HOOPER HOLMES INC
S-3/A, 2000-02-22
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<PAGE>


 As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 22, 2000
                                                      Registration No. 333-94729
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                ---------------

                              Amendment No. 2
                                       to
                                    Form S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                ---------------
                              Hooper Holmes, Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                New York                               22-1659359
    (State or other jurisdiction of       (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     incorporation or organization)

                               170 Mt. Airy Road
                        Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920
                                 (908) 766-5000
   (Address, including zip code, and telephone number of Principal Executive
                                    Offices)

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

                          Robert William Jewett, Esq.
                               170 Mt. Airy Road
                            Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
                                 (908) 766-5000
           (Name, address and telephone number of Agent for Service)

                                With a Copy to:
         Terence P. Quinn, Esq.                   Nick H. Varsam, Esq.
         Steptoe & Johnson LLP                       Bryan Cave LLP
       1330 Connecticut Avenue NW         One Metropolitan Square, Suite 3600
          Washington, DC 20036                  St. Louis, MO 63102-2750
             (202) 429-8167                          (314) 259-2000

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

   If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [_]

   If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with the dividend or
interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [_]

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

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

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

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

THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES
AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE
A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.

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

                                    PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

<TABLE>
      <S>                                                             <C>
      Registration fee............................................... $  21,006
      NASD filing fee................................................     8,457
      Legal fees.....................................................   350,000*
      Accounting fees................................................   100,000*
      Printing.......................................................   110,000*
      Miscellaneous..................................................    62,537*
                                                                      ---------
        Total........................................................ $ 650,000*
                                                                      =========
</TABLE>
- --------

* Estimated

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

   Sections 722 and 723 of the General Business Corporation Law of the State of
New York grant corporations the power to indemnify their directors and officers
in accordance with the provisions therein set forth.

   Article X of the by-laws of the registrant provides as follows:

                                Indemnification

   The Corporation shall (a) indemnify any person made a party to an action by
or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, by
reason of the fact that he, his testator or intestate, is or was a director or
officer of the Corporation, against the reasonable expenses, including
attorneys' fees, actually and necessarily incurred by him in connection with
the defense of such action, and/or with any appeal therein, and (b) indemnify
any person made, or threatened to be made, a party to any action or proceeding,
other than one by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in
its favor, whether civil or criminal, by reason of the fact that he, his
testator or intestate is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or
served any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee
benefit plan, or other enterprise in any capacity at the request of the
Corporation, against judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and
reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees, actually and necessarily
incurred as a result of such action or proceeding, or any appeal therein, in
each case to the fullest extent permissible under Sections 721 through 726 of
the New York Business Corporation Law or the indemnification provisions of any
successor statute.

   The Company has entered into indemnity agreements with certain of its
executive officers and directors. Each such Indemnity Agreement provides for
indemnification except as otherwise provided by New York law, against (i) in
the case of third party Proceedings (as defined in the Agreements), all
Expenses (as defined in such Agreements, and including attorneys fees),
judgments, fines and penalties actually and reasonably incurred in connection
with the defense or settlement of a Proceeding, and (ii) in the case of a
Proceeding by or in the right of the Company, amounts paid in settlement and
all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or
settlement of a Proceeding, in either case on account of service as an officer
or director of the Company, or, at the request of the Company, as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise (as defined in the Agreements). The Company's
obligations under each Agreement continue in force even though the officer
and/or director may have ceased to be an officer or director and inure to the
benefit of the heirs and personal representatives of the officer and/or
director. However, the Agreements provide that such officer and/or director is
not entitled to indemnity unless (i) with respect to third party Proceedings,
the officer and/or director acted in good faith, for a purpose which

                                      II-1
<PAGE>


he reasonably believed to be in, or in the case of service for any other
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise, not opposed to, the best interests of the Company and, in criminal
actions or proceedings, in addition, had no reasonable cause to believe that
his conduct was unlawful, and (ii) with respect to Proceedings by or in the
right of the Company, the officer and/or director acted in good faith, for a
purpose which he reasonably believed to be in, or in the case of service for
any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan
or other enterprise, not opposed to, the best interest of the Company, except
that in no case shall indemnification be made in this case in respect of (1) a
threatened action or a pending action which is settled or otherwise disposed
of, or (2) any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been
adjudged to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the
court in which the action was brought (or, if no action was brought, any court
of competent jurisdiction) determines upon application that, in view of all the
circumstances of the case, the officer and/or director is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnity for such portion of the settlement amount and expenses as
the court deems proper. In any case, to the extent an officer and/or director
is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any Proceeding or in
the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein (including the dismissal of
an action without prejudice) such officer and/or director shall be indemnified
against all Expenses incurred in connection therewith.

Item 16. Exhibits

<TABLE>
 <C>   <S>
   1.1 Revised Form of Underwriting Agreement
   2.1 Asset Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 of
       the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 17, 1999)
   2.2 Amendment to Asset Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to
       Exhibit 2.2 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
       November 12, 1999)
   4.1 Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement
       (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Form 10-Q
       for the quarter ended September 30, 1999)
   4.2 Form of Common Stock Certificate
   5.1 Opinion of Steptoe & Johnson LLP
  23.1 Consent of Steptoe & Johnson LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
 *23.2 Consent of KPMG LLP
 *23.3 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
 *24.1 Powers of Attorney (contained on the signature page)
</TABLE>
- --------

*Previously filed

Item 17. Undertakings

   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

     1. For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
  1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of
  this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a
  form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or
  (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this
  registration statement as of the time it was declared effective;

     2. For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act
  of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus
  shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
  securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
  time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;

     3. For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
  1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section
  13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where
  applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report
  pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is
  incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to
  be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
  and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
  initial bona fide offering thereof.

                                      II-2
<PAGE>

 Indemnification

   Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant
has been advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-3
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

   Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Amendment No. 2 to
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the city of Basking Ridge, state of New Jersey, on February
22, 2000.

                                             Hooper Holmes, Inc.

                                                   /s/ James M. McNamee
                                             By: ______________________________
                                                      James M. McNamee
                                                   Chairman of the Board,
                                               President and Chief Executive
                                                         Officer

   Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
No. 2 to Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                 Signature                            Title                  Date
                 ---------                            -----                  ----
<S>                                         <C>                        <C>
           /s/ James M. McNamee             Chairman of the Board,       February 22, 2000
___________________________________________  President and Chief
             James M. McNamee                Executive Officer

               /s/ Fred Lash                Senior Vice President,       February 22, 2000
___________________________________________  Chief Accounting and
                 Fred Lash                   Financial Officer

            /s/ G. Earle Wight*             Senior Vice President and    February 22, 2000
___________________________________________  Director
              G. Earle Wight

         /s/ Benjamin A. Currier*           Director                     February 22, 2000
___________________________________________
            Benjamin A. Currier

            /s/ John E. Nolan*              Director                     February 22, 2000
___________________________________________
               John E. Nolan

                                            Director
___________________________________________
            Kenneth R. Rossano

          /s/ Quentin J. Kennedy*           Director                     February 22, 2000
___________________________________________
            Quentin J. Kennedy

                                            Director
___________________________________________
            Elaine L. Rigolosi
</TABLE>

         /s/ James M. McNamee
   *By: _____________________________
        James M. McNamee
        Attorney-in-fact

                                      II-4
<PAGE>

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 Exhibit
 Number                       Description of Exhibit
 -------                      ----------------------
 <C>     <S>                                                                <C>
   1.1   Revised Form of Underwriting Agreement
   2.1   Asset Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
         99.2 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
         September 17, 1999)
   2.2   Amendment to Asset Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference
         to Exhibit 2.2 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed
         on November 12, 1999)
   4.1   Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement
         (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Form
         10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1999)
   4.2   Form of Common Stock Certificate
   5.1   Opinion of Steptoe & Johnson LLP
  23.1   Consent of Steptoe & Johnson LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
 *23.2   Consent of KPMG LLP
 *23.3   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
 *24.1   Powers of Attorney (included on signature page)
</TABLE>
- --------

*Previously filed.

<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 1.1

                                3,450,000 Shares
                                  Common Stock
                               ($0.04 Par Value)

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


                                              February __, 2000

A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
Dain Rauscher Incorporated
The Robinson-Humphrey Company, LLC
SG Cowen Securities Corporation
 As Representatives of the Several Underwriters
  c/o A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
  One North Jefferson Avenue
  St. Louis, Missouri 63103

          The undersigned, Hooper Holmes, Inc., a New York corporation (the
"Company"), and the persons listed on Schedule I hereto (the "Selling
Shareholders"), hereby address you as the representatives (the
"Representatives") of each of the persons, firms and corporations listed on
Schedule II hereto (collectively, the "Underwriters") and hereby confirm their
agreement with the several Underwriters as follows:

          1.  Description of Shares.  The Company proposes to issue and sell to
the Underwriters Three Million (3,000,000) shares of its Common Stock, par value
$0.04 per share, (the "Firm Shares").  Solely for the purpose of covering over-
allotments in the sale of the Firm Shares, each of the Company and the Selling
Shareholders proposes to grant to the Underwriters the right to purchase up to
an additional Four Hundred Fifty Thousand (450,000) shares of Common Stock (the
"Option Shares"), as provided in Section 3 of this Agreement.  The Firm Shares
and the Option Shares are herein sometimes referred to as the "Shares" and are
more fully described in the Prospectus hereinafter defined.

          2.  Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Firm Shares.  On the basis of the
representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the
terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to the
Underwriters under the terms hereof the Firm Shares, and each such Underwriter
agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, pro rata, at a
purchase price of $___ per share, the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite
the name of such Underwriter in Schedule II hereto.

          The Company will deliver definitive certificates (for purposes herein,
"definitive certificates" will include any electronic format equivalent
reasonably acceptable to the
<PAGE>

Representatives) for the Firm Shares at the office of A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.,
One North Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63103 ("Edwards' Office"), or
such other place as you and the Company may mutually agree upon, for the
accounts of the Underwriters against payment to the Company of the purchase
price for the Firm Shares sold by them to the several Underwriters by wire
transfer of funds payable to the order of the Company, and delivered to One
North Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, or at such other place as may
be agreed upon between you and the Company (the "Place of Closing"), at 9:00
a.m., St. Louis time, on ____________, 2000, or at such other time and date not
later than five full business days thereafter as you and the Company may agree,
such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called the "Closing
Date."

          The certificates for the Firm Shares so to be delivered will be made
available to you for inspection at Edwards' Office (or such other place as you
and the Company may mutually agree upon) at least one full business day prior to
the Closing Date and will be in such names and denominations as you may request
at least forty-eight hours prior to the Closing Date.

          It is understood that an Underwriter, individually, may (but shall not
be obligated to) make payment on behalf of the other Underwriters whose funds
shall not have been received prior to the Closing Date for Shares to be
purchased by such Underwriter.  Any such payment by an Underwriter shall not
relieve the other Underwriters of any of their obligations hereunder.

          It is understood that the Underwriters propose to offer the Shares to
the public upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Registration Statement
hereinafter defined.

          3.  Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Option Shares.  The Company and
the Selling Shareholders hereby grant options to the Underwriters to purchase
from them, on a pro rata basis, up to Four Hundred Fifty Thousand (450,000)
Option Shares on the same terms and conditions as the Firm Shares; provided,
however, that such options may be exercised only for the purpose of covering any
over-allotments which may be made by them in the sale of the Firm Shares.  No
Option Shares shall be sold or delivered unless the Firm Shares previously have
been, or simultaneously are, sold and delivered.  Each Selling Shareholder shall
sell up to that number of Option Shares set forth opposite the name of such
Selling Shareholder on Schedule I hereto.

          The options are exercisable on behalf of the several Underwriters by
you, as Representatives, at any time, and from time to time, before the
expiration of 30 days from the date of the Prospectus (or, if such 30th day
shall be a Saturday or Sunday or a holiday, on the next day thereafter when the
American Stock Exchange is open for trading), for the purchase of all or part of
the Option Shares covered thereby, by notice given by you to the Company and the
Selling Shareholders in the manner provided in Section 13 hereof, setting forth
the number of Option Shares as to which the Underwriters are exercising the
options, and the date of delivery of said Option Shares, which date shall not be
more than five business days after such notice unless otherwise agreed to by the
parties.  You may terminate the options at any time, as to any

                                       2
<PAGE>

unexercised portion thereof, by giving written notice to the Company and the
Selling Shareholders to such effect.

          You, as Representatives, shall make such allocation of the Option
Shares among the Underwriters as may be required to eliminate purchases of
fractional Shares.

          Delivery of the Option Shares with respect to which the options shall
have been exercised shall be made to or upon your order at Edwards' Office (or
at such other place as you and the Company may mutually agree upon), against
payment by you of the per share purchase price to the Company and the Selling
Shareholders by wire transfer of funds.  Such payment and delivery shall be made
at 9:00 a.m., St. Louis time, on the date designated in the notice given by you
as above provided for (which may be the same as the Closing Date), unless some
other date and time are agreed upon, which date and time of payment and delivery
are called the "Option Closing Date."  The certificates for the Option Shares so
to be delivered will be made available to you for inspection at Edwards' Office
at least one full business day prior to the Option Closing Date and will be in
such names and denominations as you may request at least forty-eight hours prior
to the Option Closing Date.  On the Option Closing Date, the Company shall
provide the Underwriters such representations, warranties, agreements, opinions,
letters, certificates and covenants with respect to the Option Shares as are
required to be delivered on the Closing Date with respect to the Firm Shares.

          4.  Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Company and the
Selling Shareholders.  (a)  The Company represents and warrants to and agrees
with each Underwriter that:

               (i) A registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-
     94729) with respect to the Shares, including a preliminary prospectus, and
     such amendments to such registration statement as may have been required to
     the date of this Agreement, has been carefully prepared by the Company
     pursuant to and in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act
     of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and the rules and regulations
     thereunder (the "1933 Act Rules and Regulations") of the Securities and
     Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and has been filed with the SEC under the
     1933 Act.  The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the
     1933 Act.  Copies of such registration statement, including any amendments
     thereto, each related preliminary prospectus (meeting the requirements of
     Rule 430 or 430A of the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations) contained therein,
     and the exhibits, financial statements and schedules thereto have
     heretofore been delivered by the Company to you. If such registration
     statement has not become effective under the 1933 Act, a further amendment
     to such registration statement, including a form of final prospectus,
     necessary to permit such registration statement to become effective will be
     filed promptly by the Company with the SEC.  If such registration statement
     has become effective under the 1933 Act, a final prospectus containing
     information permitted to be omitted at the time of effectiveness by Rule
     430A of the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations will be filed promptly by the
     Company

                                       3
<PAGE>

     with the SEC in accordance with Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Rules and
     Regulations. The term "Registration Statement" as used herein means the
     registration statement as amended at the time it becomes effective under
     the 1933 Act (the "Effective Date"), including financial statements and all
     exhibits and all documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to
     Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act and, if applicable, the information
     deemed to be included by Rule 430A of the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations.
     If it is contemplated, at the time this Agreement is executed, that a
     post-effective amendment to such registration statement will be filed and
     must be declared effective before the offering of Shares may commence, the
     term "Registration Statement" as used herein means the registration
     statement as amended by said post-effective amendment. If an abbreviated
     registration statement is prepared and filed with the SEC in accordance
     with Rule 462(b) under the 1933 Act (an "Abbreviated Registration
     Statement"), the term "Registration Statement" as used in this Agreement
     includes the Abbreviated Registration Statement. The term "Prospectus" as
     used herein means (i) the prospectus as first filed with the SEC pursuant
     to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations, or (ii) if no such
     filing is required, the form of final prospectus included in the
     Registration Statement at the Effective Date or (iii) if a Term Sheet or
     Abbreviated Term Sheet (as such terms are defined in Rule 434(b) and
     434(c), respectively, of the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations) is filed with
     the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b)(7) of the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations,
     the Term Sheet or Abbreviated Term Sheet and the last Preliminary
     Prospectus filed with the SEC prior to the time the Registration Statement
     became effective, taken together, including, in each case, the documents
     incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the
     1933 Act. The term "Preliminary Prospectus" as used herein shall mean a
     preliminary prospectus as contemplated by Rule 430 or 430A of the 1933 Act
     Rules and Regulations included at any time in the Registration Statement.
     For purposes of this Agreement, the words "amend," "amendment," "amended,"
     "supplement" or "supplemented" with respect to the Registration Statement
     or the Prospectus shall mean amendments or supplements to the Registration
     Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, as well as documents filed
     after the date of this Agreement and prior to the completion of the
     distribution of the Shares and incorporated by reference therein as
     described above.

               (ii) Neither the SEC nor any state or other jurisdiction or other
     regulatory body has issued, and neither is, to the knowledge of the
     Company, threatening to issue, any stop order under the 1933 Act or other
     order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (as
     amended or supplemented) or preventing or suspending the use of any
     Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or suspending the qualification or
     registration of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction nor
     instituted or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened to institute
     proceedings for any such purpose.  Each Preliminary Prospectus at its date
     of issue, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendments
     or supplements thereto contain or will contain, as the case may be, all
     statements which are required to be stated therein by, and in all material
     respects conform or will conform, as the case may be, to the requirements
     of, the 1933

                                       4
<PAGE>

     Act and the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations. Neither the Registration
     Statement nor any amendment thereto, as of the applicable effective date,
     contains or will contain, as the case may be, any untrue statement of a
     material fact or omits or will omit to state any material fact required to
     be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, not
     misleading, and neither any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus nor any
     supplement thereto contains or will contain, as the case may be, any untrue
     statement of a material fact or omits or will omit to state any material
     fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
     therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
     misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representation or
     warranty as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration
     Statement or the Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, in
     reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the
     Company relating to the Underwriters by or on behalf of the Underwriters
     expressly for use in the preparation thereof (as provided in Section 14
     hereof). There is no contract or document required to be described in the
     Registration Statement or Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the
     Registration Statement which is not described or filed as required. The
     documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus pursuant to Item 12
     of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act, at the time they were filed with the SEC,
     complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and the rules and
     regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder (the "1934 Act Rules and
     Regulations"). Any future documents incorporated by reference in the
     Prospectus pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act, when they
     are so filed, will comply in all material respects with the requirements of
     the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Rules and Regulations; no such incorporated
     document contained or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact
     or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
     to make the statements therein not misleading; and, when read together and
     with the other information in the Prospectus, at the time the Registration
     Statement became effective and at the Closing Date, each such incorporated
     document did not or will not, as the case may be, contain an untrue
     statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
     be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
     misleading.

               (iii)  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
     delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and legally binding
     obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance
     with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
     insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other
     similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and by
     general principles of equity (the "Exceptions").

               (iv) The Company and its Active Subsidiaries have been duly
     organized and are validly existing as corporations in good standing under
     the laws of the states or other jurisdictions in which they are
     incorporated, with full power and authority (corporate and other) to own,
     lease and operate their properties and conduct their businesses as
     described

                                       5
<PAGE>

     in the Prospectus and, with respect to the Company, to execute and deliver,
     and perform the Company's obligations under, this Agreement; the Company
     and its Active Subsidiaries are duly qualified to do business as foreign
     corporations in good standing in each state or other jurisdiction in which
     their ownership or leasing of property or conduct of business legally
     requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified,
     individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
     The term "Material Adverse Effect" as used herein means any material
     adverse effect on the condition (financial or other), net worth, business,
     affairs, management, prospects, results of operations or cash flow of the
     Company and its Active Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. The entities listed
     on Exhibit A hereto are the only subsidiaries, direct or indirect, of the
     Company. The term "Active Subsidiaries" as used herein means the active
     subsidiaries, direct or indirect, of the Company, which are identified as
     such on Exhibit A. Each of the Company's inactive subsidiaries has minimal
     or no assets and no active operations. The Company owns, directly or
     indirectly through other subsidiaries, the percentage indicated on Exhibit
     A of the outstanding shares of capital stock or other securities evidencing
     equity ownership of each of its subsidiaries.

               (v) Neither the Company nor any of its Active Subsidiaries has
     sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements
     included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus any material loss
     or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other
     calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or
     court or governmental action, order or decree.  Otherwise than as set forth
     in the Prospectus and, since the respective dates as of which information
     is given in the Prospectus, there has not been any change in the capital
     stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
     material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective
     material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs, management,
     financial position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the
     Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, otherwise than as set forth
     in the Prospectus.

               (vi) The issuance and sale of the Shares and the execution,
     delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, and the
     consummation of the transactions herein contemplated, will not conflict
     with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions
     of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition
     of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any properties or assets of the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of
     trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company
     or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of
     its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the properties or assets of
     the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, except to such extent
     as, individually or in the aggregate, does not have a Material Adverse
     Effect, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of
     the Company's certificate of incorporation or bylaws or any statute, rule,
     regulation or other law, or any order or judgment, of any court or
     governmental agency or body having

                                       6
<PAGE>

     jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their
     properties; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or
     qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is
     required for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the
     issuance and sale of the Shares or the consummation of the transactions
     contemplated hereby, except such as have been, or will be prior to the
     Closing Date, obtained under the 1933 Act or as may be required by the
     National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") and such
     consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may
     be required under state securities laws in connection with the purchase and
     distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters.

               (vii)  The Company has duly and validly authorized capital stock
     as set forth in the Prospectus; all outstanding shares of Common Stock of
     the Company and the Shares conform, or when issued will conform, to the
     description thereof in the Prospectus and have been, or, when issued and
     paid for in the manner described herein will be, duly authorized, validly
     issued, fully paid and non-assessable; and the issuance of the Shares to be
     purchased from the Company hereunder is not subject to preemptive or other
     similar rights, or any restriction upon the voting or transfer thereof
     pursuant to applicable law or the Company's certificate of incorporation,
     by-laws or governing documents or any agreement to which the Company or any
     of its subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them may be bound.  All
     corporate action required to be taken by the Company for the authorization,
     issuance and sale of the Shares has been duly and validly taken.  Except as
     disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no outstanding subscriptions,
     rights, warrants, options, calls, convertible securities, commitments of
     sale or rights related to or entitling any person to purchase or otherwise
     to acquire any shares of, or any security convertible into or exchangeable
     or exercisable for, the capital stock of, or other ownership interest in,
     the Company.  The outstanding shares of capital stock or other securities
     evidencing equity ownership of all of the Company's subsidiaries excluding
     Heritage Labs International, L.L.C. and the Company's 55% ownership
     interest in Heritage Labs International, L.L.C. have been duly authorized
     and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the
     Company free and clear of any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, charge
     or adverse claim and are not the subject of any agreement or understanding
     with any person and were not issued in violation of any preemptive or
     similar rights; and there are no outstanding subscriptions, rights,
     warrants, options, calls, convertible securities, commitments of sale or
     instruments related to or entitling any person to purchase or otherwise
     acquire any shares of, or any security convertible into or exchangeable or
     exercisable for, the capital stock of, or other ownership interest in any
     of the subsidiaries.

               (viii)  The statements set forth or incorporated by reference in
     the Prospectus describing the Shares and this Agreement, insofar as they
     purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to
     therein, are accurate, complete and fair.

                                       7
<PAGE>

               (ix) Each of the Company and its Active Subsidiaries is in
     possession of and is operating in compliance with all franchises, grants,
     authorizations, licenses, certificates, permits, easements, consents,
     orders and approvals ("Permits") from all state, federal, foreign and other
     regulatory authorities, and has satisfied the requirements imposed by
     regulatory bodies, administrative agencies or other governmental bodies,
     agencies or officials, that are required for the Company and its Active
     Subsidiaries lawfully to own, lease and operate their properties and
     conduct their businesses as described in the Prospectus, and, each of the
     Company and its Active Subsidiaries is conducting its business in
     compliance with all of the laws, rules and regulations of each jurisdiction
     in which it conducts its business, in each case with such exceptions,
     individually or in the aggregate, as would not have a Material Adverse
     Effect; each of the Company and its Active Subsidiaries has filed all
     notices, reports, documents or other information ("Notices") required to be
     filed under applicable laws, rules and regulations, in each case, with such
     exceptions, individually or in the aggregate, as would not have a Material
     Adverse Effect; and, except as otherwise specifically described in the
     Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its Active Subsidiaries has
     received any notification from any court or governmental body, authority or
     agency, relating to the revocation or modification of any such Permit or,
     to the effect that any additional authorization, approval, order, consent,
     license, certificate, permit, registration or qualification ("Approvals")
     from such regulatory authority is needed to be obtained by any of them, in
     any case where it could be reasonably expected that obtaining such
     Approvals or the failure to obtain such Approvals, individually or in the
     aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

               (x) The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all necessary
     federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns and, except
     with respect to taxes being contested in good faith, paid all taxes shown
     as due thereon; all such tax returns are complete and correct in all
     material respects; all tax liabilities are adequately provided for on the
     books of the Company and its subsidiaries except to such extent as would
     not have a Material Adverse Effect; the Company and its subsidiaries have
     made all necessary payroll tax payments and are current and up-to-date,
     except to such extent as would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and the
     Company and its subsidiaries have no knowledge of any tax proceeding or
     action pending or threatened against the Company or its subsidiaries which,
     individually or in the aggregate, might have a Material Adverse Effect.

               (xi) Except as described in the Prospectus, the Company and its
     Active Subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms,
     adequate patents, patent licenses, trademarks, service marks and trade
     names necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, and neither
     the Company nor any of its Active Subsidiaries has received any notice of
     infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to
     any patents, patent licenses, trademarks, service marks or trade names
     which,

                                       8
<PAGE>

     individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable
     decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

               (xii)  The Company and its Active Subsidiaries have good and
     marketable title in fee simple to all items of real property and good and
     marketable title to all personal property owned by them, in each case free
     and clear of all liens, encumbrances, restrictions and defects except such
     as are described in the Prospectus or do not materially affect the value of
     such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be
     made of such property; and any property held under lease or sublease by the
     Company or any of its Active Subsidiaries is held under valid, subsisting
     and enforceable leases or subleases with such exceptions as are not
     material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of
     such property by the Company and its Active Subsidiaries; and neither the
     Company nor any of its Active Subsidiaries has any notice or knowledge of
     any material claim of any sort which has been, or may be, asserted by
     anyone adverse to the Company's or any of its Active Subsidiaries rights as
     lessee or sublessee under any lease or sublease described above, or
     affecting or questioning the Company's or any of its Active Subsidiaries'
     rights to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises
     under any such lease or sublease in conflict with the terms thereof.

               (xiii)  Except as described in the Prospectus, there is no
     factual basis for any action, suit or other proceeding involving the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their material assets for any
     failure of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any predecessor
     thereof, to comply with any requirements of federal, state or local
     regulation relating to air, water, solid waste management, hazardous or
     toxic substances, or the protection of health or the environment.  Except
     as described in the Prospectus, none of the property owned or leased by the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries is contaminated with any waste or
     hazardous substances, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
     may be deemed an "owner or operator" of a "facility" or "vessel" which
     owns, possesses, transports, generates or disposes of a "hazardous
     substance" as those terms are defined in (S)9601 of the Comprehensive
     Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C.
     (S)9601 et seq.
             ------

               (xiv)  No labor disturbance exists with the employees of the
     Company or any of its Active Subsidiaries or is imminent which,
     individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.
     None of the employees of the Company or any of its Active Subsidiaries is
     represented by a union and, to the best knowledge of the Company and its
     Active Subsidiaries, no union organizing activities are taking place.
     Neither the Company nor any of its Active Subsidiaries has violated any
     federal, state or local law or foreign law relating to discrimination in
     hiring, promotion or pay of employees, nor any applicable wage or hour
     laws, or the rules and regulations thereunder, or analogous foreign laws
     and regulations, which might, individually or in the aggregate, result in a
     Material Adverse Effect.

                                       9
<PAGE>

               (xv) The Company and its Active Subsidiaries are in compliance in
     all material respects with all presently applicable provisions of the
     Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the
     regulations and published interpretations thereunder ("ERISA"); no
     "reportable event" (as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any
     "pension plan" (as defined in ERISA) for which the Company and its Active
     Subsidiaries would have any liability; the Company and its Active
     Subsidiaries have not incurred and do not expect to incur liability under
     (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from,
     any "pension plan" or (ii) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Internal Revenue
     Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations and published
     interpretations thereunder (the "Code"); and each "pension plan" for which
     the Company or any of its Active Subsidiaries would have any liability that
     is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so
     qualified in all material respects, and nothing has occurred, whether by
     action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such
     qualification.

               (xvi)  The Company and its Active Subsidiaries maintain insurance
     of the types and in the amounts generally deemed adequate for its business,
     including, but not limited to, directors' and officers' insurance,
     insurance covering real and personal property owned or leased by the
     Company and its Active Subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction,
     acts of vandalism and all other risks customarily insured against, all of
     which insurance is in full force and effect.  Neither the Company nor any
     of its Active Subsidiaries has been refused any insurance coverage sought
     or applied for, and the Company has no reason to believe that it and its
     Active Subsidiaries will not be able to renew their existing insurance
     coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage
     from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a
     cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

               (xvii)  Neither the Company nor any of its Active Subsidiaries
     is, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would be, in
     default or violation with respect to its certificate of incorporation or
     by-laws.  Neither the Company nor any of its Active Subsidiaries is, or
     with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would be, in default in
     the performance or observance of any material obligation, agreement,
     covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
     loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company
     or any of its Active Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any
     of its Active Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the properties or
     assets of the Company or any of its Active Subsidiaries is subject, or in
     violation of any statutes, laws, ordinances or governmental rules or
     regulations or any orders or decrees to which it is subject, including,
     without limitation, Section 13 of the 1934 Act, which default or violation,
     individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.
     Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has, at any time during the
     past five years, (A) made any unlawful contributions to any candidate for
     any political office, or failed fully to disclose any contribution in
     violation of law, or (B) made any payment to any state, federal or foreign
     government official, or other person

                                       10
<PAGE>

     charged with similar public or quasi-public duty (other than payment
     required or permitted by applicable law).

               (xviii)  Other than as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no
     legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of
     its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any
     of its subsidiaries is the subject that, if determined adversely to the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate
     have a Material Adverse Effect or which would materially and adversely
     affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or which is
     required to be disclosed in the Prospectus; to the best of the Company's
     knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated.

               (xix)  The Company is not and, after giving effect to the
     offering and sale of the Shares, will not be a "holding company," or a
     "subsidiary company" of a "holding company," or an "affiliate" of a
     "holding company" or of a "subsidiary company," as such terms are defined
     in the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended (the "1935
     Act").

               (xx) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering
     and sale of the Shares, will not be an "investment company" or an entity
     "controlled" by an "investment company," as such terms are defined in the
     Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").

               (xxi)  KPMG LLP, the accounting firm which has certified the
     financial statements of the Company filed with or incorporated by reference
     in and as a part of the Registration Statement, and, to the best knowledge
     of the Company, Ernst & Young LLP, the accounting firm which has certified
     the financial statements of Paramedical Services of America, Inc. filed
     with or incorporated by reference in and as a part of the Registration
     Statement, are independent public accounting firms within the meaning of
     the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations.  The Company and each
     of its Active Subsidiaries maintains a system of internal accounting
     controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that: (1) transactions
     are executed in accordance with management's general or specific
     authorizations; (2) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
     preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
     accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (3) access
     to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or
     specific authorization; and (4) the recorded accounts for assets is
     compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate
     action is taken with respect thereto.  The consolidated financial
     statements and schedules of the Company, including the notes thereto, filed
     with (or incorporated by reference) and as a part of the Registration
     Statement or Prospectus, are accurate in all material respects and present
     fairly the financial condition of the Company and its subsidiaries as of
     the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of operations and
     changes in financial position and

                                       11
<PAGE>

     consolidated statements of cash flow for the respective periods covered
     thereby, all in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
     applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved except as
     otherwise disclosed therein. All adjustments necessary for a fair
     presentation of results for such periods have been made. The selected
     financial data of the Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated
     by reference in the Registration Statement and Prospectus present fairly
     the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent
     with that of the audited financial statements. Any operating or other
     statistical data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
     Statement and Prospectus comply in all material respects with the 1933 Act
     and the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations and present fairly the information
     shown therein. The pro forma financial statements (including the notes
     thereto) and the other pro forma financial information included in the
     Prospectus (A) comply as to form in all material respects with the
     applicable requirements of Regulation S-X for Form S-3 promulgated under
     the 1933 Act, as amended, and (B) have been properly computed on the bases
     described therein; the assumptions used in the preparation of the pro forma
     financial data and other pro forma financial information included in the
     Prospectus are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate
     to give effect to the transactions or circumstances referred to therein;

               (xxii)  Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, no holder of any
     security of the Company has any right to require registration of shares of
     Common Stock or any other security of the Company because of the filing of
     the Registration Statement or the consummation of the transactions
     contemplated hereby, and, except as disclosed in the Prospectus, no person
     has the right to require registration under the 1933 Act of any shares of
     Common Stock or other securities of the Company.  No person has the right,
     contractual or otherwise, to cause the Company to permit such person to
     underwrite the sale of any of the Shares.  Except for this Agreement, there
     are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company or any
     of its subsidiaries and any person that would give rise to a valid claim
     against the Company, its subsidiaries or any Underwriter for a brokerage
     commission, finder's fee or like payment in connection with the issuance,
     purchase and sale of the Shares.

               (xxiii)  The Company has not distributed and, prior to the later
     to occur of (i) the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, if any, and
     (ii) completion of the distribution of the Shares, will not distribute any
     offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares
     other than the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the
     Prospectus.

               (xxiv)  The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or
     indirectly, any action designed to or which might reasonably be expected to
     cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the
     Company's Common Stock, and the Company is not aware of any such action
     taken or to be taken by affiliates of the Company.

                                       12
<PAGE>

          (b)  Each Selling Shareholder severally represents and warrants to and
agrees with each Underwriter and the Company that:

               (i)   All consents, approvals, authorizations and orders
     necessary for the execution and delivery by it or him of this Agreement,
     and the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney (as defined herein) and the
     sale and delivery of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder
     hereunder and thereunder have been given and are in full force and effect
     on the date hereof and will be in full force and effect on the Option
     Closing Date, if any. This Agreement and the Custody Agreement and Power of
     Attorney have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf
     of such Selling Shareholder and are the valid and legally binding
     obligations of such Selling Shareholder enforceable in accordance with
     their terms except as enforceability may be limited by the Exceptions.

               (ii)  Such Selling Shareholder has, and on the Option Closing
     Date, if any, will have good, valid and marketable title to the Shares to
     be sold by such Selling Shareholder, free and clear of all liens,
     mortgages, pledges, encumbrances, claims, equities and security interests
     whatsoever, including any restriction on transfer other than pursuant to
     this Agreement and the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney referred to
     herein, and now has, and on the Option Closing Date, if any, will have,
     full right, power and authority, and any approval required by law, to enter
     into this Agreement and the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney and to
     sell, assign, transfer and deliver the Shares to be sold by such Selling
     Shareholder hereunder.

               (iii) Upon delivery of and payment for such Shares hereunder,
     the several Underwriters will acquire good, valid and marketable title to
     such Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder hereunder, free and
     clear of all liens, mortgages, pledges, encumbrances, claims, equities and
     security interests whatsoever.

               (iv)  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
     and the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney by such Selling
     Shareholder, and the consummation by such Selling Shareholder of the
     transactions contemplated herein and therein will not conflict with or
     result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or
     constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any
     lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of such
     Selling Shareholder under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan
     agreement or other agreement or instrument to which such Selling
     Shareholder is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of the
     properties or assets of such Selling Shareholder is subject (or any
     certificate or articles of incorporation or bylaws, partnership agreement,
     trust document or articles of association of such Selling Shareholder, as
     applicable), or any order or decree, or statute, law, ordinance, rule or
     regulation applicable to such Selling

                                       13
<PAGE>

     Shareholder of any court or of any governmental agency, authority or body
     having jurisdiction over such Selling Shareholder or its properties or
     assets.

               (v)    Such Selling Shareholder does not have any knowledge or
     any reason to believe that the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or
     any amendment or supplement thereto) contains any untrue statement of a
     material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated
     therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The
     representations and warranties of such Selling Shareholder in the Custody
     Agreement and Power of Attorney are, and on the Option Closing Date, if
     any, will be true and correct.

               (vi)   Such Selling Shareholder has not taken and will not take,
     directly or indirectly, any action designed to or which might be reasonably
     expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price
     of the Common Stock, and such Selling Shareholder is not aware of any such
     action taken or to be taken by affiliates of such Selling Shareholder.

               (vii)  When the Registration Statement becomes effective and at
     all times subsequent thereto, such information in the Registration
     Statement and Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto as
     specifically relates to such Selling Shareholder will not contain any
     untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
     required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
     not misleading.

               (viii) Certificates in negotiable form representing all of the
     Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder hereunder have been placed in
     the custody of Fred Lash (the "Custodian") under a Custody Agreement and
     Power of Attorney (the "Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney"), duly
     executed and delivered by such Selling Shareholder, with the Custodian
     having the authority to deliver the Shares to be sold by such Selling
     Shareholder hereunder, and such Selling Shareholder has duly executed and
     delivered the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney appointing Fred Lash
     and Robert William Jewett as such Selling Shareholder's agents and
     attorneys-in-fact (the "Attorneys-in-Fact") with the Attorneys-in-Fact
     having authority to execute and deliver this Agreement on behalf of such
     Selling Shareholder, to determine the purchase price to be paid by the
     Underwriters to the Selling Shareholders as provided in Section 2, to
     authorize the delivery of the Shares to be sold by it or him hereunder and
     otherwise to act on behalf of such Selling Shareholder in connection with
     the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and such Custody Agreement.

               (ix)   The Shares represented by the certificates held in custody
     for such Selling Shareholder under the Custody Agreement and Power of
     Attorney are subject to the interests of the Underwriters hereunder, and
     the arrangements made by such Selling Shareholder for such custody, and the
     appointment by such Selling Shareholder of the

                                       14
<PAGE>

     Custodian and of the Attorneys-in-Fact under the Custody Agreement and
     Power of Attorney, are, except as specifically provided therein,
     irrevocable.

               (x)    The obligations of such Selling Shareholder hereunder and
     under the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney shall not be terminated
     by any Selling Shareholder or operation of law, whether by the death or
     incapacity of any individual Selling Shareholder or, in the case of an
     estate or trust, by the death or incapacity of any executor or trustee or
     the termination of such estate or trust, or, in the case of a partnership,
     corporation or other entity, upon any dissolution, winding up, distribution
     of assets or other event affecting the legal existence of such Selling
     Shareholder, or by the occurrence of any other event; and if any individual
     Selling Shareholder or any such executor or trustee should die or become
     incapacitated, or if any such estate or trust should be terminated, or if
     any such partnership, corporation or other entity should dissolve, wind up
     or distribute assets or any other event affecting the legal existence of
     such Selling Shareholder should occur, or if any other such event should
     occur before the delivery of the Shares hereunder, certificates
     representing the Shares shall be delivered by or on behalf of each Selling
     Shareholder in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement
     and of the Custody Agreement; and actions taken by the Custodian or by the
     Attorneys-in-Fact pursuant to the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney
     shall be as valid as if such death, incapacity, termination, dissolution,
     winding up, distribution of assets or other event had not occurred,
     regardless of whether or not the Custodian or Attorneys-in-Fact, or any of
     them, shall have received notice of such death, incapacity, termination,
     dissolution, winding up, distribution of assets or other event.

               (xi)   Such Selling Shareholder is not prompted to sell shares of
     Common Stock by any information concerning the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries which is not included in the Registration Statement.

               (xii)  Such Selling Shareholder has not distributed and, prior to
     the later to occur of (i) the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, if
     any, and (ii) completion of the distribution of the Shares, will not
     distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale
     of the Shares other than the Registration Statement, the Preliminary
     Prospectus or the Prospectus.

          (c) Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered
to you or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and
warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby;
and any certificate signed by or on behalf of the Selling Shareholders as such
and delivered to you or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a
representation and warranty by the Selling Shareholders to each Underwriter as
to the matters covered thereby.

          5.  Additional Covenants.  The Company and, where expressly indicated,
the Selling Shareholders covenant and agree with the several Underwriters that:

                                       15
<PAGE>

          (a) The Company will timely transmit copies of the Prospectus, and any
amendments or supplements thereto, or a Term Sheet or Abbreviated Term Sheet, as
applicable, to the SEC for filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Rules
and Regulations.

          (b) The Company will deliver to each of the Representatives, and to
counsel for the Underwriters (i) a signed copy of the Registration Statement as
originally filed, including copies of exhibits thereto (other than any exhibits
incorporated by reference, therein), of any amendments and supplements to the
Registration Statement (including all documents incorporated by reference
therein) and (ii) a signed copy of each consent and certificate included or
incorporated by reference in, or filed as an exhibit to, the Registration
Statement as so amended or supplemented; the Company will deliver to the
Underwriters through the Representatives as soon as practicable after the date
of this Agreement as many copies of the Prospectus (including all documents
incorporated by reference therein) as the Representatives may reasonably request
for the purposes contemplated by the 1933 Act; if the Registration Statement is
not effective under the 1933 Act, the Company will use its best efforts to cause
the Registration Statement to become effective as promptly as possible, and it
will notify you, promptly after it shall receive notice thereof, of the time
when the Registration Statement has become effective; the Company will promptly
advise the Representatives of any request of the SEC for amendment of the
Registration Statement or for supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional
information, and of the issuance by the SEC or any state or other jurisdiction
or other regulatory body of any stop order under the 1933 Act or other order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (as amended or
supplemented) or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus
or the Prospectus or suspending the qualification or registration of the Shares
for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, and of the institution or threat of
any proceedings therefor, of which the Company shall have received notice or
otherwise have knowledge prior to the completion of the distribution of the
Shares; and the Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any
such stop order or other order and, if issued, to secure the prompt removal
thereof.

          (c) The Company will not file any amendment or supplement to the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any other prospectus relating to the
Shares filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations that
differs from the Prospectus as filed pursuant to such Rule 424(b)) and will not
file any document under the 1934 Act before the termination of the offering of
the Shares by the Underwriters if the document would be deemed to be
incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, of
which the Underwriters shall not previously have been advised and furnished with
a copy or to which the Underwriters shall have reasonably objected or which is
not in compliance with the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations; and the Company will
promptly notify you after it shall have received notice thereof of the time when
any amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective or when any
supplement to the Prospectus has been filed.

                                       16
<PAGE>

          (d) During the period when a prospectus relating to any of the Shares
is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act by any Underwriter or dealer, the
Company will comply, at its own expense, with all requirements imposed by the
1933 Act and the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations, as now and hereafter amended,
and by the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, as from time to time in
force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealing in
the Shares during such period in accordance with the provisions hereof and as
contemplated by the Prospectus.

          (e) If, during the period when a prospectus relating to any of the
Shares is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act by any Underwriter or
dealer, (i) any event relating to or affecting the Company or of which the
Company shall be advised in writing by the Representatives shall occur as a
result of which, in the opinion of the Company or the Representatives, the
Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading or (ii) it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus to comply with the 1933 Act, the 1933
Act Rules and Regulations, the 1934 Act or the 1934 Act Rules and Regulations,
the Company will forthwith at its expense prepare and file with the SEC, and
furnish to the Representatives a reasonable number of copies of, such amendment
or supplement or other filing that will correct such statement or omission or
effect such compliance.

          (f) During the period when a prospectus relating to any of the Shares
is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act by any Underwriter or dealer, the
Company will furnish such proper information as may be lawfully required and
otherwise cooperate in qualifying the Shares for offer and sale under the
securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably
designate and will file and make in each year such statements or reports as are
or may be reasonably required by the laws of such jurisdictions; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign
corporation and shall not be required to qualify as a dealer in securities or to
file a general consent to service of process under the laws of any jurisdiction.

          (g) In accordance with Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act and Rule 158 of
the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations, the Company will make generally available to
its security holders and to holders of the Shares, as soon as practicable, an
earning statement (which need not be audited) in reasonable detail covering the
12 months beginning not later than the first day of the month next succeeding
the month in which occurred the effective date (within the meaning of Rule 158)
of the Registration Statement.

          (h) During the period when a prospectus relating to any of the Shares
is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act by any Underwriter or dealer, the
Company will file promptly all documents required to be filed with the SEC
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act.  The Company
will furnish to its security holders annual reports containing financial
statements audited by independent public accountants and quarterly reports
containing financial

                                       17
<PAGE>

statements and financial information which may be unaudited. The Company will,
for a period of five years from the Closing Date, deliver to the Underwriters at
their principal executive offices copies of all reports and other communications
(financial or other) furnished to shareholders, and such nonconfidential
information concerning the business and financial condition of the Company as
the Underwriters may from time to time reasonably request. Any report, document
or other information required to be furnished under this paragraph (h) shall be
furnished as soon as practicable after such report, document or information
becomes available.

          (i) During the period beginning from the date of this Agreement and
continuing to and including the earlier of (i) the termination of trading
restrictions on the Shares, as determined by the Underwriters, and (ii) 90 days
after the Effective Date, the Company will not, without the prior written
consent of the Representatives, offer for sale, sell or enter into any agreement
to sell, or otherwise dispose of, any equity securities of the Company, except
for the Shares and the issuance of its Common Stock in connection with the
exercise of options or warrants or the conversion of Preferred Stock.

          (j) The Company will apply the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as
set forth in the description under "Use of Proceeds" in the Prospectus, which
description complies in all respects with the requirements of Item 504 of
Regulation S-K.

          (k) The Company will promptly provide you with copies of all
correspondence to and from, and all documents issued to and by, the SEC in
connection with the registration of the Shares under the 1933 Act or relating to
any documents incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus.

          (l) Prior to the Closing Date (and, if applicable, the Option Closing
Date), the Company will furnish to you, as soon as they have been prepared,
copies of any unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Company
and its subsidiaries for any periods subsequent to the periods covered by the
financial statements appearing in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

          (m) Prior to the Closing Date (and, if applicable, the Option Closing
Date), neither the Company nor any Selling Shareholder will issue any press
releases or other communications directly or indirectly and none of them will
hold any press conferences with respect to the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, the financial condition, results of operations, business,
properties, assets or liabilities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or
the offering of the Shares, without your prior written consent.

          (n) The Company will use its best efforts to obtain approval for
listing of the Shares on the American Stock Exchange.

          (o) The Company will cause each of its directors and officers, and the
Selling Shareholders to furnish to you, on or prior to the date of this
Agreement, a letter or letters, in

                                       18
<PAGE>

form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, pursuant to
which each such person shall agree not to, and the Company will not, directly or
indirectly, offer for sale, contract to sell, sell, distribute, grant any
option, right or warrant to purchase, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose
of any shares of Common Stock, any securities convertible into, or exercisable
or exchangeable for, Common Stock or any other rights to acquire such shares,
for a period of ninety (90) days from the Effective Date, without the prior
written consent of A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., except for the Shares sold
hereunder and except for sales of shares of Common Stock to the Company's
employees pursuant to the exercise of options outstanding on the date hereof
under the Company's stock option plans.

          (p) During the period when a prospectus relating to any of the Shares
is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act by any Underwriter or dealer, the
Company and its Active Subsidiaries will maintain and keep accurate books and
records reflecting their assets and maintain internal accounting controls which
provide reasonable assurance that (1) transactions are executed in accordance
with management's authorization, (2) transactions are recorded as necessary to
permit the preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements and to
maintain accountability for the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, (3)
access to the assets of the Company and its Active Subsidiaries is permitted
only in accordance with management's authorization, and (4) the recorded
accounts of the assets of the Company and its Active Subsidiaries are compared
with existing assets at reasonable intervals.

          (q) [Intentionally omitted].

          (r) If the Company elects to rely on Rule 462(b) under the 1933 Act,
the Company shall both file an Abbreviated Registration Statement with the SEC
in compliance with Rule 462(b) and pay the applicable fees in accordance with
Rule 111 of the 1933 Act by the earlier of (i) 9:00 p.m., St. Louis time, on the
date of this Agreement, and (ii) the time that confirmations are given or sent,
as specified by Rule 462(b)(2).

          (s) If at any time during the 90-day period after the Registration
Statement becomes effective, any rumor, publication or event relating to or
affecting the Company shall occur as a result of which in your opinion the
market price of the Common Stock has been or is likely to be materially affected
(regardless of whether such rumor, publication or event necessitates a
supplement to or amendment of the Prospectus), the Company will, after written
notice from you advising the Company to the effect set forth above, forthwith
prepare, consult with you concerning the substance of, and disseminate a press
release or other public statement, reasonably satisfactory to you, responding to
or commenting on such rumor, publication or event.

          (t) Each of the Selling Shareholders severally agrees with the several
Underwriters as follows:

                                       19
<PAGE>

          (i)   Such Selling Shareholder will cooperate to the extent necessary
     to cause the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
     to become effective at the earliest possible time.

          (ii)  Such Selling Shareholder will pay all Federal and other taxes,
     if any, on the transfer or sale of the Shares being sold by the Selling
     Shareholder to the Underwriters.

          (iii) Such Selling Shareholder will do or perform all things required
     to be done or performed by the Selling Shareholder prior to the Closing
     Date or any Option Closing Date, as the case may be, to satisfy all
     conditions precedent to the delivery of the Shares pursuant to this
     Agreement.

          (iv)  For a period of ninety (90) days from the Effective Date, the
     Selling Shareholders will not directly or indirectly offer for sale,
     contract to sell, sell, distribute, grant any option, right or warrant to
     purchase, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common
     Stock or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable
     for, Common Stock or rights to acquire such shares, without the prior
     written consent of A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., except for the Shares sold
     hereunder.

          (v)    Except as stated in this Agreement and in the Preliminary
     Prospectus and the Prospectus, such Selling Shareholder has not taken and
     will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might
     reasonably be expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation
     of the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the
     Shares.

          (vi)  Such Selling Shareholder will advise you promptly, and if
     requested by you, will confirm such advice in writing, within the period of
     time referred to in Section 5(d) hereof, of any change in the Company's
     condition (financial or other), net worth, business, affairs, management,
     prospects, results of operations or cash flow or of any change in
     information relating to such Selling Shareholder or the Company or any new
     information relating to the Company or relating to any matter stated in the
     Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto which comes to the
     attention of such Selling Shareholder that suggests that any statement made
     in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (as then amended or
     supplemented, if amended or supplemented) is  or may be untrue in any
     material respect or that the Registration Statement or Prospectus (as then
     amended or supplemented, if amended or supplemented) omits or may omit to
     state a material fact or a fact necessary to be stated therein in order to
     make the statements therein not misleading in any material respect, or of
     the necessity to amend or supplement the Prospectus (as then amended or
     supplemented, if amended or supplemented) in order to comply with the 1933
     Act or any other law.

                                       20
<PAGE>

          6.  Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations.  The several obligations
of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Shares, as provided herein,
shall be subject to the accuracy, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing
Date (and, if applicable, the Option Closing Date), of the representations and
warranties of the Company and the Selling Shareholders contained herein, to the
performance by the Company and the Selling Shareholders of their covenants and
obligations hereunder, and to the following additional conditions:

          (a) The Registration Statement and all post-effective amendments
thereto shall have become effective not later than 1:00 p.m., St. Louis time, on
the date hereof, or, with your consent, at a later date and time, not later than
10:00 a.m., St. Louis time, on the first business day following the date hereof,
or at such later date and time as may be approved by the Representatives; if the
Company has elected to rely on Rule 462(b) under the 1933 Act, the Abbreviated
Registration Statement  shall have become effective not later than the earlier
of (x) 10:00 p.m. St. Louis time, on the date hereof, or (y) at such later date
and time as may be approved by the Representatives.  All filings required by
Rule 424 and Rule 430A of the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations shall have been
made. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement,
as amended from time to time, shall have been issued and no proceeding for that
purpose shall have been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company or any
Underwriter, threatened or contemplated by the SEC, and any request of the SEC
for additional information (to be included in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the reasonable
satisfaction of the Underwriters.

          (b) No Underwriter shall have advised the Company on or prior to the
Closing Date (and, if applicable, the Option Closing Date), that the
Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto
contains an untrue statement of fact which, in the opinion of counsel to the
Underwriters, is material, or omits to state a fact which, in the opinion of
such counsel, is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.

          (c) On the Closing Date (and, if applicable, the Option Closing Date),
you shall have received the opinion of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, counsel for the
Company, addressed to you and dated the Closing Date  (and, if applicable, the
Option Closing Date), to the effect that:

              (i) The Registration Statement and all post-effective amendments
          thereto and the Abbreviated Registration Statement, if any, have
          become effective under the 1933 Act; any required filing of the
          Prospectus or any supplement thereto pursuant to Rule 424(b) or
          otherwise has been made in the manner and within the time period
          required thereby; and, to the knowledge of such counsel after due
          inquiry, no stop or other order suspending the effectiveness of the
          Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that
          purpose have been instituted or are pending or contemplated under the
          1933 Act or under the securities laws of any jurisdiction.

                                       21
<PAGE>

               (ii)   The Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and each
     amendment or supplement thereto (including any document incorporated by
     reference into the Prospectus), as of their respective effective or issue
     date, comply as to form and appear on their face to be appropriately
     responsive in all material respects to the requirements of Form S-3 under
     the 1933 Act and the applicable 1933 Act Rules and Regulations (except that
     such counsel need express no opinion as to the financial statements and the
     notes and schedules related thereto, or other financial or statistical
     data); the conditions for use of Form S-3 have been satisfied; and, as of
     the date they were filed with the SEC, the documents incorporated by
     reference in the Prospectus appear on their face to comply as to form and
     be appropriately responsive in all material respects with the requirements
     of the 1934 Act and the applicable 1934 Act Rules and Regulations (except
     that such counsel need express no opinion as to the financial statements
     and the notes and schedules related thereto, or other financial or
     statistical data).

               (iii)  The descriptions in the Registration Statement and
     Prospectus of statutes, laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, legal or
     governmental proceedings, contracts and other documents are accurate and
     fairly present the information required to be shown under the 1933 Act and
     the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations.

               (iv)   This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
     delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and legally binding
     obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance
     with its terms except as enforceability may be limited by the Exceptions
     and except to the extent the enforceability of the indemnification and
     contribution provisions of Section 7 of the Agreement may be limited by
     public policy considerations as expressed in the 1933 Act as construed by
     courts of competent jurisdiction.

               (v)    The Company and its Active Subsidiaries have been duly
     organized and are validly existing as corporations in good standing under
     the laws of the states or other jurisdictions in which they are
     incorporated, with full power and authority (corporate and other) to own,
     lease and operate their properties and conduct their businesses as
     described in the Prospectus and, with respect to the Company, to execute
     and deliver, and perform the Company's obligations under, this Agreement;
     the Company and its Active Subsidiaries are duly qualified to do business
     as foreign corporations in good standing in each state or other
     jurisdiction in which their ownership or leasing of property or conduct of
     business legally requires such qualification, except where the failure to
     be so qualified, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a
     Material Adverse Effect.

               (vi)   The entities listed on Exhibit A are the only
     subsidiaries, direct or indirect, of the Company. The Company owns,
     directly or indirectly through other subsidiaries, the percentage indicated
     on Exhibit A of the outstanding shares of capital stock or other securities
     evidencing equity ownership of such subsidiaries, and all such securities
     have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-
     assessable and, to the

                                       22
<PAGE>

     knowledge of such counsel, are owned by the Company free and clear of any
     mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, charge or adverse claim and are not
     the subject of any agreement or understanding with any person, and were not
     issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights; and, to the
     knowledge of such counsel, except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are
     no outstanding subscriptions, rights, warrants, options, calls, convertible
     securities, commitments of sale, or instruments related to or entitling any
     person to purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of, or any security
     convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, any such shares of
     capital stock or other ownership interest of any of such subsidiaries.

               (vii)  The issuance and sale of the Shares and the execution,
     delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, and the
     consummation of the transactions herein contemplated, will not conflict
     with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions
     of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition
     of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any properties or assets of the
     Company or any of its Active Subsidiaries under, any indenture, mortgage,
     deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument known to
     such counsel after due inquiry to which the Company or any of its Active
     Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Active
     Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the
     Company or any of its Active Subsidiaries is subject, except to such extent
     as, individually or in the aggregate, does not have a Material Adverse
     Effect, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of
     the Company's certificate of incorporation or bylaws or any statute, rule,
     regulation or other law, or any order or judgment known to such counsel
     after due inquiry, of any court or governmental agency or body having
     jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their
     properties.

               (viii) No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration
     or qualification of or with any court or governmental agency or body is
     required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this
     Agreement, and the issuance and sale of the Shares or the consummation of
     the transactions contemplated hereby, except such as may be required under
     the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations and have been obtained,
     or as may be required by the NASD or under state securities laws in
     connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the
     Underwriters.  Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has filed all
     Notices pursuant to, and has obtained all Approvals required to be obtained
     under, and has otherwise complied with all requirements of, all applicable
     laws and regulations in connection with the issuance and sale of the
     Shares, in each case with such exceptions, individually or in the
     aggregate, as would not affect the validity of the Shares, their issuance
     or the transactions contemplated hereby or have a Material Adverse Effect;
     and no such Notices or Approvals are required to be filed or obtained by
     the Company or any of its subsidiaries in connection with the execution,
     delivery and performance of this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the
     Shares or the transactions contemplated hereby, in each case with such
     exceptions,

                                       23
<PAGE>

     individually or in the aggregate, as would not affect the validity of the
     Shares, their issuance or the transactions contemplated hereby or have a
     Material Adverse Effect.

          (ix)  To the knowledge of such counsel after due inquiry and other
     than as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental
     proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a
     party or of which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
     the subject that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a material
     adverse effect on the current or future consolidated financial position,
     stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and its
     subsidiaries taken as a whole; and, to the knowledge of such counsel after
     due inquiry and other than as set forth in the Prospectus, no such
     proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or
     threatened by others.

          (x)   The Company has duly and validly authorized capital stock as set
     forth under the caption "Capitalization" in the Prospectus; all outstanding
     shares of Common Stock of the Company and the Shares conform, or when
     issued will conform, as to legal matters to the description thereof in the
     Prospectus and have been duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
     non-assessable; and the Shares to be sold by the Company have been duly
     authorized and, when delivered and paid for in accordance with this
     Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.  All
     corporate action required to be taken by the Company for the authorization,
     issue and sale of the Shares has been duly and validly taken.  The Shares
     are duly authorized for trading, subject to official notice of issuance and
     evidence of satisfactory distribution, on the American Stock Exchange.  The
     form of specimen certificate representing the Shares incorporated by
     reference as an exhibit to the Registration Statement is in valid and
     sufficient form.  The issuance of the Shares to be purchased from the
     Company hereunder is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights, or
     any restriction upon the voting or transfer thereof pursuant to applicable
     law or the certificate of incorporation, bylaws or governing documents of
     the Company or any agreement to which the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them may be bound; and, to such
     counsel's knowledge, except as described in the Prospectus, there are no
     outstanding subscriptions, rights, warrants, options, calls, convertible
     securities, commitments of sale or rights related to or entitling any
     person to purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of, or any security
     convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, the capital stock of,
     or other ownership interest in, the Company.

          (xi)  To the knowledge of such counsel after due inquiry, the Company
     and each of its Active Subsidiaries hold all licenses, certificates,
     permits and approvals from all state, federal and other regulatory
     authorities, and have satisfied in all material respects the requirements
     imposed by regulatory bodies, administrative agencies or other governmental
     bodies, agencies or officials, that are required for the Company and its
     Active Subsidiaries lawfully to own, lease and operate its properties and
     conduct its

                                       24
<PAGE>

     business as described in the Prospectus, and, to the knowledge of such
     counsel after due inquiry, each of the Company and its Active Subsidiaries
     is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all
     of the laws, rules and regulations of each jurisdiction in which it
     conducts its business.

          (xii)  The statements made in the Prospectus under the captions "Risk
     Factors," "Dividend Policy," "Business," "Description of Credit Facility,"
     and Item 15 of Part II of the Registration Statement, and in the Company's
     Annual Report on Form 10-K of the year ended December 31, 1998 under Item
     11, "Executive Compensation" and Item 13, "Certain Relationships and
     Related Transactions," to the extent that they constitute summaries of
     documents referred to therein or matters of law or legal conclusions, have
     been reviewed by such counsel and are accurate summaries and fairly present
     the information disclosed therein.

          (xiii) Neither the Company nor any of its Active Subsidiaries is, or
     with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would be, in default or
     violation with respect to its certificate of incorporation or by-laws.  To
     the knowledge of such counsel after due inquiry, neither the Company nor
     any of its  Active Subsidiaries is, or with the giving of notice or lapse
     of time or both would be, in default in the performance or observance of
     any material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any
     indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other
     agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Active
     Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Active
     Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the
     Company or any of its Active Subsidiaries is subject.  Neither the Company
     nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any statutes, laws,
     ordinances or governmental rules or regulations or any orders or decrees to
     which it is subject, including, without limitation, Section 13 of the 1934
     Act, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has failed to
     obtain any other license, permit, franchise, easement, consent, or other
     governmental authorization necessary to the ownership, leasing and
     operation of its properties or to the conduct of its business, which
     default, violation or failure, individually or in the aggregate, would have
     a Material Adverse Effect.

          (xiv)  To the knowledge of such counsel after due inquiry, (A) there
     are no material (individually, or in the aggregate) legal, governmental or
     regulatory proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company or any of
     its subsidiaries is a party or of which the business or properties of the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject which are not disclosed
     in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, (B) there are no contracts or
     documents of a character required to be described in the Registration
     Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the
     Registration Statement which are not described or filed as required, and
     (C) there are no statutes, ordinances, laws, rules or regulations required
     to be described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus which are not
     described as required.

                                       25
<PAGE>

          (xv)    The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering
     and sale of the Shares, will not be a "holding company," or a "subsidiary
     company" of a "holding company," or an "affiliate" of a "holding company"
     or of a "subsidiary company," as such terms are defined in the 1935 Act.

          (xvi)   The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering
     and sale of the Shares, will not be an "investment company" or an entity
     "controlled" by an "investment company," as such terms are defined in the
     1940 Act.

          (xvii)  All the shares of capital stock of the Company issued since
     January 1, 1997 were issued and sold by the Company in compliance with all
     applicable federal and state securities laws.

          (xviii) To the knowledge of such counsel after due inquiry and except
     as disclosed in the Prospectus, no holder of any security of the Company
     has any right to require registration of shares of Common Stock or any
     other security of the Company because of the filing of the Registration
     Statement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and,
     except as disclosed in the Prospectus, no person has the right to require
     registration under the 1933 Act of any shares of Common Stock or other
     securities of the Company.

     Such counsel shall confirm that during the preparation of the Registration
Statement and Prospectus, such counsel participated in conferences with the
Representatives and their counsel and with officers and representatives of the
Company and its independent accountants, at which conferences the contents of
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (including all documents filed
under the 1934 Act and deemed incorporated by reference therein) were discussed,
reviewed and revised.  On the basis of the information which was developed in
the course thereof, considered in light of such counsel's understanding of
applicable law and the experience gained by such counsel through their practice
thereunder, without such counsel assuming responsibility for the accuracy and
completeness of such statements except to the extent expressly provided above,
such counsel shall confirm that nothing came to their attention that would lead
them to believe that either the Registration Statement (including any document
filed under the 1934 Act and deemed incorporated by reference therein), as of
the Effective Date, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto
(including any document filed under the 1934 Act and deemed incorporated by
reference therein) as of its respective issue date and as of the Closing Date,
or, if applicable, the Option Closing Date, contained or contains any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (other
than the financial statements or other financial data as to which such counsel
need express no opinion).

                                       26
<PAGE>

     In rendering the foregoing opinion, such counsel may rely, (1) as to
matters involving laws of any jurisdiction other than New York or the United
States, upon opinions addressed to the Underwriters of other counsel
satisfactory to them and Bryan Cave LLP, and (2) as to all matters of fact, upon
certificates and written statements of the executive officers of, and
accountants for, the Company, provided, in either case, that such counsel shall
state in their opinion that they and the Underwriters are justified in relying
thereon.

     (d)  On the Option Closing Date, if applicable, you shall have received the
opinion of ____________________, counsel to the Selling Shareholders, addressed
to you and dated the Option Closing Date, to the effect that:

          (i)   The Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney has been duly
     executed and delivered by such Selling Shareholders and constitutes a
     legal, valid and binding agreement of such Selling Shareholders enforceable
     in accordance with its terms.

          (ii)  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
     on behalf of the Selling Shareholders, and is a legal, valid and binding
     obligation of the Selling Shareholders.  The execution and delivery of this
     Agreement and the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney by such Selling
     Shareholders, the consummation by such Selling Shareholders of the
     transactions contemplated herein and therein and the fulfillment by such
     Selling Shareholders of the terms hereof and thereof will not result in a
     breach or violation of any terms or provisions of, or constitute a default
     under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or
     encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of such Selling
     Shareholders under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of
     indebtedness or any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, sale and leaseback
     arrangement, joint venture or any other agreement or instrument to which
     any such Selling Shareholder is a party, or by which it is bound or to
     which any of the properties or assets of any such Selling Shareholder is
     subject (or any certificate or articles of incorporation or bylaws,
     partnership agreement, trust document or articles of association of any
     such Selling Shareholder, as applicable), or any order or decree, or
     statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to any such Selling
     Shareholder of any court or of any governmental agency, authority or body
     having jurisdiction over any such Selling Shareholder or its properties.

          (iii) Each Selling Shareholder has full legal right, power and
     authority, and any approval required by law (other than as required by the
     1933 Act, the NASD and state securities laws) to sell, assign, transfer and
     deliver the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder.

          (iv)  No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court, or
     governmental agency or body is required for consummation of the
     transactions contemplated by this Agreement in connection with the Shares
     to be sold by each Selling Shareholder

                                       27
<PAGE>

     hereunder except such as may be required under the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act
     Rules and Regulations or as may be required by the NASD or under state
     securities laws.

         (v) Each Selling Shareholder has good, valid and marketable title to
     the Shares being sold by such Selling Shareholder hereunder, free and clear
     of all liens, mortgages, pledges, encumbrances, claims, equities and
     security interests whatsoever, including any restriction on transfer other
     than pursuant to this Agreement and the Custody Agreement and Power of
     Attorney, and has transferred to the Underwriters good, valid and
     marketable title to the Shares being sold by such Selling Shareholder on
     the Option Closing Date, free and clear of all liens, mortgages, pledges,
     encumbrances, claims, equities and security interests whatsoever, including
     any restriction or transfer other than pursuant to this Agreement and the
     Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney.

     In rendering the foregoing opinion, such counsel may rely, (1) as to
matters involving laws of any jurisdiction other than New York or the United
States, upon opinions addressed to the Underwriters of other counsel
satisfactory to them and Bryan Cave LLP, and (2) as to all matters of fact, upon
certificates and written statements of the Selling Shareholders, provided, in
either case, that such counsel shall state in their opinion that they and the
Underwriters are justified in relying thereon.

     (e) You shall have received on the Closing Date (and, if applicable, the
Option Closing Date), from Bryan Cave, LLP, counsel to the Underwriters, such
opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date (and, if applicable, the Option
Closing Date) with respect to such matters as you may reasonably require; and
the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they
reasonably request for the purposes of enabling them to review or pass on the
matters referred to in this Section 6 and in order to evidence the accuracy,
completeness and satisfaction of the representations, warranties and conditions
herein contained.

     (f) You shall have received at or prior to the Closing Date from Bryan Cave
LLP a memorandum or memoranda, in form and substance satisfactory to you, with
respect to the qualification for offering and sale by the Underwriters of the
Shares under state securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriters may
have designated to the Company.

     (g) On the business day immediately preceding the date of this Agreement
and on the Closing Date (and, if applicable, the Option Closing Date), you shall
have received from each of KPMG LLP and Ernst & Young LLP, a letter or letters,
dated the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date (and, if applicable, the
Option Closing Date), respectively, in form and substance satisfactory to you,
confirming that they are independent public accountants with respect to the
Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act and the published Rules and
Regulations, and stating to the effect set forth in Schedule III hereto.

                                       28
<PAGE>

     (h) Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, (i) neither the Company nor
any of its Active Subsidiaries shall have sustained since the date of the latest
audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion,
flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor
dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree; and (ii) subsequent to
the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
shall have incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, or
entered into any transactions, and there shall not have been any change in the
capital stock or short-term or long-term debt of the Company and its
subsidiaries or any change, or any development involving or which might
reasonably be expected to involve a prospective change in the condition
(financial or other), net worth, business, affairs, management, prospects,
results of operations or cash flow of the Company or its subsidiaries, the
effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is in your
reasonable judgment so material or adverse as to make it impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Shares
being delivered on such Closing Date (and, if applicable, the Option Closing
Date) on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

     (i) There shall not have occurred any of the following:  (i) a suspension
or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the New York Stock
Exchange or the American Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq National Market or the
establishing on such exchanges or market by the SEC or by such exchanges or
markets of minimum or maximum prices which are not in force and effect on the
date hereof; (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading in the
Company's securities on the American Stock Exchange or the establishing on such
exchange by the SEC or by such exchange of minimum or maximum prices which are
not in force and effect on the date hereof; (iii) a general moratorium on
commercial banking activities declared by either federal or any state
authorities; (iv) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United
States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war,
which in your judgment makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the
public offering or the delivery of the Shares in the manner contemplated in the
Prospectus; or (v) any calamity or crisis, change in national, international or
world affairs, act of God, change in the international or domestic markets, or
change in the existing financial, political or economic conditions in the United
States or elsewhere, which in your judgment makes it impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Shares in
the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

     (j) You shall have received certificates, dated the Closing Date (and, if
applicable, the Option Closing Date) and signed by the President and Chief
Executive Officer and by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, in their
capacities as such, stating that:

          (i) the condition set forth in Section 6(a) has been fully satisfied;

          (ii) they have carefully examined the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus as amended or supplemented and all documents incorporated by
     reference

                                       29
<PAGE>

     therein and nothing has come to their attention that would lead them to
     believe that either the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any
     amendment or supplement thereto or any documents incorporated by reference
     therein as of their respective effective, issue or filing dates, contained,
     and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and all documents
     incorporated by reference therein when read together with the documents
     incorporated by reference therein, at such Closing Date, contains any
     untrue statement of a material fact, or omits to state a material fact
     required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
     therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
     misleading;

          (iii)  since the Effective Date, there has occurred no event required
     to be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement
     or the Prospectus which has not been so set forth and there has been no
     document required to be filed under the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Rules and
     Regulations that upon such filing would be deemed to be incorporated by
     reference into the Prospectus that has not been so filed;

          (iv) all representations and warranties made herein by the Company are
     true and correct at such Closing Date, with the same effect as if made on
     and as of such Closing Date, and all agreements herein to be performed or
     complied with by the Company on or prior to such Closing Date have been
     duly performed and complied with by the Company;

          (v) neither the Company nor any of its Active Subsidiaries has
     sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements
     included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus any material loss
     or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other
     calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or
     court or governmental action, order or decree;

          (vi) except as disclosed in the Prospectus, subsequent to the
     respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration
     Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its
     subsidiaries has incurred any liabilities or obligations, direct or
     contingent, other than in the ordinary course of business, or entered into
     any transactions not in the ordinary course of business, which in either
     case are material to the Company or such subsidiary; and there has not been
     any change in the capital stock or material increase in the short-term debt
     or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any material
     adverse change or any development involving or which may reasonably be
     expected to involve a prospective material adverse change, in the condition
     (financial or other), net worth, business, affairs, management, prospects,
     results of operations or cash flow of the Company and its subsidiaries
     taken as a whole; and there has been no dividend or distribution of any
     kind, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock;

                                       30
<PAGE>

          (vii)  there has not been any change or decrease specified in
     paragraph 5(b) of the letter or letters delivered to the Underwriters
     referred to in Section 6(g) above, except those changes and decreases that
     are disclosed therein; and

          (viii)  covering such other matters as you may reasonably request.

     (k) You shall have received certificates, dated the Option Closing Date, if
applicable, signed by each of the Selling Shareholders, stating that (i) all
representations and warranties made herein by such Selling Shareholder are true
and correct at the Option Closing Date, with the same effect as if made on and
as of such Closing Date, and all agreements herein to be performed or complied
with by such Selling Shareholder on or prior to such Closing Date have been duly
performed or complied with by such Selling Shareholder and (ii) covering such
other matters as you may reasonably request.

     (l) The Company and the Selling Shareholders shall not have failed,
refused, or been unable, at or prior to the Closing Date (and, if applicable,
the Option Closing Date) to have performed any agreement on their part to be
performed or any of the conditions herein contained and required to be performed
or satisfied by them at or prior to such Closing Date.

     (m) The Company and the Selling Shareholders shall have furnished to you at
the Closing Date (and, if applicable, the Option Closing Date) such further
information, opinions, certificates, letters and documents as you may have
reasonably requested.

     (n) The Shares shall have been approved for trading upon official notice of
issuance on the American Stock Exchange.

     (o) You shall have received duly and validly executed letter agreements
referred to in Section 5(o) hereof.

     All such opinions, certificates, letters and documents will be in
compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are satisfactory in form and
substance to you and to Bryan Cave LLP, counsel for the several Underwriters.
The Company and the Selling Shareholders will furnish you with such signed and
conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents as you
may request.

     If any of the conditions specified above in this Section 6 shall not have
been satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date (and, if applicable, the Option
Closing Date) or waived by you in writing, this Agreement may be terminated by
you on notice to the Company and the Selling Shareholders.

     7.   Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company will indemnify and
hold harmless each Underwriter for and against any losses, damages or
liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject,
under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such

                                       31
<PAGE>

losses, damages or liabilities (or actions or claims in respect thereof) arise
out of or are based upon (i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus or any other prospectus relating to the Shares, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or in any blue sky application or other
document executed by the Company or based on any information furnished in
writing by the Company, filed in any state or other jurisdiction in order to
qualify any or all of the Shares under the securities laws thereof (the "Blue
Sky Application"), or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or
other expenses incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating,
preparing, pursuing or defending against or appearing as a third party witness
in connection with any such loss, damage, liability or action or claim,
including, without limitation, any investigation or proceeding by any
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, including the reasonable
fees and expenses of counsel to the indemnified party, as such expenses are
incurred (including such losses, damages, liabilities or expenses to the extent
of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any such action or claim, provided
that (subject to Section 7(d) hereof) any such settlement is effected with the
written consent of the Company); provided, however, that the Company and the
Selling Shareholders shall not be liable in any such case to the extent, but
only to the extent, that any such loss, damage or liability arises out of or is
based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement,
the Prospectus or any other prospectus relating to the Shares, or any such
amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information relating to the Underwriter furnished to the Company by you or by
any Underwriter through you, expressly for use in the preparation thereof (as
provided in Section 14 hereof); and provided further, that the liability of a
Selling Shareholder pursuant to this Section 7(a) shall not exceed the product
of the number of Shares sold by such Selling Shareholder and the public offering
prices per share of the Shares set forth in the Prospectus.

     (b) Each Selling Shareholder will indemnify and hold harmless each
Underwriter for and against any losses, damages or liabilities to which such
Underwriter may become subject, under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, damages or liabilities (or actions or claims in respect thereof) arise
out of or are based upon (i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus or any other prospectus relating to the Shares, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or any Blue Sky Application, or (ii) the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in
each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any other
prospectus relating to the Shares, or any such amendment or supplement, or any
Blue Sky Application, in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company or any Underwriter by such Selling
Shareholder specifically for use in the preparation thereof, and will reimburse
each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses incurred by such Underwriter in
connection with

                                       32
<PAGE>

investigating, preparing, pursuing or defending against or appearing as a third
party witness in connection with any such loss, damage, liability or action or
claim, including, without limitation, any investigation or proceeding by any
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, including the reasonable
fees and expenses of counsel to the indemnified party, as such expenses are
incurred (including such losses, damages, liabilities or expenses to the extent
of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any such action or claim, provided
that (subject to Section 7(d) hereof) any such settlement is effected with the
written consent of such Selling Shareholder).

     (c) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold
harmless the Company and each Selling Shareholder for and against any losses,
damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the 1933
Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, damages or liabilities (or actions or
claims in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any other prospectus
relating to the Shares, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Blue Sky
Application, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission
to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only
to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission was made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any other prospectus relating to the
Shares, or any such amendment or supplement, or any Blue Sky Application, in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to the
Underwriter furnished to the Company by you or by any Underwriter through you,
expressly for use in the preparation thereof (as provided in Section 14 hereof),
and will reimburse the Company or any such Selling Shareholder for any legal or
other expenses incurred by the Company or any such Selling Shareholder, as the
case may be, in connection with investigating or defending any such action or
claim as such expenses are incurred (including such losses, damages, liabilities
or expenses to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any such
action or claim, provided that (subject to Section 7(d) hereof) any such
settlement is effected with the written consent of the Underwriters).

     (d) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under Section 7(a), 7(b)
or 7(c) hereof of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified
party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying
party under Section 7(a), 7(b) or 7(c) hereof, notify each such indemnifying
party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the failure so to notify such
indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability
except to the extent that it has been prejudiced in any material respect by such
failure or from any liability that it may have to any such indemnified party
otherwise than under Section 7(a), 7(b) or 7(c) hereof.  In case any such action
shall be brought against any such indemnified party and it shall notify each
indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, each such indemnifying party
shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish,
jointly with any other indemnifying party under Section 7(a), 7(b) or 7(c)
hereof similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent
of such indemnified party, be counsel to such indemnifying

                                       33
<PAGE>

party), and, after notice from such indemnifying party to such indemnified
party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, such indemnifying party
shall not be liable to such indemnified party under Section 7(a), 7(b) or 7(c)
hereof for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each
case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the
defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. The indemnified
party shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the
fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified
party unless (i) the employment of counsel by such indemnified party at the
expense of the indemnifying party has been authorized by the indemnifying party,
(ii) the indemnified party shall have been advised by such counsel that there
may be a conflict of interest between the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party in the conduct of the defense, or certain aspects of the defense, of such
action (in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the right to direct
the defense of such action with respect to those matters or aspects of the
defense on which a conflict exists or may exist on behalf of the indemnified
party) or (iii) the indemnifying party shall not in fact have employed counsel
reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party to assume the defense of such
action, in any of which events such fees and expenses to the extent applicable
shall be borne, and shall be paid as incurred, by the indemnifying party. If at
any time such indemnified party shall have requested such indemnifying party
under Section 7(a), 7(b) or 7(c) hereof to reimburse such indemnified party for
fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be
liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 7(a), 7(b) or
7(c) hereof effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is
entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of such
request for reimbursement, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received
notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement
being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed
such indemnified party in accordance with such request for reimbursement prior
to the date of such settlement. No such indemnifying party shall, without the
written consent of such indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise
of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or
threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution
may be sought hereunder (whether or not such indemnified party is an actual or
potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or
judgment (A) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from
all liability arising out of such action or claim and (B) does not include a
statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or
on behalf of any such indemnified party. In no event shall such indemnifying
parties be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel, including
any local counsel, for all such indemnified parties in connection with any one
action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction
arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances.

     (e) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is unavailable to
or insufficient to indemnify or hold harmless an indemnified party under Section
7(a), 7(b) or 7(c) hereof in respect of any losses, damages or liabilities (or
actions or claims in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party under Section 7(a), 7(b) or 7(c) hereof shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses,
damages or liabilities (or actions or claims in respect thereof) in such
proportion as is appropriate

                                       34
<PAGE>

to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling
Shareholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the
offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately
preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified
party failed to give the notice required under Section 7(d) hereof and such
indemnifying party was prejudiced in a material respect by such failure, then
each such indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only
such relative benefits but also the relative fault, as applicable, of the
Company and the Selling Shareholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on
the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in
such losses, damages or liabilities (or actions or claims in respect thereof),
as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits
received by, as applicable, the Company and the Selling Shareholders, on the one
hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be deemed to be in the same
proportion as the total net proceeds from such offering (before deducting
expenses) received by the Company and the Selling Shareholders bear to the total
underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters. The
relative fault, as applicable, of the Company or the Selling Shareholders, on
the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Company or the Selling Shareholders, on
the one hand, or the Underwriters, on the other hand, and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission. The Company, the Selling Shareholders and the
Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 7(e) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if
the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other
method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to above in this Section 7(e). The amount paid or payable by such an
indemnified party as a result of the losses, damages or liabilities (or actions
or claims in respect thereof) referred to above in this Section 7(e) shall be
deemed to include any legal or other expenses incurred by such indemnified party
in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7(e), no Underwriter shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public were
offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter
has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The obligations of the Underwriters in this Section 7(e) to
contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations with respect to the Shares and not joint.

     (f) The obligations of the Company and the Selling Shareholders under this
Section 7 shall be in addition to any liability that the Company and the Selling
Shareholders may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and
conditions, to each officer, director, employee, agent or other representative
and to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the

                                       35
<PAGE>

meaning of the 1933 Act; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this
Section 7 shall be in addition to any liability that the respective Underwriters
may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each
officer and director of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and to
each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act
and to each person, if any, who controls the Selling Shareholders within the
meaning of the 1933 Act.

     (g) The parties to this Agreement hereby acknowledge that they are
sophisticated business persons who were represented by counsel during the
negotiations regarding the provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the
provisions of this Section 7, and are fully informed regarding such provisions.
They further acknowledge that the provisions of this Section 7 fairly allocate
the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate the Company and
its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure is made in the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, and any
supplement or amendment thereof, as required by the 1933 Act.

     8.   Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery.  The respective
representations, warranties, agreements and statements of the Company, the
Selling Shareholders and the Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or
made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall
remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation
(or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any
Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, the Company or any of
its officers, directors or any controlling persons or the Selling Shareholders,
and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Shares hereunder.

     9.   Substitution of Underwriters. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in
its obligation to purchase the Shares which it has agreed to purchase hereunder,
you may in your discretion arrange for you or another party or other parties to
purchase such Shares on the terms contained herein.  If within thirty-six (36)
hours after such default by any Underwriter you do not arrange for the purchase
of such Shares, then the Company and the Selling Shareholders shall be entitled
to a further period of thirty-six (36) hours within which to procure another
party or parties reasonably satisfactory to you to purchase such Shares on such
terms.  In the event that, within the respective prescribed periods, you notify
the Company and the Selling Shareholders that you have so arranged for the
purchase of such Shares, or the Company and the Selling Shareholders notify you
that they have so arranged for the purchase of such Shares, you or the Company
and the Selling Shareholders shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date
for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes
may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file
promptly any amendments to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in
your opinion may thereby be made necessary.  The term "Underwriter" as used in
this Agreement shall include any persons substituted under this Section 9 with
like effect as if such person had originally been a party to this Agreement with
respect to such Shares.

                                       36
<PAGE>

     (b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters made by you and the Company
and the Selling Shareholders as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate
number of Shares which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the
total Shares to be sold on the Closing Date, then the Company and the Selling
Shareholders shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to
purchase the Shares which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder and, in
addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata
share (based on the number of Shares which such Underwriter agreed to purchase
hereunder) of the Shares of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for
which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a
defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

     (c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters made by you and the Company
and the Selling Shareholders as provided in subsection (a) above, the number of
Shares which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the total Shares to be
sold on the Closing Date, or if the Company and the Selling Shareholders shall
not exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require the non-
defaulting Underwriters to purchase Shares of the defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters, then this Agreement (or, with respect to the Option Closing Date,
the obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and of the Company and the
Selling Shareholders to sell the Option Shares) shall thereupon terminate,
without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company
and the Selling Shareholders except for the expenses to be borne by the Company
and the Selling Shareholders and the Underwriters as provided in Section 11
hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 7 hereof; but
nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its
default.

     10.  Effective Date and Termination.  (a) This Agreement shall become
effective at 1:00 p.m., St. Louis time, on the first business day following the
effective date of the  Registration Statement, or at such earlier time after the
effective date of the Registration Statement as you in your discretion shall
first release the Shares for offering to the public; provided, however, that the
provisions of Section 7 and 11 shall at all times be effective.  For the
purposes of this Section 10(a), the Shares shall be deemed to have been released
to the public upon release by you of the publication of a newspaper
advertisement relating to the Shares or upon release of telegrams, facsimile
transmissions or letters offering the Shares for sale to securities dealers,
whichever shall first occur.

     (b) This Agreement may be terminated by you at any time before it becomes
effective in accordance with Section 10(a) by notice to the Company and the
Selling Shareholders; provided, however, that the provisions of this Section 10
and of Section 7 and Section 11 hereof shall at all times be effective. In the
event of any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9 or this Section
10(b) hereof, the Company and the Selling Shareholders shall not then be under
any liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Section 7 or Section 11
hereof.

                                       37
<PAGE>

     (c) This Agreement may be terminated by you at any time at or prior to the
Closing Date by notice to the Company and the Selling Shareholders if any
condition specified in Section 6 hereof shall not have been satisfied on or
prior to the Closing Date.  Any such termination shall be without liability of
any party to any other party except as provided in Sections 7 and 11 hereof.

     (d) This Agreement also may be terminated by you, by notice to the Company
and the Selling Shareholders, as to any obligation of the Underwriters to
purchase the Option Shares, if any condition specified in Section 6 hereof shall
not have been satisfied at or prior to the Option Closing Date or as provided in
Section 9 of this Agreement.

     If you terminate this Agreement as provided in Sections 10(b), 10(c) or
10(d), you shall notify the Company and the Selling Shareholders by telephone or
telegram, confirmed by letter.

     11.  Costs and Expenses.  The Company, whether or not the transactions
contemplated hereby are consummated or this Agreement is prevented from becoming
effective under Section 10 hereof or is terminated, will bear and pay the costs
and expenses incident to the registration of the Shares and public offering
thereof, including, without limitation, (a) all expenses (including stock
transfer taxes) incurred in connection with the delivery to the several
Underwriters of the Shares, the filing fees of the SEC, the fees and expenses of
the Company's counsel and accountants, (b)  the preparation, printing, filing,
delivery and shipping of the Registration Statement, each Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto (except as
otherwise expressly provided in Section 5(d) hereof) and the printing, delivery
and shipping of this Agreement and other underwriting documents, including the
Agreement Among Underwriters, the Selected Dealer Agreement, Underwriters'
Questionnaires and Powers of Attorney and memoranda setting forth certain
information concerning the provisions of the securities laws of certain
jurisdictions of the United States and the District of Columbia with respect to
the proposed offering and sale of the Shares (the "Blue Sky Memoranda"), and any
instruments or documents related to any of the foregoing, (c) the furnishing of
copies of such documents (except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 5(d)
hereof) to the Underwriters, (d) the registration or qualification of the Shares
for offering and sale under the securities laws of the various states and other
jurisdictions, including the fees and disbursements of counsel to the
Underwriters relating to such registration or qualification and in connection
with preparing any Blue Sky Memoranda or related analysis, (e) the filing fees
of the NASD (if any) and fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters
relating to any review of the offering by the NASD, (f) all printing and
engraving costs related to preparation of the certificates for the Shares,
including transfer agent and registrar fees, (g) all fees and expenses relating
to the authorization of the Shares for trading on the American Stock Exchange,
(h) all travel expenses, including air fare and accommodation expenses, of
representatives of the Company in connection with the offering of the Shares,
and (i) all of the other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the
Company of the registration and offering of the Shares; provided however, that
the Company, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated
or this Agreement is prevented from becoming effective under Section 10 hereof

                                       38
<PAGE>

or is terminated, will pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident
to the performance of each Selling Shareholder's obligations hereunder which are
not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section; including (x) any fees
and expenses of counsel for such Selling Shareholder, (y) such Selling
Shareholder's pro rata share of the fees and expenses of the Attorneys-in-Fact
and the Custodian, and (z) all expenses (including stock transfer taxes)
incident to the sale and delivery of the Shares to be sold by such Selling
Shareholder to the Underwriters hereunder; and provided further, that the
Underwriters will bear and pay the fees and expenses of the Underwriters'
counsel (except as provided in this Section 11), the Underwriters' out-of-pocket
expenses, and any advertising costs and expenses incurred by the Underwriters
incident to the public offering of the Shares.

     If this Agreement is terminated by you in accordance with the provisions of
Section 10(c), the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their
out-of-pocket expenses, including the fees and disbursements of counsel to the
Underwriters.

     12.  Default of Selling Shareholders.  Failure or refusal by any of the
Selling Shareholders to sell and deliver on the Closing Date the Shares agreed
to be sold and delivered by such Selling Shareholder shall in no manner relieve
the other Selling Shareholders or the Company of their respective obligations
under this Agreement.  If any Selling Shareholder should fail or refuse to sell
and deliver his Shares, the remaining Selling Shareholders shall have the right
hereby granted to increase, pro rata or otherwise, the number of Shares to be
sold by them hereunder to the total number of shares to be sold by all Selling
Shareholders as set forth in Schedule I.  If the remaining Selling Shareholders
do not fully exercise the right to increase the number of Shares to be sold by
them, the Underwriters, at your option, will have the right to elect to purchase
or not to purchase the Shares to be sold by the Company and the remaining
Selling Shareholders.  In the event the Underwriters purchase the Shares of the
Company and such other Selling Shareholders pursuant to this Section 12, the
Closing Date shall be postponed for a period of not more than seven days in
order that the Registration Statement and Prospectus or other documents may be
amended or supplemented to the extent necessary under the provisions of the 1933
Act and the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations or under the securities laws of any
jurisdiction.  If the Underwriters determine not to purchase the Shares of the
Company and the other Selling Shareholders, if any, this Agreement shall
terminate and neither the Company nor the Underwriters nor any other Selling
Shareholder shall be under any obligation under this Agreement except as
provided in Section 7 hereof and except for the obligation of the Company to pay
for such expenses as are set forth in Section 11 hereof.  Nothing herein shall
relieve a defaulting Selling Shareholder from liability for his default or from
liability under Section 7 hereof or for expenses imposed by this Agreement upon
such Selling Shareholder.

     13.  Notices.  All notices or communications hereunder, except as herein
otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and if sent to the
Underwriters shall be mailed, delivered, sent by facsimile transmission, or
telegraphed and confirmed c/o A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. at One North Jefferson
Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, Attention:  Paul F. Pautler, Director of
Corporate Finance, facsimile number (314) 955-7110, with copies to Howard
Posner,

                                       39
<PAGE>

Senior Vice President, facsimile number (314) 955-7110 and Douglas L. Kelly,
Director of Law & Compliance, facsimile number (314) 955-7110, or if sent to the
Company shall be mailed, delivered, sent by facsimile transmission, or
telegraphed and confirmed to the Company at Hooper Holmes, Inc., 170 Mount Airy
Road, Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920, Attention: General Counsel, facsimile
number (908) 953-6304, or if sent to any Selling Shareholder shall be mailed,
delivered, sent by facsimile transmission or telegraphed and confirmed to such
Selling Shareholder, c/o the Attorney-in-Fact at the Company's address. Notice
to any Underwriter pursuant to Section 7 shall be mailed, delivered, sent by
facsimile transmission, or telegraphed and confirmed to such Underwriter's
address as it appears in the Underwriters' Questionnaire furnished in connection
with the offering of the Shares or as otherwise furnished to the Company and the
Selling Shareholders.

     14.  Information Furnished by Underwriters.  The statements set forth in
(i) the cover page of the Prospectus with respect to delivery of the shares to
purchasers and (ii) the statements in the first, third, eighth, ninth, tenth and
twelfth paragraphs under the caption "Underwriting" in the Prospectus constitute
the only information furnished by or on behalf of the Underwriters through you
as such information is referred to in Section 4(a)(ii) and Section 7 hereof.

     15.  Parties.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the Underwriters, the Company, the Selling Shareholders and, to the extent
provided in Sections 7 and 8, the officers and directors of the Company and each
person who controls the Company, any Selling Shareholder or any Underwriter and
their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.
Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be
construed to give any person, corporation or other entity any legal or equitable
right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision
herein contained; this Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof being
intended to be and being for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective successors and assigns and said controlling persons
and said officers and directors, and for the benefit of no other person,
corporation or other entity.  No purchaser of any of the Shares from any
Underwriter shall be construed a successor or assign by reason merely of such
purchase.

     In all dealings hereunder, you shall act on behalf of each of the several
Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any
statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of the Underwriters, made or
given by you jointly or by A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. on behalf of you as the
representatives, as if the same shall have been made or given in writing by the
Underwriters; and in all dealings with any Selling Shareholders hereunder, you
and the Company shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request,
notice or agreement on behalf of such Selling Shareholder made or given by any
or all of the Attorneys-in-Fact for such Selling Shareholder.

                                       40
<PAGE>

     16.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of
the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed
to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and
the same instrument.

     17.  Pronouns.  Whenever a pronoun of any gender or number is used herein,
it shall, where appropriate, be deemed to include any other gender and number.

     18.  Time of Essence.  Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement.

     19.  Applicable Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Missouri, without giving effect to the
choice of law or conflict of laws principles thereof.


           [The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.]

                                       41
<PAGE>

     If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please so
indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter
shall constitute a binding agreement among the Company, the Selling Shareholders
and the Underwriters.

                                Hooper Holmes, Inc.



                                By: __________________________
                                Title:  ________________________


                                Selling Shareholders Named in Schedule I hereto


                                By:__________________________
                                   Attorney-in-Fact

Accepted in St. Louis,
Missouri as of the date
first above written, on
behalf of ourselves and each
of the several Underwriters
named in Schedule II hereto.

A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
Dain Rauscher Incorporated
The Robinson-Humphrey Company, LLC
SG Cowen Securities Corporation
   As Representatives of the Several
   Underwriters named on Schedule II hereto
By: A.G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.

By:  ___________________________
Title: __________________________

                                       42
<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE I



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          Number of
                                                                        Option Shares
                                                                         to be Sold
Selling Shareholder                                              (if Option Fully Exercised)
- -------------------                                              ---------------------------

<S>                                                              <C>
Paul W. Kolacki                                                             62,500

Total                                                                       62,500
                                                                            ------
</TABLE>

                                       43
<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE II
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                               Number
                                        Number            of Option Shares
                                    of Firm Shares         to be Purchased
               Name                 to be Purchased  (if Option Fully Exercised)
               ----                 ---------------  ---------------------------
<S>                                 <C>              <C>

A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.             __________             __________
Dain Rauscher Incorporated            __________             __________
The Robinson-Humphrey Company, LLC    __________             __________
SG Cowen Securities Corporation       __________             __________

Total                                 3,000,000               450,000
</TABLE>

                                       44
<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE III


          Pursuant to Section 6(g) of the Underwriting Agreement, each of KPMG
LLP and Ernst & Young LLP shall furnish letters to the Underwriters to the
effect that:

          (i) They are independent certified public accountants with respect to
     the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the 1933 Act and the
     applicable Rules and Regulations thereunder.

          (ii) In their opinion, the financial statements and any supplementary
     financial information and schedules audited (and, if applicable,
     prospective financial statements and/or pro forma financial information
     examined) by them and included or incorporated by reference in the
     Prospectus or the Registration Statement comply as to form in all material
     respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the 1933 Act and
     the applicable Rules and Regulations with respect to registration
     statements on Form S-3; and, if applicable, they have made a review in
     accordance with standards established by the American Institute of
     Certified Public Accountants (the "AICPA") of the unaudited consolidated
     interim financial statements, selected financial data, pro forma financial
     information, prospective financial statements and/or condensed financial
     statements derived from audited financial statements of the Company for the
     periods specified in such letter, as indicated in their reports thereon,
     copies of which have been furnished to the Representatives of the
     Underwriters (the "Representatives").

          (iii)  The unaudited selected financial information with respect to
     the consolidated results of operations and financial position of the
     Company for the five most recent fiscal years included in the Prospectus
     agrees with the corresponding amounts (after restatements where applicable)
     in the audited consolidated financial statements for such five fiscal years
     which were included or incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual
     Reports on Form10-K for such fiscal years.

          (iv) They have compared the information in the Prospectus under
     selected captions with the disclosure requirements of Regulation S-K and on
     the basis of limited procedures specified in such letter nothing came to
     their attention as a result of the foregoing procedures that caused them to
     believe that this information does not conform in all material respects
     with the disclosure requirements of Items 301, 302, 402 and 503(d),
     respectively, of Regulation S-K;

          (v) On the basis of limited procedures, not constituting an audit in
     accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, consisting of a
     reading of the unaudited financial statements and other information
     referred to below, performing the procedures specified by the AICPA for a
     review of interim financial information as discussed in SAS

                                       45
<PAGE>

     No. 71, Interim Financial Information, on the latest available interim
     financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, inspection of the
     minute books of the Company and its subsidiaries since the date of the
     latest audited financial statements included in the Prospectus, inquiries
     of officials of the Company and its subsidiaries responsible for financial
     and accounting matters and such other inquiries and procedures as may be
     specified in such letter, nothing came to their attention that caused them
     to believe that:

                    (A) any material modifications should be made to the
          unaudited statements of consolidated income, statements of
          consolidated financial position and statements of consolidated cash
          flows included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus for them
          to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, or
          the unaudited statements of consolidated income, statements of
          consolidated financial position and statements of consolidated cash
          flows included in the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all
          material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the
          1933 Act and the related published Rules and Regulations thereunder;

                    (B) any other unaudited income statement data and balance
          sheet items included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus do
          not agree with the corresponding items in the unaudited consolidated
          financial statements from which such data and items were derived, and
          any such unaudited data and items were not determined on a basis
          substantially consistent with the basis for the corresponding amounts
          in the audited consolidated financial statements included or
          incorporated by reference in the Prospectus;

                    (C) the unaudited financial statements which were not
          included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus but from which
          were derived any unaudited condensed financial statements referred to
          in Clause (A) and any unaudited income statement data and balance
          sheet items included in the Prospectus and referred to in Clause (B)
          were not determined on a basis substantially consistent with the basis
          for the audited consolidated financial statements included or
          incorporated by reference in the Prospectus;

                    (D) any unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed financial
          statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus do
          not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
          accounting requirements of the 1933 Act and the published rules and
          regulations thereunder or the pro forma adjustments have not been
          properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of those
          statements;

                    (E) as of a specified date not more than five days prior to
          the date of such letter, there have been any changes in the
          consolidated capital stock or any increase in the consolidated long-
          term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries,

                                       46
<PAGE>

          or any decreases in consolidated working capital, net current assets
          or net assets, or any changes in any other items specified by the
          Representatives, in each case as compared with amounts shown in the
          latest balance sheet included or incorporated by reference in the
          Prospectus, except in each case for changes, increases or decreases
          which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or which are
          described in such letter;

                    (F) for the period from the date of the latest financial
          statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus to
          the specified date referred to in Clause (E) there were any decreases
          in consolidated net revenues or operating profit or the total or per
          share amounts of consolidated net income or any changes in any other
          items specified by the Representatives, in each case as compared with
          the comparable period of the preceding year and with any other period
          of corresponding length specified by the Representatives, except in
          each case for changes, decreases or increases which the Prospectus
          discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described in such
          letter.

          (vi) In addition to the audit referred to in their report(s) included
     or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the limited procedures,
     inspection of minute books, inquiries and other procedures referred to in
     paragraph (v) above, they have carried out certain specified procedures,
     not constituting an audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing
     standards, with respect to certain amounts, percentages and financial
     information specified by the Representatives, which are derived from the
     general accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries for the
     periods covered by their reports and any interim or other periods since the
     latest period covered by their reports, which appear or are incorporated by
     reference in the Prospectus, or in Part II of, or in exhibits and schedules
     to, the Registration Statement, specified by the Representatives, and have
     compared certain of such amounts, percentages and financial information
     with the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries and have
     found them to be in agreement.

                                       47
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT A
                                                                       ---------

                        Hooper Holmes, Inc. Subsidiaries
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       State of
     Name of Subsidiary       Incorporation/Organization  Percentage Ownership
- ----------------------------  --------------------------  ---------------------
<S>                           <C>                         <C>

Hooper Information
 Services, Inc.1                      New Jersey                 100%

Heritage Labs
 International, L.L.C.1               Kansas                      55%2

Hooper Holmes Venture
 Technology, Inc.3                    New York                   100%

Infield Medical
 Technologies, Inc.3                  New York                    80%4
- ------------------
</TABLE>
1 Active subsidiary
2 45%-owned by unaffiliated third party
3 Inactive subsidiary
4 20%-owned by unaffiliated third party

                                       48

<PAGE>

EXHIBIT 4.2

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

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


     [GRAPHIC]                                                   [GRAPHIC]

                              HOOPER HOLMES, INC.
    COMMON STOCK                                                COMMON STOCK
             INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

                                                               CUSIP 439104 10 0

THIS CERTIFIES THAT




is the owner of

         FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF THE PAR VALUE OF FOUR CENTS
($0.04) EACH OF THE COMMON STOCK OF HOOPER HOMES, INC. transferable on the books
of the Corporation in person or by duly authorized Attorney on surrender of the
Certificate properly endorsed. This Certificate is not valid unless
countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar.
                   IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this
Certificate to be signed by its duly authorized officers and its Corporate Seal
to be hereto affixed.

      [SEAL]  Dated


                   [SIGNATURE]                    [SIGNATURE]

                              Secretary                      President

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

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



<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                     [LETTERHEAD OF STEPTOE & JOHNSON LLP]

                                       February 22, 2000


Hooper Holmes, Inc.
170 Mt. Airy Road
Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920

         Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-3
              ----------------------------------

Gentlemen:

        In connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of 3,450,000 shares of Common Stock (the "Shares") of Hooper Holmes,
Inc. (the "Company"), we have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-3 to
be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Registration Statement"), corporate records, certificates of public officials,
and such other documents as we deemed appropriate or necessary for the purpose
of rendering this opinion.

         Based on the foregoing, it is our opinion that the Shares of the
Company covered by the Registration Statement have been duly authorized, and,
when issued, will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

         We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement, and to the reference to our firm under the caption
"Legal Matters" in the Prospectus.

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       /s/ Steptoe & Johnson LLP

                                       STEPTOE & JOHNSON LLP


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