POLICY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS CORP
8-K, 2000-03-31
INSURANCE AGENTS, BROKERS & SERVICE
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC  20549

                                    FORM 8-K

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



        Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):  March 30, 2000


                      Policy Management Systems Corporation
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


                                 South Carolina
                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)


         1-10557                                           57-0723125
(Commission File Number)                       (IRS Employer Identification No.)


                          One PMSC Center (PO Box Ten)
                          Blythewood, SC (Columbia, SC)
                                  29016 (29202)
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)


                                 (803) 333-4000
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

                                 Not Applicable.
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)



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<PAGE>
ITEM  5.     OTHER  EVENTS.

             On March 30, 2000, Policy  Management  Systems Corporation ("PMSC")
and Politic Acquisition Corp. ("Acquisition"), an  affiliate  of  Welsh, Carson,
Anderson  &  Stowe,  entered  into  an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger
Agreement")  pursuant  to  which,  subject to the terms and conditions set forth
therein,  Acquisition  will  merge  into  PMSC.  Under  the  terms of the Merger
Agreement,  between  75%  to  93%  of  the outstanding PMSC common stock will be
converted  into the right to receive $14 in cash per share. The exact percentage
will  be determined by an election procedure under which PMSC's stockholders can
elect  cash  or  stock.  PMSC's  existing stockholders will retain the remaining
shares.

             The  merger  is expected to be completed during the second or third
quarter of  2000  and is subject to approval by PMSC's shareholders, the receipt
of financing  and  other  customary  conditions.

             In the event the  merger  agreement  is  terminated  under  certain
circumstances,  PMSC  has  agreed  to  pay  Acquisition a termination fee of $19
million  plus  expenses  of  up  to  $5  million.

             The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference
to the text of the Merger Agreement which  is  filed  as  exhibit  99.1  hereto.

ITEM  7.     FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  AND  EXHIBITS.

             (c)  Exhibits.

             99.1     Agreement  and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 30, 2000,
                      between Policy Management Systems Corporation and  Politic
                      Acquisition  Corp.

             99.2     Press  release  issued  by  Policy  Management  Systems
                      Corporation on March 30,  2000.

             99.3     Letter  agreement dated March 30, 2000, among Welsh,
                      Carson, Anderson & Stowe VIII, L.P., and Policy Management
                      Systems  Corporation

             99.4     Letter  agreement  dated  March  30,  2000,  among  Welsh,
                      Carson, Anderson & Stowe VIII, L.P., and Politic
                      Acquisition  Corp.

             99.5     Letter  agreement dated March 30, 2000, among WCAS Capital
                      Partners III, L.P.,  and  Politic  Acquisition  Corp.

             99.6     Letter  agreement  dated  March  30,  2000,  among  Welsh,
                      Carson,  Anderson  &  Stowe  VIII,  L.P.  and  DLJ Capital
                      Funding  Corp.


<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

             Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  the Securities Exchange Act of
1934,  the  registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned  hereunto  duly  authorized.


                                                     POLICY  MANAGEMENT  SYSTEMS
                                                         CORPORATION


Date:     March  31,  2000                           By: /s/ G. Larry Wilson
                                                        ------------------------
                                                     Name:  G.  Larry  Wilson
                                                     Title:  Chairman, President
                                                     and Chief Executive Officer


<PAGE>
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit  No.  Description
- ------------  -----------

99.1          Agreement  and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 30, 2000, between
              Policy  Management  Systems  Corporation  and  Politic Acquisition
              Corp.

99.2          Press  release  issued by Policy Management Systems Corporation on
              March 30,  2000

99.3          Letter  agreement  dated  March  30, 2000,  among  Welsh,  Carson,
              Anderson  &  Stowe  VIII,  L.P.,  and  Policy  Management  Systems
              Corporation

99.4          Letter  agreement  dated  March  30,  2000,  among  Welsh, Carson,
              Anderson  &  Stowe  VIII,  L.P.,  and  Policy  Management  Systems
              Corporation

99.5          Letter agreement dated March 30, 2000, among WCAS Capital Partners
              III, L.P.,  and  Policy  Management  Systems  Corporation

99.6          Letter  agreement  dated  March  30,  2000,  among  Welsh, Carson,
              Anderson


<PAGE>

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                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


                                 By and Between


                            POLITIC ACQUISITION CORP.

                                       and

                      POLICY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS CORPORATION





                           Dated as of March 30 , 2000





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<PAGE>
                           TABLE  OF  CONTENTS

                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
ARTICLE  I     THE  MERGER

SECTION  1.01  The  Merger                                                     1
SECTION  1.02  Effect  of  the  Merger                                         1
SECTION  1.03  Closing                                                         1
SECTION  1.04  Consummation  of  the  Merger                                   2
SECTION  1.05  Articles  of Incorporation; By-Laws; Directors and Officers     2

ARTICLE  II    EFFECT  OF  THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE
               CONSTITUENT  CORPORATIONS

SECTION  2.01  Effect  on  Capital  Stock.                                     2
SECTION  2.02  Company  Common  Stock  Elections.                              4
SECTION  2.03  Proration.                                                      5
SECTION  2.04  Exchange  of  Certificates.                                     6

ARTICLE  III   REPRESENTATIONS  AND  WARRANTIES  OF  THE  COMPANY

SECTION  3.01  Organization  and  Qualification                               10
SECTION  3.02  Subsidiaries                                                   10
SECTION  3.03  Authority  Relative  to  Agreements                            11
SECTION  3.04  Non-Contravention                                              11
SECTION  3.05  Capitalization                                                 11
SECTION  3.06  SEC  Filings                                                   12
SECTION  3.07  Financial  Statements                                          12
SECTION  3.08  Absence  of  Certain  Changes  or  Events                      13
SECTION  3.09  Governmental  Approvals                                        13
SECTION  3.10  Compliance  with  Laws;  No  Default                           14
SECTION  3.11  Information  Supplied                                          14
SECTION  3.12  Litigation                                                     15
SECTION  3.13  Intellectual  Property;  Computer  Software                    15
SECTION  3.14  Trade  Secrets                                                 16
SECTION  3.15  Severance  Arrangements                                        17
SECTION  3.16  Taxes                                                          17
SECTION  3.17  Employee  Benefit  Plans                                       18
SECTION  3.18  Environmental  Matters                                         19
SECTION  3.19  Customer  Relationships                                        19
SECTION  3.20  Certain  Transactions                                          20
SECTION  3.21  Title to Properties;  Absence  of Liens and Encumbrances       20
SECTION  3.22  Insurance     20


                                        i
<PAGE>
SECTION  3.23  State  Takeover  Statutes;  Certain  Charter  Provisions       20
SECTION  3.24  Opinion  of  Financial  Advisor                                21
SECTION  3.25  Brokers                                                        21

ARTICLE  IV    REPRESENTATIONS  AND  WARRANTIES  OF  ACQUISITION

SECTION  4.01  Organization  and  Qualification                               21
SECTION  4.02  Capital  Structure                                             21
SECTION  4.03  Authorization  of  Agreement,  Non-Contravention,  Etc         21
SECTION  4.04  Information  Supplied                                          22
SECTION  4.05  Subsidiaries                                                   22
SECTION  4.06  Interim  Operations  of  Acquisition                           22
SECTION  4.07  Brokers                                                        23
SECTION  4.08  Financing                                                      23

ARTICLE  V     CERTAIN  AGREEMENTS

SECTION  5.01  Conduct  of  the  Company's  Business                          24
SECTION  5.02  Stockholder  Approval                                          26
SECTION  5.03  Access  to  Information                                        27
SECTION  5.04  Further  Assurances                                            27
SECTION  5.05  Inquiries  and  Negotiations                                   27
SECTION  5.06  Notification  of  Certain  Matters,  Etc,                      29
SECTION  5.07  Indemnification.                                               29
SECTION  5.08  Employee  Benefits                                             30
SECTION  5.09  Affiliates  of  the  Company                                   31
SECTION  5.10  Comfort  Letters                                               31

ARTICLE  VI    CONDITIONS  TO  THE  MERGER

SECTION  6.01  Conditions  to  the  Obligations  of  the  Parties.            31
SECTION  6.02  Conditions  to  the  Obligation  of  Acquisition.              33
SECTION  6.03  Conditions  to  the  Obligations  of  the  Company             33

ARTICLE  VII   TERMINATION  AND  ABANDONMENT

SECTION  7.01  Termination  and  Abandonment                                  34
SECTION  7.02  Effect  of  Termination                                        35

ARTICLE  VIII  MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION  8.01  Nonsurvival  of  Representations  and  Warranties              35
SECTION  8.02  Expenses,  Etc.                                                35


                                       ii
<PAGE>
SECTION  8.03  Publicity.                                                     36
SECTION  8.04  Execution  in  Counterparts.                                   36
SECTION  8.05  Notices.                                                       36
SECTION  8.06  Waivers.                                                       37
SECTION  8.07  Entire  Agreement.                                             37
SECTION  8.08  Applicable  Law.                                               38
SECTION  8.09  Binding  Effect,  Benefits.                                    38
SECTION  8.10  Assignability.                                                 38
SECTION  8.11  Amendments                                                     38
SECTION  8.12  Interpretation                                                 38


                                       iii
<PAGE>
                               INDEX TO SCHEDULES


     Schedule                     Description
    --------                      -----------

     3.05                         Company  Stock  Options; Agreements in Respect
                                  of  Capital  Stock
     3.07                         Certain  Liabilities
     3.08                         Certain  Changes  or  Events
     3.09                         Governmental  Approvals
     3.10                         Defaults
     3.12                         Litigation
     3.13                         Intangible  Rights
     3.15                         Severance  Arrangements
     3.16                         Taxes
     3.17                         Employee  Benefit  Plans
     3.19                         Certain  Customer  Relationships
     3.20                         Certain  Transactions
     3.21                         Title  to  Properties
     3.22                         Insurance  Policies
     5.01                         Certain  Actions
     5.08                         Employee  Benefit  Arrangements


                                       iv
<PAGE>
                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


          AGREEMENT  AND  PLAN  OF  MERGER,  dated  as of March 30, 2000, by and
between  POLITIC  ACQUISITION  CORP.,  a  South  Carolina  corporation
("Acquisi-tion"),  and  POLICY  MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS CORPORATION, a South Carolina
corporation  (the  "Company").  Acquisition  and  the  Company  -are hereinafter
some-times  referred  to  as the "Con-stituent Corpo-rations" and the Company as
the  "Surviv-ing  Corpora-tion".

          WHEREAS,  the  respective  Boards  of Directors of Acquisition and the
Company  have unanimously deemed it advisable and in the best interests of their
respective  stockholders that Acquisition merge (the "Merger") with and into the
Company  pursuant  to  the  terms and conditions of this Agreement and the South
Carolina  Business  Corporation  Act (the "SCBCA"), and, in furtherance thereof,
such  Boards  of  Directors have each unanimously adapted resolutions approving,
adopting  and  declaring  the advisability of this Agreement and the Merger; and

          WHEREAS,  it  is  intended  that  the  Merger  be  recorded  as  a
recapitalization for financial reporting purposes and each of the parties, after
discussion  with  their respective accounting advisors, believes that the Merger
is  eligible  for  such  treatment;  and

          NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of  the  mutual repre-sentations,
warranties,  covenants, agreements and conditions contained herein, and in order
to  set  forth  the terms and condi-tions of the Merger and the mode of carrying
the  same  into  effect,  the  parties  hereto  hereby  agree  as  follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   THE MERGER

          SECTION  1.01  The  Merger  .  Subject  to the terms and conditions of
                         -----------
this  Agreement, at the Effective Time (as herein-after defined), in accor-dance
with  this  Agreement  and the SCBCA, Acquisi-tion shall be merged with and into
the  Company.  Following the Merger, the separate existence of Acquisition shall
cease  and  the  Company  shall  continue as the surviving corporation under the
current  corporate  name  of  the  Company.

          SECTION  1.02  Effect  of the Merger .  Upon the effec-tiveness of the
                         ---------------------
Merger, the Surviving Corporation shall succeed to and assume all the rights and
obligations  of the Company and Acquisition in accordance with the SCBCA and the
Merger  shall  otherwise  have the effects set forth in Section 33-11-106 of the
Code  of Laws of South Carolina of 1976, as amended (the "South Carolina Code").

          SECTION  1.03  Closing  .  Unless  this  Agreement  shall  have  been
                         -------
terminated  previously,  and  subject  to  the  satisfaction  or  waiver  of the
conditions  to  the  obligations  of  the parties to effect the Merger set forth
herein,  the  consummation  of  the  Merger  (the  "Closing") will take place as
promptly  as  practicable,  but  in no event later than 10:00 a.m. on the second
business  day  following the satisfaction or waiver of all the conditions (other
than  conditions  which,  by  their  nature  are to be satisfied at closing, but


<PAGE>
subject  to  those  conditions)  to the obligations of the parties to effect the
Merger  set  forth  herein  (the  "Closing  Date"),  at  the  offices of Reboul,
MacMurray,  Hewitt,  Maynard & Kristol, 45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York
10111,  unless  another  time, date or place is agreed to by the parties hereto.

          SECTION  1.04  Consummation  of  the  Merger  .  Upon the Closing, the
                         -----------------------------
parties  hereto  will  cause  the  Merger  to  be consummated by filing with the
Secretary  of State of the State of South Carolina properly executed articles of
merger  in accordance with the SCBCA, which shall be effective upon filing or on
such  later date as may be agreed by the parties and specified therein (the time
of  such  effectiveness  being  the  "Effec-tive  Time").

          SECTION  1.05  Articles  of  Incorporation;  By-Laws;  Directors  and
                         ------------------------------------------------------
Officers  .  (a)  The Articles -of Incorporation of Acquisition in effect at the
Effective  Time  shall  be  the  Articles  of  Incorpora-tion  of  the Surviving
Corporation  (except  that  such  Articles of Incorpora-tion shall be amended to
provide  that  the  name  of  the  Surviving  Corpora-tion  shall be the current
corporate  name  of  the Company) until there-af-ter amended in accor-dance with
the  provi-sions  thereof  and  as  provided  by  the  SCBCA.  The  By-Laws  of
Acquisition  in  effect  at  the  Effective  Time  shall  be  the By-Laws of the
Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended in accordance with the provisions
thereof,  the  Articles  of  Incorpo-ration of the Surviving Corporation and the
SCBCA.

          (b)  From  and  after  the  Effective  Time and until their respective
successors  are duly elected or appointed and quali-fied, or until their earlier
death,  resignation  or  removal  in accordance with the Surviving Corporation's
Articles  of  Incorporation and By-Laws, (i) the directors of Acquisition at the
Effective  Time shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation and (ii) the
officers  of  the  Company  at  the  Effective Time shall be the officers of the
Surviving  Corpo-ration.

                                   ARTICLE II

                       EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL
                      STOCK OF THE CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS

          SECTION  2.01  Effect on Capital Stock.   As of the Effective Time, by
                         -----------------------
virtue  of the Merger and without any action on the part of any holder of shares
of  common  stock,  par  value  $.01  per share, of the Company ("Company Common
Stock")  or  any  shares  of  capital  stock  of  Acquisition:

          (a)  Common  Stock  of  Acquisition.  Each  share of common stock, par
               ------------------------------
value $.01 per share, of Acquisition ("Acquisition Common Stock") that is issued
and  outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into
and  become  one  fully  paid and nonassessable share of common stock, par value
$.01  per  share,  of  the  Surviving Corporation ("Surviving Corporation Common
Stock").


                                        2
<PAGE>
          (b)  Cancellation  of  Excluded  Shares.  Each share of Company Common
               ----------------------------------
Stock  that  is  owned  by  Acquisition  or  any  subsidiary  or  affiliate  of
Acquisition,  or  by  any  Subsidiary  (as  hereinafter  defined) or held in the
treasury  of  the  Company  (collectively,  the  "Excluded  Shares")  shall
automatically  be  canceled  and  retired and shall cease to exist, and no cash,
Retained  Shares  (as  hereinafter  defined)  or  other  consideration  shall be
delivered  or  deliverable  in  exchange  therefor.

          (c)  Conversion  or  Retention  of  Company  Common  Stock.  Except as
               -----------------------------------------------------
otherwise  provided  herein and subject to Sections 2.02 and 2.03, each share of
Company  Common  Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time  (other than Excluded Shares or Dissenting Shares (as hereinafter defined))
shall  be  converted  into  the  following  merger  consideration  (the  "Merger
Consideration"):

               (i)   for  each such share of Company Common Stock with respect
          to which an election  to retain such share has been effectively made
          and not revoked or  lost  pursuant  to  Sections 2.02 and 2.03  (the
          "Electing  Shares"),  the  right  to  retain  one  fully  paid  and
          nonassessable  share  of  Common  Stock  of the Surviving Corporation
          (a  "Retained  Share");  and

              (ii)  for  each  such  share  of  Company Common Stock (other than
          Retained Shares),  the  right to receive in cash  from  the  Surviving
          Corporation following the  Merger  an  amount  equal  to  $14.00  (the
         "Cash  Election  Price").

          (d)  Dissenting Shares.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
               -----------------
the  contrary,  shares  of  Company Common Stock that are issued and outstanding
immediately  prior  to  the Effective Time and that are held by a holder who has
properly  given written notice of his intent to exercise dissenters' rights with
respect  to  such  shares  in  connection with the Merger and in compliance with
Chapter  13 of the SCBCA ("Dissenting Shares") shall not be converted into or be
exchangeable  for  the  right  to  receive the Merger Consideration (but instead
shall  be  converted  into  the  right  to  receive  payment  from the Surviving
Corporation  with  respect  to  such  Dissenting  Shares  in accordance with the
SCBCA),  unless and until such holder shall have failed to perfect or shall have
effectively  withdrawn or lost such holder's right under the SCBCA.  If any such
holder  shall have failed to perfect or shall have effectively withdrawn or lost
such  right, each share held by such holder shall be treated as a share that was
not  an Electing Share at the Effective Time, and, subject to Section 2.03, such
shares  shall  be  exchanged  for  cash  equal  to the Cash Election Price.  The
Company  shall  give  prompt  notice  to  Acquisition  of any demands, attempted
withdrawals  of  such  demands  and any other instruments served pursuant to the
SCBCA that are received by the Company for appraisal of shares of Company Common
Stock,  and  Acquisition  shall  have the right to participate in and direct all
negotiations  and  proceedings  with respect to such demands.  The Company shall
not, except with the prior written consent of Acquisition, make any payment with
respect  to,  settle,  offer  to  settle,  or approve any withdrawal of any such
demands.


                                        3
<PAGE>
          (e)  Cancellation  and  Retirement of Company Common Stock.  As of the
               -----------------------------------------------------
Effective  Time, all shares of Company Common Stock (other than Excluded Shares,
Retained  Shares and Dissenting Shares) issued and outstanding immediately prior
to  the Effective Time shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be
canceled  and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate
representing  any  such shares of Company Common Stock shall, to the extent such
certificate  represents  such  shares,  cease  to  have  any rights with respect
thereto,  except the right to receive the consideration provided for herein upon
surrender  of  such  certificate  in  accordance  with  Section  2.04(e).

          SECTION  2.02  Company  Common Stock Elections.   (a) Each person who,
                         -------------------------------
on or prior to the Election Date (as hereinafter defined), is a record holder of
shares  of  Company  Common  Stock  will be entitled, with respect to all or any
portion  of  its  shares,  to  make  an  unconditional  election  (a  "Retention
Election")  on  or prior to the Election Date to retain Retained Shares (subject
to  Section  2.03),  on  the  basis  hereinafter  set  forth.

          (b)  Prior  to  the  mailing  of  the  Proxy Statement (as hereinafter
defined),  Acquisition  shall appoint a bank or trust company to act as exchange
agent  (the  "Exchange  Agent")  for  the  payment  of the Merger Consideration.

          (c)  The Company shall prepare and mail a form of election, which form
shall  be  subject  to  the  reasonable  approval  of  Acquisition (the "Form of
Election"),  with  the  Proxy  Statement to the record holders of Company Common
Stock  as  of  the  record  date  for  the  Stockholders Meeting (as hereinafter
defined),  which  Form of Election shall be used by each record holder of shares
of  Company  Common Stock who wishes to make a Retention Election for any or all
shares of Company Common Stock held by such holder, subject to the provisions of
Section  2.03  hereof.  The  Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to
make  the  Form of Election and the Proxy Statement available to all persons who
become  holders of shares of Company Common Stock during the period between such
record  date  and  the  Election  Date.  Any  such  holder's  election to retain
Retained  Shares  shall have been properly made only if the Exchange Agent shall
have  received at its designated office, by 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the
second business day prior to the date of the Stockholders Meeting (the "Election
Date")  (unless  the  Company  and Acquisition determine that the Closing is not
likely  to  occur  within one business day of the Stockholders Meeting, in which
case  the  Election  Date  shall be the business day prior to the likely Closing
Date; any such determination to be reasonably made), a Form of Election properly
completed  and  signed and accompanied by certificates for the shares of Company
Common  Stock  to which such Form of Election relates, duly endorsed in blank or
otherwise  in form acceptable for transfer on the books of the Company (or by an
appropriate guarantee of delivery of such certificates as set forth in such Form
of  Election  from  a firm which is a member of a registered national securities
exchange  or  of  the  National  Association  of  Securities  Dealers, Inc. or a
commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United
States,  provided  such certificates are in fact delivered to the Exchange Agent
by  the  third  business  day  after  the  Election  Date).


                                        4
<PAGE>
          (d)  A  stockholder  may  revoke  a  Form  of Election by submitting a
written  notice of revocation to the Exchange Agent provided that such notice is
received  by  the  Exchange  Agent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the
Election  Date.  In  addition,  all  Forms  of  Election  shall automatically be
revoked  if  the  Exchange  Agent  is notified in writing by Acquisition and the
Company  that  the Merger has been abandoned.  If a Form of Election is revoked,
the  certificate or certificates (or guarantees of delivery, as appropriate) for
the  shares of Company Common Stock to which such Form of Election relates shall
be  promptly  returned  to  the  stockholder submitting the same to the Exchange
Agent.

          (e)  The  determination  of  the  Exchange  Agent  of  whether  or not
Retention  Elections have been properly made or revoked pursuant to this Section
2.02 with respect to shares of Company Common Stock and when Retention Elections
and revocations were received by it shall be binding on all holders of shares of
Company  Common  Stock.  If  the  Exchange  Agent  determines that any Retention
Election  was  not properly made with respect to shares of Company Common Stock,
such  shares  shall  be  treated  by  the Exchange Agent as shares that were not
Electing Shares at the Effective Time, and, subject to Section 2.03, such shares
shall  be exchanged in the Merger for cash pursuant to Section 2.01(c)(ii).  The
Exchange  Agent  shall  also  make all computations as to the allocation and the
proration  contemplated  by  Section  2.03,  and  any  such computation shall be
conclusive  and  binding  on the holders of shares of Company Common Stock.  The
Exchange  Agent  may,  with the mutual agreement of Acquisition and the Company,
make  such rules as are consistent with this Section 2.02 for the implementation
of the elections provided for herein as shall be necessary or desirable fully to
effect  such  elections.

          SECTION  2.03  Proration.   (a)  Notwithstanding  anything  in  this
                         ---------
Agreement  to  the  contrary,  the  aggregate number of shares of Company Common
Stock  to be retained as Retained Shares at the Effective Time shall be a number
of  shares  equal  to not more than 25% (the "Maximum Retention Number") and not
less  than  7%  (the  "Minimum  Retention Number") of the issued and outstanding
shares  of  Company  Common  Stock  immediately  prior  to  the  Effective Time.

          (b)  If  the  number  of Electing Shares exceeds the Maximum Retention
Number, then each Electing Share shall remain outstanding as a Retained Share or
be  converted  into  the  right  to receive cash in accordance with the terms of
Section  2.01(c)  in  the  following  manner:

               (i) a proration factor (the "Non-Cash Proration Factor") shall be
          determined  by  dividing  the  Maximum  Retention  Number by the total
          number of Electing Shares;

               (ii) subject to Section  2.04(e),  the number of Electing  Shares
          covered by each Retention  Election to be retained as Retained  Shares
          shall be determined by multiplying  the Non-Cash  Proration  Factor by
          the  total  number  of  Electing  Shares  covered  by  such  Retention
          Election; and


                                        5
<PAGE>
               (iii) all  Electing  Shares,  other than  those  shares to remain
          outstanding as Retained Shares in accordance with Section 2.03(b)(ii),
          shall be  converted  into  cash as if such  shares  were not  Electing
          Shares in accordance with the terms of Section 2.01(c)(ii).

          (c) If the  number  of  Electing  Shares  is  less  than  the  Minimum
          Retention Number, then:

               (i) all  Electing  Shares shall  remain  outstanding  as Retained
          Shares in accordance with the terms of Section 2.01(c)(i); and

               (ii)  additional  shares  of  Company  Common  Stock  other  than
          Electing  Shares  shall  remain  outstanding  as  Retained  Shares  in
          accordance  with the  terms of  Section  2.01(c)(i)  in the  following
          manner:

     (1)  a proration  factor (the "Cash Proration  Factor") shall be determined
          by dividing (x) the difference  between the Minimum  Retention  Number
          and  the  number  of  Electing  Shares  by (y)  the  total  number  of
          outstanding shares of Company Common Stock other than Excluded Shares,
          Dissenting Shares and Electing Shares; and

     (2)  with  respect  to each  outstanding  share  of  Company  Common  Stock
          otherthan the Excluded Shares,  Dissenting Shares and Electing Shares,
          such share shall be converted  into the right to receive a fraction of
          one Retained Share equal to the Cash Proration Factor and an amount of
          cash equal to the product of (x) the cash  Election  Price and (y) 1.0
          less the Cash Proration Factor.

           SECTION  2.04  Exchange  of  Certificates.
                          ---------------------------

          (a)  Exchange Agent.  At or prior to the Effective Time, the Surviving
               --------------
Corporation  shall  deposit  with  the  Exchange  Agent,  for the benefit of the
holders  of  shares  of  Company  Common  Stock  other than Excluded Shares, for
exchange  in  accordance  with  this  Article II, the cash portion of the Merger
Consideration  (such  cash  consideration  being  hereinafter referred to as the
"Exchange  Fund").  The  Exchange  Agent  shall,  pursuant  to  irrevocable
instructions  of  the  Surviving Corporation, make payments of the Cash Election
Price  out  of  the  Exchange Fund.  The Exchange Fund shall not be used for any
other  purpose.  The  funds  deposited  by  the  Surviving  Corporation with the
Exchange  Agent  shall  be  derived first from the funds received by Acquisition
from  the  equity  financing described in Section 4.08(a), to the extent of such
financing,  and  then,  to  the  extent  necessary,  from other resources of the
Surviving Corporation.  The parties shall take all necessary steps to ensure the


                                        6
<PAGE>
tracing  of  such  funds,  including  the  segregation  of  the funds derived by
Acquisition  from such financing in a separate account and the transfer of funds
from  such account to the Exchange Agent for purposes of paying the cash portion
of  the  Merger  Consideration.

          (b)  Exchange  Procedures.  As  soon  as  practicable (and in no event
               --------------------
later  than  three  business  days)  after the Effective Time, each holder of an
outstanding certificate or certificates that prior thereto represented shares of
Company Common Stock other than Excluded Shares (the "Certificates") shall, upon
surrender to the Exchange Agent of such Certificate or Certificates (or, if such
shares  are  held  in  book-entry  or  other uncertificated form, upon the entry
through  a  book-entry transfer agent of the surrender of such shares of Company
Common  Stock  on  a  book-entry  account  statement  (any  references herein to
"Certificates"  shall  be  deemed  to  include  references to book-entry account
statements  relating  to  the  ownership of shares of Company Common Stock)) and
acceptance  thereof  by  the  Exchange  Agent,  be  entitled to a certificate or
certificates  representing  the  number  of full shares of Surviving Corporation
Common  Stock,  if  any, to be retained by the holder thereof as Retained Shares
pursuant to this Agreement and the amount of cash, if any, into which the number
of  shares of Company Common Stock previously represented by such Certificate or
Certificates surrendered shall have been converted pursuant to this Agreement or
which  is  payable  in  respect  of fractional shares.  The Exchange Agent shall
accept  such  Certificates  upon  compliance  with  the  terms and conditions of
Section  2.02  and  such  other  reasonable terms and conditions as the Exchange
Agent may impose to effect an orderly exchange thereof in accordance with normal
exchange  practices.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Section  2.04,  the Exchange Agent shall not deliver any Merger Consideration to
any holder who is, as of the date hereof, an affiliate of the Company until such
holder  has  delivered  the  agreement  contemplated by Section 5.09.  After the
Effective Time, there shall be no further transfer on the records of the Company
or its transfer agent of Certificates, and if such Certificates are presented to
the  Company  for  transfer, they shall be canceled against delivery of the Cash
Election  Price  and,  if appropriate, certificates for Retained Shares.  If any
certificate  for such Retained Shares is to be issued in the name of, or if cash
is  to  be  remitted  to,  a  person  other  than  the  person in whose name the
Certificate  surrendered  for exchange is registered, it shall be a condition of
such  exchange  that  the Certificate so surrendered shall be properly endorsed,
with signature guaranteed, or otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the
person  requesting  such exchange shall pay to the Company or its transfer agent
any  transfer or other taxes required by reason of the remittance of cash to, or
the  issuance  of certificates for such Retained Shares in the name of, a person
other  than  that  of  the  registered holder of the Certificate surrendered, or
establish to the satisfaction of the Company or its transfer agent that such tax
has  been  paid or is not applicable.  Until surrendered as contemplated by this
Section  2.04(b),  each  Certificate  shall  be  deemed  at  any  time after the
Effective  Time  to  represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the
Merger  Consideration as contemplated by Section 2.01.  No interest will be paid
or  will  accrue  on  any cash payable as Merger Consideration or in lieu of any
fractional  Retained  Shares.

          (c)  Distributions  with  Respect to Unexchanged Shares.  No dividends
               --------------------------------------------------
or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time shall be paid
to  the  holder  of  any  unsurrendered Certificate with respect to the Retained
Shares  represented  thereby  and  no  cash payment in lieu of fractional shares


                                        7
<PAGE>
shall be paid to any such holder pursuant to Section 2.04(e) until the surrender
of  such  Certificate in accordance with this Article II.  Subject to the effect
of  applicable laws, following surrender of any such Certificate, there shall be
paid  to  the  holder  of  the  Certificate  representing whole Retained Shares,
without  interest,  (i)  at  the time of such surrender or as promptly after the
sale of the Excess Shares (as hereinafter defined) as practicable, the amount of
any  cash payable in lieu of a fractional Retained Share to which such holder is
entitled  pursuant  to Section 2.04(e) and the proportionate amount of dividends
or  other  distributions with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore
paid  with  respect to such Retained Shares, and (ii) at the appropriate payment
date, the proportionate amount of dividends or other distributions with a record
date  after  the  Effective  Time  but  prior to such surrender and payment date
subsequent to such surrender payable with respect to such whole Retained Shares.

          (d)  No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock Exchanged For
               -----------------------------------------------------------------
Cash.  All  cash  paid  upon  the  surrender  for  exchange  of  Certificates
representing shares of Company Common Stock in accordance with the terms of this
Article II (including any cash paid pursuant to Section 2.04(e)) shall be deemed
to have been paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the shares of
Company  Common  Stock  exchanged  for  cash  theretofore  represented  by  such
Certificates.

     (e)  No  Fractional  Shares.
          ----------------------

          (i) No certificates  representing  fractional Retained Share interests
     shall be issued in connection with the Merger,  and such  fractional  share
     interests  will not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to any rights of a
     stockholder of the Surviving Corporation after the Merger.

          (ii)  Notwithstanding  any other  provision  of this  Agreement,  each
     holder of shares of Company Common Stock  exchanged  pursuant to the Merger
     who would  otherwise have been entitled to receive a fraction of a Retained
     Share  (after  taking  into  account  all  shares of Company  Common  Stock
     delivered by such holder) shall  receive,  in lieu thereof,  a cash payment
     (without interest), rounded to the nearest cent, representing such holder's
     proportionate  interest in the net  proceeds  from the sale by the Exchange
     Agent (following the deduction of applicable  transaction costs), on behalf
     of  all  such  holders,  of  the  Retained  Shares  (the  "Excess  Shares")
     representing such fractions. Such sale shall be made as soon as practicable
     after the Effective Time.

          (f)  Termination  of  Exchange Fund.  Any portion of the Exchange Fund
               ------------------------------
that  remains  undistributed  to  the  holders  of the Certificates for 183 days
after the Effective Time shall be delivered to the Surviving Corporation and any
holders  of  shares  of  Company  Common  Stock prior to the Merger who have not
theretofore  complied  with  this  Article  II shall thereafter look only to the
Surviving  Corporation  and only as general creditors thereof for payment of the
Merger  Consideration.


                                        8
<PAGE>
          (g)  No  Liability.  None of Acquisition, the Surviving Corporation or
               -------------
the  Exchange  Agent  shall  be  liable to any person in respect of any Retained
Shares  (or  dividends  or  distributions with respect thereto) or cash from the
Exchange  Fund  delivered  to  a  public  official  pursuant  to  any applicable
abandoned  property,  escheat  or  similar  law.

          (h)  Investment of Exchange Fund.  The Exchange Agent shall invest any
               ---------------------------
cash included in the Exchange Fund, as directed by the Surviving Corporation, on
a  daily  basis.  Any  interest and other income resulting from such investments
shall be paid to the Surviving Corporation.  To the extent that there are losses
with  respect  to  such  investments,  or the Exchange Fund diminishes for other
reasons  below  the  level  required  to  make  prompt  payments  of  the Merger
Consideration  as  contemplated hereby, the Surviving Corporation shall promptly
replace  or restore the portion of the Exchange Fund lost through investments or
other events so as to ensure that the Exchange Fund is, at all times, maintained
at  a  level  sufficient  to  make  such  payments.

          (i)  Withholding  Rights.  The Surviving Corporation shall be entitled
               -------------------
to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this
Agreement  to  any  holder of shares of Company Common Stock such amounts as the
Surviving  Corporation  is  required  to deduct and withhold with respect to the
making  of such payment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"),  or  any  provision  of state, local or foreign tax law.  To the extent
that  amounts  are  so  deducted and withheld by the Surviving Corporation, such
withheld  amounts  shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having
been  paid  to  the  holder  of the shares of Company Common Stock in respect of
which  such  deduction  and  withholding  was made by the Surviving Corporation.

          (j)  Lost  Certificates.  If  any  Certificate  shall  have been lost,
               ------------------
stolen  or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the holder
claiming  such  Certificate  to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by
the  Surviving  Corporation,  the  posting  by  such  holder  of  a bond in such
reasonable  amount as the Surviving Corporation may require as indemnity against
any  claim  that  may  be  made against it with respect to such Certificate, the
Exchange  Agent  will  remit  in  exchange  for  such  lost, stolen or destroyed
Certificate  the  Merger  Consideration  deliverable,  and  unpaid dividends and
distributions  on  Retained  Shares payable in respect thereof, pursuant to this
Agreement.


                                   ARTICLE III

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

          The  Company  represents  and warrants to Acquisi-tion that, except as
set  forth  in  the  Schedules  hereto  or  the  Company  SEC  Filings:


                                        9
<PAGE>
          SECTION  3.01  Organization  and  Qualification  .  The  Company  is a
                         --------------------------------
corpora-tion  duly  organized,  validly  existing and in good standing under the
laws  of  the  State of South Carolina and has all requisite corporate power and
authority  to own or lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on
its  business  as it is now being conducted.  The Company is duly qualified as a
foreign  corporation  to  do  business,  and  is  in  good  standing,  in  each
jurisdiction in which the character of its properties and assets owned or leased
or  the  nature  of  its  activities makes such qualifica-tion necessary, except
where  the  failure  to be so qualified would not have a Material Adverse Effect
(as  hereinafter  defined)  on  the  Company.  As used herein, "Material Adverse
Effect"  shall mean, with respect to any party, a material adverse effect on (i)
the business, assets, liabilities, condi-tion (financial or other), prospects or
operating results of such party and its subsidiar-ies, taken as a whole, or (ii)
the  ability  of  such  party  to  perform its obligations under this Agreement;
provided that changes in the general economy or in the public securities markets
- --------
shall  not,  in  and  of  themselves, constitute a Material Adverse Effect.  The
Company has heretofore made available to Acquisition complete and correct copies
of  its  minute  books  and  its  Articles  of  Incorporation  and  By-Laws.

          SECTION  3.02  Subsidiaries  .  (a)  Except  for  shares  of, or other
                         ------------
ownership  interests  in, the Subsidiaries (as hereinafter defined), the Company
does  not own of record or benefi-cially, directly or indirectly, (i) any shares
of outstand-ing capital stock or securities con-vertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable  for  capital  stock  of  any  other  corporation  or  (ii)  any
partici-pating  interest  in  any  partnership,  joint  venture or other similar
non-corporate  business  enterprise.  Each  Subsidiary  is  a  corporation,
partnership  or  limited liability company duly orga-nized, validly existing and
in  good  standing  under  the  laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or
organization  and  has all requisite corporate, partnership or limited liability
company  power  and  authority  to  own  or lease and operate its properties and
assets  and  to  carry  on  its  business  as  it  is now being conducted.  Each
Subsidiary is duly qualified as a foreign corpo-ration to do business, and is in
good  standing,  in  each jurisdic-tion in which the character of its properties
and  assets  owned  or  leased  or  the  nature  of  its  activities  makes such
qualifica-tion  necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified would not
have  a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on  the  Compa-ny.  Each  Subsidiary and its
jurisdiction  of  incorporation  or  organization is identified in the Company's
Annual  Report  on  Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.  The Company
has  heretofore made available to Acquisition complete and correct copies of the
minute  books and the charter and by-laws (or other organizational documents) of
all  Subsidiaries.

          (b)  All  the  outstand-ing  shares  of  capital  stock  of,  or other
ownership  interests  in,  each  Subsid-iary  are validly issued, fully paid and
nonas-sess-able  (and  no  such  shares  have  been  issued  in violation of any
preemptive  or similar rights) and are owned by the Company or by a wholly-owned
Subsid-iary  of  the  Company,  free  and  clear of any liens, claims, charg-es,
encum-brances or adverse claims ("Liens"), and there are no proxies out-standing
or  restrictions  on  voting  with  respect  to  any  such  shares.

          (c)  For  purposes  of  this  Agree-ment, the term "Subsid-iary" shall
mean  any  corporation  or  other  busi-ness entity of which securities or other
ownership  interests  having  ordinary  voting  power to elect a majority of the
board of directors or other persons performing similar functions are at the time
owned  by  the  Company  and/or  one  or  more  other  Subsidiar-ies.


                                       10
<PAGE>
          SECTION  3.03  Authority Relative to Agreements .  The Company has all
                         --------------------------------
requisite  corporate  power  and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement
and, subject to the approval and adoption of this Agreement by a two-thirds vote
of  the  stockholders  of  the Company, to 11 perform its obligations hereunder.
The  execu-tion,  delivery and perfor-mance of this Agreement by the Company and
the  consum-mation by it of the transactions contem-plated hereby have been duly
authorized  by  the  Company's  Board  of  Directors  and  no  other  corporate
proceed-ings  on  the  part  of  the  Company  are  necessary  to authorize this
Agreement and the trans-actions contemplated hereby, other than the approval and
adoption  of  this  Agreement  by  a  two-thirds vote of the stockholders of the
Company.  This  Agreement  has  been  duly executed and delivered by the Company
and,  subject  to  such stockholder approv-al, consti-tutes the legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance
with  its  terms.

          SECTION  3.04  Non-Contravention .  The execution and delivery of this
                         -----------------
Agreement  by  the  Company  do  not and the consum-mation by the Company of the
transac-tions contemplat-ed hereby will not (i) con-flict with any provi-sion of
the  Articles  -of  Incorpora-tion or By_Laws of the Company; (ii) except as set
forth  on  Schedule 3.04, result (with the giving of notice or the lapse of time
or  both)  in  any violation of or default or loss of a benefit under, or permit
the  acceleration  or  termination  of  any  obligation  under,  any  mortgage,
inden-ture,  lease,  agreement or other instru-ment, permit, conces-sion, grant,
fran-chise,  license, judgment, order, decree, stat-ute, law, ordinance, rule or
regula-tion  applicable  to  the  Company  or any Subsidiary or their respective
properties; or (iii) result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or
encumbrance  of  any  nature  whatsoever  upon  any  asset of the Company or any
Subsidiary;  other  than  (in  the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above) such as
would  not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Materi-al Adverse Effect on
the  Compa-ny.

          SECTION  3.05  Capitalization  .  The  authorized capital stock of the
                         --------------
Company  consists  of  (i)  75,000,000  shares  of Company Common Stock and (ii)
5,000,000  shares  of  Special  Stock,  $.01 par value ("Special Stock").  As of
March  27,  2000,  35,586,100  shares  of  Company  Common Stock were issued and
out-stand-ing,  all  of  which  were duly and validly issued, are fully paid and
nonas-sess-able  and  were  not issued in violation of any preemptive or similar
right and no shares of Company Common Stock were held in the Company's treasury.
No  shares  of  Special  Stock  are  out-stand-ing.  Each of the Company's stock
option  or  restricted  stock  plans  (the "Company Stock Plans") and options to
acquire  shares  of  Company  Common  Stock or shares of restricted stock of the
Company  outstanding on the date hereof (the "Company Stock Rights"), including,
without  limitation,  information concerning the date of vesting of such options
or  the  lapse  of  restrictions on such restricted stock, strike prices of such
options and the acceleration of such vesting or removal of such restrictions, in
either  case,  by  virtue  of  the Merger or the other transactions contemplated
hereby,  are set forth on Schedule 3.05.  As of March 27, 2000, 8,087,433 shares
of  Company  Common  Stock  were  reserved  for issuance under the Company Stock
Plans.  Except for options to pur-chase an aggregate 7,134,633 shares of Company
Common  Stock  granted  pursuant to the Com-pa-ny Stock Plans, and except as set
forth  on  Schedule  3.05,  no  sub-scription,  warrant,  option,  convert-ible


                                       11
<PAGE>
securi-ty, stock apprecia-tion or other right (contin-gent or other) to purchase
or  acquire,  or  any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable
for,  any  shares  of  or  other  interest  in any class of capital stock of the
Company  or  any  Subsidiary  is authorized or outstand-ing and there is not any
commitment  of  the  Company  or any Subsid-iary to issue, or register under the
Securities  Act,  any  shares,  warrants,  options  or  other  such rights or to
distrib-ute  to  holders  of  any  class  of  its capital stock any evidences of
indebtedness  or  assets.  Neither  the  Company  nor  any  Subsid-iary  has any
obligation  (contin-gent or other) to pur-chase, redeem or otherwise acquire any
shares  of  its  capital stock or any interest therein or to pay any dividend or
make any other distribution in respect thereof.  Except as set forth on Schedule
3.05,  the  Company  is  not  party to or aware of any agreement relating to the
voting  or  transfer  of  Company  Common  Stock.

          SECTION  3.06  SEC  Filings  .  The  Company  has  made  available  to
                         ------------
Acquisition true and complete copies of each form, re-port, schedule, definitive
proxy  state-ment  and  regis-tra-tion  statement  filed by the Company with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") subsequent to January 1, 1998 and
on  or  prior  to  the date hereof (collec-tively, the "Compa-ny SEC Fil-ings"),
which  are  all forms, reports, schedules, statements and other documents (other
than  preliminary  material) that the Company was required to file with the SEC.
The  Company  SEC  Filings  (including,  without  limita-tion,  any  financial
state-ments  or  schedules  includ-ed  therein) (i) were prepared in compli-ance
with  the requirements of the Securi-ties Act of 1933, as amended (together with
the  rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the "Securities Act"), or the
Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as  amended  (together  with the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, the "Exchange Act"), as the case may be, and
(ii)  did not at the time of filing (or if amended, supple-mented or super-seded
by  a  filing  prior to the date hereof, on the date of that filing) contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be  stated therein or neces-sary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circum-stances under which they were made, not misleading.  None of
the  Subsidiaries  is required to file any forms, reports, schedules, statements
or  other  documents  with  the  SEC.

          SECTION  3.07  Financial  Statements .  The consolidated balance sheet
                         ---------------------
of  the  Company  as  of December 31, 1999 (the "Audited Balance Sheet") and the
related  statements of operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders equity
for  the  year  then  ended, certified by PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP (the "1999
Financials"),  and the consolidated financial statements of the Company included
in  the  Company  SEC  Filings  have  been prepared in accordance with generally
accepted  account-ing  princi-ples  consis-tently  applied  and consis-tent with
prior  peri-ods,  subject,  in  the  case  of  unaudited  interim  consoli-dated
financial  state-ments,  to  year-end  adjust-ments  (which  consist  of  normal
recur-ring  accruals)  and  the  absence  of  certain footnote disclosures.  The
consolidated  balance  sheets of the Company included in the 1999 Financials and
the  Company  SEC  Filings fairly present the consolidated financial position of
the  Company  -as  of  their  respec-tive  dates,  and  the related consolidated
state-ments  of operations, cash flows and stock-holders' equity included in the
1999  Financials  and  the  Company  SEC Filings fairly present the consolidated
results  of  operations  of  the  Company for the respective periods then ended,


                                       12
<PAGE>
subject,  in  the  case  of  unaudited interim financial statements, to year-end
adjustments  (which  consist  of  normal  recurring accruals) and the absence of
certain  footnote disclosures.  None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has any
liabilities  or obligations (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise)
of a nature required by generally accepted accounting principles to be reflected
in  a consolidated balance sheet (or reflected in the notes thereto), except for
those  (i)  that  are  accrued  or  reserved  against in the Company's financial
statements  (or reflected in the notes thereto) included in the 1999 Financials,
(ii)  that  were incurred subsequent to December 31, 1999 in the ordinary course
of  business  and  consistent with past practice, or (iii) that would not have a
Material  Adverse  Effect  on  the  Company.

          SECTION  3.08  Absence  of  Certain  Changes  or  Events  .  Except as
                         -----------------------------------------
disclosed  in  the  Company  SEC Filings or as set forth on Schedule 3.08, since
December  31,  1999, neither the Company nor any Subsidiar-y has (i) is-sued any
stock,  bonds  or  other  corpo-rate  securi-ties,  (ii) bor-rowed any amount or
incurred  any  material  liabili-ties  (absolute  or contin-gent), except in the
ordinary course of business, (iii) dis-charged or satisfied any lien or incurred
or  paid  any  obligation  or  liabili-ty  (absolute  or contin-gent) other than
current  liabili-ties  shown on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as
of  December 31, 1999 and current liabil-i-ties in-curred since the date of such
balance  sheet  in  the ordinary course of busi-ness, (iv) de-clared or made any
payment  or  distri-bution to stock-holders or pur-chased or redeemed any shares
of  its capital stock or other securi-ties, (v) mortgaged, pledged or sub-jected
to  Lien any of its assets, tangible or intangible, other than Liens for current
real  proper-ty  taxes  not  yet  due  and  pay-able,  (vi)  sold,  assigned  or
trans-ferred  any  of  its  tangible  assets,  or can-celed any debts or claims,
except  in  the ordinary course of business or as otherwise contemplated hereby,
(vii)  sold,  as-signed  or  trans-ferred  any patents, trademarks, trade names,
copy-rights,  trade  secrets or other intangible assets, (viii) made any changes
in  offi-cer  or executive compensa-tion, (ix) waived any rights of substan-tial
value,  whether or not in the ordinary course of business, (x) en-tered into any
trans-action,  except  in  the  ordi-nary  course  of  busi-ness or as otherwise
contem-plated  hereby,  (xi) agreed, in writing or otherwise, to take any of the
actions  listed in clauses (i) through (x) above, or (xii) suffered any Material
Adverse  Effect.

          SECTION 3.09  Governmental Approvals .  No consent, approval, order or
                        ----------------------
authori-zation  of,  or  registration,  declaration or filing with, any federal,
state,  local  or  foreign  governmental  or regulatory authority ("Governmental
Entity")  is  required  to be made or obtained by the Company in connection with
the  execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company or the consummation
by  the  Company  of  the  transac-tions  contemplated  hereby,  except  for (i)
compliance by the Company with the Hart-Scott-Rodino Anti-trust Improvements Act
of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"), (ii) the filing of articles of -merger with
the  Secre-tary  of State of the State of South Carolina in accor-dance with the
SCBCA, (iii) the filing with the SEC of (1) a proxy statement in definitive form
for  distribution  to  the  stockholders  of  the  Company  in  advance  of  the
Stockholders  Meeting  in  accordance  with Regulation 14A promulgated under the
Exchange  Act  (such  proxy  statement,  as amended or supplemented from time to
time,  being  herein  referred  to as the "Proxy Statement"), (2) a registration
statement  on  Form  S_4  pursuant  to the Securities Act in connection with the
registration  of  Retained  Shares  pursuant  to  the  Merger (such registration
statement,  as  amended or supplemented from time to time, being herein referred
to  as  the  "Registration Statement") and (3) such reports under and such other
compliance  with  the  Exchange  Act  and  Securities  Act  and  the  rules  and


                                       13
<PAGE>
regulations  thereunder as may be required in connection with this Agreement and
the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  (iv) such consents, approvals, orders,
authorizations,  registrations,  declarations  and  filings  as  are  listed  on
Schedule  3.09  and  (v)  such con-sents, approv-als, orders or autho-riza-tions
which  if not obtained, or registra-tions, declara-tions or filings which if not
made,  would  not  materially  adverse-ly  affect  the ability of the Company to
consum-mate  the  transac-tions  contem-plated  hereby  or  the  ability  of the
Surviving  Corpo-ration  or  any  Subsid-iary  to conduct its business after the
Effec-tive  Time  substantially  as  currently  conducted by the Company or such
Subsidiary.

          SECTION  3.10  Compliance  with  Laws;  No  Default .  (a) Neither the
                         ------------------------------------
Company  nor  any Subsidiary is in default under or in violation of any order of
any  court,  governmental  authority or arbitra-tion board or tribu-nal to which
the  Company  or  such Subsidiary is or was subject or in violation of any laws,
ordi-nances,  governmental  rules or regulations (including, but not limited to,
those  relating  to  export  controls, labor and employ-ment matters and foreign
corrupt  practices)  to  which  the Company or any Subsidiary is or was subject,
except for such defaults or violations that, in the aggregate, would not -have a
Material  Adverse Effect on the Company.  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary
has  failed  to  obtain any licenses, permits, fran-chises or other governmental
authoriza-tions  neces-sary to the ownership of its properties or to the conduct
of  its  business,  which  failure  would  have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company,  and, after giving effect to the transac-tions contemplated hereby, all
such  licens-es,  permits,  franchises  and other govern-mental autho-riza-tions
will  continue  to  be  valid  and  in  full  force  and  effect.

          (b) Except (i) as set forth on Schedule 3.10, no violation of, default
or  event  of  default  under,  loss  of benefit under, or right to terminate or
accelerate  (a "Violation") exists (and no event has occurred which, with notice
or  the  lapse  of  time  or  both,  would  constitute a Violation) of any term,
condition  or  provision  of (A) the certificate or articles of incorporation or
by-laws  (or  other  organizational  documents)  of  the  Company  or any of its
Subsidiaries, (B) any loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture,
lease  or  other  agreement,  obligation  or  commitment,  instrument,  permit,
concession, franchise or license to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
is  now  a  party  or  by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of
their respective properties or assets is bound except in the case of (A) and (B)
for Violations which, in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect
on  the  Company.

          SECTION  3.11  Information  Supplied  .  None of the information to be
                         ---------------------
supplied  by  the  Company  for  inclusion  or incorporation by reference in the
Registration  Statement  or  the  Proxy  Statement  will,  in  the  case  of the
Registration  Statement,  at  the  time it is filed with the SEC, at the time it
becomes effective under the Securities Act and at the Effective Time, or, in the
case of the Proxy Statement or any amendments thereof or supplements thereto, at
the  time of the mailing of the Proxy Statement and such amendment or supplement
thereto,  and  at  the  time  of  the  Stockholders  Meeting, contain any untrue
statement  of  a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of
the  circumstances  under  which  they  are  made,  not  misleading.  The  Proxy


                                       14
<PAGE>
Statement  will  comply  as to form in all material respects with the applicable
provisions  of  the  Exchange  Act  and  the  rules  and regulations promulgated
thereunder.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, no representation is made
by  the Company with respect to statements made in either the Proxy Statement or
the  Registration  Statement based on information supplied by Acquisition or its
representatives  for  inclusion.

          SECTION  3.12  Litigation  .  Except  as  set  forth on Schedule 3.12,
                         ----------
there is no action, suit, investigation, proceed-ing or claim pending or, to the
best  knowledge  of  the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or
any  Subsid-iary,  or their respective properties or rights, before any court or
governmental  body  or  arbitration  board or tribunal, either alone or together
with other similar actions, the outcome of which could reasonably be expected to
have  a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on  the  Company.

          SECTION  3.13  Intellectual  Property;  Computer  Software  .
                         -------------------------------------------

          (a)  Patents,  Trademarks,  Tradenames,  Etc.  Schedule 3.13 lists all
               ----------------------------------------
material  trademarks,  trade  names,  service marks, service names, brand names,
copyrights  and  patents, registrations thereof and applications therefor, owned
by  the  Company or the Subsidiaries.  All such trademarks, trade names, service
marks, service names, brand names, copyrights, patents and registrations thereof
and  applications  therefor are owned by, and may be used by, the Company or the
appropriate  Subsidiary free and clear of any third party rights, liens, claims,
security  interests  or encumbrances, except for license rights granted to third
parties  in the ordinary course of business of the Company and the Subsidiaries.
Except  as  disclosed  on  Schedule  3.13,  neither  the  Company nor any of the
Subsidiaries is violating the rights in any trademark, trade name, service mark,
service  name,  copyright,  patent,  trade  secret, know-how or other intangible
right  (collectively, "Intangible Rights") of any third party, except where such
violation  would  not  have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.  Except as
disclosed on Schedule 3.13, upon consummation of the Merger, the Company and the
Subsidiaries will continue to own or have the right to use all Intangible Rights
necessary  to  conduct  their respective businesses (other than any such Rights,
the  absence  of which would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company).

          (b)  Owned  Software.  Schedule  3.13 also lists all software owned by
               ---------------
the  Company  that  is currently licensed to third parties by the Company or the
Subsidiaries  (the "Owned Software").  Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.13, (i)
the  Company  or  one  of the Subsidiaries has sole title to the Owned Software,
free  of  all  claims  including  claims  or  rights  of  employees, independent
contractors,  agents,  consultants or other parties involved in the development,
creation,  marketing,  maintenance,  enhancement  or licensing of such Software;
(ii)  the  Owned Software does not contain any Licensed Software (as hereinafter
defined)  or  any  other software (other than third party operating systems), or
derivatives of any of the foregoing; and (iii) the Company has the right to use,
market,  distribute,  sublicense,  modify  and copy the Owned Software, free and
clear  of  any  limitations  or  encumbrances  (including any obligations to pay
royalties).  Schedule  3.13  also lists all the licensees of the Owned Software.
Except  as  disclosed  on  Schedule  3.13,  the  Company  is  not infringing any
Intangible  Rights  of any other person with respect to the Owned Software, and,
to  the  best  knowledge  of  the  Company,  no  other  person is infringing any
Intangible  Rights  of  Company  with  respect  to  the  Owned  Software.


                                       15
<PAGE>
          (c)  Licensed  Software.  Schedule  3.13  lists  all material software
               ------------------
(other  than off-the-shelf or otherwise readily commercially available software)
for  which  the  Company  or  one  of  the Subsidiaries is a licensee, lessee or
otherwise  has obtained from a third party the right to use, market, distribute,
sublicense  or  otherwise transfer the right to use such software (the "Licensed
Software").  The Company and the Subsidiaries have made use of all copies of the
Licensed  Software  in  their  possession as permitted by the respective license
agreements  in all material respects.  Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.13, the
Company  and  the Subsidiaries have complied with all material provisions of the
license,  lease or other similar agreement pursuant to which they have rights to
use the Licensed Software, except where non-compliance would not have a Material
Adverse  Effect  on  the  Company.

          (d)  Software  Used in Business.  The transactions contemplated hereby
               --------------------------
will  not  cause  a  breach  of,  default  under or otherwise trigger a right to
terminate  the license agreement by which the Company or one of the Subsidiaries
licenses  any Licensed Software or Owned Software or impair the Company's or the
relevant  Subsidiary's ability to use the Licensed Software or license the Owned
Software  in  the  same manner as such Software is currently used or licensed in
the  business  of  the  Company  and the Subsidiaries, except where such breach,
default  or  right  would  not  have  a  Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

          (e)  Contracts.  The  Company  or  one of the Subsidiaries and, to the
               ---------
best knowledge of the Company, the other parties to any contract under which the
Company  or such Subsidiary is the licensor, lessor or has otherwise granted the
rights  to  use  any  Owned  Software are in compliance therewith and are not in
breach of their obligations with respect thereto, except where non-compliance or
breach  would  not  have  a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on  the  Company.

          (f)  Viruses.  To  the best knowledge of the Company, (x) there are no
               -------
viruses  in  the  Owned  Software and there are no defects in the Owned Software
that  would  prevent  such software from performing in all material respects the
tasks  and  functions  that  it was intended to perform except those that can be
cured  or  otherwise  corrected without a Material Adverse Effect on the Company
and  (y) the Owned Software is free from any problems associated with changes in
the  calendar  date  from  December  31, 1999 to January 1, 2000 and no material
customer  of  the  Company  or  any  Subsidiary  has  experienced  any  problems
associated  with  changes in the calendar date from December 31, 1999 to January
1,  2000  that  would  have  a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on  the  Company.


                                       16
<PAGE>
          SECTION 3.14  Trade Secrets .  Since December 31, 1998, no third party
                        -------------
has  claimed or noti-fied the Company or any Subsidiary that any person employed
by or otherwise affiliated with the Company or any Subsidiary has, in respect of
his or her activi-ties to date, violat-ed any of the terms or con-ditions of his
or  her employment contract with any third party, or dis-closed or uti-lized any
trade secrets or proprietary infor-mation or docu-menta-tion of any third party,
or  interfered in the em-ploy-ment rela-tionship between any third party and any
of  its employees, and to the knowledge of the Company, no person employed by or
otherwise  affili-ated with the Company or any Subsidiary has employed any trade
secrets or any informa-tion or documentation proprietary to any former employer,
or  violated  any  confidential relationship which such person may have had with
any  third party, in connec-tion with the development or sale of any products of
the  Company  or  any  Subsid-iary.

          SECTION  3.15  Severance  Arrangements  .  Except  as  set  forth  on
                         -----------------------
Schedule  3.15, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is party to any agreement
with  any  employee  (i)  the  benefits of which (including, without limitation,
severance  benefits)  are  contingent,  or  the  terms  of  which are materially
altered,  upon  the  occurrence  of  a  transaction involving the Company or any
Subsidiary  of  the  nature  of  any  of  the  transactions contemplated by this
Agreement  or  (ii)  providing  severance  benefits in excess of those generally
available  under  the  Com-pany's  severance  policies  as in effect on the date
hereof  (which are described on Schedule 3.15), or which are condi-tioned upon a
change  of  control,  after  the  termination  of  employ-ment of such employees
regardless  of  the  reason  for such termina-tion of employment.  Except as set
forth on Schedule 3.15, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to any
employ-ment  agreement  or compensa-tion guarantee extending for a period longer
than  one  year  from  the  date  hereof.

          SECTION  3.16  Taxes  .  (a)  Except  as  set forth on Sched-ule 3.16,
                         -----
each  of the Company and its Subsidiar-ies has (i) timely filed all material Tax
Returns  (as  hereinafter defined) re-quired to be filed by it in respect of any
Taxes  (as  hereinafter  defined),  which  Tax  Returns  were  true, correct and
complete  in  all  material  respects, (ii) timely paid or withheld all material
Taxes  that  are  due and payable with respect to the Tax Returns referred to in
clause  (i)  (other  than  Taxes  that  are  being  contested  in  good faith by
appropriate  proceedings  and  are adequately reserved for in the Company's most
recent  consolidated  financial statements included in the Company SEC Filings),
(iii)  estab-lished  reserves  that are adequate for the payment of all material
Taxes  not  yet due and payable with respect to the results of operations of the
Company  and  the  Subsidiaries  through  the  date hereof, and (iv) to the best
knowledge  of the Company, complied in all material respects with all applicable
laws,  rules  and  regula-tions relating to the payment and withholding of Taxes
and  has  timely  withheld  from  employee  wages  and  paid  over to the proper
govern-mental  authori-ties  all material amounts required to be so withheld and
paid  over.

          (b)  Except  as  set  forth  on  Schedule  3.16,  (i)  there  is  no
defi-ciency,  claim,  audit,  action,  suit,  pro-ceeding  or investiga-tion now
pending  or  threatened against or with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary
in  respect of any material Taxes, and (ii) there are no requests for rulings or
determina-tions  in  respect  of  any  Taxes  pending between the Company or any
Subsidiary  and  any  taxing  authority.


                                       17
<PAGE>
          (c)  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.16, within the last five years,
neither  the Company nor any Subsidiary has been a member of an affiliated group
filing  consolidated,  combined  or  unitary  Tax Returns other than a group for
which  the  Company  was  the common parent and (ii) neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary  has  any  material  liability  for  Taxes  of any other person under
Treasury regulations Section 1.1502-6, as a transferee or successor, by contract
or  otherwise.

          (d)  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.16, neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary  has  executed  or  entered into (or prior to the Effective Time will
execute or enter into) with the Internal Revenue Service or any taxing authority
(i)  any  agree-ment  or  other  document  extend-ing  or  having  the effect of
extend-ing  the  period  for assessments or collection of any material Taxes for
which  the Company or any Subsidiary would be liable, which period has not since
expired,  or  (ii) a closing agree-ment pursuant to Section 7121 of the Code, or
any  predecessor provision thereof or any similar provision of foreign, state or
local  Tax  law  that  relates to the assets or operations of the Company or any
Subsidiary.

          (e)  For  purposes  of  this  Agreement,  "Tax"  (and with correlative
meaning,  "Taxes") shall mean all federal, state, local, foreign or other taxing
authority  net  income,  franchise,  sales,  use, ad valorem, property, payroll,
withholding,  excise,  severance,  transfer,  employment,  alternative or add-on
minimum,  stamp,  occupation,  premium, environmental or windfall profits taxes,
and  other  taxes,  charges, fees, levies, imposts, customs, duties, licenses or
other  assessments,  together  with any interest and any penalties, additions to
tax  or  addi-tional  amounts  imposed  by  any  taxing  authority.

          (f)  For  purposes  of this Agreement, "Tax Return" means all federal,
state,  local  and  foreign  tax  returns, estimates, information statements and
reports  relating  to  Taxes.

          SECTION  3.17  Employee  Benefit  Plans .  (a)  Except as set forth on
                         ------------------------
Schedule  3.17,  each  of  the  Compa-ny  and  the Subsidiaries has complied and
currently  is  in  com-pli-ance  in  all  material respects, both as to form and
oper-ation,  with the appli-cable pro-vi-sions of the Employee Retirement Income
Security  Act  of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), and the -Code with respect to each
"employee benefit plan" as defined under Sec-tion 3(3) of ERISA (a "Plan") which
the Company or any Subsidiary (i) has ever adopted, main-tained, estab-lished or
to  which  any  of  the  same  has  been  required  to contribute to or has ever
contrib-uted or (ii) cur-rently maintains or to which any of the same cur-rently
contributes  or  is required to contrib-ute or (iii) current-ly par-ticipates in
or  is  required  to  partici-pate  in.

          (b)  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.17, neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary  has  ever  main-tained, adopted or es-tablished, contributed or been
required  to  contrib-ute  to,  or otherwise participated in or been required to
partici-pate  in,  a  "multiemployer  plan"  (as  de-fined  in Sect-ion 3(37) of
ERISA).  No  amount  is due or owing from the Company or any of the Subsidiaries
on  account of a "multi-employer plan" (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA) or
on  ac-count  of  any  with-drawal  there-from.


                                       18
<PAGE>
          (c)  Other than routine claims for benefits and liability for premiums
due  to  the  Pension  Benefit Guaranty Corporation, neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary has in-curred any material lia-bility with re-spect to a Plan that is
currently  due  and  owing  and has not yet been satisfied, includ-ing, with-out
limitation,  under  ERISA  (in-cluding, without limi-tation, Title I or Title IV
there-of), the Code or other applica-ble law, and no event has occurred, and, to
the  best  knowledge  of  the  Company,  there  exists  no  condi-tion or set of
cir-cumstances  (other  than  the ac-crual of benefits under the normal terms of
the  Plans),  that  could result in the imposition of any material liabil-ity on
the  Company  or  any  Subsidiary  with re-spect to a Plan, includ-ing, with-out
limi-tation,  under ERISA (in-cluding, without limi-ta-tion, Title I or Title IV
of  ERISA),  the  Code  or  other  applica-ble  law  with  respect  to  a  Plan.

          (d)  Except  as required by applicable law or as set forth on Schedule
3.17,  neither  the Company nor any Subsidiary has com-mit-ted itself, orally or
in writing, (x) to provide or cause to be provided to any person any payments or
provision  of  any "welfare" or "pen-sion" benefits (as defined in Sections 3(1)
and  3(2) of ERISA) in addi-tion to, or in lieu of, those pay-ments or bene-fits
set  forth  under  any  Plan,  (y) to continue the payment of, or accelerate the
payment of, bene-fits under any Plan, except as expressly set forth there-under,
or  (z)  to  provide  or  cause  to  be  pro-vided  any  severance  or  other
post-employment  benefit, sala-ry continuation, termina-tion, disability, death,
retire-ment,  health  or  medical  benefit  to  any  person (in-cluding, without
limi-tation,  any  former  or  current em-ployee), except as set forth under any
Plan.

          SECTION  3.18  Environmental  Matters  .  Each  of the Company and the
                         ----------------------
Subsidiaries  conducts  its business and operations in materi-al compliance with
all  applicable  environmental laws, ordinances and regulations, and neither the
Company  nor  any  Subsidiary  has  received  notice of any claim, action, suit,
proceeding,  hearing  or  investigation, based on or related to the manufacture,
pro-cessing,  distribution,  use,  treatment,  storage,  disposal, trans-port or
handling,  or  the  emission, discharge, release or threat-ened release into the
environment,  of  any  pollutant, contaminant, or hazardous or toxic material or
waste  (collectively,  an  "Envi-ronmental  Event")  by  the  Company  or  any
Subsidiary, the outcome of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse  Effect on the Company.  To the best knowledge of the Company, no notice
of  any  material  Environmental  Event  was  given to any person or entity that
occupied  any  of  the  premises  occupied  by  or  used  by  the Company or any
Subsidiary  prior  to the date such premises were so occupied.  Without limiting
the  generality of the forego-ing, to the best knowledge of the Company, neither
the  Company  nor any Subsidiary has disposed of or placed on or in any property
or  facility  used  in  its business any waste materials, hazardous materials or
hazardous  substances  in viola-tion of law, which would have a Material Adverse
Effect  on  the  Company.

          SECTION  3.19  Customer  Relationships  .  Except  as  set  forth  on
                         -----------------------
Schedule  3.19,  neither  the  Company  nor any Subsidiary has, since January 1,
1999,  lost,  or  been  notified  that it will lose or suffer diminu-tion in its
relationship  with  any  material  customer,  and,  to the best knowledge of the
Company,  no  representa-tive  of  any  customer has notified the Company or any
Subsidiary  that,  in  the event of a change of ownership of the Company such as


                                       19
<PAGE>
contem-plated  by this Agree-ment, the Company or any Subsid-iary would, lose or
suffer  diminu-tion  in  its  relationship  with  any  material  customer.

          SECTION  3.20  Certain  Transactions  .  Except  as  dis-closed in the
                         ---------------------
Company  SEC  Filings  or  as set forth on Schedule 3.20, there are no -material
transac-tions  or  arrangements  between the Compa-ny or any Subsid-iary and (i)
any  director  or  executive  officer of the Company or (ii) any other person or
entity  controlling  or  under  common  control  with  the  Company.

          SECTION 3.21  Title to Properties; Absence of Liens and Encumbrances .
                        ------------------------------------------------------
Except  as  reflected  in the Audited Balance Sheet (including any related notes
thereto),  as  set  forth on Schedule 3.21 or with respect to assets disposed of
since  December  31, 1999 in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
past practice, each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has good and valid title
to  all  its  owned  assets  and  properties, in each case free and clear of all
liens, claims, charges, security interests or other encumbrances, other than (x)
liens  for  taxes  not  yet  delinquent  or  (y)  security  interests  securing
indebtedness  not  in default for the purchase price of or lease rental payments
on property purchased or leased under capital lease arrangements in the ordinary
course  of  business  or  (z)  such imperfections and irregularities of title or
Liens  as  do  not affect the use of the properties or assets subject thereto or
affected  thereby  or  otherwise  materially  impair business operations at such
properties, in either case in such a manner as to have a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company.  Any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company
or  any  of  the  Subsidiaries  are  held  by  them  under valid, subsisting and
enforceable  leases  with  such  exceptions  as  are  not material and would not
individually  or  in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company
and  do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property
and  buildings.

          SECTION  3.22  Insurance  .  Schedule  3.22  sets  forth a list of all
                         ---------
material  insurance policies of the Company and the Subsidiaries (the "Insurance
Policies").  The  Insurance  Policies  are  in full force and effect and provide
insurance  in such amounts and against such risks as are customary for companies
of  similar size in the same business as the Company and the Subsidiaries.   All
premiums with respect to the Insurance Policies have been paid, and no notice of
cancellation or termination has been received with respect to any such Insurance
Policy.  With  respect  to  each of the litigation matters set forth on Schedule
3.12,  no  carrier  of any Insurance Policy has asserted any denial of coverage.
The  Insurance Policies will remain in full force and effect and will not in any
way  be affected by, or terminate or lapse by reason of, any of the transactions
contemplated  hereby.

          SECTION  3.23  State  Takeover  Statutes; Certain Charter Provisions .
                         -----------------------------------------------------
Prior  to  the  date  hereof, the Board of Directors of the Company has approved
this  Agreement  and  the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby,
and  such  approval  is  sufficient  to  render  inapplicable  to the Merger the
provisions  of Title 35 of the South Carolina Code and the provisions of Article
9(j)  of  the  Company's  Articles  of  Incorporation.


                                       20
<PAGE>
          SECTION 3.24  Opinion of Financial Advisor .  The Company has received
                        ----------------------------
the  opinion  of  Credit  Suisse First Boston Corporation, dated March 30, 2000,
substantially  to the effect that the consideration to be received in the Merger
by  the holders of Company Common Stock is fair to such holders from a financial
point  of  view,  a  copy  of  which  opinion has been delivered to Acquisition.

          SECTION  3.25  Brokers  .  No  person is entitled to any broker-age or
                         -------
finder's,  financial  advisor's or other similar fee or commission in connection
with  the  transac-tions  contemplated  by this Agreement and as a result of any
action  taken  by  or  on  behalf of the Company, other than Credit Suisse First
Boston Corporation pursuant to an engagement letter dated March 17, 2000, a copy
of  which  has  been  furnished  to  Acquisition.


                                   ARTICLE IV

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ACQUISITION

          Acquisition  represents  and  warrants  to  the  Company  as fol-lows:

          SECTION  4.01  Organization  and  Qualification  .  Acquisition  is  a
                         --------------------------------
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of  the  State  of  South  Carolina  and  has  all requisite corporate power and
authority  to own or lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on
its  business  as it is now being conducted.  Acquisition is duly qualified as a
foreign  corporation  to  do  business,  and  is  in  good  standing,  in  each
jurisdiction in which the character of its properties and assets owned or leased
or the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except where
the  failure  to  be  so  qualified  would not have a Material Adverse Effect on
Acquisition.

          SECTION  4.02  Capital  Structure .  As of the date of this Agreement,
                         ------------------
the  authorized  capital  stock  of  Acquisition  consists  of  1,000  shares of
Acquisition Common Stock, 1,000 shares of which have been validly issued and are
fully paid, nonassessable and owned of record and beneficially by Welsh, Carson,
Anderson  &  Stowe VIII, L.P. ("WCAS VIII").  Immediately prior to the Effective
Time,  the  authorized  capital  stock  of  Acquisition  will  consist  of  (1)
100,000,000  shares  of  Acquisition  Common  Stock  and (2) 5,000,000 shares of
Preferred  Stock,  par  value $.01 per share, of which between 24,261,429 shares
and  30,671,429  shares  (depending  on  the  number  of  Retained  Shares)  of
Acquisition  Common  Stock  will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable
and  owned  of  record  and  beneficially  by  WCAS  VIII and/or its affiliates.

          SECTION  4.03  Authorization  of  Agreement,  Non-Contravention, Etc .
                         -----------------------------------------------------
Acquisition  has  all  requisite  corporate  power  and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder.  The execution,
delivery  and  performance of this Agreement by Acquisition and the consummation
by  it  of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all
necessary  corporate  and  stockholder  action on the part of Acquisition.  This


                                       21
<PAGE>
Agreement  has  been  duly executed and delivered by Acquisition and constitutes
the  legal,  valid  and  binding  obligation of Acquisition, enforceable against
Acquisition  in  accordance  with its terms.  The execution and delivery of this
Agreement  by  Acquisition  does not, and the consummation by Acquisition of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby  will not, (i) conflict with any provision of
the  Articles  of Incorporation or By-Laws of Acquisition; (ii) result (with the
giving of notice or the lapse of time or both) in any violation of or default or
loss  of a benefit under, or permit the acceleration of any obligation under any
mortgage,  indenture,  lease, agreement or other instrument, permit, concession,
grant,  franchise,  license,  judgment,  order, decree, statute, law, ordinance,
rule  or regulation applicable to Acquisition or its properties; or (iii) result
in  the  creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance of any nature
whatsoever  upon  any  asset of Acquisition, other than (in the case of  clauses
(ii)  and (iii) above) such as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have
a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on  Acquisition.  No  consent,  approval, order or
authorization  of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental
Entity  is required to be made or obtained by Acquisition in connection with the
execution  and  delivery of this Agreement by Acquisition or the consummation by
Acquisition  of  the transactions contemplated hereby, except for (i) compliance
by  Acquisition  with the HSR Act and (ii) the filing of articles of merger with
the  Secretary  of  State  of the State of South Carolina in accordance with the
SCBCA.

          SECTION  4.04  Information  Supplied  .  None of the information to be
                         ---------------------
supplied by Acquisition for inclusion in the Proxy Statement or the Registration
Statement  will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any  material  fact  required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make
the  statements  therein,  in  light  of the circumstances under which they were
made,  not  misleading  (i)  in the case of the Proxy Statement, at the date the
Proxy  Statement  is  first  mailed to the stockholders of the Company or at the
time  of  the  Stockholders  Meeting,  or  (ii)  in the case of the Registration
Statement  at  the time of the filing of the Registration Statement with the SEC
at the time it becomes effective under the Securities Act and at the time of any
distribution  thereof.  The  representations  and  warranties  contained in this
Section  4.04  do  not  apply  to  statements or omissions included in the Proxy
Statement  and/or  the Registration Statement based upon information supplied by
the  Company  for  inclusion  or  incorporation  by  reference  therein.

          SECTION  4.05  Subsidiaries  .  Acquisition  does not own, directly or
                         ------------
indirectly,  any  capital  stock  or  other  ownership  interest  in any person.

          SECTION  4.06  Interim  Operations  of  Acquisition .  Acquisition was
                         ------------------------------------
formed  on March 22, 2000 solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions
contemplated  hereby,  has  engaged  in  no  other  business  activities and has
conducted  its  operations  only  as  contemplated  hereby.  Except  for  (i)
obligations  or  liabilities  incurred  in  connection with its incorporation or
organization  and  the  transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) this Agreement
and  any  other agreements or arrangements contemplated hereby or in furtherance
of  the transactions contemplated hereby, Acquisition has not incurred, directly
or  indirectly,  any  obligations  or


                                       22
<PAGE>
liabilities  or  engaged  in  any  business  activities  of  any  type  or kind
whatsoever  or  entered  into  any  agreements  or arrangements with any person.

          SECTION  4.07  Brokers  .  No  person  is  entitled  any  brokerage,
                         -------
finder's,  financial  advisor's or other similar fee or commission in connection
with  the  transactions  contemplated  by  this Agreement and as a result of any
action taken by or on behalf of Acquisition or any of its affiliates, other than
Donaldson,  Lufkin  &  Jenrette pursuant to an engagement letter dated March 10,
2000,  a  copy  of  which  has  been  furnished  to  the  Company.

          SECTION  4.08  Financing  .  (a) Acquisition has received and executed
                         ---------
commitment  letters,  each  dated  as  of  the date hereof (the "WCAS Commitment
Letters"),  from  (i)  WCAS  VIII,  pursuant  to  which WCAS VIII has committed,
subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, to provide to Acquisition
between  $339.7 million and $429.4 million in common equity financing, depending
on  the  number  of  Retained  Shares,  and (ii) WCAS Capital Partners III, L.P.
("WCAS  CP  III"),  pursuant  to which WCAS CP III has committed, subject to the
terms  and  conditions  set  forth  therein,  to purchase from the Company for a
purchase  price  of  up  to  $175  million,  (x) up to $175 million in aggregate
principal  amount  of  subordinated  notes  of the Surviving Corporation and (y)
1,785,714  shares  of Company Common Stock.  In addition, WCAS VIII has received
and  executed a commitment letter dated March 30, 2000 from DLJ Capital Funding,
Inc. ("DLJ") (the "DLJ Commitment Letter," and together with the WCAS Commitment
Letters, the "Commitment Letters"), pursuant to which DLJ has committed, subject
to  the  terms  and  condition set forth therein, to provide to the Company $250
million  in  senior  debt  financing  to  complete the transactions contemplated
hereby.  True  and complete copies of the Commitment Letters have been furnished
to  the  Company.  WCAS  VIII or Acquisition, as the case may be, has fully paid
any and all commitment fees or other fees required by such Commitment Letters to
be  paid  as  of the date hereof (and will duly pay any such fees after the date
hereof);  provided that, if the Merger is consummated, the Surviving Corporation
          --------
will reimburse WCAS VIII for such commitment fees or other fees required by such
Commitment  Letters.  The  Commitment  Letters  are  valid and in full force and
effect and no event has occurred which (with or without notice, lapse of time or
both)  would  constitute a default thereunder on the part of Acquisition or WCAS
VIII,  as  the  case  may be, or would adversely affect the probability that the
financing  to  be provided pursuant to such Commitment Letters (the "Financing")
will  actually  be  funded.

          (b)  The  Commitment  Letters have been obtained, subject to the terms
and  conditions  thereof, to pay (or provide funds for the Surviving Corporation
to  pay)  the  Cash  Election  Price  pursuant  to  the Merger, to refinance any
indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries that may become due as a result
of  the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, to pay all related fees and
expenses,  and  to  provide  additional financing for future working capital and
general  corporate  needs  of  the Company and its Subsidiaries.  It is the good
faith  belief  of Acquisition, as of the date hereof, that the Financing will be


                                       23
<PAGE>
obtained,  and  Acquisition  will  use  its  commercially  reasonable efforts to
fulfill  or  cause  to be fulfilled all of the conditions precedent thereto that
are  contained  in  the  Commitment Letters.  If the Financing is not available,
Acquisition  shall  use  its  commercially  reasonable  efforts  to obtain other
financing  (on  terms  no more burdensome in any material respect than those set
forth  in  the  Commitment  Letters) to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby.


                                    ARTICLE V

                               CERTAIN AGREEMENTS

          SECTION  5.01  Conduct  of  the  Company's  Business  .   The  Company
                         -------------------------------------
covenants and agrees that, prior to the Effective Time, unless Acquisition shall
otherwise  consent  in  writing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or
delayed) or as set forth in Schedule 5.01 or as otherwise expressly contemplated
by  this  Agreement:

          (a) the  business  of the  Company  and  the  Subsid-iaries  shall  be
     conducted only in, and the Company and the Subsid-iaries shall not take any
     action except in, the ordi-nary course of business and consistent with past
     practice;

          (b)  neither  the  Company  nor  any  Subsidiary  shall,  directly  or
     indirect-ly,  do any of the  following:  (i) sell,  pledge,  dispose  of or
     encumber  (or  permit  any  Subsid-iary  to  sell,  pledge,  dispose  of or
     encumber) any assets of the Company or any Sub-sidiary,  except  inventory,
     immaterial assets or in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
     past  practice;  (ii) except as  contemplated  hereby,  amend or propose to
     amend its Certificate or Articles of  Incorpora-tion or By_Laws (or similar
     organizational   documents);   (iii)  split,  com-bine  or  reclassify  any
     outstand-ing shares of its capital stock, or declare,  set aside or pay any
     dividend  payable in cash,  stock,  property or other-wise  with respect to
     such shares (except for any dividends  paid in the ordi-nary  course to the
     Company or to any wholly_owned Subsidiary); (iv) redeem, pur-chase, acquire
     or offer to acquire (or permit any Subsidiary to redeem, pur-chase, acquire
     or offer to ac-quire) any shares of its capi-tal  stock;  or (v) enter into
     any contract,  agree-ment,  com-mitment or arrange-ment with respect to any
     of the matters set forth in this paragraph (b);

          (c)  neither the Company  nor any  Subsidiary  shall (i) issue,  sell,
     pledge or dispose  of, or agree to issue,  sell,  pledge or dispose of, any
     additional  shares of, or securi-ties  convertible or exchangeable  for, or
     any op-tions,  warrants or rights of any kind to acquire any shares of, its
     capital stock of any class or other property or assets whether  pursuant to
     the Company Stock Plans or other-wise;  provided that the Company may issue
     shares of Company                       --------

     Common  Stock upon the  exercise of currently  out-standing  Company  Stock
     Rights  that are stock  options and may, as  previously  authorized  by the
     Company's  Board of Directors,  grant  options for up to 727,325  shares of
     Company  Common Stock at an exercise price equal to the market price of the
     Company  Common Stock 48 hours after public  announcement  of the Company's
     results  of  operations   for  fiscal  1999;   (ii)  acquire  (by  merg-er,
     consoli-da-tion  or  acquisi-tion  of stock or  assets)  any  corpo-ration,
     partner-ship or other business organization or divi-sion thereof (except an
     exist-ing wholly_owned Subsid-iary); (iii) incur


                                       24
<PAGE>
     any  in-debted-ness  for borrowed money or issue any debt secu-rities in an
     amount  exceeding  $100,000 in the  aggregate,  except for working  capital
     loans in the  ordinary  course of  business;  (iv) enter into or modify any
     material contract, lease, agreement or commit-ment,  except in the ordinary
     course of business  and  consis-tent  with past  practice;  (v)  terminate,
     modify, as-sign, waive, release or relinquish any con-tract rights or amend
     any  materi-al  rights or claims not in the ordinary  course of business or
     (vi) settle or compromise any claim, action, suit or pro-ceeding pending or
     threatened  against  the  Company,  or,  if the  Compa-ny  may be liable or
     obligated to provide  indem-nification,  against the Company's directors or
     officers, before any court, govern-men-tal agency or arbitra-tor, except in
     the ordinary course of business;  provid-ed that nothing  ---------  herein
     shall  require  any  action  that  might  impair or  otherwise  affect  the
     obliga-tion of any insurance  carrier under any insurance policy maintained
     by the Compa-ny;

          (d) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall grant any increase in
     the salary or other  compen-sation  of its employees except (i) pursuant to
     the  terms of  employ-ment  agreements  in effect  on the date  hereof  and
     previously  disclosed to Acquisition  and (ii) in the case of employees who
     are not  executive  officers  of the  Company,  in the  ordinary  course of
     business  and  consis-tent  with past  practice,  or grant any bonus to any
     employee  other than bonuses that are immaterial in amount to employees who
     are not  executive  officers  of the  Company or enter into any  employment
     agreement or make any loan to or enter into any material transaction of any
     other nature with any em-ployee of the Company or any Subsidiary;

          (e) neither the Company nor any  Subsidiar-y  shall (except for salary
     increases for  employees  who are not executive  officers of the Company in
     the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice) adopt or
     amend, in any respect,  except as contemplated hereby or as may be required
     by applica-ble law or regulation, any collec-tive bargaining, bonus, profit
     sharing, compensation, stock option, restricted stock, pension, retirement,
     deferred   compensation,   employment  or  other  employee   benefit  plan,
     agreement,  trust,  fund, plan or arrangement for the benefit or welfare of
     any directors,  officers or employees (includ-ing,  without limitation, any
     such plan or arrangement relat-ing to severance or termination pay);

          (f) neither the Company nor any Subsidiar-y shall take any action that
     would  make  any  representation  or  war-ranty  of the  Company  hereunder
     inaccurate  in any  respect  at, or as of any time prior to, the  Effective
     Time,   or  omit  to  take  any  action   necessary  to  prevent  any  such
     representation or warranty from being inaccurate in any respect at any such
     time; and

          (g)  each of the  Company  and the  Subsidiaries  shall  use its  best
     efforts, to the extent not prohib-ited by the foregoing  provisions of this
     Section  5.01,  to  maintain  its  relationships  with  its  suppliers  and
     customers,  and if and as requested by  Acquisition,  (i) the Company shall
     use its best efforts to make reasonable  arrange-ments for represen-tatives
     of Acquisition to meet with


                                       25
<PAGE>
     customers  and  suppliers  of the Company or any  Subsid-iary  and (ii) the
     Company  shall   schedule,   and  the  manage-ment  of  the  Company  shall
     participate in, meetings of repre-senta-tives of Acquisition with employees
     of the Company or any Subsidiary.

          SECTION  5.02  Stockholder  Approval  .  (a)  As  soon  as  reasonably
                         ---------------------
practi-cable, the Company shall take all action necessary in accordance with the
SCBCA and its Articles of Incorpo-ration and By_Laws to call, give notice of and
convene  a  meeting (the "Stockholders Meeting") of its stockholders to consider
and vote upon the approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Merger and for
such  other  purposes as may be necessary or desirable.  The Board of Direc-tors
of  the  Company  has  deter-mined that the Merger is advis-able and in the best
interests  of  the  stock-holders  of  the  Company  and  shall,  subject to its
fiducia-ry  duties  as  determined in good faith by the Board of Directors after
consultation with counsel, recommend that the stock-hold-ers of the Company vote
to  approve and adopt this Agree-ment and the Merger and any other matters to be
submit-ted  to  stock-holders  in  connec-tion  therewith.

          (b)  The  Company  shall, as promptly as practicable, prepare and file
with  the  SEC  the Proxy Statement and the Registration Statement (in which the
Proxy  Statement  will  be included).  The Company shall use its best efforts to
have  or  cause  the  Registration  Statement  declared effective as promptly as
practicable,  including,  without limitation, causing its accountants to deliver
necessary  or  required  instruments such as opinions and certificates, and will
take  any  other action required or necessary to be taken under federal or state
securities  laws  or  otherwise  in connection with the registration process and
will  give Acquisition prompt notice of such effectuation.  The Company will use
its  best  efforts  to cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to stockholders of
the  Company  at the earliest practicable date and shall use its best efforts to
hold  the  Stockholders  Meeting  as  soon as practicable after the date hereof.

          (c)  The  Company  shall  notify  Acquisition  of  the  receipt of any
comments of the staff of the SEC and of any requests by the staff for amendments
or  supplements  to  the  Proxy State-ment or the Registration Statement, or for
additional  informa-tion,  and  shall promptly supply Acquisition with copies of
all  correspon-dence  between the Company (or its representatives) and the staff
of  the  SEC  with  respect  thereto.  If, at any time prior to the Stockholders
Meeting,  any  event  should  occur  relating  to  or  affecting  the Company or
Acquisition,  or  to their respec-tive officers or directors, which event should
be  described  in  an  amendment  or  supplement  to  the Proxy Statement or the
Registration  Statement, the parties shall promptly inform one another and shall
cooperate  in  promptly  preparing,  filing  and  clearing  with the SEC and, if
required  by  applicable  securities  laws,  distributing  to  the  Company's
stockholders  such  amendment  or  supplement.  The Company and Acquisition each
agree  to  correct any information provided by it for use in the Proxy Statement
or  the  Registration  Statement  which  shall  have become false or misleading.


                                       26
<PAGE>
          SECTION  5.03  Access  to  Information  .  (a)  The Company shall, and
                         -----------------------
shall  cause the Subsidiaries and its and their respec-tive officers, directors,
employees,  representatives  and  agents to, afford, from the date hereof to the
Effective  Time,  the  officers,  employees,  represen-tatives  and  agents  of
Acquisition  reason-able  access  during regular business hours to its officers,
employ-ees,  agents,  proper-ties,  books,  records  and  workpapers,  and shall
promptly furnish Acquisition all financial, operating and other infor-mation and
data  as Acquisition, through its offi-cers, employees or agents, may reasonably
re-quest.

          (b)  Except as required by law, Acquisition shall hold, and will cause
its  respective  officers,  employees,  repre-sentatives and agents to hold, any
confidential information of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in accordance
with  the  Confidentiality  Agreement  between  the  Company and WCAS VIII.-----

          (c)  No  investigation  pursuant  to  this  Section  5.03  or  belief
contemplated  by  Section  5.06(c)  shall  affect,  add  to or subtract from any
representations  or  warranties  of  the parties hereto or the conditions to the
obliga-tions  of  the  parties  hereto  to  effect  the  Merger.

          SECTION  5.04  Further  Assurances  .  Subject  to  the  terms  and
                         -------------------
conditions  herein  provided,  each  of  the  parties  hereto  agrees to use all
reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all action and to do, or cause
to  be  done,  all  things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make
effective  as  promptly  as  practi-cable the transactions contemplat-ed by this
Agreement, including, without limitation, using all reasonable efforts to obtain
all  necessary  waivers,  consents  and  approvals  and  to effect all necessary
registrations  and filings (including, without limitation, any necessary filings
under  the  HSR  Act).

          SECTION  5.05  Inquiries and Negotiations .  (a)  From the date hereof
                         --------------------------
until the termination of this Agreement, the Company, the Subsidiaries and their
respective  officers,  directors,  employees,  representa-tives and other agents
will  not,  directly  or  indi-rectly,  solicit  or  initiate  any  discussions,
submissions  of  proposals  or  offers  or  negotiations with or, subject to the
fiduciary  duties  of  the  Company's  Board of Direc-tors as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors after consultation with counsel, take any of the
following  actions:  partici-pate  in  any negotiations or discus-sions with, or
provide  any  information  or  data  of  any nature whatso-ever to, or otherwise
cooperate  in  any  other  way with, or assist or partici-pate in, facilitate or
encourage  any  effort or attempt by, any person, corporation, entity or "group"
(as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) other than Acquisition and its
affili-ates,  representa-tives  and agents (each, a "Third Party") in connection
with  any  Alternative  Transaction (as hereinafter defined).  The Company shall
immediately  notify Acquisition if any proposal, offer, inquiry or other contact
is  received  by,  any  information  is  requested  from, or any discus-sions or
negotia-tions  are  sought  to  be  initiated  or continued with, the Company in
respect  of  an  Alternative  Transac-tion,  and  shall,  in  any such notice to
Acquisition,  indicate  the  identity  of  the  Third  Party  and  the terms and
conditions  of  any  proposals  or  offers  or  the  nature  of any inquiries or
contacts, and thereafter shall keep Acquisition informed, on a current basis, of
all  material  developments affecting the status and terms of any such proposals
or  offers  or  the  status  of  any  such discussions or negotiations.  Without
limiting  the generality of the foregoing, the Company shall provide Acquisition
with  not  less  then  two  business  days' notice prior to the execution by the
Company  of  any  defini-tive  agreement  with  respect  to  any  Alternative


                                       27
<PAGE>
Transaction  or  any  public  announcement  relating  to  the  approval  of  any
Alternative Transaction.  Prior to fur-nishing any non-public information to, or
entering  into  negotia-tions  or discussions with, any Third Party, the Company
shall  obtain  an  executed  confidentiality  agreement from such Third Party on
terms  substan-tially  the  same  as, or no less favorable to the Company in any
material  respect  than,  those  contained  in  the  Confidentiality  Agreement;
provided  such  agreement  need  not  contain  a  "standstill"  provision  or
- --------
otherwise  restrict  the  ability  of  the Third Party to make a proposal to the
Company's  Board  of  Directors.  The  Company shall not release any Third Party
from,  or  waive  any provision of, any such confi-denti-ality agree-ment or any
other  confidentiality -or standstill agreement to which the Company is a party,
other  than  any  such  provision  that  would prevent or otherwise restrict the
ability of a Third Party to make a proposal to the Company's Board of Directors.
As of the date hereof, the Company shall cease, and shall cause the Subsidiaries
and the officers, direc-tors, employees, representatives and other agents of the
Company  and  the  Subsidiaries,  to  cease,  all  discussions, negotiations and
communications  with  all  Third  Parties and demand the immediate return of all
confidential  information previously provided to Third Parties.  As used in this
Agreement,  the  term  "Alternative  Transaction"  shall  mean  any  (i) merger,
consolidation, recapitalization, tender or exchange offer, debt restructuring or
similar transaction involving the Company, (ii) the sale of more than 25% of the
common  stock  or  other  capital  stock  of the Company or (iii) sale of assets
(including  stock  of  subsidiaries) representing more than 25% of the assets of
the  Company  and  its  subsidiaries,  taken  as  a  whole.

          (b)  If  a  Payment Event (as hereinafter defined) occurs, the Company
shall  pay to Acquisition or its designated beneficiary within two business days
following  such Payment Event, (i) a fee of $19.0 million in cash, plus (ii) all
documented  out-of-pocket  costs  and  expenses  of  Acquisition  and WCAS VIII,
including,  without  limitation,  financing  fees, fees and expenses of counsel,
accountants,  investment  bankers  and other advisors, filling fees and printing
expenses  up  to  a  maximum  of $5.0 million.  In the event that this Agreement
shall  be  terminated  for any other reason and the Company shall have failed to
comply with or per-form, or shall have breached, in any material respect, any of
its  covenants  or  agree-ments  contained  herein,  the  Company  shall  pay to
Acquisition  or  its  designated beneficiary, within two business days following
such  termination,  the  fees  and  expenses  referred  to in clause (ii) of the
preceding sentence; provided that such fees and expenses shall not be so payable
                    --------
if  Acquisition  shall  have  failed  to  comply with or per-form, or shall have
breached,  in  any  material  respect,  any  of  its  cove-nants  or agree-ments
contained  herein.

          (c)  For  purposes  of  this Agreement, the term "Payment Event" shall
mean  (x)  the  termination of this Agreement by Acquisition pursuant to Section
7.01(d); (y) the Com-pany's entering into a written agreement with respect to an
Alternative Transaction, as contem-plated by Section 7.01(c), or the termination
of this Agreement by the Company in connection with the commencement of a tender
offer  by  a  Third Party, pursuant to Section 7.01(c); (z)  within 12 months of
the date of termination of this Agreement (other than by reason of Acquisition's
failure to comply with or perform, or its breach of, in any material respect any


                                       28
<PAGE>
of  its  agreements or covenants contained herein), the agreement of the Company
to  enter  into, or the consummation of, a transaction that is the subject of an
inquiry,  proposal or offer that is an Alternative Transaction that was publicly
announced  or  submitted  to  the  Company  prior  to  the  termination  of this
Agreement.

          (d)  The  Company  acknowledges  that the agreements contained in this
Section  5.05  are  an  integral  part  of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, and that, without these agree-ments, Acquisition would not enter into
this  Agree-ment;  according-ly, if the Company fails to promptly pay any amount
due  pursuant  to  this  Section 5.05, and, in order to obtain such payment, the
other  party commences a suit that results in a judgment against the Company for
the  fee  or fees and expenses set forth in this Section 5.05, the Company shall
also pay to Acquisition its costs and expenses incurred in connec-tion with such
litigation.

          (e)  This  Section  5.05  shall  survive  any  termination  of  this
Agreement,  however  caused and is intended to benefit Acquisition and WCAS VIII
and  shall  be  binding  on  the  successors  and  assigns  of  the  Company.

          SECTION 5.06  Notification of Certain Matters, Etc, .  (a) The Company
                        -------------------------------------
shall  give  prompt  notice  to  Acquisition,  and Acquisition shall give prompt
notice  to the Company, of (i) the occurrence, or failure to occur, of any event
that  such  party believes would be likely to cause any of its represen-ta-tions
or  warranties  contained  in  this  Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any
material respect at any time from the date hereof to the Effective Time and (ii)
any  material  failure of the Company or Acquisition, as the case may be, or any
offi-cer,  director,  employee  or  agent thereof, to comply with or satisfy any
covenant,  condition  or  agreement  to  be  complied  with  or  satisfied by it
hereunder;  provided,  however,  that  failure  to  give  such  notice shall not
            --------   -------
constitute  a  waiver  of  any  defense  that  may  be  validly  asserted.

          (b)  Acquisition  shall  not  take  any  action  that  would  make any
representation  or  warranty  of Acquisition hereunder inaccurate in any respect
at,  or  as of any time prior to, the Effective Time, or omit to take any action
necessary  to  prevent any such representation or warranty from being inaccurate
in  any  respect  at  any  such  time.

          (c)  As of the date hereof, Acquisition has not formed any belief that
any  of  the  representations  or  warranties  of  the Company contained in this
Agreement  are  untrue  or  incorrect in any material respect or that any of the
conditions to the obligation of Acquisition to consummate the Merger will not be
satisfied.

          SECTION  5.07  Indemnification.   (a)  The  Articles  of Incorporation
                         ---------------
and  By-Laws  of  the  Surviving  Corporation  shall contain the provisions with
respect  to  indemnification  and  exculpation  from  liability set forth in the
Company's Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws as in effect on the date hereof,


                                       29
<PAGE>
which  provisions  shall  not  be  amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a
period  of  six years from the Effective Time in any manner that would adversely
affect  the  rights  thereunder of individuals who, on or prior to the Effective
Time,  were  direc-tors,  officers,  employees  or  agents  of  the  Company
(collectively,  the "Indemnified Parties"), unless such modification is required
by  law.

          (b)  For a period of six years after the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation shall maintain officers' and directors' liability insurance covering
those  Indemnified Parties who are currently covered by the Company's directors'
and  offi-cers'  liability insurance policy, a copy of which has heretofore been
delivered  to  Acquisition,  on  terms  no less favorable than the terms of such
current  insur-ance  coverage;  provided,  however,  that  in no event shall the
                                --------   -------
Surviving Corpora-tion be required to expend in any one year an amount in excess
of  200%  of  the  annual  premi-ums  currently  payable by the Company for such
insurance,  and  further  provided, however that, if the annual premiums of such
                 -------  --------  -------
insurance  coverage exceed such amount, the Surviving Corporation shall obtain a
policy  with  the  greatest  coverage  available  for  a cost not exceeding such
amount.

          (c)  This  Section 5.07 shall survive the consumma-tion of the Merger,
is  intended  to  benefit  the  Company,  the  Surviving  Corporation  and  the
Indemni-fied  Parties, and shall be binding on the successors and assigns of the
Surviving  Corporation.

          SECTION  5.08  Employee  Benefits  . (a)  From and after the Effective
                         ------------------
Time,  the  Surviving  Corporation and its Subsidiaries will honor in accordance
with  their  terms  all  existing  employment,  severance, consulting and salary
continuation  agreements  between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any
current  or  former  executive  officer or director of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries  of  a type required to be filed (or described in a document filed)
with  the  SEC  pursuant  to the Exchange Act, which agreements are described on
Schedule  5.08  or  included  in  the  Company  SEC  Filings,  subject  to  any
modifications  thereto  agreed  to  by  any  such officers or directors with the
Surviving  Corporation.

          (b)  In  addition  to  honoring the agreements referred to in Schedule
5.08,  until  the  first  anniversary  of  the  Effective  Time,  the  Surviving
Corporation  will  not materially alter the benefits (including health benefits,
severance  policies  and  general  employment  policies and procedures) that are
available  to  employees  of  the  Company  and  its Subsidiaries as of the date
hereof,  except  as  contemplated  by  paragraph  (d)  of this Section 5.08; and
provided  that  nothing  in  this Section 5.08(b) shall be deemed to prevent the
      --
Surviving Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries from making any change required
by  applicable  law.

          (c)  To  the  extent  permitted under applicable law, each employee of
the  Company  or its Subsidiaries shall be given credit for all service with the
Company  or  its  Subsidiaries  (or  service  credited  by  the  Company  or its
Subsidiaries)  under  all  employee  benefit  plans,  programs,  policies  and
arrangements  maintained  by the Surviving Corporation in which they participate
or  in  which  they become participants for purposes of eligibility, vesting and
benefit  accrual  including, without limitation, for purposes of determining (i)
short-term  and  long-term  disability  benefits, (ii) severance benefits, (iii)
vacation  benefits  and  (iv)  benefits  under  any  retirement  plan.


                                       30
<PAGE>
          (d)  At  the  Effective  Time, the Surviving Corporation shall adopt a
stock  option plan providing for the grant of options for up to 1,675,000 shares
of  Common  Stock of the Surviving Corporation.  Of such options, options for up
to  750,000  shares  shall  be  granted at the Effective Time to officers of the
Company  who  enter into satisfactory employment arrangements with the Surviving
Corporation.  The  balance  of such options shall be available for future grants
in the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Surviving Corporation.  As of
the  Effective  Time,  the Company shall cease to grant rights or other benefits
under  all  stock  option, restricted stock, stock appreciation and other equity
employee  plans  of  the  Company  and,  except  for  any rights with respect to
outstanding  awards granted thereunder prior to the Effective Time in accordance
with  the  terms  of such plans and subject to the provisions of this Agreement,
officers  and  employees  of  the  Company shall not have any rights thereunder.

          (e)  This  Section  5.08 shall survive the consummation of the Merger,
is  intended to benefit the Company, the Surviving Corporation and the employees
affected  thereby,  and  shall  be  binding  as  binding  on  the successors and
assignees  of  the  Surviving  Corporation.

          SECTION  5.09  Affiliates  of the Company . The Company has identified
                         --------------------------
to  Acquisition  each  person who is, as of the date hereof, an affiliate of the
Company  for  purposes  of Rule 145 under the Securities Act.  The Company shall
use  its best efforts to cause each such affiliate to deliver to Acquisition, on
or  prior to the Effective Time, a written agreement that the affiliate will not
sell,  pledge,  transfer  or otherwise dispose of Retained Shares issued to such
affiliate  pursuant  to  the  Merger,  except  in compliance with Rule 145 or an
exemption  from  the  registration  requirements  of  the  Securities  Act.


          SECTION  5.10  Comfort  Letters  .  The  Company  shall  use  its
                         ----------------
commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be delivered to Acquisition a letter
of  its  independent  certified  public  accountants,  dated  a  date within two
business  days  before the date on which the Registration Statement shall become
effective  and  addressed  to  Acquisition,  in  form  and  substance reasonably
satisfactory  to  Acquisition  and  customary in scope and substance for letters
delivered  by  independent  public  accountants  in connection with registration
statements  similar  to  the  Registration  Statement.


                                   ARTICLE VI

                            CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER

          SECTION  6.01  Conditions  to  the  Obligations  of the Parties.   The
                         ------------------------------------------------
respective  obligations  of  the parties to consummate the Merger are subject to
the  fulfillment  at or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions,
any  or  all  of  which  may  be  waived  in  whole or in part by the Company or
Acquisition  to  the  extent  permitted  by  applicable  law:


                                       31
<PAGE>
     (a)  Stockholder Approval.  This Agreement shall have been duly approved by
          --------------------
the  holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, in
accordance  with applicable law and the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of
the  Company.

     (b)  Registration  Statement;  "Blue  Sky"  Permits.  The  Registration
          ----------------------------------------------
Statement  shall  have  become  effective  and  no  stop  order  suspending  the
effectiveness  of  the  Registration  Statement  shall  have  been issued and no
proceedings  for  such  purpose  shall  have been initiated and be continuing or
threatened  by  the  SEC.  The  Company shall have received all state securities
laws  or "blue sky" permits and other authorizations necessary to issue Retained
Shares  in  exchange  for  the  shares  of  Company  Common Stock in the Merger.

     (c)  Injunction,  etc.  There  shall  be  (i)  in  effect no preliminary or
          ----------------
permanent  injunction or other order of any governmental or regulatory agency or
court  of competent jurisdiction that restrains, enjoins or otherwise prohibits,
or imposes material and adverse conditions upon consummation of the transactions
contemplated  hereby,  (ii)  in effect any pending or threatened suit, action or
proceeding by any governmental or regulatory agency seeking to prohibit or limit
the  ownership  or  operations  by  Acquisition,  the  Company  or  any  of  the
Subsidiaries  of  Company,  or  to  compel  Acquisition,  the  Company  or  the
Subsidiaries  of  Company, in the aggregate, to dispose of or hold separate, any
of  the  material assets or business segments of the Company, in each case, as a
result  of  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  or  (iii)  any  pending or
threatened  action  by  a government or regulatory agency that could have any of
the  effects referred to in (i) above; provided, however, that prior to invoking
                                       --------  -------
this  condition  a  party  shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to have
such  injunction  or  order  vacated.

     (d)  Governmental  Filings and Consents.  All governmental filings required
          ----------------------------------
to be made prior to the Effective Time by the Company with, and all governmental
consents  required  to be obtained prior to the Effective Time by the Company or
Acquisition from, governmental and regulatory authorities in connection with the
execution  and  delivery of this Agreement by the Company or Acquisition and the
consummation  of  the  transactions  contemplated hereby shall have been made or
obtained,  except  where  the failure to make such filing or obtain such consent
would  not  reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on the
Surviving  Corporation  (assuming  the  Merger  had taken place) and the waiting
periods  under  the  HSR  Act  shall  have  expired  or  been  terminated.

     (e)  Third  Party Consents.  All contractual and other third party consents
          ---------------------
required to be obtained prior to the Effective Time by the Company in connection
with  the  execution  and  delivery  of  this  Agreement  by the Company and the
consummation  of  the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained,


                                       32
<PAGE>
except where the failure to obtain such consent would not reasonably be expected
to  result  in  a Material Adverse Effect on the Surviving Corporation (assuming
the  Merger  had  taken  place).

     (f)  Financing.  Acquisition  shall  have  (i)  received  the  Financing
          ---------
contemplated by the Commitment Letters or the alternative Financing contemplated
by  Section  4.08(b)  or  (ii)  in lieu of the Financing contemplated by the DLJ
Commitment  Letter,  the Company shall have obtained all consents and/or waivers
that  are necessary under the Company's existing senior credit facility in order
that  the  consummation  of  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  will  not
constitute  an  "Event  of  Default" thereunder, and the terms and conditions of
such existing credit facility (as so modified) shall be reasonably acceptable to
Acquisition.

          SECTION  6.02  Conditions  to  the  Obligation  of  Acquisition.   The
                         ------------------------------------------------
obligation of Acquisition to consummate the Merger is subject to the fulfillment
at  or  prior  to  the Effective Time of the following conditions, any or all of
which  may  be waived in whole or in part by Acquisition to the extent permitted
by  applicable  law:

     (a)  Representations and Warranties.  The representations and warranties of
          ------------------------------
the  Company  set  forth  in  this  Agreement  shall  be true and correct in all
respects  that  are material to the Company and the Subsidiaries, as a whole, on
and  as  of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on and as
of  the  Closing Date (provided that representations and warranties made as of a
particular  date  shall  be  true  as  of  such date) and the Company shall have
performed  in  all material respects all of its obligations under this Agreement
theretofore  to  be performed, and Acquisition shall have received a certificate
to  that  effect  dated  the  Closing  Date  and executed by the chief executive
officer  or  chief  financial  officer  of  the  Company.

     (b)  Delivery  of  Comfort  Letter.  The  Company's  independent  certified
          -----------------------------
public  accountants  shall  have delivered to the Company, for delivery by it to
Acquisition,  one  or  more  letters  with  respect to the financial information
contained  in  the  Proxy  Statement  and the Registration Statement in form and
substance  reasonably  satisfactory  to  Acquisition  and customary in scope and
substance  for  letters delivered by independent certified public accountants in
connection  with  registration statements similar to the Registration Statement.

     (c)  No Material Adverse Effect.  The Company shall not have suffered after
          --------------------------
the  date  of  this  Agreement  any  change that has had, or could reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
the  Company.

          SECTION  6.03  Conditions  to  the  Obligations  of the Company .  The
                         ------------------------------------------------
obligation of the Company to consummate the Merger is subject to the fulfillment
at  or  prior  to  the Effective Time of the following conditions, any or all of
which  may  be waived in whole or in part by the Company to the extent permitted
by  applicable  law:


                                       33
<PAGE>
     (a)  Representations and Warranties.  The representations and warranties of
          ------------------------------
Acquisition  set  forth  in  this  Agreement  shall  be  true and correct in all
respects that are material to Acquisition on and as of the Closing Date with the
same  force  and  effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date (provided that
representations  and warranties made as of a particular date shall be true as of
such  date) and Acquisition shall have performed in all material respects all of
its  obligations  under  this  Agreement  theretofore  to  be performed, and the
Company  shall have received a certificate to that effect dated the Closing Date
and  executed  by  the  chief  executive  officer  or chief financial officer of
Acquisition.

     (b) Solvency Letter. Acquisition shall have caused the valuation firm which
         ---------------
has delivered a solvency letter to the financial institutions providing the debt
financing  for  the  Merger  (or, if no such letter has been provided thereto, a
valuation  firm  reasonably  acceptable to the Company) to have delivered to the
Company  a  letter  addressed  to  its  Board of Directors in form and substance
reasonably  satisfactory  thereto  as  to  the  solvency  of the Company and its
Subsidiaries  after  giving  effect  to  the  Merger, the financing arrangements
contemplated  by  Acquisition  with  respect  to  the  Merger  and  the  other
transactions  contemplated  hereby.

     (c)  No Material Adverse Effect.  Acquisition shall not have suffered after
          --------------------------
the  date  of  this  Agreement  any change which has had, or could reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
Acquisition.


                                   ARTICLE VII

                           TERMINATION AND ABANDONMENT

          SECTION  7.01  Termination  and  Abandonment  .  This Agreement may be
                         -----------------------------
terminated  and  the  Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective
Time,  whether  before  or  after  approval  by the stockholders of the Company:

     (a)  by  mutual  action  of  the Boards of Directors of Acquisition and the
Company;

     (b)  by  either  the  Company  or Acquisition, if (i) the conditions to its
obligations  under  Sections  6.01  and 6.02, as applicable, shall not have been
complied  with  or  performed  in any material respect and such noncompliance or
nonperformance  shall not have been cured or eliminated (or by its nature cannot
be  cured  or eliminated) by the other party on or before September 30, 2000, or
(ii)  the  Merger  shall  not  have  been  effected  on or prior to the close of
business on September 30, 2000; un-less, in any case, such event has been caused
by  the  breach  of  this  Agreement  by  the  party  seeking  such termination;


                                       34
<PAGE>
     (c)  by the Company if, prior to stockholder approval of this Agreement and
the  Merger,  the  Company  shall enter into a definitive written agreement with
respect  to  an Alternative Transaction with a Third Party, or a Third Party has
commenced  a  tender  offer which, in either case, the Board of Directors of the
Company  believes  in good faith is more favorable to the Company's stockholders
than  the  transac-tions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement;  provided, that all
                                                              --------
amounts  payable  under  Section  5.05 hereof shall have been paid prior to such
termination;  or

     (d)  by  Acquisition,  if  the Board of Directors of the Company shall have
withdrawn,  modified  or amended in a manner adverse to Acquisition its approval
or  recommendation  of  the  Merger  or  approved,  recommended  or endorsed any
proposal  for,  or  authorized  the  Company  to  enter  into,  an  Alternative
Transaction.

     (e)  by  either the Company or Acquisition if the approval of the Company's
stockholders  contemplated  by Section 6.01(a) shall not have been obtained at a
meeting  held  for  such  purpose,  including  any  adjournment  or postponement
thereof.

Any  party  desiring  to  terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.01
shall  give  notice  to  the  other  party  in  accordance  with  Section  8.05.

          SECTION 7.02  Effect of Termination .  Except as provid-ed in Sections
                        ---------------------
5.05  and  8.02,  in  the  event  of  the termina-tion of this Agreement and the
abandonment  of  the  Merger  pursuant  to  Sec-tion 7.01, this Agree-ment shall
there-after  become  void and have no effect, and no party hereto shall have any
liability to any other party hereto or its stockholders or directors or officers
in  respect  thereof,  except  that  nothing herein shall relieve any party from
liability  for  any  willful  breach  hereof.


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

          SECTION 8.01  Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties .  None of
                        ---------------------------------------------
the  representations  and  warranties  in  this  Agreement  or in any instrument
delivered  pursuant  hereto shall survive the Effective Time, provided that this
                                                              --------
Section  8.01  shall  not limit any covenant or agreement of the parties that by
its  terms  contemplates  performance  after  the  Effective  Time.

          SECTION 8.02  Expenses, Etc.   (a)  In the event that the transactions
                        --------------
contemplated by this Agreement are not consum-mated, neither the Company, on the
one  hand,  nor Acquisition, on the other hand, shall have any obligation to pay
any  of  the  fees  and  expenses  of  the  other  incident to the negoti-ation,
preparation and execution of this Agreement, includ-ing the fees and expenses of
counsel,  accountants,  investment bankers and other experts; provided, however,
                                                              --------  -------
that  if  this  Agree-ment shall have been terminated as a result of the willful
and  material  misrepresentations by a party or the willful and materi-al breach


                                       35
<PAGE>
by  a  party of any of its covenants and agreements contained herein, such party
shall  pay  the  costs  and expenses incurred by the other parties in connection
with  this  Agreement.

          (b)  In  the  event  that  the  transactions  contem-plated  by  this
Agreement are consummated, the Company shall pay all of the fees and expenses of
Acquisition  incident  to  the  negotia-tion, prepara-tion and execution of this
Agreement,  including the fees and expenses of counsel, accountants, invest-ment
bankers  and  other  advisors.

          SECTION 8.03  Publicity.   The Company and Acquisition agree that they
                        ---------
will  not  issue  any  press  release  or  make  any other public an-nounce-ment
concerning  this  Agreement  or the transactions contemplated hereby without the
prior  consent  of the other party, except that the Company may make such public
disclosure  that it believes in good faith to be required by law (in which event
such  party  shall  consult  with  the  other  prior to making such disclosure).

          SECTION  8.04  Execution in Counterparts.   For the convenience of the
                         -------------------------
parties,  this  Agreement  may  be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which  shall  be  deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute
one  and  the  same  instrument.

          SECTION 8.05  Notices.   All notices that are required or may be given
                        -------
pursuant  to  the  terms  of  this  Agreement  shall  be in writing and shall be
sufficient in all respects if given in writing and delivered by hand or national
overnight  courier  service,  transmitted by telecopy or mailed by registered or
certified  mail,  postage  pre-paid,  as  follows:

          If  to  Acquisition  to:
               c/o  Welsh,  Carson,  Anderson  &  Stowe
               320  Park  Avenue
               Suite  2500
               New  York,  New  York  10022-6815
               Telecopy:  (212)  893-9575

               Attention:  Patrick  J.  Welsh

          with  a  copy  to:

               Reboul,  MacMurray,  Hewitt,  Maynard  &  Kristol
               45  Rockefeller  Plaza
               New  York,  New  York  10111
               Telecopy:  (212)  841-5725

               Attention:  Robert  A.  Schwed,  Esq.


                                       36
<PAGE>
          If  to  the  Company,  to:

               Policy  Management  Systems  Corporation
               One  PMSC  Center
               Blythewood,  South  Carolina  29016
               Telecopy:  (803)  333-5560

               Attention:  Chief  Executive  Officer

          with  a  copy  to:

               Dewey  Ballantine  LLP
               1301  Avenue  of  the  Americas
               New  York,  New  York  10019-6092
               Telecopy:  (212)  259-6333

               Attention:  Morton  A.  Pierce,  Esq.
                         Richard  D.  Pritz,  Esq.

or  such other address or addresses as any party hereto shall have designated by
notice  in  writing  to  the  other  parties  hereto.

          SECTION  8.06  Waivers.   The  Company,  on  the  one  hand,  and
                         -------
Acquisition,  on the other hand, may, by written notice to the other, (i) extend
the  time  for the performance of any of the obligations or other actions of the
other  under this Agreement; (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representa-tions
or  warranties  of  the  other  contained  in this Agree-ment or in any document
delivered  pursuant  to  this  Agreement; (iii) waive compliance with any of the
conditions  of  the other contained in this Agreement; or (iv) waive performance
of  any  of  the  obliga-tions  of  the  other  under this Agreement.  Except as
provided in the preceding sentence, no action taken pursuant to this Agree-ment,
including,  without  limitation, any investigation by or on behalf of any party,
shall  be  deemed  to  constitute  a  waiver  by the party taking such action of
compliance  with  any  representa-tions,  warranties,  covenants  or  agreements
contained  in this Agreement.  The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any
provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any
subsequent  breach.

          SECTION  8.07  Entire  Agreement.   This  Agreement,  its Exhibits and
                         -----------------
Schedules  and the other documents executed at the Effec-tive Time in connection
herewith  consti-tute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect
to  the  subject  matter  hereof  and  supersede  all  prior  agreements  and
understand-ings,  oral  and  written, between the parties hereto with respect to
the subject matter hereof.  No representation, warran-ty, promise, inducement or
statement  of  intention has been made by any party that is not embodied in this
Agreement or such other documents, and none of the parties shall be bound by, or
be  liable  for,  any  alleged  representation, warranty, promise, inducement or
state-ment  of  intention  not  embodied  herein  or  therein.


                                       37
<PAGE>
          SECTION  8.08  Applicable  Law.   This  Agreement shall be governed by
                         ---------------
and  construed  in  accordance  with  the  laws  of the State of South Carolina,
without  regard  to  principles  of  conflict  of  laws.

          SECTION  8.09  Binding  Effect, Benefits.   Except as otherwise stated
                         -------------------------
herein,  this  Agree-ment  shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns.  Except as
otherwise  stated  herein,  nothing  in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is
intended  to  confer  on  any  person  other  than  the  parties hereto or their
respective  permitted successors and assigns, any rights, remedies, obliga-tions
or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement; provided, however, that the
                                                     --------  -------
provisions  of  Section 5.07 hereof shall accrue to the benefit of, and shall be
en-forceable  by,  each  of the current and former directors and officers of the
Company.

          SECTION  8.10  Assignability.   Neither  this Agreement nor any of the
                         -------------
parties'  rights  hereunder  shall be assignable by any party hereto without the
prior  written  consent  of  the  other  party  hereto.

          SECTION  8.11  Amendments  .  This Agreement may be varied, amended or
                         ----------
supplemented  at  any  time  before  or  after the approval and adoption of this
Agreement by the stock-holders of the Company by action of the respective boards
of  directors of the Company and Acquisition, without action by the stockholders
thereof;  provided  that,  after  approval and adoption of this Agreement by the
          --------
Company's  stock-holders,  no  such  vari-ance,  amendment  or supplement shall,
without  consent  of  such stockhold-ers, reduce the amount or alter the form of
the consid-eration that the holders of the capital stock of the Company shall be
entitled  to  receive  upon  the  Effective  Time pursuant to Article II hereof.
Without  limiting  the  generality  of the foregoing, this Agreement may only be
amended,  varied  or  supple-mented  by  an instrument in writing, signed by the
parties  hereto.

          SECTION  8.12  Interpretation  .  As  used  herein,  "best efforts" or
                         --------------
similar  formulations  shall  mean  "all  commercially  reasonable  efforts."
References  to  the  "knowledge"  of the Company, or similar formulations, shall
mean  to the actual knowledge of the executive officers of the Company.  As used
herein,  "including"  or  similar  formulations  shall  mean  "including without
limitation."



                                       38
<PAGE>
          IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  have  executed and delivered this
Agreement  and  Plan  of  Merger  as  of  the  day and year first above written.


                              POLICY  MANAGEMENT  SYSTEMS
                                 CORPORATION



                         By    G.  Larry  Wilson
                           ---------------------
                              Name:  G.  Larry  Wilson
                              Title:  CEO,  President

                              POLITIC  ACQUISITION  CORP.



                         By     Thomas  E.McInerney
                           ------------------------
                              Name:  Thomas  E.  McInerney
                              Title:  President


                                       39
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             INDEX TO DEFINED TERMS

                 THIS INDEX IS INCLUDED FOR CONVENIENCE ONLY AND
                  DOES NOT CONSTI-TUTE A PART OF THE AGREEMENT



                Term                  (SEC)  Reference
- ------------------------------------  --------------------
<S>                                   <C>
"1999 Financials"                     3.07
"Acquisition"                         Recitals
"Acquisition Common Stock"            2.01(a)
"Alternative Transaction"             5.05(a)
"Audited Balance Sheet"               3.07
"Cash Election Price"                 2.01(c)(ii)
"Cash Proration Factor"               2.03(c)(ii)(1)
"Certifi-cates"                       2.04(b)
"Closing"                             1.03
"Closing Date"                        1.03
"Code"                                2.04(i)
"Commitment Letters"                  4.08(a)
"Company"                             Recitals
"Company Common Stock"                2.01
"Company SEC Filings"                 3.06
"Company Stock Rights"                3.05
"Company Stock Plans"                 3.05
"Constituent Corporations"            Recitals
"Dissenting Shares"                   2.01(d)
"DLJ"                                 4.08(a)
"DLJ Commitment Letter"               4.08(a)
"Effective Time"                      1.04
"Electing Shares"                     2.01(c)(i)
"Election Date"                       2.02(c)
"Environmental Event"                 3.18
"ERISA"                               3.17(a)
"Excess Shares"                       2.04(e)(ii)
"Exchange Act"                        3.06
"Exchange Agent"                      2.02(b)
"Exchange Fund"                       2.04(a)
"Excluded Shares"                     2.01(b)
"Financing"                           4.08(a)
"Form of Election"                    2.02(c)
"Governmental Entity"                 3.09
"HSR Act"                             3.09


<PAGE>
"Indemnified Parties"                 5.07(a)
"Insurance Policies"                  3.22
"Intangible Rights"                   3.13(a)
"Licensed Software"                   3.13(c)
"Liens"                               3.02(b)
"Material Adverse Effect"             3.01
"Maximum Retention Number"            2.03(a)
"Merger"                              Recitals
"Merger Consideration"                2.01(c)
"Minimum Retention Number"            2.03(a)
"Non-Cash Proration Factor"           2.03(b)(i)
"Owned Software"                      3.13(b)
"Payment Event"                       5.05(c)
"Plan"                                3.17(a)
"Proxy Statement"                     3.09
"Registration Statement"              3.09
"Retained Share"                      2.01(c)(i)
"Retention Election"                  2.02(a)
"SCBCA"                               Recitals
"SEC"                                 3.06
"Securities Act"                      3.06
"South Carolina Code"                 1.02
"Special Stock"                       3.05
"Stockholders Meeting"                5.02(a)
"Subsidiary"                          3.02(c)
"Surviving Corporation"               Recitals
"Surviving Corporation Common Stock"  2.01(a)
"Tax Return"                          3.16(f)
"Third Party"                         5.05(a)
"Tax"                                 3.16(e)
"Violation"                           3.10(b)
"WCAS Commitment Letters"             4.08(a)
</TABLE>


<PAGE>

PMSC  ANNOUNCES  AGREEMENT  WITH  WELSH,  CARSON,  ANDERSON  &  STOWE

STOCKHOLDERS  CAN  RECEIVE  $14  PER  SHARE  IN CASH FOR 75 TO 93 PERCENT OF THE
SHARES

WCAS  COMMITS  UP  TO  $604  MILLION  IN  THE  RECAPITALIZATION

NEW  BUSINESS  MODEL  TO  INCREASE  FOCUS  ON  EBUSINESS  AND  BUSINESS  PROCESS
OUTSOURCING  AS  INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES CUSTOMERS RAMP-UP INTERNET USE

COLUMBIA,  S.C.,  March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Policy Management Systems Corporation
(PMSC)  (NYSE:  PMS  -  news)  announced  today  that it has signed a definitive
                ---     ----
agreement  with  an  affiliate  of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe (``WCAS''), a
leading  New York-based private investment firm, to affect a recapitalization of
the  company.  The company will continue to operate as a public company with its
current  management  and under its new name, Mynd. PMSC's Board of Directors has
approved  the  transaction.

Under  the  terms  of  the  agreement,  WCAS  has  committed  to  provide  up to
approximately  $604  million  of  capital, of which $75 million will be used for
investments  in  new strategic initiatives and other general corporate purposes.
Stockholders  will  have  the  right  to  elect to either retain their shares or
receive  $14  per share in cash consideration, subject to between 75% and 93% of
the  existing  shares being converted to cash. PMSC's existing stockholders will
retain  between  7%  and  25%  of  the  post-merger  common  stock.

Larry  Wilson,  Chairman  and  Chief  Executive  Officer of PMSC, said, ``We are
confident that this is the right step at this moment in the company's transition
to  a  new  business  model  with  a  focus  on  eBusiness. This investment will
substantially strengthen our capital base and enable us to increase our focus on
delivering  new,  flexible  solutions  to  our  insurance and financial services
customers.  We  believe  we  will be positioned to capitalize on the substantial
growth  opportunities  in  our  markets.''

A  spokesman  for  WCAS  said,  ``PMSC  is  a  company  with  a proven record of
technological  innovation,  a strong customer base and a commitment to adapt its
products  and  services  to  the  rapidly  developing  world  of  eBusiness. Our
investment reflects our strong belief that as an equity partner with a long-term
perspective, we will give PMSC the financial strength to complete its transition
to  a  new  business model and invest in innovative technologies. As the pace of
technological  change accelerates, we believe that, working together with PMSC's
management  and  employees,  we  will  create  substantial  growth.''

The  transaction  is expected to be completed during the second or third quarter
of  this  year and is subject to approval by PMSC's stockholders, the receipt of
financing  and  other  customary  conditions.  The  financing  necessary for the
transaction  has  been  fully  committed  by WCAS and an affiliate of Donaldson,
Lufkin  &  Jenrette. A special meeting of PMSC's stockholders will take place as
soon  as  practical  following approval of proxy materials by the Securities and
Exchange  Commission.  PMSC's  Board  was advised by Credit Suisse First Boston.
WCAS  was  advised  by  Donaldson,  Lufkin  &  Jenrette.

In  the  event the agreement is terminated under certain circumstances, PMSC has
agreed  to  pay  WCAS a termination fee of $19 million plus expenses of up to $5
million.


<PAGE>
WCAS,  founded  in  1979,  is  one  of  the  leading private equity firms in the
country,  with  assets  under management of approximately $8 billion. It focuses
exclusively  on  the  information  services,  communications  and  health  care
industries  and  invests  out  of  a $3.2 billion equity fund and a $1.4 billion
subordinated  debt  fund.  In  addition to this investment, WCAS has sponsored a
number of transactions with leading information services companies including The
Bisys  Group Inc., SunGuard Data Systems, Inc., Fiserv Inc., Amdocs Ltd., Bridge
Information  Systems,  and  Comdata  Holdings  Corporation.

PMSC,  headquartered  in  Columbia,  S.C.,  is a leading provider of application
software,  related  automation support and information services designed to meet
the needs of the global insurance and financial services industries. Information
on  PMSC  and  its  products  and services can be found on the World Wide Web at
http://www.pmsc.com.
- -------------------

Statements  about  the  proposed  agreement  are forward-looking statements that
involve  risks  and  uncertainties.  Among  the  factors that could cause actual
results  to  differ materially from those in the forward looking statements are:
the  failure of the agreement to be consummated and those factors in PMSC's 1999
Annual Report on Form 10K and other reports and filings with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission. PMSC disclaims any intention or obligation to update or
revise  any  forward  looking  statements.

Investors  are  urged  to  read  the  Current  Report  on  Form  8-K  and  proxy
statement/prospectus  relating to the agreement and any other relevant documents
filed  by  PMSC  with  the  Securities  and Exchange Commission, when available,
because  they  will  contain  important  information.  Investors will be able to
obtain  these  documents,  when  available,  for  free  from the SEC's web site,
www.sec.gov  or  from  PMSC  investor  services  at  http://www.pmsc.com.
- -----------
SOURCE:  Policy  Management  Systems  Corporation


<PAGE>

                   WELSH, CARSON, ANDERSON & STOWE VIII, L.P.
                           320 Park Avenue, Suite 2500
                            New York, N.Y. 10022-6815

                                 March 30, 2000


Politic  Acquisition  Corp.
c/o  Welsh,  Carson,  Anderson  &  Stowe
320  Park  Avenue
Suite  2500
New  York,  New  York  10022-6815

Policy  Management  Systems  Corporation
One  PMSC  Center
Blythewood,  SC  29016

Ladies  and  Gentlemen:

          Reference is made to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the
date hereof (the "Agreement"), between Politic Acquisition Corp. ("Politic") and
Policy  Management  Systems Corporation (the "Company").  Capitalized terms used
herein  and  not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to them in the
Agreement.

          We agree with Acquisition and the Company that, if at any time between
the  date  hereof and the Effective Time, Acquisition shall have any obligations
or  liabilities,  whether  under  the  Agreement  or  otherwise,  that cannot be
satisfied out of the assets of Acquisition, the undersigned shall make an equity
investment in Acquisition in an amount equal to such obligations or liabilities,
up  to  $429.4 million in the aggregate.  Any such investment shall reduce by an
equal  amount any investment commitment the undersigned may have to Acquisition.
The  undersigned's obligation hereunder may be satisfied by an investment by any
other  affiliate  of  Welsh,  Carson,  Anderson  &  Stowe  or  a  third  party.

          We also agree that we shall use our commercially reasonable efforts to
consummate  the  Financing substantially on the terms of the Commitment Letters.

          Notwithstanding  anything  that  may  be  expressed  or implied in the
foregoing  provisions  of this letter agreement, Acquisition and the Company, by
their acceptance of the benefits hereof, covenant, agree and acknowledge that no
person  or  entity  other than Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe VIII, L.P. ("WCAS
VIII"),  shall have any obligation hereunder and that, notwithstanding that WCAS


<PAGE>
VIII is a partnership, no recourse hereunder shall be had against any current or
future officer, director, agent or employee of WCAS VIII, against any current or
future  general or limited partner of WCAS VIII or against any current or future
director,  officer,  employee,  general or limited partner, member, affiliate or
assignee  of  any of the foregoing, whether by the enforcement of any assessment
or  by any legal or equitable proceeding or by virtue of any statute, regulation
or  other  applicable law.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it
is expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall
attach to, be imposed on or otherwise incurred by any current or future officer,
agent or employee of WCAS VIII, any current or future general or limited partner
of  WCAS  VIII  or any current or future director, officer, employee, general or
limited  partner,  member affiliate or assignee of any of the foregoing, as such
for  any  obligations  of WCAS VIII under this letter agreement or for any claim
based  on,  in  respect  of  or by reason of such obligations or their creation.

                              Very  truly  yours,

                              WELSH,  CARSON,  ANDERSON  &
                                STOWE  VIII,  L.P.

                              By  WCAS  VIII  Associates  LLC
                                    General  Partner


                              By  /s/  Thomas  E.  McInerney
                                ----------------------------
                                Managing  Member

Accepted  and  Agreed  to  By:

     POLITIC  ACQUISITION  CORP.

     By  /s/  Thomas  E.  McInerney
       ----------------------------
           Title:  President



     POLICY  MANAGEMENT  SYSTEMS  CORPORATION

     By
       -------------------------
       Title:


<PAGE>

                   WELSH, CARSON, ANDERSON & STOWE VIII, L.P.
                           320 Park Avenue, Suite 2500
                         New York, New York  10022-6815



                                                        As  of  March  30,  2000


Politic  Acquisition  Corp.
c/o  Welsh,  Carson,  Anderson  &  Stowe
320  Park  Avenue,  Suite  2500
New  York,  New  York  10022-6815

Ladies  and  Gentlemen:

          Reference is made to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the
date  hereof  (the  "Merger   Agreement"),  between  Policy  Management  Systems
Corporation,  a  South  Carolina  corporation  (the   "Company"),   and  Politic
Acquisition  Corp.,  a  South Carolina corporation ("Acquisition").  Capitalized
terms  used  and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them
in  the  Merger  Agreement.

          We  agree  that, at the Effective Time, subject to the satisfaction or
waiver  (with  our  consent)  of  each  of the conditions precedent set forth in
Sections  6.01 and 6.02 of the Merger Agreement, Acquisition will be capitalized
with  common  equity in an aggregate amount of between $339.7 million and $429.4
million  or  between 24,261,429 shares and 30,671,429 shares from Welsh, Carson,
Anderson  &  Stowe  VIII,  L.P. ("WCAS VIII") and certain  affiliated  investors
(together  with  WCAS  VIII,  the  "Investors").  The  equity  commitment of the
Investors  will  increase proportionately above $339.7 million to the extent the
Company's  shareholders elect to retain more than the minimum number of retained
shares  specified by the Merger Agreement.  The proceeds of such investment will
be  used by Acquisition to consummate the Merger and related transactions as set
forth  in the Merger Agree-ment and to provide additional equity capital for the
future  working  capital  needs  and general corporate purposes of the Surviving
Corporation  and  the Subsidiaries.  The Investors  will be under no  obligation
under  any  circumstances  to  capitalize  Acquisition  with aggregate equity of
more  than  $429.4 million.  At the time of, and subject to, the consummation of
the Merger, WCA Management Corporation or another designee of WCAS VIII shall be
entitled  to  receive  from  the  Surviving Corporation a financing fee equal to
1.25%  of  the  total  equity  and  debt financing provided by WCAS VIII and its
affiliated  entities  and  persons.

          Notwithstanding  anything  that  may  be  expressed or implied in this
letter  agreement,  the  Company,  by  its  acceptance  of  the benefits hereof,
covenants,  agrees  and  acknowledges that, no person other than WCAS VIII shall
have  any  obligation  hereunder  and  that, notwithstanding  that WCAS VIII and


<PAGE>
certain of the other Investors are partnerships,  no recourse hereunder or under
any  documents  or  instruments  delivered  in  connection herewith shall be had
against  any current or future officer, agent or employee of WCAS VIII or of any
other Investor, against any current or future general or limited partner of WCAS
VIII  or  of  any  other  Investor  or  against  any current or future director,
officer,  employee, general or limited partner, member, affiliate or assignee of
any  of  the  foregoing,  whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any
legal  or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other
applicable  law,  it  being  expressly  agreed and acknowledged that no personal
liability  whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by
any  current  or  future officer, agent or employee of WCAS VIII or of any other
Investor  or any current or future general or limited partner of WCAS VIII or of
any  Investor  or  any current or future director, officer, employee, general or
limited  partner, member, affiliate or assignee of any of the foregoing, as such
for  any obligations of WCAS VIII or of any Investor under this letter agreement
or  any  documents  or  instruments  delivered in connection herewith or for any
claim  based  on,  in  respect  of  or  by  reason of such obligations  or their
creation.

                                                Very  truly  yours,

                                                WELSH,  CARSON,  ANDERSON  &
                                                    STOWE  VIII,  L.P.

                                                By  WCAS VIII Associates LLC,
                                                    General  Partner



                                                By  /s/  Thomas E. McInerney
                                                   -----------------------------
                                                          Managing  Member


<PAGE>

                         WCAS CAPITAL PARTNERS III, L.P.
                           320 Park Avenue, Suite 2500
                         New York, New York  10022-6815



                                                          As  of  March 30, 2000


Politic  Acquisition  Corp.
c/o  Welsh,  Carson,  Anderson  &  Stowe
320  Park  Avenue,  Suite  2500
New  York,  New  York  10022-6815

Ladies  and  Gentlemen:

          Reference is made to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the
date  hereof  (the  "Merger  Agreement"),  between   Policy  Management  Systems
Corporation,  a  South  Carolina  corporation  (the   "Company"),   and  Politic
Acquisition  Corp.,  a South Carolina corporation  ("Acquisition").  Capitalized
terms  used  and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them
in  the  Merger  Agreement.

          We  agree  that, at the Effective Time, subject to the satisfaction or
waiver  (with  our  consent)  of  each  of the conditions precedent set forth in
Sections  6.01 and 6.02 of the Merger Agreement, WCAS Capital Partners III, L.P.
("WCAS CP III") and certain affiliated investors (the "Investors") will purchase
for  $175  million $175 million aggregate principal amount of subordinated notes
and 1,785,714 shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation.  A summary of
the  terms  of  the  subordinated  notes  are attached hereto as Exhibit A.  The
proceeds  of such financing will be used by Acquisition to consummate the Merger
and  related  transactions  as  set forth in the Merger Agreement and to provide
additional  financing for the future working capital needs and general corporate
purpose  of the Surviving Corporation and the Subsidiaries.  The Inves-tors will
be  under  no  obliga-tion under any circum-stances to purchase securities in an
amount  greater  than  $175  million.

          Notwithstanding  anything  that  may  be  expressed or implied in this
letter  agreement,  the  Company,  by  its  acceptance  of  the benefits hereof,
covenants,  agrees and acknowledges that, no Person other than WCAS CP III shall
have  any  obligation  hereunder and that, notwithstanding  that WCAS CP III and
certain of the other Investors are partnerships,  no recourse hereunder or under
any  documents  or  instruments  delivered  in  connection herewith shall be had


<PAGE>
against  any  current  or future officer, agent or employee of WCAS CP III or of
any  other Investor, against any current or future general or limited partner of
WCAS  CP III or of any other Investor or against any current or future director,
officer,  employee, general or limited partner, member, affiliate or assignee of
any  of  the  foregoing,  whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any
legal  or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other
applicable  law,  it  being  expressly  agreed and acknowledged that no personal
liability  whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by
any  current or future officer, agent or employee of WCAS CP III or of any other
Investor  or  any current or future general or limited partner of WCAS CP III or
of any Investor or any current or future director, officer, employee, general or
limited  partner, member, affiliate or assignee of any of the foregoing, as such
for  any  obligations  of  WCAS  CP  III  or  of  any Investor under this letter
agreement  or  any documents or instruments  delivered in connection herewith or
for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations  or their
creation.

                                                Very  truly  yours,

                                                WCAS CAPITAL PARTNERS III, L.P.

                                                By WCAS CP III Associates LLC,
                                                   General  Partner



                                                By  /s/ Thomas E. McInerney
                                                   -----------------------------
                                                        Managing  Member


<PAGE>
                                    Exhibit A

                 SUMMARY OF TERMS OF SUBORDINATED DEBT FINANCING


Issuer:                         Policy Management Systems Corporation
Principal  Amount:              $175,000,000
Ranking:                        Subordinate  in  right  of payment to all senior
                                obligations
Maturity:                       Earlier  of  eight years or six months after the
                                maturity of the Credit Facilities to be provided
                                by   DLJ  Capital  Funding,  Inc.
Optional Prepayment:            Pre-payable  by  the  Company at any time at par
Mandatory Prepayment:           Change  of  Control
Interest  Rate:                 10%  per  annum
Form  of  Interest:             Cash,  payable  in  quarterly  installments
Common  shares:                 1,785,714  shares


<PAGE>

                                                                  March 31, 2000
                                  CONFIDENTIAL
                                  ------------


Welsh  Carson  Anderson  &  Stowe  VIII,  L.P.
320  Park  Avenue
Suite  2500
New  York,  NY  10022-6815

Attention:     Robert  A.  Minicucci

Gentlemen:

You  have  advised  DLJ  Capital  Funding, Inc. and its affiliates ("DLJ CAPITAL
FUNDING")  that (i) Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe VIII, L.P. or one or more of
its affiliates (collectively "WCAS" or the "EQUITY INVESTORS") have formed a new
corporation named Politic Acquisition Corp. ("ACQUISITIONCO") for the purpose of
effecting  the  recapitalization  (the  "RECAPITALIZATION") of Policy Management
Systems  Corporation ("POLITIC" or the "COMPANY") pursuant to a recapitalization
agreement  (the  "RECAPITALIZATION  AGREEMENT")  to  be  entered  into  between
Acquisitionco  and  Politic;  (ii)  pursuant  to the Recapitalization Agreement,
Acquisitionco  will  merge (the "MERGER") with and into Politic, with Politic as
the  survivor  (such  surviving  corporation  being  herein  referred  to as the
"COMPANY")  and  (iii)  at the date of consummation of the Recapitalization (the
"RECAPITALIZATION DATE"), the existing stockholders of Politic immediately prior
to  the  Merger  (the  "EXISTING  STOCKHOLDERS") will have the right to elect to
either (x) receive an amount of cash equal to $14.00 per share for each share of
common  stock  held  by  such  stockholder  (in  which event such shares will be
canceled)  or  (y)  retain an equity interest in the Company; provided, however,
                                                              --------  -------
that,  at  the Recapitalization Date, the Existing Stockholders will own between
approximately  7%  and  25% of the then outstanding common equity of the Company
(the  "RETAINED  EQUITY  INTEREST").  In  addition,  in  connection  with  the
Recapitalization  and  the  Merger,  the  Company  will (i) refinance all of its
existing indebtedness of approximately $231 million (the "REFINANCING") and (ii)
pay  estimated fees and expenses (the "EXPENSE PAYMENTS") in connection with the
Acquisition  and  related  transactions  of  approximately $35 million.  As used
herein,  the  term  "TRANSACTION"  shall  refer,  collectively  to  the
Recapitalization,  the  Merger, the Refinancing, the Equity Investments (defined
below),  Borrowings  under the Credit Facilities (defined below) and the Expense
Payments.

          We  understand  that  the  total  proceeds  required to consummate the
Transaction  and  provide  for  excess  cash of at least $75 million are between
approximately  $715  million  in  the case of a 25% Retained Equity Interest and
approximately  $804  million  in the case of a 7% Retained Equity Interest which
will  be  financed with the proceeds of the following: (i) not less than between
approximately  $340  million  in  the case of a 25% Retained Equity Interest and
approximately  $429 million in the case of a 7% Retained Equity Interest in cash
equity  to  be  provided by the Equity Investors (the "EQUITY INVESTMENT"); (ii)
not  less  than $175 million received from the purchase for cash by WCAS Capital
Partners  III  Fund, L.P. ("WCAS CP III") of either subordinated debt securities
or  exchangeable  preferred  securities  of  the Company (the "WCAS SUBORDINATED
SECURITIES")  and  (iii)  $200  million  of borrowings by the Company under $250
million of senior secured credit facilities (the "CREDIT FACILITIES") consisting
of:  (a) a $200 million term loan facility (the "TERM LOAN FACILITY"), and (b) a
$50  million  revolving  credit facility (the "REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY") which
will  be  unfunded  on  the  Closing  Date.


<PAGE>
     DLJ  Capital Funding is pleased to inform you that subject to the terms and
conditions  set  forth  herein,  DLJ  Capital  Funding  or one of its affiliates
commits  to provide the full amount of the Credit Facilities (the "COMMITMENT").

     DLJ  Capital  Funding  will  act  as  the  sole and exclusive advisor, book
manager,  syndication  agent  and  lead  arranger  in  respect  of  the  Credit
Facilities.  DLJ  Capital  Funding,  as  "LEAD  ARRANGER",  hereby  confirms its
willingness to use reasonable commercial efforts to arrange a syndicate of other
financial institutions that will, together with DLJ Capital Funding, participate
in  the  Credit  Facilities.  The  financial institutions (including DLJ Capital
Funding)  which  participate  in the Credit Facilities are referred to herein as
the  "Lenders".  DLJ Capital Funding, in consultation with you,  will manage all
aspects  of  the syndication, if any, including decisions as to the selection of
institutions  to  be  approached  and  when  they will be approached, when their
commitment  will  be  accepted,  which  institutions  will  participate  and the
allocations of the Commitment among potential Lenders.  In addition, DLJ Capital
Funding  will  determine  the amount and distribution of fees among the Lenders.
You  agree  that  no  other agents, co-agents or arrangers will be appointed, no
other  titles will be awarded and no compensation (other than that expressly set
forth  herein and in the Fee Letter as defined below) will be paid in connection
with the Credit Facilities unless you and we shall so agree.  You agree actively
to  assist  DLJ  Capital Funding in completing a syndication satisfactory to it.
Such  assistance shall include (i) your using commercially reasonable efforts to
ensure that the syndication efforts benefit materially from the existing lending
relationships  of  the  Equity  Investors and Politic and its subsidiaries, (ii)
your using reasonable efforts to make certain employees and agents of the Equity
Investors and certain members of the management of Politic and its subsidiaries,
as  well  as its consultants and advisors, are available during regular business
hours  to  answer questions regarding the Credit Facilities, (iii) assistance by
the  Equity  Investors and the management of Politic and its subsidiaries in the
preparation  of a confidential informational memorandum to be used in connection
with  the  syndication and (iv) the hosting by the Equity Investors, and Politic
and  its  subsidiaries  of  meetings  with  prospective  Lenders.

     DLJ  Capital  Funding  shall  be  entitled, after consultation with you, to
change the structure, terms,  pricing or amounts of the Credit Facilities as set
forth  in  Exhibit A hereto (including reducing the Credit Facilities dollar for
dollar  with  like  amounts  of  either  senior  unsecured  notes,  unsecured
subordinated  notes  or  mezzanine securities) if DLJ Capital Funding determines
that  such  changes are advisable in order to ensure a successful syndication of
the  Credit Facilities; provided, however, that the total amount of debt capital
committed  to  by  DLJ  Capital  Funding  and any of its affiliates shall remain
unchanged.  DLJ  Capital  Funding  reserves  the  right  to  propose alternative
financing  amounts or structures that assure adequate protection for DLJ Capital
Funding  and  the  Lenders.  The  Commitment, undertakings and agreements of DLJ
Capital Funding are subject to and contingent upon agreements in this paragraph.

    The  Equity  Investor  agrees to pay or cause Acquisitionco, the Company or
any of its subsidiaries to pay, to DLJ Capital Funding the fees set forth in the
fee  letter (the "FEE LETTER") executed by the parties hereto on the date hereof
in  accordance  with  the  terms  of  the  Fee  Letter.

    The  Commitment  is  not  assignable  by  you.  Nothing  in this Commitment
Letter,  expressed  or  implied,  shall  give any person, other than the parties
hereto  any  benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim hereunder.


<PAGE>
     Until  the  closing  of  the  Transaction,  the  Equity  Investors agree to
indemnify  and  hold  the  Indemnified Parties, as defined in Exhibit C hereto,
harmless to the extent set forth in Exhibit C hereto, and, upon demand from time
to  time, to reimburse the Indemnified Parties for all reasonable  out-of-pocket
costs,  expenses  and  other  payments,  including but not limited to reasonable
legal fees and disbursements incurred or made in connection with the Commitment,
and  the  preparation,  execution  and delivery of the Definitive Documentation,
regardless of  whether  or  not any Definitive Documentation is executed, or the
Commitment expires  or  is terminated.  Upon the closing of the Transaction, the
Equity  Investors  shall  be  released  from  the  obligations  defined  in this
paragraph  and Exhibit C to the extent the Company has assumed such obligations.

     You  hereby  represent that (a) all information, other than Projections (as
defined  below), which has been made available to the DLJ Capital Funding by the
Equity Investors, Politic or its subsidiaries or any of your or their respective
representatives  in  connection  with  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby
(together with information hereafter made available, the "INFORMATION") has been
reviewed and analyzed by you and Politic and, as supplemented as contemplated by
the  next sentence, taken as a whole, is (or will be, in the case of Information
made  available  after  the  date  hereof)  complete and correct in all material
respects  and  does  not  (or  will  not, as the case may be) contain any untrue
statement  of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
the  statements  contained  therein  not  materially  misleading in light of the
circumstances  under  which  such  statements  were  or  are  made,  and (b) all
financial  projections  concerning  Politic that have been or are hereafter made
available  to DLJ Capital Funding by  you or Politic and its subsidiaries or any
of their representatives in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby
(the  "PROJECTIONS")  have  been  (or  will  be, in the case of Projections made
available  after  the  date hereof) prepared in good faith based upon reasonable
assumptions.  We  understand that any representation made by you with respect to
information  or projections provided by Politic or any of its subsidiaries is to
your  best  knowledge  after  your  reasonable  investigation.  You  agree  to
supplement,  and  use  best  efforts  to  cause  Politic  to  supplement,  the
Information  and  Projections  from  time  to  time  until  the  closing  of the
Transaction so that the representation and warranty in the preceding sentence is
correct  on  the  closing  date  of  the  Credit  Facilities.  In  arranging and
syndicating  the  Credit  Facilities, we may use and rely on the Information and
the  Projections  without independent verification thereof.  The representations
and  covenants  contained  in  this  paragraph  shall  remain  effective  until
definitive  financing  agreements  are  executed  and  thereafter the disclosure
representations  contained herein shall be superseded by those contained in such
definitive  financing  agreements.

     This  Commitment  Letter  and  the  Fee  Letter  set  forth  the  entire
understanding of the  parties  as to the scope of the Commitment and obligations
of DLJ Capital Funding hereunder. The Commitment will expire at 5:00 PM New York
City time on March  31, 2000 unless accepted prior to such time.  The Commitment
will  also expire at the earliest of (i) the termination of the Recapitalization
Agreement;  (ii)  the  closing  of  the  Transaction  without the funding of the
Commitment;  (iii) the sale, syndication or marketing of any competing issues of
debt securities or commercial  bank credit facilities or other credit facilities
of Acquisitionco, Politic  or any of their respective subsidiaries, or (iv) 5:00
PM  New  York  City time on September 30, 2000 if the closing of the Transaction
has  not  occurred  by such  time; provided, however, that any term or provision
hereof to the contrary notwithstanding all your obligations hereunder in respect
of  indemnification,  confidentiality  and  fee and  expense reimbursement shall
survive  any  termination  of  the  Commitment  pursuant  to  this  paragraph.


<PAGE>
     This  Commitment  Letter  is  delivered  to you with the understanding that
neither this  Commitment Letter, nor the substance hereof, shall be disclosed to
any third  party  (including,  without  limitation, other lenders, underwriters,
placement agents, or advisors or any similar persons), without the prior written
consent  of  DLJ  Capital  Funding except in the case of those in a confidential
relationship to you, such as legal counsel or accountants, or as required by law
or  by  any  court  or  governmental agency (and in each such event of permitted
disclosure as required by law or by court or government agency you agree, to the
extent  permitted  by  law,  promptly to inform us).  DLJ Capital Funding hereby
consents  to  your disclosure of this Commitment Letter (but not the Fee Letter)
to  Politic  and  their financial and legal advisors for their use in connection
with  evaluation  of  your  proposal  in  connection  with  the  Transaction.

     This Commitment Letter may not be amended or waived except by an instrument
in writing  signed  by  each  of  DLJ  Capital Funding, the Equity Investors and
Acquisitionco.

     This  Commitment  Letter  shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with,  the  laws  of  the State of New York.  To the fullest extent permitted by
applicable  law,  each  of  the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the
jurisdiction of any New York State court or Federal court sitting in the Borough
of  Manhattan  in  New  York  City  in respect of any suit, action or proceeding
arising  out  of  or relating to the provisions of this Commitment Letter or the
making  of  the  Commitment and irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of
any  such  suit,  action  or  proceeding may be heard and determined in any such
court.  Each  of  the  parties hereto waives, to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable  law,  any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying
of  the  venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court,
any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has
been brought in an inconvenient forum and any right to trial by jury in any such
suit,  action  or  proceeding.


<PAGE>
     Please  indicate  your  acceptance of  the Commitment and your agreement to
the matters  contained  in  this  Commitment  Letter  by executing this document
and returning  it  to  us  prior  to  the  time  of  expiration set forth above.


                                        Sincerely,
                                        DLJ  CAPITAL  FUNDING,  INC.
                                        ______________________________
                                        By:
                                        Title:

Accepted  and  Agreed  to  this
March   ,  2000


Welsh  Carson  Anderson  &  Stowe  VIII,  L.P.
By:  WCAS  VIII  Associates,  LLC


______________________________
By:
Title:  Managing  Member


Encl:     Exhibit  A  -  Credit  Facilities  Term  Sheet
          Exhibit  B  -  Conditions  to  Closing
          Exhibit  C  -  Indemnification,  Etc.
          Exhibit  D  -  Fee  Letter


<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT A
SUMMARY  OF  THE  TERMS  OF  THE  CREDIT  FACILITIES

Set  forth  below  is  a  summary of certain of the material terms of the Credit
Facilities  and  the  Definitive  Bank Financing Documentation.  This summary is
intended  merely  as an outline, and does not include descriptions of all of the
terms,  conditions  and  other  provisions  that  are  to  be  contained  in the
Definitive  Bank Financing Documentation.  Capitalized terms used herein and not
otherwise  defined  have the meaning set forth in the Commitment Letter to which
this  Summary  of the Terms of the Credit Facilities is attached and of which it
forms  a  part.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                              <C>
BORROWER:                        Policy Management Systems Corporation (the "BORROWER"
                                 or the  "COMPANY").
GUARANTORS:                      The corporate parent of the Borrower (the "PARENT"), if any, formed
                                 by the Equity Investors, and all direct and indirect (existing and
                                 future) domestic subsidiaries and foreign subsidiaries (to the extent no
                                 material tax liabilities will result from the guarantee of any such
                                 foreign subsidiary) of the Borrower.

SOLE BOOK RUNNING MANAGER AND    DLJ Capital Funding, Inc. ("DLJ CAPITAL FUNDING" or the
LEAD ARRANGER:                   "LEAD ARRANGER").
SYNDICATION AGENT:               DLJ Capital Funding (the "SYNDICATION AGENT").
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:            A financial institution to be identified and mutually agreed upon by
                                 the Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent and WCAS.
DOCUMENTATION AGENT:             A financial institution to be identified and mutually agreed upon by
                                 the Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent and WCAS.
LETTER OF CREDIT ISSUER:         The Administrative Agent.
LENDERS:                         DLJ Capital Funding and a group of financial institutions (collectively,
                                 the "LENDERS") as may be identified by the Lead Arranger, the
                                 Syndication Agent and Administrative Agent.
CLOSING DATE:                    No later than September 30, 2000 (the "CLOSING DATE").
DESCRIPTION OF THE               A $250.0 million in senior, first-priority secured financing to be provided
CREDIT FACILITIES:               to the Borrower consisting of (a) a $50.0 million revolving credit facility
                                 (the "REVOLVING FACILITY"), and (b) a term loan facility of $200.0 million
                                 (the "TERM FACILITY").
                                 The Revolving Facility and the Term Facility are collectively referred to
                                 as the "CREDIT FACILITIES".
USE OF PROCEEDS:                 Proceeds from the Term Loan will be used to partially finance
                                 the consummation of the Transaction.  In addition, proceeds from
                                 the Revolving Loans will be available for post closing working
                                 capital requirements and general corporate purposes of the Borrower.
REVOLVING FACILITY:              Pursuant to the Revolving Facility, (i) Revolving Loans may be
                                 borrowed, prepaid and re-borrowed by the Borrower, and (ii) letters
                                 of credit ("LETTERS OF CREDIT") may be issued, reimbursed and re-issued
                                 on behalf of the Borrower in each case from time to time prior to
                                 the Revolving Facility Commitment Termination Date (as set forth below).


<PAGE>
REVOLVING FACILITY               $50.0 million.
COMMITMENT AMOUNT:
REVOLVING FACILITY               To be mutually agreed upon.
COMMITMENT TERMINATION DATE:
TERM LOAN FACILITY:              The Term Loan Facility will be made available to the Borrower in a
                                 single borrowing on the Closing Date pursuant to which the Term Loan
                                 will be made.  Once repaid, the Term Loan cannot be reborrowed.
TERM LOAN FACILITY               $200.0 million.
 COMMITMENT AMOUNT:
AMORTIZATION OF THE              The Term Loan will amortize each year in equal quarterly installments
 TERM LOAN FACILITY:             in an annual amount to be mutually agreed upon.
FINAL MATURITY FOR               To be mutually agreed upon.
 THE TERM LOAN:
INTEREST RATE:                   At the Borrower's option, Revolving Loans and The Term Loan
                                 will bear interest at the Administrative Agent's (i) alternate base rate
                                 or (ii) reserve-adjusted LIBO rate, plus, in each case, applicable margins
                                 (the "APPLICABLE MARGINS") to be determined at a later date.
                                 After the occurrence and during the continuance of an event of
                                 default, interest shall accrue at a rate equal to alternate base rate
                                 plus the Applicable Margin for alternate base rate loans plus an
                                 additional two percentage points (2.00%) per annum and shall be
                                 payable upon demand.

INTEREST PAYMENT DATES:          Interest periods for LIBO rate Loans shall be, at the Borrower's option
                                 , one, two, three, six or, if available to all Lenders, nine or twelve
                                 months.  Interest on LIBO rate Loans (computed on the basis of a
                                 360-day year) shall be payable on the last business day of the
                                 applicable interest period for such Loans and, if earlier, at the
                                 end of each three month period after the commencement of such
                                 interest period.  Interest on alternate base rate Loans (computed
                                 on the basis of a 365-day year unless the interest rate thereon is
                                 based on the Federal Funds Rate, in which case, calculated on the
                                 basis of a 360-day) shall be payable quarterly in arrears.
UNUSED COMMITMENT                A per annum commitment fee (the "UNUSED COMMITMENT FEE") on the daily
FEES:                            average unused portion of the Revolving Facility shall accrue from the
                                 Closing Date and shall be payable quarterly in arrears and computed on the
                                 basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed at a rate to be determined.
VOLUNTARY PREPAYMENTS:           Revolving Loans and Term Loan will be voluntarily payable at any time
                                 without premium or penalty.  Voluntary Prepayments of the Term Facility
                                 shall be applied on a pro rata basis to the outstanding Term Loan and shall
                                 reduce scheduled amortization payments on a pro rata basis.  In all events,
                                 LIBO rate breakage costs, if any, shall be for the account of the Borrower.
MANDATORY PREPAYMENTS:           Customary for the type of transaction proposed and others to be reasonably
                                 specified by the Lead Arranger and the Syndication Agent, including, without
                                 limitation, as follows:


<PAGE>
                           (i)   100% of net proceeds from asset sales, proceeds from
                                 condemnations and the like and proceeds from loss or casualty,
                                 subject to customary reinvestment periods;
                           (ii)  100% of net proceeds from the sale or issuance of debt securities;
                           (iii) 50% of net proceeds from the issuance of equity securities (with
                                 exceptions to be agreed upon);
                           (iv)  50% of excess cash flow (to be defined).
                                 Mandatory prepayments shall be applied pro rata among to the Term Loan,
                                 ratably in accordance with the remaining amortization payments, and then to
                                 the prepayment of the outstanding principal amount (if any) under, and a
                                 reduction in, the Revolving Facility Commitment Amount.
SECURITY:                        The Credit Facilities will be secured by a first-priority perfected lien on: (i)
                                 all the property and assets (tangible and intangible) of the Borrower and its
                                 subsidiaries (both currently and future existing) and, (ii) all capital stock (or
                                 similar equity interests) of the Borrower and each existing and future direct
                                 and indirect subsidiary of the Borrower (provided, however, that no more
                                 than 65% of the capital stock (or similar equity interests) of non-U.S.
                                 subsidiaries that are direct subsidiaries of the Borrower or any of its U.S.
                                 subsidiaries will be required to be pledged as security) and (iii) all
                                 intercompany indebtedness in favor of the Borrower.
GUARANTEES:                      The Credit Facilities will be guaranteed by the Guarantors on a senior
                                 secured basis.
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING:           See Exhibit B.
FURTHER CONDITIONS               In addition to the conditions set forth in Exhibit B, the making of each Loan
PRECEDENT:                       and the issuance of each Letter of Credit will be conditioned upon (i) all
                                 representations in the Definitive DLJ Financing Documentation being true
                                 and correct in all material respects, (ii) prior written notice of borrowing or
                                 issuances as the case may be, and (iii) there being no matured or unmatured
                                 event of default.
REPRESENTATIONS AND              Customary for the type of transaction proposed and others to be reasonably
WARRANTIES:                      specified by the Lead Arranger and the Syndication Agent including, without
                                 limitation, organization and authorization, enforceability, financial condition,
                                 no material adverse changes, title to properties, litigation, payment of taxes,
                                 compliance with law, environmental liabilities, employee pension liabilities,
                                 solvency, and perfection of liens, all subject to negotiation.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS:           Customary for the type of transaction proposed and others to be reasonably
                                 specified by the Lead Arranger and the Syndication Agent including, without
                                 limitation, financial reporting, other information, maintenance of properties
                                 and insurance, compliance with law (including, without limitation, tax and
                                 environmental and margin regulations), investment company act, conduct of
                                 business and maintenance of existence, all subject to negotiation.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS:              Customary for the type of transaction proposed and others to be reasonably
                                 specified by the Lead Arranger and the Syndication Agent, including,
                                 without limitation, as follows, all subject to negotiation:


<PAGE>
                                 (i)  Restricting indebtedness (including, without limitation, sale leaseback
                                 (ii)   transactions and contingent liabilities).
                                 (iii)  Restricting the making of dividends or similar distributions (including
                                 (iv)  direct or indirect redemptions of common stock or preferred stock).
                                 (v)  Restricting liens and other encumbrances.
                                 (vi)  Restricting the sale of assets or similar transfers, other than in the
                                 (vii)  ordinary course of business.
                                 (viii)  Restricting the making of investments or acquisitions (in a single
                                 (ix)  transaction or in a series of related transactions and subject to certain
                                 (x)  exceptions and limitations to be mutually agreed upon).
                                 (xi)  Restricting mergers, consolidations and similar combinations.
                                 (xii)  Restrictions on transactions with affiliates.
                                 (xiii)  Restrictions on business activities.
                                 (xiv)  Limitations on capital expenditures.
                                 (xv)  Restricting the refinancing, defeasance, repurchase or prepayment of
                                 (xvi)  subordinated debt.
FINANCIAL COVENANTS:             Customary for the transaction proposed and others to be reasonably
                                 specified by the Lead Arranger and the Syndication Agent.  The financial
                                 covenants will be tested on a quarterly basis, with the definitions and
                                 applicable levels and ratios to be negotiated (all accounting terms to be
                                 interpreted, and all accounting determinations and computations to be made,
                                 on a consolidated basis and in accordance with generally accepted
                                 accounting principles).
EVENTS OF DEFAULT:               Customary for the type of transaction proposed and others to be reasonably
                                 specified by the Lead Arranger and the Syndication Agent, including,
                                 without limitation, a change of control (to be defined) and a cross default to
                                 other indebtedness of the Borrower.
MISCELLANEOUS:                   Customary provisions to be included, together with others to be reasonably
                                 specified by the Lead Arranger and the Syndication Agent, including,
                                 without limitation, the following:
                            1.   Customary indemnity and capital adequacy provisions, including but
                                 not limited to compensation in respect of taxes (including gross-up
                                 provisions for withholding taxes) and decreased profitability resulting
                                 from U.S. or foreign capital adequacy requirements, guidelines or
                                 policies or their interpretation or application, and any other customary
                                 yield and increased costs protection deemed necessary by the Lenders
                                 to provide customary protection.


<PAGE>
                            2.   The Lenders will be permitted to assign and participate Loans, notes
                                 and commitments in minimum amounts of $1.0 million.  Any
                                 assignments would be by novation and would require the consent of
                                 the Borrower and the Syndication Agent (unless such assignment was
                                 to another Lender or an affiliate of the assigning Lender or any other
                                 Lender), such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed or
                                 required by the Borrower following and during the continuance of a
                                 matured or unmatured event of default. Participations shall be without
                                 restrictions and participants will have the same benefits as the Lenders
                                 with regard to increased costs, capital adequacy, etc., and provision of
                                 information on the Borrower; provided, that the right of participants to
                                 vote on amendments, waivers, etc. will be limited to certain customary
                                 issues such as, without limitation, extension of the final scheduled
                                 maturity date of the Loans participated in by such participant.
                            3.   Indemnification of the Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent, the
                                 Administrative Agent, each of the Lenders and each of their respective
                                 affiliates, directors, officers, agents and employees (collectively, the
                                 "INDEMNIFIED PARTIES") from and against any losses, claims, damages,
                                 liabilities or other expenses substantially as set forth in Exhibit C
                                 hereto.
                            4.   The Borrower shall pay all fees and out-of-pocket expenses as set
                                 forth in the Fee Letter and Exhibit C hereto.
                            5.   Amendments and waivers of the Definitive Bank Financing
                                 Documentation will require the approval of Lenders holding more
                                 than 50% of the Loans and commitments, except that (i) certain
                                 amendments and waivers will require Lenders holding 100% of the
                                 Loans and commitments (including, without limitation, the release of
                                 all or substantially all of the collateral, the release of guarantors,
                                 commitment amount increases, reduction of the rate of interest and
                                 extension of due date for repayment) and (ii) certain amendments and
                                 waivers will require the consent of Lenders holding more than 50% of
                                 the Loans and commitments of specified tranches of the Credit
                                 Facilities.
                             6.  Waiver of jury trial.
                             7.  New York governing law and consent to New York jurisdiction.
COUNSEL TO THE LEAD ARRANGER,
SYNDICATION AGENT AND LENDERS:   Mayer, Brown & Platt.
</TABLE>


<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT B

CONDITIONS  TO  CLOSING

The  Commitment of DLJ Capital Funding is subject to the execution of Definitive
DLJ  Financing Documentation and to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent
as  set forth below. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms used in this Exhibit
have  the  meanings  provided in the commitment letter (including the term sheet
annexed  thereto)  to  which this Exhibit is annexed (such letter and term sheet
being,  collectively,  the  "COMMITMENT  LETTER").

(i)  The Transaction  shall have been  consummated in accordance with the terms,
     conditions  and  provisions  of  the  Recapitalization  Agreement  and  any
     material    related    documentation    (collectively,    the   "DEFINITIVE
     RECAPITALIZATION DOCUMENTS"), all of which will be satisfactory in form and
     substance  to  the  Syndication  Agent.  The  Definitive   Recapitalization
     Documents shall be in full force and effect.  There shall not have been any
     amendment,  modification or waiver of any of the terms or conditions of the
     Definitive  Recapitalization Documents without the prior written consent of
     the Syndication Agent;

(ii) Execution  and  delivery  of the  Definitive  DLJ  Financing  Documentation
     (including,  without limitation, the guarantees) prepared by counsel to the
     Syndication  Agent,  and  satisfactory  to the  Syndication  Agent  and the
     Lenders in all respects;

(iii)The Equity  Investment  shall have occurred and be on terms and  conditions
     reasonably  satisfactory in all respects to the Syndication Agent; (iv) The
     Borrower  shall have received  $175.0 million in net cash proceeds from the
     issuance of the WCAS Subordinated  Securities purchased for cash by WCAS CP
     III on terms and conditions reasonably  satisfactory in all respects to the
     Syndication Agent;

(v)  The Borrower and its  subsidiaries  shall have no indebtedness for borrowed
     money other than the Credit Facilities,  Subordinated  Securities and other
     indebtedness  to be agreed upon in an  aggregate  amount not to exceed $5.0
     million;

(vi) The corporate,  tax, capital and ownership structure (including articles of
     incorporation  and  by-laws),  shareholders  agreements  and  management of
     Politic  and its  subsidiaries,  before and after the  consummation  of the
     Transaction,  shall be reasonably  satisfactory to the Syndication Agent in
     all respects;

(vii)The Administrative  Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders,  shall have been
     granted on the Closing Date of the  Transaction  first  priority  perfected
     liens to the extent  required and described in the Definitive DLJ Financing
     Documentation  and shall have  received such other  reports,  documents and
     agreements  as  are  customarily  delivered  in  connection  with  security
     interests in real property assets;

(viii) All financing  provided (or to be provided) to the Borrower in connection
     with the Transaction shall have been provided (or shall have been provided)
     in  compliance  with  regulation  U and X of the Board of  Governors of the
     Federal Reserve System;

(ix) Receipt of (a) a consolidated  pro forma balance sheet and income statement
     of Politic and its  subsidiaries as of the most recent date practicable but
     no earlier than the end of the most recent fiscal quarter, giving effect to
     the  Transaction  and  the  transactions  contemplated  by  the  Definitive
     Recapitalization  Documents and reflecting  estimated  transaction  related
     accounting  adjustments  and  (b)  projected  annual  financial  statements
     (including  balance  sheets,  statements of  operations  and cash flows) of
     Politic  and its  subsidiaries  for the  eight-year  period  following  the
     Closing  Date  and  projected  quarterly  financial  statements  (including
     balance  sheets,  statements  of operation and cash flows) for the two year
     period  following the Closing Date;  all of the foregoing to be in form and
     substance satisfactory to the Syndication Agent;


<PAGE>
(x)  DLJ Capital  Funding shall have  received a  certificate  from a nationally
     recognized,  independent appraisal or valuation firm, in form and substance
     satisfactory to DLJ Capital Funding, supporting the conclusions that, after
     giving effect to the Transaction and the related transactions  contemplated
     hereby,  Politic and its subsidiaries  will not be insolvent or be rendered
     insolvent by the indebtedness incurred in connection therewith,  or be left
     with unreasonably small capital with which to engage in its businesses,  or
     have incurred debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature;

(xi) The  results  of  DLJ  Capital   Funding's   due   diligence  to  date  are
     satisfactory.  There shall be no  additional  information  disclosed  to or
     discovered  by  DLJ  Capital   Funding  which  DLJ  Capital  Funding  deems
     materially adverse in respect of the operations,  performance,  projections
     or prospects of Politic and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(xii)Absence of any material adverse change in the business,  assets,  condition
     (financial or otherwise), operations, performance,  properties, projections
     or prospects of Politic and its subsidiaries taken as a whole since the end
     of the  most  recently  ended  fiscal  year  for  which  audited  financial
     statements  have been  provided to DLJ Capital  Funding or in the facts and
     information as represented to date;

(xiii)  Receipt  of all  governmental,  shareholder  and  third  party  consents
     (including Hart-Scott-Rodino clearance) and approvals which are material in
     connection  with the  Transaction,  and the  related  financings  and other
     transactions  contemplated  hereby,  and the  expiration of all  applicable
     waiting periods  without any action being taken by any competent  authority
     that could restrain, prevent or impose any materially adverse conditions on
     the Transaction and no such law or regulation  shall be applicable which in
     the judgment of the Syndication Agent could have any such effect;

(xiv)Receipt of and  satisfaction  with  consolidated  financial  statements  of
     Politic and its  subsidiaries  including a balance  sheet,  income and cash
     flow  statement  and a  management  audit  letter for the fiscal year ended
     December 31, 1999,  audited by independent public accountants of recognized
     national standing  (evidencing  unqualified audit opinions) and prepared in
     conformity  with GAAP,  together  with the report  thereon;  (b)  unaudited
     selected financial  information of Politic meeting the requirements of Item
     301 (a) of Regulation  S-K for the two fiscal years  immediately  preceding
     the last three fiscal years; and (c) unaudited interim financial statements
     of  Politic,  prepared  in each case in the same  manner as the  historical
     audited statements for the most recently ended quarterly period and for the
     same quarterly period during the most recently ended fiscal year;

(xv) Except as previously  disclosed and which is acceptable to the  Syndication
     Agent, absence of any action, suit, investigation, litigation or proceeding
     pending or threatened in any court or before any arbitrator or governmental
     instrumentality  that  could  reasonably  be  expected  to have a  material
     adverse effect on the Transaction,  Politic and its subsidiaries, or any of
     the other  transactions  contemplated  hereby or on the  business,  assets,
     operations,   financial   position   or   prospects   of  Politic  and  its
     subsidiaries;  (xvi) The  Syndication  Agent shall have  received  opinions
     addressed to the Syndication  Agent and Lenders from counsel to the Company
     and  its  subsidiaries  satisfactory  to the  Syndication  Agent  as to the
     transactions  contemplated hereby (including without limitation  compliance
     with the tax and corporate aspects thereof,  compliance with all applicable
     securities  laws, and the perfection and priority of all liens securing the
     Credit Facilities), and such corporate resolutions,  certificates and other
     documents as the Syndication Agent shall reasonably request;

(xvii) Absence of any default under the Definitive  DLJ Financing  Documentation
     or the  Definitive  Recapitalization  Documents or event that,  with notice
     and/or  the  passage  of  time,  could  become  an  Event  of  Default  and
     satisfaction as to the accuracy of all representations and warranties under
     the   Definitive   DLJ   Financing    Documentation   or   the   Definitive
     Recapitalization Documents;

(xviii) All fees and  expenses due to the  Syndication  Agent and the Lenders as
     set forth in the Fee Letter or otherwise shall have been paid in full; and


<PAGE>
(xix)Absence  of any  material  disruption  or  material  adverse  change in the
     financial or capital  markets  generally or in the market for new issuances
     of syndicated loans or high yield  securities  which, in either case, could
     in the judgment of DLJ Capital Funding be expected to materially impair the
     satisfactory syndication of the Credit Facilities.


<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT C

                                 INDEMNIFICATION

     In  consideration  of  the  Commitment  given  by  DLJ Capital Funding with
respect  to  the  Transaction, described in the of which this Exhibit is a part,
Welsh  Carson  Anderson  & Stowe VIII, L.P. (the "INDEMNIFYING PARTY") agrees to
indemnify  and  hold  harmless  DLJ  Capital  Funding,  its affiliates, and each
person,  if  any,  who  controls  DLJ Capital Funding, or any of its affiliates,
within  the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "ACT") or the
Securities  Exchange  Act  of 1934, as amended (a "CONTROLLING PERSON"), and the
respective  partners,  agents,  employees, officers and directors of DLJ Capital
Funding,  its  affiliates, and any such Controlling Person (each an "INDEMNIFIED
PARTY"  and  collectively,  the "INDEMNIFIED PARTIES"), from and against any and
all  losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities  and  expenses  (including, without
limitation  and  as  incurred,  reasonable  costs of investigating, preparing or
defending  any  such  claim or action, whether or not the Indemnified Party is a
party thereto) arising out of, or in connection with any activities contemplated
by,  the  Commitment  or  any  other  services rendered in connection therewith,
including,  but not limited to, losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses
arising  out  of  or  based  upon  any  untrue  statement  or any alleged untrue
statement  of a material fact or any omission or any alleged omission to state a
material  fact  in any of the disclosure or offering or confidential information
documents  (the "DISCLOSURE DOCUMENTS") pertaining to any of the transactions or
proposed  transactions  contemplated  by  the  Commitment  Letter, including any
resale  or  refinancing of the Credit Facilities, provided that the Indemnifying
Party  will  not  be responsible for any claims, liabilities, losses, damages or
expenses  that  are  determined  by  final  judgment  of  a  court  of competent
jurisdiction  to  result  from the Indemnified Party's gross negligence, willful
misconduct or bad faith.  The Indemnifying Party also agree that (a) DLJ Capital
Funding  shall  have  no  liability  (except  for  breach  of  provisions of the
Commitment  Letter)  for  claims,  liabilities,  damages,  losses  or  expenses,
including  legal  fees,  incurred  by  the  Indemnifying  Party  unless they are
determined by final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to result from
DLJ Capital Funding's gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith and (ii)
DLJ  Capital  Funding  shall  in no event have any liability to the Indemnifying
Party  or  to  any  member  of  Politic  and  its  subsidiaries on any theory of
liability  for  special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed
to  direct,  actual  damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result
of,  the  Commitment  Letter.

     If  for any reason the foregoing indemnity is unavailable to an Indemnified
Party or  insufficient  to  hold  an Indemnified Party harmless, then in lieu of
indemnifying  such Indemnified Party, the Indemnifying Party shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such claims,
liabilities,  losses,  damages,  or  expenses  (i)  in  such  proportion  as  is
appropriate  to reflect the relative benefits received by the Indemnifying Party
on  the  one hand and by the Indemnified Party on the other from the Transaction
or  (ii)  if  the  allocation  provided  by  clause  (i)  is not permitted under
applicable  law,  in  such  proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative  benefits  received  by  the Indemnifying Party on the one hand and the
Indemnified  Party on the other, but also the relative fault of the Indemnifying
Party  and  the  Indemnified  Party  as  well  as  any  other relevant equitable
considerations.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Exhibit C, the aggregate
contribution  of  all  Indemnified  Parties  shall not exceed the amount of fees
actually received by the Indemnified Parties in connection with the Transaction.
It is hereby further agreed that the relative benefits to the Indemnifying Party
on  the  one  hand  and the Indemnified Parties on the other with respect to the
Transaction  shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as (i) the total value
of  the  Transaction bears to (ii) the fees paid to the Indemnified Parties with
respect  to  such  Transaction.  The relative fault of the Indemnifying Party on
the  one  hand  and  the  Indemnified  Parties  on the other with respect to the
Transaction shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any
untrue  or  alleged untrue statement of material fact or the omission or alleged
omission  to  state  a  material  fact  related  to  information supplied by the
Indemnifying  Party  or  by  the  Indemnified  Parties and the parties' relative
intent,  knowledge,  access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such  statement  or  omission.  No Indemnified Party shall have any liability to
the  Indemnifying  Party  or  any  other  person in connection with the services
rendered  pursuant  to  the  Commitment  except  for  the  liability for claims,
liabilities,  losses  or  damages  finally  determined  by  a court of competent
jurisdiction  to  have resulted from action taken or omitted to be taken by such
Indemnified  Party in bad faith or to be due to such Indemnified Party's willful
misconduct,  or  gross  negligence.  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.


<PAGE>
     The  indemnity,  contribution  and  expense  reimbursement  obligations set
forth  herein  (i)  shall be in addition to any liability the Indemnifying Party
may  have  to  any  Indemnified  Party  at  common  law or otherwise, (ii) shall
survive  the  termination of the Commitment and (iii) shall remain operative and
in full force and effect regardless or any investigation made by or on behalf of
any  Indemnified  Party.

     Unless  otherwise  defined  herein,  terms  used  in  this Exhibit have the
meanings provided  in the meanings provided in this commitment letter (including
the term sheet  annexed  thereto)  to which this Exhibit is annexed (such letter
and  term  sheet  being,  collectively,  the  "COMMITMENT  LETTER").


<PAGE>


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