AMERITRANS CAPITAL CORP
8-K, 2000-05-12
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                                   May 4, 2000
                                 Date of Report
                        (Date of Earliest Event Reported)

                         Ameritrans Capital Corporation
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


           Delaware                 333-63951                     52-2102424
(State or other jurisdiction of    (Commission                 (I.R.S. Employee
incorporation or organization)      File No.)                    I.D. Number)


       747 Third Avenue, 4th Floor
           New York, New York                                        10117
(Address of principal executive offices                            (Zip Code)



                                 (800) 214-1047
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



<PAGE>


ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.

     On May 4, 2000,  an Agreement  and Plan of Merger (the "Merger  Agreement")
was executed by and among Medallion Financial Corp.  ("Medallion"),  AMTC Merger
Corp., a wholly-owned  subsidiary of Medallion ("Merger Corp."),  and Ameritrans
Capital  Corporation  ("Ameritrans").   Under  the  terms  and  subject  to  the
satisfaction  of certain  conditions  contained in the Merger  Agreement,  it is
anticipated  that  Merger  Corp.  will  merge  with  and  into  Ameritrans  (the
"Merger"),  and  that  Ameritrans  will  become  a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of
Medallion.  Following the satisfaction of pre-closing conditions,  including the
approval  of the  shareholders  of  Ameritrans  and  Medallion,  due  diligence,
regulatory approval,  and the approval of certain commercial bank lenders, it is
expected that closing of the Merger will occur during the fourth quarter of this
year.

     The Merger Agreement contemplates the issuance of shares of common stock of
Medallion as  consideration  for the surrender  and exchange of the  outstanding
shares  of  common  stock of  Ameritrans.  The  number of shares to be issued by
Medallion as the merger consideration is dependent upon the average market price
of Medallion common stock over a twenty (20) day time period  immediately  prior
to the closing of the Merger. Based upon the closing price of Medallion on May 4
of $16.50 for Medallion,  Ameritrans  shareholders would receive .5842 shares of
Medallion  common  stock,  or $9.64.  If the average  market  price of Medallion
common stock over the twenty (20) day period is less than $15.00 per share, then
either  Ameritrans or Medallion has the right to terminate the Merger Agreement.
The Merger  Agreement  contains other customary terms and provisions,  including
representations,  warranties,  covenants,  and conditions.  The Merger Agreement
contemplates  that the Merger will be accounted for under the pooling  method of
accounting.

     In addition,  Gary C. Granoff,  the President and a director of Ameritrans,
entered  into an  employment  agreement  with  Medallion,  pursuant to which Mr.
Granoff will become  Executive Vice President and General Counsel for an initial
period of three (3) years.  Three other  officers  of  Ameritrans  entered  into
non-competition  agreements with Medallion;  and, Mr. Granoff, one other officer
of  Ameritrans  and certain  shareholders  of  Ameritrans  entered into a voting
rights agreement with Medallion.

(c)  EXHIBITS.

     (i)  Agreement  and Plan of Merger  dated as of May 4,  2000,  by and among
Medallion   Financial  Corp.,   AMTC  Merger  Corp.,   and  Ameritrans   Capital
Corporation.


                                       -2-
<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly authorized and caused the undersigned to sign this Report on
the Registrant's behalf.

                                        AMERITRANS CAPITAL CORPORATION



                                        By:  /s/ Gary C. Granoff
                                             ----------------------
                                             Name:  Gary C. Granoff
                                             Title: President


Dated: May 12, 2000


                                       -3-



                                                                  EXECUTION COPY


                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                             DATED AS OF May 4, 2000

                                  BY AND AMONG

                           MEDALLION FINANCIAL CORP.,

                               AMTC MERGER CORP.,

                                       AND

                         AMERITRANS CAPITAL CORPORATION



<PAGE>


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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                                                                                                    ----
<S>                                                                                                   <C>
ARTICLE I. The Merger; Effect of Merger................................................................1

     Section 1.1.   The Merger.........................................................................1
     Section 1.2.   Effective Time of the Merger.......................................................1
     Section 1.3.   Effects of Merger..................................................................2

ARTICLE II. The Surviving Corporation..................................................................2

     Section 2.1.   Certificate of Incorporation.......................................................2
     Section 2.2.   By-Laws............................................................................2
     Section 2.3.   Officers and Directors.............................................................2

ARTICLE III. Conversion of Shares......................................................................2

     Section 3.1.   Conversion of Shares...............................................................2
     Section 3.2.   Appraisal Rights...................................................................5
     Section 3.3.   Parent to Make Certificates Available..............................................5
     Section 3.4.   Dividends; Transfer Taxes..........................................................6
     Section 3.5.   No Fractional Securities...........................................................7
     Section 3.6.   Assumption and Conversion of Company Stock Options.................................7
     Section 3.7.   Closing of Company Transfer Books..................................................8
     Section 3.8.   Stockholder Approval...............................................................8
     Section 3.9.   Tax Treatment......................................................................9

ARTICLE IV. Representations and Warranties of the Company..............................................9

     Section 4.1.   Execution and Delivery.............................................................9
     Section 4.2.   Consents and Approvals.............................................................9
     Section 4.3.   No Breach.........................................................................10
     Section 4.4.   Organization, Standing and Authority..............................................10
     Section 4.5.   Capitalization of the Company.....................................................11
     Section 4.6.   Options and Other Stock Rights....................................................11
     Section 4.7.   Subsidiaries......................................................................11
     Section 4.8.   Corporate Records.................................................................12
     Section 4.9.   Information in Disclosure Documents...............................................12
     Section 4.10.  SEC Documents; Financial Statements...............................................14
     Section 4.11.  Liabilities.......................................................................14
     Section 4.12.  No Material Adverse Change........................................................15
     Section 4.13.  Compliance with Laws..............................................................15
     Section 4.14.  Permits...........................................................................15
     Section 4.15.  Actions and Proceedings...........................................................15
     Section 4.16.  Contracts and Other Agreements....................................................16
     Section 4.17.  Investment Portfolio..............................................................19
     Section 4.18.  Real Property.....................................................................19
     Section 4.19.  Intellectual Property.............................................................21
     Section 4.20.  Receivables.......................................................................22
     Section 4.21.  Banking...........................................................................22
     Section 4.22.  Liens.............................................................................22
     Section 4.23.  Employee Benefit Plans............................................................23
     Section 4.24.  Employee Relations................................................................24
     Section 4.25.  Insurance.........................................................................25
</TABLE>


                                       i
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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                                                                                                    ----
<S>                                                                                                   <C>
     Section 4.26.  Officers, Directors, Employees, Consultants.......................................25
     Section 4.27.  Transactions with Directors, Officers and Affiliates..............................26
     Section 4.28.  Operations of the Company.........................................................26
     Section 4.29.  Brokerage.........................................................................28
     Section 4.30.  Taxes.............................................................................28
     Section 4.31.  Execution and Validity of Agreements with Named Executives........................30
     Section 4.32.  Environmental Laws................................................................30
     Section 4.33.  Accounting Matters................................................................32
     Section 4.34.  Company Action....................................................................32
     Section 4.35.  Fairness Opinion..................................................................32

ARTICLE V. Representations and Warranties of Parent and Sub...........................................32

     Section 5.1.   Execution and Delivery............................................................32
     Section 5.2.   Consents and Approvals............................................................33
     Section 5.3.   No Breach.........................................................................33
     Section 5.4.   SEC Documents; Financial Statements...............................................34
     Section 5.5.   Shares of Parent Common Stock.....................................................35
     Section 5.6.   Organization, Standing and Authority of Parent and Sub............................35
     Section 5.7.   Capitalization....................................................................36
     Section 5.8.   Brokerage.........................................................................36
     Section 5.9.   Information in Disclosure Documents...............................................36
     Section 5.10.  No Material Adverse Change........................................................37
     Section 5.11.  Sub Action........................................................................37
     Section 5.12.  Liabilities.......................................................................37
     Section 5.13.  Compliance with Laws..............................................................37
     Section 5.14.  Permits...........................................................................37
     Section 5.15.  Actions and Proceedings...........................................................38
     Section 5.16.  Loan Portfolio....................................................................38
     Section 5.17.  Accounting Matters................................................................38
     Section 5.18.  Tax 38

ARTICLE VI. Covenants and Agreements..................................................................38

     Section 6.1.   Conduct of Business...............................................................38
     Section 6.2.   Litigation Involving the Company..................................................40
     Section 6.3.   Continued Effectiveness of Representations and Warranties of the Parties..........40
     Section 6.4.   Corporate Examinations and Investigations.........................................41
     Section 6.5.   Preparation of Company Restated Financial Statements..............................41
     Section 6.6.   Registration Statement/Proxy Statement............................................42
     Section 6.7.   Compliance with the Securities Act................................................42
     Section 6.8.   Nasdaq Listing....................................................................43
     Section 6.9.   Acquisition Proposals.............................................................43
     Section 6.10.  No Shopping.......................................................................43
     Section 6.11.  Parent and Sub Approvals..........................................................44
     Section 6.12.  Company Approvals.................................................................44
     Section 6.13.  Distribution......................................................................44
     Section 6.14.  Expenses..........................................................................44
</TABLE>



                                       ii
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                    Page
                                                                                                    ----
<S>                                                                                                   <C>
     Section 6.15.  Further Assurances................................................................45
     Section 6.16.  Hart-Scott-Rodino.................................................................45
     Section 6.17.  SBA Approval......................................................................46
     Section 6.18.  Execution of Agreements with Named Executives.....................................46
     Section 6.19.  Compliance with Legal Requirements................................................46
     Section 6.20.  Indemnification of Company Officers and Directors.................................46
     Section 6.21.  Fairness Opinion..................................................................46
     Section 6.22.  Compliance with Legal Requirements................................................46

ARTICLE VII. Conditions Precedent to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger.....................46

     Section 7.1.   Company Stockholder Approval......................................................47
     Section 7.2.   Listing of Shares.................................................................47
     Section 7.3.   Hart-Scott-Rodino.................................................................47
     Section 7.4.   Effectiveness of Registration Statement...........................................47
     Section 7.5.   SBA Approval......................................................................47
     Section 7.6.   Litigation........................................................................47

ARTICLE VIII. Conditions Precedent to the Obligation of Parent and Sub to Effect the Merger...........48

     Section 8.1.   Representations and Covenants.....................................................48
     Section 8.2.   Absence of Material Adverse Change................................................48
     Section 8.3.   Receipt of Agreements.............................................................48
     Section 8.4.   Accountant's Letters..............................................................49
     Section 8.5.   Dissenting Shares.................................................................49
     Section 8.6.   Opinions of Counsel to the Company................................................49
     Section 8.7.   Tax Opinion.......................................................................49
     Section 8.8.   Closing Conditions................................................................49
     Section 8.9.   Financing.........................................................................49

ARTICLE IX. Conditions Precedent to the Obligation of the Company to Effect the Merger................50

     Section 9.1.   Representations and Covenants.....................................................50
     Section 9.2.   Absence of Material Adverse Change................................................50
     Section 9.3.   Receipt of Agreements.............................................................50
     Section 9.4.   Accountant's Letter...............................................................50
     Section 9.5.   Opinion of Counsel to Parent......................................................51
     Section 9.6.   Tax Opinion.......................................................................51
     Section 9.7.   Fairness Opinion..................................................................51
     Section 9.8.   Closing Conditions................................................................51

ARTICLE X. Closing....................................................................................51


ARTICLE XI. Survival of Representations and Warranties; Indemnification...............................51

     Section 11.1.  Survival of Representations and Warranties........................................51

ARTICLE XII. Termination of Agreement.................................................................52

     Section 12.1.  Termination.......................................................................52
     Section 12.2.  Effect of Termination.............................................................54
     Section 12.3.  Termination Expenses..............................................................54
</TABLE>


                                       iii
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                    Page
                                                                                                    ----
<S>                                                                                                   <C>
ARTICLE XIII. Definitions.............................................................................55

     Section 13.1.  Definitions.......................................................................55

ARTICLE XIV. Miscellaneous............................................................................61

     Section 14.1.  Publicity.........................................................................61
     Section 14.2.  Notices...........................................................................61
     Section 14.3.  Entire Agreement..................................................................62
     Section 14.4.  Waivers and Amendments; Non Contractual Remedies;
                        Preservation of Remedies; Liability...........................................62
     Section 14.5.  Governing Law.....................................................................62
     Section 14.6.  Binding Effect; No Assignment.....................................................63
     Section 14.7.  Third Party Beneficiaries.........................................................63
     Section 14.8.  Counterparts......................................................................63
     Section 14.9.  Exhibits and Schedules............................................................63
     Section 14.10. Headings..........................................................................63
     Section 14.11. Submission to Jurisdiction; Venue.................................................63
     Section 14.12. Specific Performance..............................................................64
     Section 14.13. Severability......................................................................64
</TABLE>


                                       iv
<PAGE>



Exhibits


Exhibit A   Form of Agreements entered into by each of the Named Executives

Exhibit B   Form of Opinion of Stursberg & Veith as Counsel to the Company

Exhibit C   Form of Opinion of Willkie Farr & Gallagher as Counsel to Parent and
               Sub

Exhibit D   Form of Affiliate Letter

Exhibit E   Form of Tax Opinion of Willkie Farr & Gallagher

Exhibit F   Form of Tax Opinion of Michael Zimmerman

Exhibit G   Form of Ameritrans Capital Corporation Tax Representation

Exhibit H   Form of Medallion Financial Corp. Tax Representation Letter

Company Disclosure Schedule

Section     Description

3.6         Company Stock Options
4.4         Foreign Qualification; Organizational Documents
4.5         Stockholders; Option Holders
4.7         Subsidiary Qualification; Subsidiary Organizational Documents;
               Investments
4.12        No Material Adverse Change
4.13        Compliance with Laws
4.15        Actions and Proceedings
4.16        Contracts and Other Agreements
4.17        Loan Portfolio
4.18        Real Property
4.21        Bank Accounts
4.23        Employee Benefit Plans
4.25        Insurance
4.26        Officers, Directors, Employees, Consultants
4.27        Transactions with Directors, Officers and Affiliates
4.28        Subsequent Events
4.30        Tax Jurisdictions


Parent Disclosure Schedule

Section     Description

5.6         Parent and Sub Organizational Documents


                                        v
<PAGE>


                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

     THIS  AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this  "Agreement"),  dated as of May 4,
2000, is made by and among  Medallion  Financial  Corp., a Delaware  corporation
("Parent"),  AMTC  Merger  Corp.,  a  Delaware  corporation  and a wholly  owned
subsidiary of Parent ("Sub"),  and Ameritrans  Capital  Corporation,  a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"). Certain terms used in this Agreement are defined in
Article XIII.

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS, Parent and Sub desire to effect a business combination by means of
the merger of Sub with and into the Company;

     WHEREAS,  the Board of Directors of Parent and Sub and the  stockholder  of
Sub and the Board of Directors  of the Company  have  approved the merger of Sub
with and into the  Company  (the  "Merger"),  upon the terms and  subject to the
conditions set forth herein;

     WHEREAS,  for federal  income tax purposes,  it is intended that the Merger
qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); and

     WHEREAS, for accounting  purposes,  it is intended that the Merger shall be
accounted for as a "pooling of interests".

     NOW, THEREFORE,  in consideration of the premises and the  representations,
warranties,  covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree
as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I.

                          The Merger; Effect of Merger

     Section 1.1. The Merger.  Upon the terms and subject to the  conditions  of
this Agreement and in accordance with the applicable  provisions of the Delaware
General  Corporation Law, as amended,  and any rules and regulations  thereunder
(the "Delaware  Corporation Law"), Sub shall be merged with and into the Company
and the  separate  existence  of Sub  shall  thereupon  cease.  The  name of the
Company,   as  the  surviving   corporation   in  the  Merger  (the   "Surviving
Corporation"),  shall by virtue of the Merger be changed to such name as Parent,
in its sole discretion, may choose.

     Section  1.2.  Effective  Time  of the  Merger.  The  Merger  shall  become
effective  at such time as a properly  executed  Certificate  of Merger or other
appropriate  document  is duly filed with the  Secretary  of State of  Delaware,
which  filing  shall be made as soon as  practicable  following  fulfillment  or
waiver of the  conditions  set forth in Articles VII, VIII and IX hereof or such
later time as is specified in such filing (the "Effective Time").

     Section  1.2.0.0.0.1.  Effects of Merger. The Merger shall have the effects
set forth in Section 259 of the Delaware Corporation Law.

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE II.

                            The Surviving Corporation

     Section 2.1. Certificate of Incorporation. The Certificate of Incorporation
of the Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the
Certificate of  Incorporation of the Surviving  Corporation  after the Effective
Time and  thereafter  may be  amended  in  accordance  with  their  terms and as
provided by the Delaware Corporation law.

     Section 2.2. By-Laws.  The by-laws of the Company as in effect  immediately
prior to the Effective  Time shall be the by-laws of the Surviving  Corporation,
and thereafter may be amended in accordance  with their terms and as provided by
the Delaware Corporation Law.

     Section 2.3. Officers and Directors.  The officers and the directors of Sub
immediately  prior to the Effective  Time shall be the officers and directors of
the Surviving  Corporation  after the  Effective  Time, in each case until their
respective successors are duly elected and qualified.

                                  ARTICLE III.

                              Conversion of Shares

     Section 3.1. Conversion of Shares.

     (a) Subject to Sections 3.2 hereof, at the Effective Time, by virtue of the
Merger and without any action on the part of any Company Stockholder:

     (1) Conversion of Company Common Stock.  Each outstanding  share of Company
Common Stock shall be  converted  into the right to receive that number of fully
paid and nonassessable shares of Parent Common Stock (or fraction thereof) equal
to the quotient (such quotient,  the "Exchange  Ratio") obtained by dividing (to
five places after the decimal point):

     (b) (x) $9.04 by (y) the  average of the  closing  sale prices per share of
Parent Common Stock on the Nasdaq  National Market for the 20 trading days which
immediately precede the Business Day immediately preceding the Closing Date (the
"Determination Period"); if such average is between $15.00 and $15.99; or



                                       2
<PAGE>

     (c) (x) $9.64 by (y) the  average of the  closing  sale prices per share of
Parent Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market for the Determination  Period;
if such average is between $16.00 and $16.99; or

     (d) (x) $9.89 by (y) the  average of the  closing  sale prices per share of
Parent Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market for the Determination  Period;
if such average is between $17.00 and $17.99; or

     (e) (x) $10.14 by (y) the average of the  closing  sale prices per share of
Parent Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market for the Determination  Period;
if such average is between $18.00 and $18.99; or

     (f) (x) $10.39 by (y) the average of the  closing  sale prices per share of
Parent Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market for the Determination  Period;
if such average is between $19.00 and $19.99; or

     (g) (x) $10.64 by (y) the average of the  closing  sale prices per share of
Parent Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market for the Determination  Period;
if such average is between $20.00 and $20.99; or

     (h) (x) $10.89 by (y) the average of the  closing  sale prices per share of
Parent Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market for the Determination  Period;
if such average is between $21.00 and $21.99; or

     (i) (x) $11.14 by (y) the average of the  closing  sale prices per share of
Parent Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market for the Determination  Period;
if such average is between $22.00 and $22.99; or

     (j) (x) $11.39 by (y) the average of the  closing  sale prices per share of
Parent Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market for the Determination  Period;
if such average is between $23.00 and $23.99; or

     (k) (x) $11.64 by (y) the average of the  closing  sale prices per share of
Parent Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market for the Determination  Period;
if such average is between $24.00 and $24.99; or

     (l) (x) $12.14 by (y) the average of the  closing  sale prices per share of
Parent Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market for the Determination  Period;
if such average is between $25.00 and $25.99; or

     (m) (x) $12.64 by (y) the average of the  closing  sale prices per share of
Parent Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market for the Determination  Period;
if such average is between $26.00 and $26.99; or



                                       3
<PAGE>

     (n) (x) $13.14 by (y) the average of the  closing  sale prices per share of
Parent Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market for the Determination  Period;
if such average is between $27.00 and $27.99; or

     (o) (x) $13.64 by (y) the average of the  closing  sale prices per share of
Parent Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market for the Determination  Period;
if such average is between $28.00 and $28.99; or

     (p) (x) $14.14 by (y) the average of the  closing  sale prices per share of
Parent Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market for the Determination  Period;
if such average is between $29.00 and $29.99; or

     (q) (x) $14.64 by (y) the average of the  closing  sale prices per share of
Parent Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market for the Determination  Period;
if such average is between $30.00 and $30.99; or

     (r) (x) $15.14 by (y) the average of the  closing  sale prices per share of
Parent Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market for the Determination  Period;
if such average is between $31.00 and $31.99; or

     (s) (x) $16.00 by (y) the average of the  closing  sale prices per share of
Parent Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market for the Determination  Period;
if such average is between $32.00 and $32.99; or

     (t) (x) $16.50 by (y) the average of the  closing  sale prices per share of
Parent Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market for the Determination  Period;
if such average is between $33.00 and $33.99; or

     (u) if the  average of the closing  sale prices per share of Parent  Common
Stock on the Nasdaq National  Market for the  Determination  Period;  is greater
than $33.99, then the Exchange Ratio shall be .50.

     If the average of the closing sale prices per share of Parent  Common Stock
on the Nasdaq National Market for the Determination  Period is less than $15.00,
then  either  Parent  or the  Company  shall  have the right to  terminate  this
Agreement pursuant to Article XII;

     (v) If at any time after the execution of this Agreement,  but prior to the
Effective Time, the  outstanding  shares of Parent Common Stock shall be 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,  or if a stock  dividend  thereon  shall be declared with a record
date within such period, the Exchange Ratio shall be correspondingly adjusted.



                                       4
<PAGE>

     (2)  Cancellation of Company  Treasury Stock.  All shares of Company Common
Stock which are held in the treasury of the Company  shall be canceled and shall
cease to exist.

     (b) Each  issued and  outstanding  share of  capital  stock of Sub shall be
converted into one validly issued,  fully paid and nonassessable share of common
stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation.

     Section 3.2. Appraisal Rights.  Notwithstanding  anything in this Agreement
to the contrary, but only in the circumstances and to the extent provided by the
Delaware  Corporation  Law,  shares of Company Common Stock that are outstanding
immediately   prior  to  the  Effective  Time  and  that  are  held  by  Company
Stockholders  who were  entitled to but did not vote such shares in favor of the
Merger and who shall have properly and timely delivered to the Company a written
demand for appraisal of their shares of Company Common Stock in accordance  with
the Delaware  Corporation Law ("Dissenting  Shares") shall not be converted into
the right to receive,  or be  exchangeable  for,  shares of Parent Common Stock.
Instead,  the holders  thereof shall be entitled to payment of the fair value of
such shares in accordance with the Delaware Corporation Law; provided,  however,
that (i) if any holder of  Dissenting  Shares  shall  subsequently  withdraw his
demand for  payment of the fair value of such  Dissenting  Shares or (ii) if any
holder fails to establish and perfect his  entitlement to the relief provided by
the  Delaware  Corporation  Law,  the rights and  obligations  of such holder to
receive  such fair value  shall  terminate,  and such  Dissenting  Shares  shall
thereupon  be deemed to have been  converted  into the right to receive,  and to
have become  exchangeable for, as of the Effective Time, shares of Parent Common
Stock in accordance  with Section 3.1(a)  hereof.  The Company shall give Parent
prompt notice of any demands received by the Company for appraisal of Dissenting
Shares,  and Parent shall have the right to participate in all  negotiations and
proceedings  with respect to such  demands.  Prior to the  Effective  Time,  the
Company will not make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer to settle,
the demands of any Dissenting Shares without the written consent of Parent.  The
Company shall comply with the notice provisions of the Delaware Corporation Law.

     Section 3.3. Parent to Make Certificates Available.

     (a) Prior to the Closing, Parent shall select a person or persons to act as
exchange  agent for the Merger (the "Exchange  Agent"),  which person or persons
shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company. On the Closing Date, Parent shall
deliver  to the  Exchange  Agent,  in  trust  for  the  benefit  of the  Company
Stockholders  (other than Company  Stockholders who hold Dissenting  Shares),  a
stock  certificate  (issued in the name of the  Exchange  Agent or its  nominee)
representing the Share  Consideration.  As soon as reasonably  practicable after
the  Effective  Time but in no event  more than  five  Business  Days  after the
Effective  Time,


                                       5
<PAGE>


Parent  shall  cause  the  Exchange  Agent  to send a  notice  and a  letter  of
transmittal   to  each  Company   Stockholder   advising   such  holder  of  the
effectiveness  of the Merger and the procedure for  surrendering to the Exchange
Agent for cancellation such holder's  certificates  representing  Company Common
Stock  ("Certificates"),  in exchange for the Share Consideration.  Each Company
Stockholder  will be entitled to receive,  upon  surrender to the Exchange Agent
for  cancellation of one or more  Certificates,  certificates  representing  the
number of shares of Parent  Common Stock into which such shares are converted in
the Merger,  without  consideration of fractional  shares as provided in Section
3.5. Parent Common Stock into which Company Common Stock shall be converted into
the right to receive in the  Merger  shall be deemed to have been  issued at the
Effective  Time  (the  "Share  Consideration").  In the event  that any  Company
Stockholder's  Certificates  have been lost,  stolen or destroyed,  such Company
Stockholder  will be  entitled  to receive  the Share  Consideration  only after
providing an affidavit of loss and indemnity  bond, in form  satisfactory to the
Exchange  Agent.

     (b) Any Company  Stockholder  who has not  exchanged his  Certificates  for
Parent Common Stock in accordance  with  subsection  (a) within six months after
the  Effective  Time shall have no further  claim upon the Exchange  Agent,  and
shall  thereafter look only to Parent and the Surviving  Corporation for payment
in  respect  of his  shares  of  Company  Common  Stock.  Until so  surrendered,
Certificates   shall   represent   solely  the  right  to   receive   the  Share
Consideration.  If any Certificates  entitled to payment pursuant to Section 3.1
shall not have been surrendered for such payment prior to such date on which any
payment in respect thereof would otherwise  escheat to or become the property of
any Governmental  Entity, the shares of Company Common Stock represented thereby
shall,  to the extent  permitted by applicable law, be deemed to be canceled and
no money or other property will be due to the holder thereof.

     Section 3.4. Dividends;  Transfer Taxes. No Distributions that are declared
or made with respect to Parent Common Stock will be paid to persons  entitled to
receive certificates representing Parent Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement
until such persons  surrender their  Certificates.  Upon such  surrender,  there
shall be paid to the person in whose  name the  certificates  representing  such
Parent  Common  Stock  shall be issued  Distributions  which  shall have  become
payable  with  respect to such Parent  Common  Stock in respect of a record date
after the Effective  Time. In no event shall the person entitled to receive such
Distributions  be entitled to receive  interest  on such  Distributions.  In the
event  that any  certificates  for any shares of Parent  Common  Stock are to be
issued  in a name  other  than  that in which the  Certificates  surrendered  in
exchange therefor are registered,  it shall be a condition of such exchange that
the Certificate or Certificates so surrendered  shall be properly endorsed or be
otherwise in proper form for transfer (including  signature  guarantee) and that
the person requesting such exchange


                                       6
<PAGE>


shall pay to the Exchange  Agent any transfer or other taxes  required by reason
of the issuance of certificates for such shares of Parent Common Stock in a name
other than that of the  registered  holder of the  Certificate  surrendered,  or
shall establish to the satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such tax has been
paid or is not applicable.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  neither the Exchange
Agent nor any  party  hereto  shall be  liable to a holder of shares of  Company
Common  Stock  for any  shares  of  Parent  Common  Stock or  dividends  thereon
delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable escheat laws.

     Section 3.5. No Fractional Securities.  Notwithstanding any other provision
of this  Agreement,  no  certificates  or  scrip  for  shares  of  common  stock
representing less than one share of Parent Common Stock shall be issued upon the
surrender  for  exchange of  Certificates  pursuant  to this  Article III and no
Distribution that is declared or made with respect to Parent Common Stock, stock
split or interest shall relate to any fractional  security,  and such fractional
interests  shall not  entitle  the owner  thereof  to vote or to any rights of a
security  holder.  Each  holder of  shares of  Company  Common  Stock  exchanged
pursuant  to the  Merger who would  otherwise  have been  entitled  to receive a
fraction  of a share of Parent  Common  Stock  (after  taking  into  account all
Certificates  delivered by such holder) shall  receive,  in lieu  thereof,  cash
(without  interest) in an amount equal to (x) such fractional part of a share of
Parent Common Stock multiplied by (y) the average of the closing sale prices per
share of Parent Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market for the Determination
Period.

     Section 3.6. Assumption and Conversion of Company Stock Options.

     (a) As soon as reasonably  practicable after the Effective Time, Parent and
the Company shall take all action necessary to cause each issued and outstanding
stock  option  held by those  persons  who will  continue  in the  employ of the
Company  following the Effective  Time (to the best of the Company's  knowledge,
such persons are set forth on Section 3.6(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule)
(each such  option is referred to herein as the  "Company  Stock  Option") to be
assumed by Parent  and  converted  without  any action on the part of the holder
thereof into an option (a "New Parent Stock  Option") to purchase  Parent Common
Stock,  exercisable  for a number of shares of Parent  Common Stock based on the
Exchange  Ratio  (rounded down to the nearest whole share),  with a proportional
adjustment of the exercise  price  (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) of the
new option so that the excess of the  aggregate  fair market value of the shares
subject to each New Parent Stock Option  immediately  after such conversion over
the aggregate  exercise  price of such new option is equivalent to the excess of
the  fair  market  value of the  shares  subject  to the  Company  Stock  Option
immediately  before such  conversion  over the aggregate  exercise price of such
Company Stock Option.  The holders of New Parent Stock Options will not be given
any additional  benefits which such holders did not have under the Company Stock
Options.


                                       7
<PAGE>


     (b) The Company shall not, except as specified  below,  amend or modify any
provision of the  Company's  1999  Incentive  Stock  Option Plan (the  "Employee
Plan") or the Company's  Non-Employee  Director Stock Option Plan (the "Director
Plan") or, except as specified below, amend or modify the terms or conditions of
any Company Stock Options  granted under the Employee Plan or the Director Plan.
From the date hereof to the  Effective  Time,  the Company shall make no further
grants under either the Employee Plan or the Director Plan,  including automatic
grants  to  non-employee  directors  of  the  Company.  As  soon  as  reasonably
practicable,  Parent  shall  deliver a letter to each holder of a Company  Stock
Option not exercised prior to the Effective Time evidencing  Parent's  intention
to assume such option and the right of the option  holder to purchase the number
of shares of Parent  Common Stock  following  the  Effective  Time as determined
under this Section 3.6 and Section 3.1.  After the Effective  Time, the Employee
Plan shall be  continued  in effect  pursuant to its terms by Parent  subject to
amendment,  modification  or  termination as provided  therein,  except that the
Employee Plan as so continued shall relate only to the issuance of Parent Common
Stock pursuant to New Parent Stock Options as provided in this Section 3.6.

     (c) The Company  shall take all action  necessary to terminate the Director
Plan and to cancel  all  outstanding  options  thereunder  prior to or as of the
Effective  Time.  In addition,  the Company  shall take all action  necessary to
cancel each outstanding option under the Employee Plan held by those persons who
will not continue in the employ of the Company  following the Effective Time (to
the best of the  Company's  knowledge,  such  persons  are set forth on  Section
3.6(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule).

     Section 3.7.  Closing of Company Transfer Books.  Immediately  prior to the
Effective  Time,  the Company Common Stock transfer books shall be closed and no
transfer of Company Common Stock shall thereafter be made.

     Section  3.8.  Stockholder  Approval.  The  Company  shall  take all action
necessary,   in  accordance   with   applicable  law  and  its   Certificate  of
Incorporation  and  By-Laws,  to  convene a special  meeting  of the  holders of
Company Common Stock (the "Company  Meeting") as promptly as practicable for the
purpose of  considering  and taking  action  upon this  Agreement.  The Board of
Directors of the Company has approved this  Agreement and the Merger and adopted
this  Agreement and deemed it advisable and in the best interests of the Company
and its  stockholders  and recommended that holders of Company Common Stock vote
in favor of and approve the Merger and the  adoption  of this  Agreement  at the
Company Meeting.


                                       8
<PAGE>


     Section  3.9.  Tax  Treatment.  The  Merger is  intended  to  constitute  a
reorganization  under  Section  368(a) of the Code,  and Parent and the  Company
shall  not  report  the  transaction  on any tax  return in a manner or take any
action inconsistent therewith.

                                   ARTICLE IV.

                  Representations and Warranties of the Company

     The Company  represents and warrants to Parent and Sub that,  except as set
forth in the  disclosure  schedule  attached  hereto  (the  "Company  Disclosure
Schedule"),  which Company  Disclosure  Schedule shall be arranged in paragraphs
corresponding to the numbered and lettered paragraphs  contained in this Article
IV and may be amended from time to time pursuant to the provisions hereof:

     Section 4.1.  Execution and Delivery.  The Company has the corporate  power
and  authority  to enter into this  Agreement  and each  agreement,  document or
instrument contemplated hereby or to be executed in connection herewith to which
the Company is a party (the  "Company  Documents")  and,  subject to approval of
this  Agreement  by the holders of the Company  Common  Stock,  to carry out its
obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution, delivery and performance of
this  Agreement  and  the  Company   Documents  and  the   consummation  of  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby  and  thereby  have  been  duly  and  validly
authorized by the Company's Board of Directors.  This Agreement  constitutes the
valid and binding  obligation  of the Company  and the Company  Documents,  when
executed and delivered, will constitute the valid and binding obligations of the
Company,  in each case  enforceable in accordance with their  respective  terms,
except as enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy,  insolvency or other similar
laws affecting the  enforcement of creditors'  rights  generally and except that
the  availability of equitable  remedies,  including  specific  performance,  is
subject to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding  therefor may
be  brought.  Except  for the  approval  of the  holders  of a  majority  of the
outstanding  shares of Company Common Stock, no other  corporate  proceedings on
the part of the  Company  are  necessary  after  the date of this  Agreement  to
authorize  this  Agreement  and  the  Company  Documents  and  the  transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby.

     Section 4.2.  Consents and  Approvals.  The  execution  and delivery by the
Company of this  Agreement and the Company  Documents,  the  performance  by the
Company of its obligations hereunder and thereunder, and the consummation by the
Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, as the case may be,
do not require the Company or its  Subsidiaries to obtain any consent,  approval
or action of, or make any filing or  registration  with,  or give any notice to,
any  person or any  Governmental  Entity,  other than (i) in  connection,  or in
compliance,  with the  provisions of the H-S-R Act and the Exchange  Act,  which
will be duly  obtained or made,  as the case may be, on


                                       9
<PAGE>


or prior to the  Closing,  and will be in full force and  effect on the  Closing
Date,  (ii) in the case of the  performance  by the  Company of its  obligations
hereunder and under the Company Documents and the consummation by the Company of
the transactions  contemplated hereby and by the Company Documents, the approval
of the holders of the Company  Common Stock as  specified in Section 4.1,  (iii)
the approval of the United  States Small  Business  Administration  (the "SBA"),
(iv) the filing of the  Certificate  of Merger  with the  Secretary  of State of
Delaware  and (v)  any  approvals  from  any  Party  required  under  any of the
Company's or its  Subsidiaries'  existing  financing  agreements as set forth on
Section 4.2(v) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

     Section  4.3. No Breach.  Except as set forth on Section 4.3 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule,  The execution,  delivery and performance by the Company of
this Agreement and the Company  Documents and the consummation by the Company of
the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and thereby in accordance with the terms
and  conditions  hereof and thereof  will not (i) violate any  provision  of the
Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws of the Company;  (ii) violate,  conflict
with or result in the breach of any of the terms of, result in any  modification
of the  effect  of,  otherwise  give any  other  contracting  party the right to
terminate, or constitute (or with notice or lapse of time or both, constitute) a
default  under,  any  contract or other  agreement  or  instrument  to which the
Company is a party or by or to which the assets or properties of the Company may
be bound or subject;  (iii) violate any order,  judgment,  injunction,  award or
decree of any  Governmental  Entity  against,  or binding upon, or any agreement
with,  or  condition  imposed  by, any  Governmental  Entity,  binding  upon the
Company, or upon the securities, assets or business of the Company; (iv) violate
any statute,  law or regulation  of any  jurisdiction  as such  statute,  law or
regulation relates to the Company,  or to the securities,  assets or business of
the  Company;  (v) result in the  creation  or  imposition  of any lien or other
encumbrance or the  acceleration of any  indebtedness or other obligation of the
Company or its Subsidiaries; or (vi) result in the breach of any of the terms or
conditions of,  constitute a default under,  or otherwise  cause a violation of,
any  Permit  of the  Company  or its  Subsidiaries;  except  in the case of (ii)
through   (vi)   above,   for   violations,   conflicts,   breaches,   defaults,
modifications,   impairments,  liens  or  other  encumbrances  that  would  not,
individually  or in  the  aggregate,  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on the
business, properties,  assets, condition (financial or otherwise),  liabilities,
operations or prospects of the Company or its Subsidiaries,  or adversely affect
the consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby (a "Company  Material
Adverse Effect").

     Section  4.4.  Organization,  Standing  and  Authority.  The  Company  is a
corporation duly  incorporated,  validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the  State  of  Delaware  and  has all  requisite  corporate  power  and
authority to own,  lease and operate its assets,  properties and business and to
carry on its



                                       10
<PAGE>


business as now being  conducted  or  currently  proposed to be  conducted.  The
Company is duly  qualified as a foreign  corporation  to do business,  and is in
good standing,  in each jurisdiction where the character of its properties owned
or held under  lease or the nature of such  activities  make such  qualification
necessary,  except where the failure to so qualify would not, individually or in
the aggregate,  have a Company Material Adverse Effect.  All such  jurisdictions
are set forth on Section 4.4 of the Company Disclosure  Schedule.  The copies of
the Certificate of Incorporation  and By-Laws of the Company included as part of
Section 4.4 of the Company Disclosure  Schedule constitute accurate and complete
copies of such organizational  instruments and accurately reflect all amendments
thereto through the date hereof.

     Section 4.5. Capitalization of the Company. The authorized capital stock of
the Company  consists of 5,000,000  shares of Company Common Stock and 1,000,000
shares of Company  Preferred  Stock. As of the date of this Agreement there were
1,745,600  shares of Company  Common  Stock and no shares of  Company  Preferred
Stock outstanding. As of the date hereof, there are no bonds, debentures,  notes
or other  indebtedness  having  the  right to vote on any  matters  on which the
Company's  stockholders  may vote  issued  or  outstanding.  Section  4.5 of the
Company  Disclosure  Schedule sets forth a true and complete list as of the date
indicated of the holders of all (i)  outstanding  shares of Company Common Stock
and (ii) outstanding  Company Stock Options,  showing as to each such holder the
number of shares of Company Common Stock, or Company Stock Options so held, such
holder's  mailing address and in the case of Company Stock Options,  the date of
grant,  vesting  schedule and exercise  price of all such Company Stock Options.
All  outstanding  shares of Company  Common  Stock are duly  authorized  and are
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of preemptive rights.

     Section 4.6. Options and Other Stock Rights. Except for options to purchase
Company Common Stock  outstanding under the Company's 1999 Stock Option Plan and
the Company's Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan, each as amended to date,
there is no (i) outstanding option,  warrant, call, unsatisfied preemptive right
or other  agreement  of any kind to purchase or  otherwise  to receive  from the
Company  any  of the  outstanding,  authorized  but  unissued,  unauthorized  or
treasury  shares of Company Common Stock,  Company  Preferred Stock or any other
security of the Company,  (ii) outstanding security of any kind convertible into
any security of the Company,  and (iii) outstanding  contract or other agreement
to  purchase,  redeem or  otherwise  acquire any  outstanding  shares of Company
Common Stock, Company Preferred Stock or any other security of the Company.

     Section 4.7. Subsidiaries.

     (a) Section 4.7 of the Company Disclosure  Schedule sets forth (i) the name
of  each  subsidiary  of  the  Company;


                                       11
<PAGE>

(ii) the name of each  corporation,  partnership,  joint venture or other entity
(other than such  subsidiaries)  in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries
has, or pursuant to any  agreement has the right or obligation to acquire at any
time by any means,  directly or  indirectly,  an equity  interest or investment;
(iii) in the case of each of such corporations described in clauses (i) and (ii)
above, (A) the jurisdiction of incorporation and (B) the capitalization  thereof
and the percentage of each class of capital stock (including any rights, options
or warrants  outstanding or other agreements to acquire shares of capital stock)
and  issuances  of  outstanding  debt  owned  by  the  Company  or  any  of  its
subsidiaries and by any other Person.

     (b) Each  subsidiary  of the  Company  listed in Section 4.7 of the Company
Disclosure  Schedule has been duly  organized,  is validly  existing and in good
standing  under  the  laws  of the  jurisdiction  of its  organization,  has the
corporate power and authority to own and lease its properties and to conduct its
business and is duly registered,  qualified and authorized to transact  business
and is in good  standing  in each  jurisdiction  in  which  the  conduct  of its
business  or  the  nature  of  its   properties   requires  such   registration,
qualification  or  authorization,  except  where the failure to be so  qualified
would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.  All
of the issued and outstanding  equity or other  participating  interests of each
subsidiary  have been duly  authorized  and validly  issued,  are fully paid and
non-assessable,  and, to the extent owned by the Company as indicated in Section
4.7 of the  Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  are  owned  free  and  clear  of any
mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance,  security interest, claim or equity, except
as set forth in Section 4.7 of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

     (c) As of the date hereof,  excluding  assets  acquired as a result of loan
foreclosures and receivables on assets acquired as a result of loan foreclosures
and except as listed in Section 4.7 or Section  4.17 of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule,  the Company has not made any advances to or investments  in, and does
not own any securities of or other interests in, any other person.

     Section 4.8.  Corporate  Records.  The Company has heretofore  delivered to
Parent true and  complete  copies of the minute books of the Company and each of
its  Subsidiaries  for the  five  years  prior to the date  hereof  through  and
including  the date hereof and, all as in effect on the date hereof.  The minute
books of the Company  reflect all actions  taken at all meetings and consents in
lieu of meetings of  stockholders,  and all actions  taken at all  meetings  and
consents  in lieu of  meetings  of the  Company's  Board  of  Directors  and all
committees thereof.

     Section 4.9. Information in Disclosure  Documents.  None of the information
with respect to the Company or its  Subsidiaries to be included in (i) the joint
prospectus/proxy


                                       12
<PAGE>


statement  of the  Company and Parent  (the  "Proxy  Statement")  required to be
mailed to the  stockholders  of the  Company and Parent in  connection  with the
Merger and (ii) the  Registration  Statement to be filed with the  Commission by
Parent on Form N-14 under the Securities Act for the purpose of registering  the
shares of Parent  Common  Stock to be issued in the  Merger  (the  "Registration
Statement")  will,  in the case of the  Proxy  Statement  or any  amendments  or
supplements  thereto,  at the time of the mailing of the Proxy Statement and any
amendments or supplements  thereto,  and at the time of the Company Meeting, or,
in the case of the Registration  Statement, at the time it becomes effective and
at the Effective Date,  contain any untrue  statement of a material fact or omit
to state any material fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary in order
to make the statements  therein,  in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not  misleading;  provided,  however,  that this provision  shall not
apply  to  statements  or  omissions  in the  Registration  Statement  or  Proxy
Statement based upon information  furnished by Parent for use therein. The Proxy
Statement will comply as to form in all material respects with the provisions of
the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.  No representation or
warranty  made by the  Company  contained  in this  Agreement  and no  statement
contained in any certificate,  list,  exhibit or other  instrument  specified in
this Agreement, including without limitation the Company Disclosure Schedule, as
the same may be amended pursuant to the provisions  hereof,  contains any untrue
statement  of a  material  fact or omits or will omit to state a  material  fact
necessary  to  make  the  statements   contained   therein,   in  light  of  the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.


                                       13
<PAGE>


     Section 4.10. SEC Documents; Financial Statements.

     (a) The Company and its Subsidiaries  have filed and will file with the SEC
all forms, reports, schedules,  statements,  exhibits and other documents (other
than  registration  statements on Form S-8 or reports on Form 11-K, in each case
relating to employee benefit plans) (collectively,  the "Company SEC Documents")
required  to be  filed  on or  before  the  date  hereof  or the  Closing  Date,
respectively,  by it under the  Securities  Act or the Exchange Act. The Company
has furnished or made available to Parent true and correct copies of all Company
SEC Documents filed by the Company and its  Subsidiaries  since July 1, 1998 and
will promptly  furnish to Parent any other  Company SEC Document  filed by or on
behalf of the Company with the SEC from the date hereof to the Closing  Date. At
the time filed,  the Company SEC  Documents  filed by the Company  since July 1,
1998 (i) did not  contain  any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omit to
state a material  fact  required to be stated  therein or  necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made,  not  misleading  and (ii)  complied  in all  material  respects  with the
applicable  requirements  of the Securities Act or Exchange Act, as the case may
be.

     (b) The audited  consolidated  financial  statements of the Company and its
Subsidiaries for the three years ended June 30, 1999,  together with the reports
and opinions  thereon of Marcum & Kliegman,  LLP and the unaudited  consolidated
financial  statements  of the Company for the three months ended  September  30,
1999 and December 31, 1999 (the "Company Interim Financial  Statements"),  which
are included in the Company SEC Documents and have  previously been delivered to
Parent,   are  collectively   referred  to  herein  as  the  "Company  Financial
Statements".  The Company Financial Statements comply as to form in all material
respects with  applicable  accounting  requirements  and the published rules and
regulations of the SEC with respect thereto; and fairly present, in all material
respects, on a consolidated basis, the financial position of the Company at, and
the  results of its  operations  for,  each of the  periods  then ended and were
prepared  in  conformity  with GAAP  applied on a  consistent  basis,  except as
otherwise  disclosed  therein and,  subject,  in the case of the Company Interim
Financial Statements,  to normal year-end  adjustments,  the absence of footnote
disclosures, and any other adjustments described therein.

     Section 4.11. Liabilities.

     (a) Except as listed in Section  4.11 of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule,
the Company and its  Subsidiaries do not have any direct or indirect  liability,
contingent  or  otherwise,  that is required by GAAP to be reflected or reserved
for  on  the   financial   statements   of  the   Company   (collectively,   the
"Liabilities"),  that was not  adequately  reflected or reserved  against on the
Audited  Financial  Statements  for the  period  ended


                                       14
<PAGE>


June 30, 1999 or on the Company Interim Financial  Statements for the nine-month
period ended March 31, 2000, other than (i) liabilities incurred in the ordinary
course of business since July 1, 1999 consistent  with past  practices,  or (ii)
liabilities  permitted by this  Agreement to be incurred in connection  with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     (b) No  payments  are  due  to the  SBA  as a  result  of the  transactions
contemplated  hereby,  including,  without  limitation,  any accrued interest or
dividends  resulting from the Company's previous  repurchase of its 3% preferred
stock from the SBA.

     Section 4.12. No Material  Adverse  Change.  Except as disclosed in Section
4.12 of the Company Disclosure Schedule,  since June 30, 1999, there has been no
material  adverse change in the  management,  assets,  Liabilities,  properties,
business, operations, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of
the Company or its Subsidiaries.

     Section 4.13.  Compliance with Laws. Except as disclosed in Section 4.13 of
the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries are in
violation of any applicable order, judgment,  injunction,  award or decree, law,
ordinance or  regulation or any other  requirement  of any  Governmental  Entity
applicable to the Company or any of its businesses.  Neither the Company nor its
Subsidiaries  received  notice that any such  violation  has been  alleged or is
being investigated.

     Section 4.14.  Permits.  The Company and its Subsidiaries have obtained all
Permits that are necessary  for the  ownership and conduct of its  businesses as
presently  conducted  or  currently  proposed  to be  conducted,  other than any
Permits, the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate,  have
a Company Material Adverse Effect; such Permits are in full force and effect and
are  sufficient  for the ownership  and conduct of such  businesses as presently
conducted or currently  proposed to be conducted;  no  violations  exist or have
been recorded in respect of any Permit;  and no proceeding is pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company or its  Subsidiaries,  threatened,  that would suspend,
revoke or limit any Permit.

     Section 4.15.  Actions and  Proceedings.  There are no outstanding  orders,
judgments,  injunctions, awards or decrees of any Governmental Entity against or
involving  the Company,  its  Subsidiaries  or any of the  Company's  directors,
officers or  employees  (in their  capacities  as such).  Except as disclosed in
Section  4.15  of the  Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  as of the  date  of  this
Agreement there is no claim, action, suit, litigation,  legal, administrative or
arbitration   proceeding,   whether  formal  or  informal  (including,   without
limitation,  any claim or notice of intent to institute  any  matter),  which is
pending or, to the  Company's  knowledge,  threatened  against or involving  the
Company,  its  Subsidiaries  or any  of the  Company's  directors,  officers  or
employees (in their capacities as such) or properties, capital stock or assets.


                                       15
<PAGE>


     Section 4.16. Contracts and Other Agreements.

     (a) Section 4.16 of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule  sets forth as of the
date of this  Agreement  each  contract and other  agreement as described  below
(whether or not in  writing)  which is  currently  in effect  (unless  indicated
otherwise below) to which the Company or its Subsidiaries is a party or by or to
which its assets or properties are bound,  excluding  agreements  with portfolio
companies included in the Company's or its Subsidiaries' investment portfolios:

          (i) contracts and other agreements with any current or former officer,
     director,  employee,  consultant,  agent  or  other  representative  of the
     Company,  other than  pursuant to Plans  described  in Section  4.23 of the
     Company Disclosure Schedule;

          (ii)  contracts  and  other   agreements   with  any  labor  union  or
     association representing any employee;

          (iii)  contracts  and other  agreements  for the  purchase  or sale of
     equipment or services,  which involve the receipt or payment by the Company
     or its  Subsidiaries  of an amount  in  excess of $2,000  per month (in the
     aggregate  in the  case  of any  related  series  of  contracts  and  other
     agreements);

          (iv) contracts and other  agreements for the sale of any of the assets
     or  properties of the Company or its  Subsidiaries  or for the grant to any
     person  of any  preferential  rights  to  purchase  any of  the  assets  or
     properties of the Company or its Subsidiaries, which involve the receipt or
     payment  by the  Company  or its  Subsidiaries  of an  amount  in excess of
     $10,000 (in the  aggregate  in the case of any related  series of contracts
     and other agreements);

          (v) contracts and other agreements  calling for an aggregate  purchase
     price or  payments  in any one year of more  than  $10,000  payable  by the
     Company or its  Subsidiaries  in any one case (in the aggregate in the case
     of any related series of contracts and other agreements);

          (vi)  contracts  and other  agreements,  whether or not  currently  in
     effect,  relating to the acquisition by the Company or its  Subsidiaries of
     any business of, or the  disposition of any business  involving the Company
     or its Subsidiaries to, any other person;


                                       16
<PAGE>


          (vii)  contracts  relating to the  disposition  or  acquisition of any
     investment or of any interest in any person,  which involved the receipt or
     payment  by the  Company  or its  Subsidiaries  of an  amount  in excess of
     $10,000 (in the  aggregate  in the case of any related  series of contracts
     and other agreements);

          (viii) joint  venture and similar  agreements  which would involve the
     receipt  or  payment by the  Company  or its  Subsidiaries  of an amount in
     excess of $50,000 (in the  aggregate  in the case of any related  series of
     contracts or other agreements);

          (ix)  contracts  and other  agreements,  whether or not  currently  in
     effect, under which the Company or its Subsidiaries agreed to indemnify any
     party or to share tax  liability  of any party,  which  could  involve  the
     payment  by the  Company  or its  Subsidiaries  of an  amount  in excess of
     $10,000 (in the aggregate in the case of any related series of contracts or
     other agreements);

          (x) contracts and other agreements containing covenants of the Company
     or  its  Subsidiaries,  or,  to  the  Company's  knowledge,  its  officers,
     directors or employees,  not to compete in or solicit employees in any line
     of business or with any person in any geographical area or covenants of any
     other person not to compete with or solicit  employees  from the Company in
     any line of business or in any geographical area;

          (xi) contracts and other agreements relating to the making of any loan
     or other  extension of credit by the Company or its  Subsidiaries or of any
     loan by the  Company  or its  Subsidiaries  to a  stockholder,  officer  or
     director of the Company or its  Subsidiaries  or from a stockholder  of the
     Company to the Company;

          (xii)  contracts  and other  agreements  relating to the  borrowing of
     money by, or indebtedness of, the Company or its Subsidiaries or the direct
     or indirect  guaranty by the Company or its  Subsidiaries of any obligation
     or indebtedness of any other person or Governmental  Entity (other than any
     accounts   receivable   or   accounts   payable  of  the   Company  or  its
     Subsidiaries),   including,   without  limitation,  any


                                       17
<PAGE>

     (a) agreement or arrangement  relating to the  maintenance of  compensating
     balances, (b) agreement or arrangement with respect to lines of credit, (c)
     agreement  to advance or supply funds to any other person other than in the
     ordinary course of business, (d) agreement to pay for property, products or
     services of any other  person even if such  property,  products or services
     are not  conveyed,  delivered or rendered,  (e)  keep-well,  make-whole  or
     maintenance of working  capital or earnings or similar  agreement,  and (f)
     guaranty with respect to any lease or other similar periodic payments to be
     made by any such person;

          (xiii) contracts and other agreements  relating to the provision by or
     to the Company of third party management or administration  services, which
     involve  the receipt or payment by the  Company or its  Subsidiaries  of an
     amount in excess of $10,000  (in the  aggregate  in the case of any related
     series of contracts and other agreements);

          (xiv) each Lease and lease of personal  property which requires annual
     lease payments in excess of $10,000;

          (xv) contracts and other  agreements  pursuant to which the Company or
     its Subsidiaries obtains or grants insurance or reinsurance;

          (xvi)  contracts  and other  agreements  between  the  Company  or its
     Subsidiaries and any Governmental Entity;

          (xvii) contracts and other agreements which require payments generated
     by a change in control of the Company;

          (xviii) contracts and other agreements with any stockholder,  director
     or officer of the Company; and

          (xix)  contracts  and other  agreements,  whether or not  currently in
     effect,  relating to disposal of any  controlled or hazardous  substance or
     waste.

     (c) There have been  delivered  to Parent prior to the date hereof true and
complete  copies  of all of the  contracts  and  other  agreements  set forth in
Section 4.16 of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule.  Each such contract and other
agreement is valid, in full force and effect and binding upon the Company or its
Subsidiaries  and, to the  Company's  knowledge,  the other  parties  thereto in
accordance with its terms, and the Company or its Subsidiaries is not in default
under any of them and the


                                       18
<PAGE>


Company  has  no  knowledge  of  any  threat  of   cancellation  or  termination
thereunder,  nor will the consummation of the transactions  contemplated by this
Agreement  result in a default under any such contract or other agreement or the
right to  terminate  such  contract  or other  agreement.  No  Permits  or other
documents or agreements with, or issued by or filed with, any person,  have been
granted to any other  person that  provide the right to use any real or tangible
personal property  comprising any portion of the assets of the Company.  Neither
the  Company  nor its  Subsidiaries  are a party  to any  contract,  commitment,
arrangement  or  agreement  which  would,  following  the  Closing,  restrain or
restrict  Parent or any affiliate of Parent,  from operating the business of the
Company or its Subsidiaries in the manner in which it is currently operated.

     Section 4.17. Investment Portfolio.

     (a) The Company's and its Subsidiaries' investment portfolios were acquired
in the  ordinary  course  of  business,  and a true  and  complete  list  of the
investments in such portfolio,  as of the date hereof, with information included
thereon as to the principal terms of, principal  balance,  and amount of accrued
interest  thereof,  and the  collateral  thereon (if any),  as of such date,  is
listed in Section 4.17 of the Company Disclosure  Schedule.  Except as disclosed
in Section  4.17 of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  none of the  investments
included in such portfolio is in default in the payment of principal or interest
or materially impaired.  By virtue of the preemption provisions contained in the
Small  Business  Investment  Act of 1958,  the loans  included in the  Company's
investment  portfolio  need not comply with the laws and  regulations of each of
the various  states in which the Company does business or in which the Company's
borrowers are located.

     (b)  Each  contract  and  other  agreement   between  the  Company  or  its
Subsidiaries and the portfolio companies in which either has invested, is valid,
in full force and effect and binding upon the Company or its  Subsidiaries  and,
to the Company's  knowledge,  the other parties  thereto in accordance  with its
terms,  and neither the Company nor its  Subsidiaries is in default under any of
them  and  the  Company  has no  knowledge  of any  threat  of  cancellation  or
termination   thereunder,   nor  will  the   consummation  of  the  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement  result in a default under any such contract or
other agreement or the right to terminate such contract or other agreement.

     Section 4.18. Real Property.

     (a) Section 4.18 of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule sets forth (i) a list
and summary description of all leases, subleases, licenses, occupancy agreements
or  other  agreements,  written  and  oral,  together  with  any  amendments  or
modifications  thereto  (each a "Lease" and  collectively,  the  "Leases")  with
respect to (A) all real  property  leased by the  Company  and its


                                       19
<PAGE>


Subsidiaries  (whether as lessor or lessee and  including  those in the names of
nominees or other entities) and used or occupied in connection with the business
of the Company or its Subsidiaries (the "Leased Real Property") and (B) all real
property  leased or subleased by the Company or its  Subsidiaries,  as lessor or
sublessor,  to  third  parties  (such  Section  4.18 of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule to include the date of each Lease, the address of the respective Leased
Real Property, the amount of square feet of such Leased Real Property, the Lease
term commencement  date, the Lease term expiration date, any renewal options and
any early  termination  provisions  in each case with respect to each portion of
the Leased Real Property);  and (ii) a list and summary  description of all real
property owned by the Company or its Subsidiaries (the "Owned Real Property").

     (b) Each Lease is, with  respect to the Company  and its  Subsidiaries,  in
full force and  effect,  and to the  Company's  knowledge,  is in full force and
effect  with  respect  to  each  other  party  thereto.   The  Company  and  its
Subsidiaries have performed all obligations  required to be performed by them to
date under,  and are not in default in respect  of, any Lease,  and no event has
occurred which,  with due notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such
a default by the Company or its  Subsidiaries.  To the knowledge of the Company,
there is no default asserted thereunder by any other party thereto and there are
no unasserted defaults. All rentals and other payments due under each such Lease
have been duly paid.

     (c) The  Company's or its  Subsidiaries',  as the case may be, title to the
Owned Real Property and improvements  thereon is as set forth on Section 4.18(c)
of the  Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  subject  only  to the  title  exceptions
specified  therein.  None of the Owned Real  Property is subject to any right or
option of any other  person,  firm,  corporation  or other entity to purchase or
otherwise obtain title to such property. No Person other than the Company or its
Subsidiaries,  as the case may be, has any right to use,  occupy or lease all or
any portion of the Owned Real Property.  The real property  comprising the Owned
Real Property is designated as a separate tax lot.

     The Company or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, shall, upon request by
Parent,  deliver to Parent preliminary title commitments ("Title  Commitments"),
and documents of record for all of the Owned Real Property.  Except as set forth
on Section 4.18 of the Company Disclosure Schedule,  the Title Commitments cover
title to each  parcel  of Owned  Real  Property,  commit to the  issuance  of an
American Land Title  Association  Owner's  title  insurance  policy  showing fee
simple title in the Company or its Subsidiaries,  as the case may be, subject to
the title  exceptions  set forth  therein,  and contain a commitment  to provide
(where  available)  extended  coverage  over the  general  exceptions  contained
therein.


                                       20
<PAGE>


     (d) The  Company  has not  received  any  notice  of any  violation  of any
applicable  building,   zoning,  land  use  or  other  similar  statutes,  laws,
ordinances,  regulations,  permits  or other  requirements  (including,  without
limitation,  the Americans with  Disabilities  Act) in respect of the Owned Real
Property and the Leased Real Properties, which has not been heretofore remedied,
and there  does not  exist any such  violations  which,  individually  or in the
aggregate,  could have a Company  Material  Adverse Effect.  The Company has not
received any notice that any  operations  on or uses of the Owned Real  Property
and  the  Leased  Real  Properties  constitute  non-conforming  uses  under  any
applicable  building,   zoning,  land  use  or  other  similar  statutes,  laws,
ordinances,  regulations,  permits or other  requirements.  The  Company  has no
knowledge  of nor has  received  any notice  (other  than  published  notice not
actually received) of any pending or contemplated  rezoning proceeding affecting
the Owned Real Property and the Leased Real Properties.

     (e) Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries  have received notice from any
insurance  carrier  regarding defects or inadequacies in the Owned Real Property
or the  Leased  Real  Properties,  which,  if not  corrected,  would  result  in
termination of the Company's or its Subsidiaries' insurance coverage therefor or
an increase in the cost thereof.

     (f) To the knowledge of the Company, there is no pending or threatened: (i)
condemnation  of any part of the  Leased  Real  Properties  by any  Governmental
Entity;  (ii) special  assessment against any part of the Owned Real Property or
the Leased Real Properties;  or (iii) litigation  against the Company for breach
of any restrictive covenant affecting any part of the Owned Real Property or the
Leased Real Properties.

     (g)  The  improvements  at the  Owned  Real  Property  or the  Leased  Real
Properties  are in good  condition and repair,  ordinary wear and tear excepted,
and have not suffered any casualty or other damage which has not been repaired.

     Section 4.19. Intellectual Property.

     (a) The Company and its Subsidiaries own or otherwise possess all rights as
are  necessary  to  use,  all  patents  (and  applications   therefor),   patent
disclosures,  trademarks, service marks, trade names, registered copyrights (and
applications therefor), inventions,  discoveries,  processes, know-how, systems,
scientific,  technical,  engineering and marketing data,  software  programs and
codes (both source and object), formulae and techniques used in or necessary for
the conduct of its business (collectively, "Intellectual Property Rights").

     (b)  Neither  the Company nor its  Subsidiaries  have  received  notice nor
otherwise has reason to know of any conflict or alleged conflict with the rights
of others pertaining to the Intellectual  Property Rights. The businesses of the
Company and


                                       21
<PAGE>


its Subsidiaries,  as presently  conducted,  do not infringe upon or violate any
intellectual  property rights of others.  The Company and its Subsidiaries  have
the unrestricted right to use, free and clear of any rights or claims of others,
all trade secrets,  processes,  customer lists and other rights  incident to its
businesses as now conducted.

     (c) Neither the Company nor its  Subsidiaries  is  currently  obligated  or
under any existing  liability to make royalty or other payments to any owner of,
licensor of, or other claimant to, any patent,  trademark,  service names, trade
names, copyrights, or other intangible asset, with respect to the use thereof or
in connection with the conduct of its business as now conducted or otherwise. To
the  Company's  knowledge,  no employee of the Company or its  Subsidiaries  has
violated any employment agreement or proprietary  information agreement which he
had with a previous  employer  or any patent  policy of such  employer,  or is a
party to or threatened by any  litigation  concerning  any patents,  trademarks,
trade secrets, service names, trade names, copyrights, licenses and the like.

     Section 4.20.  Receivables . All accounts receivable and vendor receivables
reflected  in  the  Company  Interim  Financial  Statements,  and  all  accounts
receivable and vendor receivables arising subsequent to June 30, 1999, represent
bona fide transactions that have arisen in the ordinary course of business,  are
valid and existing and represent  moneys due. The Company has made and will make
adjustments  to the carrying  value of such  receivables  reasonably  considered
adequate for  receivables not collectible in the ordinary course of its business
in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied.

     Section  4.21.  Banking.  Section 4.21 of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule
contains a complete  list of all of the bank  accounts and lines of credit owned
or used by the Company and its  Subsidiaries,  and the names of all persons with
authority  to  withdraw  funds from,  or execute  drafts or checks on, each such
account.

     Section  4.22.  Liens.  Except as set forth on Section  4.22 of the Company
Disclosure  Schedule,  the Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable
title to all of its  respective  assets  and  properties,  in each case free and
clear  of any  lien  or  other  encumbrance,  except  for  (i)  liens  or  other
encumbrances securing taxes, assessments, governmental charges or levies, or the
claims of materialmen,  carriers,  landlords and like persons,  all of which are
not yet  delinquent or which are being  contested in good faith or (ii) liens or
other  encumbrances  of a character  that do not  detract  from the value of the
property  subject  thereto or impair  the use of or the  access to the  property
subject  thereto,  or impair the operation of the Company or its Subsidiaries or
detract from their businesses.


                                       22
<PAGE>


     Section 4.23. Employee Benefit Plans.

     (a)  Section  4.23(a) of the  Company  Disclosure  Schedule  sets forth all
"employee  benefit  plans",  as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA,  and all other
employee  benefit   arrangements  or  payroll  practices,   including,   without
limitation,  any such arrangements or payroll practices providing severance pay,
sick  leave,  vacation  pay,  salary  continuation  for  disability,  retirement
benefits,  deferred  compensation,  bonus pay,  incentive  pay,  stock  options,
hospitalization  insurance,  medical insurance, life insurance,  scholarships or
tuition  reimbursements,  maintained  by the  Company or to which the Company is
obligated  to  contribute  thereunder  for  current or former  employees  of the
Company  or to which  the  Company  has  contributed  or has been  obligated  to
contribute thereunder within the six-year period preceding the date hereof. Each
of the employee  benefit plans,  practices and arrangements set forth in Section
4.23 of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule  shall  hereafter  be referred to as a
"Plan" (or "Plans" as the context may require).

     (b) None of the Plans is a  "multiemployer  plan," as  defined  in  Section
3(37) of ERISA or a "defined  benefit  plan," as  defined  in  Section  3(35) of
ERISA.

     (c) Each of the Plans that are intended to qualify under Section  401(a) of
the Code, and the trusts maintained pursuant thereto, have been determined to be
exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501 of the Code by the IRS (or
remain   within  the  remedial   amendment   period  for  obtaining  an  initial
determination  of exemption  from tax), and nothing has occurred with respect to
the operation of any such Plan which could cause the loss of such  qualification
or exemption or the imposition of any  liability,  penalty or tax under ERISA or
the Code.

     (d) All  contributions  (including all employer  contributions and employee
salary reduction contributions) required to have been made under the Plans or by
law to any funds or trusts  established  thereunder or in  connection  therewith
have been made by the due date thereof (including any valid extensions), and all
contributions  for any period ending on or before the  Effective  Time which are
not yet due will have been paid or accrued on or prior to the Effective Time.

     (e) There has been no violation of ERISA,  the Code or other applicable law
with  respect  to the  filing  of  applicable  reports,  documents  and  notices
regarding  the  Plans  with  the  Secretary  of Labor  or the  Secretary  of the
Treasury,  or the  furnishing of required  reports,  documents or notices to the
participants or beneficiaries of the Plans.

     (f) True,  correct and complete  copies of the  following  documents,  with
respect to each of the Plans, have been delivered to Parent by the Company:  (i)
all plans and related trust  documents,  and amendments  thereto;  (ii) the most
recent IRS Forms 5500; (iii) the last IRS determination letter; and (iv) summary
plan descriptions.


                                       23
<PAGE>


     (g) There  are no  pending  actions,  claims or  lawsuits  which  have been
asserted or instituted  against the Plans, the assets of any of the trusts under
such  plans or the  plan  sponsor  or the plan  administrator,  or  against  any
fiduciary of the Plans with  respect to the  operation of such Plans (other than
routine benefit claims or actions seeking qualified  domestic relations orders),
nor does the Company have knowledge of any threatened claim or lawsuit.

     (h) The Plans have been  maintained in accordance with their terms and with
all  provisions  of  ERISA  and  the  Code  (including   rules  and  regulations
thereunder) and other  applicable  federal and state laws and  regulations,  and
neither the Company nor any "party in  interest" or  "disqualified  person" with
respect  to the Plans has  engaged  in a  "prohibited  transaction"  within  the
meaning  of  Section  406 of ERISA  or 4975 of the Code  that  could  result  in
liability to the Company or Parent. No fiduciary has any liability for breach of
fiduciary  duty or any other  failure  to act or comply in  connection  with the
administration or investment of the assets of any Plan.

     (i) None of the Plans  provide  retiree  life or  retiree  health  benefits
except as may be required under  applicable state law, Section 4980B of the Code
or  Section  601  of  ERISA  or  at  the  expense  of  the  participant  or  the
participant's beneficiary.  The Company have complied with the notice and health
care  continuation  requirements  of Section  4980B of the Code and Sections 601
through 608 of ERISA.  (j) Neither the execution and delivery of this  Agreement
nor the consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby will (i) result in
any payment  becoming  due to any employee  (current,  former or retired) of the
Company,  (ii) increase any benefits  otherwise  payable under any Plan or (iii)
result in the  acceleration  of the time of payment  or vesting of any  benefits
under any Plan.

     Section 4.24. Employee Relations.

     (a) The  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  are in  compliance  with  all laws
regarding employment, wages, hours, equal opportunity, collective bargaining and
payment  of social  security  and  other  taxes.  Neither  the  Company  nor its
Subsidiaries  is  engaged  in  any  unfair  labor  practice  or   discriminatory
employment practice and no complaint of any such practice against the Company or
its Subsidiaries has been filed or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened to be
filed  with or by the  National  Labor  Relations  Board,  the Equal  Employment
Opportunity  Commission or any other  administrative  agency,  federal or state,
that regulates labor or employment practices,  nor is any grievance filed or, to


                                       24
<PAGE>


the  Company's  knowledge,  threatened  to be filed,  against the Company or its
Subsidiaries  by any employee  pursuant to any  collective  bargaining  or other
employment  agreement  to which the Company is a party or is bound.  The Company
and its  Subsidiaries  are in compliance with all applicable  foreign,  federal,
state and local laws and regulations  regarding  occupational  safety and health
standards,  and has received no complaints from any foreign,  federal,  state or
local  agency  or  regulatory  body  alleging  violations  of any such  laws and
regulations.

     (b)  Except as set  forth on  Section  4.24(b)  of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule,  the  employment  of all  persons  employed  by the  Company  and  its
Subsidiaries  is terminable at will without any penalty or severance  obligation
of any kind on the part of the employer.  All sums due for employee compensation
and benefits and all vacation time owing to any employees of the Company and its
Subsidiaries have been duly and adequately  accrued on the accounting records of
the  Company  and  its  Subsidiaries.  All  employees  of the  Company  and  its
Subsidiaries  are either United States citizens or resident aliens  specifically
authorized to engage in  employment in the United States in accordance  with all
applicable laws.

     Section 4.25.  Insurance.  Section 4.25 of the Company Disclosure  Schedule
sets forth a list of all  policies  or binders  of errors and  omissions,  fire,
liability,  product  liability,  workmen's  compensation,  vehicular  and  other
insurance held by or on behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries (collectively,
the "Insurance Policies").  Such Insurance Policies are in full force and effect
and are in  amounts  of a  nature  which  are  adequate  and  customary  for the
Company's business. In addition, Section 4.25 of the Company Disclosure Schedule
sets forth in respect of the Insurance Policies (i) a description of occurrences
reported  involving  amounts in excess of $10,000 and (ii) the aggregate  amount
paid out under each such policy  during the period from  January 1, 1995 through
the date hereof.  There have been no disputes  regarding denial or nonpayment of
claims under any Insurance Policy.

     Section 4.26. Officers, Directors, Employees,  Consultants. Section 4.26 of
the  Company  Disclosure  Schedule  sets forth (i) the name of each  officer and
director of the Company and the amount of  compensation  paid during fiscal 1999
and the amount reasonably  expected to be paid during fiscal 2000, (ii) the name
of each other  employee  or class of  employees  of the  Company  who either (x)
received  compensation in fiscal 1999 in excess of $25,000 or (y) is anticipated
to receive, based on current compensation levels, compensation in fiscal 2000 in
excess of $25,000,  indicating the amount of such  compensation for such persons
for fiscal 1999 and fiscal 2000;  and (iii) a list of all employees  employed by
the Company at December  31,  1999.  The Company does not employ any person as a
consultant,  whose  employment  cannot be  terminated  on not less than 30 days'
notice without penalty.


                                       25
<PAGE>


     Section 4.27. Transactions with Directors,  Officers and Affiliates. Except
as disclosed in Section 4.27 of the Company Disclosure  Schedule,  since January
1, 1998,  there have been no transactions  between the Company and any director,
officer,  employee,  stockholder  or other  affiliate  of the  Company or loans,
guarantees or pledges to, by or for the Company from,  to, by or for any of such
persons.  Since January 1, 1998,  other than as disclosed on Section 4.27 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, none of the officers, directors or employees of the
Company,  or any spouse or relative of any of such persons,  has been a director
or  officer  of,  or has had any  direct  or  indirect  interest  in,  any firm,
corporation,  association  or business  enterprise  which during such period has
been a supplier,  customer or sales agent of the Company or has competed with or
been engaged in any business of the kind being conducted by the Company,  except
for an  investment in less than 5% of the  outstanding  equity of any such firm,
corporation, association or business enterprise, the equity of which is publicly
traded.

     Section  4.28.  Operations  of the Company.  Except as disclosed in Section
4.16 or 4.28 of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule  and except as may result from
the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  since June 30,  1999,  the
Company has not:

          (i) amended its Certificate of Incorporation or by-laws or merged with
     or into or  consolidated  with any other  person,  subdivided or in any way
     reclassified any shares of its capital stock or changed or agreed to change
     in any manner the rights of its outstanding  capital stock or the character
     of its business;

          (ii)  issued  or sold or  purchased,  or issued  options  or rights to
     subscribe to, or entered into any contracts or commitments to issue or sell
     or purchase,  any shares of its capital  stock or any of its bonds,  notes,
     debentures  or other  evidences  of  indebtedness  other  than (x)  options
     granted  pursuant to the Company's  Stock Option Plan or (y) Company Common
     Stock issued upon exercise of Company Stock Options;

          (iii)  entered into or amended any  agreement  with any labor union or
     association  representing any employee, or, except for Plans referred to in
     Section 4.23 of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  made any wage or salary
     increase  or  bonus,   or   increase  in  any  other   direct  or  indirect
     compensation,  for  or  to  any  of  its  officers,  directors,  employees,
     consultants,  agents or other  representatives  in excess  of  $10,000,  or
     commitment or agreement to make or pay the same;

          (iv) except for dividends  paid by the Company in the ordinary  course
     of  business   consistent   with  past  practice,   declared  or  made  any
     Distributions to any stockholder or made any direct or indirect redemption,
     retirement,  purchase  or other  acquisition  of any shares of its  capital
     stock;


                                       26
<PAGE>


          (v) made any change in its accounting methods or practices or made any
     change in depreciation or amortization policies,  except as required by law
     or GAAP;

          (vi) made any loan or  advance  to its  stockholders  or to any of the
     directors,  officers or employees of the  Company,  consultants,  agents or
     other representatives, or otherwise than in the ordinary course of business
     made any other loan or advance;

          (vii) except in the ordinary  course of business  consistent with past
     practice, (A) entered into any Lease; (B) sold, abandoned or made any other
     disposition of any of its assets or properties; (C) granted or suffered any
     lien or other  encumbrance on any of its assets or properties;  (D) entered
     into or amended any contract or other  agreement to which it is a party, or
     by or to which it or its assets or properties are bound or subject which if
     existing on the date hereof  would need to be  disclosed in Section 4.16 of
     the Company Disclosure Schedule;

          (viii) made or entered into any agreement to make any  acquisition  of
     all or a substantial part of the assets, properties, securities or business
     of  any  other  person,  other  than  investments  in  portfolio  companies
     identified on Section 4.17 of the Company Disclosure Schedule;

          (ix) paid,  directly or indirectly,  any of its Liabilities before the
     same  became  due in  accordance  with its terms or  otherwise  than in the
     ordinary course of business;

          (x)  terminated  or failed to renew,  or received  any written  threat
     (that was not  subsequently  withdrawn) to terminate or fail to renew,  any
     contract  or  other  agreement  that  is or was  material  to  the  assets,
     liabilities,  properties,  business,  operations,  condition  (financial or
     otherwise), operations or prospects of the Company;

          (xi) made any  revaluation of any assets or write-down of the value of
     any   receivables  of  the  Company  in  excess  of  $10,000,   other  than
     revaluations of the Company's  investment portfolio on a quarterly basis in
     the normal course of business consistent with past practice;


                                       27
<PAGE>


          (xii) except in the ordinary  course of business  consistent with past
     practice,  accelerated  the  collection,  or sale to third parties,  of any
     receivables  of the Company,  or delayed the payment of any payables of the
     Company;

          (xiii) except in connection with the Company's  investment  portfolio,
     entered into any contract or agreement or other  transaction that obligates
     the  Company to pay an amount in excess of  $15,000  in any one  individual
     instance and $50,000 in the aggregate of all such instances, which contract
     is not terminable by the Company upon not more than 30 days' notice; or

          (xiv)  suffered any damage,  destruction or loss,  whether  covered by
     insurance or not,  which has had or could have a Company  Material  Adverse
     Effect.

     Section 4.29. Brokerage. Except as disclosed on Section 4.29 of the Company
Disclosure  Schedule,  no  broker,  agent  or  finder  has  acted,  directly  or
indirectly,  for the Company or, to the  knowledge  of the  Company,  any of the
Company  Stockholders,  nor has the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company,
any of the Company  Stockholders,  incurred any  obligation to pay any brokerage
fee,  agent's  commission or finder's fee or other commission in connection with
the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement.  The Company has furnished to
Parent a copy of any  engagement  letter  relating to the persons  indicated  on
Section 4.29 of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

     Section 4.30. Taxes.

     (a) The  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  have  duly and  timely  filed  all
federal,  state,  local,  foreign and other Tax returns and reports  ("returns")
required to be filed by them on or before the date  hereof,  and have either (i)
paid all Taxes of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  due and  payable  or (ii)
accrued on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company included in the Company
Interim Financial Statements  previously furnished to Parent (in accordance with
GAAP applied on a basis  consistent with that of prior years) all Taxes required
to be accrued by the Company on or before the date  hereof.  All of such returns
are true,  accurate and  complete and reflect the Tax  liability in all material
respects for which the Company and its  Subsidiaries  could be held  responsible
and all  Taxes  for  which  the  Company  and  its  Subsidiaries  could  be held
responsible as shown on such returns as due and payable have been paid.

     (b) The Company and its  Subsidiaries  are not delinquent in the payment of
any  Taxes  for  which  the  Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries  could be held
responsible,  nor has  the  Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries  requested  any
extension  of time within  which to file any return  which  return has not since
been filed, nor has the Company or any of its Subsidiaries  waived or tolled the
running of any statute of limitations with respect to any such Taxes.


                                       28
<PAGE>


     (c) Except as disclosed in Section 4.30 of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
no return of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  has ever been  examined or
audited  by any  Governmental  Entity;  no  deficiency  for  any  Tax  has  been
threatened,  asserted or assessed against the Company or its  Subsidiaries;  and
there are neither  unresolved  questions or claims,  nor  proceedings or actions
pending  (including  an  audit  of  any  return  filed  by  the  Company  or its
Subsidiaries  with any  federal,  state,  local or  foreign  taxing  authority),
concerning either the Tax liability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
the  collection  or  assessment of any Tax for any period for which returns have
been filed or were due.

     (d) The Company  has  delivered  to Parent  true and correct  copies of any
filed returns (including  information returns and Forms 1120-RIC) of the Company
and its  Subsidiaries  which  refer to any  period of time  from  July 1,  1996,
through the date of this  Agreement or to any event which  occurred  during that
period  of time.  A list of such  returns  is set forth on  Section  4.30 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
filed an election  under  Section  341(f) of the Code that is  applicable to the
Company,  any of its Subsidiaries or any asset held by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.  In addition,  none of the Company's debt is corporate acquisition
indebtedness  within the meaning of Section 279 of the Code. Neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries has agreed, nor is required,  to make any adjustment
under Section  481(a) of the Code by reason of a change in accounting  method or
otherwise.  Except  as set  forth  in  Section  4.30 of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule,  the  Company  is not  subject  to or a member of any  joint  venture,
partnership  or other  arrangement or contract which is treated as a partnership
for  federal  income  tax  purposes.   The  Company  and,  as  applicable,   its
Subsidiaries  has  withheld  and, if due,  paid all Taxes  required to have been
withheld  and, if due,  paid in  connection  with  amounts  paid or owing to any
employee, independent contractor,  creditor,  stockholder, or other third party.
There are no pending claims or  assessments  for Taxes payable by the Company or
any of its  Subsidiaries.  Neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has
been a United States real  property  holding  corporation  within the meaning of
Section  897(c)(2) of the Code during the applicable period specified in Section
897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code.

     (e) Section  4.30 of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule  lists each state in
which the Company and its  Subsidiaries  are required to file returns.  No claim
has ever been made by an authority in a jurisdiction where the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries  does not file returns that it is or may be subject to taxation
by that  jurisdiction.  There  are no  liens  or other  security  interests  for
material  Taxes upon any of the assets of the Company or any  Subsidiary  of the
Company except for liens for current Taxes not yet due and payable.


                                       29
<PAGE>


     (f) Except as disclosed in Section 4.30 of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
the Company does not have any  earnings and profits,  as defined for purposes of
Subchapter  C of the Code,  accumulated  in any taxable  year  during  which the
Company was not a regulated investment company.

     (g) For each taxable year of its operation since June 30, 1984, the Company
has met the  requirements  of  Subchapter M of the Code for  qualification  as a
regulated  investment  company and has  elected to be treated as such,  has been
eligible to and has  computed  its federal  income tax under  Section 852 of the
Code. No assets held by the Company  would,  on disposition  thereof,  result in
liability for Tax by reason of the provisions of Treas. Reg. ss. 1.337(d)-5T.

     (h) Neither the Company nor any  Subsidiary  of the Company is, or has ever
been, a party to or bound by any tax indemnity agreement, tax sharing agreement,
tax allocation agreement or similar contract or arrangement.

     Section 4.31.  Execution and Validity of Agreements with Named  Executives.
Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries is a party to any contract, commitment,
arrangement  or  agreement  which  could,  following  the  Closing,  restrain or
restrict the parties to the Agreements  with Named  Executives  from  performing
their respective obligations thereunder.

     Section 4.32. Environmental Laws.

     (a) The Company and its  Subsidiaries (i) are in compliance in all respects
with all  Environmental  Laws;  (ii) have obtained all  necessary  Environmental
Permits,  the failure of which to obtain could have a Company  Material  Adverse
Effect,  all of which are in full force and effect;  and (iii) are in compliance
with all terms and conditions of such Environmental Permits.

     (b) Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries  have violated or done any act
which could give rise to material  liability under, and has not otherwise failed
to act in a manner  which  would  expose it to  material  liability  under,  any
Environmental  Law. No event has occurred  which,  upon the passage of time, the
giving of notice, or failure to act would reasonably be expected to give rise to
material liability to the Company under any Environmental Law.

     (c) To the Company's  knowledge,  no Hazardous  Material has been released,
spilled, discharged, dumped, disposed of, or otherwise come to be located in, at
or beneath any of the Owned Real  Property  or the Leased  Real  Property or any
properties or assets  formerly  owned,  operated or otherwise  controlled by the

                                       30
<PAGE>


Company and used in the conduct of the  Company's  business  (i) in violation of
any Environmental Law, or (ii) in such manner as would reasonably be expected to
cause an environmental liability of the Company or its Subsidiaries.

     (d) To the Company's knowledge, there have been and are no: (i) aboveground
or underground storage tanks; (ii) surface impoundments for Hazardous Materials;
(iii) wetlands as defined under  Environmental  Law or (iv) asbestos  containing
materials or PCBs or PCB-containing equipment, located within any portion of the
Owned Real Property or the Leased Real Property,  which  individually  or in the
aggregate could have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

     (e) No liens have been  placed  upon any Owned Real  Property or any Leased
Real  Property  in  connection  with any actual or alleged  liability  under any
Environmental Law.

     (f)  (i)  There  is no  pending  or,  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Company,
threatened,  claim, litigation or administrative  proceeding against the Company
arising  under  any  Environmental   Law;  (ii)  neither  the  Company  nor  its
Subsidiaries have ongoing  negotiations with or agreements with any Governmental
Entity relating to any Remedial Action or other  environmentally-related  claim;
(iii) neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries have submitted notice pursuant to
Section  103 of CERCLA or  analogous  statute  or  notice  under any  applicable
Environmental  Law  reporting  a  release  of  a  Hazardous  Material  into  the
environment; and (iv) neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries have received any
notice,  claim,  demand,  suit or request for information  from any Governmental
Entity or private  entity with  respect to any  liability  or alleged  liability
under any Environmental Law, nor to the knowledge of the Company,  has any other
entity whose liability  therefor,  in whole or in part, may be attributed to the
Company,  received such notice,  claim, demand, suit or request for information.
Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries,  nor to the Company's  knowledge,  any
prior owner or operator of Owned Real  Property or the Leased Real Property have
generated,  disposed of, or arranged for the disposal of any Hazardous  Material
except in compliance with Environmental Law.

     (g) Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries have, and, to the knowledge of
the Company, no other entity whose liability therefor,  in whole or in part, may
be  attributed  to the Company or its  Subsidiaries,  disposed of any  Hazardous
Material at any  location  which is  identified  on the current or proposed  (i)
National  Priorities  List under 40 C.F.R.  300 Appendix B, (ii) CERCLIS list or
(iii) the Leaking Underground Storage Tank list or any analogous state list.

     (h) The  Company  has  provided  to Parent all  environmental  studies  and
reports  pertaining to the Owned Real Property or the Leased Real Property,  the
operations  conducted thereon and the Company made by or at the direction of the
Company or its Subsidiaries or otherwise in the Company's possession.


                                       31
<PAGE>


     Section 4.33. Accounting Matters. Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge
of the Company,  any Company Stockholder or any affiliates thereof, has taken or
agreed to take any action  that would  prevent  Parent from  accounting  for the
business combination to be effected by the Merger as a "pooling of interests".

     Section 4.34.  Company Action.  The Board of Directors of the Company (at a
meeting duly called and held) has by the requisite vote of all directors present
(a) determined  that the Merger  Agreement and the Merger are advisable and fair
and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders,  (b) approved the
Merger  Agreement in accordance  with the applicable  provisions of the Delaware
Corporation  Law and (c)  recommended  the  approval of this  Agreement  and the
Merger by the holders of the Company  Common Stock and directed  that the Merger
be submitted  for  consideration  by the Company's  stockholders  at the Company
Meeting.

     Section 4.35.  Fairness Opinion.  The Board of Directors of the Company has
received,  as of the date hereof, the oral opinion of First Colonial  Securities
Group, Inc. ("First  Colonial"),  o be confirmed in writing, to the effect that,
as of such  date,  the  aggregate  Share  Consideration  to be  received  by the
Company's  shareholders  in the Merger is fair and  equitable  to the  Company's
shareholders from a financial point of view.  Pursuant to Section 6.22 herein, a
copy of the  written  opinion of First  Colonial  shall be  delivered  to Parent
within forty-five (45) days after the date hereof.

                                   ARTICLE V.

                Representations and Warranties of Parent and Sub

     Parent and Sub  represent  and warrant to the Company  that,  except as set
forth  in the  disclosure  schedule  attached  hereto  (the  "Parent  Disclosure
Schedule"), which Parent Disclosure Schedule and shall be arranged in paragraphs
corresponding to the numbered and lettered paragraphs  contained in this Article
V:

     Section  5.1.  Execution  and  Delivery.  Each  of  Parent  and Sub has the
corporate  power and authority to enter into this Agreement and each  agreement,
document or  instrument  contemplated  hereby or to be delivered  in  connection
herewith to which such person is a party (the "Parent  Documents")  and to carry
out its respective obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution, delivery
and performance by Parent and Sub of this Agreement and the Parent  Documents to
which it is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby  have been duly  authorized  by the Board of Directors of Parent and
Sub,  as


                                       32
<PAGE>


applicable (and, in the case of this Agreement, by the Board of Directors of Sub
and by Parent as the sole  stockholder of Sub).  This Agreement  constitutes the
valid and binding  obligation  of Parent and Sub and the Parent  Documents  will
constitute the valid and binding obligations of Parent and Sub, when executed by
such person,  in each case,  enforceable  in  accordance  with their  respective
terms,  except as enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy,  insolvency or other
similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and except
that the availability of equitable remedies,  including specific performance, is
subject to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding  therefor may
be  brought.  No other  corporate  proceedings  on the part of Parent or Sub are
necessary  to  authorize  this  Agreement  or  the  Parent   Documents  and  the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

     Section 5.2.  Consents and Approvals.  The execution and delivery by Parent
and Sub of this  Agreement  and the Parent  Documents  to which such person is a
party,  the  performance  by  Parent  and Sub of  their  respective  obligations
hereunder  and  thereunder  and  the  consummation  by  Parent  and  Sub  of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby and thereby do not  require  Parent or Sub to
obtain any  consent,  approval or action of, or make any filing or  registration
with or  give  any  notice  to,  any  Governmental  Entity,  other  than  (i) in
connection,  or in  compliance,  with  the  provisions  of the  H-S-R  Act,  the
Securities  Act, the Exchange Act and the  corporation,  securities  or blue sky
laws or  regulations  of various  states,  all of which will be duly obtained or
made, as the case may be, on or prior to the Closing,  and will be in full force
and effect on the Closing Date,  (ii) the approval of the SBA,  (iii) the filing
of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of Delaware and (iv) as
to which the failure to so obtain,  file or  register  would not have a material
adverse  effect on the business,  properties,  assets,  condition  (financial or
otherwise),  liabilities, or operations of Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as
a whole, or prevent the consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby (a
"Parent Material Adverse Effect").

     Section 5.3. No Breach.  The execution,  delivery and performance by Parent
and Sub of this  Agreement  and the Parent  Documents to which it is a party and
the  consummation  of  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  and  thereby  in
accordance with the terms and conditions hereof and thereof will not (i) violate
any provision of the Certificate of  Incorporation  or By-Laws of Parent or Sub;
(ii)  violate,  conflict  with or result  in the  breach of any of the terms of,
result  in  any  modification  of  the  effect  of,  otherwise  give  any  other
contracting party the right to terminate, or constitute (or with notice or lapse
of time or both, constitute) a default under, any contract or other agreement or
instrument  to which  Parent or Sub is a party or by or to which  the  assets or
properties  of Parent or Sub may be bound or subject;  (iii)  violate any order,
judgment,  injunction,  award or decree of any Governmental  Entity against,  or
binding upon, or any agreement with, or condition  imposed by, any  Governmental
Entity,  binding


                                       33
<PAGE>


upon Parent or Sub, or upon the securities, assets or business of Parent or Sub;
(iv) violate any statute, law or regulation of any jurisdiction as such statute,
law or  regulation  relates to Parent or Sub,  or to the  securities,  assets or
business of Parent or Sub; (v) result in the creation or  imposition of any lien
or other encumbrance or the acceleration of any indebtedness or other obligation
of Parent or Sub; or (vi) result in the breach of any of the terms or conditions
of,  constitute a default under, or otherwise cause an impairment of, any Permit
of  Parent  or Sub;  except  in the case of (ii)  through  (vi) for  violations,
conflicts,  breaches,  defaults,  modifications,  impairments,  liens  or  other
encumbrances  that would not,  individually  or in the aggregate,  have a Parent
Material Adverse Effect.

     Section 5.4. SEC Documents; Financial Statements.

     (a)  Parent  has  filed  and will  file  with the SEC all  forms,  reports,
schedules,  statements,  exhibits and other documents  (other than  registration
statements  on Form S-8 or  reports  on Form  11-K,  in each  case  relating  to
employee benefit plans)  (collectively,  the "Parent SEC Documents") required to
be filed on or before the date hereof or the Closing Date,  respectively,  by it
under the  Securities  Act or the  Exchange  Act.  Parent has  furnished or made
available  to the Company  true and correct  copies of all Parent SEC  Documents
filed by Parent since December 31, 1997 and will promptly furnish to the Company
any other Parent SEC Document  filed by or on behalf of Parent with the SEC from
the date hereof to the Closing Date. At the time filed, the Parent SEC Documents
filed by Parent since December 31, 1998 (i) did not contain any untrue statement
of a  material  fact or omit to state a  material  fact  required  to be  stated
therein or necessary in order to make the  statements  therein,  in light of the
circumstances  under which they were made,  not  misleading and (ii) complied in
all material respects with the applicable  requirements of the Securities Act or
Exchange Act, as the case may be.

     (b) The audited consolidated  financial statements of Parent for the period
from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 1998,  together with the report and opinion
thereon  of  Arthur  Andersen  LLP,  and the  unaudited  consolidated  financial
statements of Parent for the twelve months ended  December 31, 1999 (the "Parent
Interim Financial  Statements"),  which are included in the Parent SEC Documents
and have previously been delivered to the Company, are collectively  referred to
herein as the "Parent  Financial  Statements".  The Parent Financial  Statements
comply  as  to  form  in  all  material  respects  with  applicable   accounting
requirements  and the published  rules and  regulations  of the SEC with respect
thereto; and fairly present, in all material respects,  on a consolidated basis,
the financial position of Parent at, and the results of its operations for, each
of the periods then ended and were prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a
consistent


                                       34
<PAGE>


basis,  except as otherwise  disclosed therein and, subject,  in the case of the
Parent Interim Financial Statements, to normal year-end adjustments, the absence
of footnote disclosures, and any other adjustments described therein.

     Section 5.5.  Shares of Parent  Common  Stock.  The shares of Parent Common
Stock will,  when issued and delivered to the Company  Stockholders  pursuant to
Section 3.1(a), be duly authorized,  validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable,
and free of all liens and other encumbrances of any kind or nature whatsoever.

     Section 5.6.  Organization,  Standing and Authority of Parent and Sub. Each
of Parent and Sub is a corporation duly organized,  validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of Delaware,  and has all requisite  power and authority
to own, lease and operate its assets,  properties and businesses and to carry on
its  businesses  as now being  conducted or currently  proposed to be conducted.
Parent is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do business, and is in good
standing,  in each  jurisdiction  where the character of its properties owned or
held  under  lease or the  nature of such  activities  make  such  qualification
necessary,  except where the failure to so qualify would not, individually or in
the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Sub has not engaged in any
business  (other  than  certain  organizational  matters)  since the date of its
incorporation.  The copies of the  Certificate of  Incorporation  and By-Laws of
Parent and Sub included as part of Section 5.6 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule
constitute accurate and complete copies of such  organizational  instruments and
accurately reflect all amendments thereto through the date hereof.

     Section 5.7. Capitalization.

     (a) The authorized capital stock of Parent consists of 50,000,000 shares of
Parent Common Stock and 1,000,000  shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per
share. As of March 28, 2000, there were 14,029,798 shares of Parent Common Stock
and no shares of  preferred  stock  outstanding  and there have been no material
changes in such numbers  through the date hereof.  As of the date hereof,  there
are no bonds,  debentures,  notes or other indebtedness having the right to vote
on any matters on which Parent's  stockholders  may vote issued or  outstanding.
All  outstanding  shares of Parent  Common  Stock  are duly  authorized  and are
validly  issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable.  Except for options to purchase
Parent  Common  Stock  outstanding  under  Parent's  1996 Stock  Option Plan and
Amended and Restated  1996  Non-Employee  Directors  Stock Option Plan,  each as
amended  to date,  there  are no  options,  warrants,  calls  or  other  rights,
agreements or  commitments  presently  outstanding  obligating  Parent to issue,
deliver or sell shares of its capital  stock or debt  securities,  or obligating
Parent to grant,  extend or enter into any such option,  warrant,  call or other
such right, agreement or commitment.



                                       35
<PAGE>


     (b) The  authorized  capital  stock of Sub  consists  of 100  shares of Sub
Common Stock, all of which are duly authorized,  validly issued,  fully paid and
nonassessable.

     Section 5.8. Brokerage.  No broker, agent or finder has acted,  directly or
indirectly,  for Parent or Sub.  Parent and Sub have not incurred any obligation
to pay any brokerage fees, agent's  commissions or finder's fee or commission in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     Section 5.9. Information in Disclosure  Documents.  None of the information
supplied by Parent or Sub for  inclusion in the  Registration  Statement and the
Proxy  Statement  will, in the case of the Proxy  Statement or any amendments or
supplements  thereto,  at the time of the mailing of the Proxy Statement and any
amendments  or  supplements  thereto,  or,  in  the  case  of  the  Registration
Statement,  at the time it becomes effective and at the Effective Date,  contain
any untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or omit to state any  material  fact
required  to be stated  therein  or  necessary  in order to make the  statements
therein,  in  light  of the  circumstances  under  which  they  were  made,  not
misleading; provided, however, that this provision shall not apply to statements
or  omissions  in the  Registration  Statement  or Proxy  Statement  based  upon
information furnished by the Company for use therein. The Registration Statement
will  comply as to form in all  material  respects  with the  provisions  of the
Securities Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.  The Proxy
Statement will comply as to form in all material respects with the provisions of
the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.  No representation or
warranty made by Parent  contained in this Agreement and no statement


                                       36
<PAGE>


contained in any certificate,  list,  exhibit or other  instrument  specified in
this Agreement,  including without  limitation the Parent  Disclosure  Schedule,
contains any untrue  statement of a material fact or omits or will omit to state
a material fact necessary to make the statements  contained therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

     Section 5.10. No Material  Adverse Change.  Since December 31, 1998,  there
has been no material  adverse  change in the  management,  assets,  liabilities,
properties,  business, operations,  financial condition or results of operations
of Parent.

     Section 5.11. Sub Action.  The Board of Directors of Sub (at a meeting duly
called and held) has by the requisite vote of all directors present approved the
Merger  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  Section  251 of the  Delaware
Corporation Law.

     Section 5.12.  Liabilities.  Neither Parent nor Sub has any  liabilities or
obligations  of any nature,  whether or not accrued,  contingent  or  otherwise,
except (a)  liabilities  or  obligations  disclosed  or reserved  against in the
unaudited  consolidated interim financial statements of Parent as of and for the
three months ended March 31, 2000  included in Parent SEC Documents or disclosed
in the  footnotes  thereto  or in the  footnotes  to  the  audited  consolidated
financial  statements of Parent as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1999  included in Parent SEC  Documents or otherwise  disclosed in Parent's 1999
Form 10-K or in Parent's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended
March 31, 2000, and (b) liabilities or obligations which do not, individually or
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.

     Section 5.13.  Compliance with Laws. Except as disclosed in Section 5.15 of
the Parent  Disclosure  Schedule,  Parent is not in violation of any  applicable
order,  judgment,  injunction,  award or decree, law, ordinance or regulation or
any other requirement of any Governmental  Entity applicable to Parent or any of
its businesses;  Parent has not received notice that any such violation has been
alleged or is being investigated.

     Section 5.14.  Permits.  Parent has obtained all Permits that are necessary
for the  ownership  and conduct of its  businesses  as  presently  conducted  or
currently proposed to be conducted, other than any Permits, the absence of which
would not,  individually  or in the aggregate,  have a Parent  Material  Adverse
Effect;  such  Permits are in full force and effect and are  sufficient  for the
ownership  and conduct of such  businesses  as presently  conducted or currently
proposed to be conducted;  no violations  exist or have been recorded in respect
of any Permit;  and no  proceeding  is pending or, to the  knowledge  of Parent,
threatened, that would suspend, revoke or limit any Permit.


                                       37
<PAGE>


     Section 5.15.  Actions and  Proceedings.  There are no outstanding  orders,
judgments,  injunctions, awards or decrees of any Governmental Entity against or
involving  Parent  or any of its  directors,  officers  or  employees  (in their
capacities  as  such).  Except  as  disclosed  in  Section  5.15  of the  Parent
Disclosure Schedule, as of the date of this Agreement there is no claim, action,
suit,  litigation,  legal,  administrative  or arbitration  proceeding,  whether
formal or informal (including, without limitation, any claim or notice of intent
to institute any matter), which is pending or, to Parent's knowledge, threatened
against or involving the Company or any of its directors,  officers or employees
(in their  capacities as such) or  properties,  capital stock or assets,  except
where the failure of any of the foregoing to be true does not individually or in
the aggregate have a Parent Material Adverse Effect on Parent.

     Section 5.16. Loan  Portfolio.  Parent's loan portfolio was acquired in the
ordinary  course of business.  All loans included in such portfolio  comply with
all laws and  regulations  of each of the  states  to which  Parent  is  subject
relating thereto.

     Section 5.17.  Accounting Matters.  Parent has not taken nor agreed to take
any  action  that  would  prevent  Parent  from   accounting  for  the  business
combination to be effected by the Merger as a "pooling of interests".

     Section  5.18.  Tax.  Parent  has filed  within  the time  required  by law
(including  extension periods) all material Tax returns and paid all Taxes shown
as due on these returns.

                                   ARTICLE VI.

                            Covenants and Agreements

     Each of Parent,  Sub and the Company (as applicable)  covenant and agree as
follows:

     Section 6.1. Conduct of Business.

     (a) Prior to the Effective  Date,  unless Parent shall  otherwise  agree in
writing:

          (i) The Company shall carry on its respective businesses in the usual,
     regular and ordinary course in substantially  the same manner as heretofore
     conducted,  and shall use its best efforts to preserve intact their present
     business  organizations,  keep  available  the  services  of their  present
     officers and employees and preserve  their  relationships  with  customers,
     suppliers  and others  having  business  dealings with them to the end that
     their goodwill and on-going businesses shall be unimpaired at the Effective
     Date,  except such impairment as


                                       38
<PAGE>


     would not have a Company  Material  Adverse  Effect.  The Company shall (i)
     maintain  insurance  coverages  and its books,  accounts and records in the
     usual manner  consistent with prior practices;  (ii) comply in all material
     respects with all laws, ordinances and regulations of Governmental Entities
     applicable  to the  Company;  (iii)  maintain and keep its  properties  and
     equipment in good repair,  working order and  condition,  ordinary wear and
     tear excepted;  and (iv) perform in all material  respects its  obligations
     under all contracts and  commitments  to which it is a party or by which it
     is bound, in each case other than where the failure to so maintain,  comply
     or perform,  either  individually  or in the  aggregate,  would result in a
     Company Material Adverse Effect.

          (ii) The Company shall not  undertake any of the actions  specified in
     Section 4.28.

          (iii) The  Company  shall  not take or cause to be taken  any  action,
     whether  before or after the Effective  Date,  which would  disqualify  the
     Merger  as a  "pooling  of  interests"  for  accounting  purposes  or  as a
     "reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

          (iv) Except as set forth on Section 6.1(iv) of the Company  Disclosure
     Schedule,  the Company shall not (a) originate any loans secured by taxicab
     medallions  ("Medallion  Loans")  in an  amount  greater  than  90%  of the
     purchase price or the fair market value  whichever is lower;  (b) originate
     any subordinated  Medallion Loans; (c) make any equity  investment  without
     the consent of Parent,  which shall not be unreasonably  withheld;  and (d)
     originate  any loans to small  businesses  secured by  equipment  and other
     related  collateral  equal to or greater than $200,000 in principal  amount
     without the consent of Parent,  which  shall not be  unreasonably  withheld
     (reasonableness  shall be determined by, among other things,  past business
     practices of the Company with respect to such loans). With respect to items
     (c) and (d)  above,  upon  receipt  of the  principal  terms and  financial
     information,  Parent shall have six (6) business days to inform the Company
     of its consent or refusal thereof.  With respect to any loans  contemplated
     in item (c) above which are less than  $200,000 in  principal  amount,  the
     Company shall give reasonable  notice to Parent of the Company's  intent to
     originate such loans prior to the origination of such loans.

     (b) From the date hereof to the  Effective  Date,  unless the Company shall
otherwise consent in writing (which shall not be unreasonably withheld),  Parent
shall in all material respects carry on its respective  businesses in the usual,
regular and ordinary course, provided, that for purposes of this Section 6.1(b),
"ordinary  course" shall mean any  activities or business  related,  directly or
indirectly, to lending, financing, leasing, advertising and the like, as well as
to the taxicab industry in general.


                                       39
<PAGE>


     Section 6.2. Litigation  Involving the Company.  Prior to the Closing Date,
the  Company  shall  notify  Parent of any  actions or  proceedings  of the type
required to be described in Sections  4.15,  4.30 or 4.32 that are threatened or
commenced against the Company,  or against any officer or director,  property or
asset of the Company,  or with respect to the Company's  affairs,  promptly upon
the Company  becoming aware  thereof,  and of any requests of the Company or, to
the  knowledge  of  the  Company,  any  Company   Stockholder,   for  additional
information or documentary  materials by any  Governmental  Entity in connection
with the  transactions  contemplated  hereby promptly upon the Company  becoming
aware thereof.  As to compliance  with such requests for such  information,  the
Company shall consult with and obtain the consent of Parent, which consent shall
not be withheld  unreasonably;  provided that such consent shall be  unnecessary
where such information is required by law to be provided.

     Section 6.3. Continued  Effectiveness of Representations  and Warranties of
the  Parties.  From the date hereof  through the Closing  Date,  (a) the Company
shall use all  reasonable  efforts  to conduct  its  affairs in such a manner so
that,  except as otherwise  contemplated  or permitted  by this  Agreement,  the
representations  and  warranties  of the Company  contained  in Article IV shall
continue to be true and correct in all material  respects (or in all respects in
the case of any  representation  or warranty which refers to a Company  Material
Adverse Effect or otherwise  includes a concept of materiality) on and as of the
Closing Date as if made on and as of the Closing Date,  (i) except that any such
representations and warranties that are given as of a particular date and relate
solely to a particular  date or period shall be true and correct in all material
respects (or in all respects in the case of any representation or warranty which
refers to a Company Material  Adverse Effect or otherwise  includes a concept of
materiality)  as of such date or period,  and (ii) in the case of  Section  4.12
only, except for such changes with respect thereto (x) which are contemplated by
this Agreement or (y) which are attributable to the execution of this Agreement,
or the announcement or contemplation  of the transactions  proposed herein;  (b)
Parent and Sub shall use their  respective  reasonable  efforts to conduct their
affairs in such a manner so that, except as otherwise  contemplated or permitted
by this Agreement,  the  representations  and warranties  contained in Article V
shall  continue  to be true and  correct  in all  material  respects  (or in all
respects in the case of any  representation or warranty which refers to a Parent
Material  Adverse Effect or otherwise  includes a concept of materiality) on and
as of the Closing Date as if made on and as of the Closing Date, (i) except that
any such  representations  and warranties that are given as of a particular date
and relate  solely to a  particular  date or period shall be true and correct in
all material  respects (or in all respects in the case of any  representation or
warranty which refers to a Parent Material Adverse Effect or otherwise  includes
a concept of  materiality)  as of such date or  period,  and (ii) in the case of
Section 5.10


                                       40
<PAGE>


only, except for such changes with respect thereto (x) which are contemplated by
this Agreement or (y) which are attributable to the execution of this Agreement,
or the announcement or contemplation  of the transactions  proposed herein;  (c)
the Company  shall  promptly  notify  Parent and Sub of any event,  condition or
circumstance  occurring  from the date hereof  through the Closing Date of which
the Company becomes aware that would cause any material revisions to the Company
Disclosure Schedule provided by the Company pursuant to this Agreement,  or that
would constitute a violation or breach of this Agreement by the Company; and (d)
Parent and Sub shall  promptly  notify the  Company of any event,  condition  or
circumstance occurring from the date hereof through the Closing Date of which it
becomes aware that would cause any material  revisions to the Parent  Disclosure
Schedule  provided by Parent or Sub  pursuant to this  Agreement,  or that would
constitute  a violation  or breach of this  Agreement  by Parent or Sub. No such
notification  shall be deemed an amendment to the  Disclosure  Schedules to this
Agreement, except as otherwise provided by this Agreement.

     Section 6.4. Corporate Examinations and Investigations.

     (a) The Company  shall  cooperate  with Parent as Parent  shall  reasonably
request in connection with the Parent's due diligence review of the Company,  to
the extent  necessary to confirm the accuracy of the  Company's  representations
and warranties.

     (b) Parent shall cooperate with the Company as the Company shall reasonably
request in connection with the Company's due diligence review of Parent,  to the
extent  necessary  to confirm  the  accuracy  of  Parent's  representations  and
warranties.

     (c) If this Agreement  terminates,  the parties hereto and their respective
affiliates shall keep confidential and shall not use or retain in any manner any
information  or documents  obtained from any other party  concerning its assets,
liabilities,  properties,  business or operations,  unless readily ascertainable
from  public or  published  information  or trade  sources or  already  known or
subsequently  developed by it  independently  of any  investigation of any other
party,  or  received  from a third party not under an  obligation  to such other
party to keep such information confidential.

     Section 6.5. Preparation of Company Restated Financial Statements. Promptly
after the  execution of this  Agreement,  the Company shall cause to be prepared
(i) the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 1996, 1997,
1998 and 1999, together with the respective related  consolidated  statements of
income, shareholders' equity and cash flows for the 12 months ended December 31,
1999,  1998,  1997  and  1996 and  (ii)  the  information  required  by Item 301
"Selected  Financial  Data" of Regulation S-K of the SEC for the 12 months ended
December 31,


                                       41
<PAGE>


1996, 1995 and 1994 (the "Company Restated Financial  Statements").  The Company
Restated Financial  Statements shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP applied
on a basis  consistent  with  that  used  in,  and in  accordance  with the same
accounting  principles  applied in, the  preparation  of the  Company  Financial
Statements  and shall include all  information  and schedules as are required by
Regulation  S-X of the SEC. The Company  shall cause  Marcum & Kliegman,  LLP to
audit the  Company's  Restated  Financial  Statements,  other than the  Selected
Financial Data for 1996,  1995 and 1994, and shall cause Marcum & Kliegman,  LLP
to  issue,  on or  prior  to  the  Effective  Date,  an  opinion  containing  no
qualifications or exceptions with respect to the scope of its audit or otherwise
on the Company Restated Financial  Statements that such accountants have audited
the Company Restated Financial  Statements in accordance with generally accepted
auditing  standards  and that the Company  Restated  Financial  Statements  were
prepared in accordance  with GAAP. The Company shall cause the Company  Restated
Financial  Statements,  together  with the  opinion  of Marcum &  Kliegman,  LLP
referenced  above,  to be delivered to Parent on or prior to the Effective Date.
In connection  with the preparation of Parent's  securities law filings,  Arthur
Andersen  LLP shall  have  access  to Marcum &  Kliegman,  LLP work  papers  and
personnel.

     Section 6.6. Registration Statement/Proxy Statement.

     (a) As promptly as practicable  after the execution of this Agreement,  the
Company  and  Parent  shall  prepare  and file  with the SEC  preliminary  proxy
materials  which  shall  constitute  the  preliminary   Proxy  Statement  and  a
preliminary  prospectus  with respect to the Parent Common Stock to be issued in
connection  with the Merger.  As  promptly as  practicable  after  comments  are
received from the SEC with respect to the preliminary  proxy materials and after
the  furnishing  by the  Company  and Parent of all  information  required to be
contained  therein,  the Company  shall file with the SEC the  definitive  Proxy
Statement and Parent shall file with the SEC the definitive  Proxy Statement and
the  Registration  Statement and Parent and the Company shall use all reasonable
efforts  to  cause  the  Registration  Statement  to  become  effective  as soon
thereafter as practicable.

     Section 6.7. Compliance with the Securities Act.

     (a) Prior to the Effective  Date the Company shall cause to be delivered to
Parent an opinion  (satisfactory  to counsel for  Parent) of  Stursberg & Veith,
identifying  all persons who were,  in its  opinion,  at the time of the Company
Meeting convened in accordance with Section 3.7,  "affiliates" of the Company as
that term is used in paragraphs (c) and (d) of Rule 145 under the Securities Act
(the "Affiliates").


                                       42
<PAGE>


     (b) The Company  shall use its best  efforts to obtain a written  agreement
from each  person who is  identified  as a  possible  Affiliate  in the  opinion
referred to in clause (a) above, in the form previously approved by the parties,
that he or she will not offer to sell,  sell or otherwise  dispose of any of the
Parent  Common  Stock  issued to him or her  pursuant to the  Merger,  except in
compliance with Rule 145 or another exemption from the registration requirements
of the  Securities  Act. The Company  shall  deliver such written  agreements to
Parent on or prior to the Effective Date. The Company shall use its best efforts
to cause each  person  who is  identified  as an  Affiliate  in such  opinion to
deliver to Parent,  on or prior to the  earlier of (i) the  mailing of the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus or (ii) the 30th day prior to the Effective Date, a written
agreement,  in  substantially  the form attached  hereto as Exhibit D, that such
Affiliate will not thereafter  sell or in any other way reduce such  Affiliate's
risk  relative to any Parent  Common  Stock  received in the Merger  (within the
meaning  of the  SEC's  Financial  Reporting  Release  No. 1,  "Codification  of
Financing  Reporting  Policies,"  ss. 201.01 (47 F.R.  21030) (April 15, 1982)),
until such time as financial results  (including  combined sales and net income)
covering at least 30 days of post-merger operations have been published,  except
as permitted by Staff  Accounting  Bulletin No. 76 issued by the SEC. As soon as
is  reasonably  practicable  but in no event later than 45 days after the end of
the first fiscal  quarter of Parent  ending at least 30 days after the Effective
Date,  Parent  will  publish  results  including  at least  30 days of  combined
operations  of Parent and the Company as  referred to in the written  agreements
provided for by this Section 6.7(b).

     Section 6.8. Nasdaq  Listing.  Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts
to list on the Nasdaq  National  Market,  the Parent  Common  Stock to be issued
pursuant to the Merger.

     Section 6.9. Acquisition Proposals. The Company will notify Parent promptly
if any  inquiries or proposals  are  received by, any  information  is requested
from, or any negotiations or discussions are sought to be initiated or continued
with,  the  Company  or, to the  knowledge  of the  Company,  any of the Company
Stockholders,  in  each  case  in  connection  with  any  acquisition,  business
combination or purchase of all or any material  portion of the assets of, or any
equity  interest in, the Company,  and will furnish to Parent a copy of any such
proposal received by any of them.

     Section 6.10. No Shopping.  Subject to the fiduciary duties of the Board of
Directors of the Company, as advised in writing by outside counsel, prior to the
earlier of (i) the Effective Time or (ii) the termination of this Agreement, the
Company  shall not,  directly  or  indirectly,  through any  officer,  director,
employee,  representative,  agent,  financial  advisor or otherwise (x) solicit,
initiate or knowingly  encourage  (including by way of  furnishing  information)
inquiries or submission  of proposals or offers from any person  relating to any
sale of all or any portion of the assets,  business,  properties  of (other than
immaterial or insubstantial  assets),  or any equity interest in, the Company or
any business  combination  with the Company,  whether


                                       43
<PAGE>


by merger,  consolidation,  purchase of assets, tender offer,  recapitalization,
liquidation, dissolution or otherwise or any other transaction, the consummation
of which would or could impede,  interfere with, prevent or materially delay the
Merger (each, an  "Acquisition  Proposal") or (y) participate in any negotiation
regarding,  or furnish to any other person any  information  with respect to, or
otherwise  knowingly  cooperate  in  any  way  with,  or  knowingly  assist  in,
facilitate or encourage, any effort or attempt by any other person to do or seek
to do any of the foregoing.

     Section  6.11.  Parent  and Sub  Approvals.  Parent  and Sub shall take all
reasonable  steps  necessary or appropriate to obtain as promptly as practicable
all  necessary   approvals,   authorizations  and  consents  of  any  person  or
Governmental  Entity required to be obtained by Parent and Sub to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby, and will cooperate with the Company in seeking
to obtain all such approvals,  authorizations and consents. Parent and Sub shall
use all reasonable  efforts to provide such information to such persons,  bodies
and  authorities  as such  persons,  bodies or  authorities  or the  Company may
reasonably request.

     Section 6.12.  Company  Approvals.  The Company  shall take all  reasonable
steps  necessary  or  appropriate  to  obtain as  promptly  as  practicable  all
necessary  approvals,   authorizations  and  consents  of  any  third  party  or
Governmental  Entity  required to be obtained by the Company to  consummate  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby and will  cooperate with Parent in seeking to
obtain all such approvals,  authorizations  and consents.  The Company shall use
all reasonable  efforts to provide such information to such persons,  bodies and
authorities  as such persons,  bodies and  authorities  or Parent may reasonably
request.

     Section 6.13. Distribution. The Company shall not declare, set aside or pay
any Distribution, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice,  without  the  consent  of  Parent  which  shall  not be  unreasonably
withheld.

     Section 6.14. Expenses . Except as otherwise  specifically provided herein,
Parent,  Sub and the Company shall bear their  respective  expenses  incurred in
connection with the preparation, execution and performance of this Agreement and
the transactions  contemplated hereby, including,  without limitation,  all fees
and  expenses  of  investment  bankers,  agents,  representatives,  counsel  and
accountants  ("Transaction Expenses") provided that, Parent shall be responsible
for customary expenses relating to (i) obtaining  regulatory  approvals and (ii)
preparation  of the proxy  statement  and  prospectus  and the Company  shall be
responsible  for  expenses  relating  to (i) the  restatement  of the  Company's
financial statements and (ii) the Company's fairness opinion,  provided further,
that the  Company  shall be  responsible  for the  legal  fees of its  legal and
financial  counsel


                                       44
<PAGE>


relating to the proxy statement and prospectus and regulatory approvals required
hereunder.  In any action,  suit or proceeding under or to enforce any provision
of this  Agreement,  the  prevailing  party  shall be  entitled  to recover  its
reasonable  attorney's  fees and other  out-of-pocket  expenses  from the losing
party.  Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 6.14 to the contrary,
if this Agreement is terminated (i) by the Company pursuant to the provisions of
Section 12.1(k) or (ii) by Parent pursuant to the provisions of Section 12.1(l),
the  party  electing  to  terminate  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  from  the
non-terminating  party its expenses incurred in connection with the preparation,
execution  and  performance  of this  Agreement,  such  expenses  not to  exceed
$350,000 in the aggregate.

     Section 6.15. Further Assurances.

     (a) Each of Parent,  Sub and the Company shall  execute such  documents and
other  papers and take such  further  actions as may be  reasonably  required or
desirable to carry out the provisions  hereof and the transactions  contemplated
hereby.  Each of Parent, Sub and the Company shall use all reasonable efforts to
cause all actions to effectuate  the Closing for which such party is responsible
under this Agreement to be taken as promptly as practicable, including using all
reasonable  efforts to obtain all  necessary  waivers,  consents  and  approvals
(including,  but not  limited  to,  filings  under  the  H-S-R  Act and with all
applicable  Governmental Entities) and to lift any injunction or other legal bar
to the Merger (and, in each case, to proceed with the Merger as expeditiously as
possible).  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  there shall be no action required to
be taken and no action will be taken in order to consummate  and make  effective
the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement if such action, either alone or
together with another action,  would result in a Company Material Adverse Effect
or a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

     (b) In case at any time  after the  Effective  Time any  further  action is
necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this  Agreement,  the proper
officers and/or directors of Parent,  the Company and the Surviving  Corporation
shall take all such necessary action.

     Section 6.16.  Hart-Scott-Rodino.  Each of the Company and Parent (i) shall
use their best efforts to file, and to cause their "ultimate parent entities" to
file, as soon as practicable a "Notification and Report Form For Certain Mergers
and  Acquisitions"  under the  H-S-R  Act with  respect  to the  Merger  and the
transactions  contemplated  hereby,  (ii) shall take all other actions as may be
necessary,  desirable or  convenient to obtain the required  approval  under the
H-S-R  Act and  (iii)  will  comply at the  earliest  practicable  date with any
request  for  additional  information  received  by it from  the FTC or  Justice
pursuant to the H-S-R Act.


                                       45
<PAGE>


     Section 6.17.  SBA  Approval.  Each of the Company and Parent (i) shall use
their best efforts, and shall take all actions as may be necessary, desirable or
convenient, to obtain the approval of the SBA with respect to the Merger and the
transactions   contemplated   hereby  and  (ii)  will  comply  at  the  earliest
practicable date with any request for additional information received by it from
the SBA.

     Section 6.18.  Execution of Agreements with Named  Executives.  Each of the
Named  Executives  shall execute and deliver an agreement as of the date hereof,
in  substantially  the forms attached hereto as Exhibit A (the  "Agreements with
Named  Executives"),   which  Agreements  with  Named  Executives  shall  become
effective as of the Closing Date.

     Section 6.19.  Compliance with Legal  Requirements.  Immediately  after the
Merger,  the Company shall hold at least 90% of the fair market value of its net
assets  and at least  70% of the fair  market  value of its  gross  assets  held
immediately prior to the Merger.

     Section 6.20.  Indemnification  of Company  Officers and Directors.  Parent
agrees, for a period of six years following the Effective Time, not to amend the
indemnification  provisions  set forth in the  Certificate of  Incorporation  or
By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation in a manner that would adversely affect the
rights of the Company's  officers,  directors  and employees to  indemnification
thereunder  and agrees to cause the Surviving  Corporation  to fulfill and honor
such obligations to the maximum extent permitted by law; provided, however, that
nothing in this Section 6.21 shall  prevent  Parent from  effecting  any merger,
reorganization  or  consolidation of the Surviving  Corporation,  provided that,
Parent  agrees to  satisfy  any  amounts  that  would  have been  payable by the
Surviving  Corporation  (or any  successor)  and that  were not  otherwise  paid
pursuant  to the  indemnification  provisions  set forth in the  Certificate  of
Incorporation or By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation for a period commencing at
the Effective Time and continuing six years thereafter.

     Section 6.21.  Fairness Opinion.  A copy of the executed written opinion of
First Colonial,  as further described in Section 4.35 hereof, shall be delivered
to Parent within thirty (30) days of the date hereof.

     Section 6.22.  Compliance  with Legal  Requirements.  As soon as reasonably
practicable  after  the  Effective  Time,  Parent  shall  file  with  the  SEC a
registration  statement  on Form S-8 (the "Form  S-8") with  respect to each New
Parent Stock Option.  Subsequent to the Effective Date, Parent will use its best
efforts to keep the Form S-8 current and effective  under the Securities Act, to
the extent required by law.


                                       46
<PAGE>


                                  ARTICLE VII.

                 Conditions Precedent to Each Party's Obligation
                              to Effect the Merger

     The  respective  obligations  of each party to effect  the Merger  shall be
subject  to the  satisfaction  on or  prior  to  the  Closing  of the  following
conditions,  any one or more of  which  may be  waived  by them,  to the  extent
permitted by law:

     Section  7.1.  Company  Stockholder   Approval.   This  Agreement  and  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby  shall have been  approved and adopted by the
requisite vote of the Company's stockholders.

     Section 7.2. Listing of Shares.  The shares of Parent Common Stock issuable
in the  Merger  shall have been  approved  for  listing  on the Nasdaq  National
Market.

     Section 7.3. Hart-Scott-Rodino. All applicable waiting periods with respect
to any  "Notification  and Report  Form For Certain  Mergers  and  Acquisitions"
required  to be filed by Parent,  the Company or any of their  "ultimate  parent
entities" in compliance with the H-S-R Act in connection  with the  transactions
contemplated  hereby shall have  passed,  or early  termination  of such waiting
periods shall have been granted.

     Section 7.4.  Effectiveness  of Registration  Statement.  The  Registration
Statement  shall have become  effective in accordance with the provisions of the
Securities Act. No stop order  suspending the  effectiveness of the Registration
Statement shall have been issued by the SEC and remain in effect.

     Section 7.5. SBA  Approval.  The SBA shall have  approved the Merger,  this
Agreement and the transactions  contemplated hereby, including the waiver of any
payments due to the SBA as a result of the Company's previous  repurchase of its
3% preferred stock from the SBA and any accrued interest or dividends due to the
SBA as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby.

     Section 7.6.  Litigation.  No action,  suit or  proceeding  shall have been
instituted  and be continuing or be  threatened  by any  Governmental  Entity to
restrain,  modify or prevent the carrying out of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby; no temporary  restraining order,  preliminary or permanent injunction or
other  order  issued by any court of  competent  jurisdiction  or other legal or
regulatory restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the Merger or
limiting or  restricting  Parent's  conduct or  operation of the business of the
Company after the Merger shall have been issued;  no action,  suit or proceeding
seeking any of the foregoing  shall have been instituted by any third party that
has or is  reasonably  likely to  materially  impair the  Company's  or Parent's
ability to consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby or have a Company
Material Adverse Effect.



                                       47
<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE VIII.

                    Conditions Precedent to the Obligation of
                       Parent and Sub to Effect the Merger

     The  obligation  of Parent and Sub to effect the Merger shall be subject to
the  satisfaction  on or  prior  to  the  Closing  of the  following  additional
conditions,  any one or more of  which  may be  waived  by them,  to the  extent
permitted by law:

     Section  8.1.   Representations  and  Covenants.  The  representations  and
warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement (including those contained
in the Company Disclosure Schedule, as the same may be amended from time to time
pursuant to the  provisions  hereof)  shall be true and correct in all  material
respects (or in all respects in the case of any representation or warranty which
refers to a Company Material  Adverse Effect or otherwise  includes a concept of
materiality)  on and as of the  Closing  Date with the same  force and effect as
though  made  on  and  as  of  the  Closing  Date,  (i)  except  that  any  such
representations and warranties that are given as of a particular date and relate
solely to a particular  date or period shall be true and correct in all material
respects (or in all respects in the case of any representation or warranty which
refers to a Company Material  Adverse Effect or otherwise  includes a concept of
materiality)  as of such date or period,  and (ii) in the case of  Section  4.12
only, except for such changes with respect thereto (x) which are contemplated by
this Agreement or (y) which are attributable to the execution of this Agreement,
or the announcement or contemplation  of the transactions  proposed herein.  The
Company and the  Company  Stockholders  who are  parties to a Voting  Agreement,
dated the date  hereof  (the  "Voting  Agreement"),  shall  have  performed  and
complied,  respectively,  in  all  material  respects  with  all  covenants  and
agreements  required by this Agreement and the Voting  Agreement to be performed
or complied with by the Company or such Company  Stockholders on or prior to the
Closing Date. The Company shall have  delivered to Parent and Sub  certificates,
dated the Closing Date, and signed by an Executive Officer of the Company to the
foregoing effect.

     Section 8.2. Absence of Material  Adverse Change.  There shall have been no
material  adverse change in the business,  operations or financial  condition of
the  Company,  except  for such  changes  with  respect  thereto  (x)  which are
contemplated by this Agreement or (y) which are attributable to the execution of
this  Agreement,  or the  announcement  or  contemplation  of  the  transactions
proposed herein.

     Section 8.3. Receipt of Agreements.  On the date hereof,  Parent shall have
received executed originals of (i) the Voting Agreement, and (ii) the Agreements
from each of the Named Executives.


                                       48
<PAGE>


     Section 8.4. Accountant's Letters.

     (a) Parent shall have received a letter from Arthur  Andersen LLP regarding
the  firm's  concurrence  with  Parent   management's   conclusions  as  to  the
appropriateness  of  pooling  of  interests  accounting  for  the  Merger  under
Accounting  Principles  Board  Opinion  No.  16 if  closed  and  consummated  in
accordance with this Agreement.

     (b) Parent  shall have  received a letter of Marcum &  Kliegman,  LLP,  the
Company's independent auditors, dated a date within two Business Days before the
date on which the Registration Statement shall become effective and addressed to
Parent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent and customary in
scope and substance for letters delivered by independent  public  accountants in
connection with registration statements similar to the Registration Statement.

     Section  8.5.  Dissenting  Shares.  The number of shares of Company  Common
Stock for which  written  demand  for  payment  has been  made  pursuant  to the
Delaware  Corporation  Law, shall not exceed 5% in the  aggregate,  of the total
number of shares of Company  Common  Stock  outstanding  immediately  before the
Effective Time.

     Section 8.6. Opinions of Counsel to the Company. Parent shall have received
the opinion of  Stursberg  & Veith,  counsel to the  Company,  dated the Closing
Date, in substantially the form of Exhibit B.

     Section 8.7. Tax Opinion. Parent shall have received a favorable opinion of
Willkie Farr & Gallagher  substantially in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit E,
to the effect that the Merger will be treated for federal income tax purposes as
a reorganization  within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and that the
Company,  Parent and Sub will each be a party to that reorganization  within the
meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code. In rendering such opinion, Willkie Farr &
Gallagher shall be entitled to rely on certain  representations  of Parent,  Sub
and the Company, substantially in the form annexed hereto as Exhibits G and H.

     Section 8.8. Closing  Conditions.  Documentation or other information shall
have been  received in a form  reasonably  satisfactory  to Parent and Sub which
evidences  that  the  conditions  set  forth  in this  Article  VIII  have  been
satisfied.

     Section 8.9.  Financing.  Parent  shall have either (i)  received  from the
Company's   lenders  such  lender's  consent  (a)  to  this  Agreement  and  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby and (b) to continue  financing  upon the same
terms  (or  upon  terms  satisfactory  to  Parent)  or (ii)  using  commercially
reasonable best efforts,  obtained  comparable  financing to replace any Company
financing for which lender approval has not been received.


                                       49
<PAGE>


                                   ARTICLE IX.

                  Conditions Precedent to the Obligation of the
                          Company to Effect the Merger

     The  obligation of the Company to effect the Merger shall be subject to the
satisfaction on or prior to the Closing of the following additional  conditions,
any one or more of which may be waived by the Company,  to the extent  permitted
by law:

     Section  9.1.   Representations  and  Covenants.  The  representations  and
warranties  of Parent  and Sub  contained  in this  Agreement  shall be true and
correct  in all  material  respects  (or  in all  respects  in the  case  of any
representation  or warranty which refers to a Parent Material  Adverse Effect or
that includes a concept of  materiality)  on and as of the Closing Date with the
same force and effect as though made on and as of the Closing  Date,  (i) except
that any such  representations  and warranties that are given as of a particular
date and relate solely to a particular  date or period shall be true and correct
in all material  respects (or in all respects in the case of any  representation
or warranty which refers to a Parent Material  Adverse Effect or that includes a
concept  of  materiality)  as of such  date or  period,  and (ii) in the case of
Section 5.10 only,  except for such  changes with respect  thereto (x) which are
contemplated by this Agreement or (y) which are attributable to the execution of
this  Agreement,  or the  announcement  or  contemplation  of  the  transactions
proposed  herein.  Parent  and Sub shall  have  performed  and  complied  in all
material  respects with all covenants and agreements  required by this Agreement
to be  performed  or  complied  with by Parent or Sub on or prior to the Closing
Date.  Parent and Sub shall have  delivered  to the Company  certificates  of an
Executive  Officer of Parent and Sub,  dated the Closing  Date, to the foregoing
effect.

     Section 9.2. Absence of Material  Adverse Change.  There shall have been no
material  adverse change in the business,  operations or financial  condition of
Parent and its  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,  except for such  changes  with
respect  thereto (x) which are  contemplated  by this Agreement or (y) which are
attributable  to  the  execution  of  this  Agreement  or  the  announcement  or
contemplation of the transactions proposed herein.

     Section 9.3. Receipt of Agreements.  On the date hereof,  the Company shall
have received executed originals of the Agreements with the Named Executives.

     Section 9.4.  Accountant's Letter. The Company shall have received a letter
from Marcum & Kliegman indicating that nothing has come to such firm's attention
which would cause it to


                                       50
<PAGE>


believe that matters exist which would preclude  Parent from  accounting for the
merger as a pooling of interests under  Accounting  Principles Board Opinion No.
16 without consideration of the Agreement and any actions contemplated thereby.

     Section 9.5. Opinion of Counsel to Parent.  The Company  Stockholders shall
have received the opinion of Willkie Farr & Gallagher,  counsel to Parent, dated
the date of the Closing, in substantially the form of Exhibit C.

     Section  9.6.  Tax  Opinion.  The Company  shall have  received a favorable
opinion  of  Michael  Zimmerman,  substantially  in the form  annexed  hereto as
Exhibit F, counsel to the Company, to the effect that the Merger will be treated
for  federal  income tax  purposes  as a  reorganization  within the  meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code, and that the Company,  Parent and Sub will each be a
party to that  reorganization  within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code.
In  rendering  such  opinion,  Michael  Zimmerman  shall be  entitled to rely on
certain  representations  of Parent,  Sub and the Company,  substantially in the
form annexed hereto as Exhibits G and H.

     Section 9.7. Fairness Opinion.  The Company shall have received the written
opinion of First  Colonial,  dated the  Closing  Date and in form and  substance
reasonably  satisfactory  to Parent,  to the  effect  that the  aggregate  Share
Consideration to be received by the Company's Shareholders in the Merger is fair
and equitable to the Company's Shareholders from a financial point of view.

     Section 9.8. Closing  Conditions.  Documentation or other information shall
have been  received  in a form  reasonably  satisfactory  to the  Company  which
evidences that the conditions set forth in this Article IX have been satisfied.

                                   ARTICLE X.

                                     Closing

     The  closing  (the  "Closing")  of the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement  shall take place at the  offices of  Willkie  Farr &  Gallagher,  787
Seventh Avenue, New York, New York, at 10:00 a.m. local time on the Closing Date
or at such other time and place as the parties may mutually agree.

                                   ARTICLE XI.

           Survival of Representations and Warranties; Indemnification

     Section 11.1. Survival of Representations  and Warranties.  Notwithstanding
any right of Parent and Sub to investigate fully the affairs of the Company,  or
any  right  of  the   Company  to   investigate   fully  the   accuracy  of  the
representations  and  warranties  of Parent  and Sub,  and  notwithstanding  any


                                       51
<PAGE>


knowledge of facts determined or determinable by Parent, Sub or the Company,  as
the case  may be,  pursuant  to such  investigation  or right of  investigation,
Parent,  Sub and the  Company,  as the case may be, have the right to rely fully
upon the representations,  warranties,  covenants and agreements of the Company,
Parent  and  Sub,  as  the  case  may  be,  contained  in  this  Agreement.  The
representations  and warranties of Parent, Sub and the Company and the covenants
to be performed by the Company  prior to the  Effective  Time shall  survive the
execution and delivery  hereof and the Closing  hereunder in accordance with the
applicable statute of limitations, provided, however, that the representation of
the Company  contained  in Section  4.33  hereof  shall  survive  only until the
Effective Time.

                                  ARTICLE XII.

                            Termination of Agreement

     Section 12.1.  Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated  prior to the
Closing as follows:

     (a) by  either  Parent or the  Company  if the  Merger  shall not have been
consummated on or before November 25, 2000;  provided that termination  pursuant
to this Section  12.1(a) shall be extended to December 31, 2000 if Parent agrees
to file a Current  Report on Form 8-K or other SEC report form to  disclose  any
revised financial statements required by the SEC.

     (b) by the Company if any of the conditions  specified in Article VII or IX
have not been met or waived by the Company at such time as any such condition is
no longer capable of satisfaction;

     (c) by Parent if any of the  conditions  specified  in Article  VII or VIII
have not been met or waived by Parent at such time as any such  condition  is no
longer capable of satisfaction;

     (d) by Parent if the Company or the Company Stockholders who are parties to
the Voting  Agreement  shall have breached any of their  respective  obligations
under  Article VI of this  Agreement  or the Voting  Agreement  in any  material
respect and such breach  continues for a period of ten days after the receipt of
notice of the breach from Parent;

     (e) by the  Company (i) if Parent or Sub shall have  breached  any of their
respective  obligations  under  Article  VI of this  Agreement  in any  material
respect and such breach  continues for a period of ten days after the receipt of
notice of the  breach  from the  Company or (ii) if any  representation  made by
Parent or Sub is not true and correct in any  material  respect and such untruth
would result in a Material Adverse Effect;

     (f) by either  Parent or the Company if the  average of the  closing  sales
prices per share of Parent  Common Stock on the NASDAQ  National  Market for the
Determination Period is less than $15.00;


                                       52
<PAGE>


     (g) at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, by mutual written  consent
of Parent, Sub and the Company;

     (h) by  Parent,  within  60 days of the  date  of  this  Agreement,  if (x)
Parent's  management  concludes  as a result of  Parent's  legal,  business  and
financial  due  diligence  review of the Company  that the  Company's  business,
properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise),  liabilities, operations
or prospects  are not  satisfactory;  provided,  however,  that Parent shall not
terminate for reasons related to the Company's diversified loan portfolio except
in the event there has been a material change in such loan portfolio  (including
but not limited to any loans that (i) have become non-performing (any loans more
than 60 days  delinquent)  or (ii) any loans that have become current by virture
of any  modification  to the terms of such  loans,  and such  loans but for such
modification would have been non-performing and such non-performance  would have
otherwise  resulted in a material  adverse change in Company's  diversified loan
portfolio) since October 14, 1999, or (y) Parent's Board of Directors  concludes
as a result of Parent's  legal,  business and financial due diligence  review of
the Company that (i) any  representation or warranty made by the Company in this
Agreement  is not true and correct in any  material  respect or (ii) the Company
has failed to disclose to Parent any information  that could result in a Company
Material  Adverse  Effect and in each case such  untruth  or failure  (A) is not
corrected in an amendment to the Company  Disclosure  Schedule  delivered by the
Company to Parent  pursuant to the  provisions of the first  sentence of Section
14.4 hereof or (B) is not cured within 15 days after notice  thereof is given by
Parent to the  Company;  provided,  however,  that an  amendment  to the Company
Disclosure Schedule shall not constitute a cure under this clause (B); or

     (i) at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, by Parent; or

     (j) by the  Company,  if its Board of  Directors,  in the  exercise  of its
fiduciary duties, accepts an Acquisition Proposal.

     (k) by the Company, in the event (i) of a change in control or (ii) both of
Alvin Murstein and Andrew Murstein are no longer employed by Parent.  "Change in
control"  shall be deemed to have  taken  place if any  Person  other than Alvin
Murstein or Andrew  Murstein is or becomes a  "beneficial  owner" (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the
Parent  representing  50% or more of the  combined  voting power of the Parent's
then  outstanding  securities  eligible to vote for the election of its Board of
Directors;  provided,  however,  that the event described in this sentence shall
not be  deemed  to be a change in  control  by  virtue  of any of the


                                       53
<PAGE>


following  acquisitions:  (w) by Parent or any subsidiary of the Parent in which
Parent owns more than 50% of the combined  voting  power of such entity,  (x) by
any employee  benefit plan (or related trust)  sponsored or maintained by Parent
or any  subsidiary,  (y) by any  underwriter  temporarily  holding the  Parent's
capital stock pursuant to an offering of such capital stock,  or (z) pursuant to
any acquisition by the Company or any group of persons including the Company (or
any entity controlled by the Company or any group of persons including  Company)
or the Company's shareholders.

     (l) by Parent,  in the event  Gary  Granoff  is no longer  employed  by the
Company.

     Section 12.2.  Effect of  Termination.  If this Agreement is terminated and
the  transactions  contemplated  hereby are not consummated as described  above,
this Agreement  shall become void and be of no further force and effect,  except
for the  provisions of this  Agreement  relating to the  obligations  of parties
under Sections 6.14,  6.15, 12.2 and 12.3. None of the parties hereto shall have
any liability in respect to a termination  of this  Agreement  prior to Closing,
except to the extent that termination  results from the intentional,  willful or
knowing violation of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of
such party under this Agreement and except as provided in Section 12.3 hereof.

     Section 12.3. Termination Expenses.

     (a) If this Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to the provisions of
Section 12.1(i), Parent shall within 15 days of a written demand by the Company,
pay to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds $1,000,000.

     (b) If  this  Agreement  is  terminated  by  the  Company  pursuant  to the
provisions  of Section  12.1(j) and a  definitive  agreement  with respect to an
Acquisition Proposal is executed, or an Acquisition Proposal is consummated,  at
or within 12 months of such Acquisition Proposal, then the Company shall, within
ten days of a written  demand by  Parent,  pay to  Parent  by wire  transfer  of
immediately available funds an amount equal to $3,500,000.

     (c) If this Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to the provisions of
Section 12.1(i), Parent shall within 15 days of a written demand by the Company,
pay to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds $1,000,000.



                                       54
<PAGE>


                                  ARTICLE XIII.

                                   Definitions

     Section 13.1. Definitions.  The following terms when used in this Agreement
shall have the following meanings:

          "Acquisition Proposal" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.10.

          "affiliate" (or "affiliates" as the context may require), with respect
     to any person,  means any other person controlling,  controlled by or under
     common control with such person.

          "Affiliates" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.7(a).

          "Agreement" has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

          "Agreements  with the Named  Executives"  has the meaning set forth in
     Section 6.18.

          "Business  Day" means any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday,  or a
     day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are obligated by
     law or executive order to close.

          "CERCLA"   shall  mean  the   Comprehensive   Environmental   Response
     Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C.ss.ss. 9601 et seq. as amended.

          "Certificates" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a).

          "Closing" has the meaning set forth in Article X.

          "Closing  Date" means (a) the third  Business Day following the day on
     which the last of all conditions to the  consummation  of the  transactions
     contemplated  hereby (other than conditions which contemplate only delivery
     or filing of one or more documents contemporaneously with the Closing) have
     been  satisfied  or waived,  or (b) such other date as the  parties  hereto
     agree in writing.

          "Code" has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

          "Company" has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

          "Company Common Stock" means the common stock of the Company, having a
     par value of $.001 per share.

          "Company  Disclosure  Schedule"  has  the  meaning  set  forth  in the
     preamble to Article IV.


                                       55
<PAGE>


          "Company Documents" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

          "Company  Financial  Statements"  has the meaning set forth in Section
     4.10.

          "Company  Interim  Financial  Statements" has the meaning set forth in
     Section 4.10.

          "Company Material Adverse Effect" has the meaning set forth in Section
     4.3.

          "Company Meeting" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(a).

          "Company Restated  Financial  Statements" has the meaning set forth in
     Section 6.5.

          "Company SEC Documents" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.10.

          "Company Stock  Options" means the options to purchase  Company Common
     Stock under the  Company's  1999 Stock Option Plan and under the  Company's
     Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan, as in effect on the date hereof.

          "Company Stockholders" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3(b).

          "contracts  and  other  agreements"  mean all  contracts,  agreements,
     supply  agreements,   undertakings,   indentures,   notes,   bonds,  loans,
     instruments, leases, mortgages, commitments or other binding arrangements.

          "Employee Plan" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6

          "Delaware Corporation Law" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.

          "Determination Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

          "Director Plan" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6

          "Dissenting Shares" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.

          "Distribution" means any distribution of cash,  securities or property
     on or in respect of the Company  Common Stock,  or Parent Common Stock,  as
     the case may be, whether as a dividend or otherwise.


                                       56
<PAGE>


          "Effective Time" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.

          "Environmental  Laws"  means  all  federal,  state,  and  local  laws,
     ordinances,  rules,  regulations,  codes,  duties  under the  common law or
     orders, including,  without limitation,  any requirements imposed under any
     Permits, licenses,  judgments,  decrees,  agreements or recorded covenants,
     conditions,  restrictions or easements,  the purpose of which is to protect
     the  environment,  human  health,  safety or welfare,  or which  pertain to
     Hazardous Materials.

          "Environmental Permits" shall mean all Permits,  licenses,  approvals,
     authorizations,   consents  or  registrations   required  under  applicable
     Environmental  Laws in connection with the ownership,  use and/or operation
     by the Company of its properties.

          "ERISA" means the Employee  Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
     amended.

          "Exchange Act" means the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
     and the regulations and rulings issued thereunder.

          "Exchange Agent" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a).

          "Exchange Ratio" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a)(1).

          "Executive   Officers"   means,   as  to  Parent   and  the   Company,
     respectively,  its chairman of the board, its president, any vice president
     (executive,  senior or  other),  secretary,  treasurer  or chief  financial
     officer,  if any,  or any other  officer  or  employee  having  supervisory
     responsibility for a principal business function.

          "Form S-8" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.22.

          "FTC" means the Federal Trade  Commission  or any successor  agency or
     department.

          "GAAP" means generally  accepted  accounting  principles in the United
     States of America from time to time in effect.

          "Governmental Entities" means (a) any international, foreign, federal,
     state, county,  local or municipal  government or administrative  agency or
     political  subdivision  thereof,  (b) any governmental  agency,  authority,
     board, bureau, commission, department or instrumentality,  (c) any court or
     administrative  tribunal,  (d) any  non-governmental  agency,  tribunal  or
     entity  that  is  vested  by  a   governmental   agency   with   applicable
     jurisdiction,  or (e) any  arbitration  tribunal or other  non-governmental
     authority with applicable jurisdiction.


                                       57
<PAGE>


          "Hazardous Materials" means (i) any substance or material regulated or
     identified under  Environmental  Laws; (ii) gasoline,  diesel fuel or other
     petroleum  hydrocarbons,  PCBs or asbestos;  or (iii) any pollutant,  toxic
     substance, or contaminant.

          "H-S-R Act" means the Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust Improvements Act of
     1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

          "Insurance Policies" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.25.

          "Intellectual  Property  Rights"  has the meaning set forth in Section
     4.19(a).

          "IRS" means the Internal  Revenue  Service or any successor  agency or
     department.

          "Justice" means the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice or
     any successor agency or department.

          "Leased Real Property" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.18(a).

          "Leases" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.18(a).

          "Liabilities" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.11.

          "lien or other  encumbrance"  (or  "liens  or other  encumbrances"  or
     "liens or other encumbrance" or "lien or other encumbrances" as the context
     may  require or any similar  formulation)  means any lien,  claim,  pledge,
     mortgage,  assessment,  security interest,  charge,  option, right of first
     refusal, easement, servitude, adverse claim, transfer restriction under any
     stockholder or similar agreement or other encumbrance of any kind.

          "Merger" has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

          "Named Executive" means each of Gary Granoff,  Margaret Chance,  Ellen
     Walker, Lee Forlenza and Steven Etra.

          "New Parent Stock Option" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7.

          "1940 Act" shall mean the Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended,
     and the regulations and rulings issued thereunder.


                                       58
<PAGE>


          "Owned Real Property" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.18(a).

          "Parent" has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

          "Parent  Common  Stock"  means the  common  stock,  par value $.01 per
     share, of Parent.

          "Parent Disclosure Schedule" has the meaning set forth in the preamble
     to Article V.

          "Parent Documents" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.

          "Parent  Financial  Statements"  has the  meaning set forth in Section
     5.4.

          "Parent  Interim  Financial  Statements"  has the meaning set forth in
     Section 5.4.

          "Parent  Material Adverse Effect" has the meaning set forth in Section
     5.2.

          "Parent SEC Documents" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4.

          "Permits"  (or "Permit" as the context may require) mean all licenses,
     permits,  certificates,   certificates  of  occupancy,  orders,  approvals,
     registrations, authorizations, inspections, qualifications and filings with
     and  under all  federal,  state,  local or  foreign  laws and  Governmental
     Entities.

          "person"  (or  "persons"  as  the  context  may  require)   means  any
     individual,  corporation,  partnership,  firm, joint venture,  association,
     joint-stock  company,  trust,  unincorporated  organization,   Governmental
     Entity or other entity.

          "Plan" or "Plans" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.23(a).

          "property"  (or  "properties"  as the context may require) means real,
     personal or mixed property, tangible or intangible.

          "Proxy Statement" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.9.

          "Receiving Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 14.1.


                                       59
<PAGE>


          "Registration Statement" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.9.

          "Releasing Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 14.1.

          "Remedial  Action"  shall  mean any action  required  to (i) clean up,
     remove or treat  Hazardous  Materials;  (ii) prevent a release or threat of
     release of any  Hazardous  Material;  (iii) perform  pre-remedial  studies,
     investigations or post-remedial  monitoring and care; (iv) cure a violation
     of Environmental  Law or (v) take corrective action under sections 3004(u),
     3004(v) or 3008(h) of the  Resource  Conservation  Recovery  Act, 42 U.S.C.
     ss.ss. 6901 et seq. or analogous state law.

          "returns" (or "return" as the context may require) has the meaning set
     forth in Section 4.30(a).

          "SBA" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.

          "SEC" means the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission or any successor
     agency or department.

          "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
     regulations and rulings issued thereunder.

          "Share Consideration" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a).

          "Sub" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.

          "Sub Common Stock" means the common  stock,  par value $.01 per share,
     of Sub.

          "Subsidiaries"  (or  "Subsidiary"  as the context may require),  means
     each entity as to which a person,  directly or indirectly,  owns or has the
     power to vote, or to exercise a controlling  influence with respect to, 50%
     or more of the securities of any class of such entity, the holders of which
     are ordinarily,  in the absence of contingencies,  entitled to vote for the
     election of directors  (or persons  performing  similar  functions) of such
     entity.

          "Surviving Corporation" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.

          "Taxes"  (or "Tax" as the  context  may  require)  means all  federal,
     state,  county,   local,  foreign  and  other  taxes  (including,   without
     limitation,  minimum and alternative minimum income, intangibles,  premium,
     excise,  sales,  use, gross  receipts,  franchise,  ad valorem,  severance,
     capital levy, transfer, employment and payroll-related, and property taxes,
     import duties and other governmental charges and assessments), and includes
     interest,  additions to tax,  penalties,  and  interest on  penalties  with
     respect thereto,  imposed,  assessed or collected by or under the authority
     of any Governmental Entity.

          "Transaction Expenses" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.14.

          "Voting Agreement" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.


                                       60
<PAGE>


                                  ARTICLE XIV.

                                  Miscellaneous

     Section 14.1.  Publicity.  So long as this Agreement is in effect, prior to
making  a  press  release  or  other  public   statement  with  respect  to  the
transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement,  any party (a "Releasing  Party")
will consult with the other party (the "Receiving Party") and provide such other
party with a draft of such press release, except as may otherwise be required by
law or stock exchange regulations.

     Section  14.2.  Notices.  Any  notice or other  communication  required  or
permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally,  sent
by facsimile  transmission  or sent by  certified,  registered,  express mail or
nationally recognized courier service, postage prepaid. Any such notice shall be
deemed  given when so delivered  personally  or  successfully  sent by facsimile
transmission  or, if  mailed,  five days after the date of deposit in the United
States mails, as follows:

     (i)  if to Parent or Sub to:

          Medallion Financial Corp.
          437 Madison Avenue
          New York, NY  10022
          Attention:  Andrew Murstein, President
          Telecopy No.:  (212) 328-2121

          and

          Medallion Financial Corp.
          437 Madison Avenue
          New York, NY  10022
          Attention:  Alvin Murstein, Chairman
          Telecopy No.:  (212) 328-2125

          with a concurrent copy to:

          Willkie Farr & Gallagher
          787 Seventh Avenue
          New York, New York  10019
          Attention:  Christopher E. Manno, Esq.
          Telecopy No.:  (212) 728-8111

     (ii) if to the Company to:

          Ameritrans Capital Corporation
          747 Third Avenue
          New York, NY  10017
          Attention:  Gary C. Granoff, President
          Telecopy No.:  (212) 421-3488


                                       61
<PAGE>


          with, prior to the Closing, a concurrent copy to:

          Stursberg & Veith
          405 Lexington Avenue, Suite 4949
          New York, NY  10174
          Attention:  Walter Stursberg, Esq.
          Telecopy No.:  (212) 922-0995

     Any party may by notice given in  accordance  with this Section 14.2 to the
other  parties  designate  another  address  or person  for  receipt  of notices
hereunder.

     Section 14.3. Entire Agreement.  This Agreement (including the exhibits and
schedules  hereto) and the  agreements  contemplated  hereby  contain the entire
agreement  among the parties  with  respect to the subject  matter  hereof,  and
supersede all prior agreements, written or oral, with respect thereto.

     Section  14.4.   Waivers  and   Amendments;   Non   Contractual   Remedies;
Preservation of Remedies;  Liability. This Agreement may be amended, superseded,
canceled,  renewed or extended,  and the terms  hereof may be waived,  only by a
written  instrument  signed by each of the parties or, in the case of waiver, by
the party  waiving  compliance.  No delay on the part of any party in exercising
any right, power or privilege  hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof.  Nor
shall any waiver on the part of any party of any such right, power or privilege,
nor any  single or  partial  exercise  of any such  right,  power or  privilege,
preclude any further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right,  power
or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative and, except
as  provided  (i) in Section  12.2 and (ii) if the  Closing  occurs,  in Section
11.2(a) are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that any party may otherwise
have at law or in equity.  The  rights and  remedies  of any party  based  upon,
arising out of or  otherwise  in respect of any  inaccuracy  in or breach of any
representation,  warranty,  covenant or agreement  contained  in this  Agreement
shall in no way be limited  by the fact that the act,  omission,  occurrence  or
other  state of facts upon which any claim of any such  inaccuracy  or breach is
based may also be the  subject  matter of any  other  representation,  warranty,
covenant or agreement  contained in this  Agreement  (or in any other  agreement
between  the  parties)  as to  which  there  is no  inaccuracy  or  breach.  The
limitations  on claims  set forth in this  Section  14.4 and  elsewhere  in this
Agreement  (including  Article  XI)  shall not apply in the case of fraud on the
part of the Company.

     Section  14.5.  Governing  Law.  This  Agreement  shall be  governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to
principles of conflicts of laws.


                                       62
<PAGE>


     Section 14.6.  Binding  Effect;  No  Assignment.  This  Agreement  shall be
binding  upon and inure to the  benefit  of the  parties  and  their  respective
successors  and  assigns  and  heirs  and legal  representatives.  Neither  this
Agreement,  nor any right  hereunder,  may be assigned by any party  without the
prior written consent of the other party hereto; provided,  however, that Parent
and Merger Subsidiary may assign their rights (but not their obligations) hereto
to their Subsidiaries.

     Section 14.7. Third Party  Beneficiaries.  Except for Sections 3.6, 6.22(b)
and 6.23,  nothing in this  Agreement  is intended or shall be construed to give
any person,  other than the parties hereto, any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim  under or in  respect  of this  Agreement  or any  provision  contained
herein.

     Section 14.8.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed by the parties
hereto in separate  counterparts,  each of which when so executed and  delivered
shall be an original,  but all such counterparts  shall together  constitute one
and the same  instrument.  Each  counterpart  may  consist of a number of copies
hereof each signed by less than all, but  together  signed by all of the parties
hereto.

     Section 14.9. Exhibits and Schedules. The exhibits and schedules hereto are
a part of this Agreement as if fully set forth herein.  All references herein to
Articles, Sections, subsections, clauses, exhibits and schedules shall be deemed
references to such parts of this  Agreement,  unless the context shall otherwise
require.

     Section 14.10.  Headings.  The headings in this Agreement are for reference
only, and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

     Section 14.11. Submission to Jurisdiction;  Venue. Any action or proceeding
against any party hereto with respect to this Agreement  shall be brought in the
courts of the State of  Delaware  or of the United  States for the  District  of
Delaware,  and, by execution and delivery of this  Agreement,  each party hereto
hereby irrevocably accepts for itself and in respect of its property,  generally
and unconditionally, the jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts. Each party hereto
irrevocably  consents  to the  service of  process at any of the  aforementioned
courts in any such  action or  proceeding  by the  mailing of copies  thereof by
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid,  to such party at its address set
forth in  Section  14.2,  such  service to become  effective  30 days after such
mailing.  Nothing  herein  shall  affect the right of any party  hereto to serve
process on any other party  hereto in any other manner  permitted  by law.  Each
party hereto irrevocably waives any objection which it may now have or hereafter
have to the  laying  of venue of any of the  aforesaid  actions  or  proceedings
arising  out of or in  connection  with this  Agreement  brought  in the  courts
referred to above and


                                       63
<PAGE>


hereby further  irrevocably  waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such
court  that any such  action or  proceeding  brought  in any such court has been
brought in an inconvenient forum.

     Section  14.12.  Specific  Performance.   The  parties  hereto  agree  that
irreparable  damage would occur in the event that any of the  provisions of this
Agreement  were not performed in accordance  with their  specific  terms or were
otherwise breached.  It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled
to an injunction or  injunctions  to prevent  breaches of this  Agreement and to
enforce  specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of the United
States or any state  having  jurisdiction,  this being in  addition to any other
remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

     Section  14.13.  Severability.  If  any  court  of  competent  jurisdiction
determines that any provision of this Agreement is not enforceable in accordance
with its terms,  then such  provision  shall be deemed to be  modified  so as to
apply such provision, as modified, to the protection of the legitimate interests
of the parties hereto to the fullest extent  legally  permissible  and shall not
affect the  validity  or  enforceability  of the  remaining  provisions  of this
Agreement.

                            [Signature Pages Follow.]



                                       64
<PAGE>



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

                                        MEDALLION FINANCIAL CORP.



                                        By: _________________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:


                                        AMTC MERGER CORP.



                                        By: _________________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:


                                        AMERITRANS CAPITAL CORPORATION



                                        By: _________________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:




<PAGE>



                                                                       Exhibit A

                   [Form of Agreements with Named Executives]















<PAGE>



                                                                       Exhibit B

                     [Form of Opinion of Stursberg & Veith]
















<PAGE>



                                                                       Exhibit C

                  [Form of Opinion of Willkie Farr & Gallagher]














<PAGE>


                                                                       Exhibit D



                           [Form of Affiliate Letter]














<PAGE>


                                                                       Exhibit E

                [Form of Tax Opinion of Willkie Farr & Gallagher]














<PAGE>


                                                                       Exhibit F

                   [Form of Tax Opinion of Michael Zimmerman]














<PAGE>


                                                                       Exhibit G

           [Form of Ameritrans Capital Corporation Tax Representation]














<PAGE>


                                                                       Exhibit H

          [Form of Medallion Financial Corp. Tax Representation Letter]





















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