually extends financing based on a fluctuating rate that
changes with the rate Bank announces to be in effect from time to time as its
prime rate ("Prime Rate").  The Prime Rate is a rate set by Bank based on
various factors, including general economic and market conditions, and is used
as a reference point in pricing certain loans.  Bank may price its loans at,
above or below the Prime Rate.

               In contrast, Bank's "Eurodollar Rate" is a fixed rate (more fully
defined below) Bank offers from time to time which, if you accept this proposal,
will apply to all or such portion of the principal amount outstanding under the
Credit Facility ("Covered Amount") and for such time periods as you and Bank
shall mutually agree.  Pricing tied to the Eurodollar Rate is available for
periods of 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 or 12 months (each a "Period") , provided, however,
that no Period shall have a maturity date subsequent to the scheduled maturity
date for the Credit

<PAGE>

Hambrecht & Quist Group
March 21, 1995
Page 2

Facility.  This pricing may be applied to increments of $1,000,000 or more
outstanding under the Credit Facility.

          Bank's "Eurodollar Rate" is, for each Period, a rate comprised of (a)
the rate of interest at which Dollar deposits for such period and in such amount
would be offered to Bank in the Eurodollar Market at a time selected by Bank two
(2) Banking Days, as defined below, prior to the commencement of the relevant
Period, adjusted for the then maximum reserve, capital adequacy, deposit
insurance, and similar requirements that under any circumstance could be
applicable to Bank pursuant to applicable law or regulation, and other amounts
associated with Bank's costs and desired return; plus (b) a margin equal to
2.50%.  The Eurodollar Market is the market in which the buying and selling of
United States Dollar deposits booked outside the United States of America occurs
among the international banking community.  Bank's Eurodollar Rate is available
and may be accepted only at the time quoted by Bank for the applicable Period
beginning two (2) Banking Days hence.  Due to changes in legal, regulatory,
economic or market conditions, Bank may at any time determine that pricing based
on the Eurodollar Rate is not available, and thus, may be unable to offer such a
rate.

          2.   QUOTE, EURODOLLAR RATE, AND PAYMENTS

               For a quote of Bank's Eurodollar Rate which would apply to the
specified Covered Amount and Period, you may call Bank's San Francisco office
between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Pacific time on any day on which such office
and Bank's San Francisco main office are open for business to the public (each a
"Banking Day").  As the Eurodollar Rate is established two (2) Banking Days
prior to the first day of the requested Period, you must call at least two (2)
Banking Days prior to such date.  If you accept the Eurodollar Rate when
offered, that rate will apply to such Covered Amount for the applicable Period.
Interest shall be calculated for actual days elapsed on the basis of a three
hundred and sixty (360) day year.

               During any Period, you agree to pay interest on the Covered
Amount at the Eurodollar Rate on the first day of each consecutive month
beginning the first such date after the commencement of the Period, until the
last day of the Period whether scheduled or accelerated ("Maturity Date").
During each Period, you must maintain under your Credit Facility a principal
balance which is not a Covered Amount under any of your rate option agreements
with Bank sufficient to cover each scheduled instalment of principal coming due
during such Period under the Credit Facility.  Should you have any obligation
under any other Loan Document to repay any portion of the Credit Facility
("Obligation")

<PAGE>

Hambrecht & Quist Group
March 21, 1995
Page 3

that would conflict with your obligation under the preceding sentence
("Maintenance Obligation"), you shall nevertheless comply with the obligation
and not with the Maintenance Obligation, and you shall not be deemed in default
hereunder.  Nonetheless, payment of the obligation shall be deemed to be a
"Prepayment", as defined below, to the extent it repays a portion of a Covered
Amount under this or any of your other rate option agreements you may have with
Bank.

               If, prior to a Maturity Date and while the Credit Facility is
still available, you and Bank have not agreed that a new rate tied to the
Eurodollar Rate shall apply to a Covered Amount, then, if the term of your
Credit Facility extends beyond such Maturity Date, Bank's Prime Rate plus the
applicable margin under the terms of your Credit Facility shall be automatically
applicable to such Covered Amount.

               Bank's records of the date, Covered Amount, Period Eurodollar
Rate, Maturity Date, and all payments of principal and interest and all other
payments and amounts due under this letter agreement shall be conclusive and
binding on you, absent obvious error.

          3.   PREPAYMENT LIMITATION

               Do not sign this letter agreement before you read it.  This
letter agreement provides for payment of liquidated damages if you wish to repay
the loan (Covered Amount) prior to the date provided for repayment under the
Credit Facility.

               Bank establishes the Eurodollar Rate with the understanding it
will apply to the Covered Amount for the entire scheduled Period.  If for any
reason, including, without limitation, acceleration, foreclosure or prepayment,
Bank receives all or any portion of a Covered Amount (each a "Prepayment") prior
to the scheduled Maturity Date, then in consideration thereof you shall pay to
Bank on demand:

               a.   The amount, if any, by which the additional interest which
          would have been payable on the Prepayment exceeds the interest which
          Bank would receive had it placed an amount equal to the Prepayment, in
          United States Dollars, on deposit in the Eurodollar Market (or, at
          Bank's sole discretion, invested such amount in a domestic certificate
          of deposit issued by an institution rated at least "investment grade"
          or "Al" by Moody's or any successor rating agency) for a period equal
          to the period of time remaining until the maturity of the applicable
          Period.  Should the scheduled maturity fall

<PAGE>

Hambrecht & Quist Group
March 21, 1995
Page 4

          between two periods for which rates are quoted or available to Bank,
          then Bank, in its sole discretion, shall interpolate this rate; and

               b.   Any other out of pocket costs to Bank associated with
          funding or maintaining the Covered Amount.

Bank shall provide you a statement of the amount payable on account of each
Prepayment, which statement shall be a conclusive and binding determination of
the amount owed by you for such Prepayment, absent obvious error.  All
Prepayments, subject to this Section 3, shall be applied on the most remote
instalment or installments of principal then unpaid on the Credit Facility being
prepaid.

               You acknowledge that any Prepayment may result in Bank incurring
additional costs, expenses or liabilities.  Therefore, you agree to pay the
above-described liquidated damages and agree that said amount is a reasonable
estimate of the costs, expenses and liabilities of Bank associated with each
Prepayment.

               4.   SPECIAL FUNDING PROVISIONS

               If at any time Bank determines that:

                    a.   United States Dollar deposits in principal amounts
               similar to the Covered Amount bearing interest at the Eurodollar
               Rate and for periods equal to the relevant Period are not
               available in the Eurodollar Market;

                    b.   The Eurodollar Rate does not cover the cost to Bank of
               making, funding or maintaining the Covered Amount at the
               Eurodollar Rate during any Period;

                    c.   Any change in financial, political or economic
               conditions or currency exchange rates makes it impractical for
               Bank to make, fund or maintain the Covered Amount at the
               Eurodollar Rate during any Period; or

                    d.   Any change in applicable law or regulation or in the
               interpretation thereof (whether or not having the force of law)
               makes it unlawful or impractical for Bank to make, fund or
               maintain the Covered Amount at the Eurodollar Rate, then Bank
               shall promptly give notice thereof to you and as of the date
               stated in such notice, the Eurodollar Rate option shall
               terminate, and Bank's Prime Rate plus the applicable margin under
               the terms of

<PAGE>

Hambrecht & Quist Group
March 21, 1995
Page 5

               your Credit Facility shall be automatically applicable to the
               relevant Covered Amount through the end of the relevant Period.

               5.   RESERVES, DEPOSIT INSURANCE, CAPITAL ADEQUACY

                    You shall additionally compensate Bank upon demand for all
costs incurred, or losses suffered, including without limitation lost profits,
by reason of:

                    a.    any and all increases in reserve, deposit insurance,
               capital adequacy or similar requirements against (or against any
               class of or change in or in the amount of) the assets or
               liabilities of Bank, deposits with or for the account of Bank, or
               loans by Bank, imposed by any governmental or regulatory
               authority (whether or not having the force of law) in connection
               with a Covered Amount bearing interest at the Eurodollar Rate; or

                    b.   compliance by Bank with any direction, requirement or
               request from any governmental or regulatory authority (whether or
               not having the force of law) in connection with a Covered Amount
               bearing interest at the Eurodollar Rate to the extent any such
               costs have not been previously blended or adjusted into the
               Eurodollar Rate.

Bank shall provide you with a written statement of the amount and basis of its
request for compensation under this Section, which statement shall be a
conclusive and binding determination of the amount owed by you, absent obvious
error.

          6.   TAXES

               a.   It at any time any taxes, fees or other charges of any
          nature are imposed by any governmental or regulatory authority on any
          aspect of the transactions referred to in this letter agreement
          including without limitation all stamp or documentation duties
          (collectively, "Taxes"), you shall pay such Taxes directly, or
          compensate Bank for such payment, as set forth below, except for such
          Taxes as are imposed on Bank's net income.

               b.   In the event you are prohibited by operation of law from
          making payments or reimbursements to Bank without making such
          deductions or paying, or causing to be paid, any and all Taxes, you
          shall pay to Bank upon

<PAGE>

Hambrecht & Quist Group
March 21, 1995
Page 6

          demand such additional amounts as may be necessary in order to
          reimburse Bank for Taxes paid by Bank on your behalf such that the
          aggregate net amounts received by Bank shall equal the amounts which
          would have been received if such deduction or withholding had not been
          required.

               c.   You shall confirm that all applicable Taxes shall have been
          paid to appropriate taxing authorities or agencies by sending official
          tax receipts or notarized copies of such receipts to Bank within
          thirty (30) days after payment of any Taxes.  Should Bank receive
          notice of any such liability for Taxes, Bank will promptly so inform
          you.

          7.   GENERAL PROVISIONS

               a.   To the extent interest rates, prepayment provisions and
          times for payment of interest established under this letter agreement
          are different than the terms of the note evidencing the Credit
          Facility, the terms of this letter agreement shall prevail.  All other
          provisions of the Loan Documents remain in full force and effect.



               b.   This letter agreement shall be governed by the laws of the
          State of California.

               c.   This letter agreement, and all confirmations provided
          hereunder, evidence the entire agreement of the parties on the matters
          covered herein, and supersede all prior understandings and agreements.


          If you would like to participate in Bank's Eurodollar Rate option
program, please execute the enclosed duplicate original of this letter and
return it to Bank, on or before March _, 1996, at which time the option granted
in this letter will otherwise expire.

<PAGE>

Hambrecht & Quist Group
March 21, 1995
Page 7

          The Bank is pleased to serve you.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        THE BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.

                                        By:  /s/  WILLIAM E. HINCH
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Its: VICE PRESIDENT
                                                  ------------------------------
ACCEPTED AND AGREED:

HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP,
a California corporation


BY:  /s/  P.J. ALLEN
          -------------------------
          Its: VP-FINANCE
               --------------------

Dated: 3/25, 1996


<PAGE>

                                 LINE OF CREDIT NOTE


$12,000,000.00                                                  March 21, 1996
(Subject to Advance
Rate Limitations)


         Each signer of this Note ("Borrower") promises to pay to the order of
The Bank of California, National Association ("Bank") at its office at 400
California Street, San Francisco, California, 94104 or at such other place as
Bank may designate in writing, in lawful money of the United States of America,
the principal sum of TWELVE MILLION AND N0/100 DOLLARS ($12,000,000.00), or so
much thereof as may be advanced and outstanding, with interest on each Advance
from the date it is disbursed until maturity, whether scheduled or accelerated,
at a fluctuating rate per annum at all times equal to the rate Bank announces to
be in effect from time to time as its prime rate (the "Prime Rate") plus three
quarters of one percent (0.75%), unless Borrower elects to have all or a portion
of principal accrue hereunder at a fixed rate based on the Eurodollar Rate, as
defined in and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Eurodollar Rate
Option Agreement between Borrower and Bank of even date herewith, as amended,
supplemented or replaced from time to time.  The Prime Rate is a rate set by
Bank based upon various factors including general economic and market
conditions, and is used as a reference point for pricing certain loans. Bank may
price its loans at, above, or below the Prime Rate.

         This Note is the Line of Credit Note defined in that certain First
Amended and Restated Line of Credit Agreement between Bank and Borrower dated
March 21, 1996, as amended or restated from time to time ("Credit Agreement"),
and is governed by the terms thereof.  Each capitalized term not otherwise
defined in this Note shall have the meaning set forth in the Credit Agreement.
This Note replaces and supersedes the Line of Credit Note in the maximum
principal amount of $9,500,000.00 dated February 8, 1996, previously executed by
Borrower to the order of Bank.

         During the term of this Note, Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow
as Borrower may elect, subject to all limitations, terms and conditions
contained herein and in the Credit Agreement (specifically including, but
without limitation, all restrictions on the amount of Advances contained in the
Credit Agreement), provided however, that in any event the outstanding principal
balance of this Note shall at no time exceed the maximum principal amount stated
above.

         Interest shall be payable on the first (1st) day of each consecutive
month beginning the first such date after the first Advance, and continuing
through the Termination Date, on


                                          1

<PAGE>

which date all accrued interest and principal remaining unpaid shall be due and
payable in full.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time Bank determines
that the outstanding principal balance of an Advance hereunder exceeds fifty
percent (50%) of the fair market value of the Pledged Securities or Pledged
Stock Options securing the Principal Note pledged to Bank in connection with the
Advance (or the Bisys Shares with respect to Advances secured thereby), as
determined by Bank reference to outside sources, then Borrower, immediately upon
Bank's written demand, shall make principal repayments of the Advance, together
with all accrued interest thereon, in amounts sufficient to establish (i) a
forty percent (40%) or lower Advance-to-value ratio with respect to Advances
used to finance Stock Option Advances, or (ii) a fifty percent (50%) or lower
Advance-to-value ratio with respect to all other Advances,

         The unpaid principal balance and all payments of interest on this Note
shall bear interest from their respective maturities, whether scheduled or
accelerated, at a fluctuating rate per annum at all times equal to the Prime
Rate plus 5%, until paid in full, whether before or after judgment.

         Interest and fees shall be calculated for actual days elapsed on the
basis of a 360-day year, which results in higher interest payments than if a
365-day year were used.  Each change in the rate of interest shall become
effective on the date each Prime Rate change is announced within the Bank.  In
no event shall Borrower be obligated to pay interest at a rate in excess of the
highest rate permitted by applicable law from time to time in effect.

         Each Advance shall be requested and made as provided in the Credit
Agreement.  Borrower assumes all risks regarding the validity, authenticity and
due authorization of any request purporting to be made by or on behalf of
Borrower.  Borrower promises to repay any sums, with interest, that are advanced
by Bank pursuant to any request which Bank in good faith believes to be
authorized, or when the proceeds of any Advance are deposited to the account of
Borrower with Bank, regardless of whether any individual or entity ("Person")
other than Borrower may have authority to draw against such account.

         The occurrence of any Event of Default as defined in the Credit
Agreement shall (1) terminate any obligation of Bank to make or continue the
Line of Credit; and shall, at Bank's option, (2) make all sums of interest,
principal and any other amounts owing under any Loan Documents immediately due
and payable without notice of default, presentment or demand for payment,
protest or notice of nonpayment or dishonor or any other notices or demands; and
(3) give Bank the right to exercise any other right or remedy provided by
contract or applicable law.


                                          2

<PAGE>

         Borrower shall reimburse Bank for costs and expenses, including
without limitation reasonable attorneys' fees, as set forth in the Agreement.

         Each Borrower is jointly and severally liable for the obligations
evidenced by this Note, and all references to "Borrower" shall be to "each" or
"any" Borrower as the context requires.

         This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
laws of the State of California.

                                       HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP,
                                       a California corporation

                                       By:   /s/ PJ Allen
                                            ---------------------------
                                            Its:  VP- Finance
                                                 ----------------------


                                          3


<PAGE>

The Bank of California

                                 CONTINUING GUARANTY

1.  INDEBTEDNESS GUARANTEED.  For valuable consideration, the sufficiency of 
which is acknowledged, the undersigned ("Guarantor") unconditionally 
guarantees and promises to pay to The Bank of California, N.A. ("Bank") on 
demand, in lawful money of the United States of America, all indebtedness of 
Hambrecht & Quist Group, a California corporation ("Borrower") to Bank. 
"Indebtedness" is used herein in its most comprehensive sense and includes 
all debts, obligations and liabilities of Borrower or any one or more of them 
to Bank currently existing or now or hereafter made, incurred or created 
whether voluntary or involuntary and however arising or evidenced, whether 
direct or acquired by assignment or succession, whether due or not due, 
absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated,  determined or 
undetermined, and whether Borrower may be liable individually or jointly with 
others or whether recovery upon such debt may be or become barred by any 
statute of limitation or otherwise unenforceable.  This is a continuing 
guaranty relating to any indebtedness, including that arising under 
successive transactions which shall either continue increase or otherwise 
modify the indebtedness or from time to time renew it after it has been 
satisfied.  This guaranty ("Guaranty") may be revoked only by Bank's actual 
receipt of written notice from Guarantor.  Where Bank has a contractual 
commitment to extend credit, such revocation shall not be effective with 
respect to indebtedness created under such commitment. This Guaranty shall 
continue to be effective or be reinstated if at any time any payment of any 
indebtedness is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by Bank upon the 
insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of Borrower, Guarantor or otherwise, 
all as though such payment had not been made.  Guarantor has derived or 
expects to derive material financial advantages or other benefits 
commensurate in value to the obligations and liabilities being undertaken by 
Guarantor under the terms of this Guaranty.

2.  GUARANTOR'S LIABILITY.  The liability of Guarantor under this Guaranty 
shall not exceed at any time an amount equal to the sum of (a) TWELVE MILLION 
AND NO/100 DOLLARS ($12,000,000.00), (b) all interest, fees and charges 
constituting indebtedness upon or with respect to such amount, (c) 
Guarantor's obligations to pay attorneys' fees and all other costs and 
expenses which may be incurred by Bank in the protection, preservation or 
enforcement of any rights of Bank under this Guaranty, and (d) Guarantor's 
obligations to reimburse and indemnify Bank hereunder.  Bank may permit the 
indebtedness to exceed Guarantor's liability under this Guaranty, and 
Guarantor's liability hereunder shall not be affected even if the 
Indebtedness exceeds any limitations otherwise applicable thereto.  Any 
payment by Guarantor to Bank hereunder shall not reduce its maximum 
obligation hereunder unless Guarantor has given bank actual written notice 
that such payment shall have such effect at or prior to the time of such 
payment. The foregoing limitation of liability applies only to Guarantor's 
obligations under this Guaranty; unless otherwise specifically agreed in 
writing, every other guaranty heretofore, now, or hereafter given by 
Guarantor to Bank with respect to the Indebtedness shall be deemed 
independent of this Guaranty and every other such guaranty, so that as each 
such guaranty is enforced or collected upon in a manner that reduces the 
liability of Guarantor thereunder, the liability of all guarantors on all 
other guaranties shall remain intact.

3.  NATURE OF GUARANTOR'S LIABILITY. Guarantor's obligations and liabilities 
under this Guaranty are independent of Borrower's obligations and liabilities 
under any documents evidencing indebtedness ("Loan Documents"), and a 
separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against Guaranty 
whether action is brought against Borrower or any other guarantor or Person, 
whether or not any foreclosure has been or is going to be initiated with 
respect to any security for the Indebtedness, or whether Borrower or any 
other guarantor or Person are joined in any such action or actions. Recovery 
realized from any other guarantor of the Indebtedness, or recovery from any 
source other than a payment by Guarantor, shall be first credited upon this 
portion of the Indebtedness which exceeds the maximum liability of Guarantor 
hereunder.  As used in this Guaranty, "Person" means any individual or 
entity, and may include Bank where the construction so allows.

4.  GUARANTOR'S AUTHORIZATION. Guarantor authorizes Bank, without notice, 
demand or consent of any kind, and without affecting Guarantor's liability 
under this Guaranty, from time to time, to (a) renew, compromise, extend, 
accelerate or otherwise change any of the terms of the indebtedness or any 
part, thereof, including changing the rate of interest thereon or the time  
for payment thereof, (b) accept partial payments on the indebtedness, (c) 
extend credit to Borrower on an unsecured basis or take security or other 
support for the obligations evidenced by this Guaranty or the indebtedness, 
and exchange, enforce, waive or release any such security or other support or 
any part thereof, (d) accept new or additional documents, instruments or 
agreements relative to the Indebtedness, (e) apply any security or other 
support and direct the order or manner of sale or other disposition of such 
property as Bank, in its sole discretion, may determine, and (f) release or 
substitute any Person liable on the indebtedness, any other guarantor of the 
indebtedness, or any other Person providing support for the indebtedness to 
Bank, this Guaranty, or any other guaranty.

5.  WAIVERS.  (a) Guarantor waives any and all rights or defenses arising by 
reason of (1) the absence, impairment or loss of any right of reimbursement, 
contribution or subrogation, or any other right or remedy of Guarantor 
against Borrower or any other guarantor or Person, or with respect to any 
security interest or other support for the Indebtedness, (ii) any disability 
or other defense of Borrower, or the partial or complete cessation from any 
cause of this liability of Borrower for the Indebtedness for any reason other 
than payment in full and final satisfaction, (iii) the application by 
Borrower of the proceeds of any indebtedness for purposes other than the 
purposes represented by Borrower to Bank or intended or understood by Bank, 
(iv) any act or omission by Bank which directly or indirectly results in or 
aids the discharge of Borrower or any of the indebtedness by operation of law 
or otherwise, (v) the statute of limitations in any action under this 
Guaranty or in any action for the collection of any indebtedness, (vi) the 
omission of any demand, presentment, protest or notice of any kind, including 
without limitation notice of the existence, creation, incurring, 
modification, substitution or renewal of any new or additional indebtedness or 
of any action or non-action on the part of Borrower, Bank or any other Person 
in connection with any indebtedness, or (vii) any exchange, release, loss, 
damage, impairment or non-perfection of any security or support for the 
Indebtedness, or any release, amendment waiver of or consent to depart from 
the terms of any security agreement, other support or any other guaranty, for 
all or any of the Indebtedness.

(b) Guarantor waives all rights to require Bank to (i) seek payment of the 
indebtedness from Borrower, any other guarantor or Person, or from any 
collateral securing the indebtedness before enforcing Guarantor's obligations 
under this Guaranty, (ii) apply any payments from any source in any 
particular manner, including without limitation to apply any payments to any 
portion of the indebtedness guaranteed by this Guaranty before applying them 
to anything else, (iii) give notice to the terms, time and place of any 
public or private sale of personal property security for the indebtedness or 
comply with any other provisions of Section 9504 of the Uniform Commercial 
Code or its equivalent, from time to time in effect in the state governing 
such security interest, (iv) give notice of any judicial or nonjudicial sale 
or foreclosure of any real property securing any portion of the Indebtedness, 
or (v) enforce any remedy which Bank now has or hereafter may have against 
Borrower, any other guarantor or Person.  Guarantor also waives any benefit 
of, and any right to participate in or direct the application of, any now 
existing or hereafter acquired security or support for the indebtedness.

(c) Guarantor acknowledges that Guarantor is entitled to reimbursement from 
Borrower to the extent Guarantor pays the Indebtedness.  Nonetheless, until 
all of the Indebtedness has been paid in full, including without limitation 
any portion thereof which exceeds the liability of Guarantor under this 
Guaranty, Guarantor hereby waives any and all rights of reimbursement under 
any legal doctrine including without limitation subrogation, indemnity, or 
contribution arising from the existence or performance of this Guaranty which 
Guarantor now or hereafter may have against Borrower or any Person, or their 
respective properties, directly or contingently liable for the Indebtedness, 
or any direct or contingent security for the Indebtedness.

(d) Guarantor waives notice of acceptance of this Guaranty.  Without limiting 
the generality of the waivers contained in this Guaranty, Guarantor waives 
all rights, defenses, and other benefits under the following statutes, 
judicial decisions applying these statutes, and further waives all equivalent 
legal rules in any form in all applicable jurisdictions: California Civil 
Code sections 2787-2855.  Guarantor acknowledges that Bank is relying on all 
of the waivers contained throughout this Guaranty in creating and continuing 
the indebtedness, and that these waivers are a material part of the 
consideration to Bank for creating and continuing the indebtedness.

(e) Guarantor waives all rights and defenses arising out of an election of 
remedies by the creditor, even though that election of remedies, such as a 
nonjudicial foreclosure with respect to security for a guaranteed obligation, 
has destroyed the Guarantor's rights of subrogation and reimbursement against 
the principal by the operation of Section 580d of the California Code of 
Civil Procedure or otherwise by the operation of any other law of California 
or by the operation of any similar law of any other jurisdiction.  In the 
preceding sentence the word "creditor" means Bank, and the word "principal" 
means Borrower or any person or entity directly or indirectly responsible in 
any manner for the indebtedness.

6.  SECURITY INTEREST. Guarantor hereby grants to Bank a security interest in 
all moneys, securities and other property of Guarantor now or hereafter in 
the possession of, or on deposit with, Bank, whether certificated or 
uncertificated, or held in a general, special, deposit, or safekeeping 
account, or otherwise and the proceeds thereof. Every such security interest 
may be exercised without demand upon or notice to Guarantor, except as may be 
required by law.  No security interest shall be deemed waived by any act or 
failure to act by Bank.

                                                                Page 1

<PAGE>

 7.  SUBORDINATION.  All obligations and liabilities of whatsoever kind 
("Third Party Indebtedness") of Borrower to Guarantor now existing or 
hereafter incurred we hereby subordinated to all indebtedness, and until all 
Indebtedness has been satisfied in full, no payment shall be made by Borrower 
or accepted by Guarantor on any Third Party Indebtedness without Bank's prior 
written consent.  Should Guarantor receive any payment or distribution of any 
kind in conflict with the provisions of this subordination clause, Guarantor 
shall hold such funds or property as trustee for Bank, and shall pay or 
transfer to Bank all such funds or property promptly upon receipt on account 
of the indebtedness, but without reducing or affecting the liability of 
Guarantor under the other provisions of this Guaranty.

8.  DILIGENT INQUIRIES. Guarantor assumes the responsibility for being and 
keeping informed of the financial condition of Borrower and any other 
guarantor or Person liable on, or with respect to, any of the indebtedness, 
and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the 
indebtedness, and confirms that Bank shall have no duty to advise Guarantor 
of any such information.

9.  AUTHORIZATION OF BORROWER. Where Borrower is a corporation, partnership 
or other business entity, Bank shall have no duty to inquire into the powers 
of Borrowers or its officers, directors, partners, trustees, members or 
agents, acting or purporting to act on Borrower's behalf, and any 
indebtedness made or created in reliance upon the exercise of such powers 
shall be covered by this Guaranty.  Bank's books and records showing the 
account between bank and Borrower shall be admissible in any proceeding or 
action to enforce this Guaranty and shall be conclusive and binding upon 
Guarantor absent obvious error.

10. MARRIED PERSONS. Any married person who signs this Guaranty agrees that 
recourse for all obligations created under this Guaranty may be against his 
or her separate and community property.

11. NOTICES. Any notice given by any party under this Guaranty shall be in 
writing and personally delivered, sent by United States mail, postage 
prepaid, or sent by telex or other authenticated message, charges prepaid and 
addressed as follows:

    TO GUARANTOR:                                TO BANK:
                                                 The Bank of California, N.A.
    Hambrecht & Quist, L. P.,                    San Francisco Regional Office
    a California limited partnership             400 California Street
    One Bush Street                              San Francisco, CA 94104
    San Francisco, CA 94104                      Attn: William E. Hinch
    Attn:                                             Vice President
    FAX No.                                      FAX No. (415) 765-2001

Guarantor and Bank may change the place to which notices, requests, and 
other communications are to be sent by giving written notice of such change 
to the other.

12. BINDING EFFECT. This Guaranty shall be binding upon Guarantor, its 
permitted successors, representatives and assigns, and shall inure to the 
benefit of Bank and its successors and assigns; provided, however, that 
Guarantor may not assign or transfer its obligations under this Guaranty 
without the prior written consent of Bank.  Bank reserves the right to sell, 
assign, or transfer its rights and powers under this Guaranty in whole or in 
part without notice to Guarantor.  In that connection,  Bank may disclose all 
document and information which Bank now or hereafter may have relating to 
this Guaranty, Guarantor or Guarantor's operations or finances.  Guarantor 
waives any duty of confidentiality Bank may have with respect to information 
concerning Guarantor and Guarantor's operations and finances.

13. NO WAIVER.  Any waiver, consent or approval of any kind by Bank must be 
in writing and shall be effective only to the extent set forth in such 
writing. No failure or delay on the part of Bank in exercising any power, 
right or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, and no single 
or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege shall preclude any 
further exercise thereof, or the exercise of any other power, right or 
privilege.  All rights and remedies existing under this Guaranty are 
cumulative to, and not exclusive of, any other rights or remedies under 
contact or applicable law. Guarantor waives all rights and defenses arising 
from Bank's performance or failure to perform any duty, right or remedy 
available to it, or Bank's taking, or failing to take any action permitted 
hereunder.

14. GOVERNING LAW. Except as may be otherwise provided herein, this Guaranty 
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws in the State 
of California.

15. INDEMNIFICATION. Guarantor shall pay and protect, defend and indemnify 
Bank and Bank's employees, officers, directors, shareholders, affiliates, 
correspondents, agents and representatives (other than Bank, collectively 
"Agents") against, and hold Bank and each Agent harmless from, all claims, 
actions, proceedings, liabilities, damages, losses, expenses (including 
without limitation attorneys' fees and costs) and other amounts incurred by 
Bank and each Agent from (a) the matters contemplated by this Guaranty or by 
any Loan Document or (b) any contention that Guarantor has failed to comply 
with any law, rule, regulation, order or directive applicable to Guarantor's 
business; provided, however, that this indemnification shall not apply to any 
of the foregoing incurred solely as the result of Bank's or any Agent's gross 
negligence or willful misconduct. This indemnification shall survive the 
payment and satisfaction of all indebtedness.

16. REIMBURSEMENT. Guarantor shall reimburse Bank for all costs and expenses, 
including without limitation reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements 
(and fees and disbursements of Bank's in-house counsel) expensed or incurred 
by Bank in any arbitration, mediation, judicial reference, legal action or 
otherwise in connection with (a) the negotiation, preparation, amendment, 
interpretation and enforcement of this Guaranty, (b) any workout or attempted 
workout (c) the rendering of legal advice as to Bank's rights, remedies and 
obligations hereunder, (d) collecting any sum which becomes due Bank 
hereunder, (e) any proceeding for declaratory relief, counterclaim to any 
proceeding, appeal, contempt proceeding, discovery, or post-judgement motion 
or proceeding of any kind,  including without limitation any action taken to 
collect or enforce any judgement, (f) the protection, preservation or 
enforcement of any rights of Bank, (g) any motion, proceeding or other 
activity in connection with a case under Title 11 of the United States Code 
or any similar law, or (h) garnishment, levy, and third party examinations.

17. MULTIPLE BORROWER/GUARANTOR. When there is more than one Borrower, or 
when this Guaranty is executed by more than one Guarantor, the words 
"Borrower" and "Guarantor", respectively, mean all and any one or more of 
them.  All words used herein in the singular shall be deemed to have been 
used in the plural where the context and construction so require.

18. JOINT AND SEVERAL. Should more than one Person sign this Guaranty as
Guarantor, their obligations hereunder shall be joint and several.

19. DISPUTE RESOLUTION. (a) MANDATORY MEDIATION/ARBITRATION. Any controversy 
or claim between or among the parties, their agents, employees and 
affiliates, including but not limited to those arising out of or relating to 
this Guaranty or any related agreements or instruments ("Subject Documents"), 
including without limitation any claim based on or arising from an alleged 
tort, shall, at the option of any party, and at that party's expense, be 
submitted to mediation, using either the American Arbitration Association 
("AAA") or Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services,  Inc. ("JAMS").  If 
mediation is not used, or if it is used and it fails to resolve the dispute 
within 30 days from the date AAA or JAMS is engaged, than the dispute shall 
be determined by arbitration in accordance with the rules of either JAMS or 
AAA (at the option of the party initiating the arbitration) and Title 9 of 
the U.S. Code, notwithstanding any other choice of law provision in the 
Subject Documents. All statutes of limitations, or any waivers contained 
herein, which would otherwise be applicable shall apply to any arbitration 
proceeding under this subparagraph (a). The parties agree that related 
arbitration proceedings may be consolidated. The arbitrator shall prepare 
written reasons for the award.  Judgement upon the award rendered may be 
entered in any court having jurisdiction.  This subparagraph (a) shall apply 
only if, at the time of the proposed submission to AAA or JAMS, none of the 
obligations to Bank described in or covered by any of the Subject Documents 
are secured by real property collateral or, if so secured, all parties 
consent to such submission.

(b) JURY WAIVER/JUDICIAL REFERENCE. If the controversy or claim is not 
submitted to arbitration as provided and limited in subparagraph (a), but 
becomes  the subject of a judicial action, each party hereby waives its 
respective right to trial by jury of the controversy or claim. In addition, 
any party may elect to have all decisions of fact and law determined by a 
referee appointed by the court in accordance with applicable state reference 
procedures. The party requesting the reference procedure shall ask AAA or 
JAMS to provide a panel of retired judges and the court shall select the 
referee from the designated panel.  The referee shall prepare written 
findings of fact and conclusions of law.  Judgement upon the award rendered 
shall be entered in the court in which such proceeding was commenced.


                                                                Page 2

<PAGE>

(c) PROVISIONAL REMEDIES, SELF HELP, AND FORECLOSURE.  No provision of, or 
the exercise of any rights under, subparagraph (a) shall limit the right of 
any party to exercise self help remedies such as setoff, to foreclose against 
any real or personal property collateral, or to obtain provisional or 
ancillary remedies such as injunctive relief or the appointment of a receiver 
from a court having jurisdiction before, during or after the pendency of any 
mediation or arbitration.  At Bank's option, foreclosure under a deed of 
trust or mortgage may be accomplished either by exercise of power of sale 
under the deed of trust or mortgage, or by judicial foreclosure.  The 
institution and maintenance of an action for judicial relief or pursuit of 
provisional or ancillary remedies or exercise of self help remedies shall 
not constitute a waiver of the right of any party, including the plaintiff, 
to submit the controversy or claim to mediation or arbitration.

To the extent any provision of this dispute resolution clause is different 
from the terms of this Guaranty or other Loan Documents, the terms of this 
dispute resolution clause shall prevail.

20. INTEGRATION; SEVERABILITY; AMENDMENTS.  This Guaranty is intended by 
Guarantor and Bank as the final expression of Guarantor's obligations any 
liabilities to Bank described herein, and supersedes, all prior 
understandings or agreements concerning the subject matter hereof.  Any 
provision of this Guaranty which is prohibited or unenforceable in any 
jurisdiction shall be so only as to such jurisdiction and only to the extent 
of such prohibition or unenforceability, but all the remaining provisions 
of this Guaranty shall remain valid and enforceable.  This Guaranty may be 
amended only by a writing signed by Guarantor and Bank.

All terms and conditions set forth on the Financial Statements 
addendum/addenda attached to this Guaranty are incorporated by this reference.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Guarantor has executed this Guaranty as of March 21, 
1996, and Guarantor acknowledges receiving a copy of this Guaranty.


Hambrecht & Quist, L.P.
a California limited partnership


By: Hambrecht & Quist Group,
    a California corporation, General Partner


    By:  /s/ [ Name Unreadable]
       -----------------------------

    Title:  /s/ VP Finance
          --------------------------


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

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

If the Guarantor(s) signature cannot be witnessed by the account officer, the 
Guarantor(s) must have his or her signature notarized or must obtain a 
signature guaranty of the document from his or her bank.



This is a replacement of that certain Continuing Guaranty dated February 8,
1996, executed by Hambrecht & Quist, L. P., a California limited partnership
("Guarantor").


                                                                Page 3

<PAGE>

THE BANK OF CALIFORNIA


                           ADDENDUM TO CONTINUING GUARANTY
                                 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                           

THIS ADDENDUM is attached to and made a part of that certain Continuing 
Guaranty ("Guaranty") executed by Hambrecht & Quist, L.P., a California 
limited partnership ("Guarantor") and dated effective as of March 21, 1996 in 
favor of THE BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A. ("Bank").  The following provisions are 
hereby incorporated into the Guaranty:

    So long as Guarantor is obligated to Bank under the Guaranty, Guarantor
    shall provide Bank the following financial information, which Guarantor
    warrants shall be accurate and complete in all material respects and
    prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and
    practices, consistently applied:

    YEAR-END FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

    As soon as available, but no later than 90 days after and as of the end of
    each financial reporting year, a financial statement of Guarantor prepared
    and attested by a responsible financial officer of Guarantor as being
    complete and correct and fairly presenting Guarantor's financial condition
    and the results of Guarantor's operations to include balance sheet, income
    statement, and statement of cash flows.  Guarantor shall not change its
    financial reporting year end from the current September 30th without Bank's
    prior written consent.

    OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION.  Such other statements, lists of property and
    accounts, budgets, forecasts, reports or other financial information as
    Bank may from time to time request.


                                                                Page 1


<PAGE>

                                  HAMBRECHT & QUIST
                               INTER-OFFICE MEMORANDUM


TO:      Daniel H. Case III
FROM:    Steven N. Machtinger
SUBJECT: AGREEMENT
DATE:    June 17, 1996

According to resolutions approved by the Board of Directors on March 21, 1996,
the terms of your Agreement dated April 13, 1992 (approved by the directors on
June 22, 1992) were superseded, except for Section 5 thereof, which remains in
full force and effect.

Section 5 thereof reads in full as follows:

" TERMINATION AND CHANGE OF CONTROL PROVISIONS.  Case's employment or employment
capacity may be terminated at any time, either by H&Q or by Case himself.  If
Case's employment or employment capacity is terminated by H&Q for any reason
other than "just cause" (i.e., fraud or gross negligence as admitted by Case or
determined by a third party), then H&Q shall pay Case the greater of $400,000 or
25% of the total compensation he has received in the twenty-four month period
immediately preceding such termination or change in capacity.  If Case
voluntarily resigns, he shall not be entitled to any severance payments;
provided, however, that if he resigns within six months of a change in control
of H&Q, then he shall be paid the amount described in the preceding sentence.
In the event that (i) Case's employment or employment capacity is terminated
without just cause (as defined above) or (H) Case reigns within six months of a
change in control of H&Q, the following provisions shall apply:

    (a)
    .50% of Case's previously-granted but not yet vested options shall
immediately become vested; and

    (b)
    Case shall have two years from the date of such termination or resignation
to exercise his vested options and may exercise such vested options on a net
exercise basis (i.e., H&Q would issue to Case shares of H&Q stock having a total
net book value equal to the total spread between the exercise price and the
current net book value of the shares at the time of the exercise);

    (c)
    for a period of two years from the date of such termination or resignation,
unless and until he becomes employed by another full-service investment banking
firm, Case shall have the right to co-invest in H&Q venture capital
opportunities on the same basis as executive officers of H&Q."

<PAGE>

Please confirm where indicated below that the foregoing accurately describes
your entire agreement with Hambrecht & Quist pertaining to your employment.

                                       Accepted and agreed to:


- ---------------------------------
Steven N. Machtinger

                                       -----------------------------
                                       Daniel H. Case III
                                       Date:
                                             -----------------------

<PAGE>


                                 OPERATING AGREEMENT
                                          OF
                              HAMBRECHT & QUIST L.L.C.,
                             A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY


<PAGE>

                                 OPERATING AGREEMENT
                                          OF
                              HAMBRECHT & QUIST L.L.C.,
                             A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  -----------------
                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
ONE        FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1

           1.1  Formation; Registered Office and Registered
                Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
           1.2  Name and Principal Place of Business. . . . . . . . . . . .   1
           1.3  Term of Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
           1.4  Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
           1.5  Purpose of Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7

TWO        FINANCING OF THE COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7

           2.1  Capitalization and Issuance of Units;
                Contemplated Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
           2.2  Interest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
           2.3  Time for Return of Contributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
           2.4  Loans by the Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
           2.5  Allocation of Net Profits and Net Losses and
                Distributions of Cash Flow  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
           2.6  Tax Allocations; Code Section 704(c). . . . . . . . . . . .  10
           2.7  Overriding Allocation Provisions. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
           2.8  Saving Clause . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12

THREE      MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12

           3.1  General Powers of the Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
           3.2  Manner of Exercising Management Power . . . . . . . . . . .  12
           3.3  Liability and Indemnification of the
               Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
           3.4  Liability of the Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14

FOUR       BOOKS OF ACCOUNT, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
           AND FISCAL MATTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14

           4.1  Books of Account and Capital Accounts . . . . . . . . . . .  14
           4.2  Reports and Financial Statements. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
           4.3  Bank Accounts Funds and Assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
           4.4  Company Elections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
           4.5  Working Capital and Reserves. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
           4.6  New York Stock Exchange Approval. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
           4.7  Rule 326 Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16

SIX        RIGHT OF MEMBER TO RECEIVE PROPERTY
           OTHER THAN CASH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17

<PAGE>

                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                      (continued)


                                                                          PAGE
                                                                          ----

SEVEN      WITHDRAWAL, REMOVAL, DISSOLUTION, OR BANKRUPTCY
           OF A MEMBER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17

           7.1  Withdrawal of a Member. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
           7.2  Removal of a Member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
           7.3  Continuation of the Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
           7.4  Interest of a Member Upon Dissolution
                Withdrawal or Bankruptcy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
           7.5  Election to Continue the Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
           7.6  Definition of Bankruptcy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17

EIGHT      STOCK EXCHANGE SEATS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17

           8.1  Member Agreement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
           8.2  Compliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
           8.3  Cessation of Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
           8.4  Value of Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19

NINE       TERMINATION AND DISSOLUTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20

           9.1  Liquidation and Distribution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
           9.2  Dissolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20

TEN        NOTICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20

ELEVEN     DISPUTES AND ARBITRATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21

TWELVE     CAPTIONS - PRONOUNS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22

THIRTEEN   BINDING EFFECT AND EXHIBITS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22

FOURTEEN   AMENDMENT OF THE AGREEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22

FIFTEEN    ENTIRE AGREEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22

SIXTEEN    APPLICABLE LAW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22

SEVENTEEN  SEVERABILITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23

EIGHTEEN   LITIGATION AND TAX CONSEQUENCES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23

NINETEEN   COUNTERPARTS AND EXECUTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23

TWENTY     CONVEYANCES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23


                                          ii

<PAGE>

                                OPERATING AGREEMENT OF
                              HAMBRECHT & QUIST L.L.C.,
                             A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY



    THIS OPERATING AGREEMENT is made as of March 6, 1995, by and among
Hambrecht & Quist, L.P., a California limited partnership ("LP" or a "Member")
and Hambrecht & Quist Incorporated, a California corporation ("H&Q Inc." or a
"Member" and, collectively with LP, the "Members").


                                         ONE

                        FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

    1.1  FORMATION; REGISTERED OFFICE AND REGISTERED AGENT.  The parties hereto
have come together for the purpose, among other things, of forming Hambrecht &
Quist L.L.C. (the "Company") under the laws of the State of Delaware and
entering into this Operating Agreement to define the rights and obligations of
the Members with respect to the Company.  In order to complete the organization
of the Company, filing of the Certificate of Formation (the "Certificate") shall
be made by any person authorized by the Members pursuant to the Act.  The
Company's initial registered office within the State of Delaware shall be at the
office of its registered agent at The Prentice-Hall Corporation System, Inc., 32
Loockerman Square, Suite L-100, Dover, Delaware 19901, and the name of its
initial registered agent at such address shall be The Prentice-Hall Corporation
System, Inc. The registered office and registered agent may be changed by the
Members from time to time by filing the address of the new registered office
and/or the name of the new registered agent with the Delaware Secretary of State
pursuant to the Act.

    1.2  NAME AND PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS.  The name of the Company is
Hambrecht & Quist L.L.C., and its office and principal place of business shall
be located at One Bush Street, 18th Floor, San Francisco, California 94104 or
such other place or places as the Members may from time to time determine.

    1.3  TERM OF COMPANY.  The Company shall commence upon the filing of the
Company's Certificate with the Delaware Secretary of State and shall terminate
on the earlier of:

         (a)  September 30, 2064;

         (b)  The date on which the Company's business is wound up and all of
its property and other assets have been sold or otherwise disposed of;

<PAGE>

         (c)  The date on which the Members elect to terminate and dissolve the
Company;

         (d)  The date on which the Company is dissolved by operation of law or
judicial decree; or

         (e)  Except as otherwise provided in Article Seven, the date on which
any Member withdraws, files a certificate of dissolution, or becomes Bankrupt.

The term of this Company may be extended only by the written consent of all the
Members.

    1.4  DEFINITIONS.  The following terms used in this Agreement shall have
the following respective meanings:

         "Act" shall mean the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as it may
be amended from time-to-time.

         "Adjusted Capital Account Deficit" means, with respect to any Member,
the deficit balance, if any, in such Member's Capital Account as of the end of
the relevant Fiscal Year, after giving effect to the following adjustments;

              (a)  Credit to such Capital Account any amounts which such Member
is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of
Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5) of the Regulations; and

              (b)  Debit to such Capital Account the items described in
Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), and 1.704-
1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6) of the Regulations.

The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account Deficit is intended to
comply with the provisions of Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) of the Regulations
and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

         "Affiliate" shall mean (i) any Person directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by or under common control with another Person, (ii) any
Person owning or controlling 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities or
beneficial interests of such other Person, (iii) any officer, director, trustee,
general partner, family member, or limited liability company member, of or for
such Person (or such Person's benefit), and (iv) if such other Person is an
officer, director, trustee, member or partner of another entity, then the entity
for which that Person acts in any such capacity.

         "Bankrupt" and "Bankruptcy" shall have the meanings set forth in
Section 7.6.


                                          2

<PAGE>

         "Beneficial Owner" shall mean any direct or indirect owner of a
beneficial interest in a Member.

         "Capital Accounts" shall mean the capital accounts of the Members
maintained pursuant to Section 4.1.

         "Capital Contribution" shall mean the total actual investment and
contribution to the capital of the Company in cash and the fair market value of
other property by a Member.  Capital Contribution does not include any profits
or gains, in excess of a Member's actual contributions, that are allocated to a
Member's Capital Account.

         "Cash Flow" shall mean the excess of the net cash receipts, including
the release or reduction of any cash reserves or working capital reserves, over
the cash expenditures of the Company.

         "Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.

         "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         "Company" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.1 hereof.

         "Conversion Date" shall mean the later of (i) date on which the stock
of Concord Holding Group held by LP is exchanged for stock of BISYS Group, Inc.
or (ii) the date after the day on which H&Q Inc. is merged with and into the
Company.

         "Depreciation" shall mean, for each Fiscal Year, an amount equal to
the depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction allowable with
respect to an asset for such Fiscal Year, except that if the Gross Asset Value
of an asset differs from its adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes at
the beginning of such Fiscal Year, Depreciation shall be an amount which bears
the same ratio to such beginning Gross Asset Value as the federal income tax
depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction for such Fiscal Year
bears to such beginning adjusted tax basis; provided, however, that if the
adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes of an asset at the beginning of
such Fiscal Year is zero, Depreciation shall be determined with reference to
such beginning Gross Asset Value using any reasonable method selected by the
Members.

         "Fiscal Year" means the annual tax reporting period of the Company,
ending on September 30 of each calendar year.


                                          3

<PAGE>

         "Gross Asset Value" shall mean, with respect to any asset, the asset's
adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes, except as follows:

              (i)  The initial Gross Asset Value of any asset contributed by a
Member to the Company shall be the gross fair market value of such asset, as set
forth herein;

              (ii)  The Gross Asset Values of all Company assets shall be
adjusted to equal their respective gross fair market values, as determined by
the Members, as of the following times: (A) the acquisition of an additional
interest in the Company by any new or existing Member in exchange for more than
a DE MINIMIS Capital Contribution; (B) the distribution by the Company to a
Member of more than a DE MINIMIS amount of Company property as consideration for
an interest in the Company; and (C) the liquidation of the Company within the
meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g); provided, however, that the
adjustments pursuant to clauses (A) and (B) above shall be made only if the
Members reasonably determine that such adjustments are necessary or appropriate
to reflect the relative economic interests of the Members in the Company;

              (iii)  The Gross Asset Value of any Company asset distributed to
any Member shall be adjusted to equal the gross fair market value of such asset
on the date of distribution as determined by the Members; and

              (iv)  The Gross Asset Value of Company assets shall be increased
(or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such assets
pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b), but only to the extent
that such adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts
pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) and this Agreement;
provided, however, that Gross Asset Values shall not be adjusted pursuant to
this subsection (iv) to the extent the Members determine that an adjustment
pursuant to subsection (ii) hereof is necessary or appropriate in connection
with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this
subsection (iv).

If the Gross Asset Value of an asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to
subsection (i), (ii), or (iv) above, such Gross Asset Value shall thereafter be
adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such asset for
purposes of computing Profits and Losses.

         "Group" shall mean Hambrecht & Quist Group.

         "Member Nonrecourse Debt" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
1.704 of the Regulations.


                                          4

<PAGE>

         "Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain" means an amount, with respect
to each Member Nonrecourse Debt, equal to the Company Minimum Gain that would
result if such Member Nonrecourse Debt were treated as a Nonrecourse Liability,
determined in accordance with Section 1.704 of the Regulations.

         "Minimum Gain" shall mean that amount of gain which would be
recognized for federal income tax purposes if, as of the close of the Fiscal
Year with respect to which the calculation is being made, the Company's assets
were sold for an amount equal to the total principal amount of all nonrecourse
indebtedness of the Company then secured by such assets.  It is the intention of
the Members that the concept of Minimum Gain, as used in this Agreement, have
the same meaning as it does in Section 1.704 of the Regulations.

         "Operating Committee" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.

         "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, association, firm, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated
association or other entity, including any governmental entity.

         "Profits" and "Losses" shall mean, for each Fiscal Year, an amount
equal to the Company's taxable income or loss for such year or period,
determined in accordance with Code Section 703(a) (for this purpose, all items
of income, gain, loss, or deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to
Code Section 703(a)(1) shall be included in taxable income or loss), with the
following adjustments:

              (i)  Any income of the Company that is exempt from federal income
tax and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits and Losses shall
be added to such taxable income or loss;

              (ii)  Any expenditures of the Company described in Code Section
705(a)(2)(B) or treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures pursuant to
Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), and not otherwise taken into account
in computing Profits or Losses shall be subtracted from such taxable income or
loss;

              (iii)  In the event the Gross Asset Value of any Company asset is
adjusted pursuant to subsection (ii) or (iii) of the definition of Gross Asset
Value, the amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain or loss
from the disposition of such asset for purposes of computing Profits or Losses;


                                          5

<PAGE>

              (iv)  Gain or loss resulting from any disposition of Company
property with respect to which gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax
purposes shall be computed by reference to the Gross Asset Value of the property
disposed of, notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis of such property
differs from its Gross Asset Value;

              (v)  In lieu of the depreciation, amortization, and other cost
recovery deductions taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss,
there shall be taken into account Depreciation for such fiscal year or other
period;

              (vi)  To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of
any Company asset pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b) is
required pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) to be taken
into account in determining Capital Accounts as a result of a distribution other
than in liquidation of a Member's interest in the Company, the amount of such
adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the
basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases the basis of the asset)
from the disposition of the asset and shall be taken into account for purposes
of computing Profits or Losses;

              (vii)  Any items which are specially allocated pursuant to
Section 2.7 hereof shall not be taken into account in computing Profits or
Losses.

         "Regular Tax Payment" shall mean the product of (i) the Tax Rate
multiplied by (ii) the amount of taxable income (calculated according to federal
income tax standards and excluding any income allocated to the Member solely on
account of Section 704(c) of the Code) allocated to the Member by the Company
for a Fiscal Year.

         "Regulations" shall mean the Income Tax Regulations, including
Temporary Regulations, promulgated under the Code, as such Regulations may be
amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding
regulations).

         "Regulatory Restrictions" shall mean every rule, requirement or
restriction to which the Company is bound to adhere or by which its assets or
business is regulated, whether promulgated by a governmental authority or a
self-regulatory organization.

         "Section 704(c) Income Amount" shall mean the amount, if any, of
income allocable to a Member solely on account of Section 704(c) of the Code for
the current Fiscal Year.


                                          6

<PAGE>

         "Section 704(c) Tax Payment" shall mean the product of (i) the Section
704(c) Tax Rate multiplied by (ii) the Section 704(c) Income Amount.

         "Section 704(c) Tax Rate" shall mean the combined highest marginal
federal, state and local ordinary income and/or capital gain (as appropriate)
tax rate applicable to any Member (or, if the Member is a pass-through entity,
the Member's Beneficial Owners, as appropriate) who receives for the Fiscal Year
an allocation of income solely on account of Section 704(c) of the Code,
calculated by taking into account the deduction from federal income tax
allowable for state income tax (as if the state and local income taxes were in
all cases completely deductible at the highest marginal federal income tax
rates).

         "Stock Exchange Member" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
8.1 hereof.

         "Target Final Balances" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.8 hereof.

         "Tax Rate" shall mean the combined highest marginal federal, state and
local ordinary income and/or capital gain (as appropriate) tax rate applicable
to any Member (or, if the Member is a pass-through entity, the Member's
Beneficial Owners, as appropriate), calculated by taking into account the
deduction from federal income tax allowable for state income tax (as if the
state and local income taxes were in all cases completely deductible at the
highest marginal federal income tax rates).

         "Units" shall mean the units of interest into which ownership of the
Company is divided.

    1.5  PURPOSE OF COMPANY.  The purpose of the Company is to acquire, own,
manage and operate the business of a broker/dealer in securities and to engage
in such incidental or ancillary activities as the Members deem necessary or
advisable.


                                         TWO

                               FINANCING OF THE COMPANY

    2.1  CAPITALIZATION AND ISSUANCE OF UNITS; CONTEMPLATED MERGER.

         (a)  INITIAL CAPITALIZATION.  The parties intend that the Company be
capitalized in three distinct stages, as set forth in this subsection (a) and in
subsections (b) and (c) which follow.  As the first of such stages, and
contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement, H&Q Inc. shall
contribute Six Hundred Dollars ($600) and LP shall contribute Four Hundred


                                          7

<PAGE>

Dollars ($400) to the Company's capital.  Upon such contribution the Company
shall issue six (6) Units to H&Q Inc. and four (4) Units to LP.

         (b)  MERGER.  On April 1, 1995, or as soon thereafter as the Members
determine it is practical, H&Q Inc. shall be merged with and into the Company.
In connection with the merger, the Company shall succeed to all assets and
liabilities of H&Q Inc. and shall issue to Group, the corporate parent of H&Q
Inc., a number of Units equal to the number of shares of H&Q Inc. owned by
Group.  The Members hereby grant all necessary consents to such merger of H&Q
Inc. with and into the Company.  Upon such merger, Group shall execute a copy of
this Agreement and, upon such execution, and notwithstanding any provision of
this Agreement to the contrary, shall become a Member of the Company, shall own
the Units previously owned by H&Q Inc. and shall succeed to all rights, powers,
obligations and duties of H&Q Inc. hereunder.  Contemporaneously with the
merger, LP will contribute cash or other assets with a fair market value
sufficient to bring its Capital Account to at least the lesser of (i) one
percent (l%) of all Members' Capital Accounts or (ii) Five Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($500,000.00).

         (c)  UPON CONVERSION DATE.  When and if the Conversion Date shall
occur, LP shall, as soon as is practical, contribute all its stock in BISYS
Group, Inc. to the Company's capital.  Upon LP's contribution of the stock of
BISYS Group, Inc., LP shall be entitled to a distribution equal to any
contribution made by it pursuant to subsection (b) above.

         (d)  FINANCIAL DOCUMENTATION.  At the time any additional Capital
Contribution referred to in subsections (b) and (c) is made by the Members, the
Capital Accounts of the Members shall be revalued pursuant to Regulations
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) according to an independent appraisal commissioned
by the Members.  After such appraisal, the Members shall be issued a number of
Units sufficient to bring the number of Units owned by the Members into the same
relative proportions as their Capital Accounts.  All matters pertaining to such
appraisal shall be determined by the Members.  At the times Members make Capital
Contributions referred to in subsection (a), (b), and (c) above, the Company
shall prepare an opening balance sheet for the Company, any other financial
schedules necessary to reflect the Members' opening or revalued Capital Accounts
and any differences between the fair market value of the contributed assets and
their federal income tax bases.

    2.2  INTEREST.  No interest shall be paid by the Company to the Members on
any Capital Contribution.

    2.3  TIME FOR RETURN OF CONTRIBUTIONS.  Without the consent of all Members,
no Member shall be entitled to a return of the


                                          8

<PAGE>

Capital Contributions made by it until the full and complete winding up and
liquidation of the business and affairs of the Company.  No Member shall bring
or maintain any action for the partition of the Company.

    2.4  LOANS BY THE MEMBERS.  The Members shall not be required to make loans
to the Company.  If the Members deem it necessary or helpful to the conduct of
the Company's business, a Member may loan funds to the Company upon such terms
and conditions as may be agreed between the Members.

    2.5  ALLOCATION OF NET PROFITS AND NET LOSSES AND DISTRIBUTIONS OF CASH
FLOW.

         (a)  ALLOCATIONS.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.7 or in
Section 9.1(b), all allocations of Net Profit and Net Loss shall be made in
accordance with the respective number of Units owned by each Member, as such
numbers may exist from time to time.

         (b)  DISTRIBUTIONS.  Except as otherwise required by Section 9.1,
distributions of Cash Flow for each Fiscal Year shall be made in the following
order:

              (i)  To each Member, an amount, if any, of such Member's Section
704(c) Tax Payment;

              (ii)  To each Member, the amount, if any, of such Member's
Regular Tax Payment;

              (iii)  To each Member, an amount, if any, which when combined
together with all amounts distributed pursuant to (i) above, is sufficient to
bring the aggregate distributions under subsection (i) above and this subsection
(iii) for all Fiscal Years of the Company into the relationship of the Members'
respective number of Units owned, as it may exist from time to time; and

              (iv)  To the Members, in accordance with the respective number of
Units owned by each.

         (c)  SPECIAL DISTRIBUTIONS.  If at any time or from time to time any
Member requires funds to redeem or liquidate all or any portion of one or more
Beneficial Owner's interest in such Member, such Member shall inform the Member
in writing of its requirement for funds and of the amount of such requirement
and the Member shall distribute such amount to such Member; provided, however,
that no distribution which would violate or would cause the Company to violate
any Regulatory Restrictions shall be made.

         (d)  COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATORY RESTRICTIONS.  Notwithstanding any
provision of this Agreement to the contrary,


                                          9

<PAGE>

no distribution of Cash Flow shall be made if such distribution would violate,
or would cause the Company to violate, any Regulatory Restriction.

    2.6  TAX ALLOCATIONS; CODE SECTION 704(C).  In accordance with Code Section
704(c) and the Regulations thereunder, income, gain, loss and deduction with
respect to any property contributed to the capital of the Company shall, solely
for tax purposes, be allocated among the Members so as to take account of any
variation between the adjusted basis of such property to the Company for federal
income tax purposes and its initial Gross Asset Value.  In the event the Gross
Asset Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to subsection (ii) of the
definition of Gross Asset Value, subsequent allocations of income, gain, loss
and deduction with respect to such asset shall take account of any variation
between the adjusted basis of such asset for federal income tax purposes and its
Gross Asset Value in the same manner as under Code Section 704(c) and the
Regulations thereunder.  Any elections or other decisions relating to such
allocations shall be made by the Members in any manner that reasonably reflects
the purpose and intention of this Agreement.  Allocations pursuant to this
Section 2.6 are solely for purposes of federal, state, and local taxes and shall
not affect, or in any way be taken into account in computing, any Member's
Capital Account or share of Profits, Losses, other items, or distributions
pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.

    2.7  OVERRIDING ALLOCATION PROVISIONS.  Notwithstanding anything contained
herein to the contrary, the following allocations shall be made in the order set
forth below:

         (a)  MINIMUM GAIN CHARGEBACK.  Except as otherwise provided in Section
1.704 of the Regulations, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
if there is a net decrease in Company Minimum Gain during any Fiscal Year, the
Members shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain for such
Fiscal Year (and, if necessary, subsequent Fiscal Years) in an amount equal to
such Member's share of the net decrease in Company Minimum Gain, determined in
accordance with Section 1.704 of the Regulations.  Allocations pursuant to the
previous sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required
to be allocated to each Member pursuant thereto.  The items to be so allocated
shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.704 of the Regulations.  This
Subsection 2.7(a) is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback
requirement in Section 1.704 of the Regulations and shall be interpreted
consistently therewith.

         (b)  MEMBER MINIMUM GAIN CHARGEBACK.  Except as otherwise provided in
Section 1.704 of the Regulations, if there is a net decrease in Member
Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to a Member Nonrecourse Debt during
any Company


                                          10

<PAGE>

Fiscal Year, each Member who has a share of the Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum
Gain attributable to such Member Nonrecourse Debt, determined in accordance with
Section 1.704 of the Regulations, shall be specially allocated items of Company
income and gain for such Fiscal Year (and, if necessary, subsequent Fiscal
Years) in an amount equal to such Member's share of the net decrease in Member
Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to such Member Nonrecourse Debt,
determined in accordance with Section 1.704 of the Regulations.  Allocations
pursuant to the previous sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective
amounts required to be allocated to each Member pursuant thereto.  The items to
be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.704 of the
Regulations.  This Subsection 2.7(b) is intended to comply with the minimum gain
chargeback requirement in Section 1.704 of the Regulations and shall be
interpreted consistently therewith.

         (c)  QUALIFIED INCOME OFFSET. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Agreement, in the event any Member unexpectedly receives any adjustments,
allocations, or distributions described in Section 1.704-1 of the Regulations,
items of Company income and gain shall be specially allocated to each such
Member in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required
by the Regulations, the Adjusted Capital Account Deficit of such Member as
quickly as possible, provided that an allocation pursuant to this Subsection
2.7(c) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Member would have an
Adjusted Capital Account Deficit after all other allocations provided for this
Section 2.7 have been tentatively made as if this Subsection 2.7(c) were not in
this Agreement.  This qualified income offset is intended to comply with
Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted
consistently therewith.

         (d)  NET LOSS LIMITATION.  No Member shall be allocated Net Losses to
the extent that the allocation would cause the Member to have an Adjusted
Capital Account Deficit.

         (c)  INCOME AND DEDUCTIONS ATTRIBUTABLE TO DEBT AS TO WHICH A MEMBER
OR RELATED PARTY BEARS A RISK OF LOSS.  If a Member (or any person related to
such Member pursuant to Section 1.752-4(b) of the Regulations) bears the
economic risk of loss with respect to any debt of the Company, income and
deductions attributable to such debt for any taxable period shall be allocated
to such Member on a basis consistent with the Code and the Regulations.

         (d)  SECTION 754 ADJUSTMENTS.  To the extent an adjustment to the
adjusted tax basis of any Company asset is required by the Company's election
under Section 754 of the Code, such adjustment shall be made pursuant to all
applicable Treasury Regulations.


                                          11


<PAGE>

    2.8  SAVING CLAUSE. The tax allocation provisions of this Agreement are
intended to produce final Capital Account balances that are at levels ("Target
Final Balances") which permit liquidating distributions that are made in
accordance with such final Capital Account balances to be equal to the
distributions that would occur under Section 2.5 if said liquidating proceeds
were distributed pursuant to said Section 2.5. To the extent that the tax
allocation provisions of this Agreement would not produce the Target Final
Balances, the Members agree that they shall take such actions as are necessary
to amend such provisions to produce such Target Final Balances.  By means of
such amendments, allocations of income and deductions shall be made
prospectively as necessary to provide such Target Final Balances (and, to the
extent allowable such prospective allocations would not reach such result, the
prior tax returns of the Company shall be amended to reallocate Company income
and deductions to produce such Target Final Balances).


                                        THREE

                              MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

    3.1  GENERAL POWERS OF THE MEMBERS.  The Company shall be a member managed
limited liability company.  Subject to the terms and conditions contained
herein, Members shall possess, enjoy and may exercise all of the rights and
powers of a member in a member managed limited liability company as more
particularly provided from time to time by the Act.

    3.2  MANNER OF EXERCISING MANAGEMENT POWER.  Through an Operating Committee
composed of at least three individuals to be appointed by agreement of all the
Members, officers of the Company elected by the Operating Committee shall have
power and control over the day-to-day management of the business of the Company
and, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement or by the
Members, all day-to-day management matters in connection with the Company shall
be decided by the Operating Committee or its designated officers.  Powers,
duties or decisions allocated to the Members hereunder shall, unless otherwise
determined by the Members, be exercised by the Operating Committee or its
designated officers.  Members of the Operating Committee shall serve at the
pleasure of the Members and may be dismissed by either Member with or without
cause at any time or from time to time.  In addition to the Operating
Committee's authority, each Member shall independently have full power and
authority to make management decisions in the ordinary course of the Company's
business; decisions not in the ordinary course of the Company's business shall
be made by the Operating Committee or both Members acting together.  Management
power shall not be divided between the Members based on their relative


                                          12

<PAGE>

number of Units or Capital Accounts or on any other similar basis. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Members acting directly or through
the Operating Committee and officers shall have the power and authority on
behalf of the Company to:

         (a)  Employ such persons, firms or corporations as, in their absolute
discretion and judgment, they shall deem advisable for the proper operation and
management of the Company, including corporate affiliates or persons affiliated
with a Member, such employment to be undertaken upon such terms and for such
compensation as are reasonable and customary in the industry;

         (b)  Acquire, own, manage and operate the business of the Company;

         (c)  Invest Company funds in interest-bearing accounts, commercial
paper, government securities, certificates of deposit or similar investments;

         (d)  Determine the amount and timing of any distribution of cash or
other property; provided, however, that the Members shall be required annually
to distribute sufficient Cash Flow to equal the amounts referred to in Section
2.5(b)(i), (ii) and (iii) unless and to the extent that, such distribution would
violate, or cause the Company to violate, any Regulatory Restriction; and

         (e)  Execute promissory notes and all other documents, agreements, or
certifications.

    In addition, H&Q Inc. (and after H&Q Inc.'s merger with and into the
Company Group) shall exercise all rights and powers permitted to the "tax
matters partner" within the meaning of Section 6230(a)(7) of the Code.

    3.3  LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION OF THE MEMBERS.  Except in the case of
willful misconduct, neither the Member nor any member of the Operating Committee
shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to the
Company or any of the Members for any acts or omissions performed or omitted by
any of them which may cause or result in loss or damage to the Company or any
Member.

    The Members and the members of the Operating Committee, whether or not
serving in such capacity, shall be indemnified by the Company against all
liabilities, costs and expenses reasonably incurred by or imposed upon any such
Person in connection with or arising out of any action, suit or proceeding in
which any of them may be involved or to which they may be made parties by reason
of their being or having been a Member or a member of the Operating Committee,
except in the case where such


                                          13

<PAGE>

person is guilty of willful misconduct.  The indemnification authorized by this
Section 3.3 shall include the payment of reasonable attorneys, fees and other
expenses (not limited to taxable costs) incurred in settling or defending any
claims or threatened action, including any disputes with the Internal Revenue
Service or other taxing authorities, or finally adjudicated legal proceedings.
The Members shall have the power to advance such fees and expenses to any person
claiming indemnity hereunder upon the written agreement of such person to repay
all such amounts if such person is ultimately determined not to be entitled to
indemnification under this Section 3.3. The Members shall have the power, but
not the obligation, to exculpate, hold harmless, and indemnify any other agent,
partner or employee of the Company or of a Member on the same basis as set forth
in this Section 3.3.

    3.4  LIABILITY OF THE MEMBERS. The liability of the Members shall be
limited to their Capital Contributions and the Members shall not have any other
liability to contribute money to or in respect of the liabilities or obligations
of the Company, nor shall any Member be personally liable for any debt,
obligation or liability of the Company.


                                         FOUR

                                  BOOKS OF ACCOUNT,
                       FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FISCAL MATTERS

    4.1  BOOKS OF ACCOUNT AND CAPITAL ACCOUNTS.  The Members shall keep
adequate books of account and records of the Company wherein shall be recorded
and reflected all of the contributions to the capital of the Company and all of
the expenses and transactions of the Company.  Such books of account and records
shall include the following:

         (a)  A current list of the full name and last known address of each
Member set forth in alphabetical order together with the contribution and the
share in profits and losses of each Member;

         (b)  A copy of the Certificate and all certificates of amendment,
together with executed copies of any powers of attorney pursuant to which any
certificate has been executed;

         (c)  Copies of the Company's federal, state and local income tax or
information returns and reports;

         (d)  Copies of the original of this Agreement and all amendments;

         (e)  Financial statements of the Company; and


                                          14

<PAGE>

         (f)  The Company's books and records for at least the current and
immediately prior five (5) fiscal years.

Such books of account shall be kept at the principal place of business of the
Company, and each Member and its authorized representative shall have at all
times, during reasonable business hours, free access to and the right to inspect
and copy such books of account and records.  The Members shall keep the
Company's books and records on the accrual method of accounting for income tax
purposes.  The Company's financial reporting accounting year and tax reporting
year shall be the annual period ending September 30 of each year.

    A separate Capital Account shall be maintained for each Member in
accordance with Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) of the Treasury Regulations.  Except
as otherwise provided in Section 2.1, the Members shall have the power, but not
the obligation, to restate the Members' Capital Accounts in the manner and upon
an event specified in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(iv)(f).

    4.2  REPORTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.  The Members shall provide each
Member with the following reports and financial statements:

         (a)  REPORTS.  Within ninety (90) days after the end of, each Fiscal
Year, (i) a balance sheet as of the end of such Fiscal Year together with
statements of income and of changes in financial position for such year, a
statement of Cash Flow distributions and each Member's Capital Account balance
together with an auditor's report prepared by the Company's independent public
accountants, and (ii) a report of the activities of the Company for such year.

         (b)  TAX INFORMATION.  By January 31 of each year, all information 
regarding the Company necessary for the preparation of the Members' federal, 
state and local income tax returns.

    4.3  BANK ACCOUNTS FUNDS AND ASSETS.  The funds of the Company shall be
deposited in its name in such bank or banks as the members shall deem
appropriate.  Such funds shall be withdrawn only by the Company or its duly
authorized agents.

    4.4  COMPANY ELECTIONS.  Upon the transfer of an interest in the Company
(including a purchase of such interest by the Company) or the distribution of an
asset of the Company to a Member, the Company shall elect, pursuant to Section
754 of the Code, to adjust the basis of Company property as allowed by Sections
734(b) and 743(b) thereof.  The election will be filed with the Company
information income tax return for the first taxable year to which the election
applies.  In addition to the


                                          15

<PAGE>

above, the Members may make any other tax elections (federal or state) which
they deem appropriate.

    4.5  WORKING CAPITAL AND RESERVES.  The Members shall cause the Company to
maintain working capital and reasonable reserves in such amounts as they, in
their absolute discretion, deem appropriate.

    4.6  NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE APPROVAL.  Notwithstanding any provision of
this Agreement to the contrary, without the prior approval of the New York Stock
Exchange, the capital contribution of any Member may not be withdrawn on less
than six months, written notice of withdrawal given no sooner than six months
after such contribution was first made.  No withdrawal of capital may be made by
any Member to the extent such withdrawal of capital would cause the Company to
be in violation of any applicable Rule of the New York Stock Exchange, or of any
other exchange of which the Company may be a member, or of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, respecting net capital, including without limitation Rule
325 or successor thereto of the New York Stock Exchange and Rule l5c3-1(e) or
successor thereto under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

    4.7  RULE 326 COMPLIANCE.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein
contained, in the event of the termination of the Company on the expiration of
the term of this Agreement, or any extension or renewal thereof, each Member
agrees that withdrawal, of capital on any such termination which would cause the
Company's aggregate indebtedness to exceed the percentages specified in Rules
326(a) and 326(b) of the Rules of the Board of Directors of the New York Stock
Exchange, Inc. during the six months immediately preceding the date of the
termination, may be postponed for a period of up to six (6) months of the stated
date of termination, as the Members may deem necessary to ensure compliance with
said rules; and any such capital so retained by the Company after the date of
termination shall continue to be subject to all debts and obligations of the
Company.


                                         FIVE

                                  SALES, TRANSFER OR
                           ASSIGNMENT OF MEMBER'S INTERESTS

         Except as otherwise specifically provided in Section 2.1 hereof, no
Member shall have the right or power to sell, exchange, transfer, or assign by
operation of law or otherwise all or any portion of its interest in the Company
to any Person other than the other Member.  Any attempted transfer in violation
of this Article V shall be void ab initio.


                                          16

<PAGE>

                                         SIX

                                  RIGHT OF MEMBER TO
                           RECEIVE PROPERTY OTHER THAN CASH

         No right is given to either Member to demand and receive property
other than cash in return for its Capital Contribution.  Members may, however,
in their absolute discretion, make a distribution of property other than cash to
any or all of the Members.


                                        SEVEN

                          WITHDRAWAL, REMOVAL, DISSOLUTION,
                              OR BANKRUPTCY OF A MEMBER

    7.1  WITHDRAWAL OF A MEMBER.  A Member shall have the unilateral right to
withdraw from the Company at any time upon thirty (30) days written notice to
the other Member.

    7.2  REMOVAL OF A MEMBER.  The Members shall have no right to remove a
Member.

    7.3  CONTINUATION OF THE COMPANY.  Upon the withdrawal, dissolution or
Bankruptcy of a Member, the Company shall terminate and be liquidated pursuant
to the provisions of Article Nine, unless, within thirty (30) days of such
event, the Members elect to continue the Company in accordance with Section 7.5.

    7.4  INTEREST OF A MEMBER UPON DISSOLUTION WITHDRAWAL OR BANKRUPTCY.  In
the event of a Member's dissolution or withdrawal of a Member under Section 7.1
or in the event a Member shall be Bankrupt, the Member's interest in the Company
shall be converted into that of a Member with no rights regarding management of
the Company.

    7.5  ELECTION TO CONTINUE THE COMPANY.  Upon the withdrawal or bankruptcy
of a Member, the Company may be continued upon the consent of not less than a
majority in interest of the remaining Members.

    7.6  DEFINITION OF BANKRUPTCY.  For the purpose of this Article Seven, a
Member of the Company shall be deemed to be bankrupt if such Member is a debtor
under Chapter 7 of the federal bankruptcy law.


                                          17

<PAGE>

                                        EIGHT

                                 STOCK EXCHANGE SEATS

    8.1  MEMBER AGREEMENT.  The Company will enter an agreement with each
partner or employee of the Company or a Member who now or hereafter holds a
membership in any stock exchange (the "Stock Exchange Member") to the effect
that such Stock Exchange Member agrees, for himself or herself and his or her
heirs and personal representatives in respect to each said membership, that to
the extent permitted by the constitution, by-laws, and rules of the exchange
concerned, said membership and the proceeds thereof shall be assets of the
Company.  Said agreement shall include language substantially in the form set
forth in Section 8.3 below (reference to the New York Stock Exchange in Section
8.3 shall be deemed to then apply to any other applicable exchange when the
membership is of another exchange, if such agreement is required by such other
exchange, and the language may be modified to comply with the requirements of
that exchange).

    8.2  COMPLIANCE.  All business of the Company governed by the by-laws,
rules, and regulations of any stock exchange shall be conducted strictly in
accordance therewith.

    8.3  CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP.  The Agreement with the Stock Exchange Member
also will provide:

         (a) In the event the Company ceases to be a member firm of the New
York Stock Exchange, or

         (b)  Upon receipt by a Stock Exchange Member of the New York Stock
Exchange, or his or her personal representative, of written notice that the
Company will, on a stated date, cease to be a member firm of the New York Stock
Exchange, or

         (c) In the event of the dissolution of the Company, or

         (d)  Upon the effectiveness of notice of withdrawal of the Stock
Exchange Member from the Company if the Stock Exchange Member is a Member, or


         (e)  Upon resignation of the Stock Exchange Member as an employee of
the Company or withdrawal as limited partner of a Member,

              (i)  The Stock Exchange Member or his or her personal
representative shall have the unqualified right, during a period of thirty (30)
days thereafter (except that in the case of the death or incapacity of the Stock
Exchange Member, such thirty (30) day period shall be deemed to expire ten (10)
days after the appointment of his or her personal representative) to


                                          18

<PAGE>

elect, by giving written notice thereof to the Company, to retain said
membership in the New York Stock Exchange upon payment to the Company of the
amount necessary to purchase another membership, together with such transfer and
other fees as may then be required by the New York Stock Exchange to be paid in
connection with the purchase of a membership.  Within forty-five (45) days of
the date the Company receives notice in writing that the Stock Exchange Member,
or his or her personal representative, elects not to retain such membership, or
upon the expiration of the Stock Exchange Member's thirty (30) day option period
without such notice of election to retain or notice of election not to retain
having been given to the Company, the Company shall have the absolute right to
order the Stock Exchange Member, or his or her personal representative to:

                   (1)  sell said membership and pay the proceeds over to the
Company, or

                   (2)  transfer said membership for a nominal consideration to
a person designated by the Company and satisfactory to the Board of Governors of
the New York Stock Exchange.

    If the Company fails to elect options (1) or (2) hereinabove within the
forty-five (45) day period, the Stock Exchange Member or his or her legal
representative shall sell the membership with the proceeds paid over to the
Company.

    Any controversies arising in connection with this Article Eight shall be
arbitrated in accordance with Article XI of the New York Stock Exchange
Constitution.

    8.4  VALUE OF MEMBERSHIP.  The Agreement with the Stock Exchange Member
will also provide that the value of exchange memberships shall be based on the
price of the last consummated sale of an equivalent exchange membership during
the ninety (90) days preceding the triggering events set forth in Section 8.3
hereinabove.  In the event that there is no sale during such period, the average
between the last recorded bid and asked price thereof before the end of the
period shall be deemed the price of the last consummated sale during the period.


                                         NINE

                             TERMINATION AND DISSOLUTION

    9.1  LIQUIDATION AND DISTRIBUTION.

         (a)  Upon the termination of the Company in accordance with Section
1.3, the Members or, if there is no Member a special liquidator appointed by any
court or competent jurisdiction, as



                                          19

<PAGE>

the case may be, shall cause the assets of the Company to be liquidated, but in
an orderly and businesslike manner so as not no involve undue sacrifice.

         (b)  The Members or liquidator shall apply the proceeds from the sale,
exchange or other disposition of Company assets first to satisfy all Company
liabilities other than those owed to Members, then to satisfy all Company
liabilities to Members, and finally, to the Members in accordance with the
respective positive Capital Account balances of each.  The Members or liquidator
shall distribute any assets that they, in their absolute discretion, determine
to distribute, in kind as if sold for fair market value.

    9.2  DISSOLUTION.  Following the distribution of Company assets pursuant to
Section 9.1, the Members or liquidator of the Company, as the case may be, shall
cause the Company to file a certificate of cancellation.



                                         TEN

                                       NOTICES

    All notices, requests and other communications provided for herein shall be
in writing and, unless otherwise specified, shall be forwarded by registered or
certified mail, postage and charges prepaid, hand delivery, overnight delivery
service, or facsimile transmission addressed as follows:

    If to a Member, to the addresses specified in Exhibit A until the Company
has received written notice of any change in such address.

    With a copy to:

         Richard L. Greene, Esq.
         Greene, Radovsky, Maloney & Share
         Spear Street Tower, Suite 4200
         One Market
         San Francisco, CA 94105
         Facsimile: (510) 777-4961

Any such notice shall be conclusively deemed to be received as of the date so
delivered, if delivered personally or via facsimile, or if delivered by mail,
three business days after the notice is deposited in the United States mail.


                                          20

<PAGE>

                                        ELEVEN

                               DISPUTES AND ARBITRATION

    Any dispute or controversy arising under, out of, or in connection with or
in relation to this Agreement, and any amendments hereof, or the breach thereof,
or in connection with the dissolution of the Company, shall be determined and
settled by a single arbitrator in an arbitration to be held in San Francisco,
California, in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules then effective
of the American Arbitration Association and the Members hereby waive any right
to litigate any such dispute or controversy.  In rendering a decision, the
arbitrator shall determine the rights and obligations of the parties according
to the substantive and procedural laws of California, Delaware, and/or the
United States, as appropriate, and the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
The arbitrator's award shall be based on the evidence introduced at the hearing,
including all logical or reasonable inferences therefrom.  The arbitrator may
make any determination, and/or grant any remedy or relief that is just and
equitable; provided, however, in no event may the arbitrator award punitive
damages.  The award must be based on, and accompanied by, a written statement of
decision explaining the factual and legal basis for the award as to each of the
principal controverted issues.  The award shall be conclusive and binding and
may thereafter be confirmed as a judgment by the Superior Court of the State of
California, subject to challenge on (i) the grounds set forth in California Code
of Civil Procedure Section 1286.2, or (ii) based on the arbitrator's incorrect
application of the substantive law of California, Delaware, and/or the United
States as appropriate.


                                        TWELVE

                                 CAPTIONS - PRONOUNS

    Any titles or captions of Articles contained in this Agreement are for
convenience only and shall not be deemed part of the text of this Agreement.
All pronouns and any variations thereof shall be deemed to refer to the
masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural, as the identification of the
person or persons, firm or firms, corporation or corporations may require.


                                       THIRTEEN

                             BINDING EFFECT AND EXHIBITS

    Except as otherwise herein provided, this Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto,


                                          21

<PAGE>

their heirs, executors, administrators, successors and all persons hereafter
having or holding an interest in this Company, whether as assignees, substituted
limited partners, or otherwise.  All exhibits hereto are by this reference
incorporated herein.


                                       FOURTEEN

                              AMENDMENT OF THE AGREEMENT

    Except as provided in this Article Fourteen, this Agreement may be amended
by the consent of the Members.


                                       FIFTEEN

                                   ENTIRE AGREEMENT

    This Agreement contains the entire understanding and agreement among the
parties hereto respecting the within subject matter and there are no
representations, agreements, arrangements or understandings, oral or written,
among the parties hereto relating to the subject matter of this Agreement which
are not fully expressed herein.


                                       SIXTEEN

                                    APPLICABLE LAW

    This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of Delaware and, unless expressly or by necessary implication
contravened by any provision hereof, the provisions of the Act shall apply.

                                      SEVENTEEN

                                     SEVERABILITY

    If any term or provision of this Agreement or the performance thereof shall
to any extent be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability
shall not affect or render invalid or unenforceable any other provision of this
Agreement, and this Agreement shall be valid and enforced to the fullest extent
permitted by law.


                                          22

<PAGE>

                                       EIGHTEEN

                           LITIGATION AND TAX CONSEQUENCES

    The Members shall prosecute and defend such actions at law or in equity as
may be necessary to enforce or protect the interests of the Company.  The
Company shall respond to any final decree or decision first out of any insurance
proceeds available therefor and next out of the assets of the Company.  Should
there be any controversy with the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing
authority involving the Company or one or more Members, the outcome of which may
adversely affect the Company, either directly or indirectly, the Company may
incur expenses as the Members deem necessary and advisable in the interest of
the Company to oppose such proposed deficiency, including, without being limited
thereto, attorneys' and accounting fees.


                                       NINETEEN

                              COUNTERPARTS AND EXECUTION

    This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original agreement, and all of which shall constitute one
agreement, by each of the parties hereto on the dates respectively indicated in
the signatures of the parties, notwithstanding that all of the parties are not
signatories to the original or the same counterpart, to be effective as of the
day and year first set forth above.


                                          23

<PAGE>

                                        TWENTY

                                     CONVEYANCES

    Any contract of the Company or any deed, bill of sale, mortgage, lease,
contract of sale, or other commitment of the Company purporting to convey or
encumber the interest of the Company in all or in any portion of any real or
personal property at any time held in its name may be signed by either Member,
acting alone on behalf of the Company, and no other signature shall be required.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this document
effective as of the day and year first set forth above.

                             MEMBER:
                             -------


                                  HAMBRECHT & QUIST, L.P.

                                  By:  Hambrecht & Quist Group
                                  Its: General Partner



                                       By: /s/ [Signature Unreadable]
                                          -------------------------------------

                                       Title:      CFO
                                             ----------------------------------


                             MEMBER:
                             -------

                                  HAMBRECHT & QUIST INCORPORATED

                                  By: /s/ [Signature Unreadable]
                                     ------------------------------------------

                                  Title:   SVP & Secretary
                                        ---------------------------------------


                                          24

<PAGE>

                                      EXHIBIT A
                                      ---------



NAMES AND ADDRESSES
- -------------------

Hambrecht & Quist, L.P.
One Bush Street, 18th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104
Fax:

Hambrecht & Quist Incorporated
One Bush Street, 18th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104
Fax:


                                          25


<PAGE>


                                  HAMBRECHT & QUIST
                             EXECUTIVE OFFICER BONUS PLAN
                       (As adopted and effective July 19, 1996)

1.  PURPOSE
    -------

    The purpose of this Plan is to attract, retain,  motivate and reward highly
qualified employees who are important to the Company's success and to provide
incentives relating directly to the financial performance and long-term growth
of the Company.

2.  COVERED INDIVIDUALS
    -------------------

    The individuals entitled to bonus payments hereunder shall include the
executive offices of the Company, as determined by the Committee.

3 . THE COMMITTEE
    -------------

    The Committee shall consist of at least two outside directors of the
Company. The initial members of the Committee are William E. Mayer, Chairman,
Lawrence J. Stupski and Edmund H. Shea, Jr. The Committee shall have the sole
discretion and authority to administer and interpret the Plan

4.  AMOUNT OF BONUS
    ---------------

    Annual or semi-annual bonus payments are made in cash and/or common stock
of the Company, as determined by the Committee.  In general any stock grants
hereunder will be subject to vesting over a three-year period.  Promptly after
the beginning of the fiscal year, the Committee will establish the financial
performance criteria for the fiscal year determine the executives eligible to
participate, determine executive allocations for the fiscal year, and the
frequency in which the executive bonuses will be paid when attained. The
criteria established by the Committee will include a consolidated after-tax net
profits target of the Company, or such other criteria that the Committee may
agree upon.

5.  PAYMENT OF BONUS
    ----------------

    The payment of a given period's bonus will require that lie executive
officer be on the Company's payroll as of March 31st and September 30th of the
applicable bonus period.  The Committee may make exceptions to this requirement
in the case of retirement, death or disability, as determined by the Committee
in Is sole discretion.  No bonus shall be paid unless and until the Committee
determines that the performance goals of Ns Plan are satisfied.

<PAGE>

6.  NONASSIGNABILITY
    ----------------

    No Bonus or any other benefit under the Plan shall be assignable or
tranferable by the participant during the participants lifetime.

7.  NO RIGHT TO CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT
    --------------------------------

    Nothing in this Plan shall confer upon any employee any right to continue
in the employ of the Company or shall interfere with or restrict in anyway the
right of the Company to discharge an employee

<PAGE>

at any time for any reason whatsoever,  with or without good cause.

8.  AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
    -------------------------

    The company reserves the right to amend this Plan at any time with respect
to future services of covered individuals.  Plan amendments will require
stockholder approval only to the extent required by applicable law.

<PAGE>


                                   MASTER AGREEMENT

    MASTER AGREEMENT made as of December 23, 1991, by and among WERTHEIM
SCHRODER & CO.  INCORPORATED, a Delaware corporation ("Wertheim Schroder"),
HAMBRECHT & QUIST INCORPORATED, a California corporation ("Hambrecht"), WSCI
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a Delaware limited partnership ("WSCI"), and LEWCO
SECURITIES CORP., a Delaware corporation ("Lewco").

                                 W I T N E S S E T H:

    WHEREAS, Wertheim Schroder and Hambrecht are registered broker-dealers
engaged in the securities brokerage and related business;

    WHEREAS, WSCI is registered as a broker-dealer with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and has applied for membership in the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc.; and

    WHEREAS, Lewco is a registered broker-dealer engaged in the business of
clearing securities transactions for its owners, Wertheim Schroder and
Hambrecht; and

    WHEREAS, Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht, Moseley Securities Corp., a Delaware
corporation ("Moseley"), and Lewco were parties to a Clearing and Other Services
Agreement (the "Clearing Agreement") dated October 3, 1986, and a Master
Agreement (the "Original Agreement") dated October 3, 1986;

    WHEREAS, pursuant to the Clearing Agreement, Lewco acts as clearing agent
and performs other services for Wertheim Schroder and Hambrecht upon the terms
and

<PAGE>

conditions provided for therein, Moseley having terminated its clearing
arrangements with Lewco and sold all the shares of capital stock of Lewco which
it owned to Lewco pursuant to an Agreement dated March 4, 1988, by and among
Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht, Lewco and Moseley; and

    WHEREAS, Wertheim Schroder desires to increase its ownership interest in
Lewco by purchasing 768 shares of Non-Voting Common Stock, par value $1.00 per
share ("Non-Voting Common Stock"), of Lewco and Wertheim Schroder desires to
lend $2,800,000 to Lewco and Lewco desires to borrow $2,800,000 from Wertheim
Schroder; and

    WHEREAS, Hambrecht desires to reduce its ownership interest in Lewco by
selling 600 shares of Non-Voting Common Stock of Lewco to Lewco and Hambrecht
desires to lend $600,000 to Lewco and Lewco desires to borrow such sum from
Hambrecht; and

    WHEREAS, WSCI desires to acquire an interest in Lewco and have Lewco clear
certain of its securities transactions and to perform certain other related
services for WSCI; and

    WHEREAS, Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht, WSCI and Lewco desire to enter into
a new clearing agreement to provide for the participation of WSCI therein; and

    WHEREAS, Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht, WSCI and Lewco wish to enter into
this Agreement to implement the aforesaid transactions, to provide the general
framework for clearance operations, to contain certain undertakings and
covenants with respect thereto, and to have as exhibits the forms of various
agreements to implement such mutual clearance operations:


                                         -2-

<PAGE>

    NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants of the
parties herein contained, it is agreed as follows:

         1.   DEFINITIONS.

         a.   NET BOOK VALUE.  Net Book Value of shares of capital stock of
Lewco shall be determined as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation of
Lewco.
         b.   VALUATION DATE.  For purposes of this Agreement, the term
Valuation Date shall mean the close of business on November 30, 1991.

    2.   PURCHASE OF SHARES AND LOAN BY WERTHEIM SCHRODER.

         a.   On the date hereof or as soon thereafter as the requirements
specified in Section 14. hereof are met (the "Closing Date"), Wertheim Schroder
agrees to purchase, and Lewco agrees to sell, 768 shares of Non-Voting Common
Stock, at a purchase price equal to the greater of $1.00 per share or the Net
Book Value thereof, on the Valuation Date.  The purchase price of such shares
shall be payable in cash to Lewco on the Closing Date.  Upon payment in full of
such purchase price, Lewco shall issue a certificate or certificates to Wertheim
Schroder representing 768 shares of Non-Voting Common Stock and such shares
shall be duly and validly authorized and issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
Wertheim Schroder agrees that it will execute an amendment to the Pledge
Agreement dated December 22, 1987 (the "Pledge Agreement"), by and among
Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht, Moseley and Lewco to the effect that such shares
shall be subject to the Pledge Agreement.

         b.   On the Closing Date, Wertheim Schroder shall lend $2,800,000 in
cash to Lewco pursuant to the terms and conditions of a Cash Subordination
Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.


                                         -3-

<PAGE>

    3.   SALE OF SHARES BY HAMBRECHT.  Hambrecht shall sell to Lewco on the
Closing Date 600 shares of Non-Voting Common Stock for an aggregate purchase
price (the "Purchase Price") equal to the Net Book Value of such shares on the
Valuation Date.  The Purchase Price shall be payable by delivery of a Cash
Subordination Agreement on the Closing Date to Hambrecht, substantially in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit B, in principal amount of $600,000; provided
that in the event (i) the Purchase Price is less than $600,000, Hambrecht shall
remit the difference between $600,000 and the Purchase Price to Lewco by check,
subject to collection, on or prior to the Closing Date (ii) the Purchase Price
is greater than $600,000, Lewco shall remit the difference between the Purchase
Price and $600,000 to Hambrecht by check, subject to collection, on or prior to
the Closing Date.  On the Closing Date, Hambrecht shall deliver to Lewco
certificates representing the shares of Lewco sold by it pursuant to this
Agreement along with duly executed stock powers endorsed in blank.

    4.   PURCHASE OF SHARES BY WSCI.  On the Closing Date, WSCI agrees to
purchase and Lewco agrees to sell, 10 shares of Voting Common Stock, par value
$1.00 per share ("Voting Common Stock"), of Lewco, at a purchase price equal to
the greater of $1.00 per share or the Net Book Value thereof, on the Valuation
Date.  The purchase price of such shares shall be payable in cash to Lewco on
the Closing Date.  Upon payment in full of such purchase price, Lewco shall
issue a certificate or certificates to WSCI representing 10 shares of Voting
Common Stock and such shares shall be duly and validly authorized and issued,
fully paid and non-assessable.  WSCI agrees that it will execute an amendment to
the Pledge Agreement to the effect that such shares shall be subject to the
Pledge Agreement.


                                         -4-

<PAGE>

    5.   LEWCO'S QUALIFICATION AS A BROKER-DEALER; EXCHANGE MEMBERSHIP.

         (a)  Lewco represents that it:

              (i)  is registered as a broker-dealer with the Securities and
         Exchange Commission and is duly licensed and in good standing as a
         broker-dealer under all applicable laws and regulations; and

              (ii) is a member of the National Association of Securities
         Dealers, Inc., the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock
         Exchange, Inc., such other exchanges as are listed on Schedule I
         hereto and agrees to become a member of such other securities
         exchanges as the parties to this Agreement may, from time to time,
         agree in order to carry out the transactions contemplated in the
         Clearing Agreement described in Section 8 hereof;

              (iii) is a member of National Securities Clearing Corporation,
         and agrees to become a member of such other clearing entities and
         depositories as the parties to this Agreement may, from time to time,
         agree in order to carry out the transactions contemplated in the
         Clearing Agreement described in Section 8 hereof; and

              (iv) is in compliance, with (A) the capital and financial
         reporting requirements of every securities exchange or association of
         which it is a member, (B) the capital requirements of the Securities
         and Exchange Commission, and (C) the capital


                                         -5-

<PAGE>

         requirements of every state in which it is licensed as a brokerdealer.

         (b)  The parties to this Agreement agree that Lewco shall pay, in
addition to annual dues and other annual charges and fees, special or
extraordinary dues, assessments, charges or other fees imposed on Lewco by any
securities exchange of which Lewco is a member; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if
Wertheim Schroder or Hambrecht (and not the other) is a member of a securities
exchange ("Member") and Lewco has become a member of such exchange at the
request of the Member, any such special or extraordinary dues, assessments,
charges or fees shall be reimbursed to Lewco by the Member requesting the
membership in such exchange.

    6.   NON-COMPETITION WITH LEWCO.

         During the term of the Clearing Agreement, Wertheim Schroder,
Hambrecht and WSCI shall not engage in business activities similar to the
activities to be performed by Lewco pursuant to the Clearing Agreement;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any party may conduct transactions for other brokers and
dealers upon the consent of all other parties to this Agreement.

         7.   OWNERSHIP OF SYSTEM.

         (a)  Hambrecht, WSCI and Lewco acknowledge Wertheim Schroder's
ownership of the proprietary rights to the accounting and brokerage information
system software, including, but not limited to, report formats, program
specifications, master file structures, data base conversion procedures, input
formats


                                         -6-

<PAGE>

and documentation as set forth in that Certain Data Processing Services
Agreement, dated as of January 1, 1974, by and between Wertheim Schroder and
Monchik-Weber Associates, Inc., currently used by Lewco (such system as it has
been modified to date is hereinafter referred to as the "System") and agree that
Hambrecht, WSCI and Lewco will not obtain any proprietary rights in the System
other than the license granted to Hambrecht pursuant to the Original Agreement
and the license granted to WSCI hereunder.  If at any time Wertheim Schroder
shall receive any consideration in connection with the sale of the System or any
rights to the use thereof, Hambrecht, WSCI and Lewco shall not be entitled to
participate in such consideration except as stated in paragraph (c) below.

         (b)  Wertheim Schroder hereby acknowledges that it has granted to
Hambrecht, and grants to WSCI as of the Closing Date, a royalty-free license to
use the System for clearing securities transactions for so long as Hambrecht and
WSCI, respectively, shall continue to clear securities transactions through
Lewco.  In addition, in the case of Hambrecht, if Hambrecht ceases clearing
through Lewco and, in the case of WSCI, if WSCI continues to clear through Lewco
through December 23, 1994, and subsequently ceases clearing through Lewco, or,
in the case of Hambrecht, if Wertheim Schroder becomes a Terminating Party (as
hereinafter defined) and, in the case of WSCI, if prior to December 23, 1994,
Wertheim Schroder becomes a Terminating Party, then such party or parties shall
be granted by Wertheim Schroder a non-exclusive, nontransferrable, perpetual,
irrevocable, royalty-free right and license to use the System as the System
exists on the date clearing by such party through Lewco ceases or the date
Wertheim Schroder becomes a Terminating Party, as the case may be, for clearing


                                         -7-

<PAGE>

their respective securities transactions whether or not the services of Lewco
are involved.

         (c)  Lewco has and shall continue to account for the cost of any major
modifications or improvements of the System.  If Wertheim Schroder enters into
any sale of, or other arrangement for the use of the System, the cost of such
modification or improvement allocable to Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht and WSCI
shall be appropriately recognized as determined by the Board of Directors of
Lewco; provided that no such allocation shall be made to WSCI unless such party
has been clearing through Lewco for a period of three years.

         (d)  The rights and obligations of Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht, WSCI
and Lewco set forth in this Section 7 shall inure to their respective affiliates
and successors.

    8.   CLEARING AGREEMENT.  In order to authorize Lewco to act as the
clearing agent on an omnibus basis for Wertheim Schroder and Hambrecht, and to
act as the clearing agent for WSCI, and to render related services, Wertheim
Schroder, Hambrecht, WSCI and Lewco agree to execute and deliver the Clearing
Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit C hereto on the date hereof.


                                         -8-

<PAGE>

    9.   TERMINATION OF CLEARING AGREEMENT: RIGHT TO PURCHASE SECURITIES FROM
OTHER PARTY OR TO DISSOLVE LEWCO IN CERTAIN EVENTS.

         (a)  Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht and WSCI agree that if any of
Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht or WSCI gives notice (such party giving notice is
sometimes hereinafter referred to as the "Terminating Party") to the other
parties (the "Non-Terminating Parties") and Lewco of its desire to terminate at
the end of any month the Clearing Agreement pursuant to Paragraph 3 thereof

              (i) the Terminating Party shall continue clearing transactions
         through Lewco for at least three months after such notice is given;

              (ii) the Terminating Party shall pay Lewco the monthly Minimum
         Payments provided in paragraph 4(e) of the Clearing Agreement for the
         period subsequent to termination of clearing for a period of six
         months after it has ceased to clear transactions through Lewco;

              (iii) with respect to the six-month period subsequent to
         termination of clearing by a Terminating Party for which the
         Terminating Party is required to make monthly Minimum Payments
         pursuant to clause (ii) of this paragraph (a):

                   A.   If Lewco's total operating income from the date of
              termination of clearing by the Terminating Party to the end of
              such six-month period exceeds Lewco's expenses for such period,
              Lewco shall pay to the Terminating Party in


                                         -9-

<PAGE>

              cash an amount equal to 50% of such excess promptly after the end
              of such period; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Lewco shall not be
              required to make any payment to the extent the aggregate amount
              payable by Lewco to the Terminating Party pursuant to this clause
              (iii) would exceed the payments made by the Terminating Party
              pursuant to clause (ii);

                   B.   If Lewco's total operating income from the date of
              termination of clearing by the Terminating Party to the end of
              such six-month period is less than Lewco's total expenses for
              such period, the Terminating Party shall not be required to pay
              to Lewco any portion of such deficiency; and

              (iv) the Non-Terminating Parties shall, during the period with 
         respect to which the Terminating Party is required to make monthly
         Minimum Payments pursuant to clause (ii) of this paragraph (a), unless
         Lewco is sooner dissolved, conduct the business of Lewco in the
         ordinary course, using diligent efforts to maintain its facilities,
         organization and staff intact to the extent practicable, consistent,
         however, with appropriate reductions in light of the termination of 
         clearing by the Terminating Party.

         (b)  For purposes of the foregoing clause (iii) of paragraph (a), 
the total operating income and total expenses of Lewco for any period shall 
be computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, but 
shall not include any

                                         -10-

<PAGE>

loss or expense attributable to any individual operational error occurring
subsequent to the termination of clearing by the Terminating Party in excess of
the first $100,000 of each such error, and a copy of such computation shall be
forwarded to the parties hereto as soon as practicable after the end of such
period.  If the Terminating Party notifies the Non-Terminating Parties and Lewco
prior to 45 days after the conclusion of the final month in which minimum
Monthly Payments were made in accordance with clause (ii) of paragraph (a) above
that it disputes the amount of Lewco's total operating income or total expenses
used in determining the amount of any payment made to the Terminating Party
pursuant to clause (iii) of such paragraph (a), Lewco's total operating income
and total expenses for the period in question shall be determined by a firm of
independent' public accountants mutually agreed upon by Lewco, the Terminating
Party and the Non-Terminating Parties.  The determination by such independent
public accountants shall be conclusive and binding on the parties.  The expenses
of any such determination shall be borne by the Terminating Party.

         (c)  Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht and WSCI agree that if the
Terminating Party:

              (i) has given notice of its desire to terminate the Clearing
         Agreement at the end of any month pursuant to Paragraph 3 of the
         Clearing Agreement;

              (ii) if other than WSCI, ceases to be a member organization of
         the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.;

              (iii) ceases to be a registered broker-dealer under the
         Securities Exchange Act of 1934;


                                         -11-

<PAGE>

              (iv) is required under any applicable rules or regulations of the
         New York Stock Exchange, Inc. to divest itself of its interest in
         Lewco; or

              (v) has a receiver or trustee appointed for it, becomes
         insolvent, is liquidated pursuant to the Securities Investor
         Protection Act of 1970 or otherwise, goes into bankruptcy, makes an
         assignment for the benefit of creditors, is reorganized pursuant to
         bankruptcy laws, or has its assets and liabilities marshalled,

then the Non-Terminating Parties shall have the right, but not the obligation,
(x) until the later of six months following the receipt by them of the notice
referred to in clause (i) above or the end of the third month following the
termination of clearing or (y) for a period of six months following receipt of
actual knowledge by it of the events described in clauses (ii) through (v)
above, to elect by written notice to the Terminating Party to purchase from the
Terminating Party all, but not a part of, the Terminating Party's equity
securities in Lewco at Net Book Value (determined as of the end of the month
during which such notice is given).  If more than one Non-Terminating Party
wishes to purchase the Terminating Party's equity securities in Lewco, then they
shall each purchase that number of shares of Voting Common Stock and Non-Voting
Common Stock in Lewco as their respective ownership bears to the total number of
shares of Voting Common Stock and Non-Voting Common Stock held by both Non-
Terminating Parties or such other proportion as they shall mutually agree.  The
date of closing of any such purchase shall be a date to be determined by the
Non-Terminating Parties, but shall not be later than the end of the third month
following


                                         -12-

<PAGE>

the termination of clearing for a Terminating Party in the case of a notice of
termination of clearing in accordance with the Clearing Agreement, or the end of
the sixth month following the month during which the Non-Terminating Parties
received actual notice of an event giving rise to such right to purchase under
clauses (ii) through (v) of this paragraph (c) above.

         Upon the happening of any of the events described in subsections (ii)
through (v) above, the Terminating Party shall promptly notify the other parties
to this Agreement of the occurrence thereof.

         (d)  Upon termination of clearing through Lewco, the Non-Terminating
parties shall immediately be entitled to vote all shares of Lewco Voting Common
Stock owned by the Terminating Party in proportion to their respective interests
in Lewco Voting Common Stock, pursuant to the form of irrevocable proxy attached
hereto as Exhibit D, the representatives of the Terminating Party on the Board
of Directors of Lewco, if any, shall be removed immediately as directors, and
the Non-Terminating Parties shall thereafter have full control over the
management of Lewco.

         (e)  (i) If the Non-Terminating Parties do not elect to purchase the
securities of the Terminating Party in Lewco during the applicable option period
provided in paragraph (c) above, or (ii) if Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht and
WSCI unanimously agree to terminate the Clearing Agreement then Wertheim
Schroder, Hambrecht and WSCI agree to take such action as may be required under
applicable law promptly to effect the dissolution of Lewco.  It is understood
that no payment to any party as shareholders shall be. made in connection with
any such dissolution unless all long-term obligations of Lewco, such as leases
and contracts of more than one year,


                                         -13-

<PAGE>

shall have been provided for, and unless lease obligations of Lewco with respect
to which any of Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht or WSCI is directly or contingently
liable shall either be satisfied or specifically assumed by one of such parties
or by a third party.

         (f)  Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht and WSCI agree to vote their
respective shares in Lewco and carry out all necessary actions to effect the
dissolution of Lewco contemplated by paragraph (e) of this Section 9.

         (g)  The parties to this Agreement agree that until (i) Lewco is
dissolved or (ii) the expiration of six months following the termination of
clearing for a Terminating Party in the case of a notice of termination given in
accordance with the Clearing Agreement or (iii) the expiration of nine months
after the receipt of actual notice of any of the events described in clauses
(ii) through (v) of paragraph (c) of this Section 9, whichever date first
occurs, the Non-Terminating Parties shall continue to have the right to clear
through Lewco pursuant to all the terms of the Clearing Agreement.

         (h)  Whenever Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht or WSCI shall be entitled
to purchase the Terminating Party's equity securities in Lewco upon exercise of
the right arising pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section 9,
they may designate such other person or persons as purchasers of all, or any
part of, such securities as may be satisfactory to the other Non-Terminating
Party and any of the various securities exchanges, boards of trade, commodities
exchanges, clearing corporations or associations and/or other similar
institutions with which Lewco shall have membership privileges or other
privileges whose approval of a holder of such


                                         -14-

<PAGE>

securities may be required; provided that all of the equity securities are
purchased by the Non-Terminating Parties and/or such other person or persons.

         (i)  In order to effectuate the provisions of this Section 9, Lewco
agrees to make the Non-Terminating Parties or such person or persons as the Non-
Terminating Parties shall designate, the designated person or persons under the
provisions of Section 2 of Article VI of Lewco's Certificate of Incorporation.

         10.  FAILURE TO AGREE AS TO BUSINESS DECISIONS.  In the event that at
any time the Board of Directors of Lewco is unable to agree on a course of
action or business decision which in its view or in the view of any director is
fundamental to the management, operation or future actions of Lewco, and such
failure to agree continues for a period of 90 days, Wertheim Schroder or
Hambrecht may request dissolution of Lewco by notice to the other parties
hereto.  In such event the other parties agree that they will vote their shares
and carry out all necessary actions to effect such dissolution.

         11.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

         (a)  Effective immediately following the Closing Date, the Board of
Directors of Lewco shall consist of six persons, two persons to be nominees of
Hambrecht and four persons to be nominees of Wertheim Schroder.  Action by the
Board shall require the affirmative vote or written consent of at least a
majority of a quorum (which shall consist of four directors).  No chairman of
any meeting of shareholders or directors of Lewco shall have a vote in addition
to his vote as a shareholder or director.

         (b)  Should a vacancy for any reason occur, other than pursuant to
Section 9(d) hereof, in the elected Board of Directors, Wertheim Schroder on the
one


                                         -15-

<PAGE>

hand and Hambrecht on the other, agree that, prior to any other action of the
Board, they shall cause the directors nominated by them to elect a substitute
director who shall be designated by the same party which nominated the absent
director.

         (c)  Lewco shall not perform clearance or other services for any
securities firms other than firms for which it performs such services on the
date hereof and WSCI without the prior approval of the Board of Directors of
Lewco.

         (d)  All provisions of this Section 11 shall be subject to paragraph
(d) of Section 9 of this Agreement.

         12.  AUDITS.  Subject to the provisions of Paragraph 10 and Exhibit A
of the Clearing Agreement pertaining to the confidentiality of information,
Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht and WSCI (D shall have access to ALL books of
accounts kept by Lewco and (ii) shall have the right to examine and inspect any
properties and operations of Lewco.

         13.  RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND ENCUMBRANCE OF STOCK; ASSIGNMENT OF
AGREEMENT.

         (a)  In the event of any transfer, assignment or sale of capital stock
of Lewco by Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht or WSCI, all of the rights and
obligations of the parties under this Agreement shall survive such sale, except
as such rights and obligations may relate directly to the ownership of such
securities of Lewco, or as otherwise provided herein.

         (b)  Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht and WSCI shall not transfer, assign,
sell, mortgage, pledge or otherwise encumber any of their respective shares of
the capital stock of Lewco without the written consent of the other parties.
The consent


                                         -16-

<PAGE>

by Wertheim Schroder and Lewco is hereby given to the sale of shares by
Hambrecht discussed in Section 3 hereof.

         (c)  The Certificates representing all shares of Lewco's capital stock
shall be stamped or endorsed with a legend substantially in the following form:

         The shares represented by the within certificate are held subject to
         the provisions of a Master Agreement, dated December 23, 1991, among
         Wertheim Schroder & Co. Incorporated, WSCI Limited Partnership,
         Hambrecht & Quist Incorporated and Lewco Securities Corp. and may not
         be sold, assigned or transferred except in accordance with the terms
         of said Agreement.

         (d)  This Agreement shall not be assignable by any of the parties
without the written consent of the other parties, except as otherwise
specifically provided elsewhere in this Agreement.

         14.  REGULATORY APPROVALS.  This Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby are subject to, and each of the parties hereto
shall take every reasonable step to cooperate with the other parties hereto in
obtaining, all required consents and approvals of, the New York Stock Exchange,
Inc., the American Stock Exchange, Inc., and any other stock exchange, any
governmental authority or agency having jurisdiction.


                                         -17-

<PAGE>

         15.  AUTHORIZATION; FURTHER ASSURANCES.

         (a)  Each of the parties represents to the other parties that it has
taken all corporate action necessary to authorize its execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement, including the Exhibits, and that its execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Exhibits will not conflict
with, or result in a breach of, any of the terms of its certificate of
incorporation, by-laws or any agreement or instrument to which it is a party or
by which it is bound.  Each of the parties hereto agrees to execute and deliver
such instruments and take such other actions as to the other parties may
reasonably require in order to carry out the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.

         (b)  Hambrecht represents that it is the legal, record and beneficial
owner of, and has good and marketable title to, the shares being sold by it
pursuant to Section 3 hereof subject only to the Stock Pledge Agreement dated
December 27, 1987, by and among Lewco, as pledgee, Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht
and Moseley.

         16.  ARBITRATION.  Except as provided in Section 10 hereof, any
disputes hereunder shall be submitted to arbitration pursuant to the
Constitution and Rules of the New York Stock Exchange.

         17.  NOTICES.  All notices, requests, demands and other communications
which are required to be or may be given under this Agreement shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been given if delivered or mailed by first
class mail, postage prepaid,

              (a)    if to Wertheim Schroder, to:

              Wertheim Schroder & Co. Incorporated


                                         -18-

<PAGE>

              787 Seventh Avenue
              New York, New York 10019
              Attention of the President

              (b)   if to Hambrecht, to:

              Hambrecht & Quist Incorporated
              235 Montgomery Street
              San Francisco, California 94104
              Attention of the President

              (c)   if to WSCI, to:

              WSCI Limited Partnership
              787 Seventh Avenue
              New York, New York 10019
              Attention of the General Partner

              (d)   if to Lewco, to:

              Lewco Securities Corp.
              2 Broadway
              New York, New York 10004
              Attention of the President

         18.  PRIOR AGREEMENT SUPERSEDED.  As between Wertheim Schroder,
Hambrecht and Lewco, the Agreement restates and supersedes the Original
Agreement, provided that the provisions of Section 5(b) thereof relating to the
transfer of assets and liabilities of Hambrecht from Broadcourt Clearing Corp.
to Lewco shall survive and are incorporated by reference as though fully set
forth herein.

         19.  GOVERNING LAW.  This Agreement shall be construed in accordance
with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.

         20.  DURATION.  This Agreement and all rights and obligations
hereunder shall terminate on September 30, 1996 or at such time as Lewco is
dissolved or when


                                         -19-

<PAGE>

Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht and WSCI no longer own any securities in Lewco,
whichever shall first occur.

         21.  SECTION HEADINGS.  The section headings contained in this
Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.

         22.  COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts all of which taken together will constitute one and the same
instrument and any parties hereto may execute this Agreement by signing any such
counterpart.

         23.  SEVERABILITY.  If any provision hereof shall be determined to be
invalid or unenforceable in any respect, such determination shall not affect
such provision in any other respect or any other provision hereof, which shall
remain in full force and effect.

         24.  MISCELLANEOUS.  This Agreement may be modified only by a writing
signed by all parties to this Agreement.


                                         -20-

<PAGE>

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

                                       WERTHEIM SCHRODER & CO.  INCORPORATED



                                       By: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                                          --------------------------------
                                            Patrick J. Borruso, Secretary

                                       HAMBRECHT & QUIST INCORPORATED



                                       By: /s/ Raymond J. Minehan
                                          --------------------------------
                                            Raymond J. Minehan, Chief Financial
                                       Officer

                                       WSCI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                       By: Wertheim Schroder  Co. Incorporated


                                       By: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                                          --------------------------------
                                            Patrick J. Borruso, Secretary

                                       LEWCO SECURITIES CORP.



                                       By: /s/ J. Philip Smith
                                          --------------------------------
                                            J. Philip Smith, President


                                         -21-

<PAGE>

                                      SCHEDULE I




                        Boston Stock Exchange

                        Chicago Board Options Exchange

                        Midwest Stock Exchange, Inc.

                        Pacific Stock Exchange, Inc.

                        Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc.

                        NY Futures Exchange


                                         -22-

<PAGE>

                                      EXHIBIT A

                            CODE OF ETHICS AND PROCEDURES

    It is a fundamental operating policy of Lewco Securities Corp. that its
business be conducted at all times in accordance with the highest ethical
standards governing commercial relationships.  In furtherance of this policy,
all officers and all employees of Lewco are hereby directed to become familiar
with and follow scrupulously the procedures and courses of conduct hereinafter
set forth:

    1.   FAIRNESS AND COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.

Each officer and employee of Lewco shall, so far as the duty devolves upon him,
at all times diligently and honestly administer and carry out the business of
Lewco fairly and impartially and without discrimination in favor of or against
any customer.  In so doing, no officer or employee shall knowingly violate, or
permit to be violated, any applicable law, rule or regulation of the United
States, the several states thereof, governmental agencies, securities exchanges
or the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

    2.   ACCESS TO INFORMATION.  Information pertaining to the activities and
business of Lewco and its customers is strictly confidential.  Lewco's fiduciary
obligation to each of its customers to maintain the confidentiality of
information with respect to any such customer is of the highest magnitude.
Access to such information must be limited to such officers and employees as
have legitimate commercial reasons therefor.  In particular, Lewco must not be
permitted to be utilized, inadvertently or otherwise,

<PAGE>

as a conduit for information with respect to one customer to any other customer
or third party.

    In order to maximize the likelihood that necessary confidentiality will be
maintained, the following operational procedures are hereby adopted:

    (a)  Communications between Lewco employees and employees of Hambrecht &
Quist Incorporated, WSCI Limited Partnership or Wertheim Schroder & Co.
Incorporated shall be effected in the manner and solely through the specific
individuals or classes thereof as shall be specified from time to time by senior
officers of Lewco.

    (b)  Physical access by Hambrecht, WSCI or Wertheim Schroder officers and
employees to Lewco's premises shall be strictly prohibited except in the case of
such person as shall be specified from time to time by senior officers of Lewco
for the purposes contained in such specification.

    (c)  Information with regard to any Lewco customer may not be disclosed to
a third party without the consent of such customers.

    3.   UTILIZATION OF INFORMATION.  From time to time officers and employees
of Lewco may properly obtain access to information from a customer which is
capable of being utilized to effect personal gain, e.g. material inside
information with regard to matters such as the prospective release of a buy/sell
recommendation or status of an underwriting or other securities transaction
which has the potential ability to affect the market price of a security.
Anyone possessed of such information is prohibited, as required by law, from
trading or in any way profiting thereon or


                                          2

<PAGE>

recommending trading on the basis thereof or divulging such information to any
person other than authorized Lewco officers or employees.

    4.   CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.  It is essential that each officer and employee
of Lewco be constantly alert to actual or potential conflicts of interest which
might arise, particularly in instances where the interest of two or more Lewco
customers have diverged or become antagonistic.  Once identified, an appropriate
determination must be made as to what procedures will be followed to eliminate
or minimize the conflict.  Accordingly, each Lewco officer and employee is
hereby directed to disclose to his immediate supervisor the existence of any
actual or potential conflict of interest of which he becomes aware.  Such
supervisory officers shall report all such conflicts of interest to the chief
operating officer of the firm.



                                          3
<PAGE>

                       AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO MASTER AGREEMENT

       AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO MASTER AGREEMENT made as of December 13, 1993, by and
among WERTHEIM SCHRODER & CO.  INCORPORATED, a Delaware corporation ("Wertheim
Schroder"), HAMBRECHT & QUIST INCORPORATED, a California corporation
("Hambrecht"), WSCI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a Delaware limited partnership
("WSCI"), ONE WALL STREET PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("One
Wall") and LEWCO SECURITIES CORP., a Delaware corporation ("Lewco").


                              W I T N E S S E T H:

       WHEREAS, Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht and WSCI are registered
brokerdealers; and

       WHEREAS, One Wall has applied for registration as a broker-dealer with
the Securities and Exchange Commission and for membership in the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.; and

       WHEREAS, Lewco is a registered broker-dealer engaged in the business of
clearing securities transactions for its owners, Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht
and WSCI; and

<PAGE>

       WHEREAS, Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht, WSCI, and Lewco are parties to a
Clearing and Other Services Agreement (the "Clearing Agreement") dated December
23, 1991, and a Master Agreement (the "Master Agreement") dated December 23,
1991;

       WHEREAS, pursuant to the Clearing Agreement, Lewco acts as clearing agent
and performs other services for Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht and WSCI upon the
terms and conditions provided for therein; and

       WHEREAS, One Wall desires to acquire an interest in Lewco and have 
Lewco clear certain of its securities transactions and to perform certain 
other related services for One Wall; and

       WHEREAS, Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht, WSCI, One Wall and Lewco desire to
enter into an amendment to the Clearing Agreement to provide for the
participation of One Wall therein; and

       WHEREAS, Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht, WSCI and Lewco wish to enter 
into this Amendment Agreement to include One Wall as a party to the Master 
Agreement and to implement the aforesaid transactions:

       NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants of
the parties herein contained, it is agreed as follows:

1.     The Master Agreement is hereby amended to add a new Section 4A which
       shall read in its entirety as follows:

              "4A.  PURCHASE OF SHARES BY ONE WALL.  On the date hereof or as
soon as the requirements specified in Section 14 hereof are met (the "Closing
Date"), One Wall agrees to purchase and Lewco agrees to sell, 10 shares of
Voting Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share ('Voting Common Stock"), of
Lewco, at a purchase price equal to


                                       -2-

<PAGE>

the greater of $1.00 per share or the Net Book Value thereof calculated as of
the close of business on October 31, 1993.  The purchase price of such shares
shall be payable in cash to Lewco on the Closing Date.  Upon payment in full of
such purchase price, Lewco shall issue a certificate or certificates to One Wall
representing 10 shares of Voting Common Stock and such shares shall be duly and
validly authorized and issued, fully paid and non-assessable.  One Wall agrees
that it will enter into a pledge agreement in substantially the same form as the
Pledge Agreement dated December 22, 1987 by and among Wertheim Schroder,
Hambrecht, Moseley and Lewco (the "Pledge Agreement"), with Lewco to the effect
that such shares shall be subject to such pledge agreement."

2.     Subparagraph 5(a) of the Master Agreement is amended hereby to read in
       its entirety as follows:

              "5.    LEWCO QUALIFICATION AS A BROKER-DEALER; EXCHANGE MEMBERSHIP

                     (a)    Lewco represents that it:

                            (i)    is registered as a broker-dealer with the
                     Securities and Exchange Commission and is duly licensed and
                     in good standing as a broker-dealer under all applicable
                     laws and regulations; and

                            (ii)   is a member of the National Association of
                     Securities Dealers, Inc., the New York Stock Exchange,
                     Inc., the American Stock Exchange, Inc., such other
                     exchanges as are listed on Schedule I hereto and agrees to
                     become a member of such other securities exchanges as the
                     parties to this Agreement may, from time to time, agree in
                     order to carry out the transactions

                                       -3-

<PAGE>

                     contemplated in the Clearing Agreement described in Section
                     8 hereof;

                            (iii)  is a member of National Securities Clearing
                     Corporation, and agrees to become a member of such other
                     clearing entities and depositories as the parties to this
                     Agreement may, from time to time, agree in order to carry
                     out the transactions contemplated in the Clearing Agreement
                     described in Section 8 hereof; and

                            (iv)   is in compliance, with (A) the capital and
                     financial reporting requirements of every securities
                     exchange or association of which it is a member, (B) the
                     capital requirements of the Securities and Exchange
                     Commission, and (C) the capital requirements of every state
                     in which it is licensed as a brokerdealer."

3.     Paragraph 6 of the Master Agreement is amended hereby to read in its
       entirety as follows:

              "6.    NON-COMPETITION WITH LEWCO.

                     During the term of the Clearing Agreement, Wertheim
Schroder, Hambrecht, WSCI and One Wall shall not engage in business activities
similar to the activities to be performed by Lewco pursuant to the Clearing
Agreement; provided, however, that any party may conduct transactions for other
brokers and dealers upon the consent of all other parties to this Agreement."


                                       -4-

<PAGE>

4.     Paragraph 7 of the Master Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as
       follows:

              "7.    OWNERSHIP OF SYSTEM.

                     (a)    Hambrecht, WSCI, Lewco and One Wall acknowledge
Wertheim Schroder's ownership of the proprietary rights to the accounting and
brokerage information system software, including, but not limited to, report
formats, program specifications, master file structures, data base conversion
procedures, input formats and documentation as set forth in that Certain Data
Processing Services Agreement, dated as of January 1, 1974, by and between
Wertheim Schroder and Monchik-Weber Associates, Inc., currently used by Lewco
(such system as it has been modified to date is hereinafter referred to as the
"System") and agree that Hambrecht, WSCI, Lewco and One Wall will not obtain any
proprietary rights in the System other than the license granted to Hambrecht
pursuant to a Master Agreement dated October 3, 1986 between Wertheim Schroder,
Hambrecht, Moseley and Lewco, the license granted to WSCI pursuant to the Master
Agreement, and the license granted to One Wall hereunder.  If at any time
Wertheim Schroder shall receive any consideration in connection with the sale of
the System or any rights to the use thereof, Hambrecht, WSCI and One Wall shall
not be entitled to participate in such consideration except as stated in
paragraph (c) below.

                     (b)    Wertheim Schroder hereby acknowledges that it has
granted to Hambrecht and WSCI, and grants to One Wall as of the Closing Date, a
royalty-free license to use the System for clearing securities transactions for
so long as One Wall, Hambrecht and WSCI, respectively, shall continue to clear
securities transactions


                                       -5-

<PAGE>

through Lewco.  In addition, in the case of Hambrecht, if Hambrecht ceases
clearing through Lewco and, in the case of WSCI, if WSCI continues to clear
through Lewco through December 23, 1994, and subsequently ceases clearing
through Lewco, and in the case of One Wall, if One Wall continues to clear
through Lewco through November ___, 1997 and subsequently ceases clearing
through Lewco or, in the case of Hambrecht, if Wertheim Schroder becomes a
Terminating Party (as hereinafter defined) and, in the case of WSCI, if prior to
December 23, 1994, Wertheim Schroder becomes a Terminating Party, or in the case
of One Wall, if prior to November ___, 1997, Wertheim Schroder becomes a
Terminating Party, then such party or parties shall be granted by Wertheim
Schroder a non-exclusive, non-transferrable, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-
free right and license to use the System as the System exists on the date
clearing by such party through Lewco ceases or the date Wertheim Schroder
becomes a Terminating Party, as the case may be, for clearing their respective
securities transactions whether or not the services of Lewco are involved.

                     (c)    Lewco has and shall continue to account for the cost
of any major modifications or improvements of the System.  If Wertheim Schroder
enters into any sale of, or other  arrangement for the use of, the System, the
cost of such modification or improvement allocable to Wertheim Schroder,
Hambrecht, WSCI and One Wall shall be appropriately recognized as determined by
the Board of Directors of Lewco; provided that no such allocation shall be made
to WSCI or One Wall unless such party has been clearing through Lewco for a
period of three years.


                                       -6-

<PAGE>

                     (d)    The rights and obligations of Wertheim Schroder,
Hambrecht, WSCI and Lewco and One Wall set forth in this Section 7 shall inure
to their respective affiliates and successors."

5.     Section 8 of the Master Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as
       follows:

              "8.    CLEARING AGREEMENT.  In order to authorize Lewco to act as
the clearing agent on an omnibus basis for Wertheim Schroder and Hambrecht, and
to act as the clearing agent for WSCI and One Wall, and to render related
services, Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht, WSCI, One Wall and Lewco agree to
execute and deliver the Clearing Agreement, as amended, in the form attached as
Exhibit C hereto on the date hereof."

6.     Subparagraph 9(a) of the Master Agreement is amended to read in its
       entirety as follows:

                     "(a)   Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht, WSCI and One Wall
agree that if any of Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht, WSCI or One Wall gives notice
(such party giving notice is sometimes hereinafter referred to as the
"Terminating Party") to the other parties (the "Non-Terminating Parties") and
Lewco of its desire to terminate at the end of any month the Clearing Agreement
pursuant to Paragraph 3 thereof

                            (i)    the Terminating Party shall continue clearing
                     transactions through Lewco for at least three months after
                     such notice is given;

                            (ii)   the Terminating Party shall pay Lewco the
                     monthly Minimum Payments provided in paragraph 4(e) of the
                     Clearing Agreement for the period subsequent to termination
                     of clearing for


                                       -7-

<PAGE>

                     a period of six months after it has ceased to clear
                     transactions through Lewco;

                            (iii)  with respect to the six-month period
                     subsequent to termination of clearing by a Terminating
                     Party for which the Terminating Party is required to make
                     monthly Minimum Payments pursuant to clause (ii) of this
                     paragraph (a):

                                   A.     If Lewco's total operating income from
                            the date of termination of clearing by the
                            Terminating Party to the end of such six-month
                            period exceeds Lewco's expenses for such period,
                            Lewco shall pay to the Terminating Party in cash an
                            amount equal to 50% of such excess promptly after
                            the end of such period; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
                            Lewco shall not be required to make any payment to
                            the extent the aggregate amount payable by Lewco to
                            the Terminating Party pursuant to this clause (iii)
                            would exceed the payments made by the Terminating
                            Party pursuant to clause (ii);

                                   B.     If Lewco's total operating income from
                            the date of termination of clearing by the
                            Terminating Party to the end of such six-month
                            period is less than Lewco's total expenses for such
                            period, the Terminating Party shall not be required
                            to pay to Lewco any portion of such deficiency; and


                                       -8-

<PAGE>

                            (iv)   the Non-Terminating Parties shall, during the
                     period with respect to which the Terminating Party is
                     required to make monthly Minimum Payments pursuant to
                     clause (ii) of this paragraph (a), unless Lewco is sooner
                     dissolved, conduct the business of Lewco in the ordinary
                     course, using diligent efforts to maintain its facilities,
                     organization and staff intact to the extent practicable,
                     consistent, however, with appropriate reductions in light
                     of the termination of clearing by the Terminating Party."

7.     Subparagraph 9(c) of the Master Agreement is amended to read in its
       entirety as follows:

              "(c)   Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht, WSCI and One Wall agree that
if the Terminating Party:

                     (i)    has given notice of its desire to terminate the
              Clearing Agreement at the end of any month pursuant to Paragraph 3
              of the Clearing Agreement;

                     (ii)   if other than WSCI or One Wall, ceases to be a
              member organization of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.;

                     (iii)  ceases to be a registered broker-dealer under the
              Securities Exchange Act of 1934;

                     (iv)   is required under any applicable rules or
              regulations of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. to divest itself
              of its interest in Lewco; or


                                       -9-

<PAGE>

                     (v)    has a receiver or trustee appointed for it, becomes
              insolvent, is liquidated pursuant to the Securities Investor
              Protection Act of 1970 or otherwise, goes into bankruptcy, makes
              an assignment for the benefit of creditors, is reorganized
              pursuant to bankruptcy laws, or has its assets and liabilities
              marshalled, then the Non-Terminating Parties shall have the right,
              but not the obligation, (x) until the later of six months
              following the receipt by them of the notice referred to in clause
              (i) above or the end of the third month following the termination
              of clearing or (y) for a period of six months following receipt of
              actual knowledge by it of the events described in clauses (ii)
              through (v) above, to elect by written notice to the Terminating
              Party to purchase from the Terminating Party all, but not a part
              of, the Terminating Party's equity securities in Lewco at Net Book
              Value (determined as of the end of the month during which such
              notice is given).  If more than one Non-Terminating Party wishes
              to purchase the Terminating Party's equity securities in Lewco,
              then they shall each purchase that number of shares of Voting
              Common Stock and Non-Voting Common Stock in Lewco as their
              respective ownership bears to the total number of shares of Voting
              Common Stock and Non-Voting Common Stock held by both
              NonTerminating Parties or such other proportion as they shall
              mutually agree.  The date of closing of any such purchase shall be
              a date to be determined by the NonTerminating Parties, but shah
              not be later than the end of the third month following the
              termination of clearing for a Terminating Party in the case of a
              notice of termination of clearing in accordance with the Clearing
              Agreement, or the end of the sixth month following the month
              during which the Non-Terminating Parties received



                                      -10-

<PAGE>

actual notice of an event giving rise to such right to purchase under clauses
(ii) through (v) of this paragraph (c) above.

              Upon the happening of any of the events described in subsections
(ii) through (v) above, the Terminating Party shall promptly notify the other
parties to this Agreement of the occurrence thereof."

8.     Subparagraph 9(e) of the Master Agreement is amended to read in its
       entirety as follows:

              "(e) (i) If the Non-Terminating Parties do not elect to purchase
the securities of the Terminating Party in Lewco during the applicable option
period provided in paragraph (c) above, or (ii) if Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht,
WSCI and One Wall unanimously agree to terminate the Clearing Agreement then
Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht, WSCI and One Wall agree to take such action as may
be required under applicable law promptly to effect the dissolution of Lewco.
It is understood that no payment to any party as shareholders shall be made in
connection with any such dissolution unless all long-term obligations of Lewco,
such as leases and contracts of more than one year, shall have been provided
for, and unless lease obligations of Lewco with respect to which any of Wertheim
Schroder, Hambrecht, WSCI or One Wall is directly or contingently liable shall
either be satisfied or specifically assumed by one of such parties or by a third
party."

9.     Subparagraph 9(f) of the Master Agreement is amended to read in its
       entirety as follows:


                                      -11-
<PAGE>

              "(f) Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht, WSCI and One Wall agree to vote
their respective shares in Lewco and carry out all necessary actions to effect
the dissolution of Lewco contemplated by paragraph (e) of this Section 9."

10.    Subparagraph 9(h) of the Master Agreement is amended to read in its
       entirety as follows:

              "(h) Whenever Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht, WSCI or One Wall shall
be entitled to purchase the Terminating Party's equity securities in Lewco upon
exercise of the right arising pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (a) of
this Section 9, they may designate such other person or persons as purchasers of
all, or any part of, such securities as may be satisfactory to the other Non-
Terminating Party and any of the various securities exchanges, boards of trade,
commodities exchanges, clearing corporations or associations and/or other
similar institutions with which Lewco shall have membership privileges or other
privileges whose approval of a holder of such securities may be required;
provided that all of the equity securities are purchased by the Non-Terminating
Parties and/or such other person or persons."

11.    Subparagraph 11(c) of the Master Agreement is hereby amended to read in
       its entirety as follows:

              "(c) Lewco shall not perform clearance or other services for any
securities firms other than firms for which it performs such services on the
date hereof, including One Wall, without the prior approval of the Board of
Directors of Lewco."

12.    Section 12 of the Master Agreement is hereby amended to read in its
       entirety as follows:



                                      -12-

<PAGE>

              "12.   AUDITS.  Subject to the provisions of Section 10 and
Exhibit A of the Clearing Agreement pertaining to the confidentiality of
information, Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht, WSCI and One Wall(i) shall have
access to all books of accounts kept by Lewco and (ii) shall have the right to
examine and inspect any properties and operations of Lewco."

13.    Subparagraph 13(a) of the Master Agreement is hereby amended to read in
       its entirety as follows:

              "(a)   In the event of any transfer, assignment or sale of capital
stock of Lewco by Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht, WSCI or One Wall, all of the
rights and obligations of the parties under this Agreement shall survive such
sale, except as such rights and obligations may relate directly to the ownership
of such securities of Lewco, or as otherwise provided herein."

14.    The first sentence of Subparagraph 13(b) of the Master Agreement is
       hereby amended to read as follows:

              "(b)   Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht, WSCI and One Wall shall not
transfer, assign, sell, mortgage, pledge or otherwise encumber any of their
respective shares of the capital stock of Lewco without the written consent of
the other parties."

15.    Subparagraph 13(c) of the Master Agreement is hereby amended to read in
       its entirety as follows:

              "(c)   The Certificates representing all shares of Lewco's capital
stock shall be stamped or endorsed with a legend substantially in the following
form:

              The shares represented by the within certificate are held subject
              to the provisions of a Master Agreement, dated December 23, 1991,
              as amended


                                      -13-

<PAGE>

              among Wertheim Schroder & Co. Incorporated, WSCI Limited
              Partnership, One Wall Street Partners, L.P., Hambrecht & Quist
              Incorporated and Lewco Securities Corp. and may not be sold,
              assigned or transferred except in accordance with the terms of
              said Agreement."

16.    Paragraph 17 of the Master Agreement is hereby amended to add a new
       subparagraph 17(e) which shall read as follows:

                     "(e)   if to "One Wall", to:

                     One Wall Street Partners, L. P.
                     787 Seventh Avenue
                     New York, New York 10019
                     Attention of the General Partner"

17.    Paragraph 20 of the Master Agreement is amended to read in its entirety
       as follows:

              "1.    DURATION.  This Agreement and all rights and obligations
hereunder shall terminate on September 30, 1996 or at such time as Lewco is
dissolved or when Wertheim Schroder, Hambrecht, WSCI and One Wall no longer own
any securities in Lewco, whichever shall first occur."

18.    Exhibit D of the Master Agreement is hereby amended to read in its
       entirety as follows.  All references to the Master Agreement in the Proxy
       previously executed by Wertheim Schroder, WSCI and Hambrecht shall be
       deemed to mean the Master Agreement as amended by this Agreement.


                                      -14-

<PAGE>

                                   "EXHIBIT D

                                  FORM OF PROXY

       The undersigned hereby appoints as its proxies _______________ and
________, with full power of substitution, to exercise, at any annual or special
meeting of stockholders of Lewco Securities Corp. (the "Corporation") and with
respect to any measure submitted for consent of the stockholders of the
Corporation without a meeting, any and all voting rights which the undersigned
possesses by virtue of its ownership of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share,
of the Corporation ("Common Stock").  This appointment of proxies shall take
effect immediately upon the termination of the clearing of transactions through
the Corporation under the Clearing and Other Services Agreement, dated December
, 1991, as amended, among the Corporation, the undersigned and
___________________ (the "Parties") by the undersigned as Terminating Party, as
such term is defined in the Master Agreement, dated December 1991, as amended,
among the Parties (the "Master Agreement").

       This appointment of proxies is executed in connection with the Master
Agreement, is coupled with an interest, and is irrevocable for a period of fifty
years from the date hereof.

       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this appointment to be
signed in its name by its authorized officer as of this _______ day of _______,
1993.


                                      -15-

<PAGE>

                                          [NAME]
                                          By: _____________________________

                                              Name: ___________________________
                                              Title: __________________________"

19.    The Master Agreement is hereby amended to add a new Section 25 which
       shall read in its entirety as follows:

              "25.   DEFINITIONS.  From and after the date hereof, each
reference in the Master Agreement to "this Agreement", "hereunder", "hereof",
"herein" or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the Master
Agreement, as amended hereby."

20.    COUNTERPARTS.  This Amendment Agreement may be executed in any number of
       counterparts all of which taken together will constitute one and the same
       instrument and any parties hereto may execute this Agreement by signing
       any such counterpart.


                                      -16-

<PAGE>

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


                                   WERTHEIM SCHRODER & CO. INCORPORATED

                                   By: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                                       ------------------------------

                                   HAMBRECHT & QUIST INCORPORATED

                                   By: /s/ Raymond J. Minehan
                                       ------------------------------

                                   WSCI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                   By:    Wertheim Schroder & Co. Incorporated

                                          By: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                                              -----------------------

                                   ONE WALL STREET PARTNERS, L.P.

                                   By:    Wertheim Schroder & Co. Incorporated

                                          By: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                                              -----------------------

                                   LEWCO SECURITIES CORP.

                                   By: /s/ J. Philip Smith
                                       ------------------------------


                                      -17-
<PAGE>


                         AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO MASTER AGREEMENT

    AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO MASTER AGREEMENT made as of the 5th of July, 1995, by
and among SCHRODER WERTHEIM & CO.  INCORPORATED, a Delaware corporation formerly
known as Wertheim Schroder & Co. Incorporated ("Schroder Wertheim"), HAMBRECHT &
QUIST LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Hambrecht LLC"), WSCI LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP, a Delaware limited partnership ("WSCI"), ONE WALL STREET PARTNERS,
L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("One Wall") and LEWCO SECURITIES CORP., a
Delaware corporation ("Lewco").

                                 W I T N E S S E T H:

    WHEREAS, Schroder Wertheim, Hambrecht LLC, WSCI and One Wall are registered
broker-dealers; and

    WHEREAS, Lewco is a registered broker-dealer engaged in the business of
clearing securities transactions for its owners, Schroder Wertheim, Hambrecht
LLC, One Wall and WSCI; and

    WHEREAS, Schroder Wertheim, Hambrecht & Quist Incorporated, a California
corporation ("Hambrecht"), WSCI, One Wall and Lewco are parties to a Clearing
and Other Services Agreement (the "Clearing Agreement") dated December 23, 1991,
as amended, and a Master Agreement (the "Master Agreement") dated December 23,
1991, as amended; and

    WHEREAS, pursuant to the Clearing Agreement, Lewco acts as clearing agent
and performs other services for Schroder Wertheim, Hambrecht LLC, One Wall and
WSCI upon the terms. and conditions provided for therein; and

<PAGE>

    WHEREAS, Hambrecht merged with and into Hambrecht LLC, which succeeded by
operation of law to all the rights and obligations of Hambrecht, and Wertheim
Schroder & Co. Incorporated changed its name to Schroder Wertheim & Co.
Incorporated; and

    WHEREAS, Schroder Wertheim, Hambrecht LLC, WSCI, One Wall and Lewco wish to
enter into this Amendment Agreement and an amendment to the Clearing Agreement
and related Agreements-to reflect the aforesaid changes;

    NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants of
the parties herein contained, it is agreed as follows:

1.  Hambrecht LLC represents and warrants to the other parties hereto that it
    is a limited liability company duly organized and validly existing under
    the laws of the State of Delaware and that it has succeeded to all the
    assets, liabilities, rights and obligations of Hambrecht pursuant to an
    Agreement and Plan of Merger effective as of May 1, 1995 and has all
    requisite power and authority to perform its obligations hereunder and has
    duly authorized, executed and delivered this Agreement.

2.  Without limiting the foregoing, Hambrecht LLC hereby assumes all the rights
    and all the obligations of Hambrecht under the Master Agreement and all
    agreements entered into in connection therewith whether now existing or
    hereafter arising, and adopts and ratifies the Proxy executed in connection
    therewith.  All references to Hambrecht in the Master Agreement and such
    other agreements shall be deemed to mean Hambrecht LLC.


                                         -2-

<PAGE>

3.  Schroder Wertheim hereby represents that it is the entity formerly known as
    Wertheim Schroder & Co. Incorporated and that its name was changed as of
    July 5, 1995.

4.  All references to Wertheim Schroder in the Master Agreement and all
    agreements entered into in connection therewith shall hereafter be changed
    to and be a reference to Schroder Wertheim.

5.  All references to the Master Agreement in the Proxy previously executed by
    Schroder Wertheim, WSCI, One Wall and Hambrecht shall be deemed to mean the
    Master Agreement as amended by this Agreement.

6.  Section 25 of the Master Agreement is hereby amended to read in its
    entirety as follows:

              25.  DEFINITIONS.  From and after the date hereof, each reference
              in the Master Agreement to "this Agreement", "hereunder",
              "hereof', "herein" or words of like import shall mean and be a
              reference to the Master Agreement, as amended from time to time.

7.  COUNTERPARTS.  This Amendment Agreement may be executed in any number of
    counterparts all of which taken together will constitute one and the same
    instrument and any parties hereto may execute this Agreement by signing any
    such counterpart.


                                         -3-

<PAGE>

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

                                       SCHRODER WERTHEIM & CO. INCORPORATED



                                       By: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                                          --------------------------------

                                       HAMBRECHT & QUIST LLC



                                       By: /s/ Raymond J. Minehan
                                          --------------------------------

                                       WSCI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                                       By:Schroder Wertheim & Co. Incorporated



                                       By: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                                          --------------------------------

                                       ONE WALL STREET PARTNERS, L.P.
                                       By:   Schroder Wertheim & Co.
                                       Incorporated



                                       By: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                                          --------------------------------

                                       LEWCO SECURITIES CORP.



                                       By: /s/ J. Philip Smith
                                          --------------------------------


                                         -4-

<PAGE>

                        CLEARING AND OTHER SERVICES AGREEMENT

    CLEARING AND OTHER SERVICES AGREEMENT made December 23, 1991, by and among
HAMBRECHT & QUIST INCORPORATED, a California corporation ("Hambrecht"), WERTHEIM
SCHRODER & CO.  INCORPORATED, a Delaware corporation ("Wertheim Schroder"), WSCI
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a Delaware limited partnership ("WSCI") (collectively
hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Participants"), and LEWCO SECURITIES
CORP., a Delaware corporation ("Lewco").

                                 W I T N E S S E T H
    WHEREAS, Hambrecht and Wertheim Schroder are engaged in the securities
brokerage and related businesses; and

    WHEREAS, Lewco is a registered broker-dealer engaged in the business of
clearing securities transactions for its owners; and

    WHEREAS, Hambrecht, Wertheim Schroder, Moseley Securities Corporation, a
Delaware corporation ("Moseley"), and Lewco were parties to a clearing and Other
Services Agreement (the "Prior Agreement"), dated October 3, 1986; and

    WHEREAS, pursuant to the Prior Agreement, Lewco acts as clearing agent for
Hambrecht's and Wertheim Schroder's securities transactions and the transactions
of their securities customers on an omnibus basis and performs certain other
related services for Hambrecht and Wertheim Schroder, Moseley having terminated
its clearing arrangements with Lewco and sold all of its shares of capital stock
of Lewco which it owned to Lewco pursuant to an Agreement dated March 4, 1988,
by and among Hambrecht, Wertheim Schroder, Lewco and Moseley; and

<PAGE>

    WHEREAS, Hambrecht and Wertheim Schroder desire Lewco to continue to act as
such clearing agent and to continue to perform such related services; and

    WHEREAS, the Participants and Lewco are parties to a Master Agreement dated
as of December 23, 1991 (the "Master Agreement"), pursuant to which, among other
items, WSCI has agreed to subscribe to certain shares of Lewco and agreed to
take certain other actions, including execution of this Agreement; and

    WHEREAS, WSCI desires Lewco to act as clearing agent for its securities
transactions and to perform certain other related services; and

    WHEREAS, Hambrecht, Wertheim Schroder and Lewco desire Lewco to act as such
clearing agent and perform such other related services for WSCI; and

    WHEREAS, Hambrecht, Wertheim Schroder, WSCI and Lewco wish to enter into
this Agreement to reflect the aforesaid transactions.

    NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants of
the parties herein contained, it is agreed as follows:

    1.   LEWCO TO ACT AS CLEARING AGENT.  During the term of this Agreement,
Lewco shall act as the clearing agent, and shall perform or provide for the
performance of all services customarily performed by a clearing broker,
including, but not limited to, settlement of trades, and cage and custodial
services for the Participants in respect of all transactions for their own
accounts and, if applicable, the accounts of their present and future securities
customers.  Lewco will engage only in those business activities contemplated in
this Agreement and such activities shall be performed exclusively for the
Participants; provided, however, that this paragraph does not preclude
Hambrecht, WSCI or Wertheim Schroder from entering into clearing arrangements
with other broker-dealers provided that the forms of such clearing arrangements
am approved


                                         -2-

<PAGE>

by Lewco and the other Participants.  It is expressly understood and agreed to
by the pinks hereto that until WSCI notifies Lewco to the contrary, WSCI shall
only clear short sale transactions through Lewco and shall clear all other
transactions through Wertheim Schroder.

         Hambrecht and Wertheim Schroder each agree to continue to open omnibus
accounts with Lewco in respect of their customers' accounts and the Participants
each agree to continue to open, or to open, one or more accounts for their
respective principal and other transactions (the "Accounts").  All transactions
which the Participants direct to Lewco will be cleared through the Accounts.

    2.   OTHER SERVICES.

              (a)  Except as otherwise provided in Paragraph I of this
Agreement, Lewco will continue to perform, or perform, as the case may be, as
agent for the Participants or provide for the performance of such functions as
the Participants may mutually agree, including functions relating to the
following areas: new accounts, purchase and sales, data processing, margin,
dividend (insofar as it relates to the accounts of the customers of the
Participants, if applicable, and the Participants' own accounts) and proxy.

              (b)  Lewco will continue to act, or act, as the case may be, as
disbursing agent for Hambrecht, WSCI and Wertheim Schroder and will continue to
receive as agent, if applicable, funds from their respective customers.

              (c)  To the extent practicable, all borrowings secured by the
securities of the customers of Hambrecht or Wertheim Schroder will be made by
Hambrecht or Wertheim Schroder, respectively, and, to the extent practicable,
all borrowings secured by the securities of Hambrecht, WSCI or Wertheim
Schroder, will be made by Hambrecht, WSCI or Wertheim Schroder, respectively.
Lewco, as custodian of such securities, in order to facilitate such


                                         -3-

<PAGE>

borrowings, will identify for Hambrecht, WSCI and Wertheim Schroder the
securities which are available for their respective borrowing purposes, will
make deliveries and substitutions on behalf of the Participants and will receive
and disburse funds on such borrowers' behalf.

              (d)  To the extent practicable, all loans of fully paid
securities of (i) the customers of Hambrecht or Wertheim Schroder who consent to
such loans will be made by Hambrecht or Wertheim Schroder, respectively, and
(ii) Hambrecht, WSCI or Wertheim Schroder, will be made by Hambrecht, WSCI or
Wertheim Schroder, respectively.  Lewco, as custodian of such securities, in
order to facilitate such loans, will identify for Hambrecht, WSCI and Wertheim
Schroder the securities which are available for their respective loan purposes,
will make deliveries and substitutions on behalf of the Participants and will
receive funds on their behalf.

              (e)  Lewco shall have the right to loan securities (i) which are
not fully paid of the customers of Hambrecht or Wertheim Schroder or (ii) which
are fully paid or which are not fully paid of Hambrecht, WSCI or Wertheim
Schroder, but loans of such securities shall be transactions by and for the
account of Lewco.

              (f)  Lewco also agrees to perform for the Participants the
special services referred to in Paragraph 5 of this Agreement to the extent that
it is practicable for Lewco to perform such services.

         3.   TERM OF AGREEMENT.  This Agreement shall be effective as of the
Closing Date (as defined in the Master Agreement) and shall continue through
September 30, 1992 and thereafter for annual terms on a year-to-year basis
unless terminated (i) at any time by mutual written agreement of all the parties
to this Agreement or (ii) at the end of any month by any Participants, who shall
give at least three months notice prior to cessation of clearing transactions


                                         -4-

<PAGE>

through Lewco.  In the event the Agreement is terminated in accordance with the
aforementioned clause (ii), the terminating party shall pay to Lewco for a
period of at least nine months subsequent to the date of notice of termination
of clearing services the monthly Minimum Payments hereinafter specified;
provided that, in any case, the terminating party shall pay to Lewco amounts
payable pursuant to the Schedule of Charges hereinafter specified for any period
in which it continues clearing transactions through Lewco and the monthly
Minimum Payments hereinafter specified for a period of six months after the date
of termination of clearing services.  Termination of this Agreement, however
caused, shall not release any of the parties to this Agreement from any
liability or responsibility to the other parties with respect to transactions
prior to the effective date of such termination, irrespective of whether claims
relative to such transactions shall have been made before or after such
termination.

         4.   CHARGES, ETC.

              (a)  Hambrecht, WSCI and Wertheim Schroder agree that the
schedule of Lewco's charges shall be as set forth on the Statement of Charges
attached hereto as Schedule I.

         Such charges shall be payable monthly, promptly after the end of the
month during which the services are performed. The Participants agree to review,
and if necessary adjust, the schedule of Lewco's charges at the end of each
quarterly period during the term hereof.  The term "quarterly period" shall mean
the three months contained in each calendar quarter.  Each such adjustment of
the schedule of Lewco's charges shall be evidenced by a writing initialed by the
Participants and Lewco and filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of
Directors of Lewco.  The schedule of Lewco's charges in effect on the date a


                                         -5-

<PAGE>

Participant ceases clearing transactions through Lewco shall not be reduced for
at least six months thereafter.

         The aggregate of payments made by a Participant with respect to a
quarterly period pursuant to the then current schedule of Lewco's charges, such
charges being adjusted pursuant to Sections 4(c) and (d) hereof, or the monthly
Minimum Payments (defined below), such payments being adjusted pursuant to
Section 4(d) hereof, made by a Participant for such quarterly period is herein
referred to as "Aggregate Quarterly Payments."

              (b)  Each Participant agrees to make monthly minimum payments
hereunder ("monthly Minimum Payments") to Lewco with respect to each month in
which the Participant is clearing transactions through Lewco in all cases, for
each quarterly period or portion thereof in which the Participant is clearing
transactions through Lewco, an amount equal to 85% of the monthly average of
the Aggregate Quarterly Payments made by such Participant with respect to the
two immediately preceding quarterly periods; provided, however, that in no event
shall the monthly Minimum Payment be less than $500,000 for Wertheim Schroder,
$225,000 for Hambrecht and $1,000 for WSCI.

              (c)  If the amount payable by a Participant with respect to any
month pursuant to Lewco's schedule of charges exceeds the Participant's monthly
Minimum Payment with respect to that month, die amount payable pursuant to the
schedule of charges shall be reduced by 50% of such excess.

              (d)  At the end of each month and each annual term of this
Agreement, Lewco's total operating expenses for such period, net of any income
(other than payments made pursuant to the Schedule of Charges for each month and
Aggregate Quarterly Payments made


                                         -6-

<PAGE>

for each year), realized by Lewco, shall be computed in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles.  If such total operating expenses are:

         (A)  equal to the payments made by the Participants pursuant to the
    Schedule of Charges for such month or the Aggregate Quarterly Payments made
    by the Participants for such annual term, no adjusting transactions shall
    be made;

         (B)  greater than the payments made by the Participants pursuant to
    the Schedule of Charges for such month or the Aggregate Quarterly Payments
    made by the Participants for such annual term, then Hambrecht, WSCI and
    Wertheim Schroder shall pay such difference in cash to Lewco in proportion
    to their respective monthly payments for such month or Aggregate Quarterly
    Payments for such annual term, as the case may be; or

         (C)  less than the payments made by the Participants pursuant to the
    Schedule of Charges for such month or the Aggregate Quarterly Payments made
    by the Participants for such annual term, then Lewco shall refund to
    Hambrecht, WSCI and Wertheim Schroder such excess in proportion to their
    respective monthly payments for such month or Aggregate Quarterly Payments
    for such annual term as the case may be.

         (e)  Each Participant agrees in the event that such Participant
terminates this Agreement in accordance with subparagraph (ii) of Paragraph 3
hereof to make monthly Minimum Payments to Lewco with respect to each month
during the period of six months after the Participant has ceased to clear
transactions through Lewco at a monthly rate equal to 70% of the monthly average
of the total payments payable by such Participant pursuant to Lewco's schedule
of charges with respect to the six calendar months ending with the date of
cessation of clearing.  With respect to this six-month period subsequent to
termination of clearing:

                                         -7-

<PAGE>

        (i)   If Lewco's total operating income from the date of termination of
    clearing by the Participant to the end of such six-month period exceeds
    Lewco's expenses for such period, Lewco shall pay to the Participant in
    cash an amount equal to 50% of such excess; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Lewco
    shall not be required to make any payment if and to the extent the
    aggregate amount paid by Lewco to the Participant pursuant to this
    subparagraph (e)(i), after giving effect to such payment, would exceed the
    total minimum Monthly Payments made by the Participant subsequent to the
    termination of clearing and prior to the date of such payment;

       (ii)   If Lewco's total operating income from the date of termination of
    clearing by the Participant to the end of such six-month period is less
    than Lewco's total expenses for such period, the Participant shall not be
    required to pay to Lewco any portion of such deficiency.

         5.   COMPENSATION FOR SPECIAL SERVICES.  Lewco will bill the
Participants, at Lewco's actual cost or at another mutually agreed upon rue, for
the special services requested by a Participant including, but not limited to,
mailing of advertising and research materials. cancellation and rebooking
services, and performance of special data processing projects which are not
related to the processing of trades or custody of securities and records.
Hambrecht, WSCI and Wertheim Schroder agree to pay for such services within
thirty (30) days of the receipt of a statement from Lewco setting forth the
amount of such costs.

         6.   TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN LEWCO AND THE PARTICIPANTS.

              (a)  Lewco will prepare a Daily Settlement Sheet for each account
of a Participant with Lewco for each business day reflecting the transactions in
such account.


                                         -8-

<PAGE>

Before the hour as may be agreed to from time to time by the parties
("Settlement Time") on each business day, each Participant having a balance due
to Lewco (except, to the extent permitted by rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission or of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System, such Participant who has in writing authorized Lewco to debit
its account with Lewco in an amount as is due to Lewco) shall pay to Lewco in
New York Clearing House or equivalent funds the full amount shown to be due on
the Daily Settlement Sheet.  Immediately after the Settlement Time each
Participant having a balance due from Lewco (except such Participant who has in
writing authorized Lewco to credit its account with Lewco in an amount as is due
from Lewco) shall receive a check for the amount due.

              (b)  Subject to the provisions of subparagraph (e) of this
Paragraph 6, each Participant agrees that any net debit balance appearing in its
Daily Settlement Account shall bear interest computed daily at the average rate
of interest the Participants pay for borrowed funds ham banks or such other rate
as the parties shall mutually agree to.

              (c)  Lewco agrees that any net credit balance appearing in the
Daily Settlement Account of the Participants shall bear the same rate of
interest as set forth in subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph 6.

              (d)  Hambrecht, WSCI and Wertheim Schroder shall, upon receipt of
the Daily Settlement Sheet, instruct Lewco whether to secure loans in respect of
any net debit balance on such Daily Settlement Sheet, as agent for the
respective Participant.

              (e)  The parties to this Agreement may agree, from time to time,
that certain debit items and/or credit items shall not be included in computing
such net debit or credit balance upon which interest is to be charged pursuant
to subparagraphs (b) and (c) of this Paragraph 6.


                                         -9-

<PAGE>


              (f)  The Participants agree that Lewco, in its discretion, may
advance through a broker-dealer special omnibus account to Hambrecht or Wertheim
Schroder, as the case may be, any excess funds held by it from time to time.
Such advances to Hambrecht or Wertheim Schroder, as the case may be, shall be
secured by securities of such Participant or their respective customers as
appropriate, and shall bear interest at the rate set forth in subparagraph (b)
of this Paragraph 6.

         7.   BROKER-DEALER SPECIAL OMNIBUS ACCOUNT AGREEMENT.  Hambrecht and
Wertheim Schroder have executed and delivered a Broker-Dealer Special Omnibus
Account Agreement in the for-in previously requested by Lewco.

         8.   DISCLOSURE OF RECORDS.  The Participants agree that Lewco may
make available to representatives of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (or any
other securities exchange of which the parties to this Agreement are members),
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., the Securities and
Exchange Commission or other governmental agencies of the United Sums, the
several states and the City of New York, such records as are in Lewco's
possession that relate to the Participants' accounts and transactions.

         9.   CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION.  The parties to this Agreement in
order to protect the confidentiality of information concerning the Participants
and their respective customers and to avoid regulatory violations, agree to
follow the code of ethics and procedures set forth in Exhibit A hereto, which
may be amended or supplemented by Lewco from time to time.


                                         -10-

<PAGE>

         10.  COMPLIANCE WITH VARIOUS LAWS AND REGULATIONS: INDEMNIFICATION.


              (a)  Hambrecht, WSCI and Wertheim Schroder agree to retain full
responsibility for all transactions processed for such party through Lewco, or
with respect to which Lewco provides services pursuant to this Agreement for
such party.  All errors, misunderstandings or controversies, except those
specifically or otherwise covered in this Agreement, between a securities
customer and a Participant or any employee of a Participant, which shall arise
solely out of acts or omissions of such Participant or any of its employees.
shall be the sole and exclusive responsibility and liability of such
Participant.  All transactions will be in compliance with all applicable laws,
rules and regulations of the United States, the several states, governmental
agencies, securities exchanges, and the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., and in this connection each shall diligently supervise the
activities of their respective officers, employees and representatives with
respect to such transactions.  Hambrecht, WSCI and Wertheim Schroder each agree
to indemnify Lewco and each other (and all directors, partners and controlling
persons thereof) against, and hold Lewco and each other (and all directors,
partners and controlling persons thereof) harmless from, any claims, losses,
expenses (including, without limitation, legal fees), or Liabilities incurred by
Lewco or the other Participant arising out of, or connected with, or in any way
related to, any failure or alleged failure so to comply on the part of
Hambrecht, WSCI or Wertheim Schroder, as the case may be, or any claims, losses,
expenses (including, without limitation, legal fees) or liabilities, founded in
common law fraud, tort, contract, or otherwise, based on any wrongful act or
failure to act or alleged wrongful act of failure to act of Hambrecht, WSCI or
Wertheim Schroder, irrespective of whether Lewco or such other Participant
possessed actual or constructive knowledge of such failure so to comply or such
wrongful act.


                                         -11-

<PAGE>


              (b)  Subject to the provisions of subparagraph (d) of this
Paragraph 10, Lewco agrees to indemnify the Participants (and their directors,
partners and controlling persons) against, and hold them harmless from, any
claims, losses, expenses (including, without Limitation, legal fees), or
liabilities incurred by them arising out of, or connected with, or in any way
related to, any wrongful act or failure to act or alleged wrongful act or
failure to act by Lewco in the performance of its duties under this Agreement or
otherwise up to an aggregate amount of $100,000 for each such wrongful act or
failure to act.

              (c)  In the event that Lewco's liability under the provision of
subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph 10 exceeds $100,000 with respect to any
wrongful act or failure to act by Lewco, liabilities exceeding this amount will
be borne solely by the Participant which originated the transaction or
transactions which gave rise to Lewco's obligations under such subparagraph (b)
and such originating Participant shall indemnify the other Participants and
Lewco against and hold them harmless from any claims, losses, expenses
(including, without limitation, legal fees) or abilities in excess of $100,000
arising out of or connected with, or in any way related to, any such wrongful
act or failure to act, irrespective of whether such other Participants possessed
actual or constructive knowledge of such wrongful act or failure to act.

              (d)  In the event that it is impracticable to determine which
Participant originated the transaction or transactions which gave rise to
Lewco's obligations under subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph 10, then Lewco's
liability pursuant to such subparagraph (b) shall not be limited.

              (e)  Each Participant agrees that it shall not, without having
obtained the prior written consent of Lewco, agree to place any advertisement in
any newspaper, publication, periodical or any other media if such advertisement
in any manner makes reference


                                         -12-

<PAGE>

to Lewco and to the clearing arrangements and/or any of the services embodied in
this Agreement.  If a Participant in any way attempts to hold itself out as,
advertise or in any way represent that it is the agent of Lewco, such
Participant shall be liable for any loss, liability, damage, cost or expense
(including, but not limited to, fees and expenses of legal counsel) sustained or
incurred by Lewco as a result of such a representation of agency or apparent
authority to act as an agent of Lewco or agency by estoppel.

              (f)   The provisions of this Paragraph 10 shall survive
termination of this Agreement.

         11.  SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION.  Lewco agrees that in connection with
the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, it shall provide the
Participants with such supporting documentation as they may reasonably request
in connection with their evaluation of any computations by Lewco under this
Agreement, and audited financial statements promptly following their becoming
available.

         12.  PRIOR AGREEMENT SUPERCEDED.  As between Hambrecht, Wertheim
Schroder and Lewco, this Agreement restates and supersedes the Prior Agreement.
As between Hambrecht, Wertheim Schroder, Lewco and Moseley, this Agreement shall
not modify any rights of Hambrecht Wertheim Schroder and Lewco against Moseley.
This Agreement incorporates and is deemed a modification of Be Clearing and
Other Services Agreement, dated October 22, 1984, by and among Wertheim
Schroder, Lewco and Moseley, for purposes of the Assignment and License, dated
as of October 30, 1984, by and between Lewco and Wertheim Schroder.

         13.  STATEMENTS.  Lewco will furnish the Participants with copies of
all statements, bills and other notices which it mails to their respective
customers.


                                         -13-

<PAGE>



         14.  GOVERNING LAW.  This Agreement shall be construed in accordance
with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.

         15.  ARBITRATION.  It is understood and agreed that any controversy
arising among the parties to this Agreement in connection with this Agreement,
which cannot be adjusted to their mutual satisfaction, shall be submitted to
arbitration and determined under the rules of the Arbitration Committee of the
New York Stock Exchange.

         16.  CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS.  The parties to this Agreement agree to give
each other prompt written notice of any customer grievance or complaint, threat
of action, or commencement of litigation arising out of this Agreement of which
any such party has knowledge.

         17.  RULES OF CLEARING CORPORATIONS. The parties to this Agreement
agree that no provision of this Agreement is in conflict with or shall be
interpreted as requiring violation by any party of any rule or by-laws of any
clearing corporation of which Lewco now is or may become a member. The parties
to this Agreement agree that the books and records of  Hambrecht, WSCI and
Wertheim Schroder shall be open at all reasonable times to reasonable inspection
by duly authorized representatives of any clearing corporation of which Lewco
now is or may become a member.

         18.  COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument and any of the parties hereto may execute this Agreement by signing
any such counterpart.

         19.  SEVERABILITY.  If any provision hereof shall be determined to be
invalid or unenforceable in any respect, such determination shall not affect
such provision in any other respect or any other provision hereof, which shall
remain in full force and effect.


                                         -14-

<PAGE>

         20.  EFFECTIVENESS. This Agreement shall be effective as of the
Closing Date.

         21.  MISCELLANEOUS.  This Agreement may be modified only by a writing
signed by all

parties to this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

                                       HAMBRECHT & QUIST INCORPORATED
                                       By: /s/ Raymond J. Minehan
                                          -------------------------------------
                                            Raymond J. Minehan, Chief Financial
                                            Officer

                                       WERTHEIM SCHRODER & CO.
                                            INCORPORATED
                                       By: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                                          -------------------------------------
                                            Patrick J. Borruso, Secretary

                                       LEWCO SECURITIES CORP.
                                       By: /s/ J. Philip Smith
                                          -------------------------------------
                                            J. Philip Smith, President

                                       WSCI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                                       By: Wertheim Schroder & Co.
                                       Incorporated,
                                            as General Partner
                                       By: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                                          -------------------------------------
                                            Patrick J. Borruso, Secretary


                                         -15-

<PAGE>

                                      SCHEDULE I

                                LEWCO SECURITIES CORP.

                              STATEMENT OF CHARGES UNDER
                        CLEARING AND OTHER SERVICES AGREEMENT

         1.   Pursuant to Section 4(a) of the Clearing and Other Services
Agreement made December 23, 1991, by and among HAMBRECHT & QUIST INCORPORATED, a
California corporation ("Hambrecht"), WSCI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a Delaware
limited partnership ("WSCI"), WERTHEIM SCHRODER & CO.  INCORPORATED, a Delaware
corporation ("Wertheim Schroder"), and LEWCO SECURITIES CORP., a Delaware
corporation ("Lewco"), Hambrecht, WSCI, Wertheim Schroder and Lewco agree to the
following schedule of charges to be effective for the period commencing from the
Closing Date until adjusted in accordance with such Section.

         4.   Charges, etc.
              -------------

         (a)   Classification                          Gross Billing Rate
               --------------                          ------------------

         (1)   Commissions on agency trades,            2% of commissions
               excluding options and bonds

         (2)   Agency trades, excluding bonds          $12 per trade

         (3)   Agency bond trades                      $25 per trade

         (4)   Principal stock trades                  $12 per trade

         (5)   Principal bond trades                   $25 per trade

         (6)   Mutual Fund trades                      $15 per trade

         (7)   Principal option traders                $10 per trade

         (8)   Flip trades                             $ 6 per trade

         (9)   Wireable government bond trades         $10 per trade


                                         -16-

<PAGE>

         (10)  Computer generated money market trades  $ 3 per trade

         (11)  Manual money market trades              $ 5 per trade

         (12)  Outside Option trades                   $ 7 per trade

         (13)  Outside regular trades                  $12 per trade

         (14)  Charge per account statement            $ 1 per month

         (15)  Charge per stock record position        $75 per month

         (16)  Charge per transfer on trades           $ 5 per trade

         2.   This Statement of Charges shall be field with the Minutes of the
Meeting of the Board of Directors of Lewco.

                                       ACCEPTED AND AGREED:

                                       HAMBRECHT & QUIST INCORPORATED
                                       By: /s/ Raymond J. Minehan
                                          -------------------------------------
                                       Raymond J. Minehan, Chief Financial
                                       Officer

                                       WERTHEIM SCHRODER & CO.
                                       INCORPORATED
                                       By: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                                          -------------------------------------
                                       Patrick J. Borruso, Secretary

                                       WSCI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                                       By: Wertheim Schroder & Co.
                                       Incorporated,
                                       as General Partner
                                       By: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                                          -------------------------------------
                                       Patrick J. Borruso, Secretary

                                       LEWCO SECURITIES CORP.
                                       By: /s/ J. Philip Smith
                                          -------------------------------------
                                       J. Philip Smith, President


                                         -17-

<PAGE>

                                      EXHIBIT A

                            CODE OF ETHICS AND PROCEDURES
                           -------------------------------
         It is a fundamental operating policy of Lewco Securities Corp, that
its business be conducted at all times in accordance with the highest ethical
standards governing commercial relationships.  In furtherance of this policy,
all officers and all employees of Lewco are hereby directed to become familiar
with and follow scrupulously the procedures and courses of conduct hereinafter
set forth:

         1.   FAIRNESS AND COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.

Each officer and employee of Lewco shall, so far as the duty devolves upon him,
at all times diligently and honestly administer and carry out the business of
Lewco fairly and impartially and without discrimination in favor of or against
any customer.  In so doing, no officer or employee shall knowingly violate, or
permit to be violated, any applicable law, rule or regulation of the United
States, the several states thereof, governmental agencies, securities exchanges
or the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

         2.   ACCESS TO INFORMATION.  Information pertaining to the activities
and business of Lewco and its customers is strictly confidential.  Lewco's
fiduciary obligation to each of its customers to maintain the confidentiality of
information with respect to any such customer is of the highest magnitude.
Access to such information must be limited to such officers and employees as
have legitimate commercial reasons therefor.  In particular, Lewco must not be
permitted to be utilized, inadvertently or otherwise.

<PAGE>

    as a conduit for information with respect to one customer to any other
customer or third party.

         In order to maximize the likelihood that necessary confidentiality
will be maintained, the following operational procedures are hereby adopted:

         (a)  Communications between Lewco employees and employees of Hambrecht
& Quist Incorporated, WSCI Limited Partnership or Wertheim Schroder & Co.
Incorporated shall be effected in the manner and solely through the specific
individuals or classes thereof as shall be specified from time to time by senior
officers of Lewco.

         (b)  Physical access by Hambrecht, WSCI or Wertheim Schroder officers
and employees to Lewco's premises shall be strictly prohibited except in the
case of such person as shall be specified from time to time by senior officers
of Lewco for the purposes contained in such specification.

         (c)  Information with regard to any Lewco customer may not be
disclosed to a third party without the consent of such customers.

         3.   UTILIZATION OF INFORMATION.  From time to time officers and
employees of Lewco may properly obtain access to information from a customer
which is capable of being utilized to effect personal gain, e.g. material inside
information with regard to matters such as the prospective release of a buy/sell
recommendation or status of an underwriting or other securities transaction
which has the potential ability to affect the market price of a security.
Anyone possessed of such information is prohibited, as required by law, from
trading or in any way profiting thereon or



                                          2

<PAGE>

recommending trading on the basis thereof or divulging such information to any
person other than authorized Lewco officers or employees.

         4.   CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.  It is essential that each officer and
employee of Lewco be constantly alert to actual or potential conflicts of
interest which might arise, particularly in instances where the interest of two
or more Lewco customers have diverged or become antagonistic.  Once identified,
an appropriate determination must be made as to what procedures will be followed
to eliminate or minimize the conflict.  Accordingly, each Lewco officer and
employee is hereby directed to disclose to his immediate supervisor the
existence of any actual or potential conflict of interest of which he becomes
aware.  Such supervisory officers shall report all such conflicts of interest to
the chief operating officer of the firm.


                                          3

<PAGE>

                      CLEARING AND OTHER SERVICES AGREEMENT


     AMENDMENT NO. 1 DATED SEPTEMBER 15, 1993 TO THE CLEARING AND OTHER SERVICES
AGREEMENT MADE DECEMBER 23, 1991, BY AND AMONG HAMBRECHT & QUEST INCORPORATED A
CALIFORNIA CORPORATION ("HAMBRECHT"), WERTHEIM SCHRODER & CO. INCORPORATED, A
DELAWARE CORPORATION ("WERTHEIM SCHRODER"), WSCI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, A DELAWARE
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP ("WSCI"), AND LEWCO SECURITIES CORP, A DELAWARE CORPORATION
("LEWCO").

     PARAGRAPH 4(b) IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

     EACH PARTICIPANT AGREES TO MAKE MINIMUM PAYMENTS HEREUNDER ("MONTHLY
MINIMUM PAYMENTS") TO LEWCO WITH RESPECT TO EACH MONTH IN WHICH THE PARTICIPANT
IS CLEARING TRANSACTIONS THROUGH LEWCO IN ALL CASES, IN AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO
$650,833 FOR WERTHEIM SCHRODER, $225,000 FOR HAMBRECHT AND $1,000 FOR WSCI FOR
THE PERIOD APRIL 1, 1993 TO AND INCLUDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1993.  COMMENCING ON
OCTOBER 1, 1993 THE MONTHLY MINIMUM PAYMENT SHALL BE $950,000 FOR WERTHEIM
SCHRODER, $225,000 FOR HAMBRECHT AND $1,000 FOR WSCI.


                         HAMBRECHT & QUIST INCORPORATED

                         BY: /s/ Raymond J. Minehan
                            ----------------------------------

                         WSCI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                         BY: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                            ----------------------------------

                         WERTHEIM SCHRODER & CO., INCORPORATED

                         BY: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                            ----------------------------------

                         LEWCO SECURITIES CORP.

                         BY: /s/ J. Philip Smith
                            ----------------------------------

<PAGE>

                             LEWCO SECURITIES CORP.

                                   SCHEDULE I


           AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO SCHEDULE I - STATEMENT OF CHARGES UNDER
                      CLEARING AND OTHER SERVICES AGREEMENT

1.   Pursuant to Section 4(a) of the Clearing and Other Services Agreement made
December 23, 1991 the following schedule of charges will be effective beginning
October 1, 1993.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

          CLASSIFICATION                               BILLING RATE
          --------------                               -------------
     <S>  <C>                                          <C>
     (1)  Commissions on Equity Agency Trades          1% of Commissions
     (2)  Agency trades - equities                     $15 per trade
     (3)  Agency trades - bonds                        $25 per trade
     (4)  Agency trades - options                      $12 per trade
     (5)  Mutual funds - customer agency               $25 per trade
     (6)  Mutual funds - customer principal            $25 per trade
     (7)  Mutual funds - firm principal                $25 per trade
     (8)  Flip trades                                  $ 5 per trade
     (9)  Principal stock - trades customer principal  $15 per trade
     (10) Principal stock trades -
          firm principal                               $ 8 per trade
     (11) Option trades - customer principal           $10 per trade
     (12) Option trades - firm principal               $ 7 per trade
     (13) Corporate bonds - customer principal         $20 per trade
     (14) Corporate bonds - firm principal             $17 per trade
     (15) Municipal bonds - customer principal         $25 per trade
     (16) Municipal bonds - firm principal             $25 per trade
     (17) Government bonds - customer principal        $20 per trade
     (18) Government bonds - firm principal            $17 per trade
     (19) Unit trusts - customer principal             $25 per trade
     (20) Unit trusts - firm principal                 $25 per trade

<PAGE>

     (21) Wireable government bonds                    $ 7 per trade
     (22) Computer cash funds                          $ 1 per trade
     (23) Manual cash funds                            $ 3 per trade
     (24) Outside trades - regular                     $12 per trade
     (25) Outside trades - options                     $ 7 per trade
     (26) Transfers on agency trades                   $10 per trade
     (27) Original statements                          $ 1 
     (29) Total positions                              $.50
</TABLE>

2.   This Statement of Charges shall be filed with the Minutes of the Meeting of
the Board of Directors of Lewco held on September 15, 1993.



                                        HAMBRECHT & QUIST INCORPORATED

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

                                        WSCI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                        By: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                                            ----------------------------------

                                        WERTHEIM SCHRODER & CO., INCORPORATED

                                        By: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                                            ----------------------------------

                                        LEWCO SECURITIES CORP.

                                        By: /s/ J. M
                                            ----------------------------------
 
<PAGE>

               AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO CLEARING AND OTHER SERVICES AGREEMENT

         AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO CLEARING AND OTHER SERVICES AGREEMENT made December
13, 1993, by and among HAMBRECHT & QUIST INCORPORATED, a California corporation
("Hambrecht"), WERTHEIM SCHRODER & CO.  INCORPORATED, a Delaware corporation
("Wertheim Schroder"), WSCI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a Delaware limited partnership
("WSCI"), ONE WALL STREET PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("One
Wall") (collectively hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Participants"),
and LEWCO SECURITIES CORP., a Delaware corporation ("Lewco").

                                 W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, Hambrecht and Wertheim Schroder are engaged in the securities
brokerage and related businesses; and

         WHEREAS, Lewco is a registered broker-dealer engaged in the business
of clearing securities transactions for its owners; and

         WHEREAS, Hambrecht, Wertheim Schroder, WSCI, and Lewco are parties to
a Clearing and Other Services Agreement (the "Clearing Agreement"), dated
December 23, 1991; and

         WHEREAS, pursuant to the Clearing Agreement, Lewco acts as clearing
agent for Hambrecht's, Wertheim Schroder's and WSCI's securities transactions
and the transactions of Hambrecht's and Wertheim Schroder's securities customers
on an

<PAGE>

omnibus basis and performs certain other related services for Hambrecht,
Wertheim Schroder and WSCI; and

         WHEREAS, the Participants and Lewco are parties to a Master Agreement
dated as of December 23, 1991, as amended (the "Master Agreement"); and

         WHEREAS, One Wall desires Lewco to act as clearing agent for its
securities transactions and to perform certain other related services; and

         WHEREAS, Hambrecht, Wertheim Schroder, WSCI and Lewco desire Lewco to
act as such clearing agent and perform such other related services for One Wall;
and

         WHEREAS, Hambrecht, Wertheim Schroder, WSCI, and Lewco wish to enter
into this Amendment Agreement to reflect the aforesaid transactions and to
include One Wall as a party to the Clearing Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
of the parties herein contained, it is agreed as follows:

1.  The first paragraph of Paragraph 1 of the Clearing Agreement is amended to
    read in its entirety as follows:

    "l.  LEWCO TO ACT AS CLEARING AGENT.  During the term of this Agreement,
Lewco shall act as the clearing agent and shall perform or provide for the
performance of all services customarily performed by a clearing broker,
including, but not limited to, settlement of trades, and cage and custodial
services for the Participants in respect of all transactions for their own
accounts and, if applicable, the accounts of their present and future securities
customers.  Lewco will engage only in those business activities contemplated in
this Agreement and such activities shall be performed exclusively for


                                         -2-

<PAGE>

the Participants; provided, however, that this paragraph does not preclude the
Participants from entering into clearing arrangements with other broker-dealers
provided that the forms of such clearing arrangements are approved by Lewco and
the Participants.  It is expressly understood and agreed to by the parties
hereto that until WSCI or One Wall notifies Lewco to the contrary, WSCI and One
Wall shall only clear short sale transactions through Lewco and shall clear all
other transactions through Wertheim Schroder."

2.  Subparagraph 2(b) of the Clearing Agreement is hereby amended to read as
    follows:

    "(b) Lewco will continue to act, or act, as the case may be, as disbursing
agent for the Participants and will continue to receive as agent, if applicable,
funds from their respective customers.

3.  Subparagraph 2(c) of the Clearing Agreement is hereby amended to read as
    follows:

    "(c) To the extent practicable, all borrowings secured by the securities of
the customers of Hambrecht or Wertheim Schroder will be made by Hambrecht or
Wertheim Schroder, respectively, and, to the extent practicable, all borrowings
secured by the securities of Hambrecht, WSCI, One Wall or Wertheim Schroder,
will be made by Hambrecht, WSCI, One Wall or Wertheim Schroder, respectively.
Lewco, as custodian of such securities, in order to facilitate such borrowings,
will identify for Hambrecht, WSCI, One Wall and Wertheim Schroder the securities
which are available

                                         -3-

<PAGE>

for their respective borrowing purposes, will make deliveries and substitutions
on behalf of the Participants and will receive and disburse funds on such
borrowers' behalf."

4.  Subparagraph 2(d) of the Clearing Agreement is hereby amended to read as
    follows:

    "(d) To the extent practicable, all loans of fully paid securities of (i)
the customers of Hambrecht or Wertheim Schroder who consent to such loans will
be made by Hambrecht or Wertheim Schroder, respectively, and (ii) Hambrecht,
WSCI, One Wall or Wertheim Schroder, will be made by Hambrecht, WSCI, One Wall
or Wertheim Schroder, respectively.  Lewco, as custodian of such securities, in
order to facilitate such loans, will identify for Hambrecht, WSCI, One Wall and
Wertheim Schroder the securities which are available for their respective loan
purposes, will make deliveries and substitutions on behalf of the Participants
and will receive funds on their behalf."

5.  Subparagraph 2(e) of the Clearing Agreement is hereby amended to read as
    follows:

    "(e) Lewco shall have the right to loan securities (i) which are not fully
paid of the customers of Hambrecht or Wertheim Schroder or (ii) which are fully
paid or which are not fully paid of Hambrecht, WSCI, One Wall or Wertheim
Schroder, but loans of such securities shall be transactions by and for the
account of Lewco."

6.  The first sentence of Subparagraph 4(a) of the Clearing Agreement is
    amended to read as follows:


                                         -4-

<PAGE>


         "4.  CHARGES, ETC.

              (a)  The Participants agree that the schedule of Lewco's charges
shall be as set forth on the Statement of Charges attached hereto as Schedule
I."

7.  Subparagraph 4(b) of the Clearing Agreement is amended to read as follows:

              "(b) Each Participant agrees to make monthly minimum payments
hereunder ("monthly Minimum Payments") to Lewco with respect to each month in
which the Participant is clearing transactions through Lewco in all cases, in an
amount, commencing on October 1, 1993, equal to $950,000 for Wertheim Schroder,
$225,000 for Hambrecht, $1,000 for WSCI and $1,000 for One Wall", provided,
however, that no payment shall be due from One Wall until such time as One Wall
is approved as a member of the NASD."

8.  Subparagraph 4(d) (B) and (C) of the Clearing Agreement are amended to read
    as follows:

         "(B) greater than the payments made by the Participants pursuant to
    the Schedule of Charges for such month or the Aggregate Quarterly Payments
    made by the Participants for such annual term, then Hambrecht, WSCI, One
    Wall and Wertheim Schroder shall pay such difference in cash to Lewco in
    proportion to their respective monthly payments for such month or Aggregate
    Quarterly Payments for such annual term, as the case may be; or

         (C)  less than the payments made by the Participants pursuant to the
    Schedule of Charges for such month or the Aggregate Quarterly Payments made
    by the Participants for such annual term, then Lewco shall refund to
    Hambrecht,


                                         -5-

<PAGE>

    WSCI, One Wall and Wertheim Schroder such excess in proportion to their
    respective monthly payments for such month or Aggregate Quarterly Payments
    for such annual term as the case may be."

9.  The second sentence of Paragraph 5 of the Clearing Agreement is amended to
    read in its entirety as follows:

         "The Participants agree to pay for such services within thirty (30)
days of the receipt of a statement from Lewco setting forth the amount of such
costs."

10. Subparagraph 6(d) of the Clearing Agreement is hereby amended to read as
follows:

         "(d) The Participants shall, upon receipt of the Daily Settlement
Sheet, instruct Lewco whether to secure loans in respect of any net debit
balance on such Daily Settlement Sheet, as agent for the respective
Participant."

11. Subparagraph 10(a) of the Clearing Agreement is hereby amended to read as
    follows:

         "(a) Hambrecht, WSCI, One Wall and Wertheim Schroder agree to retain
full responsibility for all transactions processed for such party through Lewco,
or with respect to which Lewco provides services pursuant to this Agreement for
such party.  All errors, misunderstandings or controversies, except those
specifically or otherwise covered in this Agreement, between a securities
customer and a Participant or any employee of a Participant, which shall arise
solely out of acts or omissions of such


                                         -6-

<PAGE>

Participant or any of its employees, shall be the sole and exclusive
responsibility and liability of such Participant.  All transactions will be in
compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the United States,
the several states, governmental agencies, securities exchanges, and the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., and in this connection each
shall diligently supervise the activities of their respective officers,
employees and representatives with respect to such transactions.  Hambrecht,
WSCI, One Wall and Wertheim Schroder each agree to indemnify Lewco and each
other (and all directors, partners and controlling persons thereof) against, and
hold Lewco and each other (and all directors, partners and controlling persons
thereof) harmless from, any claims, losses, expenses (including, without
limitation, legal fees), or liabilities incurred by Lewco or the other
Participant arising out of, or connected with, or in any way related to, any
failure or alleged failure so to comply on the part of Hambrecht, WSCI, One Wall
or Wertheim Schroder, as the case may be, or any claims, losses, expenses
(including, without limitation, legal fees) or liabilities, founded in common
law fraud, tort, contract, or otherwise, based on any wrongful act or failure to
act or alleged wrongful act of failure to act of Hambrecht, WSCI, One Wall or
Wertheim Schroder, irrespective of whether Lewco or such other Participant
possessed actual or constructive knowledge of such failure so to comply or such
wrongful act."

12. Paragraph 17 of the Clearing Agreement is hereby amended to read in its
    entirety as follows:

    "17. RULES OF CLEARING CORPORATIONS.  The parties to this Agreement agree
that no provision of this Agreement is in conflict with or shall be interpreted
as requiring


                                         -7-

<PAGE>

violation by any party of any rule or by-laws of any clearing corporation of
which Lewco now is or may become a member.  The parties to this Agreement agree
that the books and records of the Participants shall be open at all reasonable
times to reasonable inspection by duly authorized representatives of any
clearing corporation of which Lewco now is or may become a member."

13. The Clearing Agreement is hereby amended to add a new Section 22, which
    shall read in its entirety as follows:

    "22. DEFINITIONS.



    (a)  From and after the date hereof, One Wall shall be a party to, and
shall have the rights and duties of a party to, the Clearing Agreement, as if it
had executed the Clearing Agreement.

    (b)  From and after the date hereof, the term "Participant" as used in the
Agreement and as used herein shall include One Wall.

    (c)  From and after the date hereof, each reference in the Clearing
Agreement to "this Agreement", "hereunder", "hereof", "herein" or words of like
import shall mean and be a reference to the Clearing Agreement, as amended
hereby."

14. Schedule I of the Clearing Agreement is hereby amended to read in its
entirety as follows:


                                         -8-

<PAGE>

                                     "SCHEDULE I
                                     -----------
                                LEWCO SECURITIES CORP.
                              STATEMENT OF CHARGES UNDER
                        CLEARING AND OTHER SERVICES AGREEMENT

         1.   Pursuant to Subparagraph 4(a) of the Clearing and Other Services
Agreement made December 23, 1991, as amended, by and among HAMBRECHT & QUIST
INCORPORATED, a California corporation ("Hambrecht"), WSCI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP,
a Delaware limited partnership ("WSCI"), WERTHEIM SCHRODER & CO.  INCORPORATED,
a Delaware corporation ("Wertheim Schroder"), ONE WALL STREET PARTNERS, L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership ("One Wall"), and LEWCO SECURITIES CORP., a
Delaware corporation ("Lewco"), Hambrecht, WSCI, One Wall, Wertheim Schroder and
Lewco agree to the following schedule of charges to be effective for the period
commencing from the Closing Date until adjusted in accordance with such Section.


                                         -9-

<PAGE>

    4.     CHARGES

    Classification                                         Billing Rate
    --------------                                         ------------


    (1)    Commissions on Equity Agency Trades             1% of Commissions

    (2)    Agency trades - equities                        $15 per trade

    (3)    Agency trades - bonds                           $25 per trade

    (4)    Agency trades - options                         $12 per trade

    (5)    Mutual funds - customer agency                  $25 per trade

    (6)    Mutual funds - customer principal               $25 per trade

    (7)    Mutual funds - firm principal                   $25 per trade

    (8)    Flip trades                                     $5 per trade

    (9)    Principal stock trades -

           customer principal                              $15 per trade

    (10)   Principal stock trades -

           firm principal                                  $8 per trade

    (11)   Option trades - customer principal              $10 per trade

    (12)   Option trades - firm principal                  $7 per trade

    (13)   Corporate bonds - customer principal            $20 per trade

    (14)   Corporate bonds - firm principal                $17 per trade

    (15)   Municipal bonds - customer principal            $25 per trade

    (16)   Municipal bonds - firm principal                $25 per trade

    (17)   Government bonds - customer principal           $17 per trade

    (18)   Government bonds - firm principal               $17 per trade

    (19)   Unit trusts - customer principal                $25 per trade


                                         -10-

<PAGE>

    (20)   Unit trusts - firm principal                    $25 per trade

    (21)   Wireable government bonds                       $7 per trade

    (22)   Computer cash funds                             $1 per trade

    (23)   Manual cash funds                               $3 per trade

    (24)   Outside trades - regular                        $12 per trade

    (25)   Outside trades - options                        $7 per trade

    (26)   Transfers on agency trades                      $10 per trade

    (27)   Original statements                             $1

    (28)   Total positions                                 $.50


                                         -11-

<PAGE>

         2. This Statement of Charges shall be field with the Minutes of the
Meeting of the Board of Directors of Lewco.

                                       ACCEPTED AND AGREED:
                                       HAMBRECHT & QUIST INCORPORATED

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

                                       WERTHEIM SCHRODER & CO.
                                       INCORPORATED

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

                                       WSCI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                       By: Wertheim Schroder & Co.
                                            Incorporated, as General Partner

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

                                       ONE WALL STREET PARTNERS, L.P.
                                       By:  Wertheim Schroder & Co.
                                            Incorporated, as General Partner

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


                                       LEWCO SECURITIES CORP.

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


                                         -12-

<PAGE>

15. COUNTERPARTS.  This Amendment Agreement may be executed in any number of
    counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
    instrument and any of the parties hereto may execute this Agreement by
    signing any such counterpart.

                                       HAMBRECHT & QUIST INCORPORATED

                                       By: /s/ Raymond J. Minehan
                                           ------------------------------------

                                       WERTHEIM SCHRODER & CO.
                                       INCORPORATED

                                       By: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                                           ------------------------------------

                                       WSCI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                       By: Wertheim Schroder & Co.
                                            Incorporated, as General Partner

                                       By: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                                           ------------------------------------

                                       ONE WALL STREET PARTNERS, L.P.

                                       By: Wertheim Schroder & Co.
                                            Incorporated,
                                       as General Partner

                                       By: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                                           ------------------------------------

                                       LEWCO SECURITIES CORP.

                                       By: /s/ J. Philip Smith
                                           ------------------------------------


                                         -13-

<PAGE>

AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO CLEARING AND OTHER SERVICES AGREEMENT

    AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO CLEARING AND OTHER SERVICES AGREEMENT made as of July 5,
1995, by and among HAMBRECHT & QUIST LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
("Hambrecht LLC"), SCHRODER WERTHEIM & CO.  INCORPORATED, a Delaware corporation
formerly known as Wertheim Schroder & Co. Incorporated ("Schroder Wertheim"),
WSCI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a Delaware limited partnership ("WSCI"), ONE WALL
STREET PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("One Wall") (collectively
hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Participants"), and LEWCO SECURITIES
CORP., a Delaware corporation ("Lewco").

                                 W I T N E S S E T H:

    WHEREAS, Hambrecht LLC and Schroder Wertheim are engaged in the securities
brokerage and related businesses; and

    WHEREAS, Lewco is a registered broker-dealer engaged in the business of
clearing securities transactions for its owners; and

    WHEREAS, Hambrecht & Quist Incorporated, a California corporation
("Hambrecht"), Schroder Wertheim, WSCI, One Wall (collectively, the
"Participants") and Lewco are parties to a Clearing and Other Services Agreement
(the "Clearing Agreement"), dated December 23, 1991, as amended; and

    WHEREAS, pursuant to the Clearing Agreement, Lewco acts as clearing agent
for Hambrecht LLC's, Schroder Wertheim's, One Wall's and WSCI's securities
transactions and the transactions of Hambrecht's and Schroder Wertheim's
securities

<PAGE>

customers on an omnibus basis and performs certain other related services for
Hambrecht LLC, Schroder Wertheim and WSCI; and

    WHEREAS, the Participants and Lewco are parties to a Master Agreement dated
as of December 23, 1991, as amended (the "Master Agreement"); and

    WHEREAS, Hambrecht merged with and into Hambrecht LLC, which succeeded by
operation of law to all the rights and obligations of Hambrecht, and Wertheim
Schroder & Co. Incorporated changed its name to Schroder Wertheim & Co.
Incorporated; and

    WHEREAS, Schroder Wertheim, Hambrecht, WSCI, One Wall and Lewco wish to
enter into this amendment to the Clearing Agreement to reflect the aforesaid
changes;

    NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants of
the parties herein contained, it is agreed as follows:

1.  Hambrecht LLC represents and warrants to the other parties hereto that it
    is a limited liability company duly organized and validly existing under
    the laws of the State of Delaware and that it has succeeded to all the
    assets, liabilities, rights and obligations of Hambrecht pursuant to an
    Agreement and Plan of Merger effective as of May 1, 1995 and has all
    requisite power and authority to perform its obligations hereunder and has
    duly authorized, executed and delivered this Agreement.

2.  Without limiting the foregoing, Hambrecht LLC hereby assumes all the rights
    and all the obligations of Hambrecht under the Clearing Agreement whether
    now existing or hereafter arising and all references to Hambrecht in the
    Clearing Agreement shall be deemed to mean Hambrecht LLC.


                                         -2-

<PAGE>

3.  Schroder Wertheim hereby represents that it is the entity formerly known as
    Wertheim Schroder & Co. Incorporated and that its name was changed as of
    July 5, 1995.

4.  All references to Wertheim Schroder in the Clearing Agreement shall
    hereafter be changed to and be a reference to Schroder Wertheim.

5.  All references to the Clearing Agreement previously executed by Schroder
    Wertheim, WSCI, One Wall and Hambrecht shall be deemed to mean the Clearing
    Agreement as amended by this Agreement.

6.  Section 22 of the Clearing Agreement is hereby amended to read in its
    entirety as follows:

         22.  DEFINITIONS.

              (a)  From and after the date hereof, the term "Participant" as
         used in the Agreement and as used herein shall include Hambrecht LLC
         in lieu of Hambrecht.

              (b)  From and after the date hereof, each reference in the
         Clearing Agreement to "this Agreement", "hereunder", "hereof",
         "herein" or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the
         Clearing Agreement, as amended from time to time.


                                         -3-

<PAGE>

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



                                       SCHRODER WERTHEIM & CO. INCORPORATED



                                       By: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                                          ------------------------------------

                                       HAMBRECHT & QUIST LLC



                                       By: /s/ Raymond J. Minehan
                                          ------------------------------------

                                       WSCI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                       By:  Schroder Wertheim & Co. Incorporated



                                       By: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                                          ------------------------------------

                                       ONE WALL STREET PARTNERS, L.P.
                                       By: Schroder Wertheim & Co. Incorporated



                                       By: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                                          ------------------------------------

                                       LEWCO SECURITIES CORP.



                                       By: /s/ J. Philip Smith
                                          ------------------------------------


                                         -4-
<PAGE>

AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO CLEARING AND OTHER SERVICES AGREEMENT

    AMENDMENT NO. 4 dated October 1, 1995 TO CLEARING AND OTHER SERVICES
AGREEMENT made December 15, 1993, by and among HAMBRECHT & QUIST LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company ("Hambrecht LLC"), SCHRODER WERTHEIM & CO.
INCORPORATED, a Delaware corporation ("Schroder Wertheim"), WSCI LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP, a Delaware limited partnership ("WSCI"), ONE WALL STREET PARTNERS,
L.P, a Delaware limited partnership ("One Wall") (collectively hereinafter
sometimes referred to as the "Participants"), and LEWCO SECURITIES CORP., a
Delaware corporation ("Lewco").

    Subparagraph 4 (c) of the Clearing and Other Services Agreement is amended
to read as follows:

    "(c) If the amount payable by a Participant with respect to any month
    pursuant to Lewco's schedule of charges exceeds the Participant's monthly
    minimum payment with respect to that month, the amount payable pursuant to
    the schedule of charges shall be reduced by 50% of such excess, except that
    for the months of October, November and December, 1995, no reduction shall
    occur."
<PAGE>

LEWCO SECURITIES CORP.

                                                     HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER
                                                               34 EXCHANGE PLACE
                                                      JERSEY CITY, NJ 07311-3988

                                                 November 29, 1995

    Paragraph 6 (b) of the Clearing and Other Services Agreement by and among
Schroder Wertheim & Co. Incorporated, Hambrecht & Quist LLC, WSCI Limited
Partnership and One Wall Street Partners, L.P. states that:

         "Subject to the provisions of Subparagraph (e) of this
         Paragraph 6, each Participant agrees that any net debit
         balance appearing in its Daily Settlement Account shall
         bear interest computed daily at the average rate of
         interest the Participants pay for borrowed funds from
         banks or such other rate as the parties shall mutually
         agree to."

    The parties referred to in Paragraph 6(b) of the Clearing and Other
Services Agreement hereby agree that effective December 1, 1995 and until
subsequently changed by such parties, the net debit balance appearing in each
Participant's Daily Settlement Account will bear interest computed daily at the
weighted average rate of interest the Participants and Lewco pay for borrowed
funds from banks and the aggregate rate of interest paid to borrowers of
securities as computed by Loanet and identified as the House Loan Rebate Rate.

                                       SCHRODER WERTHEIM & CO. INCORPORATED

                                       By: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                                          ------------------------------------

                                       HAMBRECHT & QUIST LLC

                                       By: /s/ Raymond J. Minehan
                                          ------------------------------------

                                       WSCI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                                       By: Schroder Wertheim & Co. Incorporated

                                       By: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                                          ------------------------------------

                                       ONE WALL STREET PARTNERS, L.P.
                                       By: Schroder, Wertheim & Co.
                                       Incorporated

                                       By: /s/ Patrick J. Borruso
                                          ------------------------------------

                                       LEWCO SECURITIES CORP.

                                       By: /s/ J. Philip Smith
                                          ------------------------------------

<PAGE>



                                    April 1, 1996



Hambrecht & Quist Group
1 Bush Street
San Francisco, CA 94104
Attention: Daniel H. Case, III

Dear Dan:

    This letter sets forth the terms of the understanding between Hambrecht &
Quist Group, a California corporation ("Group") and H&Q Asia Pacific, Ltd., a
British Virgin Islands limited liability company ("AP"), regarding the
recapitalization of AP and the restructuring of its relationship with Group.


         1.   EQUITY INTERESTS.  AP will be recapitalized such that at the date
of this letter, the Class A Common Stock owned by Group will constitute 15% 
of AP's outstanding shares, and the Common Stock owned by the other AP 
shareholders will be increased to 85% of AP's outstanding shares.  The 
Capitalization of AP will be $1 million, of which $150,000 has been paid by 
Group and $850,000 will be [lent by H&Q, added to Part 2 of the H&Q Debt, as
defined in Paragraph 4 below, and repaid as set forth in Paragraph 4.] AP will
be managed for the benefit of all of its shareholders as a profit-earning 
management company, and Group, as owner of 15% of AP's outstanding shares will
be entitled to receive 15% of these profits (or retained earnings) in the form
of dividends (or capital disbursements).

    Class A Stock will (i) continue to have a liquidation preference equal to
its capital contribution of $150,000, and (ii) be required to approve amendments
to AP's articles and by-laws, fundamental corporate transactions (e.g.,
mergers), and issuances of shares (other than through share issuances to the
public in a public offering) which would cause Group's 15% equity interest in AP
to be diluted.  Group's 15% interest would be proportionately diluted (i) in the
event of stock issuances in public offerings which either value Group's 15%
interest at $7.5 million or value AP post-offering at $50 million or more, or
(ii) in the event Group and the other AP shareholders jointly agree to admit an
outside third party.  AP would maintain its right to acquire Group's equity
interest in AP for "fair value" in the event that a single person or entity or
affiliated entities acquires more than 50% of the voting securities of Group.

    2.   INCOME AND MANAGEMENT FEES.  All income and management fees (other
than that related to Carried Interest, as described in Paragraph 3 below) (the
"Income") which remains after payment of AP's expenses (the "Expenses") (which
Expenses include AP's overhead salaries and bonus of professional employees)
will be retained by AP and will be available first, to pay Part 2 of the H&Q
Debt (as defined in Paragraph 4 below) and thereafter as working capital or for

<PAGE>


distribution to AP's shareholders.  AP will undertake to ensure that for ongoing
operations, the sum of its salaries and cash bonus payments (excluding Carried
Interest) does not exceed 50% of Income.  Costs of employment for personnel at
new offices such as Indonesia and India will be excluded from this computation
until local country funds have closed.

    3.   CARRIED INTEREST.  The Carried Interest which AP receives for existing
funds for which it presently acts as general partner or fund manager or advisor
(the "Existing Funds"), or for funds for which AP may in the future act as
general partner or fund manager or advisor ("Future Funds"), will be applied as
follows:

         (a)  The first 20% of the Carried Interest paid to AP by the Existing
Funds (the "Non DCI Carry") will be used to repay Part 2 of the H&Q Debt (as
defined in Paragraph 4 below) until all of such Part 2 of the H&Q Debt is
repaid.  In the event that the Income of AP is not sufficient to pay its
Expenses, an additional part of the Carried Interest paid to AP by the Existing
Funds will be used by AP to cover such shortfall.  The remaining Carried
Interest from the Existing Funds, and the Carried Interest from Future Funds is
hereinafter referred to as the Distributable Carried Interest (the "DCI") and
will be applied as set forth in Paragraph 3(b) below.

         (b)  Group will receive (either directly, through AP, or through a
combination of direct or through AP) the portions of the DCI with respect to
Existing Funds and Future Funds as set forth in the table below, in
consideration of the contribution set forth in such table.  The remainder of the
DCI will be available to the other shareholders and employees of AP:
<TABLE>

<CAPTION>
                                   Group
                                 Shares of
    Fund                            DCI             Group Value Added
- ----------------------------  ----------------  -------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>         <C>

Existing Funds(1)                    35%         Past contributions

Additional Asia Pacific              25%         Group and/or its
Growth Fund II, L.P.                             affiliates will invest
("APGF II") and Asia Pacific                     $5 million as a limited
Growth Fund III, L.P. ("APGF                     partner in APGF III
III")

Asia Pacific Growth Fund IV,         20%         Group and/or its affiliates
L.P. and other Asia Pacific                      will invest at least $5
Growth Funds organized prior to                  million and up to 5% of APGF
the seventh anniversary of APGF                  IV etc. as a Special Limited
III's initial closing                            Partner (2).
("APGF IV etc.")

</TABLE>


<PAGE>

<TABLE>

<CAPTION>
                                   Group
                                 Shares of
    Fund                            DCI             Group Value Added
- ----------------------------  ----------------  -------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>         <C>

Additional Asia Pacific              15%         Group and/or its affiliates
Growth Funds organized                           will invest at least 5% and
after the seventh anniversary                    up to 10% of each Additional
 of APGF III's initial                           APGF as a Special Limited
closing ("Additional APGF")                      Partner (2).

PT Dharma Kapitalindo ("PTDK")       20%         Group and/or its affiliates
and other country funds                          will invest at least 2.5%,
organized prior to the seventh                   and may invest up to 5% in
anniversary of APGF III's initial                each new country fund as a
closing                                          Special Limited Partner (2).

Other country funds organized        15%         Group and/or its affiliates
after the seventh anniversary of                 will invest at least 2.5%,
APGF III's initial closing                       and may invest up to 10%
                                                 in each new country fund as a
                                                 Special Limited Partner (2).


</TABLE>

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

(1) Consists of Hanmore Venture Capital Investment Corporation ("Hanmore"); H&Q
    Philippine Ventures, Inc. ("PVI"); H&Q Philippine Ventures II, Inc.
    ("PVII"); The ASEAN Fund Ltd. ("AFL"); Siam Ventures, N.V. ("Siam"); H&Q
    Asia Ventures, Ltd. ("HAVEN"); Asia Pacific Growth Fund, L.P. ("APGF I");
    China Dynamic Growth Fund. L.P. ("CDGF"); and Malaysian Technology Ventures
    II Sdn. Bhd ("MTVII").
(2) Group, as a Special Limited Partner, will invest the minimum indicated
    amount, free of carried interest charges but NOT free of management fees.

    4.   REPAYMENT OF H&Q DEBT.  As of the date of this letter, AP's debt to
Group is $_______, including the $850,000 referred to in Paragraph 1 above (the
"H&Q Debt").  Of such H&Q Debt, $1 million ("Part 1") will be restructured as an
interest free term loan, due on January 1, 1999, to be repaid from AP's share of
investment banking fees as provided in Paragraph 5 below.  Part 1 will
immediately be reduced by $200,000 as of the date hereof in recognition of the
investment banking business introduced by AP to Group prior to December 31,
1995, of which $150,000 is a result of the Oak Technology transaction.  If
Part 1 has not been fully repaid by the due date, the unpaid balance will be
added to Part 2, as defined below.  The remaining $_________ of the H&Q Debt
("Part 2") will be restructured as an interest-bearing term loan, due on
January 1, 2003, to be repaid (i) by the application of the Non DCI Carry (as
defined in Paragraph 3(a), above), and (ii) by any Income remaining after
payment of Expenses.

    5.   Investment banking fees earned by Group will be shared with AP
according to the following table:

<PAGE>

<TABLE>

<CAPTION>

    Nature of transaction                        AP share of fees
- -------------------------------------    ------------------------------------

<S>                                      <C>
Completed U.S. underwriting              AP will receive 5% of the fees
transactions by Group with Asian-        recieved by Group before expenses in
based companies which were initiated     the form of cash, and 5% in the
by AP employees.                         form of a credit to Part 1 of the
                                         Debt.  The second 5% will cease when
                                         Part 1 of the Debt is retired.

Completed U.S. underwriting              AP will recieve 2.5% of the fees
transactions by Group with Asian-        received by Group  before
based companies which were not           expenses in the form of cash,
initiated by AP employees.               and 2.5% in the form of a
                                         credit to Part 1 of the Debt.
                                         The second 2.5% will cease when
                                         Part 1 of the Debt is retired.

Completed U.S. underwriting              AP will receive 2.5% of the fees
transactions by Group with US-           received by Group before expenses
based companies which were               in the form of cash, and 2.5%
initiated by AP employees.               in the form of a credit
                                         to Part 1 of the Debt.  The
                                         second 2.5% will cease when Part
                                         1 of the Debt is retired.


</TABLE>

    All fee based transactions (e.g., M&A or private placements) will be
    negotiated in good faith.

    6.   CHARTER.  Charter will include management of private equity funds in
the Asia Pacific Region, which will include from Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the
Philippines to the East, India and Pakistan to the West, Indonesia and
Australia to the South and Mongolia and China to the North.  AP's Charter will
also include the small capitalization public money management business, if funds
are sourced in Asia.  AP will not, without the written consent of Group, engage,
invest in or receive fees from any other investment banking, financial advisory,
M&A or securities brokerage firm other than Group.

    7.   OTHER ISSUES.  Group will pay all direct and out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by Paul Denning in his capacity as a fund raiser for APGF II and 
APGF III.  Effective the date of this letter, AP will be vested with full 
check-signing authority over its bank accounts, subject to Group approvals on 
all Carried Interest and discretionary bonus payments in excess of $25,000, 
and all payments over $100,000.

    8.   This letter is subject to the execution by AP and Group of
documentation satisfactory to AP and Group to complete the transactions
contemplated by this letter.  It is intended that such documentation be
completed, and that the agreements evidenced by this letter become effective
upon the closings of APGF II and APGF III with combined capital commitments of
at least $120 million.

<PAGE>

    To evidence your agreement to the terms set forth in this letter, please
execute a copy of this letter in the space provided below.

                                                 Very truly yours,



                                                 H&Q Asia Pacific, Ltd.



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

Accepted and Approved:

Hambrecht & Quist Group



By:
         --------------------------
         Authorized Signature

Dated:
         --------------------------

<PAGE>

                          HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP, INC.
                                        
                                  Subsidiaries 
                                        

Company:                                Hambrecht & Quist Group

Business:                               Investment banking

Percentage of H & Q Ownership:          100%
     
Date Organized:                         December 1, 1982
     
Place of Organization:                  California


Company:                                Hambrecht & Quist LLC

Business:                               Investment banking, securities brokerage

Percentage of Group Ownership:          70%
     
Date Organized:                         March 8, 1995*
     
Place of Organization:                  Delaware



*date limited liability company formed
 

<PAGE>

                      CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the use of our reports
(and to all references to our Firm) included in or made a part of this
Registration Statement filed by Hambrecht & Quist Group, Inc. dated June 20,
1996.



                                       ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP


San Francisco, California
  June 20, 1996


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