ZANY BRAINY INC
S-1/A, 1999-06-02
HOBBY, TOY & GAME SHOPS
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<PAGE>


   As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 2, 1999
                                                      Registration No. 333-74719

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

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

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

                            AMENDMENT NO. 5 TO
                                    FORM S-1
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     Under
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

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

                               ZANY BRAINY, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                <C>

          Pennsylvania                         5945                 23-2663337
  (State or other jurisdiction     (Primary Standard Industrial    (IRS Employer
of incorporation or organization)    Classification Code No.)   Identification No.)
</TABLE>

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

                           308 East Lancaster Avenue
                              Wynnewood, PA 19096
                                 (610) 896-1500
  (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
                   registrant's principal executive offices)

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

                               Keith C. Spurgeon
                            Chief Executive Officer
                           308 East Lancaster Avenue
                              Wynnewood, PA 19096
                                 (610) 896-1500
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agent for service)
                        Copies of all communications to:

             ALAN SINGER                            THOMAS C. SADLER
     Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP                    Latham & Watkins
          1701 Market Street                633 West 5th Street, Suite 4000
     Philadelphia, PA 19103-2921                 Los Angeles, CA 90071
            (215) 963-5000                           (213) 485-1234

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

   Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as
practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

   If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, check the following box. [_]

   If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [_]

   If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [_]

   If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [_]

   If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [_]

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

   The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant
shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration
Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until this Registration Statement
shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to such
Section 8(a), may determine.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>

                                    Part II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

   The following table sets forth the various expenses in connection with the
sale and distribution of the securities being registered, other than
underwriting discounts and commissions. All of the amounts shown are estimated
except the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee, the NASD filing
fee and the Nasdaq National Market listing fee.

<TABLE>
   <S>                                                            <C>
   Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee........... $   27,174.50
   National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. filing fee...     10,275.00
   Transfer Agent's fees and expenses............................      5,000.00
   Printing and engraving expenses...............................    175,000.00
   Legal fees and expenses.......................................    325,000.00
   Blue sky fees and expenses....................................      7,500.00
   Nasdaq National Market listing fee............................     95,000.00
   Accountants' fees and expenses................................    300,000.00
   Miscellaneous.................................................    405,050.50
                                                                  -------------
   Total Expenses................................................ $1,350,000.00
                                                                  =============
</TABLE>

Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

   The Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law and Zany Brainy's Amended and
Restated Bylaws limit the monetary liability of directors to Zany Brainy and to
its shareholders and provide for indemnification of Zany Brainy's officers and
directors for liabilities and expenses that they may incur in such capacities.
In general, officers and directors are indemnified with respect to actions
taken in good faith in a manner reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed
to, the best interests of Zany Brainy, and with respect to any criminal action
or proceeding, actions that the indemnitee had no reasonable cause to believe
were unlawful. In addition, Zany Brainy's Amended and Restated Bylaws provide
that Zany Brainy shall indemnify its officers and directors to the fullest
extent permitted by Pennsylvania law, including some instances in which
indemnification is otherwise discretionary under Pennsylvania law. Reference is
made to Zany Brainy's Amended and Restated Bylaws filed as Exhibit 3.2 hereto.

   Zany Brainy has an insurance policy which insures the directors and officers
of Zany Brainy against certain liabilities which might be incurred in
connection with the performance of their duties.

Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

   During the past three years, Zany Brainy has issued and sold unregistered
securities in the transactions described below.

Shares of Preferred Stock

1. Pursuant to a Purchase Agreement dated September 24, 1996 and November 27,
   1996, Zany Brainy issued an aggregate of 749,984 shares of Series C
   Convertible Preferred Stock to 39 accredited investors for a purchase price
   of $22.50 per share, or an aggregate purchase price of $16,874,640.

                                      II-1
<PAGE>

2. Pursuant to a Purchase Agreement dated September 24, 1996, Zany Brainy
   issued an aggregate of 748,334 shares of Series BB Convertible Preferred
   Stock to 35 holders of Zany Brainy's Series B Convertible Preferred Stock in
   exchange for these holders' shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock.

Options to Purchase Common Stock

3. The Company from time to time has granted stock options to employees,
   directors and consultants. The following table sets forth certain
   information regarding such grants:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        No. of      Range of
                                                        Shares   Exercise Prices
                                                       --------- ---------------
   <S>                                                 <C>       <C>
   1996...............................................   758,101      $4.00
   1997............................................... 1,169,507 $3.33 to $4.00
   1998...............................................   472,497 $4.00 to $9.00
   1999...............................................   727,600 $3.33 to $11.75
</TABLE>

4. The following table sets forth certain information regarding option
   exercises:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          No. of    Range of
                                                          Shares Exercise Prices
                                                          ------ ---------------
   <S>                                                    <C>    <C>
   1996..................................................  4,878 $3.33 to $4.00
   1997.................................................. 10,392 $3.33 to $4.00
   1998.................................................. 22,048      $3.33
   1999..................................................  2,549 $3.33 to $4.00
</TABLE>

   Zany Brainy believes that the issuance of shares and under the Purchase
Agreements described above did not involve a public offering and were exempt
from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act because such
issuances were made to a limited group of persons, each of whom was believed to
have been a sophisticated investor or had a pre-existing business or personal
relationship with Zany Brainy or its management and because each such person
was purchasing for investment without a view to further distribution.
Restrictive legends were placed on stock certificates and are contained in
stock option agreements evidencing the securities described above. Shares
issued upon exercise of options were exempt from registration under Rule 3(b)
of the Securities Act and Rule 701 promulgated thereunder.

                                      II-2
<PAGE>

Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

   (a) The following exhibits are filed as part of this registration statement:

                                    EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 Exhibit
 Number  Description
 ------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 <C>     <S>
   1     Form of Underwriting Agreement
   3.1*  Form of Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
   3.2*  Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws
   5*    Opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP regarding the legality of the
          shares of common stock being registered
  10.1*  1993 Stock Incentive Plan
  10.2*  1998 Equity Compensation Plan
  10.3*  Form of Stock Purchase Agreement providing registration rights to
         certain shareholders
  10.4*  Employment Agreement with Keith C. Spurgeon
  10.5*  Employment Agreement with Thomas G. Vellios
  10.6*  Employment Agreement with Robert A. Helpert
  10.7*  Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement dated October 9,
         1997, as amended, between Zany Brainy, Inc. and First Union
         Corporation, as successor in interest to CoreStates Bank, N.A.
  10.8*  Commitment Letter dated May 5, 1999 between First Union National Bank
         and Zany Brainy
  21*    Subsidiaries
  23.1*  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
         Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (included in its opinion filed
  23.2*  as Exhibit 5 hereto)
         Power of Attorney (included on signature page to this Registration
  24.1*  Statement)
  27*    Financial Data Schedule
</TABLE>
- --------
*  Previously filed.

   (b) Financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are
inapplicable, are not required under applicable provisions of Regulation S-X,
or the information that would otherwise be included in such schedules is
contained in the registrant's financial statements or accompanying notes.

Item 17. Undertakings.

   (a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the
Underwriters at the closing specified in the Underwriting Agreement
certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by
the Underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

   (b) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a

                                      II-3
<PAGE>

court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by
it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be
governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

   (c) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:

  (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the
          information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of
          this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and
          contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant
          to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall
          be deemed to be part of this Registration Statement as of the time
          it was declared effective.

  (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act,
          each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus
          shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
          securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at
          that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
          thereof.

                                      II-4
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

   Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 5 to the Registration Statement
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in
Wynnewood, Pennsylvania on June 1, 1999.

                                         ZANY BRAINY, INC.


                                         By:  /s/ Keith C. Spurgeon
                                             ----------------------------------
                                              Keith C. Spurgeon
                                              Chairman of the Board and Chief
                                              Executive Officer

   Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this
Amendment No. 5 to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the
following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

             Signature                    Capacity                 Date

/s/ Keith C. Spurgeon               Chairman of the         June 1, 1999
- ----------------------------------   Board and Chief
        Keith C. Spurgeon            Executive Officer
                                     (principal executive
                                      officer)

              *                     Chief Financial         June 1, 1999
- ----------------------------------   Officer (principal
        Robert A. Helpert            financial and
                                     accounting
                                     officer)


              *                     Director                June 1, 1999
- ----------------------------------
         C. Donald Dorsey

              *                     Director                June 1, 1999
- ----------------------------------
          Robert A. Fox

              *                     Director                June 1, 1999
- ----------------------------------
       Gerald R. Gallagher

              *
- ----------------------------------  Director                June 1, 1999
          Henry Nasella

              *                     Director                June 1, 1999
- ----------------------------------
         Yves B. Sisteron

              *                     Director                June 1, 1999
- ----------------------------------
          David V. Wachs


        /s/ Keith C. Spurgeon
By__________________________________
           Attorney-in-Fact

                                      II-5
<PAGE>

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 Exhibit
 Number  Description
 ------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 <C>     <S>
   1     Form of Underwriting Agreement
   3.1*  Form of Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
   3.2*  Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws
   5*    Opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP regarding the legality of the
          shares of common stock being registered
  10.1*  1993 Stock Incentive Plan
  10.2*  1998 Equity Compensation Plan
  10.3*  Form of Stock Purchase Agreement providing registration rights to
         certain shareholders
  10.4*  Employment Agreement with Keith C. Spurgeon
  10.5*  Employment Agreement with Thomas G. Vellios
  10.6*  Employment Agreement with Robert A. Helpert
  10.7*  Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement dated October 9,
         1997, as amended, between Zany Brainy, Inc. and First Union
         Corporation, as successor in interest to CoreStates Bank, N.A.
  10.8*  Commitment Letter dated May 5, 1999 between First Union National Bank
         and Zany Brainy
  21*    Subsidiaries
  23.1*  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
         Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (included in its opinion filed
  23.2*  as Exhibit 5 hereto)
         Power of Attorney (included on signature page to this Registration
  24.1*  Statement)
  27*    Financial Data Schedule
</TABLE>
- --------
*  Previously filed.

<PAGE>

                               6,100,000 Shares

                               ZANY BRAINY, INC.

                                 Common Stock

                            UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
                            ----------------------

                                                                __________, 1999


DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
 SECURITIES CORPORATION
BT ALEX. BROWN INCORPORATED
WILLIAM BLAIR & COMPANY
U.S. BANCORP PIPER JAFFRAY
DLJDIRECT INC.
 As representatives of the several Underwriters
  named in Schedule I hereto
  c/o Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation
   277 Park Avenue
   New York, New York 10172

Dear Sirs:

     Zany Brainy, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (the "Company"), proposes to
issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the
"Underwriters"), and certain shareholders of the Company named in Schedule II
hereto (the "Selling Shareholders") severally propose to sell to the several
Underwriters, an aggregate of 6,100,000 shares of the Common Stock, $.01 par
value, of the Company (the "Firm Shares"), of which 3,807,669  shares are to be
issued and sold by the Company and 2,292,331 shares are to be sold by the
Selling Shareholders, each Selling Shareholder selling the amount set forth
opposite such Selling Shareholder's name in Schedule II hereto. The Company also
proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters not more than an
additional 915,000 shares of its Common Stock, $.01 par value (the "Additional
Shares") if requested by the Underwriters as provided in Section 2 hereof.   The
Firm Shares and the Additional Shares are hereinafter referred to collectively
as the "Shares". The shares of common stock of the Company to be outstanding
after giving effect to the sales contemplated hereby are hereinafter referred to
as the "Common Stock". The Company and the Selling Shareholders are hereinafter
sometimes referred to collectively as the "Sellers."

     Section 1.  Registration Statement and Prospectus.  The Company has
prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder
(collectively, the "Act"), a registration statement on Form S-1, including a
prospectus, relating to the Shares. The registration statement, as amended at
the time it became
<PAGE>

effective, including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the
registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under
the Act, is hereinafter referred to as the "Registration Statement"; and the
prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales of Shares is hereinafter
referred to as the "Prospectus". If the Company has filed or is required
pursuant to the terms hereof to file a registration statement pursuant to Rule
462(b) under the Act registering additional shares of Common Stock (a "Rule
462(b) Registration Statement"), then, unless otherwise specified, any reference
herein to the term "Registration Statement" shall be deemed to include such Rule
462(b) Registration Statement.

     Section 2.  Agreements to Sell and Purchase and Lock-Up Agreements.  On the
basis of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, and
subject to its terms and conditions, (i) the Company agrees to issue and sell
3,807,669 Firm Shares, (ii) each Selling Shareholder agrees, severally and not
jointly, to sell the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite such Selling
Shareholder's name in Schedule II hereto and (iii) each Underwriter agrees,
severally and not jointly, to purchase from each Seller at a price per Share of
$______ (the "Purchase Price") the number of Firm Shares (subject to such
adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as you may determine) that bears the
same proportion to the total number of Firm Shares to be sold by such Seller as
the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in
Schedule I hereto bears to the total number of Firm Shares.

     On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this
Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, the Company agrees to issue
and sell the Additional Shares, and the Underwriters shall have the right to
purchase, severally and not jointly, up to 915,000 Additional Shares from the
Company at the Purchase Price.  Additional Shares may be purchased solely for
the purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection with the offering of
the Firm Shares.  The Underwriters may exercise their right to purchase
Additional Shares in whole or in part from time to time by giving written notice
thereof to the Company within 30 days after the date of this Agreement.  You
shall give any such notice on behalf of the Underwriters and such notice shall
specify the aggregate number of Additional Shares to be purchased pursuant to
such exercise and the date for payment and delivery thereof, which date shall be
a business day (i) no earlier than two business days after such notice has been
given (and, in any event, no earlier than the Closing Date (as hereinafter
defined)) and (ii) no later than ten business days after such notice has been
given.   If any Additional Shares are to be purchased, each Underwriter,
severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company the number of
Additional Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as
you may determine) which bears the same proportion to the total number of
Additional Shares to be purchased from the Company as the number of Firm Shares
set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I bears to the total
number of Firm Shares.

     The Company hereby agrees not to (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell,
sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to
sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or
dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or (ii) enter
into any swap or other arrangement that transfers all or a portion of the
economic consequences associated with the ownership of any Common Stock
(regardless of whether any of the transactions described in clause (i) or (ii)
is to be settled by the delivery of Common Stock, or such other securities, in
cash or otherwise), except to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, for a
period of 180 days after the date of the Prospectus without the prior written
consent of Donaldson, Lufkin

                                       2
<PAGE>


& Jenrette Securities Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, during such
period (i) the Company may grant stock options pursuant to the Company's
existing stock option plan or (ii) the Company may issue shares of Common Stock
upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security
outstanding on the date hereof and (iii) the Company may issue shares of Common
Stock in connection with a merger with or acquisition of a publicly held
company. The Company also agrees not to file any registration statement, other
than a registration statement on Form S-8 covering Common Stock issuable
pursuant to the Company's existing stock option plans or agreements with respect
to any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable
or exchangeable for Common Stock for a period of 180 days after the date of the
Prospectus without the prior written consent of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation. The Company shall, prior to or concurrently with the
execution of this Agreement, use its best efforts to deliver an agreement
executed by (i) each Selling Shareholder, (ii) each of the directors and
officers of the Company who is not a Selling Shareholder and (iii) each
shareholder listed on Annex I hereto to the effect that such person will not
without the prior written consent of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
Corporation, during the period commencing on the date such person signs such
agreement and ending 135 days after the date of the Prospectus with respect to
one-third of such shareholder's shares and ending on January 31, 2000 with
respect to two-third of such shareholder's shares, (A) engage in any of the
transactions described in the following paragraph or (B) make any demand for, or
exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of Common
Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for
Common Stock.

     In addition, each Selling Shareholder agrees that until 135 days after the
date of the Prospectus with respect to one-third of such shareholder's shares
and until January 31, 2000 with respect to two-third of such shareholder's
shares, without the prior written consent of  Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation, it will not (i)  offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell,
sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to
sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or
dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock (including,
without limitation, shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or
exercise or exchangeable for Common Stock which may be deemed to be beneficially
owned by such shareholder in accordance with the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission) other than the shares of Common Stock sold
pursuant to this Agreement or (y) enter into any swap or other arrangement that
transfers all or a portion of the economic consequences associated with the
ownership of any Common Stock (regardless of whether any of the transactions
described in clause (x) or (y) is to be settled by the delivery of Common Stock,
or such other securities, in cash or otherwise); provided, however, that such
shareholder may exercise options to purchase Common Stock of the Company and may
transfer shares of Common Stock or options; provided that (A) such transfer
would be deemed a permitted transfer under Section 1(b) of the Amended and
Restated Shareholders' Agreement dated May 18, 1994, as amended, (B) such
shareholder delivers a notice to Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
Corporation within five business days of such transfer and (C) such transferee
executes and delivers to Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation an
agreement in substantially the same form and containing substantially the same
provisions as the lock-up agreement. In addition, each Selling Shareholder
agrees that until January 31, 2000, such Selling Shareholder will not make any
demand for, or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any
shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for Common Stock without the prior written consent of Donaldson,
Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation.

                                       3
<PAGE>

     Section 3.  Terms of Public Offering.  The Sellers are advised by you that
the Underwriters propose (i) to make a public offering of their respective
portions of the Shares as soon after the execution and delivery of this
Agreement as in your judgment is advisable and (ii) initially to offer the
Shares upon the terms set forth in the Prospectus.

     Of the shares of Common Stock to be offered by the Underwriters,
shares have been reserved (the "Reserved Shares") for sale to certain
individuals, including employees, officers and directors of the Company and
other parties associated with the Company and members of their families. The
number of shares available to the general public will be reduced to the extent
those persons purchase, or confirm the purchase (either orally or in writing)
of, Reserved Shares. Any Reserved Shares not so purchased or confirmed for
purchase will be offered in the Offering.

     Section 4.  Delivery and Payment. The Shares shall be represented by
definitive certificates and shall be issued in such authorized denominations and
registered in such names as Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation
shall request no later than 9:00 A.M. on the second business day prior to the
Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date (as defined below), as the
case may be.  The Shares shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Sellers, with
any transfer taxes thereon duly paid by the respective Sellers, to Donaldson,
Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation through the facilities of The
Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), for the respective accounts of the several
Underwriters, against payment to the Sellers of the Purchase Price therefore by
wire transfer of Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City.
The certificates representing the Shares shall be made available for inspection
not later than 9:30 A.M., New York City time, on the business day prior to the
Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date (as defined below), as the
case may be, at the office of DTC or its designated custodian (the "Designated
Office").  The time and date of delivery and payment for the Firm Shares shall
be 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on ________, 1999 or such other time on the
same or such other date as Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation
and the Company shall agree in writing.  The time and date of delivery and
payment for the Firm Shares are hereinafter referred to as the "Closing Date".
The time and date of delivery and payment for any Additional Shares to be
purchased by the Underwriters shall be 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on the
date specified in the applicable exercise notice given by you pursuant to
Section 2 or such other time on the same or such other date as Donaldson, Lufkin
& Jenrette Securities Corporation and the Company shall agree in writing.  The
time and date of delivery and payment for any Additional Shares are hereinafter
referred to as the "Option Closing Date".  The documents to be delivered on the
Closing Date or any Option Closing Date on behalf of the parties hereto pursuant
to Section 9 of this Agreement shall be delivered at the offices of Latham &
Watkins, 885 Third Avenue, New York, New York, 10022 or such other location as
the parties shall mutually agree, and the Shares shall be delivered at the
Designated Office, all on the Closing Date or such Option Closing Date, as the
case may be.

     Section 5.  Agreements of the Company.  The Company agrees with you:

     (a) To advise you promptly and, if requested by you, to confirm such advice
in writing, (i) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the
Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for
additional information, (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of the suspension
of qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the
initiation of any proceeding for such purposes, (iii) when any amendment to the
Registration Statement

                                       4
<PAGE>

becomes effective, (iv) if the Company is required to file a Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement after the effectiveness of this Agreement, when the Rule
462(b) Registration Statement has become effective and (v) of the happening of
any event during the period referred to in Section 5(d) below which makes any
statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus untrue or which requires any additions to or changes in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein
not misleading. If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Company will use
its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the
earliest possible time.

     (b) To furnish to you five signed copies of the Registration Statement as
first filed with the Commission and of each amendment to it, including all
exhibits, and to furnish to you and each Underwriter designated by you such
number of conformed copies of the Registration Statement as so filed and of each
amendment to it, without exhibits, as you may reasonably request.

     (c) To prepare the Prospectus, the form and substance of which shall be
satisfactory to you in your reasonable judgment,  and to file the Prospectus in
such form with the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule
424(b) under the Act; during the period specified in Section 5(d) below, not to
file any further amendment to the Registration Statement and not to make any
amendment or supplement to the Prospectus of which you shall not previously have
been advised or to which you shall reasonably object after being so advised;
and, during such period, to prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon
your reasonable request, any amendment to the Registration Statement or
amendment or supplement to the Prospectus which may be necessary or advisable in
connection with the distribution of the Shares by you, and to use its best
efforts to cause any such amendment to the Registration Statement to become
promptly effective.

     (d) Prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the first business day
after the date of this Agreement and from time to time thereafter for such
period as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus is
required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or a
dealer, to furnish in New York City to each Underwriter and any dealer as many
copies of the Prospectus (and of any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus)
as such Underwriter or dealer may reasonably request.

     (e) If during the period specified in Section 5(d), any event shall occur
or condition shall exist as a result of which, in the opinion of counsel for the
Underwriters, it becomes necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the
Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of
counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the
Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare and file with the
Commission an appropriate amendment or supplement to the Prospectus so that the
statements in the Prospectus, as so amended or supplemented, will not in the
light of the circumstances when it is so delivered, be misleading, or so that
the Prospectus will comply with applicable law, and to furnish to each
Underwriter and to any dealer as many copies thereof as such Underwriter or
dealer may reasonably request.

     (f) Prior to any public offering of the Shares, to cooperate with you and
counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the registration or
qualification of the Shares for offer and sale by the several Underwriters and
by dealers under the state securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as
you may request, to continue such registration or qualification in effect so
long as

                                       5
<PAGE>

required for distribution of the Shares and to file such consents to service of
process or other documents as may be necessary in order to effect such
registration or qualification; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
required in connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation in any
jurisdiction in which it is not now so qualified or to take any action that
would subject it to general consent to service of process or taxation other than
as to matters and transactions relating to the Prospectus, the Registration
Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the offering or sale of the Shares, in
any jurisdiction in which it is not now so subject.

     (g) To make generally available to its shareholders no later than 45 days
following July 31, 2000 an earnings statement covering the twelve-month period
ending July 31, 2000 that is consistent with the provisions of Section 11(a) of
the Act and any rules promulgated thereunder, including Rule 158 under the
Act.

     (h) During the period of three years after the date of this Agreement, to
furnish to you promptly following initial availability copies of all reports or
other communications furnished to the record holders of Common Stock or
furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange on
which any class of securities of the Company is listed and such other publicly
available information concerning the Company and its subsidiaries as you may
reasonably request.

     (i) Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are
consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause to be paid all
expenses incident to the performance of the Sellers' obligations under this
Agreement, including:  (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company's
counsel and the Company's accountants which shall be paid by the Company in
connection with the registration and delivery of the Shares under the Act and
all other fees and expenses in connection with the preparation, printing, filing
and distribution of the Registration Statement (including financial statements
and exhibits), any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and all amendments and
supplements to any of the foregoing, including the mailing and delivering of
copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers in the quantities specified
herein, (ii) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Selling Shareholder's
counsel which shall be paid by the Selling Shareholders, (iii) all costs and
expenses related to the transfer and delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters,
including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iv) all costs of
printing or producing the Registration Statement, the preliminary prospectus and
the Prospectus, (v) all expenses in connection with the satisfying the Blue Sky
laws of the several states and all costs of printing or producing any
Preliminary and Supplemental Blue Sky Memoranda in connection therewith
(including the filing fees and fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Underwriters in connection with such registration or qualification and memoranda
relating thereto which shall not exceed $7,500), (vi) the filing fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the review and
clearance of the offering of the Shares by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., (vii) all fees and expenses in connection with the
preparation and filing of the registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the
Common Stock and all costs and expenses incident to the listing of the Shares on
the Nasdaq National Market, (viii) the cost of printing certificates
representing the Shares, (ix) the costs and charges of any transfer agent and
registrar, and (x) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of
the obligations of the Company and the Selling Shareholders hereunder for which
provision is not otherwise made in this Section.  The Selling Shareholders shall
be responsible for payment of the underwriting discounts and commissions.  The
provisions of this Section shall not supersede or otherwise affect any agreement

                                       6
<PAGE>

that the Company and the Selling Shareholders may otherwise have for allocation
of such expenses among themselves.

     (j) To use its best efforts to list for quotation the Shares on the Nasdaq
National Market and to maintain the listing of the Shares on the Nasdaq National
Market for a period of three years after the date of this Agreement.

     (k) If the Registration Statement at the time of the effectiveness of this
Agreement does not cover all of the Shares and the aggregate initial public
offering price of such additional Shares does not exceed twenty percent of the
maximum aggregate offering price of the shares set forth in the table included
on the cover page of the Registration Statement, to transmit for filing a Rule
462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission registering the Shares not so
covered in compliance with Rule 462(b) in a manner that reasonably should enable
the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement to become effective by 10:00 P.M., New
York City time, on the date of this Agreement and to pay to the Commission the
filing fee for such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement at the time of the filing
thereof or to give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant
to Rule 111(b) under the Act.

     Section 6.  Representations and Warranties of the Company.  The Company
represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:

     (a) The Registration Statement has become effective (other than any Rule
462(b) Registration Statement to be filed by the Company after the effectiveness
of this Agreement); any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement filed after the
effectiveness of this Agreement will be transmitted for filing in a manner that
reasonably should enable the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement to become
effective no later than 10:00 P.M., New York City time, on the date of this
Agreement; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before
or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission.

     (b) (i) The Registration Statement (other than any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement to be filed by the Company after the effectiveness of this Agreement),
when it became effective, did not contain and, as amended, if applicable, will
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, (ii) the Registration Statement (other than any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement to be filed by the Company after the effectiveness of
this Agreement) and the Prospectus comply and, as amended or supplemented, if
applicable, will comply in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of the Act, (iii) if the Company is required to file a Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement after the effectiveness of this Agreement, such Rule
462(b) Registration Statement and any amendments thereto, when they become
effective (A) will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading and (B) will comply in all material respects
with the applicable requirements of the Act and (iv) the Prospectus does not
contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties
set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or omissions in the
Registration

                                       7
<PAGE>

Statement or the Prospectus based upon information relating to any Underwriter
furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly
for use therein.

     (c) The preliminary prospectus dated May 12, 1999 complied when so filed in
all material respects with Section 10(a) of the Act (subject to such omissions
as are permitted by Section 10(a)(4)).

     (d) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly incorporated, is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation and has the corporate power and authority to carry
on its business as described in the Prospectus and to own, lease and operate its
properties, and each is duly qualified and is in good standing as a foreign
corporation authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature
of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a
material adverse effect on the business, prospects, financial condition or
results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

     (e) There are no outstanding subscriptions, rights, warrants, options,
calls, convertible securities, commitments of sale or liens granted or issued by
the Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to or entitling any person to
purchase or otherwise to acquire any shares of the capital stock of the Company
or any of its  subsidiaries, except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration
Statement.

     (f) All the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company (including
the Shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholders) have been duly authorized and
validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and not subject to any
preemptive or similar rights; and the Shares to be issued and sold by the
Company have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered to the
Underwriters against payment therefor as provided by this Agreement, will be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of such Shares
will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

     (g) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Company's
subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable, and are owned by the Company, directly or indirectly through one
or more subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, claim, lien,
encumbrance or adverse interest of any nature except as otherwise disclosed in
the Registration Statement.

     (h) The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal
matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.

     (i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (A) in violation of
its respective charter or by-laws or (B) in default in the performance of any
obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, loan
agreement, mortgage, lease or other agreement or

                                       8
<PAGE>

instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by
which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their respective property is
bound, except with respect to clause (B) for such violation, default or non-
performance that, individually or in the aggregate, would not result in a
material adverse effect on the business, prospects, financial condition or
results of operation of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole
("Material Adverse Effect").

     (j) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the
Company, the compliance by the Company with all the provisions hereof and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (i) require any
consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or qualification with,  any
court or governmental body or agency (except such as may be required under the
securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states), (ii) conflict with or
constitute a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or a default under,
the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease or other agreement or instrument that
is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of
its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, their respective property
is bound, (iii) violate or conflict with any applicable law or any rule,
regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court or any governmental body or
agency applicable to the Company, any of its subsidiaries or their respective
property or (iv) result in the suspension, termination or revocation of any
Authorization (as defined below) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
any other impairment of the rights of the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
except for any suspension, termination or revocation of any Authorization which
would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

     (k) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which, to the knowledge of
the Company, any of their respective property is subject that are required to be
described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not so
described; to the knowledge of the Company, there are no legal or governmental
proceedings threatened to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries could be
a party or to which any of their respective property could be subject that are
required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are
not so described; nor are there any statutes, regulations, contracts or other
documents or agreements that are required to be described in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement that are not so described or filed as required.

     (l) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has violated any
foreign, federal, state or local law or regulation relating to the protection of
human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or
wastes, pollutants or contaminants ("Environmental Laws"), any provisions of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or any provisions
of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, except for such violations which, singly or in the aggregate, would
not have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (m) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has such permits, licenses,
consents, exemptions, franchises, authorizations and other approvals (each, an
"Authorization") of, and has made all filings with and notices to, all
governmental or regulatory authorities and self-regulatory organizations and all
courts and other tribunals, including, without limitation, under any applicable
Environmental Laws, as are necessary to own, lease, license and operate its
respective properties and to conduct its business, except where the failure to
have any such Authorization or to make any

                                       9
<PAGE>

such filing or notice would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect. Each such Authorization is valid and in full force and effect
and each of the Company and its subsidiaries is in material compliance with all
the terms and conditions thereof and with the rules and regulations of the
authorities and governing bodies having jurisdiction with respect thereto; and,
to the knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred (including, without
limitation, the receipt of any notice from any authority or governing body)
which allows or, after notice or lapse of time or both, would allow, revocation,
suspension or termination of any such Authorization or which results or, after
notice or lapse of time or both, would result in any other impairment of the
rights of the Company or its subsidiaries; and such Authorizations contain no
restrictions that are burdensome to the Company or any of its subsidiaries;
except where such failure to be valid and in full force and effect or to be in
material compliance, the occurrence of any such event or the presence of any
such restriction would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect.

     (n) To the knowledge of the Company, there are no costs or liabilities
associated with Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, any capital
or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or
compliance with Environmental Laws, any related constraints on operating
activities and any potential liabilities to third parties) which would, singly
or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, prospects,
financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

     (o) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company.

     (p) Arthur Andersen LLP, are independent public accountants with respect to
the Company and its subsidiaries as required by the Act.

     (q) The consolidated financial statements included in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto), together
with related schedules and notes, present fairly the consolidated financial
position, results of operations and changes in financial position of the Company
and its subsidiaries on the basis stated therein at the respective dates or for
the respective periods to which they apply; such statements and related
schedules and notes have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied throughout the periods involved,
except as disclosed therein; the supporting schedules, if any, included in the
Registration Statement present fairly in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles the information required to be stated therein; and the
other financial and statistical information and data set forth in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement
thereto) in all material respects fairly present the information and data
presented therein in a manner consistent with the books and records of the
Company.

     (r) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of
the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the
Prospectus, will not be, an "investment company" as such term is defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

     (s) Except as set forth in the purchase agreement dated as of January 20,
1993, by and among the Company and certain of its shareholders; the purchase
agreement dated as of June 3, 1994 by and among the Company and certain of its
shareholders; the DLJ Capital Corporation

                                       10
<PAGE>

Warrant to Purchase Common Stock dated as of June 3, 1994 and the DLJ First ESC
L.L.C. Warrant to Purchase Common Stock dated as of June 3, 1994 (collectively,
the "DLJ Warrants"), the purchase agreement dated as of June 28, 1995, by and
among the Company and certain of its shareholders and; the purchase agreement
dated as of September 24, 1996 by and among the Company and certain of its
shareholders, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the
Company and any person granting such person the right to require the Company to
file a registration statement under the Act with respect to any securities of
the Company or to require the Company to include such securities with the Shares
registered pursuant to the Registration Statement which rights have not been
waived.

     (t) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Prospectus other than as set forth in the Prospectus (exclusive of any
amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement), (i)
there has not occurred  any material adverse change or any development involving
a prospective material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise,
or the earnings, business, management or operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) there has not been any material adverse
change or any development involving a prospective material adverse change in the
capital stock or in the long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
and (iii) other than in the ordinary course of business, neither the Company nor
any of its subsidiaries has incurred any material liability or obligation,
direct or contingent.

     (u) Any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company and its
subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases
with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made
and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company and its
subsidiaries, in each case except as described in the Prospectus.

     (v) The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on
reasonable terms, all licenses, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets
and other proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures),
trademarks, service marks and trade names ("intellectual property") currently
employed by them in connection with the business now operated by them except
where the failure to own or possess or otherwise be able to acquire such
intellectual property would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received
any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with
respect to any of such intellectual property which, singly or in the aggregate,
if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a
Material Adverse Effect.

     (w) There is no (i) significant unfair labor practice complaint, grievance
or arbitration proceeding pending or threatened against the Company or any of
its subsidiaries before the National Labor Relations Board or any state or local
labor relations board, (ii) strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending
or to the knowledge of the Company threatened against the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or (iii) union representation question existing with respect to the
employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, except for such actions specified
in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, which, singly or in the aggregate, would not
have a Material Adverse Effect.  To the best of the Company's knowledge, no
collective bargaining organizing activities are taking place with respect to the
Company or any of its subsidiaries.

                                       11
<PAGE>

     (x) The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintains a system of internal
accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i)
transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific
authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to
assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific
authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with
the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with
respect to any differences, except such as would not result in a Material
Adverse Effect.

     Each certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the
Underwriters or counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed to be a
representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters
covered thereby.

     Section 7.  Representations and Warranties of the Selling Shareholders.
Each Selling Shareholder, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to
each Underwriter that:

     (a) Such Selling Shareholder is the lawful owner of the Shares to be sold
by such Selling Shareholder pursuant to this Agreement and has, and on the
Closing Date will have, good and clear title to such Shares, free of all
restrictions on transfer, liens, encumbrances, security interests, equities and
claims whatsoever.

     (b) Such Selling Shareholder has, and on the Closing Date will have, full
legal right, power and authority, and all authorization and approval required by
law,  to enter into this Agreement,  the Custody Agreement signed by such
Selling Shareholder and StockTrans, Inc., as Custodian, relating to the deposit
of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder (the "Custody Agreement")
and the Power of Attorney of such Selling Shareholder appointing certain
individuals as such Selling Shareholder's attorneys-in-fact (the "Attorneys") to
the extent set forth therein, relating to the transactions contemplated hereby
and by the Registration Statement and the Custody Agreement (the "Power of
Attorney") and to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the Shares to be sold by
such Selling Shareholder in the manner provided herein and therein.

     (c) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by or
on behalf of such Selling Shareholder.

     (d) The Custody Agreement of such Selling Shareholder has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by such Selling Shareholder and is a valid
and binding agreement of such Selling Shareholder, enforceable in accordance
with its terms.

     (e) The Power of Attorney of such Selling Shareholder has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by such Selling Shareholder and is a valid
and binding instrument of such Selling Shareholder,  enforceable in accordance
with its terms, and, pursuant to such Power of Attorney, such Selling
Shareholder has, among other things, authorized the Attorneys, or any one of
them, to execute and deliver on such Selling Shareholder's behalf  this
Agreement and any other document that they, or any one of them, may deem
necessary or desirable in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby and to deliver the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder
pursuant to this Agreement.

                                       12
<PAGE>

     (f) Upon delivery of and payment for the Shares to be sold by such Selling
Shareholder pursuant to this Agreement, good and clear title to such Shares will
pass to the Underwriters, free of all restrictions on transfer, liens,
encumbrances, security interests, equities and claims whatsoever.

     (g) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney of such Selling Shareholder by or on
behalf of such Selling Shareholder, the compliance by such Selling Shareholder
with all the provisions hereof and thereof and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (i) require any consent,
approval, authorization or other order of, or qualification with,  any court or
governmental body or agency (except such as may be required under the securities
or Blue Sky laws of the various states), (ii) conflict with or constitute a
breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or a default under, the
organizational documents of such Selling Shareholder, if such Selling
Shareholder is not an individual, or any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage,
lease or other agreement or instrument to which such Selling Shareholder is a
party or by which such Selling Shareholder or  any property of such Selling
Shareholder is bound or (iii) violate or conflict with any applicable law or any
rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court or any governmental
body or agency having jurisdiction over such Selling Shareholder or any property
of such Selling Shareholder.

     (h) The information in the Registration Statement under the caption
"Principal and Selling Shareholders" which specifically relates to such Selling
Shareholder does not, and will not on the Closing Date, contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

     (i) At any time during the period described in Section 5(d), if there is
any change in the information referred to in Section 7(i), such Selling
Shareholder will immediately notify you of such change.

     (j) Each certificate signed by or on behalf of such Selling Shareholder and
delivered to the Underwriters or counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed to
be a representation and warranty by such Selling Shareholder to the Underwriters
as to the matters covered thereby.

     Section 8.  Indemnification. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless each Underwriter, its directors, its officers and each person, if any,
who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or
Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and
judgments (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses incurred
in connection with investigating or defending any matter, including any action,
that reasonably could give rise to any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or judgments) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment
thereto), the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any
preliminary prospectus, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments are caused by any such untrue statement or
omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information relating
to any Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by such Underwriter
through you expressly for

                                       13
<PAGE>

use therein provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement with
respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any
Underwriter who failed to deliver a Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented,
provided by the Company to the several Underwriters in the requisite quantity
and on a timely basis to permit proper delivery on or prior to the Closing Date)
to the person asserting any losses, claims, damages and liabilities and
judgments caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus, or caused by any omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such
material misstatement or omission or alleged material misstatement or omission
was cured in such Prospectus and such Prospectus was required by law to be
delivered at or prior to the written confirmation of sale to such person.

     (b) Each Selling Shareholder, severally and not jointly, agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its directors, its officers and
each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section
15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the
foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Underwriter, but only with respect
to information relating to such Selling Shareholder furnished in writing by or
on behalf of such Selling Shareholder expressly for use in the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus provided, however, that
the foregoing indemnity agreement with respect to any preliminary prospectus
shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter who failed to deliver a
Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented, provided by the Company to the
several Underwriters in the requisite quantity and on a timely basis to permit
proper delivery on or prior to the Closing Date) to the person asserting any
losses, claims, damages and liabilities and judgments caused by any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
preliminary prospectus, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, if such material misstatement or omission or
alleged material misstatement or omission was cured in such Prospectus and such
Prospectus was required by law to be delivered at or prior to the written
confirmation of sale to such person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
aggregate liability of any Selling Shareholder pursuant to this Section 8(b)
shall be limited to an amount equal to the total proceeds (before deducting
underwriting discounts and commissions and expenses) received by such Selling
Shareholder from the Underwriters for the sale of the Shares sold by such
Selling Shareholder hereunder.

     (c) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration
Statement, each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, each Selling
Shareholder and each person, if any, who controls such Selling Shareholder
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to
the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Sellers to such Underwriter
but only with reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished in
writing to the Company by such Underwriter through you expressly for use in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto) or any preliminary prospectus.

     (d) In case any action shall be commenced involving any person in respect
of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a),  8(b) or 8(c) (the
"indemnified party"), the indemnified party shall promptly notify the person
against whom such indemnity may be sought

                                       14
<PAGE>

(the "indemnifying party") in writing and the indemnifying party shall assume
the defense of such action, including the employment of counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the indemnified party and the payment of all fees and expenses
of such counsel, as incurred (except that in the case of any action in respect
of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Sections 8(a), 8(b) and 8(c), the
Underwriter shall not be required to assume the defense of such action pursuant
to this Section 8(d), but may employ separate counsel and participate in the
defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel, except as provided
below, shall be at the expense of such Underwriter). Any indemnified party shall
have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and participate in
the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the
expense of the indemnified party unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall
have been specifically authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the
indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such action or
employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party or (iii) the
named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both
the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, and the indemnified party
shall have been advised by such counsel that there may be one or more legal
defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those
available to the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party shall
not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of the
indemnified party). In any such case, the indemnifying party shall not, in
connection with any one action or separate but substantially similar or related
actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or
circumstances, be liable for (i) the fees and expenses of more than one separate
firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for all Underwriters, their
officers and directors and all persons, if any, who control any Underwriter
within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act, (ii) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in
addition to any local counsel) for the Company, its directors, its officers who
sign the Registration Statement and all persons, if any, who control the Company
within the meaning of either such Section and (iii) the fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for
all Selling Shareholders and all persons, if any, who control any Selling
Shareholder within the meaning of either such Section, and all such fees and
expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. In the case of any such
separate firm for the Underwriters, their officers and directors and such
control persons of any Underwriters, such firm shall be designated in writing by
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation. In the case of any such
separate firm for the Company and such directors, officers and control persons
of the Company, such firm shall be designated in writing by the Company. In the
case of any such separate firm for the Selling Shareholders and such control
persons of any Selling Shareholders, such firm shall be designated in writing by
the Attorneys. The indemnifying party shall indemnify and hold harmless the
indemnified party from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and judgments by reason of any settlement of any action (i) effected
with its written consent or (ii) effected without its written consent if the
settlement is entered into more than sixty business days after the indemnifying
party shall have received a request from the indemnified party for reimbursement
for the fees and expenses of counsel and, prior to the date of such settlement,
the indemnifying party shall have failed to comply with such reimbursement
request; provided, however, that this clause (ii) shall not apply while the
requirement to pay such fees and expenses is being contested by such
indemnifying party in good faith. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior
written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement or compromise
of, or consent to the entry of judgment with respect to, any pending or
threatened action in respect of which the indemnified party is or reasonably
could have been a party and indemnity or contribution may be or could have been
sought hereunder by the indemnified party, unless such settlement,

                                       15
<PAGE>

compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified
party from all liability on claims that are or reasonably could have been the
subject matter of such action and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an
admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of the
indemnified party.

     (e) To the extent the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is
unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments (i) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
Company, the Selling Shareholders and the Underwriters from the offering of the
Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 8(e)(i) above is not
permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not
only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(e)(i) above but also the
relative fault of the Company, the Selling Shareholders and the Underwriters in
connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations.  The relative benefits received by the Company, the
Selling Shareholders and the Underwriters shall be deemed to be in the same
proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (after deducting
underwriting discounts and commissions, but before deducting expenses) received
by the Company and the Selling Shareholders, and the total underwriting
discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, bear to the total price
to the public of the Shares, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover
page of the Prospectus.  The relative fault of the Company, the Selling
Shareholders and the Underwriters shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company,  the Selling Shareholders or the
Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

     The Company, the Selling Shareholders and the Underwriters agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(e)
were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as
one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not
take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph.  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to in
the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the
limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any matter,
including any action, that could reasonably have given rise to such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments.  Notwithstanding the provisions of
this Section 8, (i) no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares underwritten
by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the
amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay
by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission and (ii) no Selling Shareholder shall be required to contribute any
amount in excess of the amount received by such Selling Shareholder for the sale
of Shares pursuant to this Agreement.  No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.  The

                                       16
<PAGE>

Underwriters' obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8(e) are
several in proportion to the respective number of Shares purchased by each of
the Underwriters hereunder and not joint.

     (f) The remedies provided for in this Section 8 are not exclusive and shall
not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any
indemnified party at law or in equity.

     (g) Each Selling Shareholder hereby designates Zany Brainy, Inc., 308 East
Lancaster Avenue, Wynnewood, PA 19096, as its authorized agent, upon which
process may be served in any action which may be instituted in any state or
federal court in the State of New York by any Underwriter, any director or
officer of any Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter asserting a
claim for indemnification or contribution under or pursuant to this Section 8,
and each Selling Shareholder will accept the jurisdiction of such court in such
action, and waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any
defense based upon lack of personal jurisdiction or venue.  Zany Brainy, Inc.
shall promptly send or give such Selling Shareholder, at the address for notices
specified in Section 12 hereof, a copy of such process.

     Section 9.  Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations.  The several
obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Firm Shares under this Agreement
are subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

     (a) All the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this
Agreement shall be true and correct on the Closing Date with the same force and
effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date.

     (b) If the Company is required to file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement
after the effectiveness of this Agreement, such Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 P.M., New York City time, on the
date of this Agreement; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that
purpose shall have been commenced or shall be pending before or contemplated by
the Commission.

     (c) You shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate dated the
Closing Date, signed by Keith Spurgeon and Robert A. Helpert, in their
capacities as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the
Company, confirming, to their knowledge, the matters set forth in Sections 6(t),
9(a) and 9(b) and that the Company has complied in all material respects with
all of the agreements and satisfied in all material respects all of the
conditions herein contained and required to be complied with or satisfied by the
Company on or prior to the Closing Date.

     (d) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Prospectus other than as set forth in the Prospectus (exclusive of any
amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement), (i)
there shall not have occurred  any change or any development involving a
prospective change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings,
business, management or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as
a whole, (ii) there shall not have been any change or any development involving
a prospective change in the capital stock or in the long-term debt of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries shall have incurred any liability or obligation, direct or
contingent, other than in the ordinary course of business, the effect of which,
in any such case described in clause 9(d)(i),

                                       17
<PAGE>

9(d)(ii) or 9(d)(iii), in your judgment, is material and adverse and, in your
judgment, makes it impracticable to market the Shares on the terms and in the
manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

     (e) All the representations and warranties of each Selling Shareholder
contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct on the Closing Date with
the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date and you shall
have received on the Closing Date a certificate dated the Closing Date from each
Selling Shareholder (or its attorney-in-fact) to such effect and to the effect
that such Selling Shareholder has complied with all of the agreements and
satisfied all of the conditions herein contained and required to be complied
with or satisfied by such Selling Shareholder on or prior to the Closing Date.

     (f) You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion (reasonably
satisfactory to you and counsel for the Underwriters), dated the Closing Date,
of  Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, counsel for the Company to the effect that:

         (i)   the Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a
     corporation in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of
     Pennsylvania and has the corporate power and authority to carry on its
     business as described in the Prospectus and to own, lease and operate its
     properties;

         (ii)  all the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company
     (including the Shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholders) have been
     duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and
     not subject to any statutory preemptive or, to such counsel's knowledge,
     any similar rights;

         (iii) the Shares to be issued and sold by the Company hereunder have
     been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered to the Underwriters
     against payment therefor as provided by this Agreement, will be validly
     issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of such Shares will
     not be subject to any statutory preemptive or, to such counsel's knowledge,
     any similar rights;

         (iv)  this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
     by the Company;

         (v)  the authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal
     matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus;

         (vi)  each of the Company's subsidiaries listed on Exhibit A to such
     counsel's opinion has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a
     corporation in good standing under the jurisdiction of its incorporation
     and has the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its
     properties;

         (vii) each of the Company and its subsidiaries is duly qualified and
     is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction listed on
     Exhibit B to such counsel's opinion;

                                       18
<PAGE>

         (viii) all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the
     Company's subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued and are
     fully paid and non-assessable, and are owned by the Company;

         (ix)   based solely on the oral advisement of a member of the staff of
     the Commission, the Registration Statement has become effective under the
     Act, no stop order suspending its effectiveness has been issued and no
     proceedings for that purpose are, to the best of such counsel's knowledge,
     pending before or contemplated by the Commission;

         (x)    the statements under the captions "Management--Stock Option
     Plans", "Management--Employment Agreements", "Description of Capital Stock"
     and "Shares Eligible for Future Sale" in the Prospectus and Item 14 of Part
     II of the Registration Statement, insofar as such statements constitute a
     summary of the legal matters or documents referred to therein, fairly
     present the information called for with respect to such legal matters,
     documents and proceedings;

         (xi)   the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the
     Company, the compliance by the Company with all the provisions hereof and
     the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (A)
     require any material consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or
     qualification with, any court or governmental body or agency (except such
     as may be required under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various
     states), (B) conflict with or constitute a breach of any of the terms or
     provisions of, or a default under, the charter or by-laws of the Company or
     any of its subsidiaries or any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease
     or other agreement or instrument that is known to such counsel and that is
     material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and to
     which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party, or (C) violate or
     conflict with any applicable law or any rule or regulation or to such
     counsel's knowledge, any applicable, judgment, order or decree of any court
     or any governmental body or agency expressly applicable to the Company, any
     of its subsidiaries or their respective property;

         (xii)  to such counsel's knowledge, there are no legal or governmental
     proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries is a party or to which any of their respective property is
     subject that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or
     the Prospectus and are not so described, nor any statutes, regulations,
     contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the
     Registration Statement or the Prospectus or  to be filed as exhibits to the
     Registration Statement that are not so described or filed as required;

         (xiii) the Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering
     and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as
     described in the Prospectus, will not be, an "investment company" as such
     term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

         (xiv)  to such counsel's knowledge, there are no contracts, agreements
     or understandings between the Company and any person granting such person
     the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the
     Act with respect to any securities of the Company or to require the Company
     to include such securities with the

                                       19
<PAGE>

     Shares registered pursuant to the Registration Statement except as set
     forth in the purchase agreement dated as of January 20, 1993, by and among
     the Company and certain of its shareholders; the purchase agreement dated
     as of June 3, 1994 by and among the Company and certain of its
     shareholders; the DLJ Warrants, the purchase agreement dated as of June 28,
     1995, by and among the Company and certain of its shareholders; and the
     purchase agreement dated as of September 24, 1996 by and among the Company
     and certain of its shareholders;

         (xv)  the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any supplement
     or amendment thereto (except for the financial statements and notes
     thereto, financial schedules and other financial data included therein as
     to which no opinion need be expressed) comply as to form in all material
     respects with the Act; and

         (xvi) in addition, such counsel shall state that it has participated
     in conferences with representatives of the underwriters, officers and other
     representatives of the Company and representatives of the independent
     certified public accountants of the Company, at which conferences the
     contents of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and related
     matters were discussed and, although such counsel does not pass upon and
     does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or
     fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus, on the basis of the foregoing, no facts have come to such
     counsel's attention which cause such counsel to believe that (i) the
     Registration Statement, as of the time it became effective under the
     Securities Act, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
     to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
     the statements therein not misleading or (ii) the Prospectus, as of the
     date thereof and as of the Closing Date, includes any untrue statement of a
     material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make
     the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
     made, not misleading; except that such counsel need express no comment with
     respect to the financial statements and notes, thereto, financial
     schedules, and other financial information contained in the Prospectus.

     The foregoing options may be limited to federal laws of the United States
and the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

     The opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP described in Section 9(f) above
shall be rendered to you at the request of the Company and shall so state
therein.

     (g) You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion (satisfactory to
you and counsel for the Underwriters), dated the Closing Date, of Dechert Price
& Rhoads, counsel for the Selling Shareholders to the effect that:

         (i)   this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
     by or on behalf of each Selling Shareholder;

         (ii)  each Selling Shareholder is the lawful owner of the Shares to be
     sold by such Selling Shareholder pursuant to this Agreement and has good
     and clear title to such

                                       20
<PAGE>

     Shares, free of all restrictions on transfer, liens, encumbrances, security
     interests, equities and claims whatsoever;

          (iii) each Selling Shareholder has full legal right, power and
     authority, and all authorization and approval required by law, to enter
     into this Agreement and the Custody Agreement and the Power of Attorney of
     such Selling Shareholder and to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the
     Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder in the manner provided herein
     and therein;

          (iv)  the Custody Agreement of each Selling Shareholder has been duly
     authorized, executed and delivered by such Selling Shareholder and is a
     valid and binding agreement of such Selling Shareholder, enforceable in
     accordance with its terms;

          (v)   the Power of Attorney of each Selling Shareholder has been duly
     authorized, executed and delivered by such Selling Shareholder and is a
     valid and binding instrument of such Selling Shareholder, enforceable in
     accordance with its terms;

          (vi)  upon delivery of and payment for the Shares to be sold by each
     Selling Shareholder pursuant to this Agreement, good and clear title to
     such Shares will pass to the Underwriters, free of all restrictions on
     transfer, liens, encumbrances, security interests, equities and claims
     whatsoever; and

          (vii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and
     the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney of each Selling Shareholder by
     such Selling Shareholder, the compliance by such Selling Shareholder with
     all the provisions hereof and thereof and the consummation of the
     transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (A) to such counsel's
     knowledge, require any consent, approval, authorization or other order of,
     or qualification with, any court or governmental body or agency (except
     such as may be required under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the
     various states), (B) conflict with or constitute a breach of any of the
     terms or provisions of, or a default under, the organizational documents of
     such Selling Shareholder, if such Selling Shareholder is not an individual,
     or (C) to such counsel's knowledge, conflict with in any material respect
     or constitute a breach in any material respect of any of the terms or
     provisions of, or a default under, any of the indentures, loan agreements,
     mortgages, leases or other agreements or instruments to which such Selling
     Shareholder is a party or by which any property of such Selling Shareholder
     is bound listed on Schedule A thereto or (D) violate or conflict with any
     applicable law or any rule, or regulation, or to such counsel's knowledge,
     any applicable judgment, order or decree of any court or any governmental
     body or agency having jurisdiction over such Selling Shareholder or any
     property of such Selling Shareholder.

     The opinion of Dechert Price & Rhoads, described in Section 9(h) above
shall be rendered to you at the request of the Selling Shareholders and shall so
state therein.

     (h)  You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion, dated the
Closing Date, of Latham & Watkins counsel for the Underwriters, as to such
matters as you may request.

     In giving such opinions with respect to the matters covered by Section
9(f)(xii), Morgan, Lewis & Bockius and Latham & Watkins may state that their
opinion and belief are based upon

                                       21
<PAGE>

their participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement and
Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and review and discussion
of the contents thereof, but are without independent check or verification
except as specified.

     (i)  You shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing
Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to you, from Arthur Andersen, LLP,
independent public accountants, containing the information and statements of the
type ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to Underwriters with
respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

     (j)  The Company shall have delivered to you the agreements specified in
Section 2 hereof which agreements shall be in full force and effect on the
Closing Date.

     (k)  The Shares shall have been duly listed for quotation on the Nasdaq
National Market.

     (l)  The Company and the Selling Shareholders shall not have failed on or
prior to the Closing Date to perform or comply with in any material respect any
of the agreements herein contained and required to be performed or complied with
by the Company or the Selling Shareholders, as the case may be, on or prior to
the Closing Date.

     (m)  You shall have received on the Closing Date, a certificate of each
Selling Shareholder who is not a U.S. Person (as defined under applicable U.S.
federal tax legislation) to the effect that such Selling Shareholder is not a
U.S. Person, which certificate may be in the form of a properly completed and
executed United States Treasury Department Form W-8 (or other applicable form or
statement specified by Treasury Department regulations in lieu thereof).

     The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase any Additional
Shares hereunder are subject to the delivery to you on the applicable Option
Closing Date of such documents as you may reasonably request with respect to the
good standing of the Company, the due authorization and issuance of such
Additional Shares and other matters related to the issuance of such Additional
Shares.

     Section 10.  Effectiveness of Agreement and Termination.  This Agreement
shall become effective upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
parties hereto.

     This Agreement may be terminated at any time on or prior to the Closing
Date by you by written notice to the Sellers if any of the following has
occurred:  (i) any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other national or
international calamity or crisis or change in economic conditions or in the
financial markets of the United States or elsewhere that, in your judgment, is
material and adverse and, in your judgment, makes it impracticable to market the
Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus, (ii) the
suspension or material limitation of trading in securities or other instruments
on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, or the Nasdaq
National Market or limitation on prices for securities or other instruments on
any such exchange or the Nasdaq National Market, (iii) the suspension of trading
of any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter
market, (iv) the enactment, publication, decree or other promulgation of any
federal or state statute, regulation, rule or order of any court or other
governmental authority which in your opinion materially and adversely affects,
or will

                                       22
<PAGE>

materially and adversely affect, the business, prospects, financial condition or
results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (v)
the declaration of a banking moratorium by either federal or New York State
authorities or (vi) the taking of any action by any federal, state or local
government or agency in respect of its monetary or fiscal affairs which in your
opinion has a material adverse effect on the financial markets in the United
States.

     If on the Closing Date or on an Option Closing Date, as the case may be,
any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase the Firm
Shares or Additional Shares, as the case may be, which it has or they have
agreed to purchase hereunder on such date and the aggregate number of Firm
Shares or Additional Shares, as the case may be, which such defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more
than one-tenth of the total number of Firm Shares or Additional Shares, as the
case may be, to be purchased on such date by all Underwriters, each non-
defaulting Underwriter shall be obligated severally, in the proportion which the
number of Firm Shares set forth opposite its name in Schedule I bears to the
total number of Firm Shares which all the non-defaulting Underwriters have
agreed to purchase, or in such other proportion as you may specify, to purchase
the Firm Shares or Additional Shares, as the case may be, which such defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such
date; provided that in no event shall the number of Firm Shares or Additional
Shares, as the case may be, which any Underwriter has agreed to purchase
pursuant to Section 2 hereof be increased pursuant to this Section 10 by an
amount in excess of one-ninth of such number of Firm Shares or Additional
Shares, as the case may be, without the written consent of such Underwriter. If
on the Closing Date any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to
purchase Firm Shares and the aggregate number of Firm Shares with respect to
which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm
Shares to be purchased by all Underwriters and arrangements satisfactory to you,
the Company and the Selling Shareholders for purchase of such Firm Shares are
not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement will terminate
without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter, the Company or
the Selling Shareholders. In any such case which does not result in termination
of this Agreement, either you or the Sellers shall have the right to postpone
the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the
required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or
any other documents or arrangements may be effected. If, on an Option Closing
Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase
Additional Shares and the aggregate number of Additional Shares with respect to
which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of
Additional Shares to be purchased on such date, the non-defaulting Underwriters
shall have the option to (i) terminate their obligation hereunder to purchase
such Additional Shares or (ii) purchase not less than the number of Additional
Shares that such non-defaulting Underwriters would have been obligated to
purchase on such date in the absence of such default. Any action taken under
this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in
respect of any default of any such Underwriter under this Agreement.

     Section 11.  Agreements of the Selling Shareholders.  Each Selling
Shareholder agrees with you and the Company:

     (a)  To pay or to cause to be paid all transfer taxes payable in connection
with the transfer of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder to the
Underwriters.

                                       23
<PAGE>

     (b)  To do and perform all things to be done and performed by such Selling
Shareholder under this Agreement prior to the Closing Date and to satisfy all
conditions precedent to the delivery of the Shares to be sold by such Selling
Shareholder pursuant to this Agreement.

     Section 12.  Miscellaneous.  Notices given pursuant to any provision of
this Agreement shall be addressed as follows: (i) if to the Company, to Zany
Brainy, Inc. 308 East Lancaster Avenue, Wynnewood, PA 19096, (ii) if to the
Selling Shareholders, to Robert A. Helpert or Daniel Kaufman, c/o Zany Brainy,
Inc. 308 East Lancaster Avenue, Wynnewood, PA 19096 and  (iii) if to any
Underwriter or to you, to you c/o Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
Corporation, 277 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10172, Attention:  Syndicate
Department, or in any case to such other address as the person to be notified
may have requested in writing.

     The respective indemnities, contribution agreements, representations,
warranties and other statements of the Company, the Selling Shareholders and the
several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement shall
remain operative and in full force and effect, and will survive delivery of and
payment for the Shares, regardless of (i) any investigation, or statement as to
the results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the officers or
directors of any Underwriter, any person controlling any Underwriter, the
Company, the officers or directors of the Company, any person controlling the
Company, any Selling Shareholder or any person controlling such Selling
Shareholder, (ii) acceptance of the Shares and payment for them hereunder and
(iii) termination of this Agreement.

     If for any reason the Shares are not delivered by or on behalf of any
Seller as provided herein (other than as a result of any termination of this
Agreement pursuant to Section 10 or a material breach of this Agreement by the
Underwriters), the Sellers agree, jointly and severally, to reimburse the
several Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and
disbursements of counsel) incurred by them. Notwithstanding any termination of
this Agreement, the Company shall be liable for all expenses which it has agreed
to pay pursuant to Section 5(i) hereof.  The Company and the Selling
Shareholders severally agree to reimburse the several Underwriters, their
directors and officers and any persons controlling any of the Underwriters
(including, without limitation, the fees disbursements of counsel) incurred by
them in connection with enforcing their rights hereunder (including, without
limitation, pursuant to Section 8 hereof); provided that the adjudication of
such rights is determined by a court of competent jurdisdiction, not subject to
further review and appeal, and the Underwriter involved in such a dispute is the
prevailing party.

     Except as otherwise provided, this Agreement has been and is made solely
for the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Company, the Selling
Shareholders, the Underwriters, the Underwriters' directors and officers, any
controlling persons referred to herein, the Company's directors and the
Company's officers who sign the Registration Statement and their respective
successors and assigns, all as and to the extent provided in this Agreement, and
no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this
Agreement.  The term "successors and assigns" shall not include a purchaser of
any of the Shares from any of the several Underwriters merely because of such
purchase.

     This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of New York.

                                       24
<PAGE>

     This Agreement may be signed in various counterparts which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.

                                       25
<PAGE>

     Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among
the Company, the Selling Shareholders and the several Underwriters.

                              Very truly yours,

                              ZANY BRAINY, INC.

                              By:_______________________________________________
                                 Title:

                              THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
                                 NAMED IN SCHEDULE II
                                 HERETO, ACTING
                                 SEVERALLY

                              By _______________________________________________
                                              Attorney-in-fact

DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
   SECURITIES CORPORATION
BT ALEX. BROWN INCORPORATED
WILLIAM BLAIR & COMPANY
U.S. BANCORP PIPER JAFFRAY
DLJDIRECT INC.

Acting severally on behalf of
   themselves and the several
   Underwriters named in
   Schedule I hereto

By DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
     SECURITIES CORPORATION

   By_____________________________________

                                       26
<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE I
                                  ----------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Underwriters                                          Number of Firm Shares
- ------------
                                                         to be Purchased
                                                         ---------------
<S>                                                   <C>
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
Corporation

BT Alex. Brown Incorporated

William Blair & Company

U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray

DLJdirect Inc.


Total
</TABLE>

                                       27
<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE II
                                  -----------

                             Selling Shareholders
                             --------------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      Number of Firm       [Number of Additional
Name                                 Shares Being Sold       Shares Being Sold]
- ----                                 -----------------       ------------------
<S>                                  <C>                     <C>







Total
</TABLE>

                                       28
<PAGE>

                                    Annex I

[Insert names of shareholders of the Company who will be required to sign lock
ups]

                                       29


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