GARTNER GROUP INC
8-K, 2000-04-25
MANAGEMENT SERVICES
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

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



                                    FORM 8-K




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



        Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): April 17, 2000
                               GARTNER GROUP, INC.
                               ------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)






           DELAWARE                      1-14443                 04-3099750
- -----------------------------   -------------------------   --------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction     (Commission File Number)      (IRS Employer
      of Incorporation)                                      Identification No.)



                              Post Office Box 10212
                               56 TOP GALLANT ROAD
                             STAMFORD, CT 06904-2212
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)




       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (203) 316-1111


<PAGE>

ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS

On April 17, 2000, Gartner Group, Inc. ("Gartner") issued and sold an aggregate
of $300 million principal amount of its unsecured 6% Convertible Junior
Subordinated Promissory Notes due April 17, 2005 (the "Notes") to Silver Lake
Partners, L.P. and certain of Silver Lake Partners, L.P.'s affiliates. The Notes
mature five years from the date of their issuance. After the third anniversary
of issuance, the principal amount of each Note plus all accrued interest may, at
the election of the holder, be converted into fully paid and nonassessable
shares of Gartner's Group Class A Common Stock, par value $.0005 per share,
subject to Gartner's right, under certain circumstances, to redeem the Notes for
cash in an amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of the Notes plus accrued
interest. The initial conversion price for the Notes is $15.87.

Gartner intends to use the proceeds from the sale of the Notes to prepay a
portion of the debt outstanding under its $500 million working capital facility
and to provide working capital to Gartner and its subsidiaries.

On April 14, 2000, Roger B. McNamee, co-founder and general partner of Integral
Capital Partners, and Glenn H. Hutchins, co-founder of Silver Lake Partners,
L.P., were appointed to the Gartner's board of directors to fill two vacancies
resulting from the resignations of John P. Imlay, Chairman, Imlay Investment
Inc., and Charles B. McQuade, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Securities Industry Automation Corporation.

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(a)  Financial statements of business acquired.

     None

(b)  Pro forma financial information

     None

(c)  Exhibits

               10.1    Securities Purchase Agreement dated as
                       of March 21, 2000 between Gartner Group,
                       Inc., Silver Lake Partners, L.P., Silver
                       Lake Technology Investors, L.L.C. and
                       the other parties thereto.

               10.2    Amendment to the Securities Purchase
                       Agreement dated as of April 17, 2000
                       between Gartner Group, Inc., Silver Lake
                       Partners, L.P., Silver Lake Technology
                       Investors, L.L.C. and the other parties
                       thereto.



<PAGE>


               10.3    Form of 6% Convertible Junior
                       Subordinated Promissory Note due April
                       17, 2005

               10.4.   Securityholders Agreement dated as of
                       April 17, 2000 among Gartner Group,
                       Inc., Silver Lake Partners, L.P. and the
                       other parties thereto.


<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURE

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

Dated:  April 24, 2000


                                       By:   /s/ Kenneth S. Siegel
                                          -----------------------------------
                                                 Kenneth S. Siegel
                                                 Executive Vice President
                                                 and General Counsel

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


                          SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT


                                     BETWEEN

                              GARTNER GROUP, INC.,

                           SILVER LAKE PARTNERS, L.P.,

                          SILVER LAKE INVESTORS, L.P.,

                                       AND

                     SILVER LAKE TECHNOLOGY INVESTORS L.L.C.


                           DATED AS OF MARCH 21, 2000


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

<PAGE>


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                            PAGE
ARTICLE I
AGREEMENT TO SELL AND PURCHASE.................................................1
     SECTION 1.1.  Authorization of Notes, Option and Shares...................1
     SECTION 1.2.  Sale and Purchase...........................................2
     SECTION 1.3.  Conversion Price and Announcement Reset.....................2

ARTICLE II
CLOSING, DELIVERY AND PAYMENT..................................................2
     SECTION 2.1.  Closing.....................................................2
     SECTION 2.2.  Delivery....................................................2

ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY..................................3
     SECTION 3.1.  Organization, Good Standing and Qualification...............3
     SECTION 3.2.  Subsidiaries................................................3
     SECTION 3.3.  Capitalization; Voting Rights...............................4
     SECTION 3.4.  Authorization; Binding Obligations..........................5
     SECTION 3.5.  SEC Reports; Financial Statements...........................6
     SECTION 3.6.  Undisclosed Liabilities.....................................6
     SECTION 3.7.  Agreements; Action..........................................7
     SECTION 3.8.  Obligations to Related Parties..............................7
     SECTION 3.9.  Changes.....................................................8
     SECTION 3.10. Title to Properties and Assets; Liens, Condition, Etc.......8
     SECTION 3.11. Intellectual Property.......................................9
     SECTION 3.12. Compliance with Law; Other Instruments.....................10
     SECTION 3.13. Litigation.................................................11
     SECTION 3.14. Tax Matters................................................11
     SECTION 3.15. Employees..................................................12
     SECTION 3.16. Environmental and Safety Laws..............................12
     SECTION 3.17. Offering Valid.............................................13
     SECTION 3.18. Employee Benefit Plans.....................................13
     SECTION 3.19. Permits....................................................14
     SECTION 3.20. No Broker..................................................15
     SECTION 3.21. Disclosure.................................................15
     SECTION 3.22. Shareholder Vote...........................................15

ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER...............................15
     SECTION 4.1.  Requisite Power and Authority..............................15
     SECTION 4.2.  Investment Representations.................................16
     SECTION 4.3.  Litigation.................................................16
     SECTION 4.4.  No Broker..................................................16
     SECTION 4.5.  Purchasers' Financing......................................16


                                       i

<PAGE>


ARTICLE V
COVENANTS.....................................................................16
     SECTION 5.1.  Ordinary Course of Business................................17
     SECTION 5.2.  Access.....................................................18
     SECTION 5.3.  D&O Insurance..............................................18
     SECTION 5.4.  Use of Proceeds............................................18
     SECTION 5.5.  Efforts....................................................19
     SECTION 5.6.  Notification of Certain Matters............................19
     SECTION 5.7.  Reservation of Shares......................................19
     SECTION 5.8.  Confidentiality............................................19
     SECTION 5.9.  Operating Company..........................................19
     SECTION 5.10. Listing Shares on Another Exchange.........................19

ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING.........................................................20
     SECTION 6.1.  Conditions to Purchaser's Obligation to Purchase the
                     Notes and the Option.....................................20
     SECTION 6.2.  Conditions to Obligations of the Company...................22

ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION...............................................................22
     SECTION 7.1.  Survival of Representations and Warranties.................22
     SECTION 7.2.  Indemnification............................................23
     SECTION 7.3.  Indemnification Amounts....................................23
     SECTION 7.4.  Non-Exclusive Remedy.......................................24
     SECTION 7.5.  Certain Limitations........................................24

ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS.................................................................24
     SECTION 8.1.  Other Definitions..........................................24
     SECTION 8.2.  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial..........25
     SECTION 8.3.  No Shop....................................................25
     SECTION 8.4.  Expenses...................................................25
     SECTION 8.5.  Transaction Fee............................................25
     SECTION 8.6.  Successors and Assigns; Assignment.........................25
     SECTION 8.7.  Entire Agreement; Supersedes Prior Agreement...............26
     SECTION 8.8.  Severability...............................................26
     SECTION 8.9.  Amendment and Waiver.......................................26
     SECTION 8.10.  Delays or Omissions.......................................26
     SECTION 8.11.  Notices...................................................26
     SECTION 8.12.  Titles and Subtitles......................................27
     SECTION 8.13.  Termination...............................................27
     SECTION 8.14.  Counterparts; Execution by Facsimile Signature............28


                                       ii

<PAGE>


     Schedules

     Schedule 3.2(a)    Subsidiaries
     Schedule 3.2(b)    Investments
     Schedule 3.3(c)    Options and Other Related Rights
     Schedule 3.5(c)    Unaudited Financial Statements
     Schedule 3.6       Undisclosed Liabilities
     Schedule 3.7(a)    Contracts with Related Parties
     Schedule 3.7(b)    Contracts
     Schedule 3.7(c)    Breaches and Defaults
     Schedule 3.8       Obligations to Related Parties
     Schedule 3.9(b)    Mergers of Subsidiaries into the Company or other
                        Subsidiaries
     Schedule 3.9(c)    Actions Requiring Consent
     Schedule 3.9(d)    Transfers of Intellectual Property
     Schedule 3.11(a)   Intellectual Property
     Schedule 3.11(b)   Intellectual Property Reporting and Licensing
     Schedule 3.11(c)   Intellectual Property Invalidity/Infringement
     Schedule 3.13      Litigation
     Schedule 3.14(a)   Tax Matters
     Schedule 3.18(a)   Employee Benefit Plans
     Schedule 3.18(e)   Employee Benefit Plans--ERISA
     Schedule 3.20      Brokers
     Schedule 6.1(a)    Approvals
     Schedule 6.1(m)    Selected Employees

     Exhibits

     Exhibit A -- Form of Note
     Exhibit B -- Form of Securityholders Agreement
     Exhibit C -- Restated Certificate and Bylaws
     Exhibit D -- Form of Employee Agreement Waiver


                                      iii

<PAGE>


                               GARTNER GROUP, INC.

                          SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT


          THIS SECURITIES  PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT") is entered into
as of March 21, 2000, between Gartner Group,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation (the
"COMPANY"),  and Silver Lake  Partners,  L.P.,  a Delaware  limited  partnership
("SILVER  LAKE"),  Silver Lake Investors L.P., a Delaware  limited  partnership,
Silver Lake Technology  Investors L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability  company,
and such  Affiliates (as defined  below) and limited and/or general  partners as
Silver Lake shall designate in accordance with Section 8.6 hereof (together with
Silver Lake, the "PURCHASERS").


                                    RECITALS

          WHEREAS,  the  Company  has  authorized  the sale and  issuance  of an
aggregate  principal  amount  of  $300,000,000  of  its  6%  Convertible  Junior
Subordinated  Promissory Notes Due 2005, in the form of Notes attached hereto as
Exhibit A (the  "NOTES"),  and the  Option (as  defined  in the  Securityholders
Agreement (as defined below));

          WHEREAS,  the Purchasers  desire to purchase the Notes and the Option,
on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

          WHEREAS,  the  Company  desires  to issue  and sell the  Notes and the
Option to the Purchasers on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

          NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration  of the foregoing  recitals and the
mutual promises hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:


                                    ARTICLE I
                         AGREEMENT TO SELL AND PURCHASE

          SECTION I.1.  AUTHORIZATION OF NOTES,  OPTION AND SHARES.  The Company
has  authorized (i) the initial sale and issuance to the Purchasers of the Notes
and the  Option,  (ii) the  issuance of up to  19,442,664  shares of its Class A
Common Stock (as defined below) (the "CONVERSION SHARES"), to be issued upon the
conversion of the Notes and/or the conversion of the Preferred Stock (as defined
in the Letter  Agreement  dated the Closing  Date with  respect to the  possible
issuance of  Preferred  Stock (the  "LETTER  AGREEMENT")  as provided for in the
Notes and the Certificate of Designations (as defined in the Letter  Agreement),
together with all interest or dividends  thereon,  as the case may be, and (iii)
the  issuance of up to 2,000,000  shares of  Preferred  Stock to be issued under
certain  conditions  in the event of the  conversion of the Notes into shares of
Preferred Stock as provided for in the Letter Agreement.


<PAGE>


                                                                               2


          SECTION I.2.  SALE AND PURCHASE.  Subject to the terms and  conditions
hereof,  the Company hereby agrees to issue and sell to the Purchasers,  and the
Purchasers  agree to  purchase  from the  Company,  the Notes  for an  aggregate
purchase price of $299,000,000 and the Option for an aggregate purchase price of
$1,000,000,  (the aggregate purchase price of $300,000,000 herein referred to as
the "AGGREGATE PURCHASE PRICE").

          SECTION I.3.  CONVERSION PRICE AND ANNOUNCEMENT  RESET. The conversion
price at which  shares of Class A Common  Stock  shall be  deliverable  upon the
conversion  of the Notes shall  initially  be $15.87 (the  "CONVERSION  PRICE"),
provided  that if the average  trading price of the Class A Common Stock for the
three trading days  immediately  following  the date of this  Agreement is below
$12.73, the Conversion Price shall be immediately reset to $14.00. To the extent
not reflected in the adjustment  provisions in the Notes,  the Conversion  Price
shall be  adjusted  to reflect  any stock  splits,  cash or  noncash  dividends,
recapitalizations,     mergers,    combinations,    distributions,    issuances,
reclassifications,  exchanges,  substitutions or other similar  adjustments with
respect to the capital stock of the Company  subsequent  to the date hereof,  in
each case consistent with the adjustment  provisions  relating to the Conversion
Shares in the Notes.

                                   ARTICLE II
                          CLOSING, DELIVERY AND PAYMENT

          SECTION II.1. CLOSING. (a) The closing of the sale and purchase of the
Notes and the Option under this  Agreement (the  "CLOSING")  shall take place on
the business day immediately following  satisfaction or waiver of the conditions
set forth in Section 6, but no earlier  than April 11,  2000,  at the offices of
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett,  425 Lexington Avenue,  New York, New York 10017, or
at such other time or place as the Company and the Purchasers may mutually agree
(such date, the "CLOSING DATE").

          (b) Not  less  than  two  business  days  prior  to the  Closing,  the
Purchasers shall advise the Company in writing (the "ALLOCATION  NOTICE") of the
names in which to  register  the Notes to be  purchased  at the  Closing and the
aggregate  principal  amount of Notes to be purchased by each  Purchaser  (which
aggregate principal amount, when added together, shall equal $300,000,000).

          SECTION  II.2.  DELIVERY.  At the  Closing,  subject  to the terms and
conditions  hereof,  the Company  will  deliver to the  Purchasers  certificates
representing  the Notes to be purchased at such Closing in the names and amounts
set  forth in the  Allocation  Notice,  free and clear of any  Encumbrances  (as
defined  herein)  (other  than  those  placed  thereon  by or on  behalf  of the
Purchasers),  and  the  Purchasers  will  make  payment  to the  Company  of the
Aggregate  Purchase Price by wire transfer of immediately  available funds to an
account  designated  by the  Company  at least two  business  days  prior to the
Closing Date.


<PAGE>

                                                                               3


                                   ARTICLE III
                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

          The Company hereby  represents and warrants to the Purchasers,  except
as set forth in the SEC Reports  (as herein  defined)  or the  Schedules  to the
Letter  dated the date hereof  delivered  by the Company to the  Purchasers  and
designated the "Disclosure Letter" (the "DISCLOSURE LETTER"):

          SECTION III.1. ORGANIZATION, GOOD STANDING AND QUALIFICATION.  Each of
the Company and its  Subsidiaries  (as defined  below) is a corporation or other
entity duly organized,  validly  existing and in good standing under the laws of
the jurisdiction of incorporation or formation,  as the case may be, and has all
requisite  power and  authority  to own,  lease and operate its  properties  and
assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted.  The Company has all
requisite  corporate  power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement,
the Notes and the  Securityholders  Agreement  in the form of Exhibit B attached
hereto  (the  "SECURITYHOLDERS   AGREEMENT"),  to  consummate  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby and thereby and to perform its  obligations  hereunder  and
thereunder.  Each of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  is duly qualified and is
authorized  to do business and is in good standing as a foreign  corporation  or
other  entity in all  jurisdictions  in which the  character  or location of its
activities  and  of  the   properties   owned  or  operated  by  it  makes  such
qualification necessary, except for such failures which would not be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect.  The Company has provided to the Purchasers
a complete and correct copy of the Restated  Certificate (as defined herein) and
the Bylaws (as defined herein), attached hereto as Exhibit C.

          SECTION III.2.  SUBSIDIARIES.  (a) As used herein,  "SUBSIDIARY" means
(i) any  corporation  of which a majority  of the  securities  entitled  to vote
generally  in the  election of  directors  thereof,  at the time as of which any
determination  is being made, are owned by another  entity,  either  directly or
indirectly, and (ii) any joint venture, general or limited partnership,  limited
liability  company  or other  legal  entity in which an entity is the  record or
beneficial owner, directly or indirectly,  of a majority of the voting interests
or the general partner. Schedule 3.2(a) to the Disclosure Letter accurately sets
forth each Subsidiary of the Company, including its name, place of incorporation
or formation, and if not wholly owned directly or indirectly by the Company, the
record  ownership as of the date of this Agreement of all capital stock or other
equity  interests  issued  thereby.  All shares of capital stock or other equity
interests of any  Subsidiary  directly or  indirectly  owned by the Company have
been duly authorized and validly issued,  are fully paid and  nonassessable  and
are  directly  or  indirectly  owned  by  the  Company  free  and  clear  of any
Encumbrance  and have not been  issued in  violation  of,  nor  subject  to, any
preemptive,  subscription  or other  similar  rights.  "ENCUMBRANCE"  means  any
security interest,  pledge,  mortgage, lien (statutory or other), charge, option
to purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any interest or any claim,  restriction,
covenant, title defect, hypothecation,  assignment, deposit arrangement or other
encumbrance of any kind or any preference,  priority or other security agreement
or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without
limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement).

          (b) Except for the Subsidiaries and as set forth on Schedule 3.2(b) to
the Disclosure  Letter,  the Company does not own any capital stock,  membership
interests, security or other interest in any other Person (as defined in Section
8.1),  which  represents  more than 5% of


<PAGE>

                                                                               4


the issued and  outstanding  equity or ownership  interests of such Person,  and
except as set forth on Schedule  3.2(b) to the  Disclosure  Letter,  neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any written,  or to the knowledge of the
Company,  oral  understanding  or  agreement  to  provide  funds to, or make any
investment (in the form of a loan,  capital  contribution  or otherwise) in, any
other Person.

          SECTION III.3.  CAPITALIZATION;  VOTING RIGHTS. (a) As of February 29,
2000, the capitalization of the Company consisted of the following:

          (i)  250,000,000  shares of Common Stock,  par value $0.0005 per share
     (the "COMMON STOCK"),  of which (A) 166,000,000 shares are designated Class
     A ("CLASS A COMMON STOCK") (1)  53,320,278  shares of which were issued and
     outstanding,  (2)  29,717,767  shares of which  were  reserved  for  future
     issuance to employees pursuant to outstanding stock options under the Stock
     Option  Plans (as  defined  below) and (3)  1,631,434  shares of which were
     reserved for future  issuance to employees  pursuant to the Employee  Stock
     Purchase  Program,  and (B)  84,000,000  are  designated  Class B ("CLASS B
     COMMON STOCK") (1) 33,692,616  shares of which were issued and outstanding,
     and (2) no shares of which were  reserved for future  issuance to employees
     pursuant to outstanding stock options under the Stock Option Plans; and

          (ii) 5,000,000  shares of preferred  stock,  par value $0.01 per share
     (the  "PREFERRED  SHARES")  none of which were issued and  outstanding,  of
     which (A) 166,000  shares are  designated as Series A Junior  Participating
     Preferred  Stock,  none of which are issued and  outstanding and (B) 84,000
     shares are  designated as Series B Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock,
     none of which are issued and outstanding.

          Since February 29, 2000 no shares of Common Stock or Preferred  Shares
have been issued except for issuances under any Stock Option Plan and no options
have been granted other than pursuant to Stock Option Plans.

          (b) All issued and outstanding  shares of the Company's  capital stock
(a) have  been duly  authorized  and  validly  issued,  (b) are  fully  paid and
nonassessable,  (c) were  issued in  compliance  with all  applicable  state and
federal laws  concerning  the issuance of securities  and (d) were not issued in
violation  of, or subject  to, any  preemptive,  subscription  or other  similar
rights of any other Person.

          (c)  The  Company  has  delivered  to the  Purchasers  a  copy  of the
Company's (i) Long Term Incentive Plan, (ii) 1991 Stock Option Plan,  (iii) 1993
Director  Stock Option Plan,  (iv) Employee  Stock  Purchase Plan, (v) 1994 Long
Term Stock Option Plan,  (vi) 1998 Long Term Stock Option Plan,  (vii) 1996 Long
Term Stock  Option Plan,  (viii) 1999 Stock  Option  Plan,  and (ix) each option
agreement pursuant to which stock options have been granted outside of the plans
described  in  clauses  (i)  through  (viii)  above  (collectively  the  options
described in clauses (i) through (ix) are hereinafter  referred to as the "STOCK
OPTION PLANS").  Other than the 29,717,767 shares which were reserved for future
issuance to employees  pursuant to  outstanding  stock  options  plans under the
Stock Options Plans (as defined  below) (other than the Employee  Stock


<PAGE>

                                                                               5


Purchase  Program) and 1,631,434  shares which were reserved for future issuance
to employees pursuant to the Employee Stock Purchase Program,  the stock options
issued pursuant to the Stock Option Plans, and except as may be granted pursuant
to this Agreement or as set forth on Schedule  3.3(c) to the Disclosure  Letter,
there  are  no  outstanding  subscriptions,  options,  calls,  warrants,  rights
(including  conversion or preemptive rights and rights of first refusal),  proxy
or  stockholder  agreements,  or  agreements  of any  kind for the  purchase  or
acquisition  from  the  Company  or  any  of its  Subsidiaries  of any of  their
securities,  nor has the Company  taken or agreed to take any action to issue or
grant the same.  Except as described in this  Agreement or set forth on Schedule
3.3(c) to the Disclosure Letter, (x) there are no outstanding obligations of the
Company or any of its  Subsidiaries to repurchase,  redeem or otherwise  acquire
any securities of the Company or any voting or equity securities or interests of
any of its  Subsidiaries,  (y) there is no voting trust,  proxy,  stockholder or
other  agreements  or  understandings  to  which  the  Company  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  or, to the knowledge of the Company,  any of its stockholders is a
party or is bound with respect to the voting or transfer of the capital stock or
other voting  securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (z) there
are no other subscriptions,  options, calls, warrants or other rights (including
registration  rights,   whether  demand  or  piggyback   registration   rights),
agreements,  arrangements or commitments of any character relating to the issued
or unissued capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to which the
Company or any of its  Subsidiaries is a party.  Except as set forth on Schedule
3.3(c)  to  the  Disclosure   Letter,   the  consummation  of  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, the Notes and the Securityholders Agreement will
not trigger the anti-dilution provisions or other price adjustment mechanisms of
any outstanding subscriptions, options, calls, warrants, commitments, contracts,
preemptive rights, rights of first refusal, demands,  conversion rights or other
agreements or arrangements of any character or nature whatsoever under which the
Company is or may be obligated to issue or acquire  shares of any of its capital
stock.  The sale of the Notes is not and will not be subject  to any  preemptive
rights,  rights of first refusal,  subscription  or similar rights that have not
been properly waived.

          (d) The Notes and the Option  have been duly and  validly  authorized,
the Conversion  Shares and, in certain  circumstances,  the Preferred Stock into
which the Notes may be  convertible  have  been duly and  validly  reserved  for
issuance  and when the  Preferred  Stock,  are  issued  in  accordance  with the
provisions of this  Agreement,  the Notes and the  Certificate of  Designations,
such  shares  will  be  duly   authorized,   validly  issued,   fully  paid  and
nonassessable,   will  be  delivered  to  the  Purchasers  (or  their  permitted
transferees) free and clear of all Encumbrances (other than those placed thereon
by or on behalf of the Purchasers  (or their  permitted  transferees))  and will
have the  rights,  preferences,  privileges  and  restrictions  set forth in the
Certificate of Designations.

          SECTION  III.4.  AUTHORIZATION;  BINDING  OBLIGATIONS.  All  corporate
action on the part of the Company,  its  officers,  directors  and  stockholders
necessary for the execution  and delivery of this  Agreement,  the Notes and the
Securityholders  Agreement,  the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby  and  thereby  and the  performance  of all  obligations  of the  Company
hereunder and thereunder as of the Closing has been taken or will be taken prior
to the Closing,  other than (i) with  respect to the issuance of the  Conversion
Shares,  the  approval  of a majority  of the total votes cast by the holders of
Common  Stock as may be  required  under the


<PAGE>

                                                                               6


rules of a  securities  exchange on which any of the  Company's  securities  are
traded and (ii) the filing of the Certificate of Designations with the Secretary
of State of Delaware. This Agreement, the Notes and the Securityholder Agreement
have been or will be duly executed and delivered by the Company. This Agreement,
the Notes and the Securityholders Agreement (assuming due execution and delivery
by the Purchasers) will be legal,  valid and binding  obligations of the Company
enforceable against it in accordance with their terms, subject to the effects of
bankruptcy,  insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,  reorganization,  moratorium and
other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally, general
equitable  principles  (whether  considered in a proceeding in equity or at law)
and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

          SECTION III.5. SEC REPORTS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

          (a) The  Company  has  filed  with the U.S.  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission  (the  "SEC")  all  forms,  reports,   schedules,   proxy  statements
(collectively, and in each case including all exhibits and schedules thereto and
documents  incorporated  by reference  therein and  including  all  registration
statements and prospectuses  filed with the SEC, the "SEC REPORTS")  required to
be filed by the Company  with the SEC since  January 1, 1997.  As of its date of
filing,  each SEC Report complied in all material respects with the requirements
of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT"), or the
Securities  Act of 1933, as amended (the  "SECURITIES  ACT"),  and the rules and
regulations  promulgated  thereunder and none of such SEC Reports (including any
and all financial  statements  included therein) contained when filed or (except
to the extent revised or superseded by a subsequent filing with the SEC prior to
the date hereof)  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 made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.

          (b) Each of the consolidated financial statements (including the notes
thereto)  included  in the SEC Reports  complied  as to form,  as of its date of
filing  with  the SEC,  in all  material  respects  with  applicable  accounting
requirements  and the published  rules and  regulations  of the SEC with respect
thereto, has been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles  ("GAAP")  applied on a consistent  basis during the periods involved
(except  as may be  indicated  in the notes  thereto)  and fairly  presents  the
consolidated financial position of Company and its consolidated  Subsidiaries as
of the dates thereof and the  consolidated  results of their operations and cash
flows for the periods then ended,  subject (in the case of  unaudited  financial
statements) to normal year-end  adjustments and any other adjustments  described
therein or in the notes or schedules thereto or the absence of footnotes.

          (c) The unaudited balance sheet and the related unaudited statement of
income for the period  ended on  February  29,  2000,  copies of which have been
furnished  to the  Purchasers  and are  set  forth  on  Schedule  3.5(c)  to the
Disclosure  Letter,  present  fairly  in all  material  respects  the  financial
condition of the Company as of such date,  and the results of its operations for
the two-month  period then ended,  and were prepared on a basis  consistent with
the Company's  past practice,  subject to normal  year-end  adjustments  and the
absence of footnotes.  The unaudited  balance sheet also presents  fairly in all
material  respect the balance  sheet of the Company as of


<PAGE>

                                                                               7


February  29, 2000 on a pro forma  basis  giving  effect to the  issuance of the
Notes and the application of the proceeds thereof.


          SECTION  III.6.  UNDISCLOSED  LIABILITIES.  Except  as  set  forth  on
Schedule 3.6 to the  Disclosure  Letter and except for  liabilities  included or
reserved for in (i) the unaudited  consolidated  balance sheet of the Company as
of December 31, 1999 included in its Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q (the "10-Q")
for the quarter  ended  December  31,  1999,  or (ii) the  audited  consolidated
balance  sheet of the Company as of  September  30, 1999  included in its Annual
Report on Form 10-K (the  "10-K") for the fiscal year ended  September  30, 1999
(the "BALANCE SHEET"),  as filed with the SEC, at December 31, 1999, neither the
Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  had,  and since such date none of them has
incurred,   liabilities,   including  contingent   liabilities,   or  any  other
obligations  whatsoever  that are or could be material  (individually  or in the
aggregate) to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except current
liabilities  incurred in the ordinary  course of business  consistent  with past
practice subsequent to December 31, 1999 not in excess of $5.0 million.

          SECTION III.7. AGREEMENTS; ACTION.

          (a) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.7(a) to the Disclosure Letter or
disclosed in the 10-K,  there are no contracts,  agreements,  understandings  or
proposed  transactions between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any of
its officers,  directors or Affiliates or any family member or Affiliate thereof
that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K of
the SEC.

          (b) Attached hereto as Schedule  3.7(b) to the Disclosure  Letter is a
list  of (i)  all  "material  contracts"  within  the  meaning  of  Item  601 of
Regulation S-K of the SEC, (ii) all material contracts  concerning  Intellectual
Property  (as defined in Section  3.11) ("IP  CONTRACTS"),  (iii) all  contracts
restricting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries  from engaging in any line of
business or competing with any Person or in any geographical  area, and (iv) all
contracts  restricting  the  payments  of  dividends  or interest  upon,  or the
redemption or conversion  of, the Notes and the Preferred  Stock  (collectively,
the "Contracts").

          (c) Except as set forth on Schedule  3.7(c) to the Disclosure  Letter,
neither  the  Company  nor  any of its  Subsidiaries  is,  nor to the  Company's
knowledge is any other party to any Contract,  in material  default under, or in
material breach or material  violation of, any Contract and, to the knowledge of
the Company,  no event has occurred which,  with the giving of notice or passage
of time or both would  constitute a material default by the Company or any other
party under any Contract.  Other than Contracts which have terminated or expired
in  accordance  with their  terms,  each of the  Contracts  is in full force and
effect and (assuming due execution and delivery by the  counterparties  thereto)
is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company  enforceable against the
Company in  accordance  with its terms  (subject to the  effects of  bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization,  moratorium and other similar
laws relating to or affecting  creditors'  rights  generally,  general equitable
principles  (whether  considered  in a  proceeding  in  equity or at law) and an
implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing).


<PAGE>

                                                                               8


          SECTION III.8.  OBLIGATIONS TO RELATED PARTIES. Except as disclosed in
Schedule 3.8 to the Disclosure  Letter,  there are no obligations of the Company
or  any  of  its   Subsidiaries  to  their   respective   officers,   directors,
stockholders,  or employees or any family member or Affiliate thereof other than
(a)  for  payment  of  salary  for  services  rendered,  (b)  reimbursement  for
reasonable expenses incurred on behalf of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries
and (c) for other standard  employee  benefits made  generally  available to all
employees (including stock option agreements  outstanding under the Stock Option
Plans).  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.8 to the Disclosure  Letter,  neither
the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is a guarantor  or  indemnitor  of any
indebtedness  of any other  Person.  Except as set forth on Schedule  3.8 to the
Disclosure Letter,  neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is indebted,
directly  or  indirectly,  to any of their  respective  officers,  directors  or
stockholders  or to any  family  member  or  Affiliate  thereof,  in any  amount
whatsoever,  other than for normal travel advances or  reimbursement  for normal
business expenses;  and none of such officers,  directors or stockholders or any
family  member or  Affiliate  thereof is  indebted  to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.  Schedule 3.8 to the Disclosure Letter sets forth a description of
all  transactions  since  January 1, 1997,  between  the  Company and any of its
officers, directors and stockholders,  and their respective spouses and children
in which such persons had a direct or indirect  material  interest which are not
disclosed in the 10-K.

          SECTION  III.9.  CHANGES.  (a) Except as set forth in the SEC  Reports
filed and publicly available prior to the date hereof,  since December 31, 1999,
no event, change or circumstance has occurred which has had, or would reasonably
be expected to result in,  individually or in the aggregate,  a material adverse
effect on the business, operations,  properties, assets, liabilities,  financial
condition or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as
a whole,  or on the ability of the parties  hereto to perform  their  respective
obligations under this Agreement,  the Notes and the  Securityholders  Agreement
and to consummate the transactions  contemplated hereby and thereby (a "MATERIAL
ADVERSE EFFECT").

          (b) Except as set forth in Schedule  3.9(b) to the  Disclosure  Letter
and except as set forth in the SEC Reports filed and publicly available prior to
the date hereof,  since December 31, 1999, the Company and its Subsidiaries have
carried on their  respective  businesses  only in the  ordinary and usual course
consistent with their past practices.

          (c) Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.9(c) to the Disclosure Letter or
in the SEC Reports filed and publicly available prior to the date hereof,  since
December 31,  1999,  the Company has not taken any action or omitted to take any
action  and  there  has not  occurred  any event  which,  if it had taken  place
following  the  date  hereof  and  prior to the  Closing,  would  not have  been
permitted  by Section 5.1 of this  Agreement  without  the prior  consent of the
Purchaser.

          (d) Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.9(d) to the Disclosure Letter or
in the SEC Reports filed and publicly available prior to the date hereof,  since
December  31,  1999,  the  Company  has not  engaged  in any  sale,  assignment,
disposition,  conveyance,  abandonment,  transfer or  license,  and no event has
occurred causing the  invalidation or cancellation,  in whole or


<PAGE>

                                                                               9


in part,  of the  Intellectual  Property  other than in the  ordinary  course of
business consistent with past practice.

          SECTION III.10. TITLE TO PROPERTIES AND ASSETS; LIENS, CONDITION, ETC.
The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to their
respective  properties and assets, and good title to their respective  leasehold
estates, in each case subject to no Encumbrance,  other than (i) liens permitted
by the Credit  Agreement  dated as of July 16,  1999 among the  Company  and the
other  parties  thereto (as  amended,  the "CREDIT  AGREEMENT"),  (ii) liens for
current taxes not yet due and payable,  (iii) possible minor  Encumbrances which
do not in any case  materially  detract from the value of the  property  subject
thereto or materially impair the operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries,
and which have not arisen other than in the ordinary course of business and (iv)
Encumbrances  relating  to vendor  or  installation  purchases,  so long as such
Encumbrances extend only to the properties or other assets whose purchase was so
financed (collectively  "PERMITTED  ENCUMBRANCES").  The Company and each of its
Subsidiaries  are in compliance  with all material  terms of each lease to which
they are a party or are otherwise bound.  All properties,  equipment and systems
of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  are in good  repair,  working  order and
condition and are in compliance with all applicable  standards and rules imposed
(a) by any governmental agency or authority in which such properties,  equipment
and systems are located, and (b) under any agreements with customers, except for
such  failures  which  would not be  expected  to result in a  Material  Adverse
Effect.

          SECTION III.11.  INTELLECTUAL  PROPERTY.  (a) Schedule  3.11(a) to the
Disclosure  Letter  contains a complete and accurate list of all patents  owned,
held or used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and all  registrations or
applications related thereto.

          (b) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11(b) to the Disclosure  Letter,
the  Company  and  its  Subsidiaries  have  (i)  to  the  extent  necessary  and
reasonable, recorded their current interests in, and status with respect to, all
Company  IP  (and  all   Encumbrances   related  thereto)  with  all  applicable
governmental authorities;  and (ii) not granted to any third party, by way of IP
Contract or  otherwise,  any right or interest in any Company IP,  except in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.

          (c) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11(c) to the Disclosure  Letter,
(i) the Company and its  Subsidiaries own or have the valid right to use all the
Intellectual  Property  necessary or desirable to conduct  their  businesses  as
currently conducted and consistent with past practice, free of all Encumbrances,
except for those which  would not be  expected  to result in a Material  Adverse
Effect; (ii) all of the Company IP is valid,  enforceable and unexpired, has not
been abandoned,  and to the Company's  knowledge,  does not infringe,  impair or
make  unauthorized use of ("INFRINGE")  the  Intellectual  Property of any third
party and is not being  Infringed  by any  third  party,  except as would not be
expected  to  result  in a  Material  Adverse  Effect;  (iii) no Order or claim,
action, suit, audit,  assessment,  arbitration or inquiry, or any proceeding or,
to  the  Company's  knowledge,  investigation,  by or  before  any  governmental
authority  (an  "ACTION")  is  outstanding  or  pending,  or  to  the  Company's
knowledge,  threatened or imminent, that would limit or challenge the ownership,
use, value,  validity or  enforceability of any Company IP; (iv) the Company and
its  Subsidiaries  have taken all  necessary  and  reasonable  steps


<PAGE>

                                                                              10


to protect,  maintain and safeguard the value,  validity and their  ownership of
the Company IP, including  without  limitation any confidential  Company IP, and
have  taken  all  actions,  made all  filings,  paid all fees and  executed  all
agreements  that are  appropriate in connection  with the foregoing;  (v) to the
Company's  knowledge,  no  employee  of it or any of its  Subsidiaries  has,  in
connection  with its  provision of services  thereto,  breached any  third-party
contract  with  respect to  Intellectual  Property;  (vi) the  operation  of the
Company and its Subsidiaries'  businesses does not use any Intellectual Property
owned by any of its employees, except for same that has been assigned in writing
to the Company;  and (vii) the Company and its  Subsidiaries own exclusively all
of the  Intellectual  Property  listed on  Schedule  3.11(a)  to the  Disclosure
Letter, free of any claim by any third parties,  including any current or former
employees or independent contractors;  and (viii) with respect to any patents or
patent  applications  listed on Schedule 3.11(a) to the Disclosure  Letter,  the
Company and its Subsidiaries have the right to obtain a corresponding  patent in
all other  countries  in which  they  currently  do  business  or  propose to do
business in the foreseeable future, except as would not be expected to result in
a  Material   Adverse  Effect.   For  purposes  of  this  Agreement,   the  term
"INTELLECTUAL  PROPERTY"  means  all U.S.  and  foreign  intellectual  property,
including without limitation (i) patents,  inventions,  discoveries,  processes,
designs,  techniques,   developments,   technology,  and  related  improvements,
know-how and show-how,  whether or not patented or patentable;  (ii)  copyrights
and works of authorship in any media,  including  computer  hardware,  software,
applications,  systems,  networks,  databases,  documentation  and Internet site
content;  (iii) trademarks,  service marks, trade names, brand names,  corporate
names,  domain  names,  logos and trade  dress;  (iv) trade  secrets,  drawings,
blueprints  and  all  non-public,   confidential  or  proprietary   information,
documents or materials;  and (v) all registrations,  applications and recordings
related thereto. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "COMPANY IP" means all
Intellectual  Property  owned,  held  or  used  by  the  Company  or  any of its
Subsidiaries.

          SECTION III.12.  COMPLIANCE WITH LAW; OTHER  INSTRUMENTS.  Neither the
Company  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is in  violation  or  default  of (i) the
Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the "Restated  Certificate") or
its Bylaws, as amended (the "BYLAWS"), or the organizational documents of any of
its Subsidiaries or (ii) of any judicial or administrative  judgment,  decision,
decree, order, settlement, injunction, writ, stipulation, determination or award
(each, an "ORDER") or any statute,  law, ordinance,  rule or regulation (each, a
"LAW") and has received no notice of, and to the  knowledge  of the Company,  no
investigation  or  review  is in  process  or  threatened  by  any  governmental
authority  with respect to, any  violation or alleged  violation of any Order or
Law except,  in the case of any Order or Law,  where such  violation  or default
would not, in the  aggregate,  have a Material  Adverse  Effect.  The execution,
delivery and  performance of this Agreement,  the Notes and the  Securityholders
Agreement,  and the  consummation of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and
thereby,  including,  but not limited to, the issuance of the Conversion  Shares
and,  if  necessary,  the  Preferred  Stock,  will  not  result  in (a)  (i) any
violation,  or be in  conflict  with or  constitute  a default  (with or without
notice or lapse of time or both) under the Restated Certificate or Bylaws or the
organizational  documents  of  any  of  the  Company's  Subsidiaries,  (ii)  any
violation,  or be in  conflict  with or  constitute  a default  (with or without
notice or lapse of time or both) under,  any term or provision  of, or any right
of termination, cancellation or acceleration arising under any Contract or cause
any  liabilities or additional  fees to be due thereunder or (iii) any violation
under any Order or Law applicable to


<PAGE>

                                                                              11


the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, its business or operations or any of its
assets or properties or (b) the imposition of any Encumbrance on the business or
material properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. None of
the execution and delivery of this Agreement,  the Notes and the Securityholders
Agreement, the consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby and thereby
or the  performance of the  obligations of the Company  hereunder and thereunder
will result in the suspension,  revocation, impairment, forfeiture or nonrenewal
of any  Permit  applicable  to the  Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries,  their
businesses or operations or any of their assets or properties.  "PERMITS"  means
all   licenses,   permits,   orders,   consents,    approvals,    registrations,
authorizations,  qualifications  and filings with and under all federal,  state,
local or foreign  laws and  governmental  authorities  and all industry or other
non-governmental self-regulatory organizations.

          SECTION  III.13.  LITIGATION.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.13 to
the  Disclosure  Letter,  there  is  no  Action  pending,  or to  the  Company's
knowledge,  currently  threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
(including  with  respect to any  Company  Plan,  as defined  below)  which,  if
adversely  determined,  would,  individually or in the aggregate,  reasonably be
expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect.  The foregoing  includes,  without
limitation,  Actions  pending or threatened  (or any basis therefor known to the
Company)  involving  the prior  employment of any of the Company's or any of its
Subsidiaries'  employees,  their use in connection  with the Company's or any of
its Subsidiaries'  business of any Intellectual  Property rights of their former
employers,  or their  obligations  under any  agreements  with prior  employers.
Neither  the Company  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is a party or subject to the
provisions  of any Order of any  court or  governmental  authority.  There is no
Action by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries  currently pending or which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries intends to initiate.

          SECTION III.14. TAX MATTERS.

          (a) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.14(a) to the Disclosure  Letter,
(i) all material Tax Returns (as defined below) that are required to be filed by
or with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries  have been duly filed,  (ii)
all material  Taxes (as defined below) of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  due
and payable,  whether or not shown on the Tax Returns referred to in clause (i),
have been paid in full,  (iii) the Tax  Returns  referred  to in clause (i) have
been audited by the Internal Revenue Service or the appropriate  state, local or
foreign taxing authority or the period for assessment of the Taxes in respect of
which such Tax Returns were required to be filed has expired,  (iv) all material
deficiencies  asserted or assessments made as a result of such examinations have
been paid in full, (v) no material  issues that have been raised by the relevant
taxing  authority in connection  with the  examination of any of the Tax Returns
referred to in clause (i) are currently  pending,  (vi) no waiver of statutes of
limitation  have been  given by or  requested  with  respect to any Taxes of the
Company or its Subsidiaries,  (vii) there are no liens for Taxes on any asset of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries  other than for current Taxes not yet due
and payable,  or if due, (A) not delinquent or (B) being contested in good faith
by  appropriate  proceedings,  (viii) no consent has been filed  relating to the
Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  pursuant to Section  341(f) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "CODE"),  (ix) neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary has any current material liability, or has knowledge of any events or
circumstances  which could  result in any material  liability,  for Taxes of any
person


<PAGE>

                                                                              12


(other than the  Company and its  Subsidiaries)  (A) under  Treasury  Regulation
Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state,  local or foreign law), (B)
as a transferee  or  successor,  (C) by contract or (D)  otherwise,  (x) the IRS
Ruling  and  IRS  Supplemental   Ruling  (as  such  terms  are  defined  in  the
Distribution  Agreement  referred  to below)  issued to IMS Health  Incorporated
("IMS")  are in effect and have not been  revoked  and there is no basis for any
claim for  indemnification  against the Company under Sections 2.7 or 3.1 of the
Distribution Agreement between IMS and the Company dated June 17, 1999, (xi) the
Company's  methods of tax  accounting  are correct in all material  respects and
(xii)  the  transfer  pricing   methodologies   used  by  the  Company  and  its
Subsidiaries are correct in all material respects.

          (b) For  purposes of this  Agreement,  the term (i) "TAXES"  means all
taxes,  charges,  fees,  levies,  penalties or other assessments  imposed by any
United States federal, state, local or foreign taxing authority,  including, but
not limited to, income, excise,  property,  sales and use, transfer,  franchise,
payroll,  withholding,  social security or other taxes,  including any interest,
penalties or additions  attributable  thereto,  and (ii) "TAX RETURN"  means any
return,  report,  information return or other document (including any related or
supporting  information) filed or required to be filed with any taxing authority
with respect to Taxes.

          SECTION  III.15.  EMPLOYEES.  Neither  the  Company  nor  any  of  its
Subsidiaries has any collective bargaining agreements with any of its employees.
There is no labor union organizing  activity pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company or any of its  Subsidiaries,  threatened  with respect to the Company or
any of its  Subsidiaries.  Neither the Company  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is
aware that any  officer  or key  employee,  or that any group of key  employees,
intends  to  terminate  their   employment  with  the  Company  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries,  nor does the  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  have a present
intention to terminate the  employment of any officer,  key employee or group of
key  employees.  To the knowledge of the Company,  no employee of the Company or
its  Subsidiaries  is bound by any  contract,  agreement or covenant  that would
interfere or conflict with or restrict in any way its full provision of services
thereto, including any of the foregoing relating to trade secrets,  confidential
information or other Intellectual Property.

          SECTION III.16. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY LAWS.

          (a)  Neither the  Company  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has failed to
comply  in any  respect  with any  Environmental  Laws,  except  as would not be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

          (b) Neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has Released (as
defined  below),  generated or disposed of any  Hazardous  Substance (as defined
below)  in a manner  which  could  reasonably  be  expected  to give rise to any
liability under or relating to any Environmental Laws (as defined below), except
as would not be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

          (c) There is no claim under or relating to Environmental  Laws pending
or, to the  knowledge of the Company,  threatened  against the Company or any of
its  Subsidiaries  or, to the  knowledge of the Company,  pending or  threatened
against any other Person whose liability for


<PAGE>

                                                                              13


any  environmental  claim the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has retained or
assumed  either  contractually  or by operation  of law,  except as would not be
expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect.  Except as would not reasonably be
expected  to  give  rise  to a  material  liability  under  or  relating  to any
Environmental  Laws, no real property  currently or formerly owned,  operated or
leased  by the  Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries  has been  impacted  by any
Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Substance.

          (d) For purposes of this Agreement,  the term (i) "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS"
means all applicable federal,  foreign, state, local or municipal Laws or Orders
or other legally binding requirements relating to pollution or the protection of
human  health  or  the   environment,   including,   without   limitation,   the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C.,
Section 9601,  et seq., as amended  ("CERCLA"),  the Resource  Conservation  and
Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 6901, et seq., as amended, the Clean Air Act, 42
U.S.C.  Section 7401 et seq., as amended, the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. Section
et seq., the Toxic  Substance  Control Act, 15 U.S.C.  Section 2601 et seq., and
the  Occupational  Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C.  Section 651, et seq.;  (ii)
"HAZARDOUS  SUBSTANCES"  means  any  pollutant,  contaminant,  toxic  substance,
hazardous  waste,  hazardous  material,  or  hazardous  substance,  or any  oil,
petroleum  or  petroleum  product,  each as defined or listed in, or  classified
pursuant to, any  Environmental  Laws or any other substance or force that could
result in liability under any Environmental  Laws; and (III) "RELEASE" means any
spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting,
escaping,  leaching,  dumping or disposing (including,  without limitation,  the
abandonment or discarding of barrels, containers and other receptacles).

          SECTION  III.17.   OFFERING  VALID.   Assuming  the  accuracy  of  the
representations  and  warranties  of the  Purchasers  contained  in Section  4.2
hereof, the offer, sale and issuance of the Notes and the Option, the conversion
of the Notes into the Conversion  Shares or the Preferred Stock, as the case may
be, and the  conversion  of the  Preferred  Stock into  shares of Class A Common
Stock will be exempt from the  registration  requirements  of the Securities Act
and will have been registered or qualified (or are exempt from  registration and
qualification) under the registration,  permit or qualification  requirements of
all applicable state securities laws.

          SECTION III.18. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS.

          (a)  Schedule  3.18(a) to the  Disclosure  Letter  contains a true and
complete  list of each  "employee  benefit  plan" (within the meaning of Section
3(3)  of the  Employee  Retirement  Income  Security  Act of  1974,  as  amended
("ERISA")),    stock   purchase,    stock   option,    severance,    employment,
change-in-control,  fringe benefit, bonus, incentive,  deferred compensation and
all other  employee  benefit  plans,  agreements,  programs,  policies  or other
arrangements,  whether or not  subject to ERISA,  under  which any  employee  or
former  employee  of the Company or its  Subsidiaries  has any present or future
right to  benefits  and under  which the  Company  or its  Subsidiaries  has any
present of future liability. All such plans, agreements,  programs, policies and
arrangements shall be collectively referred to as the "COMPANY PLAN".

          (b) With respect to each Company  Plan,  the Company has  delivered to
the  Purchasers  to the extent  requested a current,  accurate and complete copy
(or, to the extent no such copy exists, an


<PAGE>

                                                                              14


accurate  description)  thereof and, to the extent  applicable:  (i) any related
trust agreement or other funding instrument;  (ii) the most recent determination
letter,  if applicable;  (iii) any summary plan  description  and other material
written  communications  (or a description  of any oral  communications)  by the
Company or any of its  Subsidiaries to their employees  concerning the extent of
the  benefits  provided  under a Company  Plan and (iv) for the two most  recent
years  (A)  the  Form  5500  and  attached  schedules,   (B)  audited  financial
statements,  (C) actuarial  valuation reports and (D) attorney's  response to an
auditor's request for information.

          (c) (i) Each Company Plan has been  established  and  administered  in
accordance with its terms, in all material respects,  and in material compliance
with the applicable  provisions of ERISA,  the Code and other  applicable  laws,
rules and  regulations and neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has
incurred any material tax, fine,  lien,  penalty or other  liability  imposed by
ERISA, the Code or other applicable law, rule and regulations; (ii) each Company
Plan which is intended to be qualified within the meaning of Code section 401(a)
is so qualified  and has received a favorable  determination  letter and nothing
has  occurred,  whether by action or failure to act,  that could  reasonably  be
expected to cause the loss of such  qualification;  (iii) no event has  occurred
and  no  condition  exists  that  would  subject  the  Company  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries,  either directly or by reason of their affiliation with any member
of their "CONTROLLED  GROUP" (defined as any organization which is a member of a
controlled  group of  organizations  within the meaning of Code sections 414(b),
(c), (m) or (o)), to any tax, fine, lien,  penalty or other liability imposed by
ERISA, the Code or other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (iv) no Company
Plan provides  retiree  welfare  benefits and neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries  have any obligation to provide any retiree welfare  benefits other
than as required by Section  4980B of the Code;  and (v) neither the Company nor
any member of its  Controlled  Group has engaged in, or is a successor or parent
corporation  to an  entity  that has  engaged  in, a  transaction  described  in
Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

          (d) No  Company  Plan is (i)  subject  to  Title IV of ERISA or (ii) a
"multiemployer  plan" (as such term is defined  in  section  3(37) of ERISA) and
neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has  incurred  any  withdrawal
liability or  termination  liability  with respect to any such plan that remains
unsatisfied.  The Company  has not engaged in, and is not a successor  or parent
corporation  to any Person  that has  engaged  in, a  transaction  described  in
Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

          (e) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.18(e) to the Disclosure  Letter,
no Company Plan exists that could result in the payment to any present or former
employee of the Company or its  Subsidiaries  of any money or other  property or
accelerate  or provide  any other  rights or  benefits  to any present or former
employee  of  the  Company  or  its  Subsidiaries  as a  direct  result  of  the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or as a result of transactions which
have occurred  prior the date hereof or the Closing Date.  There is no contract,
plan or  arrangement  (written or  otherwise)  covering  any  employee or former
employee  of  the  Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries  that,  individually  or
collectively,  could give rise to the  payment  of any amount  that would not be
deductible pursuant to the terms of Section 280G of the Code.

          (f) With respect to any Company Plan, (i) no actions,  suits or claims
(other than routine claims for benefits in the ordinary  course) are pending or,
to the knowledge of the Company,


<PAGE>

                                                                              15


threatened;  and (ii) no facts or  circumstances  exist that could reasonably be
expected to give rise to any such actions, suits or claims.

          (g) As of the Closing  Date,  the Company  constitutes  an  "operating
company" as defined in 29 CFR ss. 2510.3-101(c).

          SECTION III.19.  PERMITS.  The Company and its  Subsidiaries  hold all
Permits necessary for the lawful conduct of their respective  businesses as they
are presently being conducted, except where the failure to so hold Permits would
not have a Material Adverse Effect.  All Permits are in full force and effect in
all material  respects.  The Company and its  Subsidiaries  have complied in all
material  respects  with the  terms of the  Permits  and  there  are no  pending
modifications,  amendments  or  revocations  of any  Permits.  All  fees due and
payable from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to governmental  authorities
or other third  parties  pursuant to the  Permits  have been paid.  There are no
pending  or,  to the  knowledge  of the  Company,  threatened,  suits,  actions,
proceedings or, to the Company's  knowledge,  investigations with respect to the
possible revocation,  cancellation,  suspension, limitation or nonrenewal of any
Permits,  and there has occurred no event which (whether with notice or lapse of
time or both) could  reasonably be expected to result in or constitute the basis
for  such a  revocation,  cancellation,  suspension,  limitation  or  nonrenewal
thereof.

          SECTION III.20. NO BROKER. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.20 to the
Disclosure Letter,  neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has employed
any broker or finder,  or incurred any  liability  for any brokerage or finders'
fees or any similar fees or  commissions  in  connection  with the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

          SECTION  III.21.  DISCLOSURE.  Neither this  Agreement  (including all
Exhibits and Schedules  hereto) nor any of the other  agreements or  instruments
contemplated to be executed and delivered by the Company in connection with this
Agreement  (taken as a whole) contain any untrue statement of material fact; and
none of such documents omits to state any material fact necessary to make any of
the  representations,  warranties or other  statements or information  contained
therein  not  misleading  in  light  of  the  circumstances   under  which  such
information was provided.

          SECTION III.22.  SHAREHOLDER VOTE. No shareholder vote under the rules
of the New York Stock  Exchange  ("NYSE") is  necessary  for the issuance of the
Notes,  the  conversion  of the Notes  into the  Conversion  Shares or shares of
Preferred Stock, or the conversion of the Preferred Stock into shares of Class A
Common Stock.


<PAGE>

                                                                              16


          ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER

          Each of the Purchasers;  severally and not jointly,  hereby  represent
and warrant to the Company as follows:

          SECTION IV.1.  REQUISITE  POWER AND AUTHORITY.  Each Purchaser has all
requisite  power and  authority  to execute and deliver this  Agreement  and the
Securityholders  Agreement,  to consummate the transactions  contemplated hereby
and thereby and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder.  All action
on  Purchaser's  part necessary for the execution and delivery of this Agreement
and  the  Securityholders   Agreement,  the  consummation  of  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby and  thereby  and the  performance  of all  obligations  of
Purchaser  hereunder  and  thereunder  as of the  Closing  has  been  or will be
effectively taken prior to the Closing.  This Agreement and the  Securityholders
Agreement  have been or will be duly executed and  delivered by such  Purchaser.
This  Agreement and the  Securityholders  Agreement  (assuming due execution and
delivery by the Company) will be legal,  valid and binding  obligations  of such
Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with their terms, subject to the
effects  of  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  fraudulent  conveyance,   reorganization,
moratorium  and other  similar laws relating to or affecting  creditors'  rights
generally,  general equitable  principles (whether considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

          SECTION IV.2. INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS.  Purchaser acknowledges that
the Notes and the Option have not been  registered  under the  Securities Act or
under any state  securities  laws. Each Purchaser (a) is acquiring the Notes and
the Option for  investment for its own account,  not as a nominee or agent,  and
not with the view  to,  or for  resale  in  connection  with,  any  distribution
thereof,  (b) is an  "accredited  investor"  within the meaning of Regulation D,
Rule 501(a),  promulgated  by the SEC, (c)  acknowledges  that the Notes and the
Option  must be held  indefinitely  unless  subsequently  registered  under  the
Securities Act or unless an exemption from the registration  requirements of the
Securities Act is available and (d) represents that by reason of its business or
financial  experience,  such  Purchaser  has the  capacity  to  protect  its own
interests in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
the Securityholders  Agreement. Each Purchaser has had an opportunity to discuss
the Company's  business,  management  and  financial  affairs with the Company's
management.  Each  Purchaser  has had an  opportunity  to ask  questions  of and
receive answers from, officers of the Company.  Each Purchaser  understands that
such  discussions,  as well  as any  other  written  information  issued  by the
Company, were intended to describe certain aspects of the Company's business and
operations, but were not an exhaustive description.

          SECTION  IV.3.  LITIGATION.  There is no  Action  pending,  or to each
Purchaser's  knowledge,  currently  threatened  against such Purchaser which, if
adversely  determined,  would,  individually or in the aggregate,  reasonably be
expected to have a material  adverse  effect on the ability of such Purchaser to
perform its obligations under this Agreement and the  Securityholders  Agreement
and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.


<PAGE>

                                                                              17


          SECTION  IV.4.  NO BROKER.  No  Purchaser  has  employed any broker or
finder,  or incurred any  liability  for any  brokerage or finders'  fees or any
similar fees or commissions in connection with the transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement.

          SECTION  IV.5.  PURCHASERS'  FINANCING.  On  the  Closing  Date,  each
Purchaser  will have all funds  necessary  to pay to the Company  the  Aggregate
Purchase Price, in immediately  available funds subject to no Encumbrances,  and
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.


                                    ARTICLE V
                                    COVENANTS

          SECTION V.1. ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS.

          (a) Except as otherwise  contemplated  by the terms of this Agreement,
during the  period  from the date of this  Agreement  to the  Closing  Date (the
"PRE-CLOSING PERIOD"), the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to preserve
intact its and its Subsidiaries' current business organizations,  keep available
the  services  of their  current  officers  and  employees  and  preserve  their
relationships  with customers,  suppliers,  licensors,  licensees,  advertisers,
distributors and others having business dealings with them to the end that their
goodwill and ongoing businesses shall be unimpaired.

          (b) Without  limiting  the  generality  of the  foregoing,  during the
Pre-Closing  Period, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not, without
the prior consent of the Purchasers:

          (i) enter into any direct or  indirect  transaction  by the Company or
     any of its Subsidiaries with an Affiliate of the Company or a family member
     or an Affiliate thereof or any entity in which an Affiliate has an interest
     as a director,  officer, or greater than 5% stockholder  (including without
     limitation,  the  purchase,  sale,  lease or exchange of any  property,  or
     rendering  of any service or  modification  or  amendment  of any  existing
     agreement or arrangement);

          (ii) change the number of Directors or the composition or structure of
     the Board;

          (iii) amend, alter or change to the rights, preferences, privileges or
     powers of the Notes, the Preferred Stock or the Class A Common Stock;

          (iv) increase or decrease the (x) aggregate  principal amount of Notes
     authorized or issued or (y) the total number of authorized or issued shares
     of Preferred Stock;

          (v)  enter  into any  merger or  consolidation  with or into any other
     Person, or acquire any securities or assets of another Person, whether in a
     single  transaction  or series of related  transactions,  other than Exempt
     Acquisitions;


<PAGE>

                                                                              18


          (vi)  enter  into  any  sale,   lease,   transfer  or  disposition  (a
     "DIVESTITURE")  of  securities  or  assets  of  the  Company  or any of its
     Subsidiaries   (including   any   spin-off  or  in-kind   distribution   to
     stockholders of the Company),  whether in a single transaction or series of
     related transactions, other than Exempt Divestitures;

          (vii) incur any indebtedness in excess of $25.0 million;

          (viii)  dissolve,  liquidate,  or file for bankruptcy with respect to,
     the Company or any significant Subsidiary thereof;

          (ix) (A) declare or pay any dividend or make any  distribution  to the
     holders of the capital stock of the Company or any  Subsidiary  (other than
     dividends  or  distributions  payable  in shares  of  Common  Stock) or (B)
     purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value any capital stock
     of the Company or any Subsidiary or (C) pay, redeem,  repurchase or defease
     or otherwise  retire for value prior to any scheduled  maturity,  scheduled
     sinking fund or mandatory  redemption payment,  indebtedness of the Company
     or any Subsidiary which is subordinate (whether pursuant to its terms or by
     operation of law) in right of payment to the Notes and which was  scheduled
     to mature on or after the maturity of the Notes;

          (x) (A)  purchase,  redeem or  otherwise  acquire for value any of its
     outstanding  capital  stock or (B) take any action  that would  result in a
     Conversion  Price adjustment under the Notes had the Notes been outstanding
     at the time of such action; or

          (xi) any arrangement or contract to do any of the foregoing.

          For purposes of this Section  5.1, an "EXEMPT  ACQUISITION"  means any
acquisition  (whether  through merger,  consolidation  or otherwise) which has a
purchase  price  (including  any assumed  indebtedness  and valuing any non-cash
consideration  at its Fair Market Value (as defined in the form of Note attached
hereto))  of less than $20.0  million.  For  purposes  of this  Section  5.1, an
"EXEMPT  DIVESTITURE"  means any Divestiture (as defined in the  Securityholders
Agreement)  pursuant to which the value of the assets being divested  (including
any assumed  indebtedness  and valuing any  non-cash  consideration  at its Fair
Market Value) is less than $20.0 million.

          SECTION V.2. ACCESS. During the Pre-Closing Period, the Company shall,
and shall cause its Subsidiaries,  officers, directors,  employees, auditors and
other agents to, (a) upon  reasonable  notice,  afford the officers,  employees,
auditors  and other  agents of the  Purchasers,  during  normal  business  hours
reasonable access at all reasonable times to its officers, employees,  auditors,
legal  counsel,  properties,  offices,  plants and other  facilities  and to all
financial  books and records,  (b) furnish the  Purchasers  with all  financial,
operating  and other  data and  information  as the  Purchasers,  through  their
officers,  employees or agents, may from time to time reasonably request and (c)
afford the Purchasers the opportunity to discuss the Company's affairs, finances
and accounts with the Company's officers on a regular basis.


<PAGE>

                                                                              19


          SECTION V.3. D&O INSURANCE. During the period that the Purchasers have
designees on the Board,  the Company  agrees to maintain  Directors and Officers
Insurance in the amount of $100.0 million.

          SECTION V.4. USE OF PROCEEDS.  The Company shall use the proceeds from
the sale of the Notes and the Option for repay  indebtedness under the Company's
Credit  Agreement  dated  as of July  16,  1999,  as  amended,  and for  general
corporate purposes.

          SECTION V.5. EFFORTS.  Each party hereto agrees to use reasonable best
efforts  to take  any and all  actions  required  in  order  to  consummate  the
transactions  contemplated in this Agreement,  the Notes and the Securityholders
Agreement.

          SECTION V.6.  NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN MATTERS.  During the Pre-Closing
Period, the Company shall give prompt notice to the Purchasers of the occurrence
or  non-occurrence  of  any  event  known  to  the  Company  the  occurrence  or
non-occurrence of which would reasonably be expected to cause any representation
or warranty  contained in Section 3 to be untrue,  or the failure of the Company
to comply with or satisfy any covenant or agreement under this Agreement.

          SECTION V.7.  RESERVATION OF SHARES.  From and after the Closing,  the
Company  shall at all times  reserve and keep  available  for  issuance (a) such
number  of its  authorized  but  unissued  shares  of  Common  Stock as shall be
sufficient to permit the exercise of the options described in clauses (A)(2) and
(B)(2) of Section  3.3(a)(i)  of this  Agreement  and the  purchase of shares of
Common Stock  pursuant to the Employee  Stock  Purchase  Program as described in
clause  (A)(3)  of  Section  3.3(a)(i)  of this  Agreement,  (b) such  number of
treasury  shares of Class A Common  Stock as shall be  sufficient  to permit the
issuance of all of the Conversion  Shares, (c) to the extent the shares referred
to in  clause  (b)  are  insufficient  to  permit  the  issuance  of  all of the
Conversion Shares,  such number of its authorized but unissued shares of Class A
Common Stock as shall be sufficient to permit the issuance of all the Conversion
Shares, and (d) such number of shares of Preferred Shares as shall be sufficient
to permit the automatic conversion,  under certain  circumstances,  of the Notes
into Preferred Stock as provided for in the Notes.

          SECTION  V.8.   CONFIDENTIALITY.   Each   Purchaser   agrees  to  keep
confidential  all proprietary and non-public  information  regarding the Company
and its  Subsidiaries  provided that nothing  herein shall prevent any Purchaser
from  disclosing any such  information  (a) to the extent such  proprietary  and
non-public  information has been previously disclosed (other than as a result of
a breach of this  Section  5.8) or (b) to the extent  disclosure  is required by
law,  regulation or judicial order,  provided that prior to such disclosure such
Purchaser shall,  unless prohibited by law, notify the Company of any disclosure
pursuant to this clause (b) as far in advance as is reasonably practicable under
such circumstances.

          SECTION V.9. OPERATING COMPANY.  So long as Silver Lake shall have the
right to nominate at least one member for  election to the Board of Directors of
the Company,  the Company shall constitute an "operating  company" as defined in
29 CFRss.2510.3-101(c).


<PAGE>

                                                                              20


          SECTION V.10.  LISTING SHARES ON ANOTHER  EXCHANGE.  The Company shall
not list their shares on an exchange  other than the NYSE if as a result of such
listing the  Purchasers or any of their  transferees  would be unable to convert
the full amount of the Notes or Preferred Stock then  outstanding into shares of
Class A Common Stock.

          SECTION V.11. TAX COVENANT.  The Company will take no action, and will
not fail to take any  required  action,  if such  action or failure to act could
result  in (i) the  distribution  of the  stock  of the  Company  by IMS  Health
Incorporated ("IMS HEALTH") failing to qualify under section 355(a) of the Code,
(ii) the  application of section 355(e) of the Code to the  distribution  of the
stock of the Company by IMS Health or (iii) a claim for indemnification  against
the Company under Sections 2.7 or 3.1 of the Distribution  Agreement between IMS
Health and the Company dated June 17, 1999.


                                   ARTICLE VI
                              CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

          SECTION  VI.1.  CONDITIONS TO  PURCHASER'S  OBLIGATION TO PURCHASE THE
NOTES  AND   --------------------------------------------------------------  THE
OPTION.  The Purchasers'  obligation to purchase the Notes and the Option at the
Closing  ---------- is subject to the  satisfaction  (or waiver by Purchaser) of
the following conditions:

          (a) REPRESENTATIONS  AND WARRANTIES TRUE;  PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS.
     Each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this
     Agreement that is qualified as to  materiality  or Material  Adverse Effect
     shall be true and correct,  and each of the  representations and warranties
     of the Company  contained in this  Agreement that is not so qualified as to
     materiality  or Material  Adverse  Effect  shall be true and correct in all
     material  respects,  in each case as of the date  hereof  (except for those
     representations   and  warranties  which  address  matters  only  as  of  a
     particular  date,  which shall be true and correct,  or true and correct in
     all material  respects,  as the case may be, as of such date).  Each of the
     representations  and  warranties  of the Company is true and correct in all
     respects as of the Closing Date,  except to the extent that such failure of
     such  representations  and  warranties  (taken  as a whole)  to be true and
     correct  would not be  expected  to have a material  adverse  effect on the
     condition  (financial or  otherwise),  results of operations or business of
     the Company and its Subsidiaries  taken as a whole . The Company shall have
     performed in all material respects all agreements,  obligations,  covenants
     and  conditions  herein  required to be  performed  or observed by it on or
     prior to the Closing Date.

          (b) LEGAL  INVESTMENT.  On the  Closing  Date,  there  shall not be in
     effect any Law or Order  directing  that the purchase and sale of the Notes
     and the other  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  the Notes and
     the Securityholders Agreement not be consummated or which has the effect of
     rendering it unlawful to consummate such transactions.


<PAGE>

                                                                              21


          (c) PROCEEDINGS AND LITIGATION. No Action shall have been commenced by
     any governmental  authority against any party hereto seeking to restrain or
     delay  the  purchase  and sale of the  Notes  or the  Option  or the  other
     transactions   contemplated  by  this  Agreement  and  the  Securityholders
     Agreement.

          (d)  APPROVALS.  All  approvals,  consents,  permits  and  waivers  of
     governmental authorities and of the third parties listed on Schedule 6.1(a)
     to the Disclosure  Letter  necessary or appropriate for consummation of the
     transactions   contemplated   by  this   Agreement,   the   Notes  and  the
     Securityholders  Agreement shall have been obtained,  and no such approval,
     consent, permit or waiver of any governmental authority or such other third
     party shall  contain any term or  condition  that the  Purchasers  in their
     reasonable discretion determine to be unduly burdensome.

          (e) COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE; SECRETARY'S CERTIFICATE. The Company shall
     have delivered to Purchaser a compliance certificate, executed by the Chief
     Executive Officer or the President of the Company,  dated the Closing Date,
     to the  effect  that the  conditions  specified  in  Section  6.1 have been
     satisfied.  The Company shall have delivered to the Purchaser a certificate
     executed  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Company,  dated  the  Closing  Date,
     certifying as to (i) the  resolutions of the Board  evidencing  approval of
     the transactions contemplated by and from this Agreement, the Notes and the
     Securityholders  Agreement  and the  authorization  of the named officer or
     officers  to  execute  and  deliver  this  Agreement,  the  Notes  and  the
     Securityholders  Agreement and (ii) certain of the officers of the Company,
     their titles and examples of their signatures.

          (f) TECHREPUBLIC ACQUISITION. The Company shall have acquired directly
     or indirectly at least 80% of all of the outstanding shares of common stock
     of TechRepublic, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

          (g) AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT The Credit Agreement shall have been
     amended,  in a manner  reasonably  satisfactory  to the Purchasers in their
     sole discretion.

          (h) TAX  OPINION.  The  Company  shall  have  received  from its legal
     counsel an opinion,  in form and substance  reasonably  satisfactory to the
     Purchasers, to the effect that the issuance of the Notes will not result in
     (i) the  application of section 355(e) to the  distribution of the stock of
     the Company by IMS Health or (ii) a claim for  indemnification  against the
     Company under Sections 2.7 or 3.1 of the Distribution Agreement between IMS
     Health and the Company dated June 17, 1999.

          (i) NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. Between the date of this Agreement and
     the Closing  Date,  there shall not have  occurred any  occurrence or event
     that would be reasonably  likely to have a material  adverse  effect on the
     condition  (financial or  otherwise),  results of operations or business of
     the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.


<PAGE>

                                                                              22


          (j)  SECURITYHOLDERS  AGREEMENT.  The Purchasers shall have received a
     copy of the Securityholders Agreement executed by the Company.

          (k) NOTES. The Purchasers shall have received the Notes in the amounts
     and names as set forth in the Allocation Notice.

          (l) PURCHASER DIRECTORS.  The Board shall consist of ten directors and
     at least two  nominees  of the  Purchasers  shall have been  elected to the
     Board.

          (m)  AMENDMENTS  TO EMPLOYEE  AGREEMENTS.  The  Purchasers  shall have
     received  letters from each of the persons listed in Schedule 6.1(m) to the
     Disclosure Letter in the form set forth in Exhibit D.

          (n) AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS PLAN. The Rights  Agreement dated February 10,
     2000 between the Company and Bank Boston, N.A. shall have been amended in a
     manner reasonably satisfactory to the Purchasers in their sole discretion.

          (o) LETTER  AGREEMENT.  The  Purchasers  shall have received in a form
     reasonably  satisfactory  to them  the  Letter  Agreement  executed  by the
     Company  and  dated  the  Closing  Date  relating  to the  issuance  of the
     Preferred Stock under certain circumstances.

          SECTION VI.2.  CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY. The Company's
obligation  to issue and sell the Notes and the Option at the Closing is subject
to the satisfaction (or waiver by the Company),  on or prior to the Closing,  of
the following conditions:

          (a)  REPRESENTATIONS  AND WARRANTIES TRUE. Each of the representations
     and warranties of the Purchasers  contained in this Agreement shall be true
     and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date. The Purchasers
     shall have performed in all material respects all agreements,  obligations,
     covenants  and  conditions  herein  required to be performed or observed by
     them on or prior to the Closing Date.

          (b) LEGAL  INVESTMENT.  On the  Closing  Date,  there  shall not be in
     effect any Law or Order  directing  that the purchase and sale of the Notes
     and the Option and the other  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,
     the Notes and the Securityholders Agreement not be consummated or which has
     the effect of rendering it unlawful to consummate such transactions.

          (c) PROCEEDINGS AND LITIGATION. No Action shall have been commenced by
     any governmental  authority against any party hereto seeking to restrain or
     delay  the  purchase  and sale of the  Notes  or the  Option  or the  other
     transactions   contemplated   by  this   Agreement,   the   Notes  and  the
     Securityholders Agreement.

          (d) SECURITYHOLDERS  AGREEMENT.  The  Securityholders  Agreement shall
     have been executed and delivered by the Purchasers.


<PAGE>

                                                                              23


                                   ARTICLE VII
                                 INDEMNIFICATION

          SECTION VII.1. SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. (a) (i) The
representations  and  warranties  contained in Section  3.3(a),  (b) and (d) and
Section 3.22 of this Agreement shall survive indefinitely.

          (ii) All other representations and warranties contained in Article III
     of this  Agreement  shall  survive until  thirty-six  (36) months after the
     Closing Date,  with the  exception of the  representations  and  warranties
     contained in Section 3.14, which shall survive until three months after the
     expiration of the  applicable  statute of  limitations  with respect to the
     subject matter thereof.

          (iii) The  representations  and warranties  contained in Article IV of
     this Agreement shall survive until thirty-six (36) months after the Closing
     Date.

          (iv) The  representations  and warranties  contained in Article III of
     this  Agreement,  and the rights and remedies  that may be exercised by any
     Person seeking indemnification hereunder, shall not be limited or otherwise
     affected  by or as a  result  of  any  information  furnished  to,  or  any
     investigation made by, any such Person or its representatives.

          (v) For purposes of this  Agreement,  each  statement or other item of
     information set forth by the Company on any Schedule hereto shall be deemed
     to be a representation and warranty made by the Company in this Agreement.

          SECTION  VII.2.  INDEMNIFICATION.  (a) From and after the Closing Date
and  subject  to  Sections  7.1,  7.3  and  7.5,  the  Company  (the  "PURCHASER
INDEMNITOR") shall defend,  indemnify and hold harmless the Purchasers and their
Affiliates and each director,  officer,  member, partner,  employee and agent of
such Persons (the  "PURCHASER  INDEMNITEES")  against any loss,  damage,  claim,
liability, judgment or settlement of any nature or kind, including all costs and
expenses relating thereto, including without limitation, interest, penalties and
reasonable attorneys' fees (collectively  "DAMAGES"),  arising out of, resulting
from or relating to:

          (i) the breach of any representation or warranty  contained in Article
     III, or any certificate delivered by the Company pursuant hereto;

          (ii) the breach by the Company of any covenant or  agreement  (whether
     to be performed prior to or after the Closing) contained in this Agreement,
     or any certificate delivered by the Company pursuant hereto; and

          (iii) any  indemnity  obligation  that arises  under the  Distribution
     Agreement  between  IMS Health  and the  Company  dated June 17,  1999 as a
     result of the issuance of the Notes,  the Preferred Stock or the Conversion
     Shares  or  the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  by  this
     Agreement, the Notes or the Securityholders Agreement.


<PAGE>

                                                                              24


          (b) From and after the Closing  Date and subject to Sections  7.1, 7.3
and 7.5, the Purchasers  (the "COMPANY  INDEMNITOR"  and  collectively  with the
Purchaser  Indemnitor,  the  "INDEMNITORS")  shall,  jointly but not  severally,
defend,  indemnify  and hold  harmless the Company and its  Affiliates  and each
director,  officer,  member,  partner,  employee  and agent of such Persons (the
"COMPANY  INDEMNITEES"  and  collectively  with the Purchaser  Indemnitees,  the
"INDEMNITEES")  against any Damages  arising out of,  resulting from or relating
to:

          (i) the breach of any representation or warranty  contained in Article
     IV; and

          (ii) the breach by Purchaser of any covenant or agreement  (whether to
     be performed prior to or after the Closing) contained in this Agreement.

          (c) The term  "DAMAGES"  as used in this Article VII is not limited to
matters  asserted by third parties against any Person entitled to be indemnified
under this Article VII, but includes  Damages  incurred or sustained by any such
Person in the absence of third party  claims,  and shall take into  account such
Person's ownership or investment in the Company.

          SECTION VII.3.  INDEMNIFICATION  AMOUNTS.  (a) An Indemnitor shall not
have  liability  under  Section  7.2  until  the  aggregate  amount  of  Damages
theretofore incurred by the Purchaser Indemnitees or the Company Indemnitees, as
applicable,  exceeds an amount equal to $1,000,000 (the "BASKET"), in which case
the Purchaser  Indemnitees or the Company Indemnitees,  as applicable,  shall be
entitled to the aggregate amount of Damages, including the Basket.

          (b) The  limitations on the  indemnification  obligations set forth in
this Section 7.3 shall not apply to any  covenants or  agreements of the parties
in this Agreement. In addition,  notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a)
above,  the  limitations on the  indemnification  obligations of the parties set
forth therein shall not apply to breaches of the  representations and warranties
made in Sections 3.3(a), (b) and (d) and 3.22.

          SECTION VII.4.  NON-EXCLUSIVE  REMEDY.  The  indemnification  remedies
provided in this Article VII shall not be deemed to be  exclusive.  Accordingly,
the exercise by any Person of any of its rights under this Article VII shall not
be deemed to be an election of remedies and shall not be deemed to prejudice, or
to  constitute  or operate as a waiver of, any other  right or remedy  that such
Person may be entitled  to exercise  (whether  under this  Agreement,  under any
other contract, under any law or otherwise).

          SECTION VII.5. CERTAIN LIMITATIONS. The indemnification obligations of
the parties hereto for any breach of a representation  and warranty described in
Articles  III and IV of  this  Agreement  shall  survive  for  only  the  period
applicable to such representations and warranties as set forth in Section 7.1 of
this Agreement,  and thereafter all such  representations  and warranties of the
applicable  Indemnitor  under this Agreement  shall be  extinguished;  PROVIDED,
HOWEVER,  that such indemnification  obligation shall not be extinguished in the
event of Damages  incurred as a result of an Action that was instituted or begun
prior to the  expiration  of the  survival  period set forth in  Section  7.1 if
noticed in writing to the  applicable  Indemnitor by the  applicable


<PAGE>

                                                                              25


Indemnitee within 30 days of such Indemnitee  receiving notice thereof.  Subject
to the proviso at the end of the immediately  preceding  sentence,  no claim for
the recovery of such Damages may be asserted by an Indemnitee after such period.


                                  ARTICLE VIII
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

          SECTION VIII.1. OTHER DEFINITIONS. The following terms as used in this
Agreement shall have the following meanings:

          (a) "AFFILIATE"  means,  with respect to any Person,  any other Person
     that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,  controls,
     is controlled by or is under common control with,  such  specified  Person,
     for so long as such Person remains so associated to the specified Person.

          (b) "CONTROL"  (including the terms  "CONTROLLED BY" and "UNDER COMMON
     CONTROL WITH"),  with respect to the  relationship  between or among two or
     more Persons, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to
     direct or cause the  direction  of the affairs or  management  of a Person,
     whether through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee or executor,
     by contract or otherwise.

          (c) "GROUP" shall have the meaning  assigned to it in Section 13(d)(3)
     of the Exchange Act.

          (d) "PERSON"  means any  individual,  corporation,  limited  liability
     company,  limited  or  general  partnership,  joint  venture,  association,
     joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization,  government or any
     agency or political  subdivisions  thereof or any Group comprised of two or
     more of the foregoing.

          SECTION  VIII.2.  GOVERNING LAW;  JURISDICTION;  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.
This Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New
York.  No suit,  action or  proceeding  with  respect to this  Agreement  may be
brought in any court or before any  similar  authority  other than in a court of
competent  jurisdiction  in the State of New York, as Purchaser may elect in its
sole discretion, and the Company hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of
such courts for the purpose of such suit,  proceeding  or judgment.  The Company
hereby  irrevocably  waives  any  right  which it may have had to bring  such an
action in any other court,  domestic or foreign,  or before any similar domestic
or  foreign  authority.  Each  of the  parties  hereto  hereby  irrevocably  and
unconditionally  waives  trial by jury in any  legal  action  or  proceeding  in
relation to this Agreement and for any counterclaim therein.

          SECTION VIII.3.  NO SHOP. The Company agrees that from the date hereof
through the  Closing  Date,  neither the Company nor any of its  representatives
will engage in,  solicit or  otherwise  take any action  relating to any debt or
equity financing of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than under the
Credit Agreement or under any existing  agreements),  or


<PAGE>

                                                                              26


furnish  information to any third parties regarding the foregoing.  This Section
8.3 shall  terminate  upon  termination  of this  Agreement in  accordance  with
Section 8.13 hereof.

          SECTION  VIII.4.  EXPENSES.  Upon Closing or the  termination  of this
Agreement,  the Company  agrees to reimburse the Purchasers on demand for all of
their  reasonable  out-of-pocket  fees  and  expenses,  including  the  fees and
expenses  of  attorneys,  accountants  and  consultants  employed  by  them,  in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

          SECTION  VIII.5.  TRANSACTION  FEE. On the Closing  Date,  the Company
shall pay a  one-time  cash  transaction  fee by wire  transfer  of  immediately
available funds to an account  designated by Silver Lake  Technology  Management
L.L.C. in an amount equal to $2.0 million.

          SECTION  VIII.6.  SUCCESSORS  AND  ASSIGNS;   ASSIGNMENT.   Except  as
otherwise  expressly  provided herein,  the provisions hereof shall inure to the
benefit of, and be binding  upon,  the  successors,  permitted  assigns,  heirs,
executors  and  administrators  of the  parties  hereto  and shall  inure to the
benefit of and be  enforceable by each Person who shall be a holder of the Notes
or the Option from time to time. This Agreement may not be assigned  without the
prior written consent of the other party,  except that the Purchasers may assign
its rights and obligations hereunder to any Affiliate or Affiliates or to one or
more of their limited or general partners;  provided that the Company shall have
the right to veto any  assignment  to a limited  partner to which it  reasonably
objects.  Each assignee (i) agrees to be bound jointly and severally  hereunder,
(ii agrees that the representations and warranties made by the Purchasers herein
shall be deemed to have been made by such  assignee  and (iii)  shall  execute a
counterpart  to this  Agreement  the  execution of which shall  constitute  such
assignee's agreement to the terms of this Section 8.6.

          SECTION VIII.7.  ENTIRE  AGREEMENT;  SUPERSEDES PRIOR AGREEMENT.  This
Agreement and the Exhibits hereto, the  Securityholders  Agreement and the other
documents delivered pursuant hereto constitute the full and entire understanding
and  agreement  between the parties  with regard to the  subjects  hereof and no
party   shall  be  liable   or  bound  to  any  other  in  any   manner  by  any
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements except as specifically set
forth herein and therein.

          SECTION VIII.8. SEVERABILITY.  In case any provision of this Agreement
shall  be  invalid,  illegal  or  unenforceable,   the  validity,  legality  and
enforceability  of the remaining  provisions shall not in any way be affected or
impaired thereby.

          SECTION VIII.9. AMENDMENT AND WAIVER. This Agreement may be amended or
modified,  and the rights of the  Company  or  Purchaser  hereunder  may only be
waived, upon the written consent of the Company and Purchaser.

          SECTION  VIII.10.  DELAYS OR OMISSIONS.  It is agreed that no delay or
omission to exercise any right,  power or remedy accruing to any party, upon any
breach,  default or  noncompliance  by another party under this Agreement or the
Securityholders  Agreement,  shall impair any such right,  power or remedy,  nor
shall  it  be  construed  to  be  a  waiver  of  any  such  breach,


<PAGE>

                                                                              27


default or noncompliance,  or any acquiescence  therein, or of or in any similar
breach, default or noncompliance thereafter occurring. It is further agreed that
any waiver,  permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on Purchaser's
part of any  breach,  default  or  noncompliance  under  this  Agreement  or the
Securityholders  Agreement or any waiver on such party's part of any  provisions
or conditions of this  Agreement or the  Securityholders  Agreement,  must be in
writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such
writing.  All  remedies,  either  under this  Agreement  or the  Securityholders
Agreement,  by law, or otherwise  afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and
not alternative.

          SECTION VIII.11.  NOTICES. All notices required or permitted hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed  effectively  given:  (a) upon  personal
delivery  to the  party to be  notified;  (b) when  sent by  confirmed  telex or
facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, if not, then on
the next business day; (c) five (5) days after having been sent by registered or
certified  mail,  return  receipt  requested,  postage  prepaid;  or (d) one (1)
business  day after  deposit  with a nationally  recognized  overnight  courier,
specifying  next  day  delivery,  with  written  verification  of  receipt.  All
communications shall be sent to the addresses set forth below:

          If to the Company:

               Gartner Group, Inc
               56 Top Gallant Road
               P.O. Box 10212
               Stamford, Connecticut  06904-2212
               Telephone: (203) - 316-3770
               Fax: (203) - 316-6448
               Attn: Kenneth Siegel, Esq.

          with copies to:

               Proskauer Rose LLP
               1585 Broadway
               New York, NY  10036
               Telephone:  (212) 969-3000
               Fax:  (212) 969-2900
               Attn:  Julie M. Allen, Esq.

          If to the Purchasers:

               Silver Lake Partners, L.P.
               320 Park Avenue - 33rd Floor
               New York, NY  10022
               Telephone:  (212) 981-5600
               Fax:  (212) 981-3535
               Attn:  Mike Bingle


<PAGE>

                                                                              28


          with copies to:

               Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
               425 Lexington Avenue
               New York, N.Y.  10017
               Telephone: (212) 455-2000
               Fax: (212) 455-2502
               Attn: Mario Ponce, Esq.

          SECTION VIII.12. TITLES AND SUBTITLES.  The titles of the sections and
subsections of this Agreement are for  convenience of reference only and are not
to be considered in construing this Agreement.

          SECTION VIII.13.  TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated by (i)
mutual  agreement of the parties hereto or (ii) by the Purchasers or the Company
in the event the Closing has not occurred by April 28, 2000; PROVIDED, that this
termination  right may not be  exercised  by a party  whose  nonperformance  has
delayed the Closing. Upon termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section
8.13,  this  Agreement  shall be void and of no further  force and effect and no
party shall have any liability to any other party under this  Agreement,  except
that nothing herein shall relieve any party from any liability for the breach of
any of the  representations,  warranties,  covenants and agreements set forth in
this Agreement and except as contemplated by Section 8.4.

          SECTION VIII.14. COUNTERPARTS;  EXECUTION BY FACSIMILE SIGNATURE. This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts,  each of which shall be
an original,  but all of which together shall  constitute one  instrument.  This
Agreement may be executed by facsimile signature(s).


<PAGE>

                                                                              30


          IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have executed the SECURITIES
PURCHASE AGREEMENT as of the date set forth in the first paragraph hereof.

                                 GARTNER GROUP, INC.


                                 By: __________________________________________
                                     Name:
                                     Title:


                                 SILVER LAKE PARTNERS, L.P.
                                 By:  Silver Lake Technology Associates, L.L.C.,
                                      its general partner


                                      By:  ____________________________________
                                           Name:
                                           Title:


                                 SILVER LAKE INVESTORS, L.P.
                                 By:  Silver Lake Technology Associates, L.L.C.,
                                      its general partner


                                      By:  ____________________________________
                                           Name:
                                           Title:


                                 SILVER LAKE TECHNOLOGY INVESTORS, L.L.C.


                                 By: __________________________________________
                                     Name:
                                     Title:


<PAGE>

                                                                              31


          IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have executed the SECURITIES
PURCHASE AGREEMENT as of the date set forth in the first paragraph hereof.

                                 INTEGRAL CAPITAL PARTNERS IV, L.P.
                                 By:  Integral Capital Management IV, LLC,
                                      its general partner

                                      By:  _____________________________________
                                           Name:  Pamela K. Hagenah
                                           Title: a Manager


                                 INTEGRAL CAPITAL PARTNERS IV MS SIDE FUND, L.P.
                                 By:  Integral Capital Partners NBT, LLC,
                                      its general partner

                                      By:  _____________________________________
                                           Name:  Pamela K. Hagenah
                                           Title: a Manager



                                    AMENDMENT
                                       TO
                          SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT



          This AMENDMENT (this "AMENDMENT"), dated as of April 17, 2000, among
Gartner Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and Silver Lake
Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("SILVER LAKE PARTNERS"), Silver
Lake Investors L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("SILVER LAKE INVESTORS"),
Silver Lake Technology Investors L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company
("SILVER LAKE TECHNOLOGY", and together with Silver Lake Partners and Silver
Lake Investors, herein referred to as "SILVER LAKE"), Integral Capital Partners
IV, L.P. and Integral Capital Partners IV MS Side Fund, L.P. and such Affiliates
(as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) and limited and/or general
partners as Silver Lake shall designate in accordance with Section 8.6 of the
Securities Purchase Agreement (as defined below) (together with Silver Lake, the
"PURCHASERS") amends that certain Securities Purchase Agreement dated March 21,
2000, among the Company and the Purchasers (the "SECURITIES PURCHASE
AGREEMENT").

                                   WITNESSETH

          WHEREAS, the Company and the Purchasers are parties to the Securities
Purchase Agreement; and

          WHEREAS, the Company and the Purchasers wish to amend the Securities
Purchase Agreement as provided herein.

          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual agreements
contained herein, and for other valuable consideration the receipt of which is
hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:


          1.   Terms not specifically defined herein shall have the meanings
assigned to them in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

          2.   Section 7.2(a)(iii) of the Securities Purchase Agreement is
hereby amended by deleting in its entirety and substituting in place thereof the
following: "(iii) Intentionally Omitted."

          3.   Section 5.1 of the Securityholders Agreement attached as Exhibit
B to the Securities Purchase Agreement is hereby amended by deleting it in its
entirety and substituting in place thereof the following:

          "SECTION 5.1 SUBSIDIARY PURCHASE RIGHTS. (a) The Company hereby grants
to the Purchasers, as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement (such
Purchasers referred to in this Section 5.1 as the "PURCHASERS"), an option (the
"TECHREPUBLIC OPTION") to purchase up to 5.00% (as may be allocated among the
Purchasers in their discretion) of the fully diluted capital


<PAGE>


stock of TechRepublic, Inc. ("TECHREPUBLIC") (after giving effect to all the
transactions contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated
March 21, 2000 between the Company, TechRepublic and the other parties thereto
(the "TECHREPUBLIC Agreement")) pursuant to the general terms and conditions
applicable to the Company set forth in the TechRepublic Agreement and at a price
which values TechRepublic at the lesser of (i) the value assigned to
TechRepublic in connection with the Company's purchase, or (ii) $90.0 million.
In the event TechRepublic issues to the Company any options, warrants,
convertible securities or capital stock subsequent to the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by the TechRepublic Agreement, the Purchasers shall
receive options to purchase additional shares of TechRepublic capital stock in
an amount sufficient to permit it to maintain its 5% stake of TechRepublic on a
fully diluted basis (giving effect to all options, warrants or convertible
securities issued to the Company on an as converted basis) at an exercise price
equal to (i) the per share price received by TechRepublic in connection with
such issuance or (ii) the per share exercise price or conversion price of the
options, warrants or convertible securities issued, as the case may be. Prior to
any contribution of assets (other than cash) by the Company to TechRepublic, the
Company shall notify the Purchasers and the Company and the Purchasers shall
negotiate in good faith to agree upon the value to the assets to be contributed.
The Company and the Purchasers will use reasonable best efforts to enable the
Company to include TechRepublic in its consolidated group for federal income tax
purposes.

          (b)  In the event that a Purchaser elects to purchase shares of the
capital stock of TechRepublic during the term of this Article V, such Purchaser
shall give the Company written notice of such election, which notice shall
specify the number of shares of capital stock such Purchaser is electing to
purchase, provided that the total number of shares of capital stock purchased by
all Purchasers shall not exceed 5.00% of the fully diluted capital stock of
TechRepublic (after giving effect to all of the transactions contemplated by the
TechRepublic Agreement).

          (c)  The Company hereby grants to the Purchasers the right (the "SPIN
Right"; together with the TechRepublic Option, the "OPTION") to purchase up to
5.00% (as may be allocated among the Purchasers in their discretion) of the
fully diluted common stock of any Subsidiary of the Company whose shares of
common stock are 1) distributed to stockholders of the Company ("SPUN-OFF") or
2) sold by the Company in a public offering ("SPUN-OUT") at a per share price
equal to (x) 80.0% of the initial public offering price in the case of a
spun-out Subsidiary and (y) 80.0% of the first day's closing price in the case
of a spun-off subsidiary.

          (d)  In the event that the Company effects either a spun-off or
spun-out subsidiary transaction during the term of this Article V, the Company
shall give each Purchaser written notice of such transaction at least 30
business days prior to the consummation of the spin-off or spin-out, as the case
may be. If timely notice has been received, on or prior to ten business days
prior to the consummation of the spin-off or spin-out, as the as may be, each
Purchaser shall notify the Company in writing of the number of shares of common
stock, if any, such Purchaser is electing to purchase in such transaction (each
a "Response"), provided that the total number of shares of common stock
purchased by all Purchasers in each such transaction shall not exceed 5.00% of
the fully diluted common stock of the subject subsidiary. An election by a
Purchaser to


<PAGE>



purchase shares of common stock shall be deemed to be an irrevocable commitment
from such Purchaser to purchase the number of shares of common stock specified
in such Purchaser's Response. If a Purchaser shall have received timely notice
of a spin-off or spin-out, as the case may be, and does not provide a Response
to the Company on or prior to the tenth business day prior to the consummation
of the spin-off or spin-out, as the case may be, such Purchaser shall be deemed
to have declined to purchase shares of common stock in such transaction."

          4.   Except as expressly amended hereby, the Securities Purchase
Agreement shall continue to be, and shall remain, in full force and effect.

          5.   THIS AMENDMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK.

          6.   This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which taken together
shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument.


<PAGE>




          IN WITNESS THEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment as
of the date first above written.


                                            GARTNER GROUP, INC.


                                            By: ________________________________
                                                Name:
                                                Title:



<PAGE>



          IN WITNESS THEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment as
of the date first above written.


                                 SILVER LAKE PARTNERS, L.P.
                                 By:  Silver Lake Technology Associates, L.L.C.,
                                        its general partner

                                        By: _________________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:


                                 SILVER LAKE INVESTORS, L.P.
                                 By:  Silver Lake Technology Associates, L.L.C.,
                                        its general partner

                                        By: ________________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:


                                 SILVER LAKE TECHNOLOGY INVESTORS, L.L.C.

                                 By: ________________________________
                                        Name:
                                        Title:



<PAGE>


          IN WITNESS THEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment as
of the date first above written.


                                 INTEGRAL CAPITAL PARTNERS IV, L.P.

                                 By:  Integral Capital Management IV, LLC,
                                      its General Partner

                                      By: ________________________
                                            Name:  Pamela K. Hagenah
                                            Title: a Manager


                                 INTEGRAL CAPITAL PARTNERS IV MS SIDE FUND, L.P.

                                 By:  Integral Capital Partners NBT, LLC,
                                      its General Partner

                                      By: ________________________
                                            Name:  Pamela K. Hagenah
                                            Title: a Manager



<PAGE>







              6.0% CONVERTIBLE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED PROMISSORY NOTE


[$300,000,000]                                                NEW YORK, NEW YORK
                                                                   APRIL__, 2000

          THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
          SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY
          STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED
          OR SOLD EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE THEREWITH. THIS
          NOTE IS ALSO SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON
          TRANSFER SET FORTH IN THE SECURITYHOLDERS
          AGREEMENT DATED APRIL __, 2000, AS SUCH
          AGREEMENT MAY BE AMENDED, SUPPLEMENTED OR
          OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME.

            FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, GARTNER GROUP, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "COMPANY"), promises to pay to [Silver Lake Partners L.P]
[Silver Lake Investors L.P.] [Silverlake Technology Investors, L.L.C.] [Integral
Capital Partners IV, L.P.] [Integral Capital Partners IV MS Side Fund, L.P.]
(the "INVESTOR") in lawful money of the United States and in immediately
available funds, the principal amount of [$300,000,000] (together with increases
to such amount pursuant to Section 1 below, the "FACE AMOUNT") together with
interest thereon calculated from the date hereof in accordance with the
provisions of this Note.

            This Note was issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement,
dated as of March 21, 2000 (the "AGREEMENT"), among Silver Lake Partners L.P.,
Silver Lake Investors L.P., Silver Lake Technology Investors, L.L.C. and the
other parties thereto. Unless the context otherwise requires, as used herein,
"NOTE" means any of the 6.0% Convertible Junior Subordinated Promissory Notes
issued pursuant to the Agreement and any other similar Convertible Junior
Subordinated Promissory Notes issued by the Company in exchange for, or to
effect a transfer of, any Note and "NOTES" means all such Notes in the
aggregate.

            1.    ACCRUAL OF INTEREST. Except as otherwise expressly provided in
Section 5 hereof, interest shall accrue, on a semi-annual basis, at the rate of
six percent (6.0%) per annum (based on a year of 360 days) on the Face Amount
and shall result, on each Interest Payment Date (as hereinafter defined), in a
corresponding increase in the then outstanding Face Amount of the Notes.

            2.    PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON NOTE.
                  -----------------------------------------

            (a)   SCHEDULED PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL. The Company shall pay the Face
Amount, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, in cash
to the holder of this Note on April__, 2005.



<PAGE>






            (b)   PAYMENT OF INTEREST. The Company shall pay interest on this
Note semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year, or if
any such day is not a business day, on the next succeeding business day (each an
"INTEREST PAYMENT DATE") to holders of record on the immediately preceding March
1 and September 1, respectively. Any interest payable on this Note shall be paid
by adding an amount equal to the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date
to the then outstanding Face Amount of this Note on such Interest Payment Date.
Immediately following each Interest Payment Date, the Company shall deliver a
written notice to the holder of this Note specifying (a) the amount of the
increase to the Face Amount of this Note as a result of the interest payment on
the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date and (b) the aggregate Face
Amount of this Note immediately following such Interest Payment Date.

            (c)   PRO RATA PAYMENT. The Company agrees that any payments to the
holders of the Notes (including, without limitation, upon acceleration pursuant
to Section 6) (whether for principal, interest or otherwise) shall be made PRO
RATA among all such holders based upon the aggregate unpaid principal amount of
the Notes held by each such holder. If any holder of a Note obtains any payment
(whether voluntary, involuntary, by application of offset or otherwise) of
principal or interest on such Note in excess of such holder's PRO RATA share of
payments obtained by all holders of the Notes, such holder shall make payments
to the other holders of the Notes such participation in the Notes held by them
as is necessary to cause such holders to share the excess payment ratably among
each of them as provided in this Section.

            3.    OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.
                  -------------------

            (a)   OPTIONAL REDEMPTION. From and after April_, 2003, the Company,
at its option, may redeem the Notes, in whole but not in part, to the extent it
has funds legally available therefor and such redemption is not prohibited by
the terms of its outstanding indebtedness, at the redemption price of 100% of
the Face Amount thereof, plus an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid interest
thereon, if any, to the redemption date; PROVIDED (i) the Current Market Price
of the A Common Stock (as defined below) on the date of the notice of redemption
(described below) equals or exceeds 150% of the Conversion Price (as adjusted);
PROVIDED that the Closing Price of the A Common Stock on the trading day
immediately preceding the date of such notice of redemption equals or exceeds
150% of the Conversion Price (as adjusted); (ii) the Company is permitted
(without the necessity of any further approvals or action) by law and under the
rules of any securities exchange on which the A Common Stock is traded to
convert all the Notes into Shares of A Common Stock and the Company intends and
has the financial resources and ability to repurchase all of the outstanding
Notes; and (iii) the Company has agreed not to exercise its Cash Out Right (as
defined below). As used herein, the "Current Market Price" for a given date
shall mean the average Closing Price of the A Common Stock as reported in THE
WALL STREET JOURNAL or, at the election of the Company, other reputable
financial news source, for the 20 consecutive trading days immediately preceding
the date the redemption notice is given. As used herein, the "Closing Price" of
any security on any day means the last reported sale price regular way on such
day or, in the case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the
reported closing bid and asked prices regular way of the Common Stock, in each
case on the NYSE or, if not listed or admitted to trading on such exchange, as
quoted on AMEX or Nasdaq.



<PAGE>


            (b)   PAYMENT OF REDEMPTION PRICE.
                  ---------------------------

            (i)   The amount of the redemption price on the Notes redeemed, on
any redemption set forth herein, shall be paid to the holders of the Notes in
cash (to the extent funds are legally available therefor and such redemption is
not prohibited by the terms of its outstanding indebtedness).

            (ii)  Not less than 15 days nor more than 45 days (such date as
fixed by the board of directors of the Company is referred to herein as the
"REDEMPTION RECORD DATE") prior to the date fixed for any redemption of the
Notes pursuant to this Section 3, a notice specifying the time and place of the
redemption of the Notes shall be given by first class mail, postage prepaid, to
the holders of record on the Redemption Record Date of the Notes to be redeemed
at their respective addresses as the same shall appear on the books of the
Company, calling upon each holder of record to surrender to the Company on the
redemption date at the place designated in the notice the Notes owned by such
holder. Neither failure to mail such notice, nor any defect therein or in the
mailing thereof, to any particular holder shall affect the sufficiency of the
notice or the validity of the proceedings for redemption with respect to the
other holders. On or after the redemption date, each holder of Notes to be
redeemed shall present and surrender such holder's Notes to the Company at the
place designated in the redemption notice and thereupon the redemption price of
the Notes, and any unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date, shall be paid
to or on the order of the person whose name appears in the Note Register (as
herein defined) as the owner thereof, and each surrendered Note shall be
canceled by the Company.

            (iii) If a notice of redemption has been given pursuant to this
Section 3 and if, on or before the redemption date, the funds necessary for such
redemption (including all interest on the Notes to be redeemed that will accrue
to the redemption date) shall have been set aside by the Company, separate and
apart from its other funds, in trust for the benefit of the holders of all the
Notes, then, notwithstanding that any Notes have not been surrendered for
cancellation, on the redemption date interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes
to be redeemed, and at the close of business on the date on which such funds
have been segregated and set aside by the Company as provided in this Subsection
3(b)(iii), the holders of the Notes shall have no rights with respect thereto,
except the conversion rights provided in subsection (iv) of this Section 3(b)
and Section 4 below and the right to receive the moneys payable upon such
redemption, without interest thereon, upon surrender of their Notes.

            (iv)  If a notice of redemption has been given pursuant to this
Section 3 and any holder of Notes shall, prior to the close of business on the
business day immediately preceding the redemption date, give written notice to
the Company pursuant to Section 4 below of the conversion of any or all of the
Notes to be redeemed held by the holder (accompanied by the Note or Notes), then
such redemption shall not become effective as to such Notes to be converted and
such conversion shall become effective as provided in Section 4 below, whereupon
any funds deposited by the Company for the redemption of such notes shall
(subject to any right of the holder of such Notes to receive the interest
payable thereon as provided in Section 4 below) immediately upon such conversion
be returned to the Company or, if then held in trust by the


<PAGE>



Company, shall automatically and without further corporate action or notice be
discharged from the trust.

            4.    CONVERSION RIGHTS.
                  -----------------

            The holders of the Notes shall have conversion  rights as follows
(the "CONVERSION RIGHTS"):

            (a)   RIGHT TO CONVERT.
                  ----------------

            (i)   Following April__, 2003 and provided that all filings made
under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Anti-Trust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, as
required by Section 6.1 of the Securityholders Agreement dated the date hereof
(as such agreement may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time
to time, the "SECURITYHOLDERS Agreement") have been made and all related waiting
periods have expired or have been terminated early, the Face Amount of this Note
plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon shall be convertible, in whole or
in part, at the option of the holder thereof, at any time and from time to time,
subject to compliance with this Section 4, into fully paid and nonassessable
shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock, par value $.005 per share (the "A
COMMON STOCK"; and together with Company's Class B Common Stock, par value $.005
per share, the "COMMON STOCK") at the then effective Conversion Rate (as defined
below) (each such conversion, an "OPTIONAL CONVERSION").

            The Conversion Rate, as of any date of determination, shall equal an
amount determined by dividing (i) the Face Amount outstanding on such date, plus
any accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes, by (ii) the Conversion Price (as
defined below) in effect as of any date of determination. The Conversion Price
at which shares of Common Stock shall be deliverable upon conversion of the
Notes without the payment of additional consideration by the holder thereof (the
"CONVERSION PRICE") shall initially be $15.87. Such initial Conversion Price and
the rate at which the Notes may be converted into shares of A Common Stock,
shall be subject to adjustment as provided below.

            (ii)  Notwithstanding a holder's request to convert all or part of
his or her Notes into A Common Stock, the Company shall, except following the
Company's exercise of its option pursuant Section 3, have the right (the "CASH
OUT RIGHT") after such request to redeem all, but not part of, such Notes for
cash in an amount equal to the product of (x) the quotient of (i) the Face
Amount of the Notes to be converted and (ii) the Conversion Price and (y) the
Closing Price on the day the holder delivered written notice to the Company of
its election to convert all or part of such holder's Notes into A Common Stock.

            (b)   FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional shares of A Common Stock
shall be issued upon conversion of the Notes. In lieu of fractional shares, the
Company shall pay cash equal to such fraction multiplied by the Closing Price
for shares of A Common Stock on the trading date immediately preceding the
related Conversion Date.

            (c)   MECHANICS OF CONVERSION.
                  -----------------------



<PAGE>



            (i)   In order to convert Notes into shares of A Common Stock, the
holder shall deliver written notice to the Company that such holder elects to
convert all or part of the Face Amount represented by such Note or Notes. Such
notice shall state the Face Amount of Notes which the holder seeks to convert.
The date of receipt of the Note or Notes by the Company shall be the conversion
date ("CONVERSION DATE"). As soon as practicable (but no later than two days)
after the Conversion Date, the Company shall promptly issue and deliver at such
office to such holder a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of
A Common Stock to which such holder is entitled and, in the case where only part
of a Note is converted, the Company shall execute and deliver (at its own
expense) a new Note of any authorized denomination as requested by a holder in
an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed
portion of the principal amount of the Note so surrendered. Such conversion
shall be deemed to have been made at the close of business on the date of such
surrender of the Notes to be converted, and the holder entitled to receive the
shares of A Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all
purposes as the record holder of such shares of A Common Stock on such date.

            (ii)  The Company shall at all times during which the Notes shall be
outstanding, reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued
stock, for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Notes, such number of
its duly authorized shares of A Common Stock as shall from time to time be
sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding Notes. In addition, the
Company shall at all times during which the Notes shall be outstanding, reserve
and keep available out of its authorized but unissued stock, for the purpose of
effecting the conversion of the Notes, such number of its duly authorized shares
of preferred stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the
conversion of all outstanding Notes into Preferred Stock, if necessary. Before
taking any action which would cause an adjustment reducing the Conversion Price
below the then par value of the shares of A Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of the Notes, the Company will take any corporate action which may,
in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may
validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at
such adjusted Conversion Price.

            (iii) All Notes which shall have been surrendered for conversion as
herein provided shall no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights with
respect to such Notes, including the rights, if any, to receive interest,
notices and consent rights shall immediately cease and terminate on the
Conversion Date, except only the right of the holders thereof to receive shares
of A Common Stock, cash or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, in exchange
therefor, and, if applicable, cash for any fractional shares of A Common Stock.
Any Notes so converted shall be retired and canceled.

            (iv)  If the conversion is in connection with an underwritten
offering of securities registered pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, the conversion may, at the option of any holder tendering Notes for
conversion, be conditioned upon the closing with the underwriter of the sale of
securities pursuant to such offering, in which event the holders entitled to
receive the A Common Stock issuable upon such conversion of the Notes shall not
be deemed to have converted such Notes until immediately prior to the closing of
the sale of securities.


<PAGE>


            (d)   ADJUSTMENTS TO CONVERSION PRICE FOR DILUTING ISSUES.
                  ---------------------------------------------------

            (i)   SPECIAL DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Subsection 4(d), the
following definitions shall apply:

            (A)   "Option" shall mean Rights, options or warrants to subscribe
                  for, purchase or otherwise acquire Common Stock or
                  Convertible Securities, other than such Rights, options or
                  warrants granted to employees, directors or consultants of
                  the Company pursuant to plans or arrangements approved by
                  the Company's board of directors.

            (B)   "Convertible Securities" shall mean any evidences of
                  indebtedness, shares or other securities directly or
                  indirectly convertible into or exchangeable for Common
                  Stock.

            (C)   "Additional Shares of Common Stock" shall mean all shares of
                  Common Stock issued (or, pursuant to Subsection 4(d)(ii)
                  below, deemed to be issued) by the Company after April__,
                  2000 (the "Issue Date").

            (D)   "Rights to Acquire Common Stock" (or "RIGHTS") shall mean
                  all rights issued by the Company to acquire Common Stock
                  whether by exercise of a warrant, option or similar call, or
                  conversion of any existing instruments, in either case for
                  consideration fixed, in amount or by formula, as of the date
                  of issuance.

            (ii)  ISSUE OF SECURITIES DEEMED ISSUE OF ADDITIONAL SHARES OF
COMMON STOCK. If the Company at any time or from time to time after the Issue
Date issues any Options or Convertible Securities or Rights to Acquire Common
Stock, then the maximum number of shares of Common Stock (as set forth in the
instrument relating thereto without regard to any provision contained therein
for a subsequent adjustment of such number) issuable upon the exercise of such
Options, Rights to Acquire Common Stock or, in the case of Convertible
Securities, the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, shall be
deemed to be Additional Shares of Common Stock issued as of the time of such
issue; provided, however, that in any such case:

            (A)   No further adjustment in the Conversion Price shall be made
                  upon the subsequent issue of shares of Common Stock upon the
                  exercise of such Options, Rights or conversion or exchange
                  of such Convertible Securities;

            (B)   Upon the expiration or termination of any unexercised
                  Option, Right or Convertible Security, the Conversion Price
                  shall be adjusted immediately to reflect the applicable
                  Conversion Price which would have been in effect had such
                  Option, Right or Convertible Security (to the extent
                  outstanding immediately prior to such expiration or
                  termination) never been issued; and



<PAGE>


            (C)   In the event of any change in the number of shares of Common
                  Stock issuable upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of
                  any Option, Right or Convertible Security, including, but
                  not limited to, a change resulting from the anti-dilution
                  provisions thereof, the Conversion Price then in effect
                  shall forthwith be readjusted to such Conversion Price as
                  would have obtained had the Conversion Price adjustment that
                  was originally made upon the issuance of such Option, Right
                  or Convertible Security which were not exercised or
                  converted prior to such change been made upon the basis of
                  such change, but no further adjustment shall be made for the
                  actual issuance of Common Stock upon the exercise or
                  conversion of any such Option, Right or Convertible
                  Security.

            (iii) ADJUSTMENT OF CONVERSION PRICE UPON ISSUANCE OF ADDITIONAL
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK.

            (a)   If the Company shall at any time after the Issue Date issue
Additional Shares of Common Stock (including Additional Shares of Common Stock
deemed to be issued pursuant to Subsection 4(d)(ii), but excluding shares issued
as a dividend or distribution as provided in subsection 4(f) or upon a stock
split or combination as provided in subsection 4(e)), without consideration, or
for a consideration per share less than the Fair Market Value per share of
Common Stock on the date of and immediately prior to such issue, then and in
such event, the Conversion Price shall be reduced, concurrently with such
issuance, to a price (calculated to the nearest cent) determined by multiplying
such Conversion Price by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the sum of
(A) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, on a fully diluted basis,
immediately prior to such issuance plus (B) the number of shares of Common Stock
which the aggregate consideration received by the Company for the total number
of Additional Shares of Common Stock so issued would purchase at the Fair Market
Value per share of Common Stock and the denominator of which shall be the sum of
(1) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such
issuance plus (2) the number of such Additional Shares of Common Stock so
issued.

            (b)   If the Company shall at any time after the Issue Date issue
Additional Shares of Common Stock (including Additional Shares of Common Stock
deemed to be issued pursuant to Subsection 4(d)(ii), but excluding shares issued
as a dividend or distribution as provided in subsection 4(f) or upon a stock
split or combination as provided in subsection 4(e)) for a consideration per
share less than the Conversion Price (as adjusted) on the date of and
immediately prior to such issue, then and in such event, the Conversion Price
shall be reduced, concurrently with such issuance, to a price (calculated to the
nearest cent) determined by multiplying such Conversion Price by a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the sum of (A) the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding, on a fully diluted basis, immediately prior to such issuance plus
(B) the number of shares of Common Stock which the aggregate consideration
received by the Company for the total number of Additional Shares of Common
Stock so issued would purchase if the amount paid for such shares was equal to
the Conversion Price and the denominator of which shall be the sum of (1) the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding



<PAGE>



immediately prior to such issuance plus (2) the number of such Additional Shares
of Common Stock so issued.

            (c)   If the Company shall at any time after the Issue Date issue
Additional Shares of Common Stock (including Additional Shares of Common Stock
deemed to be issued pursuant to Subsection 4(d)(ii), but excluding shares issued
as a dividend or distribution as provided in subsection 4(f) or upon a stock
split or combination as provided in subsection 4(e)) for a consideration per
share that is less than the Fair Market Value and less than the Conversion Price
(as adjusted), in each case on the date of and immediately prior to such issue,
then and in such event, the Conversion Price shall be reduced, to equal the
lesser of (a) the Conversion Price as adjusted pursuant to Section 4(d)(iii)(a)
or (b) the Conversion Price as adjusted pursuant to Section 4(d)(iii)(b).

            Notwithstanding the foregoing, the applicable Conversion Price shall
not be reduced if the amount of such reduction would be an amount less than
$.01, but any such amount shall be carried forward and reduction with respect
thereto made at the time of and together with any subsequent reduction which,
together with such amount and any other amount or amounts so carried forward,
shall aggregate $.01 or more.

            (iv)  DETERMINATION OF CONSIDERATION. For purposes of this
Subsection 4(d), "Fair Market Value" of the consideration received by the
Company for the issue of any Additional Shares of Common Stock shall be computed
as follows:

            (A)   CASH AND PROPERTY. Such consideration shall:
                  -----------------

                  (1)  insofar as it consists of cash, be computed at the
                       aggregate of cash received by the Company, excluding
                       amounts paid or payable for accrued interest or accrued
                       dividends;

                  (2)  insofar as it consists of property other than cash, be
                       computed at the Fair Market Value thereof at the time
                       of such issue, as determined in good faith by the Board
                       (absent manifest error); and

                  (3)  in the event Additional Shares of Common Stock are
                       issued together with other shares or securities or
                       other assets of the Company for consideration which
                       covers both, be the proportion of such consideration so
                       received, computed as provided in clauses (1) and (2)
                       above, as determined in good faith by the Board (absent
                       manifest error).

            (B)   OPTIONS, RIGHTS AND CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES. The consideration
                  per share received by the Company for Additional Shares of
                  Common Stock deemed to have been issued pursuant to
                  subsection 4(d)(ii), relating to Options, Rights and
                  Convertible Securities, shall be determined by dividing



<PAGE>

                  (1)  the total amount, if any, received or receivable by the
                       Company as consideration for the issue of such Options,
                       Rights or Convertible Securities, plus the minimum
                       aggregate amount of additional consideration (as set
                       forth in the instruments relating thereto, without
                       regard to any provision contained therein for a
                       subsequent adjustment of such consideration) payable to
                       the Company upon the exercise of such Options, Rights
                       or the conversion or exchange of such Convertible
                       Securities, by

                  (2)  the maximum number of shares of Common Stock (as set
                       forth in the instruments relating thereto, without
                       regard to any provision contained therein for a
                       subsequent adjustment of such number) issuable upon the
                       exercise of such Options, Rights or the conversion or
                       exchange of such Convertible Securities.

            (e)   ADJUSTMENT FOR STOCK SPLITS AND COMBINATIONS. If the Company
shall at any time or from time to time after the Issue Date effect a subdivision
of the outstanding Common Stock, the Conversion Price then in effect immediately
before that subdivision shall be proportionately decreased. If the Company shall
at any time or from time to time after the Issue Date combine the outstanding
shares of Common Stock, the Conversion Price then in effect immediately before
the combination shall be proportionately increased. Any adjustment under this
paragraph shall become effective at the close of business on the date the
subdivision or combination becomes effective.

            (f)   ADJUSTMENT FOR CERTAIN DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. In the
event the Company at any time or from time to time after the Issue Date shall
make or issue a dividend or other distribution payable in Additional Shares of
Common Stock, then and in each such event the Conversion Price shall be
decreased as of the time of such issuance, by multiplying such Conversion Price
by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding, on a fully diluted basis, immediately prior to such
issuance and the denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such issuance plus the number of
such Additional Shares of Common Stock issuable in payment of such dividend or
distribution.

            (g)   ADJUSTMENTS FOR OTHER DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. In the
event the Company at any time, or from time to time after the Issue Date shall
make or issue, a dividend or other distribution payable in securities of the
Company (other than shares of Common Stock) or other assets or properties, then
and in each such event provision shall be made so that the holders of the Notes
shall receive in addition to the number of shares of A Common Stock receivable
upon conversion of the Notes, the amount of securities of the Company or other
assets or properties that they would have received had their Notes been
converted into A Common Stock on the date of such event and had thereafter,
during the period from the date of such event to and including the Conversion
Date, retained such securities or other assets or properties receivable by them
as aforesaid during such period giving application to all adjustments called for
during such period, under this paragraph with respect to the rights of the
holders of the Notes; provided that,


<PAGE>



in the event rights or benefits under such securities, assets or properties
shall terminate prior to the time that the holder of this Note may elect to
convert this Note into shares of A Common Stock, such amount of securities,
assets or properties that the holder would have received had such holder
converted his or her notes immediately prior to the distribution shall be
distributed to the holder of this Note on the date the securities, assets or
properties are distributed to the holders of Common Stock.

            (h)   ADJUSTMENT FOR RECLASSIFICATION, EXCHANGE OR SUBSTITUTION. If
the A Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of the Notes shall be changed
into the same or a different number of shares of any class or classes of stock,
whether by capital reorganization, reclassification, or otherwise (other than a
subdivision or combination of shares, stock dividend or reorganization,
reclassification, merger, consolidation or asset sale provided for elsewhere in
this Section 4), then and in each such event the holder of each Note (whether
then outstanding or thereafter issued) shall have the right thereafter to
convert such Note into the kind and amount of shares of stock and other
securities and property receivable upon such reorganization, reclassification,
or other change, by holders of the number of shares of A Common Stock into which
all such Notes might have been converted immediately prior to such
reorganization, reclassification, or change, all subject to further adjustment
as provided herein or with respect to such other securities or property by the
terms thereof.

            (i)   REORGANIZATIONS, MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS OR ASSET SALES. If at
any time after the Issue Date there is a merger, consolidation,
recapitalization, sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets or
reorganization involving the A Common Stock (collectively, a "CAPITAL
REORGANIZATION") (other than a merger, consolidation, sale of assets,
recapitalization, subdivision, combination, reclassification, exchange or
substitution of shares provided for elsewhere in this Section 4), as part of
such Capital Reorganization, provision shall be made so that the holders of
Notes (whether then outstanding or thereafter issued) will thereafter be
entitled to receive upon conversion of the Notes the number of shares of stock
or other securities or property of the Company to which a holder of the number
of shares of A Common Stock deliverable upon conversion would have been entitled
on such Capital Reorganization, subject to adjustment in respect to such stock
or securities by the terms thereof. In any such case, appropriate adjustment
will be made in the application of the provisions of this Section 4 with respect
to the rights of the holders of Notes after the Capital Reorganization to the
end that the provisions of this Section 4 (including adjustment of the
Conversion Price then in effect and the number of shares issuable upon
conversion of the Notes) will be applicable after that event and be as nearly
equivalent as practicable. In the event that the Company is not the surviving
entity of any such Capital Reorganization, each Note shall become Notes of such
surviving entity, with the same powers, rights and preferences as provided
herein.

            (j)   FIRST ANNIVERSARY CONVERSION PRICE RESET. If the average

Closing Price of the A Common Stock for the 30 trading days immediately
preceding the first anniversary of the Issue Date (the "30-DAY AVERAGE") is
below 90.91% of the Conversion Price then in effect, the Conversion Price shall
be reset to a lower amount that represents a 10.00% premium to the 30-Day
Average (the "FIRST ANNIVERSARY RESET"). In the event that the Conversion Price
is subject to downward adjustment due to the First Anniversary Reset, the
Company shall have the option to



<PAGE>



redeem the Notes in whole, but not in part (except as provided in the following
sentence), for such consideration equal to 125% of the then outstanding Face
Amount of this Note (the "REFINANCING RIGHT"); PROVIDED HOWEVER, prior to the
Company's exercise of the Refinancing Right, the holders of the Notes shall
receive reasonable notice from the Company of its election to exercise its
Refinancing Right and each holder shall have the right for a period of ten
business days to waive in writing the First Anniversary Reset and to continue to
hold the Notes with the Conversion Price then in effect. The Company shall have
a refinancing right with respect to each Note the holder of which does not agree
to waive the First Anniversary Reset, and in the event that holders of a
majority of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes elect to have
the Conversion Price adjusted to the First Anniversary Reset amount, the Company
shall have the right to repurchase all of the outstanding Notes at 125% of the
then outstanding Face Amount of the Notes. If the Company exercises the
Refinancing Right, and the holders of the Notes elect not to waive the First
Anniversary Reset, the Company must complete the redemption of the Notes within
twenty business days from the date the Company's notice was given; PROVIDED
FURTHER, if the Company fails to complete the redemption as described above, the
Conversion Price shall be immediately adjusted downward as provided for the
First Anniversary Reset.

            (k)   NO IMPAIRMENT. The Company will not, by amendment of its
Certificate of Incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of assets,
consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other
voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of
the terms to be observed or performed hereunder by the Company, but will at all
times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all the provisions of this
Section 4 and in the taking of all such action as may be necessary or
appropriate in order to protect the conversion rights of the holders of the
Notes against impairment to the extent required hereunder. Nothing in this
Section 4 shall affect the continued accrual of interest on the Notes in
accordance with the terms of this Note.

            (l)   CERTIFICATE AS TO ADJUSTMENTS. Upon the occurrence of each
adjustment or readjustment of the Conversion Price pursuant to this Section 4,
the Company at its expense shall promptly compute such adjustment or
readjustment in accordance with the terms hereof and furnish to each holder, if
any, of Notes outstanding a certificate setting forth such adjustment or
readjustment and showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment or
readjustment is based and shall file a copy of such certificate with its
corporate records. The Company shall, upon the reasonable written request of any
holder of Notes, furnish or cause to be furnished to such holder a similar
certificate setting forth (i) such adjustments and readjustments, (ii) the
Conversion Price then in effect, and (iii) the number of shares of A Common
Stock and the amount, if any, of other property which then would be received
upon the conversion of Notes. Despite such adjustment or readjustment, the form
of each or all Notes, if the same shall reflect the initial or any subsequent
Conversion Price, need not be changed in order for the adjustments or
readjustments to be valid in accordance with the provisions of this Note, which
shall control.

            (m)   NOTICE OF RECORD DATE. In the event
                  ---------------------
            (i)   that the Company declares a dividend (or any other
     distribution) on its Common Stock payable in Common Stock or other
     securities of the Company;

<PAGE>


            (ii)  that the Company subdivides or combines its outstanding shares
     of Common Stock;

            (iii) of any reclassification of the Common Stock of the Company
     (other than a subdivision or combination of its outstanding shares of
     Common Stock or a stock dividend or stock distribution thereon);

            (iv)  of any Capital Reorganization; or

            (v)   of the involuntary or voluntary dissolution, liquidation or
     winding up of the Company;

            then the Company shall cause to be filed at its principal office,
and shall cause to be mailed to the holders of the Notes at their last addresses
as shown on the records of the Company, at least 10 days prior to the record
date specified in (A) below or 20 days prior to the date specified in (B) below,
a notice stating

            (A)   the record date of such dividend, distribution, subdivision
                  or combination, or, if a record is not to be taken, the date
                  as of which the holders of Common Stock of record to be
                  entitled to such dividend, distribution, subdivision or
                  combination are to be determined, or

            (B)   the date on which such reclassification, Capital
                  Reorganization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up is
                  expected to become effective, and the date as of which it is
                  expected that holders of Common Stock of record shall be
                  entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock for
                  securities or other property deliverable upon such
                  reclassification, Capital Reorganization, dissolution or
                  winding up.

            5.    REPURCHASE RIGHT UPON A CHANGE OF CONTROL.
                  -----------------------------------------

            (a)   In the event that a Change in Control (as herein defined)
shall occur, then each holder shall have the right (the "REPURCHASE RIGHT"), at
the holder's option to require the Company to repurchase, and upon the exercise
of such right the Company shall repurchase, all of such holder's Notes, or any
portion of the principal amount thereof that is equal to $1,000 or any integral
multiple thereof, on the date (the "Repurchase Date") that is 30 days after the
date of the Company Notice (as defined in subsection (b) of this Section 5) at a
purchase price equal to 101% of the Face Amount to be repurchased plus accrued
and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the Repurchase Date (the "REPURCHASE
Price"). "CHANGE IN CONTROL" means (a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or
indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the
meaning of Rule 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as in effect on
the date hereof) of shares representing more than 35% of the aggregate ordinary
voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Common Stock; (b)
occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of
directors of the Company by Persons who were neither (i) nominated by the board
of directors of the Company nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated;


<PAGE>



or (c) the hiring or firing of the Company's chief executive officer without the
prior approval of holders representing a majority of the outstanding Face Amount
of the Notes. "PERSON" means any natural person, corporation, limited liability
company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, governmental
authority or other entity.

            (b)   On or before the 20th day after the occurrence of a Change in
Control, the Company shall give to all holders of Notes notice (the "Company
Notice"), of the occurrence of the Change in Control and of the Repurchase Right
set forth herein arising as a result thereof. Each notice of a repurchase right
shall be mailed to the holders of the Notes at their last address as shown on
the records of the Company and shall state:

            (i)   the Repurchase Date;

            (ii)  the date by which the repurchase right must exercised;

            (iii) the Repurchase Price;

            (iv)  a description of the procedure which a Holder must follow to
     exercise a repurchase right, and the place or places where such Notes, are
     to be surrendered for payment of the Repurchase Price;

            (v)   that on the Repurchase Date the Repurchase Price will become
     due and payable upon each such Note designated by the Holder to be
     repurchased, and that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after
     said date;

            (vi)  the Conversion Rate then in effect, the date on which the
     right to convert the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased will
     terminate and the place where such Notes may be surrendered for conversion;
     and

            (vii) the place or places that the Notes with the option to elect
     repayment upon a change of control shall be delivered.

            No failure of the Company to give the foregoing notices or defect
therein shall limit any holder's right to exercise a Repurchase Right or affect
the validity of the proceedings for the repurchase of Securities.

            If any of the foregoing provisions or other provisions of this
Section 5 are inconsistent with applicable law, such law shall govern.

            (c)   To exercise a Repurchase Right, a holder shall deliver to the
Company on or before the 30th day after the date of the Company Notice (i)
written notice of the holder's exercise of such right, which notice shall set
forth the name of the holder, the principal amount of the Notes to be
repurchased (and, if any Note is to be repurchased in part, the serial number
thereof, the portion of the principal amount thereof to be repurchased is to be
registered) and a statement that an election to exercise the Repurchase Right is
being made thereby, and (ii) the


<PAGE>


Notes with respect to which the Repurchase Right is being exercised. Such
written notice shall be irrevocable, except that the right of the Holder to
convert the Notes with respect to which the Repurchase Right is being exercised
shall continue until the close of business on the business day immediately
preceding the Repurchase Date.

            (d)   In the event a Repurchase Right shall be exercised in
accordance with the terms hereof, the Company shall pay or cause to be paid to
the holders of Notes the Repurchase Price in cash as promptly after the
Repurchase Date as practicable, together with accrued and unpaid interest to the
Repurchase Date payable with respect to the Notes as to which the repurchase
right has been exercised.

            (e)   If any Note (or portion thereof) surrendered for repurchase
shall not be so paid on the Repurchase Date, the principal amount of such Note
(or portion thereof, as the case may be) shall, until paid, bear interest to the
extent permitted by applicable law from the Repurchase Date at the rate of 9%
per annum, and each Note shall remain convertible into Common Stock until the
principal of such Note (or portion thereof, as the case may be) shall have been
paid or duly provided for.

            (f)   Any Note which is to be repurchased only in part shall be
surrendered to the Company and the Company shall execute and make available for
delivery to the holder of such Note without service charge, a new Note or Notes,
containing identical terms and conditions, each in an authorized denomination in
aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unrepurchased
portion of the principal of the Note so surrendered.

            6.    EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
                  -----------------

            (a)   DEFINITION. For purposes of this Note, an Event of Default
shall be deemed to have occurred if:

            (i)   the Company fails to pay when due (whether at maturity or
     otherwise) the full amount of interest then accrued hereon or the full
     amount of any principal payment hereon;

            (ii)  (A) the Company or any of its material Subsidiaries makes an
     assignment for the benefit of creditors, (B) an order, judgment or decree
     is entered adjudicating the Company or any of its material Subsidiaries
     bankrupt or insolvent, (C) any order for relief with respect to the Company
     or any of its material Subsidiaries is entered under the Bankruptcy Reform
     Act, Title 11 of the United States Code, (D) the Company or any of its
     material Subsidiaries petitions or applies to any tribunal for the
     appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver or liquidator of the Company
     or any of its material


<PAGE>



     Subsidiaries or of any substantial part of the assets of the Company or any
     of its material Subsidiaries, or commences any proceeding relating to the
     Company or any of its material Subsidiaries under any bankruptcy
     reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution
     or liquidation law of any jurisdiction, or (E) any such petition or
     application is filed, or any such proceeding is commenced, against the
     Company or any of its material Subsidiaries and either (1) the Company or
     any of its material Subsidiaries by any act indicates its approval thereof,
     consent thereto or acquiescence therein or (2) such petition, application
     or proceeding is not dismissed within 60 days;

            (iii) a judgment in excess of $30,000,000 is rendered against the
     Company and, within 60 days after entry thereof, such judgment is not
     discharged or execution thereof stayed pending appeal, or within 60 days
     after the expiration of any such stay, such judgment is not discharged or
     paid;

            (iv)  the Company or any of its material Subsidiaries defaults in
     the performance of any indebtedness if the effect of such default is to
     cause an amount exceeding $30,000,000 to become due prior to its stated
     maturity;

            (v)   for any reason any Designated Senior Indebtedness (as defined
     in Section 11(h), hereof) shall have become due prior to its stated
     maturity;

            (vi)  the failure to comply with the terms of this Note or the
     applicable provisions of the Agreement for a period of 30 days following
     notice of such failure from holders of the Notes; or

            (vii) the failure of the Company's board of directors to consist of
     ten directors at least two of whom shall have been recommended by the
     Purchasers (as defined in the Agreement), by April 18, 2000.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Event of Default under clauses (iii), (iv),
(v) or (vi) above shall occur or shall be deemed to have occurred (unless the
indebtedness under the Credit Agreement (as defined in Section 11(g) hereof)
shall have become due prior to its stated maturity and such acceleration shall
not have been rescinded or annulled within 30 days thereafter) so long as any
Senior Indebtedness (as defined in Section 11(g) hereof) remains outstanding or
the Credit Agreement is otherwise "in effect." Nothing in this Section 6 shall
prevent a holder of Senior Indebtedness (as defined in Section 11(g) hereof)
from exercising its right to enforce the applicable provisions of this Note
against the holder of this Note in any proceeding of a type described in Section
6(a)(ii) above or any similar proceeding.

            (b)   CONSEQUENCES OF EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
                  ---------------------------------



<PAGE>


            (i)   Subject to the provisions of Section 11 of this Note, if an
Event of Default of the type described in subsections 6(a)(i), (iii), (iv), (v)
and (vi) has occurred and continued for 15 days or any other Event of Default
has occurred, the holder or holders of the Notes representing a majority of the
aggregate principal amount then outstanding of the Notes may declare all or any
portion of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes due and payable and
demand immediate payment of all or any portion of the outstanding principal
amount of the Notes owned by such holder or holders, PROVIDED that in an Event
of Default specified in subsection 6(a)(ii), all of the outstanding principal
amount of the Notes shall automatically and immediately become due and payable.
The Company shall give prompt written notice of any such demand to the other
holders, if any, of any portion of the Notes, each of which may demand immediate
payment of all or any portion of such holder's portion of the Notes. If any
holder or holders of the Notes demand immediate payment of all or any portion of
such holder's portion of the Notes, the Company shall, subject to the other
provisions of this Note (including Section 11), immediately pay in cash to such
holder or holders the principal amount of the Notes requested to be paid plus
accrued interest thereon.

            (ii)  Subject to the other provisions of this Note (including
Section 11), each holder of any portion of this Note shall also have, upon the
occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, any other rights which such
holder may have pursuant to applicable law.

            7.    AMENDMENT AND WAIVER. Except as otherwise expressly provided
herein, the provisions of this Note may be amended and the Company may take any
action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be
performed by it, only if the Company has obtained the written consent of the
holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount then
outstanding of the Notes; provided that no such action shall change (i) the rate
at which or the manner in which interest accrues on the Notes or is payable or
the times at which such interest becomes payable, or (ii) any provision relating
to the scheduled payment of principal on the Notes without the consent of the
applicable holder if such change is adverse to such holder.

            8.    PLACE OF PAYMENT. Payments of principal and interest and all

notices and other communications to the Investor hereunder or with respect
hereto are to be delivered to the Investor at the following address:

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

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

                  Attn:  _____________

or to such other address or to the attention of such other person as specified
by prior written notice to the Company, including any transferee of this Note.

            9.    COSTS OF COLLECTION. In the event that the Company fails to
pay when due (including, without limitation upon acceleration in connection with
an Event of Default) the full amount of principal and/or interest hereunder, the
Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the


<PAGE>


holder of any portion of this Note from and against all reasonable costs and
expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement or collection of such
principal and interest, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys'
fees and expenses.

            10.   WAIVERS. The Company hereby waives presentment, demand,
notice, protest and all other demands and notices in connection with the
delivery, acceptance, performance, default or enforcement of this Note.

            11.   SUBORDINATION. The Company agrees, and by the acceptance
hereof each holder agrees, as follows:

            (a)   SUBORDINATION OF LIABILITIES. The Company, for itself, its
     successors and assigns, covenants and agrees, and each holder of this Note
     (together with its successors and assigns, the "holder of this Note") by
     its acceptance hereof likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment of
     the principal of, interest on, and all other amounts owing in respect of,
     this Note (the "SUBORDINATED INDEBTEDNESS") is hereby expressly
     subordinated, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, to the
     prior payment in full in cash of all Senior Indebtedness. The provisions of
     this Section 11, and the provisions of Sections 2 and 6 of this Note, each
     shall constitute a continuing offer to all persons or other entities who,
     in reliance upon such provisions, become holders of, or continue to hold,
     Senior Indebtedness, and such provisions are made for the benefit of the
     holders of Senior Indebtedness, and such holders are hereby made obligees
     hereunder the same as if their names were written herein as such and they
     and/or each of them may proceed to enforce such provisions.

            (b    COMPANY NOT TO MAKE PAYMENTS WITH RESPECT TO SUBORDINATED
     INDEBTEDNESS IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. (i) In the event of a Senior Payment
     Default (as hereinafter defined), then, upon receipt by the Company and the
     holders of Subordinated Indebtedness of written notice of such Senior
     Default (a "SENIOR PAYMENT DEFAULT NOTICE") from either (i) the
     Administrative Agent (as defined in the Credit Agreement) if such Senior
     Payment Default relates to the Credit Agreement or any replacement thereof
     or (ii) the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of
     outstanding Senior Indebtedness to which such Senior Payment Default
     relates or any duly authorized representative of such holders, no payment
     (other than a payment in the form of any other indebtedness of the Company
     which is subordinated to the payment of the Senior Indebtedness to the same
     extent as this Note is subordinated to the Senior Indebtedness or payments
     made in equity securities of the Company, including as a result of the
     conversion of the Noes into Shares of A Common Stock) shall be made by the
     Company on account of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the
     Subordinated Indebtedness unless and until (i) such Senior Payment Default
     shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist or (ii) all
     amounts then due and payable in respect of Senior Indebtedness shall have
     been paid in full in cash, or provision shall have been made for such
     payment and all commitments to make further loans, advances and other
     credit accommodations under the Credit Agreement or such other Senior
     Indebtedness have been terminated (such period during which a Senior
     Default continues being, a "PAYMENT DEFAULT BLOCKAGE PERIOD").



<PAGE>


            (ii)  In the event that any Senior Nonmonetary Default (as
     hereinafter defined) shall have occurred and be continuing, then, upon the
     receipt by the Company and the holders of Subordinated Indebtedness of
     written notice of such Senior Nonmonetary Default (a "SENIOR NONMONETARY
     DEFAULT NOTICE") from either (i) the Administrative Agent if such Senior
     Nonmonetary Default relates to the Credit Agreement or any replacement
     thereof or (ii) the holders of a majority in principal amount of
     outstanding Senior Indebtedness to which such Senior Nonmonetary Default
     relates or any duly authorized representative of such holders, no payment
     (other than a payment in the form of any other indebtedness of the Company
     which is subordinated to the payment of the Senior Indebtedness to the same
     extent as the Note is subordinated to the Senior Indebtedness or payments
     made in equity interests of the company, including as a result of the
     conversion of the Notes into Shares of A Common Stock) shall be made by the
     Company on account of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the
     Subordinated Indebtedness during the period (the "NONMONETARY DEFAULT
     BLOCKAGE PERIOD") commencing on the date of receipt of such Senior
     Nonmonetary Default Notice and ending on the earlier of (a) the date on
     which such Senior Nonmonetary Default shall have been cured or waived or
     shall have ceased to exist and any acceleration of Senior Indebtedness
     shall have been rescinded or annulled or the Senior Indebtedness to which
     such Senior Nonmonetary Default relates shall have been discharged or (b)
     the 179th day after the date of receipt of such written notice; PROVIDED,
     HOWEVER, that not more than one Senior Nonmonetary Default Notice shall be
     given during any period of 360 consecutive days, regardless of the number
     of defaults with respect to Senior Indebtedness during such 360-day period.
     For all purposes of this Section 11(b)(ii), no event of default which
     existed or was continuing on the date of commencement of any Nonmonetary
     Default Blockage Period with respect to any Senior Indebtedness shall be,
     or be made, the basis for the commencement of a another Nonmonetary Default
     Blockage Period by the holders (or any duly authorized agent or other
     representative thereof) of such Senior Indebtedness whether or not within a
     period of 360 consecutive days, unless such event of default shall have
     been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days (it
     being acknowledged that any subsequent action, or any breach of any
     financial covenants for a period commencing after the date of commencement
     of such Nonmonetary Default Blockage Period that, in either case, would
     give rise to an event of default pursuant to any provisions under which an
     event of default previously existed or was continuing shall constitute a
     new event of default for this purpose).

            (iii) If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing at any
     time during the continuance of a Payment Default Blockage Period or a
     Nonmonetary Default Blockage Period, no holder of Subordinated Indebtedness
     shall ask, demand or sue for any payment or distribution or seek any other
     remedy in respect of the Subordinated Indebtedness or commence or join in
     with any other creditor (other than the agent for the holders of Senior
     Indebtedness) in commencing any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or
     similar proceedings prior to the earliest to occur of (i) acceleration of
     any Senior Indebtedness or any other exercise of remedies by the
     Administrative Agent or the Lenders (as defined in the Credit Agreement) or
     the other holders of Senior Indebtedness, including without


<PAGE>



     limitation, any realization on collateral or any reduction of commitments
     as a result of the occurrence and continuance of any event of default under
     the Credit Agreement or any agreement or instrument evidencing Senior
     Indebtedness, (ii) the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in
     Sections 6(a)(ii) hereof or (iii) the earlier to occur of (x) 179 days
     after the commencement of such Payment Blockage Period or Nonmonetary
     Blockage Period or (y) the expiration of such Payment Blockage Period or
     Nonmonetary Default Blockage Period.

            (iv)  Except as contemplated by Section 2(b) and Section 4, the
     Company may not, directly or indirectly, make any payment of any kind or
     character of any Subordinated Indebtedness and may not acquire any
     Subordinated Indebtedness for cash or property until all Senior
     Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash if such payment is prohibited by
     the terms of any Senior Indebtedness or if any default or event of default
     under any Senior Indebtedness is then in existence or would result
     therefrom.

            (v)   In the event that, notwithstanding the other provisions of
     this Section 11(b), the Company shall make (or any other person or entity
     on behalf of the Company shall make) any payment on account of the
     Subordinated Indebtedness (other than as contemplated by Section 2(b) and
     Section 4) or shall acquire any Subordinated Indebtedness for cash or
     property at a time when payment is not permitted by such provisions, such
     payment shall be held by the holder of this Note, in trust for the benefit
     of, and shall be paid forthwith over and delivered to, the holders of
     Senior Indebtedness or their representative, agent or trustee under the
     loan agreement, indenture or other agreement pursuant to which any
     instruments evidencing any Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as
     their respective interests may appear, for application PRO RATA to the
     payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid to the extent necessary
     to pay all Senior Indebtedness in full in cash in accordance with the terms
     of such Senior Indebtedness, after giving effect to any concurrent payment
     or distribution to or for the holders of Senior Indebtedness. Without in
     any way modifying the provisions of this Section 11 or affecting the
     subordination effected hereby, if notice has not been previously given, the
     Company shall give the holder of this Note prompt written notice of any
     event which would prevent payments under this Section 11(b).

            (c)   SUBORDINATION TO PRIOR PAYMENT OF ALL SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS ON
     DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION OR REORGANIZATION OF THE COMPANY. Upon any payment
     or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character (whether
     in cash, properties or securities) upon any total or partial dissolution,
     winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company (whether in
     bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar proceedings or upon an
     assignment for the benefit of creditors, marshaling of assets of the
     Company or otherwise):

                  (i)   the holders of all Senior Indebtedness shall first be
            entitled to receive payment in full in cash of all Senior
            Indebtedness (including, without limitation, post-petition interest
            at the rate provided in the documentation with

<PAGE>


            respect to such Senior Indebtedness, whether or not such post-
            petition interest is an allowed claim against the debtor in any
            bankruptcy or similar proceeding) before the holder of this Note is
            entitled to receive any payment of any kind or character on account
            of the Subordinated Indebtedness other than equity securities of the
            Company or debt securities that are subordinated to the Senior
            Indebtedness to substantially the same extent as, or to a greater
            extent than, the Notes are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness;

                  (ii)  any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of
            any kind or character (other than equity securities of the Company
            or debt securities that are subordinated to the Senior Indebtedness
            to substantially the same extent as, or to a greater extent than,
            the Notes are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness), whether in cash,
            property or securities to which the holder of this Note would be
            entitled except for the provisions of this Section 11, shall be paid
            by the liquidating trustee or agent or other person making such
            payment or distribution, whether a trustee in bankruptcy, a receiver
            or liquidating trustee or other trustee or agent, directly to the
            holders of Senior Indebtedness or their representative, agent or
            trustee under any loan agreement, indenture or other agreement under
            which any instruments evidencing any such Senior Indebtedness may
            have been issued, to the extent necessary to make payment in full in
            cash of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid, after giving
            effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of
            such Senior Indebtedness; and

                  (iii) in the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing
            provisions of this Section 11(c), any payment or distribution of
            assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash,
            property or securities, shall be received in violation hereof by the
            holder of this Note on account of Subordinated Indebtedness before
            all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full in cash, such payment or
            distribution shall be received and held in trust for and shall be
            paid over to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid
            or their representative, agent or trustee under any loan agreement,
            indenture or other agreement under which any instruments evidencing
            any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, for
            application to the payment of such Senior Indebtedness until all
            such Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full in cash after
            giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the
            holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

            To the extent any payment of Senior Indebtedness (whether by or on
behalf of the Company, as proceeds of security or enforcement of any right of
setoff or otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or
required to be paid to any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee,
agent or other similar person under any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership,
fraudulent conveyance or similar law, then, if such payment is recovered by, or
paid over to, such receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent
or other similar person, the Senior Indebtedness or part thereof originally
intended to be satisfied shall be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if
such payment has not occurred. If the holder of this Note does not file a proper
claim or proof of debt in the form required in any bankruptcy, insolvency,


<PAGE>


receivership, reorganization or similar proceeding prior to 30 days before the
expiration of the time to file such claim or claims, then any of the holders of
the Senior Indebtedness or their representative, agent or trustee is hereby
authorized to file an appropriate claim for and on behalf of the holder of this
Note.

            (d)   SUBROGATION. Subject to the prior payment in full in cash of
all Senior Indebtedness, the holder of this Note shall be subrogated to the
rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or
distributions of assets of the Company applicable to the Senior Indebtedness
until all amounts owing on this Note shall be paid in full, and for the purpose
of such subrogation no payments or distributions to the holders of the Senior
Indebtedness by or on behalf of the Company or by or on behalf of the holder of
this Note by virtue of this Section 11 which otherwise would have been made to
the holder of this Note shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than
the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the holder of this Note, be deemed to be
payment by the Company to or on account of the Senior Indebtedness, it being
understood that the provisions of this Section 11 are and are intended solely
for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the holder of this Note, on
the one hand, and the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand.

            (e)   OBLIGATION OF THE COMPANY UNCONDITIONAL. Nothing contained in
this Section 11 or in this Note is intended to or shall impair, as between the
Company and the holder of this Note, the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay to the holder of this Note the principal of
and interest on this Note as and when the same shall become due and payable in
accordance with its terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights
of the holder of this Note and creditors of the Company other than the holders
of the Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the
holder of this Note from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by
applicable law upon an event of default under this Note, subject to the
provisions of this Section 11 and Section 6 of this Note, including the rights
of the holders of Senior Indebtedness in respect of assets of the Company
received upon the exercise of any such remedy. Upon any distribution of assets
of the Company referred to in this Section 11, the holder of this Note shall be
entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent
jurisdiction in which such dissolution, winding up, liquidation or
reorganization proceedings are pending, or a certificate of the liquidating
trustee or agent or other person making any distribution to the holder of this
Note, for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in
such distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness
of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts
paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this
Section 11.

            (f)   SUBORDINATION RIGHTS NOT IMPAIRED BY ACTS OR OMISSIONS OF
COMPANY OR HOLDERS OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS. No right of any present or future
holders of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as herein provided
shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to
act on the part of the Company or by any act or failure to act by any such
holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms and provisions of
this Note, regardless of any knowledge thereof which any such holder may have or
be otherwise charged with. The holders of the Senior Indebtedness may, without
in any way affecting the obligations of the holder of this Note with respect
hereto, at any time or from time to time and in their absolute discretion,
change the manner, place or terms of payment of, change or


<PAGE>


extend the time of payment of, or renew, alter or increase, any Senior
Indebtedness or amend, modify or supplement any agreement or instrument
governing or evidencing such Senior Indebtedness or any other document referred
to therein, or exercise or refrain from exercising any other of their rights
under the Senior Indebtedness including, without limitation, the waiver of
default thereunder and the release or impairment of any collateral securing such
Senior Indebtedness, all without notice to or assent from the holder of the
Note.

            (g)   SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS. The term "SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS" shall mean
all Obligations (i) of the Company under, or in respect of, the Credit Agreement
(as amended, modified, supplemented, extended, restated, refinanced, replaced or
refunded from time to time, the "CREDIT AGREEMENT"), dated as of July 16, 1999,
among the Company and the other parties thereto, and (ii) of the Company under,
or in respect of, any other indebtedness, whether outstanding on the date hereof
or hereafter created, incurred or assumed, which the Company specifically
designates in writing as "Senior Indebtedness" for purposes of this Note;
provided, however, that no such other Senior Indebtedness described in this
clause (ii) shall by its terms prohibit the repayment of the principal amount
outstanding under this Note and accrued interest thereon at maturity unless an
event of default has occurred and is continuing thereunder. As used herein, the
term "OBLIGATION" shall mean any principal, interest, premium, penalties, fees,
expenses, indemnities, reimbursements and other liabilities and obligations
(including any guaranties of the foregoing liabilities and obligations) payable
under the documentation governing any indebtedness (including interest after the
commencement of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding
at the rate provided for in the respective issue of Senior Indebtedness, whether
or not such interest is an allowed claim against the debtor in any such
proceeding).

            (h)   DESIGNATED SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS. The term Designated Senior
Indebtedness means any Senior Indebtedness which, at the date of determination,
has an aggregate principal amount outstanding of, or under which, at the date of
determination, the holders thereof are committed to lend up to, at least $10
million.

            (i)   OTHER DEFINED TERMS. The term "Senior Payment Default" shall
mean any default in the payment of principal or (or premium, if any) or interest
on, or other amount payable in respect of, any Senior Indebtedness when due
that, by the terms of any instrument pursuant to which any Senior Indebtedness
is outstanding, permits one or more holders of such Senior Indebtedness (or a
trustee or agent or behalf of the holders thereof) to declare such Senior
Indebtedness due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise
become due and payable, other than a Senior Nonmonetary Default. The term
"Senior Nonmonetary Default" shall mean the occurrence or existence of any
event, circumstance, condition or state of facts that, by the terms of any
instrument pursuant to which any Senior Indebtedness is outstanding, permits one
or more holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of the
holders thereof) to declare such Senior Indebtedness due and payable prior to
the date on which it would otherwise become due and payable, other than a Senior
Payment Default.

            12.   BENEFITS OF THE AGREEMENT. The Investor and all transferees
(to the extent permitted in the Agreement) shall be entitled to the rights and
benefits granted to them in the Agreement.


<PAGE>


            13.   REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE GENERALLY.
                  -----------------------------------------------

            (a)   REGISTRATION, REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE GENERALLY.
The Company shall keep at its principal executive offices a register (the
register maintained in such being herein sometimes collectively referred to as
the "Note Register") in which the Company shall provide for the registration of
Notes and of transfers and exchanges of Notes.

            Subject to the provisions of the Securityholders Agreement dated
April __, 2000 regarding restrictions on transfer, upon surrender for
registration of transfer of any Note at its principal executive office, the
Company shall execute and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or
transferees, one or more new Notes in denominations of $1,000 or integral
multiples thereof, of a like aggregate principal amount and bearing such
restrictive legends as may be required by law.

            At the option of a holder, Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of
any authorized denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount and bearing
such restrictive legends as may be required by law upon surrender of the Notes
to be exchanged at the Company's principal executive offices. Whenever any Notes
are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute and make available
for delivery the Notes which the holder making the exchange is entitled to
receive.

            All Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of
Notes shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt,
and entitled to the same benefits as the Notes surrendered upon such
registration of transfer or exchange.

            Every Note presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or
for exchange shall (if so required by the Company) be duly endorsed, or be
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer, in form satisfactory to the
Company, duly executed by the holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in
writing.

            No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or
exchange of Notes.

            (b)   MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST AND STOLEN NOTES. If any mutilated
Note is surrendered to the Company, the Company shall execute and make available
for delivery in exchange therefor a new Note of like tenor and principal amount
and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

            If there shall be delivered to the Company (i) evidence to its
satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note and (ii) such
security or indemnity as may be required by the Company to save itself harmless,
then, in the absence of notice to the Company that such Note has been acquired
by a protected purchaser, the Company shall execute and make available for
delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Note, a new Note of like
tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously
outstanding.



<PAGE>


            In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note has
become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may,
instead of issuing a new Note, pay such Note, subject to the holders' conversion
rights pursuant to Section 4 hereof.

            Every new Note issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall constitute an original
additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed,
lost or stolen Note shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.

            The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to
the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement
or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes.

            14.   GOVERNING LAW. This Note shall be governed by, and construed
in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.


<PAGE>



            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed and delivered this Note
on April __, 2000.


                              GARTNER GROUP, INC.


                              By:_____________________________
                                 Name:
                                 Title:


<PAGE>


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


                            SECURITYHOLDERS AGREEMENT


                                      AMONG


                              GARTNER GROUP, INC.,


                           SILVER LAKE PARTNERS, L.P.


                                       AND


                      THE SECURITYHOLDERS SIGNATORY HERETO


                           DATED AS OF APRIL 17, 2000


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


<PAGE>


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                            PAGE

RECITALS.......................................................................1

ARTICLE I         DEFINITIONS..................................................1
     SECTION 1.1  Certain Defined Terms........................................1
     SECTION 1.2  Other Definitional Provisions................................6

ARTICLE II        CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.........................................7
     SECTION 2.1  Board Representation.........................................7
     SECTION 2.2  Committees...................................................7
     SECTION 2.3  Consent Rights...............................................7
     SECTION 2.4  Available Financial Information..............................9
     SECTION 2.5  Board Expenses..............................................10
     SECTION 2.6  Termination of Director Designees and Related Rights........10

ARTICLE III       TRANSFERS...................................................10
     SECTION 3.1  Investor Securityholder Transferees.........................10
     SECTION 3.2  Transfer Restrictions.......................................10
     SECTION 3.3  Legends.....................................................11

ARTICLE IV         REGISTRATION RIGHTS........................................12
     SECTION 4.1  Incidental Registrations....................................12
     SECTION 4.2  Registration on Request.....................................13
     SECTION 4.3  Registration Procedures.....................................15
     SECTION 4.4   Information Supplied.......................................19
     SECTION 4.5   Restrictions on Disposition................................19
     SECTION 4.6   Indemnification............................................19
     SECTION 4.7   Required Reports...........................................22
     SECTION 4.8   Selection of Counsel.......................................22
     SECTION 4.9   Holdback Agreement.........................................22
     SECTION 4.10  No Inconsistent Agreements.................................22

ARTICLE V         EQUITY PURCHASE RIGHTS......................................22
     SECTION 5.1  Subsidiary Purchase Rights..................................22
     SECTION 5.2  Acquisition of Additional Shares of Common Stock............23

ARTICLE VI        CERTAIN COVENANTS...........................................24
     SECTION 6.1  HSR Approval................................................24
     SECTION 6.2  Convertible Preferred Stock.................................25


                                       i

<PAGE>


     SECTION 6.3  Common Stock Repurchases....................................25

ARTICLE VII       MISCELLANEOUS...............................................25
     SECTION 7.1  Silver Lake Indemnification.................................25
     SECTION 7.2  Termination.................................................26
     SECTION 7.3  Amendments and Waivers......................................26
     SECTION 7.4  Successors, Assigns and Transferees.........................26
     SECTION 7.5  Notices.....................................................26
     SECTION 7.6  Further Assurances..........................................26
     SECTION 7.7  Entire Agreement............................................27
     SECTION 7.8  Delays or Omissions.........................................27
     SECTION 7.9  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial...........27
     SECTION 7.10 Severability................................................27
     SECTION 7.11 Effective Date..............................................27
     SECTION 7.12 Enforcement.................................................27
     SECTION 7.13 Titles and Subtitles........................................28
     SECTION 7.14 No Recourse.................................................28
     SECTION 7.15 Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures..........................28


                                       ii

<PAGE>


                               GARTNER GROUP, INC.

                            SECURITYHOLDERS AGREEMENT


          THIS  SECURITYHOLDERS  AGREEMENT  (this  "AGREEMENT") is entered as of
April 17, --------- 2000, among GARTNER GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
"COMPANY"),  Silver Lake ------- Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership,
Silver Lake Investors,  L.P., a Delaware  limited  partnership,  and Silver Lake
Technology  Investors,  L.L.C., a Delaware limited  liability  company (together
with  successor  entities,  "SILVER  LAKE"),  and Integral  Capital  -----------
Partners IV, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and Integral Capital Partners
IV MS Side Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.


                                    RECITALS

          WHEREAS,   the  Company,   Silver  Lake  and  certain  other  Investor
Securityholders  (as defined  below) have  entered  into a  Securities  Purchase
Agreement,  dated as of March 21, 2000,  as amended,  supplemented  or otherwise
modified from time to time (the "SECURITIES  PURCHASE  AGREEMENT"),  pursuant to
which  Silver  Lake and other  Investor  Securityholders  will  purchase  $300.0
million aggregate principal amount of 6% convertible subordinated notes due 2005
of the  Company  (the  "NOTES")  and the  Options  (as  defined  below),  for an
aggregate purchase price of $300.0 million; and

          WHEREAS,  the parties hereto desire to enter into certain arrangements
relating to the Company, the Notes, the Class A Common Stock and the Convertible
Preferred Stock, to be effective as of the Closing (each as defined below).

          NOW, THEREFORE,  in consideration of the foregoing recitals and of the
mutual promises hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:


                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

          SECTION I.1 CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS. As used herein, the following terms
shall have the following meanings:

          "AFFILIATE"  means, with respect to any Person,  any other Person that
directly,  or  indirectly  through  one or  more  intermediaries,  controls,  is
controlled by or is under common  control with,  such specified  Person,  for so
long as such Person remains so associated to the specified Person; provided that
beneficial  ownership  of 10% or more of voting  interests  of a Person shall be
deemed "control".


<PAGE>


                                                                               2


          "AS CONVERTED"  means,  with respect to any Equity Securities owned by
any Investor  Securityholder  and its Affiliates that are  convertible  into, or
exchangeable or exercisable for Class A Common Stock,  such Equity Securities on
an as converted, exchanged or exercised basis.


          "BENEFICIAL  OWNER" or  "BENEFICIALLY  OWN" has the meaning given such
term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act and a Person's beneficial ownership of
Common Stock or Preferred Stock or other Voting  Securities of the Company shall
be calculated in accordance with the provisions of such Rule; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that for purposes of  determining  beneficial  ownership,  (i) a Person shall be
deemed to be the beneficial  owner of any security which may be acquired by such
Person whether within 60 days or thereafter,  upon the  conversion,  exchange or
exercise of any warrants, options, rights or other securities and (ii) no Person
shall be  deemed to  beneficially  own any  security  solely as a result of such
Person's execution of this Agreement.

          "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

          "BUSINESS DAY" means any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or other
day on which banks are required or authorized by law to be closed in The City of
New York.

          "BYLAWS"  means the  Bylaws of the  Company,  as in effect on the date
hereof and as the same may be amended,  supplemented or otherwise  modified from
time to time in accordance  with the terms thereof and the terms of the Restated
Certificate.

          "CAPITAL STOCK" means, with respect to any Person at any time, any and
all shares, interests,  participations or other equivalents (however designated,
whether voting or non-voting) of capital stock,  partnership  interests (whether
general or  limited)  or  equivalent  ownership  interests  in or issued by such
Person, and with respect to the Company includes,  without  limitation,  any and
all shares of Common Stock and preferred stock.

          "CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION" means the Certificate of Designation with
respect to the Company's Convertible Preferred Stock.

          "CLAIMS" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.6(a).

          "CLASS A COMMON  STOCK"  means the  Common  Stock,  Class A, par value
$0.0005 per share, of the Company and any securities  issued in respect thereof,
or in substitution  therefor,  in connection  with any stock split,  dividend or
combination, or any reclassification,  recapitalization,  merger, consolidation,
exchange or other similar reorganization.

          "CLASS B COMMON  STOCK"  means the  Common  Stock,  Class B, par value
$0.0005 per share, of the Company and any securities  issued in respect thereof,
or in substitution  therefor,  in connection  with any stock split,  dividend or
combination, or any reclassification,  recapitalization,  merger, consolidation,
exchange or other similar reorganization.


<PAGE>

                                                                               3


          "CLOSING"  has the  meaning  assigned  to such term in the  Securities
Purchase Agreement.

          "COMMON STOCK" means,  collectively,  the Class A Common Stock and the
Class B Common Stock.

          "CONTROL"  (including  the terms  "CONTROLLED  BY" and  "UNDER  COMMON
CONTROL with"),  with respect to the  relationship  between or among two or more
Persons, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or
cause the direction of the affairs or management  of a Person,  whether  through
the  ownership  of voting  securities,  as trustee or  executor,  by contract or
otherwise.

          "CONVERTIBLE  PREFERRED  STOCK"  means the  Company's  Series C Junior
Convertible   Participating   Preferred  Stock,   into  which  the  Notes  maybe
convertible  and  having  the  designations  set  forth  in the  Certificate  of
Designations (as defined in the Letter Agreement).

          "CREDIT AGREEMENT" has the meaning assigned to such term in the Notes.

          "DEMAND  PARTY"  has the  meaning  assigned  to such  term in  Section
4.2(a).

          "DIRECTOR" means any member of the Board.

          "DIVESTITURE"  has  the  meaning  assigned  to such  term  in  Section
2.3(vi).

          "EQUITY  SECURITIES"  means any and all shares of Capital Stock of the
Company,  securities  of  the  Company  convertible  into,  or  exchangeable  or
exercisable for, such shares,  and options,  warrants or other rights to acquire
such shares (including the Notes and the Convertible Preferred Stock).

          "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

          "EXEMPT  ACQUISITION"  means any acquisition  (whether through merger,
consolidation  or otherwise)  which has a purchase price  (including any assumed
indebtedness and valuing any non-cash consideration at its Fair Market Value) of
less than $75.0 million.

          "EXEMPT DIVESTITURE" means any Divestiture pursuant to which the value
of the assets being divested (including any assumed indebtedness and valuing any
non-cash consideration at its Fair Market Value) is less than $75.0 million.

          "FAIR MARKET  VALUE" has the meaning  assigned to such term in Section
4(d)(iv) of the Note.

          "FULLY-DILUTED  BASIS"  with  respect to Voting  Securities  means the
number of shares of Voting  Securities which are issued and outstanding or owned
or held, as applicable,  at the date


<PAGE>

                                                                               4


of  determination  plus the  number  of shares  of  Voting  Securities  issuable
pursuant to any securities (other than Voting Securities),  warrants,  rights or
options then  outstanding,  convertible  into or exchangeable or exercisable for
(whether or not subject to  contingencies  or passage of time, or both),  Voting
Securities (including the Convertible Preferred Stock and the Notes).

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

          "GROUP" has the meaning  assigned to such term in Section  13(d)(3) of
the Exchange Act.

          "HOLDER"  means  Silver  Lake  and any  other  holder  of  Registrable
Securities  (including any direct or indirect  Transferees of Silver Lake or its
Affiliates)  entitled to the rights,  and bound by the  obligations,  under this
Agreement in accordance with Section 3.1(b).

          "HSR ACT" means the Hart-Scott  Rodino  Antitrust  Improvements Act of
1976, as amended.

          "INCUR" means, directly or indirectly,  to incur,  refinance,  create,
assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable with respect to.

          "INDEMNIFIED PARTIES" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
4.6(a).

          "INVESTOR SECURITYHOLDER" means Silver Lake, each other securityholder
that purchased  Notes from the Company on the Closing Date and any Transferee of
the foregoing.

          "ISSUANCE  NOTICE"  has the  meaning  assigned to such term in Section
5.1(b).

          "LAW" has the meaning assigned to such term in the Securities Purchase
Agreement.

          "LETTER  AGREEMENT"  shall  mean the letter  agreement  dated the date
hereof with respect to the possible issuance of the Convertible Preferred Stock.

          "LOSSES" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.1.

          "NASD" means the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

          "NOTES"  means the  Company's 6%  convertible  subordinated  notes due
2005.

          "NYSE" means the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

          "OTHER  HOLDERS"  means  Persons  other than Holders who, by virtue of
agreements with the Company, are entitled to include their securities in certain
registrations hereunder.


<PAGE>

                                                                               5


          "OTHER  SECURITIES"  means  securities  of  the  Company,  other  than
Registrable  Securities which, by virtue of agreements between Other Holders and
the Company, are entitled to be included in certain registrations hereunder.

          "PERMITTED   TRANSFEREE"   means,   with  respect  to  each   Investor
Securityholder  (A)  such  Investor  Securityholder's  officers,   employees  or
consultants,  (B) any corporation or  corporations,  partnership or partnerships
(or  other  entity  for  collective  investment,  such as a fund)  which is (and
continues  to be) an  Affiliate  of  such  Investor  Securityholder  and (C) the
partners of such Investor  Securityholder and the general or limited partners of
such partners in the case of a distribution by such Investor Securityholder.  In
addition, with respect to Silver Lake, Permitted Transferee shall include one or
more  limited  partners  of  Silver  Lake who may  purchase  up to $100  million
aggregate  principal  amount of Notes,  subject  to the  prior  approval  of the
Company (which approval may not be unreasonably withheld).

          "PERSON"  means any natural  person,  corporation,  limited  liability
company, trust, joint venture, association,  company, partnership,  governmental
authority or other entity.

          "REFINANCING  RIGHT" has the meaning  assigned to such term in Section
4(j) of the Notes.

          "REGISTRABLE  SECURITIES" means (i) any shares of Class A Common Stock
issuable upon conversion of (x) the Notes or (y) the Convertible Preferred Stock
and (ii) the shares of  Convertible  Preferred  Stock,  in each case held by any
Holder.  As  to  any  particular  Registrable  Securities,   once  issued,  such
Registrable  Securities  shall  cease to be  Registrable  Securities  when (a) a
registration statement with respect to the sale by the Holder of such securities
shall have become  effective under the Securities Act and such securities  shall
have been disposed of in accordance with such registration  statement,  (b) such
securities  shall have been  distributed to the public  pursuant to Rule 144 (or
any successor  provision) under the Securities Act, or (c) such securities shall
have ceased to be  outstanding.  For  purposes of this  Agreement,  any required
calculation of the amount of, or percentage of, Registrable  Securities shall be
based on the number of shares of Common Stock or Convertible Preferred Stock, as
the case may be, which are  Registrable  Securities,  including  shares issuable
upon  the  conversion,   exchange  or  exercise  of  any  security  convertible,
exchangeable or exercisable into Common Stock or Convertible Preferred Stock, as
the case may be.

          "REGISTRATION  EXPENSES"  means  any  and  all  expenses  incident  to
performance of or compliance  with Article IV of this  Agreement,  including (a)
all SEC and securities exchange or NASD registration and filing fees (including,
if applicable, the fees and expenses of any "qualified independent underwriter,"
as such term is  defined in  Schedule  E to the  bylaws of the NASD,  and of its
counsel),  (b) all fees and expenses of complying  with  securities  or blue sky
laws  (including  fees and  disbursements  of counsel  for the  underwriters  in
connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities),  (c) all
printing, messenger and delivery expenses, (d) all fees and expenses incurred in
connection  with the listing of the  Registrable  Securities  on any  securities
exchange or NASD pursuant to Section  4.3(h)(i) and all rating agency fees,  (e)
the fees and  disbursements  of counsel for the  Company and of its  independent
public  accountants,  including


<PAGE>

                                                                               6


the expenses of any special audits and/or "cold comfort"  letters required by or
incident  to such  performance  and  compliance,  (f) the  reasonable  fees  and
disbursements  of counsel  selected  pursuant to Section  4.8,  (g) any fees and
disbursements  of  underwriters  customarily  paid by the  issuers or sellers of
securities,  including  liability  insurance if the Company so desires or if the
underwriters  so require,  and the  reasonable  fees and expenses of any special
experts  retained in connection with the requested  registration,  but excluding
underwriting  discounts  and  commissions  and transfer  taxes,  if any, and (h)
expenses  incurred in connection  with any road show  (including  the reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses of any Investor Securityholder).

          "REQUIRED  COMPANY  VOTE"  means the  affirmative  vote of  holders of
shares of Common  Stock  representing  a majority  of the total  votes cast at a
meeting of the holders of outstanding shares of Common Stock.

          "RESTATED  CERTIFICATE" means the Amended and Restated  Certificate of
Incorporation  of the  Company,  as in effect on the date hereof and as the same
may be  amended,  supplemented  or  otherwise  modified  from  time  to  time in
accordance with the terms thereof and the terms of this Agreement.

          "SEC" means the U.S.  Securities and Exchange  Commission or any other
federal  agency then  administering  the  Securities Act or the Exchange Act and
other federal securities laws.

          "SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

          "SILVER LAKE  DIRECTOR"  means any Director  nominated for election to
the Board by Silver Lake pursuant to Section 2.1 of this Agreement.

          "SILVER  LAKE  INDEMNITEE"  has the  meaning  assigned to such term in
Section 7.1.

          "SUBSIDIARY"  means (i) any  corporation  of which a  majority  of the
securities  entitled to vote generally in the election of directors thereof,  at
the time as of which any  determination  is being  made,  are  owned by  another
entity,  either directly or indirectly,  and (ii) any joint venture,  general or
limited partnership, limited liability company or other legal entity in which an
entity is the record or beneficial owner, directly or indirectly,  of a majority
of the voting interests or the general partner.

          "TRANSFER" means, directly or indirectly,  to sell, transfer,  assign,
pledge,  encumber,  hypothecate or similarly  dispose of, either  voluntarily or
involuntarily,  or to enter into any contract,  option or other  arrangement  or
understanding  with  respect  to  the  sale,   transfer,   assignment,   pledge,
encumbrance,  hypothecation  or  similar  disposition  of,  any shares of Equity
Securities  beneficially  owned by a Person  or any  interest  in any  shares of
Equity Securities beneficially owned by a Person.


<PAGE>

                                                                               7


          "TRANSFEREE" means any Person to whom any Investor  Stockholder or any
of its Affiliates or any Transferee  thereof  Transfers Equity Securities of the
Company in accordance with the terms hereof.

          "VOTING  SECURITIES" means, at any time, shares of any class of Equity
Securities  of the Company  which are then  entitled to vote in the  election of
Directors.

          SECTION I.2 OTHER  DEFINITIONAL  PROVISIONS.  (a) The words  "hereof",
"herein" and "hereunder" and words of similar import when used in this Agreement
shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular  provision of
this Agreement,  and Article and Section references are to this Agreement unless
otherwise specified.

          (b) The  meanings  given  to terms  defined  herein  shall be  equally
applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.


                                   ARTICLE II

                              CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

          SECTION II.1 BOARD  REPRESENTATION.  (a)  Effective as of the Closing,
the  Board  shall be  comprised  of ten (10)  Directors.  Silver  Lake  shall be
entitled to recommend two (2) nominees to fill vacancies on the Board.

          (b) The  Company  shall  take  such  action as may be  required  under
applicable  law, the Restated  Certificate  and the Bylaws to cause the Board to
consist of the number of Directors specified in clause (a) and to include in the
slate of nominees  recommended  by the Board two persons  recommended  by Silver
Lake.  The  Company  shall  also  take  such  action  as may be  required  under
applicable  law, the Restated  Certificate  and the Bylaws to cause  nominees of
Silver Lake who are elected to the Board to be divided as equally as practicable
among each class of Directors.

          (c) In the event  that a vacancy  is created at any time by the death,
disability,  retirement,  resignation  or removal (with or without cause) of any
Silver Lake Director,  Silver Lake may recommend another person to be elected to
fill the vacancy created thereby,  and the Company hereby agrees to take, at any
time and from time to time, all actions necessary to accomplish the same.

          (d)  Without the prior  written  consent of Silver  Lake,  the Company
agrees  not to take  any  action  that  would  cause  the  number  of  Directors
constituting  the  entire  Board to be other  than ten (10)  from and  after the
Closing.

          SECTION II.2  COMMITTEES.  If  requested  by Silver Lake,  the Company
shall cause any executive committee,  compensation  committee,  audit committee,
investment


<PAGE>

                                                                               8


committee,  governance committee, nominating committee or other committee of the
Board to include at least one Silver Lake Director.

          SECTION II.3 CONSENT RIGHTS. So long as Silver Lake, together with its
Affiliates,  shall own Notes, shares of Convertible Preferred Stock or shares of
Class A Common Stock that, on an as converted basis,  represent more than 20% of
the  shares of Class A Common  Stock into  which the Notes  purchased  by Silver
Lake,  together with its  Affiliates,  were  convertible on the Closing Date, in
addition to any vote or consent of the Board or the  stockholders of the Company
required by law or the Restated  Certificate,  the Notes or the  Certificate  of
Designation,  the  consent  in writing of Silver  Lake  shall be  necessary  for
authorizing, effecting or validating the following actions by the Company:

          a. entering into any direct or indirect  transaction by the Company or
     any of its Subsidiaries with an Affiliate of the Company (including without
     limitation,  the  purchase,  sale,  lease or exchange of any  property,  or
     rendering  of any service or  modification  or  amendment  of any  existing
     agreement or arrangement) except (a) transactions in the ordinary course of
     business that are on terms and  conditions no less favorable to the Company
     or such  Subsidiary  than could be obtained on an arm's  length  basis from
     unrelated third parties,  (b)  transactions  between the Company and any of
     its wholly-owned  Subsidiaries  not involving any other Affiliate,  (c) any
     transactions  between the Company or any  Subsidiary  of the Company and SI
     Ventures that are currently required by existing written agreements.

          b. any  increase  in the  number  of  Directors  or any  change in the
     composition or structure of the Board if such change would adversely affect
     the rights of Silver Lake;

          c. any  amendment,  alteration  or change to the rights,  preferences,
     privileges or powers of the Notes,  the Convertible  Preferred Stock or the
     Class A Common Stock;

          d. any increase or decrease in the (x) aggregate  principal  amount of
     Notes  authorized or issued or (y) the total number of authorized or issued
     shares of  Convertible  Preferred  Stock other than in accordance  with the
     terms thereof;

          e. any  acquisition  of securities or assets of another  Person by the
     Company or any Subsidiary, (whether any such acquisition was effectuated by
     merger,  consolidation  or otherwise)  whether in a single  transaction  or
     series of related transactions, other than Exempt Acquisitions;

          f. any sale,  lease,  transfer or  disposition  (a  "DIVESTITURE")  of
     securities or assets of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  (including
     any  spin-off or in-kind  distribution  to  stockholders  of the  Company),
     whether in a single  transaction or series of related  transactions,  other
     than Exempt Divestitures;

          g. any  incurrence  by the  Company or any  Subsidiary  of  additional
     indebtedness  for  borrowed  money in excess of $100  million,  except  (a)
     indebtedness  incurred to fund the


<PAGE>

                                                                               9


     Refinancing  Right provided in the Notes, (b)  indebtedness  incurred under
     the  Credit  Agreement  in  amounts  not to exceed  $500.0  million  in the
     aggregate  or (c) any  refinancing  of  existing  indebtedness  or existing
     commitments thereunder, provided that (i) the aggregate principal amount of
     "refinancing  indebtedness"  or  commitments  does not exceed the principal
     amount  or  commitment  amount  of the  indebtedness  refinanced,  (ii) the
     "refinancing  indebtedness"  has a final  maturity and "average life" later
     than that of the  indebtedness  being  refinanced and (iii) the refinancing
     indebtedness  is on terms  (taken as a whole) that are as  favorable to the
     holders of the Notes as those governing the refinanced indebtedness;

          h. the dissolution or liquidation of, or filing for bankruptcy by, the
     Company  or any  significant  Subsidiary  (as  defined  in Rule  1-02(w) of
     Regulation S-X promulgated under the Exchange Act);

          i. (A) declaring or paying any dividend or making any  distribution to
     the holders of the capital  stock of the Company  (other than  dividends or
     distributions  payable  in  shares  of  Common  Stock)  or (B)  purchasing,
     redeeming or otherwise acquiring or retiring for value any capital stock of
     the Company or any  Subsidiary  (other than pursuant to employee  plans) or
     (C) paying, redeeming,  repurchasing or defeasing or otherwise retiring for
     value prior to any scheduled maturity,  scheduled sinking fund or mandatory
     redemption payment,  indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary which is
     subordinate (whether pursuant to its terms or by operation of law) in right
     of payment to the Notes and which was  scheduled  to mature on or after the
     maturity  of the  Notes,  except to the extent  permitted  under the Credit
     Agreement as in effect on the date hereof; or

          j. any arrangement or contract to do any of the foregoing.

          SECTION II.4  AVAILABLE  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION.  (a) The Company will
deliver,  or will cause to be  delivered,  the  following  to each  Silver  Lake
Director  (or, if no Silver Lake  Directors  are then  serving on the Board,  to
Silver Lake): an annual budget, a business plan and financial  forecasts for the
Company for the next fiscal year of the Company,  no later than thirty (30) days
before the beginning of the Company's  next fiscal year, in such manner and form
as approved by the Board,  which shall  include at least a projection  of income
and a projected  cash flow statement for each fiscal quarter in such fiscal year
and a  projected  balance  sheet as of the end of each  fiscal  quarter  in such
fiscal year.  Any material  changes in such  business plan shall be delivered to
the Silver Lake  Directors  or Silver  Lake,  as the case may be, as promptly as
practicable after such changes have been approved by the Board.

          (b) The Company will promptly deliver to each Investor  Securityholder
when available one copy of each annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly  report
on Form  10-Q of the  Company,  as filed  with the SEC.  In the  event an annual
report on Form 10-K or quarterly report on Form 10-Q is unavailable, the Company
may, in lieu of the requirements of the preceding sentence, deliver, or cause to
be delivered, the following to each Investor Securityholder:


<PAGE>

                                                                              10


          (i) as soon as  practicable  after the end of each  fiscal year of the
     Company,   and  in  any  event  within  ninety  (90)  days  thereafter,   a
     consolidated  balance sheet of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  as of the
     end of such fiscal year,  and  consolidated  statements  of income and cash
     flows of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  for such  year,  prepared  in
     accordance with GAAP and setting forth in each case in comparative form the
     figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and followed
     promptly thereafter (to the extent not available) such financial statements
     accompanied by the opinion of independent  public accountants of recognized
     national  standing  selected  by  the  Company,   and  a   Company-prepared
     comparison to the Company's  business plan for such year as approved by the
     Board; and

          (ii) as soon as  practicable  after the end of the  first,  second and
     third quarterly  accounting periods in each fiscal year of the Company, and
     in any event within forty-five (45) days thereafter, a consolidated balance
     sheet  of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  as of the  end of each  such
     quarterly period,  and consolidated  statements of income and cash flows of
     the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period and for the current fiscal
     year to  date,  prepared  in  accordance  with  GAAP and  setting  forth in
     comparative form the figures for the corresponding  periods of the previous
     fiscal year and to the Company's  business plan then in effect and approved
     by the Board,  subject to changes  resulting  from  normal  year-end  audit
     adjustments,  all in  reasonable  detail  and  certified  by the  principal
     financial or accounting officer of the Company,  except that such financial
     statements need not contain the notes required by GAAP.

          SECTION II.5 BOARD  EXPENSES.  The Company shall  reimburse the Silver
Lake Directors for their reasonable  out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them for
the  purpose  of  attending  meetings  of the  Board or  committees  thereof  in
accordance with the Company's current reimbursement policy.

          SECTION II.6  TERMINATION  OF DIRECTOR  DESIGNEES AND RELATED  RIGHTS.
Notwithstanding Sections 2.1 and 2.3, at such time as Silver Lake, together with
its Affiliates,  shall cease to own Notes, shares of Convertible Preferred Stock
or shares of Class A Common Stock that, on an as converted basis, represent less
than 20% of the shares of Class A Common Stock into which the Notes purchased by
Silver Lake, together with its Affiliates, were convertible on the Closing Date,
Silver Lake and its Affiliates shall cease to have the right to (i) nominate for
election  any  Directors  pursuant  to  Section  2.1 or (ii)  consent to certain
corporate actions provided in Section 2.3.


                                   ARTICLE III
                                    TRANSFERS

          SECTION  III.1  INVESTOR  SECURITYHOLDER  TRANSFEREES.  (a) Subject to
Section 3.1(b), no Transferee of any Investor Securityholder shall be obligated,
or entitled to rights, under this Agreement.

          (b) No  Transferee  shall  have any rights or  obligations  under this
Agreement, except that an Investor Securityholder may assign all or a portion of
the rights and  obligations of


<PAGE>

                                                                              11


the Investor  Securityholder under Article IV to any Transferee (and such rights
shall be further  transferable to any further Transferee subject to this Section
3.1).

          (c)  Prior  to  the  consummation  of  a  Transfer  from  an  Investor
Securityholder,  to the extent rights and obligations are to be assigned, and as
a condition thereto,  the applicable  Transferee shall (i) agree in writing with
the  other  parties  hereto  to be bound by the  terms  and  conditions  of this
Agreement to the extent described in Section 3.1(b) and (ii) provide the Company
and the other parties to this  Agreement at such time complete  information  for
notices under this Agreement.

          SECTION  III.2  TRANSFER  RESTRICTIONS.  (a) On or  before  the  third
anniversary of the Closing, no Investor  Securityholder shall Transfer any Notes
other than as expressly  permitted  by, and in  compliance  with,  the terms and
conditions of, this Agreement. Any attempt to transfer any Notes in violation of
the preceding sentence shall be null and void.

          (b)  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary in this Agreement,  any
transfer  permitted or required by this  Agreement  shall be in compliance  with
federal and state securities laws,  including without  limitation the Securities
Act.

          (c)  Notwithstanding  Section 3.2(a), an Investor  Securityholder  may
Transfer any or all of its Notes to any  Permitted  Transferee  of such Investor
Securityholder,  provided  that the rights  granted to Silver  Lake  pursuant to
Article II and  Section 5 may not be  assigned  by Silver  Lake.  As a condition
precedent  to any such  transfer,  the  Permitted  Transferee  shall  execute an
instrument pursuant to which such Permitted Transferee agrees to be bound by and
to comply with the terms of this Agreement,  and obtains the rights and benefits
that inure to, the transferor  Investor  Securityholder  as though the Permitted
Transferee  were  such  transferor.  Upon  execution  of  such  instrument,  the
Permitted Transferee shall be deemed an Investor  Securityholder  hereunder with
respect to such Notes.  Any transfer to a Permitted  Transferee not made in full
compliance with this Section 3.2(c) shall be void and of no effect.

          SECTION III.3 LEGENDS. Each certificate representing shares of Class A
Common  Stock  and the  Convertible  Preferred  Stock  into  which the Notes are
convertible  will  bear  a  legend  on the  face  thereof  substantially  to the
following effect (with such additions  thereto or changes therein as the Company
may be advised by counsel are  required by law or  necessary to give full effect
to this Agreement, the "LEGEND"):

          "THE  SECURITIES   REPRESENTED  BY  THIS  CERTIFICATE  HAVE  BEEN
     ACQUIRED  FOR  INVESTMENT  AND  HAVE  NOT BEEN  REGISTERED  UNDER  THE
     SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED OR ANY STATE SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY
     LAWS.  THESE  SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE
     OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR A VALID EXEMPTION  THEREFROM UNDER SAID ACT OR
     LAWS. THE SECURITIES  REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE ALSO SUBJECT
     TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN THAT CERTAIN
     SECURITYHOLDERS  AGREEMENT  DATED  AS  OF  APRIL


<PAGE>

                                                                              12


     17,  2000 (AS SUCH  AGREEMENT  MAY BE AMENDED,  MODIFIED OR  OTHERWISE
     SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE "SECURITYHOLDERS AGREEMENT") AMONG
     THE ISSUER OF SUCH  SECURITIES  (THE  "ISSUER")  AND THE OTHER PARTIES
     THERETO.  A COPY OF SUCH  SECURITYHOLDERS  AGREEMENT WILL BE FURNISHED
     WITHOUT  CHARGE  BY THE  ISSUER  TO THE  HOLDER  HEREOF  UPON  WRITTEN
     REQUEST."

The  Legend  will be  removed  by the  Company  by the  delivery  of  substitute
certificates  without such Legend in the event the legend is no longer  required
for purposes of applicable securities laws.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                               REGISTRATION RIGHTS

          SECTION IV.1 INCIDENTAL REGISTRATIONS.  (a) If the Company at any time
after  the  date  hereof  proposes  to  register  Equity  Securities  under  the
Securities Act (other than a  registration  on Form S-4 or S-8, or any successor
or other forms  promulgated for similar  purposes),  whether or not for sale for
its own  account,  in a manner which would permit  registration  of  Registrable
Securities  for sale to the public under the  Securities  Act, it will,  at each
such time,  give prompt  written notice to all Holders of its intention to do so
and of such Holders'  rights under this Article IV. Upon the written  request of
any such Holder made within 15 days after the receipt of any such notice  (which
request shall specify the Registrable  Securities  intended to be disposed of by
such  Holder),  the Company will use its  reasonable  best efforts to effect the
registration  under the Securities Act of all Registrable  Securities  which the
Company has been so requested to register by the Holders thereof; PROVIDED, that
(a) if, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any
securities,  the Company shall  determine for any reason not to proceed with the
proposed  registration  of the  securities to be sold by it, the Company may, at
its  election,  give written  notice of such  determination  to each Holder and,
thereupon,  shall be relieved of its  obligation  to  register  any  Registrable
Securities in connection with such  registration (but not from its obligation to
pay  the  Registration  Expenses  in  connection  therewith),  and  (b) if  such
registration  involves an underwritten  offering,  all Holders  requesting to be
included in the Company's registration must sell their Registrable Securities to
the  underwriters  selected by the Company on the same terms and  conditions  as
apply to the  Company,  with such  differences,  including  any with  respect to
indemnification and liability  insurance,  as may be customary or appropriate in
combined primary and secondary offerings.  If a registration  requested pursuant
to this Section involves an underwritten public offering,  any Holder requesting
to be included in such registration may elect, in writing prior to the effective
date of the registration  statement filed in connection with such  registration,
not to  register  all or any part of such  securities  in  connection  with such
registration.  Nothing in this Section  shall  operate to limit the right of any
Holder to request the  registration  of Common Stock  issuable upon  conversion,
exchange or exercise of securities held by such Holder  notwithstanding the fact
that at the  time of  request  such  Holder  does  not  hold  the  Common  Stock
underlying such securities.  The registrations  provided for in this Section 4.1
are in addition to, and not in lieu of,  registrations  made upon the request of
any Investor Securityholder in accordance with Section 4.2.


<PAGE>

                                                                              13


          (b)  EXPENSES.  The  Company  will pay all  Registration  Expenses  in
connection with each registration of Registrable  Securities  requested pursuant
to this Section 4.1.

          (c) PRIORITY IN INCIDENTAL  REGISTRATIONS.  If a registration pursuant
to  this  Section  4.1  involves  an  underwritten  offering  and  the  managing
underwriter  advises the Company in writing that, in its opinion,  the number of
Registrable  Securities  requested to be included in such registration  would be
likely to have an adverse  effect on the price,  timing or  distribution  of the
securities to be offered in such offering as  contemplated by the Company (other
than  the  Registrable  Securities),  then the  Company  shall  include  in such
registration (a) FIRST, 100% of the securities the Company proposes to sell, (b)
SECOND,  any Other  Securities  requested to be  registered by any Other Holders
exercising  a demand  registration  right,  and (c) THIRD,  to the extent of the
amount of Registrable  Securities and Other Securities  requested to be included
in such registration which, in the opinion of such managing underwriter,  can be
sold  without  having  the  adverse  effect  referred  to above,  the  amount of
Registrable  Securities  and Other  Securities  which the  Holders and the Other
Holders have  requested to be included in such  registration,  such amount to be
allocated  pro rata among all  requesting  Holders and the Other  Holders on the
basis of the relative amount of Registrable Securities and Other Securities then
held by each  such  Holder  and Other  Holder  (PROVIDED,  that any such  amount
thereby  allocated to any such Holder or Other Holder that exceeds such Holder's
or Other Holder's  request shall be reallocated  among the remaining  requesting
Holders and Other Holders in like manner).

          SECTION IV.2  REGISTRATION ON REQUEST.  (a) At any time after the date
hereof,  upon the  written  request of Silver Lake or any  Transferee  of Silver
Lake;  PROVIDED that no  Transferee  of Silver Lake or its  Affiliates or of any
Transferee shall be permitted to request a registration pursuant to this Section
4.2 unless the right to make such a request was  transferred to such  Transferee
pursuant to Section  3.1(b) (the  "DEMAND  PARTY")  requesting  that the Company
effect the  registration  under the Securities Act of all or part of such Demand
Party's Registrable  Securities and specifying the amount and intended method of
disposition  thereof,   including  without  limitation,   pursuant  to  a  shelf
registration  statement utilizing Rule 415 under the Securities Act, the Company
will promptly give written  notice of such requested  registration  to all other
Holders,  and thereupon will, as expeditiously  as possible,  use its reasonable
best efforts to effect the registration under the Securities Act of:

          (i) the Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested
     to register by the Demand Party; and

          (ii) all  other  Registrable  Securities  which the  Company  has been
     requested to register by any other Holder thereof by written  request given
     to the Company  within 15 days after the giving of such  written  notice by
     the Company (which request shall specify the amount and intended  method of
     disposition of such Registrable Securities), all to the extent necessary to
     permit the  disposition  (in accordance with the intended method thereof as
     aforesaid) of the  Registrable  Securities so to be  registered;  PROVIDED,
     that in no event  shall the  Company be  required to effect more than three
     registrations pursuant to this Section 4.2 (which number shall be increased
     to four in the event any shares of Convertible Preferred Stock are issued);
     and  PROVIDED,  FURTHER,  that,  in the  event the


<PAGE>

                                                                              14


     Company  shall not have  postponed the filing of a  registration  statement
     required by this Section 4.2  pursuant to Section  4.2(g)  hereof  within a
     period of 360 days from the date of a demand notice under  Section  4.2(a),
     the  Company  shall  not be  obligated  to  file a  registration  statement
     relating to any  registration  request under this Section 4.2 (other than a
     registration  statement on Form S-3 or any successor or similar  short-form
     registration statement) within a period of 90 days after the effective date
     of any other registration  statement  relating to any registration  request
     under this Section 4.2 or to any  registration  effected under Section 4.1,
     in either  case which was not  effected  on Form S-3 (or any  successor  or
     similar  short-form  registration  statement).  Nothing in this Section 4.2
     shall operate to limit the right of any Holder to request the  registration
     of Common Stock  issuable upon  conversion of the Notes or the  Convertible
     Preferred  Stock or the  conversion,  exchange  or  exercise  of any  other
     securities held by such Holder notwithstanding the fact that at the time of
     request  such  Holder  does not  hold  the  Common  Stock  underlying  such
     securities.

          (b)  REGISTRATION   STATEMENT  FORM.  The  Company  shall  select  the
registration  statement form for any registration  pursuant to this Section 4.2;
PROVIDED,  that if any registration requested pursuant to this Section 4.2 which
is  proposed  by the  Company to be  effected  by the  filing of a  registration
statement  on Form S-3 (or any  successor  or  similar  short-form  registration
statement) shall be in connection with an underwritten  public offering,  and if
the  managing  underwriter  shall  advise the  Company in writing  that,  in its
opinion,  the use of  another  form of  registration  statement  is of  material
importance  to the success of such  proposed  offering,  then such  registration
shall be effected on such other form.

          (c)  EXPENSES.  The  Company  will pay all  Registration  Expenses  in
connection with registrations of each class or series of Registrable  Securities
pursuant to this Section 4.2.

          (d)  EFFECTIVE   REGISTRATION   STATEMENT.  A  registration  requested
pursuant to this Section 4.2 will not be deemed to have been effected  unless it
has become effective and all of the Registrable Securities registered thereunder
have been sold.

          (e) SELECTION OF UNDERWRITERS. If a requested registration pursuant to
this Section 4.2 involves an underwritten  offering,  the investment  banker(s),
underwriter(s)  and  manager(s) for such  registration  shall be selected by the
Holders of a majority of the Registrable  Securities  which the Company has been
requested  to  register;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that such  investment  banker(s),
underwriter(s) and manager(s) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company.

          (f) PRIORITY IN REQUESTED  REGISTRATIONS.  If a requested registration
pursuant to this Section 4.2 involves an underwritten  offering and the managing
underwriter  advises the Company in writing that, in its opinion,  the number of
securities  to be included in such  registration  (including  securities  of the
Company which are not Registrable Securities) would be likely to have an adverse
effect on the price,  timing or  distribution of the securities to be offered in
such offering as  contemplated  by the Holders (an "ADVERSE  EFFECT"),  then the
Company shall include in such  registration  (a) FIRST,  100% of the Registrable
Securities requested to be included in such registration by the Demand Party and
all other Holders of Registrable Securities pursuant to this


<PAGE>

                                                                              15


Section 4.2 (to the extent that the managing  underwriter believes that all such
Registrable  Securities  can be sold in such offering  without having an Adverse
Effect; PROVIDED, that if they cannot and the Demand Party does not exercise its
right set forth in the second  succeeding  sentence  of this  clause  (f),  such
lesser  number of  Registrable  Securities as specified by the Demand Party) and
(B)  SECOND,  to  the  extent  the  managing   underwriter  believes  additional
securities  can be sold in the offering  without having an Adverse  Effect,  the
amount of Other  Securities  requested  to be included by Other  Holders in such
registration, allocated pro rata among all requesting Other Holders on the basis
of the  relative  amount of all Other  Securities  then held by each such  Other
Holder  (PROVIDED,  that any such  amount  thereby  allocated  to any such Other
Holder that exceeds such Other Holder's  request shall be reallocated  among the
remaining requesting Other Holders in like manner). In the event that the number
of  Registrable   Securities  and  Other  Securities  to  be  included  in  such
registration  is less than the number  which,  in the  opinion  of the  managing
underwriter,  can be sold  without  having an Adverse  Effect,  the  Company may
include in such  registration  the securities the Company proposes to sell up to
the number of securities that, in the opinion of such managing underwriter,  can
be sold without  having an Adverse  Effect.  If the managing  underwriter of any
underwritten  offering shall advise the Holders  participating in a registration
pursuant to this  Section  4.2 that the  Registrable  Securities  covered by the
registration  statement  cannot be sold in such  offering  within a price  range
acceptable  to the Demand  Party,  then the Demand Party shall have the right to
notify the Company that it has  determined  that the  registration  statement be
abandoned or  withdrawn,  in which event the Company  shall  abandon or withdraw
such registration statement.

          (g) POSTPONEMENTS IN REQUESTED REGISTRATIONS.  Notwithstanding Section
4.2(f),  (i) if the  Board  determines,  in its good  faith  judgment,  that the
registration and offering  otherwise  required by this Section 4.2 would have an
adverse effect on a then  contemplated  public offering of the Company's  Equity
Securities,  the Company may postpone the filing (but not the  preparation) of a
registration  statement required by this Section 4.2, during the period starting
with the 30th day immediately  preceding the date of the anticipated  filing of,
and ending on a date 60 days following the effective  date of, the  registration
statement  relating to such other public  offering and (ii) if the Company shall
at any time furnish to the Holders a  certificate  signed by its chairman of the
board,  chief  executive  officer,  president  or any  other  of its  authorized
officers  stating that the Company or any  Subsidiary of the Company has pending
or in process a material transaction, the disclosure of which would, in the good
faith  judgment of the Board,  after  consultation  with its outside  securities
counsel,  materially and adversely  affect the Company or such  Subsidiary,  the
Company may  postpone  the filing (but not the  preparation)  of a  registration
statement  required by this Section 4.2 for up to 90 days;  PROVIDED,  that, the
Company  shall at all times in good  faith use its  reasonable  best  efforts to
cause any  registration  statement  required by this  Section 4.2 to be filed as
soon as possible thereafter and; PROVIDED,  FURTHER, that, the Company shall not
be permitted to postpone  registration pursuant to this Section 4.2(g) more than
once in any  360-day  period.  The  Company  shall  promptly  give  the  Holders
requesting  registration  thereof pursuant to this Section 4.2 written notice of
any postponement made in accordance with the preceding sentence.  If the Company
gives the Holders  such a notice,  the Holders  shall have the right,  within 15
days after  receipt  thereof,  to withdraw  their  request in which  case,  such
request will not be counted for purposes of this Section 4.2.


<PAGE>

                                                                              16


          (h) ADDITIONAL  RIGHTS. If the Company at any time grants to any other
holders  of  capital  stock any  rights to  request  the  Company  to effect the
registration  under the  Securities  Act of any such shares of capital  stock on
terms more  favorable  to such  holders than the terms set forth in this Article
IV, the terms of this Article IV shall be deemed amended or  supplemented to the
extent necessary to provide the Holders such more favorable rights and benefits.
The Company shall  provide the Holders  prior written  notice of any such deemed
amendment or supplement to the terms of this Article IV.

          SECTION IV.3 REGISTRATION  PROCEDURES.  If and whenever the Company is
required to use its reasonable best efforts to effect or cause the  registration
of any  Registrable  Securities  under the  Securities  Act as  provided in this
Agreement, the Company will promptly:

          (a)  prepare  and,  in any event  within 45 days  after the end of the
     period within which a request for registration may be given to the Company,
     file with the SEC a registration statement with respect to such Registrable
     Securities and use its reasonable  best efforts to cause such  registration
     statement to become effective within 90 days of the initial filing;

          (b) prepare and file with the SEC such  amendments and  supplements to
     such registration  statement (including Exchange Act documents incorporated
     by reference into the  registration  statement) and the prospectus  used in
     connection  therewith  as  may  be  necessary  to  keep  such  registration
     statement  effective for a period not in excess of 180 days (or such longer
     period  as may be  requested  by  the  Holders  in  the  event  of a  shelf
     registration statement) and to comply with the provisions of the Securities
     Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the  disposition of all securities
     covered by such  registration  statement  during such period in  accordance
     with the intended  methods of disposition by the seller or sellers  thereof
     set forth in such registration  statement;  PROVIDED,  that before filing a
     registration  statement or  prospectus,  or any  amendments or  supplements
     thereto in accordance with Sections 4.3(a) or (b), the Company will furnish
     to counsel selected  pursuant to Section 4.8 hereof copies of all documents
     proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the review of such
     counsel;

          (c) furnish to each seller of such Registrable  Securities such number
     of  copies  of  such  registration  statement  and of  each  amendment  and
     supplement  thereto (in each case including all exhibits  filed  therewith,
     including any documents  incorporated by reference),  such number of copies
     of the prospectus included in such registration  statement  (including each
     preliminary  prospectus  and summary  prospectus),  in conformity  with the
     requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as such seller
     may  reasonably  request  in order to  facilitate  the  disposition  of the
     Registrable Securities by such seller;

          (d) use its  reasonable  best  efforts to  register  or  qualify  such
     Registrable  Securities  covered by such registration in such jurisdictions
     as each seller shall reasonably request,  and do any and all other acts and
     things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such seller
     to consummate the  disposition  in such  jurisdictions  of the  Registrable
     Securities owned by such seller,  except that the Company shall not for any
     such  purpose


<PAGE>

                                                                              17


     be required to qualify generally to do business as a foreign corporation in
     any jurisdiction where, but for the requirements of this subsection (d), it
     would not be obligated to be so qualified, to subject itself to taxation in
     any such  jurisdiction  or to consent to general  service of process in any
     such jurisdiction;

          (e)  use  its  reasonable  best  efforts  to  cause  such  Registrable
     Securities covered by such registration  statement to be registered with or
     approved by such other  governmental  authorities  as may be  necessary  to
     enable the seller or sellers  thereof to consummate the disposition of such
     Registrable Securities;

          (f) notify each seller of any such Registrable  Securities  covered by
     such registration statement, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto
     is required to be  delivered  under the  Securities  Act, of the  Company's
     becoming aware that the prospectus included in such registration statement,
     as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits
     to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
     the  statements  therein not  misleading in the light of the  circumstances
     then existing,  and at the request of any such seller,  prepare and furnish
     to such seller a reasonable  number of copies of an amended or supplemental
     prospectus  as may be necessary  so that,  as  thereafter  delivered to the
     purchasers  of such  Registrable  Securities,  such  prospectus  shall  not
     include 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 in the light of the circumstances then existing;

          (g) otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all applicable rules
     and regulations of the SEC, and make available to its security holders,  as
     soon as  reasonably  practicable  (but not more than 18  months)  after the
     effective date of the registration  statement,  an earnings statement which
     shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act;

          (h) (i) use its  reasonable  best  efforts  to list  such  Registrable
     Securities  on any  securities  exchange on which the Common  Stock is then
     listed if such Registrable Securities are not already so listed and if such
     listing is then permitted  under the rules of such  exchange;  and (ii) use
     its best  efforts  to  provide  a  transfer  agent and  registrar  for such
     Registrable  Securities  covered by such  registration  statement not later
     than the effective date of such registration statement;

          (i) enter into such customary  agreements  (including an  underwriting
     agreement in customary form), which may include indemnification  provisions
     in  favor  of  underwriters  and  other  Persons  in  addition  to,  or  in
     substitution for the provisions of Section 4.6 hereof,  and take such other
     actions as sellers of a majority of shares of such  Registrable  Securities
     or the underwriters,  if any, reasonably  requested in order to expedite or
     facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

          (j)  obtain a "cold  comfort"  letter or  letters  from the  Company's
     independent  public accounts in customary form and covering  matters of the
     type customarily covered by "cold


<PAGE>

                                                                              18


     comfort"  letters as the seller or sellers of a majority  of shares of such
     Registrable Securities shall reasonably request;

          (k) make  available for  inspection by any seller of such  Registrable
     Securities  covered  by such  registration  statement,  by any  underwriter
     participating   in  any  disposition  to  be  effected   pursuant  to  such
     registration  statement  and by any  attorney,  accountant  or other  agent
     retained  by  any  such  seller  or any  such  underwriter,  all  pertinent
     financial and other records,  pertinent  corporate documents and properties
     of the Company,  and cause all of the  Company's  officers,  directors  and
     employees  to  supply  all  information  reasonably  requested  by any such
     seller, underwriter,  attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such
     registration statement;

          (l) notify counsel  (selected  pursuant to Section 4.8 hereof) for the
     Holders of Registrable  Securities included in such registration  statement
     and the managing underwriter or agent, immediately,  and confirm the notice
     in  writing  (i) when the  registration  statement,  or any  post-effective
     amendment to the registration  statement,  shall have become effective,  or
     any supplement to the  prospectus or any amendment to the prospectus  shall
     have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the SEC, (iii) of
     any  request  of the SEC to amend the  registration  statement  or amend or
     supplement the prospectus or for  additional  information,  and (iv) of the
     issuance by the SEC of any stop order  suspending the  effectiveness of the
     registration  statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of
     any preliminary  prospectus,  or of the suspension of the  qualification of
     the registration statement for offering or sale in any jurisdiction,  or of
     the institution or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes;

          (m) make  reasonable  best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop
     order suspending the effectiveness of the registration  statement or of any
     order  preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary  prospectus and,
     if any such order is issued,  to obtain the withdrawal of any such order as
     soon as practicable;

          (n) if requested by the managing underwriter or agent or any Holder of
     Registrable  Securities  covered by the  registration  statement,  promptly
     incorporate  in a prospectus  supplement or  post-effective  amendment such
     information as the managing  underwriter or agent or such Holder reasonably
     requests to be included therein,  including,  with respect to the number of
     Registrable  Securities  being sold by such Holder to such  underwriter  or
     agent,  the purchase price being paid therefor by such underwriter or agent
     and with  respect to any other  terms of the  underwritten  offering of the
     Registrable  Securities to be sold in such offering;  and make all required
     filings of such prospectus  supplement or post-effective  amendment as soon
     as  practicable  after being notified of the matters  incorporated  in such
     prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

          (o) cooperate  with the Holders of Registrable  Securities  covered by
     the registration  statement and the managing  underwriter or agent, if any,
     to facilitate  the timely  preparation  and delivery of  certificates  (not
     bearing any restrictive legends)  representing  securities to be sold under
     the registration statement, and enable such


<PAGE>

                                                                              19


     securities to be in such  denominations and registered in such names as the
     managing underwriter or agent, if any, or such Holders may request;

          (p) obtain for delivery to the Holders of Registrable Securities being
     registered  and to the  underwriter  or agent an opinion or  opinions  from
     counsel for the Company in customary form and in form,  substance and scope
     reasonably  satisfactory to such Holders,  underwriters or agents and their
     counsel;

          (q)  cooperate  with each seller of  Registrable  Securities  and each
     underwriter or agent  participating  in the disposition of such Registrable
     Securities  and their  respective  counsel in  connection  with any filings
     required to be made with the NASD;

          (r) use its  reasonable  best efforts to make  available the executive
     officers of the  Company to  participate  with the  Holders of  Registrable
     Securities  and any  underwriters  in any  "road  shows"  or other  selling
     efforts that may be reasonably  requested by the Holders in connection with
     the methods of distribution for the Registrable Securities; and

          (s) if at any time a shelf registration statement requested to be used
     by the  Holders  to  dispose  of the  Registrable  Securities  ceases to be
     effective,  use its  reasonable  best  efforts  to file and cause to become
     effective a new "evergreen" shelf registration  statement  providing for an
     offering to be made on a continuous basis of the Registrable Securities.

          SECTION IV.4 INFORMATION SUPPLIED. The Company may require each seller
of  Registrable  Securities as to which any  registration  is being  effected to
furnish the Company with such information regarding such seller and pertinent to
the disclosure requirements relating to the registration and the distribution of
such securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request.

          SECTION IV.5  RESTRICTIONS  ON  DISPOSITION.  Each Holder agrees that,
upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the
kind  described  in Section  4.3(f),  such  Holder  will  forthwith  discontinue
disposition of Registrable  Securities  pursuant to the  registration  statement
covering such  Registrable  Securities until such Holder's receipt of the copies
of the supplemented or amended prospectus  contemplated by Section 4.3(f),  and,
if so directed by the  Company,  such Holder will deliver to the Company (at the
Company's  expense) all copies,  other than  permanent  file copies then in such
Holder's  possession,  of the prospectus  covering such  Registrable  Securities
current at the time of receipt of such  notice.  In the event the Company  shall
give any such notice,  the period  mentioned in Section 4.3(b) shall be extended
by the  number of days  during  the period  from and  including  the date of the
giving of such notice  pursuant to Section  4.3(f) and to and including the date
when  each  seller  of  Registrable  Securities  covered  by  such  registration
statement  shall  have  received  the  copies  of the  supplemented  or  amended
prospectus contemplated by Section 4.3(f).

          SECTION IV.6 INDEMNIFICATION.  (a) In the event of any registration of
any  securities of the Company under the  Securities Act pursuant to Section 4.1
or 4.2, the Company shall, and it hereby does,  indemnify and hold harmless,  to
the extent permitted by law, the seller of


<PAGE>

                                                                              20


any  Registrable  Securities  covered  by  such  registration  statement,   each
Affiliate of such seller and their respective  directors,  officers,  members or
general and limited partners (and any director,  officer, and controlling Person
of any of the foregoing),  each Person who participates as an underwriter in the
offering or sale of such securities and each other Person,  if any, who controls
such seller or any such  underwriter  within the meaning of the  Securities  Act
(collectively,  the "INDEMNIFIED PARTIES"),  against any and all losses, claims,
damages  or  liabilities,  joint or  several,  actions or  proceedings  (whether
commenced or threatened) in respect thereof  ("CLAIMS") and expenses  (including
reasonable  attorney's fees and reasonable  expenses of  investigation) to which
such  Indemnified  Party may become subject under the Securities Act, common law
or otherwise,  insofar as such Claims or expenses arise out of, relate to or are
based upon (a) any untrue  statement or alleged untrue statement of any material
fact contained in any  registration  statement  under which such securities were
registered  under  the  Securities  Act,  any  preliminary,   final  or  summary
prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or (b) any
omission or alleged  omission to state  therein a material  fact  required to be
stated  therein or  necessary to make the  statements  therein (in the case of a
prospectus,  in light of the  circumstances  under  which  they  were  made) not
misleading;  PROVIDED,  that the Company shall not be liable to any  Indemnified
Party in any such case to the extent  that any such Claim or expense  arises out
of, relates to or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
or omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement or amendment
or supplement thereto or in any such preliminary, final or summary prospectus in
reliance  upon and in  conformity  with  written  information  furnished  to the
Company by or behalf of such seller  specifically  stating that it is for use in
the  preparation  thereof.  Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect
regardless of any  investigation  made by or on behalf of any Indemnified  Party
and shall survive the transfer of securities by any seller.

          (b)  The  Company  may  require,  as  a  condition  to  including  any
Registrable  Securities in any  registration  statement filed in accordance with
Section 4.2 or 4.3 herein,  that the Company shall have received an  undertaking
reasonably  satisfactory to it from the prospective  seller of such  Registrable
Securities or any underwriter to indemnify and hold harmless (in the same manner
and to the same extent as set forth in Section 4.6(a)) the Company and all other
prospective sellers or any underwriter,  as the case may be, with respect to any
untrue  statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission
from such registration statement,  any preliminary,  final or summary prospectus
contained  therein,  or any  amendment  or  supplement  thereto,  if such untrue
statement or alleged untrue  statement or omission or alleged  omission was made
in reliance upon and in  conformity  with written  information  furnished to the
Company by or on behalf of such seller or underwriter  specifically stating that
it is for use in the preparation of such  registration  statement,  preliminary,
final  or  summary  prospectus  or  amendment  or  supplement,   or  a  document
incorporated by reference into any of the foregoing. Such indemnity shall remain
in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of
the  Company  or any of the  prospective  sellers,  or any of  their  respective
Affiliates,  directors,  officers or  controlling  Persons and shall survive the
transfer of  securities  by any seller.  In no event shall the  liability of any
selling Holder of Registrable Securities hereunder be greater in amount than the
dollar  amount of the  proceeds  received  by such  Holder  upon the sale of the
Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.


<PAGE>

                                                                              21


          (c)  Promptly  after  receipt by an  indemnified  party  hereunder  of
written notice of the  commencement  of any action or proceeding with respect to
which a claim for indemnification may be made pursuant to this Section 4.6, such
indemnified  party will, if a claim in respect  thereof is to be made against an
indemnifying  party,  give written notice to the latter of the  commencement  of
such action or proceeding;  PROVIDED,  that the failure of the indemnified party
to give notice as provided  herein shall not relieve the  indemnifying  party of
its obligations  under Section 4.6,  except to the extent that the  indemnifying
party is materially  prejudiced by such failure to give notice. In case any such
action or proceeding is brought  against an  indemnified  party,  unless in such
indemnified  party's  reasonable  judgment a conflict of interest  between  such
indemnified  and  indemnifying  parties  may exist in respect of such  action or
proceeding (in which case the  indemnified  party shall have the right to assume
or continue its own defense and the  indemnifying  party shall be liable for any
reasonable  expenses  therefor,  but in no event will bear the expenses for more
than one firm of counsel for all indemnified  parties in each  jurisdiction  who
shall  be  approved  by  the  majority  of  the  participating  Holders  in  the
registration  in  respect  of  which  such   indemnification  is  sought),   the
indemnifying  party will be entitled to participate in and to assume the defense
thereof (at its expense),  jointly with any other  indemnifying  party similarly
notified to the extent that it may wish, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to
such indemnified  party,  and after notice from the  indemnifying  party to such
indemnified  party  of its  election  so to  assume  the  defense  thereof,  the
indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party for any legal or
other  expenses  subsequently  incurred  by the  latter in  connection  with the
defense thereof other than reasonable costs of  investigation  and shall have no
liability for any settlement made by the  indemnified  party without the consent
of the  indemnifying  party,  such consent not to be unreasonably  withheld.  No
indemnifying  party will settle any action or proceeding or consent to the entry
of any judgment  without the prior  written  consent of the  indemnified  party,
unless such settlement or judgment (i) includes as an unconditional term thereof
the giving by the claimant or plaintiff of a release to such  indemnified  party
from all  liability  in respect of such action or  proceeding  and (ii) does not
involve  the  imposition  of  equitable   remedies  or  the  imposition  of  any
obligations on such  indemnified  party and does not otherwise  adversely affect
such  indemnified  party,  other than as a result of the imposition of financial
obligations for which such indemnified party will be indemnified hereunder.

          (d) (i) If the  indemnification  provided for in this Section 4.6 from
the  indemnifying  party is  unavailable to an  indemnified  party  hereunder in
respect  of any Claim or  expenses  referred  to herein,  then the  indemnifying
party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified  party,  shall contribute to the
amount  paid or payable by such  indemnified  party as a result of such Claim or
expenses in such  proportion as is  appropriate to reflect the relative fault of
the  indemnifying  party and  indemnified  party in connection  with the actions
which  resulted  in such  Claim  or  expenses,  as well  as any  other  relevant
equitable  considerations.  The relative  fault of such  indemnifying  party and
indemnified  party shall be  determined  by reference  to,  among other  things,
whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, has
been made by, or relates to information  supplied by, such indemnifying party or
indemnified  party,  and the  parties'  relative  intent,  knowledge,  access to
information and  opportunity to correct or prevent such action.  The amount paid
or payable by a party  under  this  Section  4.6(d) as a result of the Claim and
expenses referred to above shall be


<PAGE>

                                                                              22


deemed to include  any legal or other fees or  expenses  reasonably  incurred by
such party in connection with any action or proceeding.

          (ii) The parties  hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable
if  contribution  pursuant to this Section  4.6(d) were  determined  by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of  allocation  which does not take account of
the equitable  considerations referred to in Section 4.6(d)(i). No Person guilty
of  fraudulent  misrepresentation  (within the  meaning of Section  11(f) of the
Securities  Act) shall be entitled to  contribution  from any Person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

          (e)  Indemnification  similar to that  specified  in this  Section 4.6
(with appropriate  modifications)  shall be given by the Company and each seller
of Registrable  Securities  with respect to any required  registration  or other
qualification  of securities  under any Law or with any  governmental  authority
other than as required by the Securities Act.

          (f) The  obligations of the parties under this Section 4.6 shall be in
addition to any liability which any party may otherwise have to any other party.

          SECTION IV.7 REQUIRED REPORTS. The Company covenants that it will file
the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act (or, if the Company is not required to file such reports,  it will, upon the
request of any Holder,  make publicly available such  information),  and it will
take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent
required  from time to time to enable such Holder to sell shares of  Registrable
Securities  and Notes without  registration  under the Securities Act within the
limitation of the exemptions  provided by (a) Rule 144 under the Securities Act,
as such  Rule may be  amended  from  time to time,  or (b) any  similar  rule or
regulation  hereafter  adopted by the SEC.  Upon the request of any Holder,  the
Company  will  deliver to such Holder a written  statement  as to whether it has
complied with such requirements.

          SECTION IV.8 SELECTION OF COUNSEL. In connection with any registration
of Registrable  Securities  pursuant to Sections 4.1 and 4.2 hereof, the Holders
of a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by any such registration may
select one counsel to represent all Holders of Registrable Securities covered by
such  registration;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that in the  event  that  the  counsel
selected  as  provided  above  is also  acting  as  counsel  to the  Company  in
connection with such  registration,  the remaining  Holders shall be entitled to
select one additional counsel to represent all such remaining Holders.

          SECTION IV.9 HOLDBACK AGREEMENT.  If any registration  hereunder shall
be in connection with an underwritten public offering, each Holder agrees not to
effect any public sale or distribution,  including any sale pursuant to Rule 144
under the Securities Act, of any Equity Securities of the Company (in each case,
other than as part of such underwritten public offering), within 10 days before,
or subject to Section  4.2(g) in the case of a requested  registration  that has
been postponed  pursuant to clause (i) thereof,  180 days (or such lesser period
as the managing underwriters may require or permit) after, the effective date of
such registration (except as part of such registration),  and the Company hereby
also agrees to use its reasonable  best efforts to


<PAGE>

                                                                              23


have each other holder of any Equity Security of the Company  purchased from the
Company (at any time other than in a public offering) to so agree.

          SECTION IV.10 NO INCONSISTENT  AGREEMENTS.  The Company represents and
warrants  that it is not a party to, will not enter into, or cause or permit any
of its  Subsidiaries to enter into, any agreement which conflicts with or limits
or prohibits  the exercise of the rights  granted to the Holders of  Registrable
Securities in this Article IV.


                                    ARTICLE V
                             EQUITY PURCHASE RIGHTS

          SECTION V.1 SUBSIDIARY  PURCHASE RIGHTS. (a) The Company hereby grants
to the  Purchasers,  as  defined  in the  Securities  Purchase  Agreement  (such
Purchasers referred to in this Section 5.1 as the "PURCHASERS"),  an option (the
"TECHREPUBLIC  OPTION") to purchase up to 5.00% (as may be  allocated  among the
Purchasers  in  their   discretion)  of  the  fully  diluted  capital  stock  of
TechRepublic, Inc. ("TECHREPUBLIC") (after giving effect to all the transactions
contemplated  by the Agreement and Plan of  Reorganization  dated March 21, 2000
between  the  Company,   TechRepublic   and  the  other  parties   thereto  (the
"TECHREPUBLIC   Agreement"))  pursuant  to  the  general  terms  and  conditions
applicable to the Company set forth in the TechRepublic Agreement and at a price
which  values   TechRepublic  at  the  lesser  of  (a)  the  value  assigned  to
TechRepublic in connection with the Company's purchase, or (b) $90.0 million. In
the event TechRepublic issues to the Company any options, warrants,  convertible
securities or capital stock  subsequent to the  consummation of the transactions
contemplated by the TechRepublic Agreement, the Purchasers shall receive options
to  purchase  additional  shares  of  TechRepublic  capital  stock in an  amount
sufficient  to permit it to  maintain  its 5% stake of  TechRepublic  on a fully
diluted basis (giving effect to all options,  warrants or convertible securities
issued to the Company on an as  converted  basis) at an exercise  price equal to
(i) the per  share  price  received  by  TechRepublic  in  connection  with such
issuance  or (ii)  the per  share  exercise  price  or  conversion  price of the
options, warrants or convertible securities issued, as the case may be. Prior to
any contribution of assets (other than cash) by the Company to TechRepublic, the
Company shall notify the  Purchasers  and the Company and the  Purchasers  shall
negotiate in good faith to agree upon the value to the assets to be contributed.
The Company and the Purchasers  will use  reasonable  best efforts to enable the
Company to include TechRepublic in its consolidated group for federal income tax
purposes.

          (b) In the event that a  Purchaser  elects to  purchase  shares of the
capital stock of TechRepublic  during the term of this Article V, such Purchaser
shall give the Company  written  notice of such  election,  which  notice  shall
specify  the number of shares of capital  stock such  Purchaser  is  electing to
purchase, provided that the total number of shares of capital stock purchased by
all  Purchasers  shall not exceed 5.00% of the fully  diluted  capital  stock of
TechRepublic (after giving effect to all of the transactions contemplated by the
TechRepublic Agreement).


<PAGE>

                                                                              24


          (c) The Company  hereby grants to the  Purchasers the right (the "SPIN
Right";  together with the TechRepublic  Option, the "OPTION") to purchase up to
5.00% (as may be allocated  among the  Purchasers  in their  discretion)  of the
fully  diluted  common stock of any  Subsidiary  of the Company  whose shares of
common stock are (i) distributed to stockholders of the Company  ("SPUN-OFF") or
(ii) sold by the Company in a public offering  ("SPUN-OUT") at a per share price
equal  to (x)  80.0%  of the  initial  public  offering  price  in the case of a
spun-out  Subsidiary  and (y) 80.0% of the first day's closing price in the case
of a spun-off subsidiary.

          (d) In the  event  that  the  Company  effects  either a  spun-off  or
spun-out  subsidiary  transaction during the term of this Article V, the Company
shall  give  each  Purchaser  written  notice  of such  transaction  at least 30
business days prior to the consummation of the spin-off or spin-out, as the case
may be. If timely  notice has been  received,  on or prior to ten business  days
prior to the  consummation  of the spin-off or spin-out,  as the as may be, each
Purchaser  shall notify the Company in writing of the number of shares of common
stock, if any, such Purchaser is electing to purchase in such transaction  (each
a  "Response"),  provided  that the total  number  of  shares  of  common  stock
purchased by all Purchasers in each such  transaction  shall not exceed 5.00% of
the fully  diluted  common  stock of the  subject  subsidiary.  An election by a
Purchaser  to  purchase  shares  of  common  stock  shall  be  deemed  to  be an
irrevocable  commitment  from such Purchaser to purchase the number of shares of
common stock specified in such Purchaser's  Response.  If a Purchaser shall have
received  timely notice of a spin-off or spin-out,  as the case may be, and does
not  provide a Response  to the  Company on or prior to the tenth  business  day
prior to the consummation of the spin-off or spin-out,  as the case may be, such
Purchaser shall be deemed to have declined to purchase shares of common stock in
such transaction.

          SECTION V.2 ACQUISITION OF ADDITIONAL  SHARES OF COMMON STOCK. So long
as each of Silver  Lake's  nominees to the Board are elected to, and not removed
from, the Board,  each Investor  Securityholder  agrees that for so long as such
Investor  Securityholder  holds either Notes,  shares of  Convertible  Preferred
Stock or shares of Class A Common Stock, such Investor  Securityholder shall not
increase  his,  her or its  ownership  of  Common  Stock  or  Equity  Securities
exercisable or  exchangeable  for, or convertible  into,  shares of Common Stock
from the number of shares of Common Stock held by such  Investor  Securityholder
(on an as converted  basis) as of the date hereof,  except for any increase that
results solely from (i) any  adjustment to the  Conversion  Price (as defined in
the Notes) in accordance with the provisions of Section 4 of the Notes, (ii) any
adjustment  to  the  Adjustment   Number  (as  defined  in  the  Certificate  of
Designation)  in accordance  with Section 6(c) of the Certificate of Designation
or (iii) any stock  dividend,  stock  split,  reclassification,  combination  or
similar event.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                                CERTAIN COVENANTS

          SECTION VI.1 HSR APPROVAL. (a) The Company shall promptly make any and
all filings which it is required to make under the  Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust
Improvements  Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR ACT"),  for the sale or issuance
of the Notes,  the  Conversion  Shares (as  defined in the  Securities  Purchase
Agreement),  and the  Convertible  Preferred  Stock  and the  Company  agrees to
furnish  Silver  Lake or any  Transferee  with such  necessary  information


<PAGE>

                                                                              25


and  reasonable  assistance  as Silver  Lake or any  Transferee  may  reasonably
request  in  connection  with  its  preparation  of  any  necessary  filings  or
submissions to the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") or the Antitrust Division of
the U.S. Department of Justice (the "ANTITRUST  DIVISION"),  including,  without
limitation,  any  filings  or  notices  necessary  under  the HSR Act.  Any such
actions,  if  necessary,  with  respect  to the  conversion  of the Notes or the
Convertible Preferred Stock into Conversion Shares shall be taken by the Company
three months prior to the first date on which Investor Securityholders are first
able to convert the Notes into shares of Class A Common  Stock and at such times
thereafter  as Silver  Lake or any  Transferee  shall  reasonably  request.  The
Company shall, at its own expense,  use all reasonable efforts to respond to any
request for  additional  information,  or other  formal or informal  request for
information,  witnesses  or  documents  which  may be made  by any  governmental
authority  pertaining  to the Company  with respect to the sale of the Notes and
the  issuance of the  Convertible  Preferred  Stock and shares of Class A Common
Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes and the Convertible  Preferred Stock
and shall keep Silver Lake and any  relevant  Transferee  fully  apprised of its
actions with respect thereto.

          (b) Each of Silver Lake and any  relevant  Transferee  shall  promptly
make any and all  filings  which it is  required  to make under the HSR Act with
respect to the purchase or issuance of the Notes, the Conversion  Shares and the
Convertible  Preferred Stock and Silver Lake agrees (and any relevant Transferee
will  agree)  to  furnish  the  Company  with  such  necessary  information  and
reasonable  assistance as it may request in connection  with its  preparation of
any  necessary  filings or  submissions  to the FTC or the  Antitrust  Division,
including,  without  limitation,  any filings or notices necessary under the HSR
Act. Silver Lake and the relevant  Transferees shall, at their own expense,  use
all  reasonable  efforts to  respond  promptly  to any  request  for  additional
information,  or other formal or informal request for information,  witnesses or
documents which may be made by any governmental  authority  pertaining to Silver
Lake or the relevant Transferee, as case may be, with respect to the sale of the
Notes and the issuance of, the Convertible Preferred Stock and shares of Class A
Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes and the Convertible Preferred
Stock and shall keep the Company  fully  apprised of its  actions  with  respect
thereto.

          (c) Each of the parties hereto shall use their commercially reasonable
efforts to give such  notices  and obtain  all other  authorizations,  consents,
orders and  approvals of all  governmental  authorities  and other third parties
that may be or become  necessary  for its  execution  and  delivery  of, and the
performance  of its  obligations  pursuant to this  Agreement and will cooperate
fully  with the other  parties  hereto in  promptly  seeking  to obtain all such
authorizations, consents, orders and approvals.

          (d)  The  Company   shall  pay  all   expenses  and  fees  payable  to
governmental  authorities  in  connection  with  filings  made  pursuant to this
Section 6.1.

          SECTION VI.2 CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK. In the event that any shares
of Convertible  Preferred  Stock are issued  pursuant to the terms of the Notes,
the Company  hereby agrees to use its  reasonable  best efforts (i) to eliminate
any and all  contractual,  legal or other  prohibitions  on the  ability  of the
Company  to  redeem  the  shares  of  Convertible   Preferred   Stock


<PAGE>

                                                                              26


for cash  consideration  in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of
Designation;  (ii) to duly call,  give notice of,  convene and hold a meeting of
its  stockholders  for the  purpose  of  obtaining  the  Required  Company  Vote
necessary under the rules of the NYSE (or any successor  securities  exchange on
which the Common  Stock may then be listed) to approve the issuance of shares of
Class A Common  Stock upon the  conversion  of shares of  Convertible  Preferred
Stock (the "SHARE  ISSUANCE");  and (iii) to solicit  from  stockholders  of the
Company proxies in favor of the approval of the Share Issuance and to secure the
Required  Company  Vote;  and the Board  shall  recommend  approval of the Share
Issuance.

          SECTION VI.3 COMMON STOCK  REPURCHASES.  The Company hereby agrees not
to effect any  repurchases  or redemptions of shares of Common Stock at any time
at which the result of such  repurchases  or  redemptions  would be to cause the
shares of Class A Common  Stock held by the  Investor  Securityholders  on an as
converted basis to trigger a change of control provision  pursuant to the Credit
Agreement or any other material contract of the Company.


                                   ARTICLE VII
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

          SECTION  VII.1  SILVER LAKE  INDEMNIFICATION.  The  Company  agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless  Silver Lake, its respective  directors and officers
and its  Affiliates  (and the  directors,  officers,  partners,  Affiliates  and
controlling persons thereof,  each, a "SILVER LAKE INDEMNITEE") from and against
any and all liability,  including,  without limitation, all obligations,  costs,
fines,  claims,  actions,  injuries,  demands,  suits,  judgments,  proceedings,
investigations,  arbitrations (including stockholder claims, actions,  injuries,
demands,  suits,  judgments,  proceedings,  investigations  or arbitrations) and
expenses,  including,  without limitation,  accountant's and attorney's fees and
expenses  (together  the  "LOSSES"),  incurred  by Silver  Lake or a Silver Lake
Indemnitee  before  or after  the date of this  Agreement  and  arising  out of,
resulting  from,  or relating to (i) any third  party  claims  (other than third
party claims by an Affiliate,  partner,  director, officer or employee of Silver
Lake) in connection with (a) Silver Lake's purchase of the Equity Securities and
(b) the  transactions  contemplated by the Securities  Purchase  Agreement,  the
Notes and the  Securityholders  Agreement or (ii) any litigation to which Silver
Lake  or a  Silver  Lake  Indemnitee  is  made  a  party  in its  capacity  as a
stockholder or owner of securities (or a partner,  director,  officer, Affiliate
or  controlling  person of Silver  Lake) of the  Company  other  than any losses
incurred  by  Silver  Lake  as a  result  of its  gross  negligence  or  willful
misconduct.

          SECTION  VII.2  TERMINATION.  The  provisions  of  Article  II of this
Agreement  shall terminate as provided in Section 2.6. The provisions of Article
V of this Agreement shall terminate  simultaneously  with the termination of the
provisions of Article II of this Agreement. The provisions of Article IV of this
Agreement (other than Section 4.6 thereof) shall terminate at such time as there
shall be no Registrable  Securities  outstanding.  The provisions of Articles I,
III, VI and VII and Section 4.6 of this Agreement  shall not terminate.  Nothing
herein shall  relieve any party from any  liability for the breach of any of the
agreements set forth in this Agreement.

          SECTION VII.3  AMENDMENTS  AND WAIVERS.  Except as otherwise  provided
herein, no modification,  amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement
shall be


<PAGE>

                                                                              27


effective against the Company or any Holder unless such modification,  amendment
or waiver is approved in writing by the  Company,  Silver Lake (so long as it is
entitled  to its rights  under  Article II hereof) and those  Investor  Security
holders  who hold a majority  of the  outstanding  Class A Common  Stock and all
shares  of  Class  A  Common  Stock  issuable  (without  regard  to any  present
restrictions on such issuance) upon conversion of the Notes or Preferred  Stock.
The  failure of any party to enforce  any of the  provisions  of this  Agreement
shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and shall not affect
the right of such party  thereafter to enforce each and every  provision of this
Agreement in accordance with its terms.

          SECTION VII.4  SUCCESSORS,  ASSIGNS AND  TRANSFEREES.  This  Agreement
shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be  enforceable by the parties hereto
and their respective successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement may not be
assigned by any party hereto (except as described in the next sentence)  without
the prior written  consent of the other parties.  Silver Lake and its Affiliates
may assign their respective rights and obligations hereunder to any Affiliate or
Affiliates thereof and, subject to the Transfer  provisions herein, to any other
third party.

          SECTION VII.5  NOTICES.  All notices  required or permitted  hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed  effectively  given:  (a) upon  personal
delivery  to the  party to be  notified;  (b) when  sent by  confirmed  telex or
facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, if not, then on
the next business day; (c) five (5) days after having been sent by registered or
certified  mail,  return  receipt  requested,  postage  prepaid;  or (d) one (1)
business  day after  deposit  with a nationally  recognized  overnight  courier,
specifying  next  day  delivery,  with  written  verification  of  receipt.  All
communications  shall be sent,  with respect to the Company and Silver Lake,  to
their respective addresses specified in the Securities Purchase Agreement (or at
such other  address as any such party may  specify  by like  notice)  and,  with
respect to any other Holder, to the address of such Holder as shown in the stock
record  books of the  Company  (or at such other  address as any such Holder may
specify to all of the above by like notice).

          SECTION  VII.6  FURTHER  ASSURANCES.  At any time or from time to time
after the date hereof,  the parties agree to cooperate  with each other,  and at
the request of any other party,  to execute and deliver any further  instruments
or  documents  and to take  all such  further  action  as the  other  party  may
reasonably  request in order to evidence or effectuate the  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby and to otherwise  carry out the intent of the
parties hereunder.

          SECTION  VII.7 ENTIRE  AGREEMENT.  Except as otherwise  expressly  set
forth herein,  this document,  the Notes and the Stock Purchase Agreement embody
the complete  agreement and understanding  among the parties hereto with respect
to the subject matter hereof and supersede and preempt any prior understandings,
agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, that may
have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.

          SECTION  VII.8  DELAYS OR  OMISSIONS.  It is  agreed  that no delay or
omission to exercise any right,  power or remedy accruing to any party, upon any
breach,  default or noncompliance  by another party under this Agreement,  shall
impair any such right, power or remedy, nor shall it be construed to be a waiver
of any such breach, default or noncompliance, or any acquiescence therein, or of
or in any similar breach, default or noncompliance  thereafter


<PAGE>

                                                                              28


occurring.  It is further agreed that any waiver, permit, consent or approval of
any kind or character on the part of any party hereto of any breach,  default or
noncompliance  under this  Agreement  or any waiver on such  party's part of any
provisions  or  conditions  of this  Agreement,  must be in writing and shall be
effective  only to the  extent  specifically  set  forth  in such  writing.  All
remedies,  either under this  Agreement,  by law, or  otherwise  afforded to any
party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

          SECTION VII.9 GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION;  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. This
Agreement  shall be  governed  in all  respects  by the laws of the State of New
York.  No suit,  action or  proceeding  with  respect to this  Agreement  may be
brought in any court or before any  similar  authority  other than in a court of
competent  jurisdiction  in the State of New York, and the parties hereto hereby
submit to the  exclusive  jurisdiction  of such  courts for the  purpose of such
suit,  proceeding or judgment.  The parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives any
right  which  they may have had to bring  such an  action  in any  other  court,
domestic or foreign,  or before any similar domestic or foreign authority.  Each
of the parties hereto hereby  irrevocably  and  unconditionally  waives trial by
jury in any legal action or proceeding in relation to this Agreement and for any
counterclaim therein.

          SECTION VII.10 SEVERABILITY. Whenever possible, each provision of this
Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable  law, but if any  provision of this  Agreement is held to be invalid,
illegal or  unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any
jurisdiction,  such invalidity,  illegality or unenforceability shall not affect
any other  provision  or any other  jurisdiction,  but this  Agreement  shall be
reformed,  construed  and  enforced  in such  jurisdiction  as if such  invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

          SECTION VII.11  EFFECTIVE DATE. This Agreement shall become  effective
immediately upon the Closing.

          SECTION VII.12 ENFORCEMENT.  Each party hereto acknowledges that money
damages  would not be an adequate  remedy in the event that any of the covenants
or agreements in this Agreement are not performed in accordance  with its terms,
and it is  therefore  agreed that in addition to and without  limiting any other
remedy or right it may have, the  non-breaching  party will have the right to an
injunction,  temporary  restraining order or other equitable relief in any court
of competent  jurisdiction  enjoining any such breach and enforcing specifically
the terms and provisions hereof.

          SECTION  VII.13 TITLES AND  SUBTITLES.  The titles of the sections and
subsections of this Agreement are for  convenience of reference only and are not
to be considered in construing this Agreement.

          SECTION  VII.14  NO  RECOURSE.  Notwithstanding  anything  that may be
expressed or implied in this  Agreement,  the Company and each Holder  covenant,
agree and acknowledge  that no recourse under this Agreement or any documents or
instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement shall be had against any
current or future  director,  officer,  employee,  general


<PAGE>

                                                                              29


or limited  partner or member of Silver  Lake or of any  Affiliate  or  assignee
thereof,  whether  by the  enforcement  of any  assessment  or by any  legal  or
equitable  proceeding,  or  by  virtue  of  any  statute,  regulation  or  other
applicable  law, it being  expressly  agreed and  acknowledged  that no personal
liability  whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by
any current or future  officer,  agent or employee of Silver Lake or any current
or future  member of Silver  Lake or any  current or future  director,  officer,
employee,  partner  or member of Silver  Lake or of any  Affiliate  or  assignee
thereof,  as such for any  obligation of Silver Lake under this Agreement or any
documents or  instruments  delivered in connection  with this  Agreement for any
claim  based  on,  in  respect  of or by  reason  of such  obligations  or their
creation.

          SECTION VII.15 COUNTERPARTS;  FACSIMILE SIGNATURES. This Agreement may
be executed in any number of  counterparts,  each of which shall be an original,
but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. This Agreement may be
executed by facsimile signature(s).


<PAGE>


          IN  WITNESS   WHEREOF,   the   parties   hereto  have   executed   the
SECURITYHOLDERS  AGREEMENT  as of the date  set  forth  in the  first  paragraph
hereof.


                                 GARTNER GROUP, INC.



                                 BY:
                                      Name:
                                      Title:


<PAGE>


          IN  WITNESS   WHEREOF,   the   parties   hereto  have   executed   the
SECURITYHOLDERS  AGREEMENT  as of the date  set  forth  in the  first  paragraph
hereof.


                                 SILVER LAKE PARTNERS, L.P.
                                 By:  Silver Lake Technology Associates, L.L.C.,
                                      its general partner


                                      By:  _____________________________________
                                           Name:
                                           Title:


                                 SILVER LAKE INVESTORS, L.P.
                                 By:  Silver Lake Technology Associates, L.L.C.,
                                      its general partner


                                      By:  _____________________________________
                                           Name:
                                           Title:


                                 SILVER LAKE TECHNOLOGY INVESTORS, L.L.C.

                                 By:  __________________________________________
                                      Name:
                                      Title:


<PAGE>


          IN  WITNESS   WHEREOF,   the   parties   hereto  have   executed   the
SECURITYHOLDERS  AGREEMENT  as of the date  set  forth  in the  first  paragraph
hereof.


                                 INTEGRAL CAPITAL PARTNERS IV, L.P.
                                 By:  Integral Capital Management IV, LLC
                                      its general partner

                                      By:  _____________________________________
                                           Name:  Pamela K. Hagenah
                                           Title: a Manager


                                 INTEGRAL CAPITAL PARTNERS IV MS SIDE FUND, L.P.
                                 By:  Integral Capital Partners NBT, LLC
                                      its general partner

                                      By:  _____________________________________
                                           Name:  Pamela K. Hagenah
                                           Title: a Manager



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