TECHNICAL CHEMICALS & PRODUCTS INC
PRES14A, 1998-07-23
IN VITRO & IN VIVO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES
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                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
                    Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
                     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant [X] 
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ] 
Check the appropriate box: 
[X] Preliminary  Proxy Statement 
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only 
    (as permitted by Rule 14-a-6(e)(2)) 
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement 
[ ] Definitive  Additional  Materials 
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to ss.240.14a-11(c) or ss.240.14a-12

                     TECHNICAL CHEMICALS AND PRODUCTS, INC.
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

                     TECHNICAL CHEMICALS AND PRODUCTS, INC.
                   (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

     1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:


     2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:


     3) Per unit  price  or  other  underlying  value  of  transaction  computed
     pursuant  to  Exchange  Act Rule  0-11 (set  forth the  amount on which the
     filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):


     4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:


     5) Total fee paid:


[]   Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
     Rule  0-11(a)(2)  and identify the filing for which the  offsetting fee was
     paid  previously.  Identify the previous filing by  registration  statement
     number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. 1)


                  1)       Amount Previously Paid:

                  2)       Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

                  3)       Filing Party:

                  4)       Date Filed:


<PAGE>




                              [LETTERHEAD OF TCPI]

                                                                  July ___, 1998




Dear Shareholder:

     You are invited to attend a Special  Meeting of  Shareholders  of Technical
Chemicals  and  Products,  Inc.  (the  "Company"),  which  will  be  held at the
corporate offices of the Company, 3341 S.W. 15th Street,  Pompano Beach, Florida
33069, on Friday, August 28, 1998, at 10:00 a.m., local time.

     The notice of meeting and proxy statement on the following pages covers the
formal business of the meeting. Whether or not you expect to attend the meeting,
please sign,  date, and promptly  return your proxy in the enclosed  envelope to
assure your shares will be represented  at the meeting.  If you decide to attend
the  annual  meeting  and  vote in  person,  you  will,  of  course,  have  that
opportunity.

     The continuing  interest of the shareholders in the business of the Company
is gratefully acknowledged.

                                          Sincerely,



                                          Jack L. Aronowitz
                                          President, Chief Executive Officer
                                          and Chairman of the Board of Directors



<PAGE>


                    NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                          TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 28, 1998


         NOTICE IS HEREBY  GIVEN  that a Special  Meeting of  Shareholders  (the
"Special  Meeting")  of  Technical  Chemicals  and  Products,  Inc.,  a  Florida
corporation  (the  "Company"),  will  be held at the  corporate  offices  of the
Company, 3341 S.W. 15th Street,  Pompano Beach, Florida 33069, on Friday, August
28, 1998,  at 10:00 a.m.,  local time,  for the sole  purpose of  approving  and
ratifying  the  issuance of shares of Common  Stock upon the  conversion  of the
outstanding  shares of the Company's  Series A Convertible  Preferred  Stock, as
more fully described in the accompanying Proxy Statement.

         The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on July 25, 1998
as the record date for the  determination of shareholders  entitled to notice of
and  to  vote  at  the  Special  Meeting  and at any  and  all  adjournments  or
postponements thereof.

         Shareholders  are requested to vote, date, sign and promptly return the
enclosed  proxy in the envelope  provided for that purpose,  WHETHER OR NOT THEY
INTEND TO BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING.


                                             By Order of the Board of Directors,


                                             Martin Gurkin, Ph.D.
                                             Secretary


Pompano Beach, Florida
July ___, 1998


<PAGE>


                     TECHNICAL CHEMICALS AND PRODUCTS, INC.

                                 PROXY STATEMENT

          SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 28, 1998


         This proxy  statement is first being sent to  shareholders  on or about
July ___, 1998, in connection  with the  solicitation of proxies by the Board of
Directors of Technical Chemicals and Products, Inc. (the "Company"), to be voted
at the Special Meeting of  Shareholders  to be held on Friday,  August 28, 1998,
and at any adjournment or postponement thereof (the "Meeting").  At the Meeting,
the shareholders  will be asked to consider and vote upon a single proposal (the
"Preferred  Stock Proposal") to approve and ratify the issuance of shares of the
Company's  Common  Stock,  $.001  par  value  (the  "Common  Stock"),  upon  the
conversion  of the  outstanding  shares of the  Company's  Series A  Convertible
Preferred  Stock (the  "Proposal").  The close of business on July 25, 1998, has
been  fixed as the  record  date (the  "Record  Date") of the  determination  of
shareholders  entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting.  At the close of
business on the Record Date, the Company had  outstanding  10,015,036  shares of
Common Stock, entitled to one vote per share. The presence,  either in person or
by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock outstanding
on the Record Date is necessary to  constitute a quorum at the Special  Meeting.
All  abstentions and broker  non-votes,  if any, will be included as shares that
are present and entitled to vote for purposes of  determining  the presence of a
quorum at the Special Meeting.

         Shares  represented by duly executed proxies in the  accompanying  form
received by the Company  prior to the Meeting will be voted at the  Meeting.  If
shareholders  specify  in the proxy a choice  with  respect  to any matter to be
acted upon,  the shares  represented by such proxies will be voted as specified.
If a  proxy  card  is  signed  and  returned  without  specifying  a vote  or an
abstention on any proposal,  it will be voted according to the recommendation of
the Board of Directors on the Proposal. The Board of Directors recommends a vote
FOR the Proposal.  No business  other than as set forth in the Notice of Special
Meeting  accompanying  this Proxy  Statement may be properly  brought before the
Meeting.

         Shareholders who hold their shares through an intermediary must provide
instructions  on voting as requested by their bank or broker.  A shareholder who
signs and returns a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is voted by taking
one of the following three actions:  (i) giving written notice of the revocation
to the Secretary of the Company;  (ii)  executing and  delivering a proxy with a
later date; or (iii) voting in person at the Meeting.

         Approval  of the  Proposal  will  require  the  affirmative  vote  of a
majority of the votes cast at the Meeting,  provided a quorum is present.  Votes
cast by proxy or in  person  at the  Meeting  will be  tabulated  by one or more
inspectors of election appointed at the Meeting, who will also determine whether
a quorum is present for the transaction of business.  With respect to the matter
to be acted upon at the Meeting,  abstentions  and broker  non-votes will not be
counted for the purpose of determining whether the Proposal has been approved.

         Under  applicable  Florida law, none of the holders of Common Stock are
entitled to dissenter's  appraisal  rights in connection  with te Proposal to be
acted on at the Meeting.

         The expense of  preparing,  printing  and mailing  proxy  materials  to
shareholders  of the  Company  will be  borne by the  Company.  In  addition  to
solicitations by mail,  regular  employees of the Company may solicit proxies on
behalf of the Board of  Directors  in person or by  telephone.  The Company will
reimburse  brokerage  houses and other nominees for their expenses in forwarding
proxy material to beneficial owners of the Common Stock.

     The executive  offices of the Company are located at 3341 S.W. 15th Street,
Pompano Beach, Florida 33069. The Company's telephone number is (954) 979-0400.



<PAGE>


                BACKGROUND OF THE ISSUANCE OF THE PREFERRED STOCK

         The Company  has been  exploring  various  financing  opportunities  to
improve its  financial  flexibility  and recently  consummated  the  transaction
described  herein. On May 18, 1998, the Company completed the sale (the "Initial
Sale") of 15,000 shares of its Series A Convertible  Preferred Stock ("Preferred
Stock") to a single institutional purchaser (the "Purchaser").  Such transaction
resulted in gross  proceeds of $15  million  and net  proceeds of  approximately
$14,512,500  million  to the  Company.  The  Preferred  Stock  was sold  through
Preferred Capital Markets,  Inc. ("PCM") and Cardinal Investment Services,  Inc.
(together  with PCM, the "Placement  Agents"),  each of which is a brokerage and
management  firm,  in a private  placement and may not be offered or sold in the
United States absent an effective registration under the Securities Act of 1933,
as  amended  (the  "Securities  Act"),  or  an  applicable  exemption  from  the
registration requirements. The Placement Agents received an aggregate fee in the
amount of $487,500 in connection  with the initial sale. The Company also issued
PCM a warrant  which  permits PCM until  December  31, 1998,  to purchase  1,200
shares of  Preferred  Stock at $1,000 per share.  In addition  to the  Preferred
Stock,  the Company  granted  the  Purchaser a warrant to purchase up to 150,000
additional  shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.89 with a term of
five  years  (the  "Warrant").  In  connection  with the  Company's  obligations
pursuant to the initial  sale,  the Company has filed a  registration  statement
under the Securities Act (the "Registration Statement") for, among other things,
registration  of the resale of the Common Stock  underlying the Preferred  Stock
and the Warrant by the holders thereof.


                       SUMMARY OF TERMS OF PREFERRED STOCK

         The  following  is a summary of certain  of the  material  terms of the
Preferred Stock. The Company's Articles of Incorporation include the Articles of
Amendment,  attached hereto as Appendix A and  incorporated by reference  hereto
(the  "Articles of  Amendment"),  which define the dividend  rates,  liquidation
preferences,  voting rights,  redemption and conversion  terms and privileges of
the  Preferred  Stock.  The  following  summary  of the  Preferred  Stock is not
intended to be a complete description of all of the terms of the Preferred Stock
and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Articles of Amendment.

     Terms of Series A Preferred Stock
     ---------------------------------

                  Of the 16,200  shares of  Preferred  Stock  authorized  by the
Board, 15,000 shares are currently issued and outstanding.  The stated value per
share of the Preferred Stock is $1,000. With respect to rights upon liquidation,
winding up or dissolution and redemption  rights, the Preferred Stock will rank:
(i) prior to the  Common  Stock;  (ii)  prior to any class or series of  capital
stock of the Company hereafter created (unless,  with the consent of the holders
of Preferred Stock in accordance  with the Articles of Amendment,  such class or
series of capital  stock  specifically,  by its terms,  ranks  senior to or pari
passu with the Preferred Stock)  (collectively,  with the Common Stock,  "Junior
Securities");  (iii) pari passu with any class or series of capital stock of the
Company  hereafter  created (with the consent of the holders of Preferred  Stock
obtained in accordance with the Articles of Amendment)  specifically ranking, by
its terms,  on parity with the Preferred  Stock ("Pari Passu  Securities");  and
(iv)  junior to any class or series of capital  stock of the  Company  hereafter
created  (with the  consent  of the  holders  of  Preferred  Stock  obtained  in
accordance with the Articles of Amendment)  specifically  ranking, by its terms,
senior  to the  Preferred  Stock  ("Senior  Securities"),  in  each  case  as to
distribution  of assets  upon  liquidation,  dissolution  or  winding  up of the
Company, whether voluntary or involuntary.

         Dividends.  Holders of the Preferred  Stock are not entitled to receive
dividends.  So  long as any  shares  of the  Preferred  Stock  are  outstanding,
however,  no dividends may be declared or paid on, nor shall any distribution be
made on, any Junior  Securities,  the Company may not redeem or  repurchase  any
Junior Securities, nor may any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking
fund for the benefit of any Junior  Securities,  without the written  consent of
the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock.

         Liquidation. In the event of any dissolution, liquidation or winding up
of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, or any bankruptcy,  insolvency
or similar  proceedings,  whether  voluntary or involuntary,  shall be commenced
with  respect  to the  Company  (a  "Liquidation"),  the  holders  of  shares of
Preferred  Stock  shall be  entitled to receive out of the assets of the Company
legally available for distribution to shareholders (whether representing capital
or  surplus),  before any  payment or  distribution  shall be made on the Common
Stock or any other  Junior  Securities  (but after  distribution  of such assets
among,  or payment  thereof over to,  creditors of the Company and to holders of
any Senior Securities), the stated value per share ($1,000) plus an amount equal
to 6% per annum for the period  beginning May 19, 1998 and ending on the date of
final  distribution  to the holder  thereof  (pro rated for any  portion of such
period)  (the  "Preferred  Stock  Liquidation  Distribution").   If  the  assets
distributable  upon such  dissolution,  liquidation  or winding up (as  provided
above) shall be insufficient to pay cash in an amount equal to the amount of the
Preferred Stock  Liquidation  Distribution to the holders of shares of Preferred
Stock and holders of any Pari Passu Securities, then such assets or the proceeds
thereof shall be distributed among the holders of the Preferred Stock ratably in
proportion  to  the  respective  amounts  of  the  Preferred  Stock  Liquidation
Distribution  to  which  they  otherwise  would  be  entitled.   The  merger  or
consolidation  of the  Company  into or with  another  corporation,  a merger or
consolidation  of any  other  corporation  with or into  the  Company  upon  the
completion  of which the  shareholders  of the  Company  prior to the  merger or
consolidation no longer holds a majority of the outstanding equity securities of
the  Company  or  the  sale,   conveyance,   exchange  or  transfer  of  all  or
substantially  all of the property or assets of the Company  (any such event,  a
"Reorganization  Event") shall, at the option of any holder of Preferred  Stock,
be deemed to be a Liquidation of the Company pursuant to which the Company shall
be  required  to  distribute  to the  holders  of  Preferred  Stock  115% of the
Preferred Stock Liquidation Distribution.

         Voting Rights.  The holders of the Preferred Stock shall be entitled to
notice of all shareholders  meetings in accordance with the Company's bylaws and
to receive copies of proxy materials and other information sent to shareholders.
Except as  otherwise  provided  by the  Florida  Business  Corporation  Act (the
"Florida  Act"),  the  holders  of the  Preferred  Stock  have no  voting  power
whatsoever.  The  Preferred  Stock terms  include  what are  customarily  called
"protective  provisions."  Under these  provisions,  a vote of the holders of at
least a majority  of the  outstanding  Preferred  Stock is  required  before the
Company can: (i) alter or change the rights,  preferences  or  privileges of the
Preferred Stock or any Senior Securities so as to adversely affect the Preferred
Stock;  (ii) create any new class or series of Senior  Securities;  (iii) create
any new class or series of Pari Passu  Securities;  (iv)  increase the number of
shares of Preferred Stock or (v)  intentionally  do any act or thing which would
result in taxation to the holders of the  Preferred  Stock under  Section 305 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         Conversion.  Each  share of  Preferred  Stock is  convertible  into the
number of shares of the Company's  Common  Stock,  equal to (i) the stated value
($1,000)  plus a premium  of 6% per annum of the stated  value from May  19,1998
(the  "Issue  Date"),  divided  by (ii) the  Conversion  Price  (as  hereinafter
defined).  The  Conversion  Price is equal to the  lesser of (A) the  Applicable
Percentage (as hereinafter defined) of the Market Price (as hereinafter defined)
and (B)  $11.89.  The Market  Price is defined as the average of the closing bid
prices of the Common  Stock on the Nasdaq  National  Market  (the  "Closing  Bid
Price"), as reported by Bloomberg Financial Markets ("Bloomberg"),  for any five
consecutive  trading days during the thirty trading day period ending on the day
prior  to the  date  of  conversion  (the  "Average  Closing  Bid  Price").  The
Applicable Percentage is equal to 92% unless the Closing Bid Price on the day of
conversion  (the  "Conversion  Date") is below 70% of the Market Price, in which
case the  applicable  percentage  shall be 115%.  The  Conversion  Price is also
subject to standard anti-dilution adjustments.

         If on the  Conversion  Date, the last sale price of the Common Stock on
the Nasdaq National  Market,  as reported by Bloomberg (the "Closing  Price") is
below 70% of the average of the Closing Bid Prices for the five (5)  consecutive
trading  days ending one day prior to the Issue Date,  then the Company  may, at
its  option,  (i)  redeem  in cash (a "Cash  Redemption")  the  Preferred  Stock
submitted for  conversion  for an amount equal to the number of shares of Common
Stock  that  the  Company  would  have  issued  had it not  opted  for the  Cash
Redemption multiplied by the Redemption Market Price (as defined below), or (ii)
redeem the  Preferred  Stock by issuing a  Convertible  Note,  in the  principal
amount  equal  to 115%  of the  amount  payable  in a Cash  Redemption,  bearing
interest at the rate of 10% per annum (the "Redemption Note"), provided that the
Company has sufficient  shares of Common Stock  authorized and reserved to cover
the full  conversion  thereof and a registration  statement under the Securities
Act covering the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Redemption Note
is effective.

         Subject to certain  limited  exceptions,  the holders of the  Preferred
Stock may not  convert  any  Preferred  Stock  prior to October  18,  1998.  The
Preferred Stock is subject to mandatory  redemption under certain  circumstances
and, under certain  circumstances,  it also redeemable at the Company's  option,
beginning  one year  after the  effective  date of the  Registration  Statement.
Furthermore,  any shares of Preferred  Stock  outstanding  on May 18, 2003 shall
automatically  be converted into Common Stock at the then  effective  Conversion
Price.

         The issuance of the Preferred Stock is subject to NASDAQ's Rule 4460(i)
and the holders of the  Preferred  Stock have  agreed that the Company  will not
issue more than  19.99% of the Common  Stock upon  conversion  of the  Preferred
Stock in the  absence of (i) the  approval  of such  issuance  by the  Company's
shareholders, or (ii) a waiver by NASDAQ of the provisions of Rule 4460(i).

                             PURPOSE OF SOLICITATION

         Approval of the  issuance of Common  Stock upon the  conversion  of the
Preferred Stock is being sought in accordance  with the  requirements of Section
4460(i) of the Nasdaq Marketplace  Rules,  which requires,  as a prerequisite to
listing additional shares on the Nasdaq Stock Market,  shareholder approval when
such shares are to be issued in connection with a transaction involving the sale
or issuance  by the  Company of Common  Stock (or  securities  convertible  into
Common  Stock)  equal to 20% or more of presently  outstanding  Common Stock for
less than the greater of book or market value of the Common Stock. The Preferred
Stock was  considered  to be issued for less than the  greater of book or market
value of the Common Stock as the Conversion Price is set at a discount to market
at the date of issuance of 92%.

         The  terms of the  Preferred  Stock  provide  that  if,  at the time of
conversion,  the aggregate  number of shares of Common Stock issuable  equals or
exceeds  20% of the  outstanding  Common  Stock on the date of  issuance  of the
Preferred Stock (the "Issuable Maximum"),  then the Company will be obligated to
either (i) obtain  shareholder  approval for such issuance within thirty days of
receipt of the  conversion  notice in accordance  with the  requirements  of the
Nasdaq Stock Market or (ii) redeem the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock.

         THE  PREFERRED  STOCK  PROPOSAL  REQUIRES THE  AFFIRMATIVE  VOTE OF THE
HOLDERS OF A  MAJORITY  OF THE  SHARES OF COMMON  STOCK  PRESENT IN PERSON OR BY
PROXY AT THE MEETING.  THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BELIEVES THAT THE APPROVAL OF SUCH
ISSUANCE  IS IN THE BEST  INTERESTS  OF THE  COMPANY  AND ITS  SHAREHOLDERS  AND
UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR SUCH PROPOSAL.


                    SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL
                              OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

     As of July 25, 1998, the Record Date, the outstanding Common Stock was held
of record  by ______  shareholders.  The  following  table  sets  forth  certain
information  as of June 30, 1998 with  respect to the Common  Stock owned by (1)
any person who is known to the Company to be the  beneficial  owner of more than
five percent of any class of the Company's voting securities, (2) each director,
(3) each named executive officer and (4) all directors and executive officers as
a group.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>

               <S>                                                            <C>              <C>   

               Name and Address of Beneficial Owner (a)                       Ownership (b)    Percent
               Jack L. Aronowitz                                               4,561,666(c)      43.4%
               Capital Group Companies                                              600,000       6.0%
               Capital Research and Management Company
               333 South Hope Street, 52nd Floor
               Los Angeles, California 90071
               Martin Gurkin                                                      34,534(d)          *
               Stuart R. Streger                                                  17,667(e)          *
               Kathryn R. Harrigan                                                 1,000(e)          *
               Clayton Rautbord                                                    1,200(d)          *
               Noel Buterbaugh                                                            0
                                                                                                     *
               All Directors and Executive Officers as a group (6                 4,631,767      43.8%
               persons)
- - - - -----------------------
</TABLE>


(a)  The business  address for Messrs.  Aronowitz,  Gurkin,  Streger,  Rautbord,
     Buterbaugh,  and Ms.  Harrigan is 3341 S.W.  15th  Street,  Pompano  Beach,
     Florida  33069.  
(b)  Beneficial ownership of shares, as determined in accordance with applicable
     Securities and Exchange  Commission  rules,  includes  shares as to which a
     person has or shares voting power and/or investment power.
(c)  Includes  500,000  shares that may be acquired upon
     exercise of a currently  exercisable warrant and 370,000 shares as to which
     Mr. Aronowitz holds a voting proxy. 
(d)  Includes options that are currently  exercisable in the following  amounts:
     Mr. Gurkin - 34,334; and Mr. Rautbord - 1,000.
(e)  Represents   shares  that  may  be  acquired  upon  exercise  of  currently
     outstanding stock options.

* Less than 0.5%





<PAGE>

                                                                 APPENDIX A







                              ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT

                                    to the

                            ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

                                       of

                     TECHNICAL CHEMICALS AND PRODUCTS, INC.


                      (Pursuant to Section 607.0602 of the
                        Florida Business Corporation Act)



     Technical  Chemicals  and  Products,  Inc.,  a  corporation  organized  and
existing  under  Florida  Law (the  "Corporation"),  hereby  certifies  that the
following  resolutions were adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation
on May 18, 1998  pursuant to  authority of the Board of Directors as required by
Section  607.0602 of the Florida  Business  Corporation Act ("FBCA").  A vote of
Shareholders was not needed for the adoption of these Articles of Amendment.

     RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted to and vested in the Board
of Directors of this  Corporation  (the "Board of  Directors" or the "Board") in
accordance  with the provisions of its Articles of  Incorporation,  the Board of
Directors hereby authorizes a series of the Corporation's  previously authorized
Preferred Stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Preferred  Stock"),  and hereby
states the  designation  and number of shares,  and fixes the  relative  rights,
preferences, privileges, powers and restrictions thereof as follows:

          Series A Convertible Preferred Stock:

                            I. Designation and Amount
                            -------------------------


     The  designation  of this  series,  which  consists  of  16,200  shares  of
Preferred  Stock,  is  Series A  Convertible  Preferred  Stock  (the  "Series  A
Preferred  Stock") and the stated value shall be One Thousand  Dollars  ($1,000)
per share (the "Stated Value").

                                   II. Rank

                  The  Series A  Preferred  Stock  shall  rank (i)  prior to the
Corporation's common stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Common Stock"); (ii)
prior to any class or  series  of  capital  stock of the  Corporation  hereafter
created  (unless,  with the consent of the  holders of Series A Preferred  Stock
obtained in accordance  with Article IX hereof,  such class or series of capital
stock specifically,  by its terms, ranks senior to or pari passu with the Series
A Preferred Stock)  (collectively,  with the Common Stock, "Junior Securities");
(iii) pari passu  with any class or series of capital  stock of the  Corporation
hereafter  created (with the consent of the holders of Series A Preferred  Stock
obtained in  accordance  with Article IX hereof)  specifically  ranking,  by its
terms,  on parity with the Series A Preferred  Stock ("Pari Passu  Securities");
and (iv)  junior  to any class or series  of  capital  stock of the  Corporation
hereafter  created (with the consent of the holders of Series A Preferred  Stock
obtained in  accordance  with Article IX hereof)  specifically  ranking,  by its
terms,  senior to the Series A Preferred  Stock ("Senior  Securities"),  in each
case as to distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary.

                                 III. Dividends

                  The Series A Preferred Stock shall not bear any dividends.  In
no event,  so long as any Series A  Preferred  Stock shall  remain  outstanding,
shall  any  dividend  whatsoever  be  declared  or  paid  upon,  nor  shall  any
distribution be made upon, any Junior Securities, nor shall any shares of Junior
Securities be purchased or redeemed by the  Corporation  nor shall any moneys be
paid to or made  available  for a sinking fund for the purchase or redemption of
any Junior Securities (other than a distribution of Junior Securities), without,
in each such  case,  the  written  consent of the  holders of a majority  of the
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a class.

                           IV. Liquidation Preference

                  A. If the  Corporation  shall  commence a voluntary case under
the Federal bankruptcy laws or any other applicable Federal or State bankruptcy,
insolvency  or similar law, or consent to the entry of an order for relief in an
involuntary case under any law or to the appointment of a receiver,  liquidator,
assignee,  custodian,  trustee,  sequestrator (or other similar official) of the
Corporation or of any  substantial  part of its property,  or make an assignment
for the benefit of its  creditors,  or admit in writing its inability to pay its
debts  generally  as they  become  due,  or if a decree or order  for  relief in
respect of the  Corporation  shall be entered by a court having  jurisdiction in
the premises in an  involuntary  case under the Federal  bankruptcy  laws or any
other  applicable  Federal  or  state  bankruptcy,  insolvency  or  similar  law
resulting in the  appointment of a receiver,  liquidator,  assignee,  custodian,
trustee,  sequestrator (or other similar  official) of the Corporation or of any
substantial  part of its property,  or ordering the winding up or liquidation of
its affairs,  and any such decree or order shall be unstayed and in effect for a
period of thirty (30)  consecutive  days and, on account of any such event,  the
Corporation  shall liquidate,  dissolve or wind up, or if the Corporation  shall
otherwise  liquidate,  dissolve or wind up (each such event being  considered  a
"Liquidation Event"), no distribution shall be made to the holders of any shares
of  capital  stock  of the  Corporation  (other  than  Senior  Securities)  upon
liquidation,  dissolution  or winding up unless  prior  thereto,  the holders of
shares of Series A Preferred  Stock,  subject to Article VI, shall have received
the  Liquidation  Preference  (as defined in Article  IV.C) with respect to each
share.  If upon the  occurrence  of a  Liquidation  Event,  the assets and funds
available for distribution among the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and
holders of Pari Passu Securities  (including any dividends or distribution  paid
on any Pari  Passu  Securities  after the date of filing  of these  Articles  of
Amendment)  shall be  insufficient  to permit the payment to such holders of the
preferential  amounts payable  thereon,  then the entire assets and funds of the
Corporation  legally  available for distribution to the Series A Preferred Stock
and the Pari Passu Securities shall be distributed  ratably among such shares in
proportion  to the ratio that the  Liquidation  Preference  payable on each such
share bears to the aggregate liquidation  preference payable on all such shares.
Any  prior  dividends  or  distribution  made  after the date of filing of these
Articles of Amendment shall offset, dollar for dollar, the amount payable to the
class or series to which such distribution was made.

                  B. At the  option of any holder of Series A  Preferred  Stock,
the sale, conveyance or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Corporation,  the effectuation by the Corporation of a transaction or series
of  related  transactions  in which  more  than 50% of the  voting  power of the
Corporation  is  disposed  of, or the  consolidation,  merger or other  business
combination of the Corporation  with or into any other Person (as defined below)
or Persons when the  Corporation is not the survivor (not including any internal
reorganization,  reincorporation, merger or consolidation which does not involve
a change of (i) 50% of the  Corporation's  board of directors or (ii) 50% of the
Corporation's  voting  power  prior to such  transaction  or series  of  related
transactions)  shall either:  (i) be deemed to be a liquidation,  dissolution or
winding  up of the  Corporation  pursuant  to  which  the  Corporation  shall be
required to distribute upon  consummation of such transaction an amount equal to
115% of the  Liquidation  Preference with respect to each  outstanding  share of
Series A  Preferred  Stock in  accordance  with and subject to the terms of this
Article IV or (ii) be treated pursuant to Article VI.C(b) hereof. "Person" shall
mean  any  individual,  corporation,  limited  liability  company,  partnership,
association, trust or other entity or organization.

                  C. For purposes  hereof,  the  "Liquidation  Preference"  with
respect to a share of the Series A Preferred Stock shall mean an amount equal to
the sum of (i) the  Stated  Value  thereof  plus  (ii) and  amount  equal to six
percent (6%) per annum of such Stated Value for the period beginning on the date
of issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock (the "Issue Date") and ending on the
date of final  distribution  to the holder thereof  (prorated for any portion of
such  period).  The  liquidation  preference  with  respect  to any  Pari  Passu
Securities  shall be as set forth in the Articles of Amendment  filed in respect
thereof.

                                  V. Redemption

          A. If any of the  following  events  (each,  a  "Mandatory  Redemption
     Event") shall occur:

          (i) The  Corporation  fails to issue  shares  of  Common  Stock to the
     holders of Series A Preferred  Stock upon  exercise by the holders of their
     conversion  rights  in  accordance  with the  terms of  these  Articles  of
     Amendment  (for a period of at least  sixty  (60) days if such  failure  is
     solely as a result of the circumstances governed by the second paragraph of
     Article VI.F below and the Corporation is using all commercially reasonable
     efforts to authorize a sufficient  number of shares of Common Stock as soon
     as  practicable),  fails to  transfer  or to cause  its  transfer  agent to
     transfer  (electronically  or in  certificated  form) any  certificate  for
     shares of Common Stock issued to the holders upon  conversion of the Series
     A Preferred  Stock as and when  required by these  Articles of Amendment or
     the Registration  Rights Agreement,  dated as of May 18, 1998, by and among
     the Corporation and the other signatories thereto (the "Registration Rights
     Agreement"),  fails to remove any  restrictive  legend (or to withdraw  any
     stop transfer  instructions  in respect  thereof) on any certificate or any
     shares of Common  Stock  issued to the holders of Series A Preferred  Stock
     upon  conversion  of the Series A Preferred  Stock as and when  required by
     these Articles of Amendment,  the Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of
     May 18,  1998,  by and between the  Corporation  and the other  signatories
     thereto (the "Purchase Agreement") or the Registration Rights Agreement, or
     fails to fulfill its material  obligations pursuant to Sections 4(c), 4(e),
     4(h),  4(i),  4(j),  4(o) or 5 of the  Purchase  Agreement  (or  makes  any
     announcement,  statement  or  threat  that it does not  intend to honor the
     obligations  described  in this  paragraph)  and  any  such  failure  shall
     continue uncured (or any announcement, statement or threat not to honor its
     obligations  shall not be rescinded in writing) for ten (10)  business days
     following  written  notice of such  alleged  failure  (but,  in the case of
     failure to deliver Common Stock without legend, not more than thirteen (13)
     business days following the Conversion Date);

          (ii) The Corporation fails to obtain effectiveness with the Securities
     and  Exchange  Commission  (the "SEC") of the  Registration  Statement  (as
     defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) prior to December 15, 1998 or
     such Registration  Statement lapses in effect (or sales otherwise cannot be
     made  thereunder,  whether by reason of the  Company's  failure to amend or
     supplement  the  prospectus   included   therein  in  accordance  with  the
     Registration  Rights  Agreement or otherwise) for more than forty-five (45)
     consecutive days or seventy-five  (75) days in any twelve (12) month period
     after such Registration Statement becomes effective;

          (iii) The  Corporation  shall make an  assignment  for the  benefit of
     creditors,  or apply for or consent  to the  appointment  of a receiver  or
     trustee for it or for all or substantially all of its property or business;
     or such a receiver or trustee shall otherwise be appointed;
 
          (iv) Bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or liquidation proceedings
     or other proceedings for relief under any bankruptcy law or any law for the
     relief of debtors shall be instituted by or against the  Corporation or any
     material  subsidiary  of the  Corporation  and  such  proceeding  shall  be
     unstayed and in effect for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days;

          (v) The  Corporation  shall fail to maintain the listing of the Common
     Stock on the Nasdaq National Market ("Nasdaq"),  the Nasdaq SmallCap Market
     ("Nasdaq  SmallCap"),  the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") or the American
     Stock Exchange  ("AMEX") and such failure shall remain uncured for at least
     ten (10) business days; or
     
          (vi) Jack  Aronowitz  breaches any  provision  of that certain  letter
     agreement dated May 18, 1998 between Jack Aronowitz and the Buyer of Series
     A  Preferred  Stock  under  the  Purchase  Agreement;  or an  aggregate  of
     1,000,000 (to be adjusted in the event of a stock split,  dividend or other
     similar  transaction)  or more shares of Common  Stock  owned,  directly or
     indirectly,  by Jack Aronowitz  which are subject to any pledge  agreement,
     placed in a margin account or subject to any similar arrangement,  are sold
     by the pledgee or such pledgee's  assignee or other person with an interest
     in such pledged or margined shares,

          then, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any Mandatory
     Redemption Event specified in  subparagraphs  (i), (ii), (v) or (vi) at the
     option of the holders of a majority  in  interest  of the then  outstanding
     shares  of Series A  Preferred  Stock by  written  notice  (the  "Mandatory
     Redemption Notice") to the Corporation of such Mandatory  Redemption Event,
     or upon the  occurrence  of any  Mandatory  Redemption  Event  specified in
     subparagraphs  (iii) or (iv), the Corporation  shall purchase each holder's
     shares of Series A  Preferred  Stock for an amount  per share  equal to the
     greater of (1) 120%  multiplied  by the sum of (a) the Stated  Value of the
     shares to be  redeemed  plus (b) an amount  equal to six  percent  (6%) per
     annum of such Stated  Value for the period  beginning on the Issue Date and
     ending on the date of  payment  of the  Mandatory  Redemption  Amount  (the
     "Mandatory  Redemption  Date"), and (2) the "parity value" of the shares to
     be  redeemed,  where  parity  value  means the product of (a) the number of
     shares  of  Common  Stock  issuable  upon  conversion  of  such  shares  in
     accordance  with  Article  VI  below  (without  giving  any  effect  to any
     limitations or  conversions  of shares set forth in Article  VI.A(b) below,
     and  treating  the Trading Day (as  defined in Article  VI.B.)  immediately
     preceding  the  Mandatory  Redemption  Date as the  "Conversion  Date"  (as
     defined in Article VI.B(a)) unless the Mandatory Redemption Event arises as
     a result of a breach in respect of a specific Conversion Date in which case
     such Conversion Date shall be the Conversion  Date),  multiplied by (b) the
     Closing Price (as defined in Article  VI.A(b)) for the Common Stock on such
     "Conversion  Date" (the  greater of such amounts  being  referred to as the
     "Mandatory Redemption Amount").


<PAGE>

                  In  the  case  of  a  Mandatory   Redemption   Event,  if  the
Corporation  fails to pay the Mandatory  Redemption Amount for each share within
five (5)  business  days of written  notice that such amount is due and payable,
then (assuming there are sufficient  authorized shares) in addition to all other
available remedies, each holder of Series A Preferred Stock shall have the right
at any time, so long as the Mandatory Redemption Event continues, to require the
Corporation,  upon written notice,  to immediately issue (in accordance with and
subject to the terms of Article VI below),  in lieu of the Mandatory  Redemption
Amount,  with respect to each outstanding share of Series A Preferred Stock held
by such holder, the number of shares of Common Stock of the Corporation equal to
the Mandatory Redemption Amount divided by the Conversion Price then in effect.

                  B. If the Series A Preferred Stock ceases to be convertible as
a result of the  limitations  described in the second  paragraph of Article VI.A
below (a "19.99%  Redemption  Event"),  and the Corporation has not prior to, or
within thirty (30) days of, the date that such 19.99%  Redemption  Event arises,
(i) obtained  approval of the issuance of the additional  shares of Common Stock
by the requisite vote of the holders of the  then-outstanding  Common Stock (not
including any shares of Common Stock held by present or former holders of Series
A Preferred Stock that were issued upon conversion of Series A Preferred  Stock)
or (ii) received other  permission  pursuant to the Nasdaq  National Market Rule
4460(i)  allowing the Corporation to resume  issuances of shares of Common Stock
upon  conversion  of Series A Preferred  Stock,  then the  Corporation  shall be
obligated to redeem  immediately all of the then outstanding  Series A Preferred
Stock,  in accordance  with this Article V.B. An irrevocable  Redemption  Notice
shall be delivered  promptly to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock at their
registered  address  appearing on the records of the Corporation and shall state
(1) that 19.99% of the  Outstanding  Common  Amount (as defined in Article VI.A)
has been issued upon  exercise  of the Series A  Preferred  Stock,  (2) that the
Corporation  is  obligated to redeem all of the  outstanding  Series A Preferred
Stock and (3) the Mandatory  Redemption  Date, which shall be a date within five
(5)  business  days  of the  date of the  Redemption  Notice.  On the  Mandatory
Redemption Date, the Corporation shall make payment of the Mandatory  Redemption
Amount (as defined in Article V.A. above) in cash.

                  C. Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary contained in this
Article V, beginning on the one year anniversary date of the effectiveness  with
the SEC of the  Registration  Statement (as defined in the  Registration  Rights
Agreement), so long as (i) no Mandatory Redemption Event shall have occurred and
be continuing, (ii) the Registration Statement is then in effect and has been in
effect and sales can be made  thereunder  for at least twenty (20) days prior to
the Optional  Redemption Date (as defined below) and (iii) the Closing Price (as
defined in Article  VI.A(b)  below) for Common Stock is greater than 150% of the
Fixed Conversion Price (as defined in Article VI.A.(b) below) for a period of at
least ten (10)  consecutive  Trading Days, then the  Corporation  shall have the
right,  exercisable  on not less than five (5) Trading Days prior written notice
to the holders of Series A Preferred  Stock (which notice may not be sent to the
holders of the Series A Preferred  Stock until the  Corporation  is permitted to
redeem the Series A Preferred  Stock pursuant to this Article  V.C.),  to redeem
all of the  outstanding  shares of Series A Preferred  Stock in accordance  with
this Article V. Any notice of redemption  hereunder  (an "Optional  Redemption")
shall  be  delivered  to the  holders  of  Series  A  Preferred  Stock  at their
registered  addresses  appearing on the books and records of the Corporation and
shall state (1) that the  Corporation  is exercising  its right to redeem all of
the outstanding  shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued on the Issue Date and
(2) the date of redemption (the "Optional Redemption Notice"). On the date fixed
for redemption (the "Optional  Redemption  Date"),  the  Corporation  shall make
payment of the  Optional  Redemption  Amount (as  defined  below) to or upon the
order of the holders as specified  by the holders in writing to the  Corporation
at least one (1)  business  day prior to the Optional  Redemption  Date.  If the
Corporation  exercises  its right to redeem the Series A  Preferred  Stock,  the
Corporation  shall  make  payment  to the  holders  of an  amount  in cash  (the
"Optional  Redemption  Amount")  equal to 115%  multiplied by the sum of (i) the
Stated  Value of the shares of Series A Preferred  Stock to be redeemed and (ii)
an  amount  equal to six  percent  (6%) per annum of such  Stated  Value for the
period  beginning on the Issue Date and ending on the Optional  Redemption Date,
for each share of Series A Preferred Stock then held.  Notwithstanding notice of
an Optional  Redemption,  the holders  shall at all times prior to the  Optional
Redemption  Date  maintain  the right to  convert  all or any shares of Series A
Preferred  Stock in  accordance  with  Article  VI and any  shares  of  Series A
Preferred Stock so converted after receipt of an Optional  Redemption Notice and
prior to the  Optional  Redemption  Date set forth in such notice and payment of
the aggregate  Optional  Redemption  Amount shall be deducted from the shares of
Series A Preferred Stock which are otherwise  subject to redemption  pursuant to
such notice.

                  From time to time  following  the Issue Date,  the holders may
request  advance  notice as to  whether  the  Corporation  intends to redeem the
shares of Series A Preferred  Stock.  Such request  shall be made in writing and
the Corporation shall respond in writing as promptly as practicable but prior to
5:00 p.m.  Eastern  Standard  Time one (1)  business  day after  receipt  of the
request.  The Corporation  will be bound by such response for a period of twenty
(20)  Trading  Days (the  "Term")  from the date of its  response.  A failure to
respond  within one (1)  business  day shall be deemed to be an election  not to
redeem the Series A Preferred Stock during the Term. The holders may not request
such notice in the event that the  Corporation  files a  registration  statement
where  the  use of  proceeds  set  forth  in  such  registration  statement  are
identified  for purposes of  redemption  of the  outstanding  Series A Preferred
Stock.

                   VI. Conversion at the Option of the Holder

                  A. (a) Each holder of shares of Series A Preferred  Stock may,
at its  option  at any  time  and  from  time to  time,  upon  surrender  of the
certificates  therefor,  convert  any or all of its shares of Series A Preferred
Stock into Common  Stock as follows (an  "Optional  Conversion").  Each share of
Series A Preferred Stock shall be convertible into such number of fully paid and
nonassessable shares of Common Stock as is determined by dividing (1) the sum of
(a) the Stated Value thereof plus (b) the Premium Amount (as defined below),  by
(2) the then effective  Conversion Price (as defined in Article VI.B.(a) below);
provided,  however,  that no holder of  shares of Series A  Preferred  Stock may
convert  any or all or of its shares of Series A  Preferred  Stock  into  Common
Stock  prior to  October  18,  1998,  except  for  conversions  (i) at the Fixed
Conversion Price (as defined in Article  VI.B.(a)  below),  (ii) on a Conversion
Date (as defined in Article  VI.B.(a) below) occurring on or after the date of a
public   announcement  by  the  Corporation  that  the  Corporation  intends  to
consolidate  or merge with any other  corporation  (other than a merger in which
the Corporation is the surviving or continuing corporation and its capital stock
is unchanged) or sell or transfer all or substantially  all of the assets of the
Corporation or other similar transaction, (iii) on a Conversion Date (as defined
in Article  VI.B.(a)  below)  occurring  on or after a date on which any person,
group or entity (including the Corporation) publicly announces a tender offer to
purchase 50% or more of the  Corporation's  Common  Stock or otherwise  publicly
announces  an  intention  to replace a majority  of the  Corporation's  Board of
Directors by waging a proxy battle or  otherwise,  or (iv) on a Conversion  Date
(as  defined  in Article  VI.B.(a)  below)  occurring  on or after the date of a
material adverse change in the  Corporation's  business or financial  condition,
taken as a whole, provided, further, however, that, unless the holder delivers a
waiver in accordance with the immediately following sentence, in no event (other
than pursuant to the Automatic Conversion (as defined herein)) shall a holder of
shares of Series A  Preferred  Stock be  entitled  to convert any such shares in
excess  of that  number of shares  upon  conversion  of which the sum of (x) the
number of  shares  of Common  Stock  beneficially  owned by the  holder  and its
affiliates  (other than shares of Common Stock which may be deemed  beneficially
owned through the ownership of the unconverted portion of the shares of Series A
Preferred  Stock) and (y) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
conversion  of the shares of Series A Preferred  Stock with respect to which the
determination  of this  proviso  is  being  made,  would  result  in  beneficial
ownership  by a holder  and such  holder's  affiliates  of more than 4.9% of the
outstanding  shares  of  Common  Stock.  For  purposes  of  the  proviso  to the
immediately preceding sentence,  (i) beneficial ownership shall be determined in
accordance  with  Section  13(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  as
amended, and Regulation 13D-G thereunder, except as otherwise provided in clause
(x) of such  proviso  and (ii) a holder  may  waive  the  limitations  set forth
therein by written notice to the  Corporation  upon not less than sixty-one (61)
days  prior  written  notice  (with  such  waiver  taking  effect  only upon the
expiration of such sixty-one (61) day notice period). The "Premium Amount" means
the product of the Stated Value, multiplied by .06, multiplied by (N/365), where
"N" equals the number of days elapsed from the Issue Date to and  including  the
Conversion Date.

     (b) If on the  Conversion  Date,  the Closing  Price (as defined  below) is
below 70% of the  average  Closing  Bid Prices (as  defined in Article  VI.B.(a)
below) for the five (5)  consecutive  Trading  Days  ending one day prior to the
Issue Date, then the Corporation  may, at its option (i) redeem in cash (a "Cash
Redemption") the Series A Preferred Stock submitted for conversion for an amount
equal to the number of shares of Common  Stock that the  Corporation  would have
issued had it not opted for the Cash  Redemption  multiplied  by the  Redemption
Market  Price (as defined  below),  or (ii) redeem  shares of Series A Preferred
Stock by issuing a Convertible  Note,  in the principal  amount equal to 115% of
the amount payable in a Cash Redemption, bearing interest at the rate of 10% per
annum and otherwise in the form attached as Exhibit E to the Purchase  Agreement
(the "Redemption Note"),  provided that the Corporation has sufficient shares of
Common Stock  authorized and reserved to cover the full  conversion  thereof and
the Registration Statement covering the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant
to the Redemption  Note is effective.  At any time, and from time to time,  each
holder of Series A Preferred  Stock  shall have the right to receive,  upon such
holder's written request,  notice from the Corporation (a "Requested Notice") as
to whether  the  Corporation  will  redeem a  specified  number of shares of the
Series A Preferred  Stock by issuing Common Stock,  making a Cash  Redemption or
issuing a Redemption Note. The Corporation shall be obligated to comply with the
method of redemption set forth in the Requested Notice for such number of shares
of Series A Preferred  Stock as set forth in such Requested  Notice for a period
of thirty (30) Trading Days (as defined  below).  The Requested  Notice shall be
issued within two (2) business days of receipt of the holder's  written request.
A failure to timely  issue a Requested  Notice shall be deemed to be an election
to issue Common Stock. The "Redemption Market Price" equals the Closing Price on
the Conversion Date.  "Closing Price," as of any date, means the last sale price
of the Common  Stock on the Nasdaq  National  Market as  reported  by  Bloomberg
Financial  Markets  or  an  equivalent   reliable   reporting  service  mutually
acceptable to and hereafter  designated by the holders of a majority in interest
of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the Corporation  ("Bloomberg") or,
if the  Nasdaq  National  Market is not the  principal  trading  market for such
security,  the last sale  price of such  security  on the  principal  securities
exchange or trading  market where such  security is listed or traded as reported
by  Bloomberg,  or if the  foregoing  do not apply,  the last sale price of such
security in the  over-the-counter  market on the  electronic  bulletin board for
such  security  as  reported  by  Bloomberg,  or, if no last sale  price of such
security or in the over-the-counter  market on the electronic bulletin board for
such security in any of the  foregoing  manners the average of the bid prices of
any market  makers for such or security as reported in the "pink  sheets" by the
National  Quotation  Bureau,  Inc. If the Closing Price cannot be calculated for
such security on such date in the manner provided above, the Closing Price shall
be the fair  market  value as mutually  determined  by the  Corporation  and the
holders of a majority in  interest  of shares of Series A Preferred  Stock being
converted for which the calculation of the Closing Price is required in order to
determine the Conversion  Price of such Series A Preferred Stock. 

     (c) So long as the  Common  Stock  is  listed  for  trading  on the  Nasdaq
National  Market or an exchange or  quotation  system with a rule  substantially
similar to Rule 4460(i) then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein  if, at any time,  the  aggregate  number of shares of Common  Stock then
issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock  (including any shares of
capital  stock or  rights  to  acquire  shares of  capital  stock  issued by the
Corporation  which are aggregated or integrated  with the Common Stock issued or
issuable upon  conversion  of the Series A Preferred  Stock for purposes of such
rule) equals 19.99% of the "Outstanding Common Amount" (as hereinafter defined),
the  Series A  Preferred  Stock  shall,  from  that  time  forward,  cease to be
convertible  into Common Stock in  accordance  with the terms of this Article VI
and Article VII below,  unless the Corporation (i) has obtained  approval of the
issuance of the Common Stock upon  conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock by
a majority of the total votes cast on such proposal,  in person or by proxy,  by
the holders of the  then-outstanding  Common Stock (not  including any shares of
Common Stock held by present or former holders of Series A Preferred  Stock that
were issued upon  conversion  of Series A Preferred  Stock),  or (ii) shall have
otherwise  obtained  permission to allow such issuances from the Nasdaq National
Market in  accordance  with the Nasdaq  National  Market  Rule  4460(i).  If the
Corporation's  Common Stock is not then listed on the Nasdaq  National Market or
an exchange or quotation  system that has a rule  substantially  similar to Rule
4460(i),  the limitations set forth herein shall be inapplicable and of no force
and effect.  For purposes of this paragraph,  "Outstanding  Common Amount" means
(i) the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding on the date of issuance
of the Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to the Purchase Agreement plus (ii) any
additional  shares of Common Stock issued  thereafter  in respect of such shares
pursuant to a stock dividend,  stock split or similar event.  The maximum number
of shares of Common  Stock  issuable  as a result of the 19.99%  limitation  set
forth herein is  hereinafter  referred to as the "Maximum  Share  Amount."  With
respect to each holder of Series A Preferred  Stock,  the Maximum  Share  Amount
shall refer to such  holder's pro rata share  thereof  determined  in accordance
with  Article X below.  In the event that the  Corporation  obtains  Stockholder
Approval  or the  approval  of the  Nasdaq  National  Market,  by  reason of the
inapplicability  of the rules of the Nasdaq  National  Market or  otherwise  and
concludes  that it is able to increase  the number of shares to be issued  above
the Maximum  Share Amount (such  increased  number being the "New Maximum  Share
Amount"),  the references to Maximum Share Amount, above, shall be deemed to be,
instead,  references to the greater New Maximum Share Amount.  In the event that
Stockholder  Approval  is not  obtained,  there  are  insufficient  reserved  or
authorized shares or a registration  statement covering the additional shares of
Common Stock which  constitute  the New Maximum  Share  Amount is not  effective
prior to the Maximum Share Amount being issued (if such  registration  statement
is necessary  to allow for the public  resale of such  securities),  the Maximum
Share Amount  shall remain  unchanged;  provided,  however,  that the Holder may
grant an  extension  to obtain a  sufficient  reserved or  authorized  amount of
shares or of the effective  date of such  registration  statement.  In the event
that (a) the aggregate  number of shares of Common Stock issued  pursuant to the
outstanding Series A Preferred Stock represents at least twenty percent (20%) of
the Maximum Share Amount and (b) the sum of (x) the  aggregate  number of shares
of Common Stock then issued upon conversion of Series A Preferred Stock plus (y)
the  aggregate  number of  shares of Common  Stock  that  remain  issuable  upon
conversion of Series A Preferred Stock,  represents at least one hundred percent
(100%) of the Maximum Share Amount (the  "Triggering  Event"),  the  Corporation
will use its best  efforts to seek and obtain  Stockholder  Approval  (or obtain
such other relief as will allow  conversions  hereunder in excess of the Maximum
Share Amount) as soon as practicable  following the Triggering  Event and before
the Mandatory Redemption Date.

                  B.  The  "Conversion  Price"  shall be the  lesser  of (i) the
Applicable  Percentage  (as  defined  herein)  of the Market  Price (as  defined
herein)  and (ii) the Fixed  Conversion  Price (as defined  herein),  subject to
adjustments  pursuant to the  provisions of Article VI.C below.  The  Applicable
Percentage  means 92%,  unless on the  Conversion  Date the Closing Bid Price is
below 70% of the Average Closing Bid Prices for the five (5) consecutive Trading
Days  ending  one day  prior to the Issue  Date,  in which  case the  Applicable
Percentage  shall be one hundred  fifteen  percent  (115%) of the Market  Price.
"Market  Price"  shall  mean the  average  Closing  Bid  Prices for any five (5)
consecutive  Trading  Days (the  "Market  Price  Days"),  during the thirty (30)
Trading Day period ending one (1) Trading Day prior to the date (the "Conversion
Date")  the  Conversion  Notice  is  sent by a  holder  to the  Corporation  via
facsimile (the "Pricing Period").  On the Conversion Date, the converting holder
shall select the Market Price Days from the Trading Days  comprising the Pricing
Period,  and such  selection  shall be  indicated  in the Notice of  Conversion.
"Fixed Conversion  Price" shall mean $11.89.  "Closing Bid Price" means, for any
security as of any date, the closing bid price on the Nasdaq  National Market as
reported by Bloomberg  or, if the Nasdaq  National  Market is not the  principal
trading market for such security,  the closing bid price of such security on the
principal securities exchange or trading market where such security is listed or
traded as reported by Bloomberg,  or if the foregoing do not apply,  the closing
bid price of such  security  in the  over-the-counter  market on the  electronic
bulletin board for such security as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no closing bid
price of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin
board for such security or in any of the foregoing  manners,  the average of the
bid prices of any market  makers for such  security  or as reported in the "pink
sheets" by the National  Quotation Bureau,  Inc. If the Closing Bid Price cannot
be calculated for such security on such date in the manner provided  above,  the
Closing Bid Price shall be the fair market value as mutually  determined  by the
Corporation  and the  holders of a majority  in  interest  of shares of Series A
Preferred  Stock being  converted for which the  calculation  of the Closing Bid
Price is required in order to determine  the  Conversion  Price of such Series A
Preferred  Stock.  "Trading Day" shall mean any day on which the Common Stock is
traded  for any  period  on the  Nasdaq  National  Market,  or on the  principal
securities exchange or other securities market on which the Common Stock is then
being traded.

                  C. The  Conversion  Price shall be subject to adjustment  from
time to time as follows:

     (a) Adjustment to Conversion Price Due to Stock Split, Stock Dividend, Etc.
If at any time when  Series A  Preferred  Stock is issued and  outstanding,  the
number of  outstanding  shares of Common  Stock is  increased  or decreased by a
stock split,  stock  dividend,  combination,  reclassification,  rights offering
below the  Trading  Price (as defined  below) to all holders of Common  Stock or
other  similar  event,  which event shall have taken place during the  reference
period for determination of the Conversion Price for any Optional  Conversion or
Automatic  Conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock, then the Conversion Price
shall  be  calculated  giving  appropriate  effect  to the  stock  split,  stock
dividend,  combination,  reclassification or other similar event. In such event,
the Corporation  shall notify the Transfer Agent of such change on or before the
effective date thereof.


     (b)  Adjustment  Due to Merger,  Consolidation,  Etc.  If, at any time when
Series A Preferred  Stock is issued and  outstanding and prior to the conversion
of all Series A  Preferred  Stock,  there  shall be any  merger,  consolidation,
exchange of shares, recapitalization, reorganization, or other similar event, as
a result of which  shares of Common  Stock of the  Corporation  shall be changed
into the same or a  different  number of shares of  another  class or classes of
stock or securities of the Corporation or another entity, or in case of any sale
or conveyance of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation other
than in connection with a plan of complete liquidation of the Corporation,  then
the  holders of Series A  Preferred  Stock  shall  thereafter  have the right to
receive upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock, upon the bases and upon
the terms and  conditions  specified  herein and in lieu of the shares of Common
Stock immediately  theretofore issuable upon conversion,  such stock, securities
or assets which the holders of Series A Preferred Stock would have been entitled
to receive in such  transaction  had the Series A Preferred Stock been converted
in full  (without  regard to any  limitations  on conversion  contained  herein)
immediately  prior  to  such  transaction,  and in  any  such  case  appropriate
provisions shall be made with respect to the rights and interests of the holders
of Series A Preferred  Stock to the end that the provisions  hereof  (including,
without limitation, provisions for adjustment of the Conversion Price and of the
number of shares  of Common  Stock  issuable  upon  conversion  of the  Series A
Preferred Stock) shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as may be practicable
in  relation  to any  securities  or  assets  thereafter  deliverable  upon  the
conversion of Series A Preferred  Stock.  The  Corporation  shall not effect any
transaction  described  in this  subsection  (b) unless (a) it first gives prior
written notice to the holders of Series A Preferred  Stock, at the same time and
in the same form that the Corporation gives such notice to its holders of Common
Stock then  outstanding,  of such  merger,  consolidation,  exchange  of shares,
recapitalization,  reorganization  or  other  similar  event  or sale of  assets
(during which time the holders of Series A Preferred  Stock shall be entitled to
convert  the  Series A  Preferred  Stock)  and (b) the  resulting  successor  or
acquiring  entity (if not the  Corporation)  assumes by written  instrument  the
obligations of this subsection (b). The above  provisions  shall similarly apply
to successive consolidations, mergers, sales, transfers or share exchanges.

     (c)  Adjustment  Due  to  Distribution.  Subject  to  Article  III,  if the
Corporation  shall declare or make any  distribution of its assets (or rights to
acquire its assets) to holders of Common Stock as a dividend,  stock repurchase,
by way of return of capital or otherwise (including any dividend or distribution
to the  Corporation's  shareholders  in cash or shares  (or  rights  to  acquire
shares) of capital stock of a subsidiary (i.e., a spin-off)) (a "Distribution"),
then the  holders  of  Series A  Preferred  Stock  shall be  entitled,  upon any
conversion  of shares of Series A  Preferred  Stock after the date of record for
determining shareholders entitled to such Distribution, to receive the amount of
such  assets  which would have been  payable to the holder  with  respect to the
shares of Common Stock  issuable upon such  conversion  had such holder been the
holder of such shares of Common  Stock on the record date for the  determination
of shareholders entitled to such Distribution.

     (d) Purchase Rights. Subject to Article III, if at any time when any Series
A  Preferred  Stock is  issued  and  outstanding,  the  Corporation  issues  any
convertible  securities  or rights to purchase  stock,  warrants,  securities or
other  property (the  "Purchase  Rights") pro rata to the record  holders of any
class of Common  Stock,  then the  holders of Series A  Preferred  Stock will be
entitled to acquire,  upon the terms  applicable  to such Purchase  Rights,  the
aggregate  Purchase  Rights which such holder could have acquired if such holder
had held  the  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock  acquirable  upon  complete
conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock (without regard to any limitations on
conversion  contained herein)  immediately  before the date on which a record is
taken for the grant,  issuance or sale of such Purchase  Rights,  or, if no such
record is taken,  the date as of which the record holders of Common Stock are to
be  determined  for the  grant,  issue  or sale of  such  Purchase  Rights.  

     (e)  Adjustment  for  Restricted   Periods.  In  the  event  that  (1)  the
Corporation  fails to obtain  effectiveness  with the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission of the Registration  Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement)  prior to one hundred  twenty (120) days following the Issue Date, or
(2) such  Registration  Statement lapses in effect, or sales otherwise cannot be
made thereunder,  whether by reason of the Corporation's failure or inability to
amend or  supplement  the  prospectus  (the  "Prospectus")  included  therein in
accordance  with the  Registration  Rights  Agreement or  otherwise,  after such
Registration Statement becomes effective (including,  without limitation, during
an  Allowed  Delay  (as  defined  in  Section  3(f) of the  Registration  Rights
Agreement), then the Pricing Period shall be comprised of, (i) in the case of an
event  described in clause (1), the thirty (30) Trading Days preceding the 120th
day  following  the Issue Date plus all Trading Days through and  including  the
third  Trading  Day  following  the date of  effectiveness  of the  Registration
Statement;  and (ii) in the case of an event described in clause (2), the number
of Trading Days preceding the date on which the holder of the Series A Preferred
Stock is first notified (or otherwise reasonably  determines) that sales may not
be made  under the  Prospectus  that would  otherwise  then be  included  in the
Pricing Period in accordance  with the  definition  thereof set forth in Article
VI.B(a),  plus all Trading  Days  through and  including  the third  Trading Day
following  the date on which the  Holder is first  notified  that such sales may
again be made  under the  Prospectus.  If a holder of Series A  Preferred  Stock
determines  that sales may not be made  pursuant to the  Prospectus  (whether by
reason of the  Corporation's  failure or  inability to amend or  supplement  the
Prospectus)  it shall so notify  the  Corporation  in  writing  and,  unless the
Corporation  provides  such holder with a written  opinion of the  Corporation's
counsel to the  contrary,  such  determination  shall be binding for purposes of
this  paragraph.  (f)  Notice  of  Adjustments.  Upon  the  occurrence  of  each
adjustment or  readjustment  of the  Conversion  Price  pursuant to this Article
VI.C, the Corporation, at its expense, shall promptly compute such adjustment or
readjustment  and prepare and furnish to each holder of Series A Preferred Stock
a certificate  setting  forth such  adjustment  or  readjustment  and showing in
detail the facts  upon  which such  adjustment  or  readjustment  is based.  The
Corporation  shall, upon the written request at any time of any holder of Series
A Preferred Stock,  furnish to such holder a like certificate  setting forth (i)
such adjustment or readjustment, (ii) the Conversion Price at the time in effect
and (iii) the number of shares of Common Stock and the amount,  if any, of other
securities or property which at the time would be received upon  conversion of a
share of Series A Preferred Stock.

                  D. For purposes of Article  VI.C(a)  above,  "Trading  Price,"
which shall be measured as of the record date in respect of the rights  offering
means (i) the average of the last  reported sale prices for the shares of Common
Stock on the Nasdaq National Market as reported by Bloomberg, as applicable, for
the five (5) Trading Days immediately preceding such date, or (ii) if the Nasdaq
National  Market is not the  principal  trading  market for the shares of Common
Stock,  the average of the last reported  sale prices on the  principal  trading
market for the Common Stock during the same period as reported by Bloomberg,  or
(iii)  if  market  value  cannot  be  calculated  as of such  date on any of the
foregoing  bases, the Trading Price shall be the fair market value as reasonably
determined  in good faith by (a) the Board of Directors of the  Corporation  or,
(b) at the option of a  majority-in-interest  of the holders of the  outstanding
Series  A  Preferred  Stock  by an  independent  investment  bank of  nationally
recognized  standing in the valuation of  businesses  similar to the business of
the Corporation.

                  E. In order to  convert  Series A  Preferred  Stock  into full
shares of Common Stock, a holder of Series A Preferred Stock shall: (i) submit a
copy of the fully executed  notice of conversion in the form attached  hereto as
Exhibit A ("Notice of Conversion") to the Corporation by facsimile dispatched on
the Conversion Date (or by other means resulting in notice to the Corporation on
the Conversion Date) at the office of the Corporation or its designated Transfer
Agent for the Series A  Preferred  Stock that the holder  elects to convert  the
same,  which  notice  shall  specify  the number of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock to be converted,  the applicable Conversion Price and a calculation of the
number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion  (together with a
copy of the first page of each  certificate to be converted)  prior to Midnight,
New York City time (the "Conversion  Notice Deadline") on the date of conversion
specified  on  the  Notice  of  Conversion;  and  (ii)  surrender  the  original
certificates  representing  the Series A Preferred  Stock being  converted  (the
"Preferred Stock Certificates"),  duly endorsed, along with a copy of the Notice
of Conversion  to the office of the  Corporation  or the Transfer  Agent for the
Series A Preferred  Stock as soon as  practicable  thereafter.  The  Corporation
shall not be obligated  to issue  certificates  evidencing  the shares of Common
Stock  issuable  upon  such  conversion,   unless  either  the  Preferred  Stock
Certificates  are  delivered  to the Company or its  Transfer  Agent as provided
above,  or the holder  notifies the  Corporation or its Transfer Agent that such
certificates have been lost, stolen or destroyed (subject to the requirements of
subparagraph  (a) below).  In the case of a dispute as to the calculation of the
Conversion  Price, the Corporation shall promptly issue such number of shares of
Common Stock that are not disputed in accordance  with  subparagraph  (b) below.
The Corporation shall submit the disputed calculations to its outside accountant
via  facsimile  within  two  (2)  business  days of  receipt  of the  Notice  of
Conversion.   The  accountant  shall  audit  the  calculations  and  notify  the
Corporation  and the holder of the  results no later than 48 hours from the time
it receives the disputed  calculations.  The accountant's  calculation  shall be
deemed conclusive absent manifest error.

     (a)  Lost or  Stolen  Certificates.  Upon  receipt  by the  Corporation  of
evidence of the loss,  theft,  destruction or mutilation of any Preferred  Stock
Certificates  representing  shares of Series A Preferred Stock, and (in the case
of loss,  theft or  destruction)  of indemnity  reasonably  satisfactory  to the
Corporation,  and  upon  surrender  and  cancellation  of  the  Preferred  Stock
Certificate(s),  if  mutilated,  the  Corporation  shall execute and deliver new
Preferred Stock Certificate(s) of like tenor and date.

     (b)  Delivery  of Common  Stock  Upon  Conversion.  Upon the  surrender  of
certificates  as  described  above  together  with a Notice of  Conversion,  the
Corporation  shall issue and,  within two (2) business days after such surrender
(or, in the case of lost, stolen or destroyed  certificates,  after provision of
agreement and indemnification pursuant to subparagraph (a) above) (the "Delivery
Period"),  deliver (or cause its  Transfer  Agent to so issue and deliver) to or
upon the order of the holder (i) that  number of shares of Common  Stock for the
portion  of the  shares  of  Series  A  Preferred  Stock  converted  as shall be
determined  in  accordance  herewith  and (ii) a  certificate  representing  the
balance of the shares of Series A  Preferred  Stock not  converted,  if any.  In
addition to any other remedies available to the holder, including actual damages
and/or equitable relief, the Corporation shall pay to a holder $1,000 per day in
cash for each day beyond a three (3) day grace  period  following  the  Delivery
Period  that  the  Corporation  fails to  deliver  Common  Stock (a  "Conversion
Default")  issuable upon surrender of shares of Series A Preferred  Stock with a
Notice of Conversion  until such time as the  Corporation has delivered all such
Common Stock (the "Conversion Default Payments"). Such cash amount shall be paid
to such holder by the fifth day of the month following the month in which it has
accrued or, at the option of the holder (by written notice to the Corporation by
the first day of the month  following the month in which it has accrued),  shall
be  convertible  into Common Stock in accordance  with the terms of this Article
VI.

     In lieu of delivering physical  certificates  representing the Common Stock
issuable  upon  conversion,   provided  the  Corporation's   Transfer  Agent  is
participating in the Depository Trust Company ("DTC") Fast Automated  Securities
Transfer  ("FAST")  program,  upon request of the holder and its compliance with
the  provisions  contained  in Article  VI.A.  and in this  Article  VI.E.,  the
Corporation  shall  use  its  best  efforts  to  cause  its  Transfer  Agent  to
electronically  transmit the Common Stock issuable upon conversion to the holder
by crediting  the account of holder's  Prime Broker with DTC through its Deposit
Withdrawal Agent Commission  ("DWAC") system.  The time periods for delivery and
penalties  described in the immediately  preceding  paragraph shall apply to the
electronic transmittals described herein.

     (c) No Fractional  Shares.  If any  conversion of Series A Preferred  Stock
would  result in a  fractional  share of Common  Stock or the right to acquire a
fractional share of Common Stock, such fractional share shall be disregarded and
the number of shares of Common Stock  issuable  upon  Conversion of the Series A
Preferred Stock shall be the next higher number of shares.  

     (d) Conversion  Date. The "Conversion  Date" shall be the date specified in
the Notice of Conversion, provided that the Notice of Conversion is submitted by
facsimile  (or by other means  resulting  in notice) to the  Corporation  or its
Transfer Agent before Midnight,  New York City time, on the Conversion Date. The
person or persons  entitled to receive the shares of Common Stock  issuable upon
conversion  shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of
such  securities  as of the  Conversion  Date and all rights with respect to the
shares of Series A Preferred Stock surrendered shall forthwith  terminate except
the right to receive the shares of Common Stock or other  securities or property
issuable on such conversion and except that the holders preferential rights as a
holder of Series A Preferred  Stock shall survive to the extent the  corporation
fails to deliver such securities.

     F. A  number  of  shares  of  the  authorized  but  unissued  Common  Stock
sufficient  to  provide  for the  conversion  of the  Series A  Preferred  Stock
outstanding at the then current  Conversion Price shall at all times be reserved
by the  Corporation,  free  from  preemptive  rights,  for  such  conversion  or
exercise. As of the date of issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock,  3,406,045
authorized  and  unissued  shares of Common  Stock have been duly  reserved  for
issuance  upon  conversion  of the  Series  A  Preferred  Stock  (the  "Reserved
Amount"). The Reserved Amount shall be increased from time to time in accordance
with  the  Company's  obligations  pursuant  to  Section  4(h)  of the  Purchase
Agreement.  In addition,  if the Corporation  shall issue any securities or make
any change in its capital  structure  which would change the number of shares of
Common  Stock into which each  share of the Series A  Preferred  Stock  shall be
convertible at the then current  Conversion  Price, the Corporation shall at the
same  time  also make  proper  provision  so that  thereafter  there  shall be a
sufficient  number of shares of Common Stock authorized and reserved,  free from
preemptive rights, for conversion of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock.

                  If at any time a holder of shares of Series A Preferred  Stock
submits a Notice of Conversion,  and the  Corporation  does not have  sufficient
authorized  but  unissued  shares  of Common  Stock  available  to  effect  such
conversion in accordance  with the  provisions of this Article VI (a "Conversion
Default"),  the Corporation shall issue to the holder (or holders,  if more than
one holder  submits a Notice of  Conversion  in  respect of the same  Conversion
Date,  pro rata  based on the  ratio  that the  number  of  shares  of  Series A
Preferred  Stock then held by each such holder bears to the aggregate  number of
such shares held by such  holders)  all of the shares of Common  Stock which are
available to effect such conversion.  The number of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock  included in the Notice of  Conversion  which  exceeds the amount which is
then  convertible  into available  shares of Common Stock (the "Excess  Amount")
shall,  notwithstanding  anything  to  the  contrary  contained  herein,  not be
convertible  into Common Stock in accordance with the terms hereof until (and at
the  holder's  option at any time  after) the date  additional  shares of Common
Stock are authorized by the Corporation to permit such conversion, at which time
the  Conversion  Price  in  respect  thereof  shall  be the  lesser  of (i)  the
Conversion Price on the Conversion  Default Date (as defined below) and (ii) the
Conversion  Price on the  Conversion  Date  elected  by the  holder  in  respect
thereof. The Corporation shall use its best efforts to effect an increase in the
authorized  number of shares of Common  Stock as soon as  possible  following  a
Conversion  Default.  In  addition,  the  Corporation  shall  pay to the  holder
payments  ("Conversion Default Payments") for a Conversion Default in the amount
of (a) (N/365),  multiplied  by (b) the sum of the Stated Value plus the Premium
Amount per share of Series A Preferred Stock through the Authorization  Date (as
defined  below),  multiplied  by (c) the  Excess  Amount  on the day the  holder
submits  a  Notice  of  Conversion  giving  rise to a  Conversion  Default  (the
"Conversion  Default Date"),  multiplied by (d) .24, where (i) N = the number of
days from the  Conversion  Default Date to the date (the  "Authorization  Date")
that the Corporation authorizes a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock to
effect  conversion of the full number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock. The
Corporation  shall send notice to the holder of the  authorization of additional
shares  of Common  Stock,  the  Authorization  Date and the  amount of  holder's
accrued Conversion Default Payments.  The accrued Conversion Default Payment for
each calendar  month shall be paid in cash or shall be  convertible  into Common
Stock at the Conversion Price, at the holder's option, as follows:

               (a) In the event the holder  elects to take such payment in cash,
          cash  payment  shall be made to  holder  by the fifth day of the month
          following the month in which it has accrued; and

               (b) In the event the holder elects to take such payment in Common
          Stock, the holder may convert such payment amount into Common Stock at
          the  Conversion  Price (as in effect at the time of Conversion) at any
          time after the fifth day of the month  following the month in which it
          has accrued in  accordance  with the terms of this Article VI (so long
          as there is then a sufficient  number of authorized  shares).  

               Nothing  herein shall limit the holder's  right to pursue  actual
          damages for the Corporation's  failure to maintain a sufficient number
          of authorized  shares of Common Stock,  and each holder shall have the
          right to pursue all remedies  available at law or in equity (including
          a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief).

                  G. Upon the occurrence of each  adjustment or  readjustment of
the  Conversion  Price  pursuant  to this  Article VI, the  Corporation,  at its
expense,  shall promptly  compute such  adjustment or readjustment in accordance
with the  terms  hereof  and  prepare  and  furnish  to each  holder of Series A
Preferred Stock a certificate  setting forth such adjustment or readjustment and
showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment or readjustment is based.
The  Corporation  shall,  upon the written  request at any time of any holder of
Series A Preferred Stock, furnish or cause to be furnished to such holder a like
certificate  setting  forth  (i)  such  adjustment  or  readjustment,  (ii)  the
Conversion  Price at the time in effect and (iii) the number of shares of Common
Stock and the amount,  if any, of other securities or property which at the time
would be received upon conversion of a share of Series A Preferred Stock.

                  H. Upon  submission  of a Notice of  Conversion by a holder of
Series A Preferred Stock, (i) the shares covered thereby (other than the shares,
if any, which cannot be issued because their issuance would exceed such holder's
allocated  portion of the Reserved Amount) shall be deemed converted into shares
of Common  Stock  and (ii) the  holder's  rights  as a holder of such  converted
shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall cease and terminate, excepting only the
right to  receive  certificates  for such  shares  of  Common  Stock  and to any
remedies  provided  herein or  otherwise  available  at law or in equity to such
holder because of a failure by the Corporation to comply with the terms of these
Articles  of  Amendment.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  if a holder  has not
received  certificates  for all shares of Common Stock prior to the tenth (10th)
business  day after the  expiration  of the  Delivery  Period with  respect to a
conversion  of shares of Series A Preferred  Stock for any reason,  then (unless
the holder  otherwise elects to retain its status as a holder of Common Stock by
so notifying the  Corporation) the holder shall regain the rights of a holder of
such shares of Series A Preferred Stock with respect to such unconverted  shares
of Series A Preferred Stock and the  Corporation  shall, as soon as practicable,
return such unconverted  shares of Series A Preferred Stock to the holder or, if
such shares of Series A Preferred  Stock have not been  surrendered,  adjust its
records to reflect  that such shares of Series A  Preferred  Stock have not been
converted.  In all cases, the holder shall retain all of its rights and remedies
(including, without limitation, the right to receive Conversion Default Payments
pursuant to Article IV.E.  to the extent  required  thereby for such  Conversion
Default and any subsequent Conversion Default).


                            VII. Automatic Conversion

                  So long as the  Registration  Statement is effective and there
is not then a  continuing  Mandatory  Redemption  Event,  each share of Series A
Preferred  Stock  issued  and  outstanding  on  May  18,  2003  (the  "Automatic
Conversion Date"),  automatically shall be converted into shares of Common Stock
on such date at the then  effective  Conversion  Price in accordance  with,  and
subject to, the  provisions of Article VI hereof (the  "Automatic  Conversion").
The Automatic  Conversion  Date shall be delayed by one (1) Trading Day each for
each Trading Day occurring prior thereto and prior to the full conversion of the
Series  A  Preferred  Stock  that  (i)  sales  cannot  be made  pursuant  to the
Registration  Statement  (whether by reason of the Company's failure to properly
supplement or amend the prospectus included therein in accordance with the terms
of the Registration  Rights Agreement or otherwise  including any Allowed Delays
(as defined in Section 2(f) of the  Registration  Rights  Agreement) but not due
solely to the fault of the  holder)  or (ii) any  Default  Event (as  defined in
Article V.A.) exists, without regard to whether any cure periods shall have run.
The  Automatic  Conversion  Date shall be the  Conversion  Date for  purposes of
determining  the  Conversion  Price  and  the  time  within  which  certificates
representing the Common Stock must be delivered to the holder.


                               VIII. Voting Rights

                  The  holders  of the Series A  Preferred  Stock have no voting
power  whatsoever,  except as  otherwise  provided by the FBCA,  in this Article
VIII, and in Article IX below.

                  Notwithstanding  the above, the Corporation shall provide each
holder of Series A Preferred Stock with prior notification of any meeting of the
shareholders  (and  copies  of proxy  materials  and other  information  sent to
shareholders).  In the event of any taking by the Corporation of a record of its
shareholders  for the purpose of  determining  shareholders  who are entitled to
receive  payment of any dividend or other  distribution,  any right to subscribe
for, purchase or otherwise acquire (including by way of merger, consolidation or
recapitalization) any share of any class or any other securities or property, or
to receive any other right, or for the purpose of determining  shareholders  who
are entitled to vote in connection  with any proposed sale,  lease or conveyance
of all or substantially  all of the assets of the  Corporation,  or any proposed
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the Corporation shall
mail a notice to each  holder,  at least ten (10) days prior to the record  date
specified  therein  (or  thirty  (30)  days  prior  to the  consummation  of the
transaction  or  event,  whichever  is  earlier),  of the date on which any such
record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend,  distribution,  right or
other event,  and a brief  statement  regarding the amount and character of such
dividend, distribution, right or other event to the extent known at such time.

                  To the extent  that under the FBCA the vote of the  holders of
the  Series  A  Preferred  Stock,  voting  separately  as a class or  series  as
applicable,  is required to  authorize a given  action of the  Corporation,  the
affirmative  vote or consent of the holders of at least a majority of the shares
of the Series A Preferred  Stock  represented  at a duly held meeting at which a
quorum is present or by written  consent of a majority of the shares of Series A
Preferred  Stock  (except as  otherwise  may be  required  under the FBCA) shall
constitute  the  approval of such action by the class.  To the extent that under
the FBCA  holders  of the Series A  Preferred  Stock are  entitled  to vote on a
matter with holders of Common Stock, voting together as one class, each share of
Series A  Preferred  Stock  shall be  entitled to a number of votes equal to the
number of shares of Common  Stock  into which it is then  convertible  using the
record date for the taking of such vote of  shareholders as the date as of which
the  Conversion  Price is  calculated.  Holders of the Series A Preferred  Stock
shall be entitled to notice of all shareholder meetings or written consents (and
copies of proxy  materials  and other  information  sent to  shareholders)  with
respect to which they would be entitled to vote,  which notice would be provided
pursuant to the Corporation's bylaws and the FBCA.

                            IX. Protective Provisions

                  So long as shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding,
the  Corporation  shall not,  without  first  obtaining the approval (by vote or
written consent,  as provided by the FBCA) of the holders of at least a majority
of the then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock:

               (a)  alter or change the rights, preferences or privileges of the
                    Series A Preferred  Stock or any Senior  Securities so as to
                    affect adversely the Series A Preferred Stock;

               (b)  create  any new class or series of  capital  stock  having a
                    preference   over  the  Series  A  Preferred   Stock  as  to
                    distribution  of assets  upon  liquidation,  dissolution  or
                    winding  up of the  Corporation  (as  previously  defined in
                    Article II hereof, "Senior Securities");

               (c)  create any new class or series of capital stock ranking pari
                    passu with the Series A Preferred  Stock as to  distribution
                    of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
                    Corporation  (as  previously  defined  in Article II hereof,
                    "Pari Passu Securities");

               (d)  increase  the  authorized  number  of  shares  of  Series  A
                    Preferred  Stock; or 

               (e)  intentionally   do  any  act  or  thing  not  authorized  or
                    contemplated  by these  Articles  of  Amendment  which would
                    result in  taxation of the holders of shares of the Series A
                    Preferred  Stock under  Section 305 of the Internal  Revenue
                    Code of 1986, as amended (or any comparable provision of the
                    Internal  Revenue  Code  as  hereafter  from  time  to  time
                    amended).

                  In the  event  holders  of at  least a  majority  of the  then
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock agree to allow the Corporation to
alter or change the rights,  preferences or privileges of the shares of Series A
Preferred Stock,  pursuant to subsection (a) above, so as to affect the Series A
Preferred  Stock,  then the  Corporation  will deliver  notice of such  approved
change to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock that did not agree to such
alteration or change (the  "Dissenting  Holders") and  Dissenting  Holders shall
have the right for a period of thirty (30) days to convert pursuant to the terms
of these Articles of Amendment as they exist prior to such  alteration or change
or continue to hold their shares of Series A Preferred Stock.

                             X. Pro Rata Allocations

                  The Maximum  Share Amount and the Reserved  Amount  (including
any increases  thereto) shall be allocated by the Corporation pro rata among the
holders of Series A  Preferred  Stock  based on the number of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock then held by each holder relative to the total aggregate  number
of shares of Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, these Articles of Amendment is executed on
behalf of the Corporation this 18th day of May, 1998.



                                      TECHNICAL CHEMICALS AND
                                      PRODUCTS, INC.





                                      By:
                                      Name: Jack Aronowitz
                                      Title: President and Chairman of the Board


<PAGE>







                                                                      EXHIBIT A
                              NOTICE OF CONVERSION


                    (To be Executed by the Registered Holder
                in order to Convert the Series A Preferred Stock)

                  The undersigned  hereby  irrevocably  elects to convert ______
shares of Series A Preferred  Stock,  represented  by stock  certificate  No(s).
__________  (the  "Preferred  Stock  Certificates")  into shares of common stock
("Common Stock") of _______________________ (the "Corporation") according to the
conditions of the Articles of Amendment of Series A Preferred  Stock,  as of the
date written below. If securities are to be issued in the name of a person other
than the  undersigned,  the undersigned will pay all transfer taxes payable with
respect  thereto and is delivering  herewith such  certificates.  No fee will be
charged to the Holder for any  conversion,  except for transfer taxes, if any. A
copy of each  Preferred  Stock  Certificate  is attached  hereto (or evidence of
loss, theft or destruction thereof).


                 The  undersigned  represents  and warrants that all offers and
sales by the  undersigned of the  securities  issuable to the  undersigned  upon
conversion  of  the  Series  A  Preferred   Stock  shall  be  made  pursuant  to
registration of the securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Act"), or pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Act.

                           Date of Conversion:___________________________

                           Market Price Days:_____________________________

                           Applicable Conversion Price:____________________

                           Number of Shares of
                           Common Stock to be Issued:_____________________

                           Signature:____________________________________

                           Name:_______________________________________

                           Address:______________________________________

*The  Corporation  is not  required  to issue  shares of Common  Stock until the
original Series A Preferred Stock  Certificate(s) (or evidence of loss, theft or
destruction  thereof) to be  converted  are received by the  Corporation  or its
Transfer Agent.  The Corporation  shall issue and deliver shares of Common Stock
to an overnight  courier not later than two (2) business days following  receipt
of the original Preferred Stock  Certificate(s) to be converted,  and shall make
payments  pursuant to the Articles of Amendment  for the number of business days
such issuance and delivery is late.





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