INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
          PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
                    EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. 1)

Filed by the Registrant [X]

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]

Check the appropriate box:

[ ]  Preliminary Proxy Statement

[ ]  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
     Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

[X]  Definitive Proxy Statement

[ ]  Definitive Additional Materials

[ ]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12

                         APPLIED DIGITAL SOLUTIONS, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[X]  No fee required.

[ ]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) 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:

[ ]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:

[ ]  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)  Amount Previously Paid:

     (2)  Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

     (3)  Filing Party:

     (4)  Date Filed:




                                [GRAPHIC OMITTED]


Richard J. Sullivan
Chairman of The Board and
Chief Executive Officer



                                  May 16, 2001



Dear Shareholder:

     You are  cordially  invited to attend the  Annual  Meeting of  Shareholders
which will be held on June 23, 2001, at 8:00 a.m.  Eastern Daylight Time, at the
DoubleTree Hotel, 4431 PGA Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410.

     The  enclosed  notice of meeting  identifies  each  business  item for your
action. These items and the vote the Board of Directors recommends are:

                                                                    Recommended
               Item                                                    Vote
               ----                                                    ----
1.   Election of three Directors;                                       FOR

2.   Ratification   of    PricewaterhouseCoopers    LLP   as            FOR
     independent auditors;

3.   Approval of amendments  to the Company's  1999 Flexible            FOR
     Stock  Plan  and   ratification   of  options   granted
     thereunder;

4.   Ratification  of options  granted  under the  Company's            FOR
     1996 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan;

5.   Ratification  of options  granted  under the  Company's            FOR
     1999 Employees Stock Purchase Plan;

6.   Approval  of  the   possible   issuance  of  more  than            FOR
     29,217,483  shares of the  Company's  common stock upon
     the  conversion  of  shares of the  Company's  Series C
     preferred  stock, of which  4,090,271  shares have been
     issued,  and exercise of related warrants,  which share
     amount  of  29,217,483  represents  at least 20% of the
     outstanding common stock of the Company.

7.   Approval of amendment to Second  Restated  Articles  of            FOR
     Incorporation,  as  amended,  to increase the number of
     authorized shares of common stock.

     We have also included a Proxy  Statement  that  contains  more  information
about these items and the meeting.

     If you plan to attend the meeting,  please mark the appropriate box on your
proxy card to help us plan for the meeting.  You will need an admission  card to
attend the meeting, which you can obtain as follows:

     o    If your shares are  registered in your name,  you are a shareholder of
          record.  Your  admission  card is attached to your proxy card, and you
          will need to bring it with you to the meeting.

     o    If your shares are in the name of your broker or bank, your shares are
          held in street name.  You will need to check the box on the proxy card
          stating that you will be attending the meeting,  or ask your broker or
          bank for an admission  card in the form of a legal proxy to bring with
          you to the  meeting.  If you do not  receive  the legal proxy in time,
          bring your most recent brokerage  statement with you to the meeting so
          that we can verify  your  ownership  of our stock and admit you to the
          meeting.  However,  you will not be able to vote  your  shares  at the
          meeting without a legal proxy.

     Your vote is  important,  regardless  of the number of shares  you own.  We
encourage you to vote by proxy so that your shares will be represented and voted
at the meeting even if you cannot attend.  All  shareholders can vote by written
proxy card. Many  shareholders  also can vote by proxy via touch-tone  telephone
from the U.S. and Canada,  using the toll-free number on your proxy card, or via
the  internet  using  the   instructions   on  your  proxy  card.  In  addition,
shareholders may vote in person at the meeting, as described above.

     EACH  SHAREHOLDER  IS URGED TO VOTE  PROMPTLY BY SIGNING AND  RETURNING THE
ENCLOSED PROXY CARD, USING THE TELEPHONE  VOTING SYSTEM,  OR ACCESSING THE WORLD
WIDE WEB SITE  INDICATED  ON YOUR  PROXY  CARD TO VOTE  VIA THE  INTERNET.  IF A
SHAREHOLDER  DECIDES TO ATTEND THE  MEETING,  HE OR SHE MAY REVOKE THE PROXY AND
VOTE THE SHARES IN PERSON.

                                       Sincerely,

                                       /s/ RICHARD J. SULLIVAN

                                       RICHARD J. SULLIVAN




                                [GRAPHIC OMITTED]




                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF
     APPLIED DIGITAL SOLUTIONS, INC.:


     The 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Applied Digital Solutions, Inc.,
a Missouri  corporation (the "Company"),  will be held at the DoubleTree  Hotel,
Palm Beach  Gardens,  Florida on June 23, 2001,  at 8:00 a.m.  Eastern  Daylight
Time, for the following purposes:

     1.   To elect three  Directors to hold office until the 2004 Annual Meeting
          of  Shareholders,  or until  their  respective  successors  have  been
          elected or appointed;

     2.   To ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent
          auditors of the Company to serve for the calendar year ending December
          31, 2001;

     3.   To approve  amendments to the Company's  1999 Flexible  Stock Plan and
          ratify options granted thereunder;

     4.   To ratify options granted under the Company's 1996 Non-Qualified Stock
          Option Plan;

     5.   To ratify options  granted under the Company's  1999  Employees  Stock
          Purchase Plan;

     6.   To approve the possible issuance of more than 29,217,483 shares of the
          Company's  common stock upon the conversion of shares of the Company's
          Series C preferred stock, of which 4,090,271  shares have been issued,
          and exercise of related  warrants,  which share  amount of  29,217,483
          represents  at  least  20%  of the  outstanding  common  stock  of the
          Company;

     7.   To approve an amendment to the Company's  Second Restated  Articles of
          Incorporation, as amended, to increase the number of authorized shares
          of common stock; and

     8.   To  transact  such other  business  as may  properly  come  before the
          meeting and at any adjournments or postponements of the meeting.

     The Board of Directors set May 7, 2001, as the record date for the meeting.
This means that owners of the Company's common stock at the close of business on
that date are  entitled  to (1) receive  notice of the meeting and (2) vote,  or
exercise  voting  rights  through  a voting  trust,  as the case may be,  at the
meeting and any  adjournments  or  postponements  of the  meeting.  We will make
available a list of holders of record of the  Company's  common  stock as of the
close of business on May 7, 2001, for inspection during normal business hours at
the offices of the Company,  400 Royal Palm Way, Suite 410, Palm Beach,  Florida
33480  for ten  business  days  prior to the  meeting.  This  list  will also be
available at the meeting.


                                           By Order of the Board of Directors

                                           /s/ RICHARD J. SULLIVAN

                                           RICHARD J. SULLIVAN
                                           Secretary
Palm Beach Florida
May 7, 2001




                          400 Royal Palm Way, Suite 410
                            Palm Beach, Florida 33480


                                                                    May 16, 2001

                                 PROXY STATEMENT
                   FOR THE 2001 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                           TO BE HELD ON JUNE 23, 2001


     The Board of  Directors  of Applied  Digital  Solutions,  Inc.,  a Missouri
corporation (the "Company"),  furnishes you with this Proxy Statement to solicit
proxies on its behalf to be voted at the 2001 Annual Meeting of  Shareholders of
the  Company.  The  meeting  will be held at the  DoubleTree  Hotel,  Palm Beach
Gardens,  Florida, on June 23, 2001, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, subject
to adjournment or postponement thereof (the "Meeting").  The proxies also may be
voted at any adjournments or postponements of the Meeting.  This Proxy Statement
and the accompanying form of proxy are first being mailed to the shareholders of
the Company on or about May 16, 2001.

Voting and Revocability of Proxies

     All properly  executed written proxies and all properly  completed  proxies
voted  by  telephone  or  via  the  internet  and  delivered  pursuant  to  this
solicitation  (and not revoked later) will be voted at the Meeting in accordance
with the instructions of the shareholder. Below is a list of the different votes
shareholders may cast at the Meeting pursuant to this solicitation.

     o    In voting on the election of the three  directors to  serve  until the
          2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders,  shareholders  may vote in one of
          the three following ways:

          1.   in favor of all nominees,

          2.   withhold votes as to all nominees, or

          3.   withhold votes as to specific nominees.

     o    In   voting   on   the    ratification    of   the    appointment   of
          PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP as independent  auditors of the Company to
          serve for the calendar year ending  December 31, 2001, the approval of
          amendments to the Company's 1999 Flexible Stock Plan, the ratification
          of options granted under the Company's 1996 Non-Qualified Stock Option
          Plan,  the  ratification  of options  granted under the Company's 1999
          Employees  Stock Purchase Plan, the  ratification  of the stock awards
          and options granted  thereunder the approval of the possible  issuance
          of more than 29,217,483  shares of the Company's common stock upon the
          conversion  of  shares  of  Company's  Series C  preferred  stock  and
          exercise of warrants,  which share amount of  29,217,483 represents at
          least 20% of the  outstanding  common  stock of the  Company,  and the
          approval of an amendment to the Company's Second Restated  Articles of
          Incorporation, as amended, to increase the number of authorized shares
          of common stock,  shareholders  may vote in one of the three following
          ways:

          1.   in favor of the item,

          2.   against the item, or

          3.   abstain from voting on the item.




     Shareholders  should  specify  their choice for each matter on the enclosed
form of proxy. If no specific  instructions are given,  proxies which are signed
and  returned  will be voted  FOR the  election  of the  directors  as set forth
herein, FOR ratification of the appointment of  PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP, FOR
approval  of the  amendments  to the  Company's  1999  Flexible  Stock  Plan and
ratification of options granted thereunder,  FOR ratification of options granted
under the Company's 1996  Non-Qualified  Stock Option Plan since the 2000 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders, FOR ratification of options granted under the Company's
1999   Employees   Stock   Purchase  Plan  since  the  2000  Annual  Meeting  of
Shareholders,  FOR  approval of the  possible  issuance of more than  29,217,483
shares  of the  Company's  common  stock  upon the  conversion  of shares of the
Company's Series C preferred stock and exercise of related warrants, which share
amount of  29,217,483 represents at least 20% of the outstanding common stock of
the Company,  and FOR approval an amendment  to the  Company's  Second  Restated
Articles of  Incorporation,  as amended,  to increase  the number of  authorized
shares of common stock.

     In addition, if other matters come before the Meeting, the persons named in
the accompanying  form of Proxy will vote in accordance with their best judgment
with respect to such matters. A shareholder  submitting a proxy has the power to
revoke it at any time prior to its  exercise by voting in person at the Meeting,
by giving  written notice to the Company's  Secretary  bearing a later date than
the proxy or by giving a later dated proxy.  Any written notice revoking a proxy
should be sent to: ADP Investor  Communication  Services,  Inc., P. O. Box 9079,
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9769. Proxies signed by brokers with no further statements
indicated on the proxy and shares as to which proxy  authority has been withheld
with  respect to any  matter  will be counted  for  quorum and for  purposes  of
determining the number of shares entitled to vote on a matter.  Broker non-votes
(proxies where the broker has added  statements such as "non-vote," "no vote" or
"do not vote") are not counted for quorum or for  purposes  of  determining  the
number of shares  entitled  to vote on a matter.  The  presence  in person or by
proxy of the holders of the shares  representing  a majority of all  outstanding
shares will  constitute a quorum.  Approval of all of the items will require the
favorable vote of a majority of the shares  represented  and entitled to vote at
the Meeting with the exception of Item 6, which will require the favorable  vote
of a majority of those voting.

     The telephone and internet  voting  procedures are designed to authenticate
shareholders'  identities,  to allow  shareholders  to vote their  shares and to
confirm their instructions have been properly recorded. Specific instructions to
be  followed  by  shareholders  interested  in voting via the  telephone  or the
internet  are set forth on the proxy  card.  If the proxy card does not  contain
these instructions, these options are not available.

Record Date and Share Ownership

     Owners of record of shares of the  Company's  common  stock at the close of
business  on May 7, 2001 (the  "Record  Date")  will be  entitled to vote at the
Meeting or adjournments or  postponements  thereof.  Each owner of record of the
Company's common stock on the Record Date is entitled to one vote for each share
of common stock so held.

     As of the close of business on May 7, 2001, there were  143,445,529  shares
of common  stock  outstanding  entitled to vote at the Annual  Meeting (all such
shares being  referred to herein as the "shares" and all holders  thereof  being
referred to as the "shareholders" of the Company). A majority of the shares must
be present, in person or by proxy, to conduct business at the Meeting.



                                       2





                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


1.   Election of Directors.....................................................4

     Board of Directors........................................................4

     Board Committees and Meetings.............................................6

     Section 16(A) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance...................6

     Ownership of Equity Securities in the Company.............................7

     Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation...................9

     Executive Compensation...................................................13

     Certain Relationships and Related Transactions...........................20

     Performance Graph........................................................21

     Report of the Audit Committee............................................22

2.   Ratification of Selection of Independent Auditors........................23

3.   Approval of Amendments to the Company's 1999 Flexible Stock
     Plan and Ratification of Options Granted Under the Company's
     1999 Flexible Stock Plan.................................................24

4.   Ratification of Options Granted Under the Company's 1996
     Non-qualified Stock Option Plan..........................................30

5.   Ratification of Options Granted Under the Company's 1999
     Employees Stock Purchase Plan............................................31

6.   Approval of the  Possible  Issuance of more than  29,217,483
     Shares of the Company's  Common Stock upon the Conversion of
     Shares of the Company's  Series C Preferred  Stock, of which
     4,090,271  Shares have been issued,  and Exercise of Related
     Warrants,  which Share Amount of   29,217,483 Represents  at
     least 20% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company.................31

7.   Approval  of   Amendment  to  Second  Restated  Articles  of
     Incorporation,   as  amended,   to  increase  the  Number of
     Authorized Shares of Common Stock........................................34

8.   Shareholder Proposals....................................................37





                                       3



                              ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

                                    (Item 1)


Board of Directors

     The Directors are divided into three classes,  each serving for a period of
three years, which has been the practice of the Company since 1998. The class to
which each Director has been assigned is designated as Group A, Group B or Group
C. The shareholders elect approximately one-third of the members of the Board of
Directors  annually.  The Company's basic  philosophy  mandates the inclusion of
directors who will be representative  of management,  employees and the minority
shareholders  of the  Company.  Directors  may only be removed for  "cause." The
terms of Richard J.  Sullivan  and Garrett A.  Sullivan  will expire at the 2001
Annual  Meeting,  and each has been  nominated  to stand for  reelection  at the
Meeting to hold office until the 2004 Annual Meeting of  Shareholders  and until
his successor is elected and qualified.  In addition, the Board of Directors has
increased  the size of the  Board of  Directors  and  Mercedes  Walton  has been
nominated to fill the vacancy on the Board of Directors and to hold office until
the 2004 Annual Meeting of  Shareholders  and until her successor is elected and
qualified.

     Cumulative  voting  does not apply in the  election  of  Directors.  Unless
otherwise indicated, the shares represented by this proxy will be voted for each
nominee named below.  Should any one or more of these nominees  become unable to
serve  for  any  reason,  or  for  good  cause  will  not  serve,  which  is not
anticipated, the Board of Directors may, unless the Board by resolution provides
for a lesser number of Directors,  designate substitute nominees, in which event
the persons named in the enclosed  proxy will vote proxies that would  otherwise
be voted for all named nominees for the election of such  substitute  nominee or
nominees.

Recommendation of the Board of Directors Concerning the Election of Directors

     The Board of  Directors  of the  Company  recommends  a vote FOR Richard J.
Sullivan,  FOR Garrett A. Sullivan and FOR Mercedes  Walton to hold office until
the 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders  and until their  successors are elected
and qualified.  Proxies received by the Board of Directors will be voted FOR all
of the nominees unless shareholders specify a contrary choice in their proxy.

     NOMINEES FOR ELECTION TO TERM EXPIRING 2004

     Richard J.  Sullivan:  Mr.  Sullivan,  age 62, was  elected to the Board of
Directors,  and named Chief  Executive  Officer,  in May 1993.  He was appointed
Secretary  in March  1996.  Mr.  Sullivan  is  currently  Chairman  of Great Bay
Technology,  Inc. He also serves on the Board of Directors  of Medical  Advisory
Systems,  Inc. From August 1989 to December 1992,  Mr.  Sullivan was Chairman of
the  Board  of  Directors  of  Consolidated   Convenience   Systems,   Inc.,  in
Springfield,  Missouri.  He has been the  Managing  General  Partner  of The Bay
Group, a merger and acquisition firm in New Hampshire,  since February 1985. Mr.
Sullivan was  formerly  Chairman and Chief  Executive  Officer of  Manufacturing
Resources,  Inc., an MRP II software company in Boston,  Massachusetts,  and was
Chairman and CEO of Encode Technology, a "Computer-Aided Manufacturing" Company,
in Nashua,  New Hampshire  from February  1984 to August 1986.  Mr.  Sullivan is
married to Angela M. Sullivan.

     Garrett A. Sullivan:  Mr. Sullivan,  age 66, has served as Vice Chairman of
the Company since January 2001.  From March 1995 until his  appointment  to Vice
Chairman, Mr. Sullivan served as President of the Company. He was elected to the
Board of  Directors  in August  1995.  From March  1995 to  December  2000,  Mr.
Sullivan was  President of the Company.  He was acting  secretary of the Company
from March 1995 to March 1996 and acting Chief Financial Officer from March 1995
to February  1997.  He  currently  serves on the Board of  Directors  of SysComm
International Corporation. From 1993 to 1994, he was an Executive Vice President
of  Envirobusiness,  Inc.  From 1988 to 1993,  he served as president  and chief
operating  officer of two companies in the electronics  and chemical  industries



                                       4


which were owned by Philips North  America.  He was  previously a partner in The
Bay Group, a merger and  acquisition  firm in New Hampshire,  from 1988 to 1993.
From 1981 to 1988,  Mr.  Sullivan  was  President  of  Granada  Hospital  Group,
Burlington,  Massachusetts.  He earned a Bachelor  of Arts  degree  from  Boston
University in 1960 and an MBA from Harvard  University in 1962. Mr.  Sullivan is
not related to Richard J. Sullivan.

     Mercedes Walton:  Ms. Walton, age 47, has served as the President and Chief
Operating  Officer of the Company since  January  2001.  Ms. Walton was employed
with AT&T from 1976 to 2000.  From  January 1999 to March 2000,  Ms.  Walton was
employed by AT&T as Vice President-- Corporate Strategy and Business Development
and, from March 1996 to December 1998, as Business  Development Vice President -
Corporate  Strategy.  Ms. Walton  currently  serves on the Board of Directors of
CYRO-CELL  International  and Norstan,  Inc. Ms. Walton holds a Bachelor of Arts
degree from Smith College, a Masters of Education degree from Harvard University
and a Masters of Science degree from the  Massachusetts  Institute of Technology
Sloan School of Business.  In addition,  Ms. Walton graduated from the Executive
Development Program at Emory University, the Aspen Institute's Executive Program
and Northwestern  University's Kellogg School of Business Executive  Development
Program.

     INCUMBENT DIRECTORS - TERM EXPIRING 2002

     Daniel E. Penni:  Mr. Penni,  age 53, has served as a Director  since March
1995 and is  Chairman  of the  Compensation  Committee,  and serves on the Audit
Committees  of the board of directors of the Company.  Since March 1998,  he has
been an Area  Executive  Vice  President  for Arthur J.  Gallagher & Co. (NYSE -
AJG).  He has worked in many  sales and  administrative  roles in the  insurance
business since 1969. He is the managing  member of the Norsman Group  Northeast,
LLC, a private sales and marketing  company  focused on Internet based education
and marketing  and serves as Treasurer and Chairman of the Finance  Committee of
the Board of  Trustees  of the  Massachusetts  College  of  Pharmacy  and Health
Sciences. Mr. Penni graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1969 from the
School of Management at Boston College.

     Angela M. Sullivan:  Ms.  Sullivan,  age 43, has served as a Director since
April 1996. From 1988 to the present, Ms. Sullivan has been a partner in The Bay
Group, a private merger and acquisition firm, President of Great Bay Technology,
Inc.,  and President of Spirit  Saver,  Inc. Ms.  Sullivan  earned a Bachelor of
Science degree in Business  Administration in 1980 from Salem State College. Ms.
Sullivan is married to Richard J. Sullivan.

     INCUMBENT DIRECTORS - TERM EXPIRING 2003

     Arthur F. Noterman: Mr. Noterman, age 59, a Chartered Life Underwriter, has
served  as a  Director  since  February  1997,  and  serves  on  the  Audit  and
Compensation Committees of the board of directors of the Company. An operator of
his own insurance  agency,  Mr. Noterman is a registered NASD broker  affiliated
with  a  Chicago,  Illinois  registered  broker/dealer.  Mr.  Noterman  attended
Northeastern  University  from  1965 to 1975 and  obtained  the  Chartered  Life
Underwriters  Professional degree in 1979 from The American College,  Bryn Mawr,
Pennsylvania.

     Constance  K.  Weaver:  Ms.  Weaver,  age 48,  was  elected to the board of
directors in July 1998 and serves on the  Compensation  and Audit  Committees of
the board of directors of the Company.  From 1996 to the present, Ms. Weaver has
been Vice President,  Investor  Relations and Financial  Communications for AT&T
Corporation.  From 1995 through 1996 she was Senior Director, Investor Relations
and Financial  Communications for Microsoft  Corporation.  From 1993 to 1995 she
was Vice President,  Investor Relations,  and from 1991 to 1993 she was Director
of Investor Relations, for MCI Communications,  Inc. Ms. Weaver is a director of
the  National  Investor  Relations  Institute  (NIRI).  She earned a Bachelor of
Science degree from the University of Maryland in 1975.

     Richard S. Friedland:  Mr.  Friedland,  age 50, was elected to the board of
directors in October 1999 and is Chairman of the Audit  Committee  and serves on

                                       5


the  Compensation  Committee of the board of  directors  of the Company.  He was
previously  associated with General Instrument  Corporation.  During his 19-year
tenure, he held various executive positions,  including Chief Financial Officer,
President and Chief Operating Officer. In 1995, he was appointed Chairman of the
Board and Chief Executive Officer.  Mr. Friedland currently serves on the boards
of Zilog,  Inc.  and Video  Network  Communications,  Inc.,  as well as  several
development  stage  companies.  He  earned  a  Bachelor  of  Science  degree  in
Accounting  from  Ohio  State  University  in  1972  and a  Master  of  Business
Administration degree from Seton Hall University in 1985.

Board Committees and Meetings

     The Company has standing Audit and Compensation  Committees of the Board of
Directors.  The members of the committees are identified in the above-referenced
descriptions.

     The Audit  Committee  recommends  for  approval by the Board of Directors a
firm of certified public  accountants whose duty it is to audit the consolidated
financial  statements  of the  Company  for the  fiscal  year in which  they are
appointed,  and monitors the  effectiveness  of the audit effort,  the Company's
internal and  financial  accounting  organization  and  controls  and  financial
reporting. The Audit Committee held three meetings during 2000.

     The  Compensation  Committee  administers the Company's 1996  Non-Qualified
Stock Option Plan,  the 1999 Flexible  Stock Plan and the 1999  Employees  Stock
Purchase  Plan,  including the review and grant of stock options to officers and
other employees under such plans,  and recommends the adoption of new plans. The
Compensation   Committee  also  reviews  and  approves   various  other  Company
compensation  policies and matters and reviews and  approves  salaries and other
matters  relating to the  executive  officers of the Company.  The  Compensation
Committee  reviews all senior  corporate  employees after the end of each fiscal
year to determine  compensation for the subsequent year. Particular attention is
paid to each employee's  contributions  to the current and future success of the
Company  along with  their  salary  level as  compared  to the  market  value of
personnel with similar skills and responsibilities.  The Compensation  Committee
also looks at  accomplishments  which are above and beyond  management's  normal
expectations  for their positions.  The  Compensation  Committee met once during
2000 and acted by written consent nine times.

     The Board of Directors  held two meetings  during 2000 and acted by written
consent 52 times during 2000.  During the year,  all  Directors  attended 75% or
more of the Board of Directors'  meetings and the  Committees to which they were
assigned.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

     Section  16(a) of the Exchange  Act requires the officers and  directors of
the Company and persons who own more than 10% of the  Company's  common stock to
file  reports of  ownership  and changes in ownership  with the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission  and to furnish  copies of all such reports to the Company.
The Company believes,  based on its stock transfer records and other information
available to it, that all reports required under Section 16(a) were timely filed
during 2000.




                                       6


Ownership of Equity Securities in the Company

     The following table sets forth information  regarding  beneficial ownership
of the  Company's  common stock by each director and by each  executive  officer
named in the Summary  Compensation  Table and by all the directors and executive
officers as a group as of December 31, 2000:

                                         Aggregate Number
                                             of Shares              Percent of
                                         Beneficially Owned         Outstanding
                Name                            (1)                   Shares
   --------------------------------     ---------------------      -------------

   Richard J. Sullivan                              6,097,724(2)       6.0%
   Garrett A. Sullivan                              1,813,468          1.8%
   Richard S. Friedland                               236,000            *
   Arthur F. Noterman                                 556,000            *
   Daniel E. Penni                                  1,020,065          1.0%
   Angela M. Sullivan                               1,608,475(2)       1.6%
   Constance K. Weaver                                379,000            *
   Mercedes Walton                                         --           --
   Jerome C. Artigliere                                97,311            *
   David I. Beckett                                    37,667            *
   Michael E. Krawitz                                 100,224            *
   David A. Loppert                                   712,310            *
   All Directors and Executive
   Officers as a Group (20 Persons)                13,032,086         12.8%

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

*    Represents  less than 1% of the  issued  and  outstanding  shares of common
     stock of the Company.

(1)  This table includes  presently  exercisable  stock  options.  The following
     directors and executive officers hold the number of exercisable options set
     forth following their  respective  names:  Richard J. Sullivan - 4,185,000;
     Garrett A. Sullivan - 1,382,500;  Richard S. Friedland - 150,000; Arthur F.
     Noterman  -  375,000;  Daniel E.  Penni -  375,000;  Angela M.  Sullivan  -
     350,000;  Constance  K. Weaver - 285,000;  Jerome C.  Artigliere  - 75,000;
     David I. Beckett - 16,667;  Michael E. Krawitz - 75,000; David A. Loppert -
     448,600; and all directors and executive officers as a group - 7,976,100.

(2)  Includes  259,598  owned by The Bay  Group and  367,177  owned by Great Bay
     Technology,  Inc. The Bay Group is  controlled  by Richard J.  Sullivan and
     Angela M. Sullivan. Great Bay Technology,  Inc. is controlled by Richard J.
     Sullivan, Angela M. Sullivan and Stephanie Sullivan.



                                       7


     The following table sets forth information  concerning warrants to purchase
shares of the Company's  common stock which are owned  beneficially by directors
and the named executive  officers of the Company  individually and as a group as
of December 31, 2000:




                                         Class of           Number of           Percent of       Exercise price Per
               Name                      Warrants         Warrants (1)            Class                Share
- -----------------------------------   ---------------   ------------------   -----------------  --------------------

                                                                                           
Richard J. Sullivan (2)                  Class K             250,000               100.0%              $    5.31
                                         Class S             376,700               100.0                    2.00
Garrett A. Sullivan                         --                 --                    --                      --
Richard S. Friedland                        --                 --                    --                      --
Arthur F. Noterman                          --                 --                    --                      --
Daniel E. Penni                             --                 --                    --                      --
Angela M. Sullivan (2)                   Class K             250,000               100.0                    5.31
                                         Class S             376,700               100.0                    2.00
Constance K. Weaver                         --                 --                    --                      --
Mercedes Walton                             --                 --                    --                      --
Jerome C. Artigliere                        --                 --                    --                      --
David I. Beckett                            --                 --                    --                      --
Michael E. Krawitz                          --                 --                    --                      --
David A. Loppert                            --                 --                    --                      --
All Directors and Executive              Class K             250,000               100.0                    5.31
   Officers as a Group                   Class S             376,700               100.0                    2.00
   (20 Persons)

<FN>
- ---------------------

(1)  Pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange  Act,  beneficial  ownership of a
     security  consists of sole or shared voting power  (including  the power to
     vote  or  direct  the  voting)  and/or  sole  or  shared  investment  power
     (including the power to dispose or direct a disposition)  with respect to a
     security   whether   through  a   contract,   arrangement,   understanding,
     relationship  or  otherwise.   Unless  otherwise  indicated,   each  person
     indicated  above  has  sole  power  to  vote,  or  dispose  or  direct  the
     disposition  of  all  shares  beneficially  owned,  subject  to  applicable
     community property laws.

(2)  Represents  warrants  owned  by  Great  Bay  Technology,   Inc.  Great  Bay
     Technology,  Inc. is controlled by Richard J. Sullivan,  Angela M. Sullivan
     and Stephanie Sullivan.

</FN>


Principal Shareholders

     Set forth in the table below is  information  as of December  31, 2000 with
respect to persons known to the Company  (other than the directors and executive
officers shown in the preceding table) to be the beneficial  owners of more than
five percent of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock:

                                 Number of Shares
     Name and Address           Beneficially Owned          Percent Of Class
- -------------------------   -------------------------    -----------------------

None




                                       8


     The Company has made previous  filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended,  or the Exchange Act, that incorporate  future filings,  including this
Proxy  Statement,  in whole or in part.  However,  the  following  "Compensation
Committee  Report  on  Executive  Compensation"  shall  not be  incorporated  by
reference into any such filings.

                        COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON
                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Committee of the Board

     The Compensation  Committee is composed of four  non-employee,  independent
members  of  the  Board  of  Directors.  It  is  the  Compensation   Committee's
responsibility  to  review,  recommend  and  approve  changes  to the  Company's
compensation policies and programs. It is also the Committee's responsibility to
review and approve all  compensation  actions for the executive  officers of the
Company  and  various  other  Company  compensation  policies  and  matters  and
administer the Company's 1996 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, its 1999 Flexible
Stock Plan and its 1999 Employees Stock Purchase Plan,  including the review and
approval of stock option grants to the executive officers of the Company.

General Compensation Philosophy

     The Company's  executive  compensation  programs are designed to enable the
Company to attract,  retain and motivate the  executives  of the Company and its
subsidiaries.  The Company's general compensation  philosophy is that total cash
compensation  should  vary with the  performance  of the  Company  in  attaining
financial  and  non-financial   objectives  and  that  any  long-term  incentive
compensation should be closely aligned with the interests of shareholders. Total
cash  compensation  for the majority of the Company's  employees,  including its
executive  officers,  includes  a base  salary  and a cash  bonus  based  on the
profitability  of  the  Company  and  its  individual  subsidiaries.   Long-term
incentive compensation is realized through the granting of stock options to most
employees,  at the discretion of the presidents of the Company's  divisions,  as
well as eligible executive officers.

Setting Executive Compensation

     In setting  the base  salary and  individual  bonuses  (hereafter  together
referred  to as  "BSB")  for  executives,  the  Compensation  Committee  reviews
information relating to executive  compensation of U.S. based companies that are
of the same size as the Company. While there is no specific formula that is used
to set  compensation in relation to this market data,  executive  officer BSB is
generally set at or below the median  salaries for comparable jobs in the market
place.  However,  when  specific  financial  and  non-financial  goals  are met,
additional  compensation  in the form of either cash  compensation  or long-term
incentive compensation may be paid to the executive officers of the Company.

Base Salary

     The  Compensation  Committee  reviews  the history  and  proposals  for the
compensation  package of each of the executive officers,  including base salary.
Increases in base salary are governed by three factors:  merit (an  individual's
performance);  market  parity  (to  adjust  salaries  based  on the  competitive
market);  and promotions (to reflect increases in responsibility).  In assessing
market parity,  the Company relies on market surveys of similarly sized publicly
traded  companies and generally  pays below the median of these  companies.  The
guidelines  are set  each  year  and  vary  from  year to  year to  reflect  the
competitive  environment  and to  control  the  overall  cost of salary  growth.
Individual  merit  increases are based on  performance  and can range from 0% to
100%.

     The salary guidelines for all presidents of the Company's  subsidiaries are
generally  based  upon  individually  negotiated  employment  agreements.  Merit
increases  are  submitted by the  President  of the Company to the  Compensation
Committee for approval based upon individual  performance and the performance of


                                        9


the  subsidiary.   Merit  increases  for  non-executive  employees  are  at  the
discretion of the presidents of the Company's divisions.

Cash and Stock Incentive Compensation Programs

     To reward performance,  the Company provides its executive officers and its
divisional executive officers with additional compensation in the form of a cash
bonus  and/or  stock  awards.  No fixed  formula or  weighting is applied by the
Compensation Committee to corporate performance versus individual performance in
determining  these  awards.  The  amounts of such awards are  determined  by the
Compensation Committee acting in its discretion.  Such determination,  except in
the  case  of the  award  for  the  Chairman,  is  made  after  considering  the
recommendations  of the Chairman  and  President  and such other  matters as the
Compensation Committee deems relevant. The Compensation Committee, acting in its
discretion,  may determine to pay a lesser award than the maximum specified. The
amount  of the  total  incentive  is  divided  between  cash  and  stock  at the
discretion of the Compensation Committee.

    For 2001,  the Committee  has  authorized a bonus pool of up to $1.0 million
upon the sale by the Company of at least $100 million of Company  assets  (other
than transactions in the ordinary course of business).

Stock Options Granted  under the 1996  Non-Qualified  Stock  Option Plan and the
   1999 Flexible Stock Plan

     The 1996  Non-Qualified  Stock Option Plan and the 1999 Flexible Stock Plan
are long-term plans designed to link rewards with  shareholder  value over time.
Stock  options are granted to aid in the retention of employees and to align the
interests of employees with  shareholders.  The value of the stock options to an
employee  increases as the price of the Company's stock increases above the fair
market value on the grant date,  and the employee  must remain in the  Company's
employ for the period  required  for the stock  option to be  exercisable,  thus
providing an incentive to remain in the Company's employ.

     These Plans allow grants of stock  options to all employees of the Company,
including executive officers. Grants to executive officers of the Company and to
officers  of the  Company's  subsidiaries  are  made  at the  discretion  of the
Compensation  Committee.  The  Compensation  Committee may also make available a
pool of options to each  subsidiary  to be  granted  at the  discretion  of such
subsidiary's president.

     In 2000,  stock  options for the  executive  officers were granted upon the
recommendation of management and approval of the Compensation Committee based on
their subjective  evaluation of the appropriate  amount for the level and amount
of responsibility for each executive officer.

Stock Options Granted under the 1999 Employees Stock Purchase Plan

     The 1999 Employees Stock Purchase Plan,  which is intended to qualify as an
"employee  stock purchase plan" under Section 423 of the Internal  Revenue Code,
provides eligible  employees with an opportunity to accumulate,  through payroll
deductions,  funds to be used toward the purchase of Company  stock  pursuant to
options  granted under the Plan.  Options granted in connection with an offering
under the plan,  permit the option  holder to purchase  Company stock at a price
per share equal to 85% of the fair market  value of the stock on (i) the date on
which the option is granted  (i.e.,  the first business day of the offering) and
(ii) the date on which the option is exercised  (i.e.,  the last business day of
the offering),  whichever is less. Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code also
provides certain favorable tax consequences to the option holder,  provided that
(i.e.,  the last business day of the offering) the stock acquired under the plan
is held for a specified minimum period of time.

     Other than as otherwise disclosed herein, the Company has no plans pursuant
to which cash or non-cash  compensation was paid or distributed  during the last
fiscal  year,  or is proposed to be paid or  distributed  in the future,  to the
individuals described above.

                                       10


Decisions on 2000 Compensation

     The Company's  compensation program is leveraged towards the achievement of
corporate  and business  objectives.  This  pay-for-performance  program is most
clearly  exemplified  in the  compensation  of  the  Company's  Chief  Executive
Officer, Richard J. Sullivan. Mr. Sullivan's compensation awards were made based
upon the  Compensation  Committee's  assessment of the  Company's  financial and
non-financial  performance.  The  results  were  evaluated  based on the overall
judgment of the Compensation Committee.  During 2000, Mr. Sullivan's base salary
was set at $450,000 per annum,  which is the same as in 1999.  In  addition,  in
2000, the Company paid Mr. Sullivan a bonus of $180,000.  Under the terms of its
employment agreement with Mr. Sullivan, the Company agreed to pay Mr. Sullivan a
minimum annual bonus of $140,000. In addition, during 2000, the Company paid Mr.
Sullivan a discretionary bonus of $40,000.  Furthermore,  upon his relocation to
the Palm Beach area, Mr. Sullivan  received property valued at $0.5 million from
the Company,  and the Company made a gross-up  payment to Mr.  Sullivan to cover
all U.S.  federal and state income taxes incurred by Mr. Sullivan as a result of
the transfer.  Mr.  Sullivan was also awarded  4,000,000  stock option grants in
2000.

     The  Compensation  Committee  is  pleased  to  submit  this  report  to the
shareholders with regard to the above matters.

                                          DANIEL E. PENNI, Chairman
                                          RICHARD S. FRIEDLAND
                                          ARTHUR F. NOTERMAN
                                          CONSTANCE K. WEAVER


                                       11


                               EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

     The executive officers of the Company are:



           Name                Age                          Position                      Position Held Since
- --------------------------- ----------- ------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------

                                                                                 
Richard J. Sullivan             62      Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Secretary      May 1993
Mercedes Walton                 47      President, Chief Operating Officer                January 2001
Jerome C. Artigliere            47      Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,   December 2000
                                        Assistant Treasurer
David I. Beckett                49      Senior Vice President, General Counsel,           December 2000
                                        Assistant Secretary
Michael E. Krawitz              31      Senior Vice President, Assistant Secretary        December 2000
David A. Loppert                46      Senior Vice President, Chief Executive Officer,   December 2000
                                        SysComm International Corporation



     Jerome C. Artigliere:  Mr. Artigliere joined a subsidiary of the Company as
President in January 1998,  and was appointed  Vice  President of the Company in
April 1998 and Treasurer in December 1999. In November 2000, Mr.  Artigliere was
appointed Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company,  and Senior
Vice  President,  Chief  Financial  Officer and Assistant  Treasurer in December
2000.  From 1996 to 1997,  he was Regional  Vice  President at General  Electric
Capital  Corporation in Portsmouth,  NH. Prior to that, from 1994 to 1996 he was
State Vice President at First National Bank in Portsmouth, NH, a commercial bank
subsidiary of Peoples Heritage Bank of Portland,  MA. He earned an undergraduate
degree in finance from Seton Hall  University in 1977, and an MBA from Fairleigh
Dickinson University in 1980.

     David I.  Beckett:  Mr.  Beckett  joined the Company as General  Counsel in
January 2000, and was appointed Senior Vice President - Business  Development in
December  2000.  Prior to joining the Company,  Mr. Beckett was an attorney with
Akerman, Senterfitt & Eidson in Miami, and with Pavese, Haverfield in Ft. Myers,
Florida.  Mr.  Beckett was an attorney with Shearman & Sterling in New York from
1980 to 1984 and has more  than ten  years  of  investment  banking  experience,
including  positions with Salomon  Brothers Inc. and Gleacher & Co. in New York.
Mr. Beckett earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Florida in 1974,
a juris  doctorate from University of Florida College of Law in 1976 and a LL.M.
from New York University School of Law in 1977.

     Michael E.  Krawitz:  Mr.  Krawitz  joined the  Company as  Assistant  Vice
President and General  Counsel in April 1999,  and was appointed  Vice President
and Assistant  Secretary in December 1999, and Senior Vice President,  Strategic
Initiatives  and Assistant  Secretary in December 2000. From 1994 to April 1999,
Mr. Krawitz was an attorney with Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson in New
York. Mr.  Krawitz  earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell  University in
1991 and a juris doctorate from Harvard Law School in 1994.

     David A. Loppert:  Mr. Loppert serves as Chief Executive Officer of SysComm
International Corporation, a subsidiary of the Company and, since December 2000,
as a Senior Vice  President of, and prior to November  2000 was Vice  President,
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary of the Company,  which he joined
in February 1997. From 1996 to 1997, Mr. Loppert was Chief Financial  Officer of
Bingo Brain,  Inc.  From 1994 to 1996,  he was Chief  Financial  Officer of both
C.T.A. America,  Inc., and Ricochet  International,  L.L.C. Prior to that he was
Senior Vice President,  Acquisitions and Due Diligence,  of Associated Financial
Corporation.  Mr. Loppert started his financial  career with Price Waterhouse in
1978, in Johannesburg,  South Africa,  before moving to their Los Angeles Office
in 1980  where he rose to the  position  of Senior  Manager.  He holds  Bachelor
degrees  in  both  Accounting  and  Commerce,  as well as a  Higher  Diploma  in
Accounting,  all from the  University of the  Witwatersrand,  Johannesburg.  Mr.
Loppert was designated a Chartered Accountant (South Africa) in 1980.



                                       12



                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     The following table sets forth certain summary  information  concerning the
total  remuneration paid in 2000 and the two prior fiscal years to the Company's
Chief  Executive  Officer,  the  Company's  four other most  highly  compensated
executive  officers  and two other  individuals  for whom  disclosures  would be
required,  or is  anticipated  to be required in 2001, but for the fact that the
individuals were not serving,  or had not served,  as executive  officers of the
Company at December 31, 2000 or for the entire year then ended.

                           Summary Compensation Table



                                                                               Long-Term Compensation
                                                                           ---------------------------------------
                                            Annual Compensation                   Awards          Payouts
                                  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                               Restricted                             All
                                                                 Other Annual    Stock       Options/      LTIP      Other
    Name and Principal                  Salary                     Compen-       Awards        SAR's      Payouts    Compen-
       Position (1)           Year        ($)     Bonus ($)(2)   sation ($)(3)      ($)        (#)(4)        (#)    sation($)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                                              
Richard J. Sullivan           2000    $ 450,000    $  180,000     $ 936,672     $  --        4,000,000    $   --      $  --
   Chairman, CEO and          1999      457,500     3,000,000         9,115        --        1,000,000        --         --
   Secretary                  1998      345,833       180,000        79,882        --        1,500,000        --         --

Garrett A. Sullivan (5)       2000      165,000        90,000        27,832        --        2,000,000        --         --
   Director,                  1999      165,000     1,500,000         8,832        --          500,000        --         --
   Vice Chairman              1998      144,165        90,000         8,842        --          475,000        --         --

Mercedes Walton (6)           2000          N/A           N/A           N/A        N/A             N/A        N/A        N/A
   President and              1999          N/A           N/A           N/A        N/A             N/A        N/A        N/A
   COO                        1998          N/A           N/A           N/A        N/A             N/A        N/A        N/A

Jerome C. Artigliere (7)      2000      134,616        35,000         3,100        --          100,000        --         --
   Senior Vice President,     1999       98,726       150,000         1,938        --          100,000        --         --
   Chief Financial            1998       85,000        25,000         1,938        --           50,000        --         --
   Officer, Assistant
   Treasurer

David I. Beckett (8)          2000      156,055        85,000        29,418                    150,000        --         --
   Senior Vice President,     1999          N/A           N/A           N/A        N/A             N/A        N/A        N/A
   General Counsel,           1998          N/A           N/A           N/A        N/A             N/A        N/A        N/A
   Assistant Secretary

Michael E. Krawitz (9)        2000      151,853        35,000          --          --          100,000        --         --
   Senior Vice President,     1999       94,027       150,000         1,541        --          125,000        --         --
   Assistant Secretary        1998          N/A           N/A           N/A        N/A             N/A        N/A        N/A

David A. Loppert (10)         2000      150,000        45,000        50,901        --        1,000,000        --         --
   Senior Vice President,     1999      150,000       750,000        19,775        --          250,000        --         --
   Chief Executive Officer,   1998      123,537        40,000        15,925        --          285,000        --         --
   SysComm International
   Corporation

<FN>

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

(1)  See    "Employment    Contracts   and   Termination   of   Employment   and
     Change-In-Control Arrangements" below.

(2)  The amounts in the Bonus column were  discretionary  awards  granted by the
     Compensation  Committee  in  consideration  of  the  contributions  of  the
     respective named executive officers,  except for Richard J. Sullivan, whose
     employment agreement provides for a minimum annual bonus of $140,000.

(3)  Other annual compensation  includes:  (a) in 2000, for Richard J. Sullivan,
     $936,672  of other  compensation  representing  the fair value of  property
     distributed  to Richard J. Sullivan,  including the  associated  payment of
     taxes on his behalf, pursuant to his employment agreement;  (b) in 1998, to
     Richard J.  Sullivan for  reimbursement  of taxes (c) in 2000,  to David I.
     Beckett for moving  expenses,  other  discretionary  payments,  and imputed
     interest on an interest  free loan from the  Company,  and (d) in 2000,  to
     David A. Loppert for  discretionary  payments,  tuition  reimbursement  and
     imputed interest on an interest free loan from the Company.

(4)  Indicates number of securities underlying options.

(5)  Mr. Sullivan served as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company
     from March 1995 until January 2001.  Since January 2001,  Mr.  Sullivan has
     been serving solely as Vice Chairman.

                                       13


(6)  Ms.  Walton  began her  employment  with the  Company  in  January  2001 as
     President and Chief Operating Officer.

(7)  Mr.  Artigliere  began his  employment  with a subsidiary of the Company in
     January,  1998 and was appointed an officer of the Company in April,  1998.
     Mr.  Artigliere was appointed Chief Financial  Officer in November 2000 and
     Senior Vice President,  Chief Financial Officer and Assistant  Treasurer in
     December 2000.

(8)  David I.  Beckett  joined the Company in January  2000,  and was  appointed
     Senior Vice President-Business Development in December 2000.

(9)  Mr.  Krawitz  joined the Company in April 1999 , and was  appointed  Senior
     Vice President,  Strategic Operations,  and Assistant Secretary in December
     2000.

(10) Mr.  Loppert was employed as Vice  President,  Treasurer,  Chief  Financial
     Officer of the Company in February 1997. Since December 2000, he has served
     in a dual  role as  Senior  Vice  President  of the  Company  and as  Chief
     Executive Officer of SysComm International Corporation, a 55% subsidiary of
     the Company.

</FN>



Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year

     The following table contains information  concerning the Company's grant of
stock  options  under  the  Company's  1999  Flexible  Stock  Plan  and the 1996
Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan to the named executive officers during 2000:

     Option Grants in the Last Fiscal Year



     Individual Grants
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Number of
                           Securities        % of Total
                           Underlying     Options Granted                                           Grant Date
                        Options Granted   to Employees in      Exercise                           Present Value
      Name                  (#) (1)             2000         Price ($/Sh)    Expiration Date         ($) (2)
- ---------------------- ------------------ ----------------- --------------- ------------------   -----------------
                                                                                    
Richard J. Sullivan          3,500,000         25.5%             $ 2.75         September -06      $ 2,345,000
                               500,000          3.6                2.75         September -05          335,000
Garrett A. Sullivan          1,571,000         11.4                2.75         September -06        1,052,570
                               429,000          3.1                2.75         September -05          287,430
Mercedes Walton                     --           --                  --                    --               --
Jerome C. Artigliere            79,000          0.6                2.75         September -06           52,930
                                21,000          0.2                2.75         September -05           14,070
David I. Beckett                50,000          0.4                6.34           January -06           33,500
                                79,000          0.6                2.75         September -06           52,930
                                21,000          0.2                2.75         September -05           14,070
Michael E. Krawitz              79,000          0.6                2.75         September -06           52,930
                                21,000          0.2                2.75         September -05           14,070
David A. Loppert               786,000          5.7                2.75         September -06          526,620
                               214,000          1.6                2.75         September -05          143,380
<FN>

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

(1)  Options   granted  under  the  1999  Flexible   Stock  Plan  and  the  1996
     Non-Qualified  Stock Option Plan were granted at an exercise price equal to
     the fair market  value of the  Company's  common  shares on the grant date.
     These options are exercisable  over a five-year  period  beginning with the
     first anniversary of the grant date.

(2)  Based on the grant  date  present  value of $0.67  option  share  which was
     derived using the  Black-Scholes  option  pricing model in accordance  with
     rules  and  regulations  of the  Securities  Exchange  Commission  and  not
     intended to forecast  future  appreciation  of the  Company's  common share
     price.  The  Black-Scholes  model was used with the following  assumptions:
     dividend yield of 0%;  expected  volatility of 53.32%;  risk-free  interest
     rate of 4.98%; and expected lives of 5 years.
</FN>




                                       14


     Option Exercises and Fiscal Year-End Values

     The  following  table  sets  forth  information  with  respect to the named
executive   officers   concerning  the  exercise  of  options  during  2000  and
unexercised options held on December 31, 2000:

     Aggregate  Option  Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year-End Option
Values




                              Exercised in 2000            Number of Securities         Value of Unexercised In
                                                          Underlying Unexercised     The-Money Options at Year End
                                                        Options at Year End 2000 (#)           2000 ($) (2)
                       -------------------------------- ---------------------------- --------------------------------
                          Shares           Value
                        Acquired Upon   Realized ($)
          Name          Exercise (#)         (1)         Exercisable  Unexercisable  Exercisable    Unexercisable
- ---------------------- --------------- ---------------- ------------- -------------- ------------- ------------------
                                                                                       
Richard J. Sullivan         500,000        $    ---      4,185,000     7,685,000        $   ---          $   ---
Garrett A. Sullivan         461,500         300,950      1,382,500     2,953,500            ---              ---
Mercedes Walton                 ---             ---            ---           ---            ---              ---
Jerome C. Artigliere         46,000         168,888         75,000       154,000            ---              ---
David I. Beckett             21,000             ---         16,667       112,333            ---              ---
Michael E. Krawitz           71,000         610,963         75,000       154,000            ---              ---
David A. Loppert            322,400         931,260        448,600     1,384,600            ---              ---

<FN>

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

(1)  The values  realized  represents  the aggregate  market value of the shares
     covered by the option on the date of exercise less the  aggregate  exercise
     price paid by the executive officer, but do not include deduction for taxes
     or other expenses associated with the exercise of the option or the sale of
     the underlying shares.

(2)  The value of the  unexercised  in-the-money  options at  December  31, 2000
     assumes a fair market value of $0.688,  the closing  price of the Company's
     common  stock as reported on the Nasdaq  Stock Market on December 29, 2000.
     The values shown are net of the option exercise  price,  but do not include
     deduction for taxes or other expenses  associated  with the exercise of the
     option or the sale of the underlying shares.

</FN>


     Compensation Pursuant to Plans

     Cash and Stock Incentive Compensation Programs. To reward performance,  the
Company provides its executive  officers and its divisional  executive  officers
with additional compensation in the form of a cash bonus and/or stock awards. No
fixed formula or weighting is applied by the Compensation Committee to corporate
performance  versus  individual  performance  in determining  these awards.  The
amounts of such awards are determined by the  Compensation  Committee  acting in
its  discretion.  Such  determination,  except  in the case of the award for the
Chairman,  is made after  considering  the  recommendations  of the Chairman and
President and such other matters as the  Compensation  Committee deems relevant.
The  Compensation  Committee,  acting in its discretion,  may determine to pay a
lesser award than the maximum  specified.  The amount of the total  incentive is
divided between cash and stock at the discretion of the Compensation Committee.

     For 2001,  the Committee has  authorized a bonus pool of up to $1.0 million
upon the sale by the Company of at least $100 million of Company  assets  (other
than transactions in the ordinary course of business).

     Stock Options  Granted under the 1996  Non-Qualified  Stock Option Plan and
the 1999 Flexible Stock Plan. The 1996  Non-Qualified  Stock Option Plan and the
1999  Flexible  Stock Plan are  long-term  plans  designed to link  rewards with
shareholder  value over time.  Stock options are granted to aid in the retention
of employees  and to align the  interests of employees  with  shareholders.  The
value  of the  stock  options  to an  employee  increases  as the  price  of the
Company's stock increases above the fair market value on the grant date, and the
employee  must remain in the  Company's  employ for the period  required for the
stock  option to be  exercisable,  thus  providing an incentive to remain in the
Company's employ.

                                       15

     These Plans allow grants of stock  options to all employees of the Company,
including executive officers. Grants to executive officers of the Company and to
officers  of the  Company's  subsidiaries  are  made  at the  discretion  of the
Compensation  Committee.  The  Compensation  Committee may also make available a
pool of options to each  subsidiary  to be  granted  at the  discretion  of such
subsidiary's president.

     Stock Options  Granted under the 1999  Employees  Stock  Purchase Plan. The
1999 Employees Stock Purchase Plan, which is intended to qualify as an "employee
stock  purchase plan" under Section 423 of the Internal  Revenue Code,  provides
eligible   employees  with  an  opportunity  to  accumulate,   through   payroll
deductions,  funds to be used toward the purchase of Company  stock  pursuant to
options  granted under the Plan.  Options granted in connection with an offering
under the plan,  permit the option  holder to purchase  Company stock at a price
per share equal to 85% of the fair market  value of the stock on (i) the date on
which the option is granted  (i.e.,  the first business day of the offering) and
(ii) the date on which the option is exercised  (i.e.,  the last business day of
the offering),  whichever is less. Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code also
provides certain favorable tax consequences to the option holder,  provided that
(i.e.,  the last business day of the offering) the stock acquired under the plan
is held for a specified minimum period of time.

     Other than as otherwise disclosed herein, the Company has no plans pursuant
to which cash or non-cash  compensation was paid or distributed  during the last
fiscal  year,  or is proposed to be paid or  distributed  in the future,  to the
individuals described above.

     Compensation of Directors

     Prior to the fourth quarter of 1998,  non-employee directors of the Company
received a fee of $250 per  meeting,  for their  attendance  at  meetings of the
Company's  Board of  Directors.  Beginning  in the fourth  quarter of 1998,  the
non-employee  director  compensation  was changed to fixed quarterly fees in the
amount of $5,000 per non-employee director. In addition,  non-employee directors
receive a quarterly fee in the amount of $1,000 for each committee on which they
are  a  member.   Reasonable  travel  expenses  are  reimbursed  when  incurred.
Individuals  who become  directors of the Company are  automatically  granted an
initial option to purchase 25,000 shares of common stock on the date they become
directors.  Each of such  options  is granted  pursuant  to the  Company's  1996
Non-Qualified  Stock  Option Plan or the 1999  Flexible  Stock Plan on terms and
conditions  determined by the Board of Directors.  In addition,  each of Messrs.
Friedland, Noterman, Penni and Weaver received (a) an option to purchase 400,000
shares  at  $2.75  per  share on  September  27,  2000,  86,000  of  which  were
immediately  exercised  in  consideration  for an interest  bearing note and the
balance are exercisable for a period of five years after September 27, 2001, and
(b) a bonus of $35,000.  Directors who are not also  executive  officers are not
eligible to participate in any other benefit plan of the Company.

     Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

     None.


                                       16


     Employment  Contracts and  Termination of Employment and  Change-In-Control
Arrangements

     The Company,  or its subsidiary,  has entered into an employment  agreement
with the following named executive officers:

          Name               Length           Commencing          Base Salary
- -----------------------    ------------    -------------------   ---------------
 Richard J. Sullivan        5 Years (1)         March 1, 2000     $  450,000 (2)
 Garrett A. Sullivan        5 Years (1)         March 1, 2000        165,000
 Mercedes Walton            3 Years (3)       January 1, 2001        300,000 (4)
 Jerome C. Artigliere       5 Years (1)     November 22, 2000        175,000
 David I. Beckett           3 Years          January 10, 2000        160,000
 Michael E. Krawitz         5 Years            April 12, 1999        160,000 (5)
 David A. Loppert           5 Years (1)         March 1, 2000        250,000 (6)

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

(1)  Automatically  renewed for  successive  additional  one-year  terms on each
     anniversary.

(2)  Provides for a minimum annual bonus of $140,000.

(3)  Automatically  renews  for  successive  additional  one-year  terms on each
     anniversary commencing January 1, 2004.

(4)  Provides  for options to purchase up to 1,750,000  shares of the  Company's
     common stock at an exercise  price equal to 85% of the fair market value of
     the Company's  common stock on January 1, 2001,  as determined  pursuant to
     the  Company's  1999  Flexible  Stock  Plan,  and options to purchase up to
     300,000  shares of common stock of Digital  Angel.net,  Inc. at an exercise
     price equal to 85% of the fair market value of the  Company's  common stock
     on January 1, 2001 as determined  pursuant to the Digital Angel Corporation
     Flexible Stock Plan.

(5)  Effective April 1, 2000.

(6)  Effective  January 1,  2001,  with  SysComm  International  Corporation,  a
     subsidiary of the Company.

     In 1997, the Company  entered into  employment  agreements  with Richard J.
Sullivan,  Chairman, and Garrett A. Sullivan.  These agreements were amended and
restated  effective  March 1, 2000.  In  addition,  the Company has entered into
employment   agreements  with  Mercedes  Walton  and  Jerome  Artigliere.   Such
employment  agreements  include certain "change of control"  provisions.  Upon a
change of control all unvested  stock options  become  immediately  exercisable.
Also, at the  employee's  option,  he or she may terminate his or her employment
under the agreement at any time within one year after such change of control. In
such event,  the Company shall pay to the employee a severance  payment equal to
the  maximum  amount  which  would not  result in such  payment  being an excess
parachute  payment as defined in the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended
(the  "Code")  which  would be  subject  to an excise  tax.  Additionally,  upon
termination  of  employment  for any  reason  other  than for  breach  under the
agreement,  Garrett Sullivan and David Loppert shall be entitled to receive from
the Company 60 equal  monthly  payments of 8.333% of his  compensation  from the
Company over the 12-month  period for which his  compensation  was the greatest,
and Mr.  Richard  Sullivan  shall  receive 60 monthly  payments of $37,500 each.
These payments are reduced by any severance payments. Such employment agreements
also provide  that,  if any payments  from the Company are subject to the excise
tax described above, the Company will make a gross up payment in an amount which
covers the excise tax due plus the excise and income taxes  payable on the gross
up payment.  Mr.  Richard  Sullivan's  agreement  provides  that he may elect to
receive a percentage  of his salary for each  12-month  period in the  Company's
common  stock.  For the  twelve-month  period  commencing  January 1, 2000,  Mr.
Sullivan did not elect to receive any of his compensation in stock. In addition,
the Company agreed to transfer to Richard Sullivan certain other property valued
at  approximately  $0.5 million upon his  relocation to the Palm Beach,  Florida
area.  The Company would also be required to make a gross up payment that covers
all U.S.  federal and state income taxes payable by Mr.  Sullivan,  if any, as a
result of the transfer. During 2000, the Company transferred the property to Mr.
Sullivan and made payments on behalf of Mr. Sullivan to cover such U.S.  federal
and state income taxes.  See  "Executive  Compansation  -- Summary  Compensation
Table".

     Additionally, the agreements for both Richard Sullivan and Garrett Sullivan
provide for certain "triggering events" which include a change in control of the
Company,  the  termination  of Richard  Sullivan's  employment  other than for a



                                       17


material breach of the terms of his employment agreement, or if Richard Sullivan
ceases to hold his current  positions with the Company for any reason other than
a material breach of the terms of his employment  agreement.  Within ten days of
the  occurrence  of a  triggering  event,  the Company  shall pay, in cash or in
stock,   or  in  a  combination   thereof,   $12.1  million  and  $3.5  million,
respectively, to Richard Sullivan and to Garrett Sullivan.

     In January  2001,  the Company  entered into an employment  agreement  with
Mercedes Walton, President and Chief Operating Officer. The employment agreement
includes certain "change of control"  provisions.  Upon a change of control, all
options granted to Ms. Walton immediately  become vested and exercisable.  Also,
at Ms. Walton's option,  she may terminate her employment under the agreement at
any time  within one year after such  change of  control.  In the event that Ms.
Walton's  employment is terminated by the Company other than for "cause"  within
one  year  following  a change  of  control  or in the  event  that  Ms.  Walton
terminates  her  employment  with "good reason" in  anticipation  of a change of
control,  the Company shall pay to Ms. Walton a severance payment equal to three
times the sum of Ms. Walton's base  compensation and target annual bonus,  which
amount  shall be payable to Ms.  Walton in a lump sum within  thirty days of the
date of  termination.  The  employment  agreement  also  provides  that,  if any
payments  from the  Company  are  subject to the excise tax on excess  parachute
payments, the Company will make a gross up payment in an amount which covers the
excise tax due plus the excise, income and payroll taxes payable on the gross up
payment. Additionally, upon termination of Ms. Walton's employment either by the
Company for any reason other than cause or by Ms.  Walton for good  reason,  Ms.
Walton will be entitled  to receive  her base  compensation  for the period that
commences  on the date of  termination  and  terminates  on the later of (i) the
expiration of the then effective  "employment  term" and (ii) one year following
the date of  termination  plus an amount equal to her target  annual bonus and a
pro rata portion of her annual bonus for the year of termination.

     In 1997,  the Company  entered into an employment  agreement  with David A.
Loppert,  Senior  Vice  President,   and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of  SysComm
International  Corporation ("SysComm").  This agreement was amended and restated
effective  March 1, 2000,  and was  amended  again on  December  14,  2000.  The
employment  agreement,  as  amended,  provides  that Mr.  Loppert is to serve as
SysComm's  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  continue  to serve the  Company  on a
part-time basis (but in no event more than 10% of Mr. Loppert's  business time).
The employment agreement includes certain "change of control" provisions. Upon a
change of control of the Company,  all unvested stock options become immediately
exercisable.  Also, at Mr.  Loppert's  option,  he may terminate his  employment
under the agreement at any time within one year after such change of control. In
such event,  SysComm shall pay to Mr.  Loppert a severance  payment equal to the
maximum  amount that would not result in such payment being an excess  parachute
payment  as  defined  in the  Code  that  would be  subject  to an  excise  tax.
Additionally,  upon  termination  of  employment  for any reason  other than for
breach  under the  agreement,  Mr.  Loppert  shall be entitled  to receive  from
SysComm 60 equal monthly payments of 8.333% of his compensation from the Company
and  SysComm  over the  12-month  period  for  which  his  compensation  was the
greatest.  These payments are reduced by any severance payments.  The employment
agreement  also provides  that, if any payments from the Company and SysComm are
subject to the excise tax described above,  SysComm will make a gross up payment
in an amount  which  covers the excise tax due plus the excise and income  taxes
payable on the gross up payment.

     In November  2000,  the Company  entered into an employment  agreement with
Jerome C.  Artigliere,  Senior  Vice  President,  Chief  Financial  Officer  and
Assistant  Treasurer.  The  employment  agreement  includes  certain  "change of
control" provisions. Upon a change of control of the Company, all unvested stock
options become immediately vested exercisable.  Also, at Mr. Arigliere's option,
he may terminate his employment  under the agreement at any time within one year
after such  change of  control.  In such  event,  the  Company  shall pay to Mr.
Artigliere  a  severance  payment  equal to three  times Mr.  Arigliere's  "base
amount" as defined in Section 280G of the Code minus one dollar.  The employment
agreement  also  provides  that, if any payments from the Company are subject to
the excise tax on excess  parachute  payments,  the Company will make a gross up
payment in an amount  which covers the excise tax due plus the excise and income
taxes payable on the gross up payment.



                                       18


     In January  2000,  the Company  entered into an employment  agreement  with
David  I.  Beckett,  Senior  Vice  President,  General  Counsel,  and  Assistant
Secretary.  The agreement provides that in the event Mr. Beckett's employment is
terminated  either by the Company  other than for "cause" or by Mr.  Beckett for
"good  reason," Mr. Beckett will continue to receive his base  compensation  and
other benefits for the remainder of the  employment  term under the agreement as
if such termination had not occurred.

     In March 1999,  the  Company  entered  into an  employment  agreement  with
Michael Krawitz,  Senior Vice President,  Strategic  Initiatives,  and Assistant
Secretary.  The  agreement  was  amended  in June  1999 and in April  2000.  The
agreement  provides  that in the event Mr.  Krawitz's  employment  is terminated
either  by the  Company  other  than for  "cause"  or by Mr.  Krawitz  for "good
reason," Mr.  Krawitz  will  continue to receive his base  compensation  for the
remainder of the employment term under the agreement as if such  termination had
not occurred. Upon any such termination,  the payment of any other benefits will
be determined by the Board in accordance with the Company's plans,  policies and
practices.

Indebtedness of Management

     Daniel E. Penni, a member of the Company's board of directors, has executed
a revolving line of credit promissory note in favor of Applied Digital Solutions
Financial  Corp.,  a subsidiary of the Company,  in the amount of $450,000.  The
promissory  note is payable  on demand,  with  interest  payable  monthly on the
unpaid  principal  balance at the rate equal to one  percentage  point above the
base rate announced by State Street Bank and Trust Company (which  interest rate
shall  fluctuate  contemporaneously  with  changes  in such  base  rate).  As of
December 31, 2000, $420,000 had been advanced under this note.

     David I.  Beckett,  the  Company's  Senior Vice  President,  has executed a
promissory  note  in  favor  of the  Company  in the  amount  of  $115,000.  The
promissory  note is due on  demand,  non-interest  bearing  and is  secured by a
mortgage on real  property.  As of December 31, 2000  $115,000 was  outstanding.
Imputed  interest is included in the "Summary  Compensation  Table" above in the
"Other Annual Compensation" column.

     David A.  Loppert,  the  Company's  Senior Vice  President,  has executed a
promissory  note  in  favor  of the  Company  in the  amount  of  $260,000.  The
promissory note is non-interest  bearing and was executed as  consideration  for
the purchase by Mr. Loppert of 100,000 shares of the Company's  common stock. As
of December 31, 2000 $90,000 was  outstanding.  Imputed  interest is included in
the  "Summary  Compensation  Table"  above in the  "Other  Annual  Compensation"
column.

     On September 27, 2000, the following  named  executive  officers  exercised
options granted to them under the Company's 1999 Flexible Stock Plan to purchase
shares of the Company's  common stock.  Under the terms of the grant,  the named
executive  officers each executed and delivered an interest  bearing  promissory
note and stock pledge agreement to the Company in consideration for the purchase
of the shares, as follows:

Named Executive Officer       Amount        Interest Rate          Due Date
- -----------------------       ------        -------------          --------
Richard J. Sullivan         $1,375,000           6.0%         September 27, 2003
Garrett A. Sullivan          1,179,750           6.0          September 27, 2003
Jerome C. Artigliere            57,750           6.0          September 27, 2003
David I. Beckett                57,750           6.0          September 27, 2003
Michael E. Krawitz              57,750           6.0          September 27, 2003
David A. Loppert               588,500           6.0          September 27, 2003




                                       19




                 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

Changes in Control

     On October 26, 2000,  the Company issued $26 million in stated value of its
Series C preferred stock,  with an initial  conversion price of $7.56 per share,
to a  select  group of  institutional  investors  in a  private  placement.  The
conversion  price has been reduced to $5.672 in accordance  with the Certificate
of  Designation  related to the  Series C  preferred  stock.  In  addition,  the
investors have the option to convert at an "alternative conversion price", which
is a percentage of the average  closing price for the 10 trading days  preceding
the date of notice of conversion. The initial percentage was 140% of the average
closing price and declines, in stages, ending at to 110% on June 24, 2001. It is
currently  125%.  Furthermore,  if a "triggering  event"  occurs,  as more fully
described in the  Certificate of  Designation  related to the Series C preferred
stock,  the  holders  would be entitled to convert at a price per share equal to
50% of the lowest closing price during the occurrence of such triggering  event.
The investors  also have the option to purchase up to an additional  $26 million
in stated value of Series C preferred  stock for an aggregate  purchase price of
$20  million,  for a period of ten months  following  the  effectiveness  of the
registration  statement  related to the  Company's  common  stock into which the
Series C preferred stock is convertible.

     As a result of the  foregoing,  the  conversion  of the Series C  preferred
stock into  shares of the  Company's  common  stock may cause the  issuance of a
number of shares of our common  stock  large  enough to  constitute  a change of
control.

     Based on the current  market  value of the  Company's  common stock and the
current applicable  alternative conversion price, the conversion of the Series C
preferred stock into shares of the Company's common stock would not constitute a
change of  control.  However,  should the  investors  exercise  their  option to
purchase  additional shares of Series C preferred stock, or should the Company's
stock price decline or should a triggering  event occur,  the  conversion of the
Series C preferred stock could result in a change in control of the Company.

     Except as discussed  above in relation to the  conversion  of the Company's
Series C  preferred  stock,  there  are no  arrangements  known to the  Company,
including any pledge by any person of  securities of the Company,  the operation
of which may at a subsequent date result in a change in control of the Company.



                                       20




     The Company has made previous  filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended,  or the Exchange Act, that incorporate  future filings,  including this
Proxy Statement, in whole or in part. However, the following "Performance Graph"
and "Report of the Audit  Committee" shall not be incorporated by reference into
any such filings.

                                PERFORMANCE GRAPH

     The  following  performance  graph  compares  the  changes,  for the period
indicated, in the cumulative total value of $100 hypothetically invested in each
of (a) the  Company's  common stock,  (b) the Russell 2000 Stock Index,  (c) the
Nasdaq Stock Market(R) and (d) the AMEX. Historically,  the Company has included
in its performance  graph,  various companies that the Company believed operated
within its peer group. Due to the changes in the Company's business, the Company
believes  that the  comparisons  to the  previous  peer group data are no longer
meaningful,  and, as a result,  has removed the information  related to the peer
group.


                             Cumulative Total Return
                           Based on Investment of $100
                      December 31, 1995 - December 31, 2000

     [OBJECT OMITTED]



                                                            Dollar Value of $100 Investment at
                                               -------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 12/31/95   12/31/96 12/31/97  12/31/98 12/31/99  12/31/00
                                                 --------   -------- --------  -------- --------  --------
                                                                                  
The Company                                      $100.00      140.00   120.00     95.01   200.00     18.35

Russell 2000 Index                               $100.00      114.76   138.31    133.54   159.75    153.03

Nasdaq Stock Market Total Return Index           $100.00      123.04   150.69    212.51   394.92    237.62

AMEX                                             $100.00      101.55   127.26    136.58   179.36    168.46



                                       21



                          REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

     The Audit Committee oversees the Company's  financial  reporting process on
behalf of the Board of Directors. The Committee is comprised of four independent
Directors and operates under a written charter  (Exhibit A) adopted by the Board
of  Directors.  Management  has the  primary  responsibility  for the  financial
statements  and the  reporting  process,  including  the  Company's  systems  of
internal controls.  In fulfilling its  responsibilities,  the Committee reviewed
the audited financial  statements in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended,
with management,  including a discussion of the quality and acceptability of the
Company's financial reporting and controls.

     The Committee reviewed with the independent  auditors,  who are responsible
for  expressing  an  opinion  on  the  conformity  of  those  audited  financial
statements with generally accepted accounting  standards,  their judgments as to
the quality and  acceptability  of the  Company's  financial  reporting and such
other matters as are required to be discussed with the Committee under generally
accepted auditing  standards,  including the matters required to be discussed by
SAS 61 (Communication  with Audit  Committees).  In addition,  the Committee has
discussed  with  the  independent  auditors  the  auditors'   independence  from
management  and the  Company,  including  the matters in the  auditors'  written
disclosures required by Independent Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence
Discussions with Audit Committees).

     The Committee also discussed  with the Company's  independent  auditors the
overall scope and plans for its audit. The Committee meets periodically with the
independent auditors, with or without management present, to discuss the results
of its examination,  its evaluation of the Company's  internal  controls and the
overall quality of the Company's financial reporting.

     In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Committee
recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited  financial  statements be
included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended by Form 10-K/A,
for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 2000, for filing with the Securities and
Exchange  Commission.  The Committee also evaluated and recommended to the Board
the reappointment of the Company's independent auditors for fiscal 2001.

     The Audit  Committee  is pleased to submit this report to the  shareholders
with regard to the above matters.

                                            RICHARD S. FRIEDLAND, Chairman
                                            ARTHUR F. NOTERMAN
                                            DANIEL E. PENNI
                                            CONSTANCE K. WEAVER



                                       22


                RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

                                    (Item 2)

     The Board of Directors of the Company,  at the  recommendation of the Audit
Committee, has appointed PwC to serve as independent auditors of the Company for
the year ending December 31, 2001,  subject to ratification by the  shareholders
of the Company. PwC has audited the Company's  consolidated financial statements
since the year ended  December 31, 1998.  Audit services of PwC in 2000 included
the examination of the consolidated financial statements of the Company, certain
services relating to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission as well
as certain services relating to the Company's consolidated quarterly reports.

     A  representative  of PwC is expected to be present at the Meeting and will
have  an  opportunity  to  make a  statement  if he or she so  desires.  The PwC
representative  will also be available to respond to appropriate  questions from
shareholders.

Audit and Non-Audit Fees

     For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000, fees for services  provided by
PwC were as follows:

                                                          (Dollars in thousands)

A.   Audit Fees                                                $    547.6

B.   Financial Information Systems                                    ___
     Design and Implementation

C.   All Other (acquisition and divestiture                         688.7
     support and other services)


Recommendation of the Board of Directors

     The  Board  of  Directors   recommends  a  vote  FOR  ratification  of  the
appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP as the Company's independent auditors
for the year ending  December 31, 2001.  Unless a contrary  choice is specified,
proxies  solicited by the Board of Directors will be voted FOR  ratification  of
the  appointment  of  PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP as the  Company's  independent
auditors for the year ending December 31, 2001.





                                       23



      APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO THE COMPANY'S 1999 FLEXIBLE STOCK PLAN AND
  RATIFICATION OF OPTIONS GRANTED UNDER THE COMPANY'S 1999 FLEXIBLE STOCK PLAN

                                    (Item 3)

     INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UNDER THE PLAN

     The Board of Directors has approved  amendments to the 1999 Flexible  Stock
Plan (the "Plan")  increasing  the number of shares of common stock which may be
issued  under the Plan to  17,000,000.  The  amendments  also  provide an annual
increase in shares available under the Plan, effective January 1, 2001, equal to
10% of the number of shares of common stock  outstanding on such date, but in no
event more than  30,000,000  shares in the  aggregate.  As of May 9, 2001, up to
27,148,670  options  are  available  to be granted  under the Plan,  as amended,
23,948,500 of which have previously been granted by the committee designated for
such purpose.

     The Plan,  previously  approved by the  Company's  shareholders  on June 5,
1999,  permitted the Company to issue  5,000,000  shares of common stock plus an
annual  increase,  effective on the first day of each calendar year, equal to 5%
of the number of  outstanding  shares of common stock  outstanding on such date,
but in no event more than 15,000,000 shares in the aggregate.

     CHANGE IN CONTROL

     The Board has also  approved  amendments  which  change the  definition  of
"Change in Control" and what occurs in the event of a Change in Control.

     Under the Plan, in the event of a Change in Control,  as defined below, all
Incentive  Stock  Options and  Non-Qualified  Stock  Options  shall become fully
exercisable, all Stock Appreciation Rights shall become immediately payable, all
Restricted  Stock shall become vested,  all  Performance  Shares shall be deemed
fully earned, and all Cash Awards,  Other Stock Based Awards, and other Benefits
shall become fully vested,  exercisable or payable.  In addition,  the Committee
may, to the extent not inconsistent  with the above,  provide such protection as
it deems  necessary  to  maintain a  participant's  rights,  including,  without
limitation:  (i) providing for purchase of a benefit for an amount in cash equal
to the amount which could have been attained upon the exercise or realization of
such benefit;  (ii) making such  adjustment to the  outstanding  benefits as the
Committee deems appropriate; and/or (iii) causing the outstanding benefits to be
assumed, or new benefits  substituted  therefor,  by the surviving  corporation.
"Change in Control"  means:  (a) the  acquisition by any person or group,  other
than  the  Company  and  certain  related  entities,  of  more  than  20% of the
outstanding  shares of common stock; (b) a change in the majority of the members
of the  Board  during  any two year  period  which is not  approved  by at least
two-thirds  of the members of the Board who were members at the beginning of the
two year period;  (c) a merger or  consolidation  involving the Company in which
the  shareholders  of the Company prior to the effective date of the transaction
do not  have  more  than  50% of  the  voting  power  of  the  surviving  entity
immediately following the transaction;  or (d) the liquidation or dissolution of
the Company,  or (e) a sale or other  disposition of all or substantially all of
its assets.

     OTHER AMENDMENTS

     The Board also has  approved an amendment to the Plan so that the number of
shares  covered by options where the purchase  price is no less than fair market
value on the date of grant plus SARs which may be granted to any one  individual
in any calendar year shall not exceed  5,000,000.  The Plan previously  provided
that the number of shares covered by options where the purchase price is no less
than fair  market  value on the date of grant  plus SARs which may be granted to
any one individual in any calendar year shall not exceed 500,000.

     In addition, the Board has approved amendments to clearly identify the Plan
as "broadly based" and to further clarify other language in the Plan.



                                       24


     The Plan is intended to attract,  retain, motivate and reward employees and
other individuals and to encourage  ownership by employees and other individuals
of the Company's  common stock.  The Plan provides for benefits to be awarded in
the  form  of  Incentive  Stock  Options,  Non-Qualified  Stock  Options,  Stock
Appreciation  Rights,  Restricted Stock,  Performance  Shares,  Cash Awards, and
Other Stock Based  Awards,  each of which is defined in the Amended and Restated
1999 Flexible Stock Plan attached hereto.

     Under the Plan, as amended,  options which would allow the holders  thereof
to acquire a total of  11,476,500  shares of common  stock have been  granted in
2000 by the  committee  designated  for such  purpose.  No  further  shareholder
approval is required  for the  issuance of such  options.  However,  shareholder
ratification  of such  options at the Annual  Meeting  will allow the holders of
these  stock  awards  and  options to have the  benefit of Rule 16b-3  under the
Exchange Act,  which,  among other things,  exempts certain grants of options to
officers and  directors of the Company from the  provisions  of Section 16(b) of
such Exchange Act.

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

     The Board of Directors  recommends a vote FOR approval of the  amendment to
the Company's 1999 Flexible Stock Plan and ratification of options granted under
the Company's 1999 Flexible Stock Plan.  Unless a contrary  choice is specified,
proxies  solicited by the Board of  Directors  will be voted FOR approval of the
amendment  to the  Company's  Flexible  Stock Plan and  ratification  of options
granted under the Company's 1999 Flexible Stock Plan.

     Set forth below is a description  of the essential  features of the Plan as
proposed to be amended.  This  description  is subject to and  qualified  in its
entirety by the full text of the Plan which is attached to this Proxy  Statement
as Exhibit B.

                             DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN

Number of Shares

     Under the  proposed  amendment,  the number of shares of common stock which
may be issued under the Plan shall be 17,000,000 shares plus an annual increase,
effective  January 1, 2001, equal to 10% of the number of shares of common stock
outstanding  on such date,  but in no event more than  30,000,000  shares in the
aggregate. Such shares may be authorized but unissued shares, shares held in the
Company's  treasury,  or both.  If an option or SAR  expires  or is  terminated,
surrendered  or canceled,  without  having been fully  exercised,  if Restricted
Stock or  Performance  Shares are  forfeited,  or if any other grant  results in
shares of common stock not being  issued,  the shares  covered by such option or
SAR, grant of shares of Restricted Stock,  Performance Shares or other grant, as
the case may be, shall again be available for use under the Plan.

     If there is any change in the common  stock of the Company by reason of any
stock  dividend,  spin-off,  split-up,   spin-out,   recapitalization,   merger,
consolidation,  reorganization, combination or exchange of shares, the number of
SARs and  number  and  class of  shares  available  for  options  and  grants of
Restricted Stock, Performance Shares and Other Stock Based Awards and the number
of shares subject to any outstanding  options,  SARs, grants of Restricted Stock
Performance  Shares which are not yet vested,  and Other Stock Based Awards, and
the price thereof, as applicable, will be appropriately adjusted.

Administration

     The Plan is administered by a committee ("Committee").  The Committee shall
consist of the Board,  unless the Board  appoints a Committee of two or more but
less than all of the Board.  If the Committee does not include the entire Board,
it shall serve at the pleasure of the Board, which may from time to time appoint
members in  substitution  for members  previously  appointed and fill vacancies,
however caused, in the Committee.

     Subject to the express  provisions of the Plan,  the Committee has complete
authority to: (i)  determine  when and to whom Benefits are granted and the type
and amounts of Benefits; (ii) determine the terms, conditions and provisions of,
and restrictions relating to, each Benefit granted; (iii) interpret and construe
the Plan and any agreement  ("Agreement")  evidencing  and describing a Benefit;


                                       25


(iv) prescribe,  amend and rescind rules and  regulations  relating to the Plan;
(v)  determine  the form and  contents of all  Agreements;  (vi)  determine  all
questions  relating to Benefits  under the Plan; and (vii) take any other action
which it considers  necessary or appropriate for the  administration of the Plan
and to carry out the purposes of the Plan.

     Except as  required  by Rule 16b-3  with  respect  to  Benefits  granted to
persons  who are  subject to  Section  16 of the  Exchange  Act  (consisting  of
directors  and  officers),  the  Committee  may  delegate  its  authority to any
employee, employees or committee.

Amendment, Termination and Change in Control

     The Board may amend the Plan at any time. However,  the Board may not amend
the Plan without shareholder  approval if such amendment (i) would cause options
which are intended to qualify as Incentive  Stock  Options to fail to qualify as
such, (ii) would cause the Plan to fail to meet the  requirements of Rule 16b-3,
or (iii) would violate  applicable law. The Plan has no fixed  termination  date
and shall continue in effect until terminated by the Board.

     The  amendment or  termination  of the Plan will not  adversely  affect any
Benefit granted prior to such amendment or termination. However, any Benefit may
be modified or canceled by the  Committee if and to the extent  permitted by the
Plan or  Agreement or with the consent of the  participant  to whom such Benefit
was granted.

     In the event of a Change in Control,  as defined below, all Incentive Stock
Options and  Non-Qualified  Stock  Options shall become fully  exercisable,  all
Stock Appreciation Rights shall become immediately payable, all Restricted Stock
shall become vested,  all Performance  Shares shall be deemed fully earned,  and
all Cash Awards, Other Stock Based Awards, and other Benefits shall become fully
vested,  exercisable or payable.  In addition,  the Committee may, to the extent
not inconsistent  with the above,  provide such protection as it deems necessary
to maintain a participant's rights, including, without limitation: (i) providing
for  purchase of a benefit for an amount in cash equal to the amount which could
have been attained upon the exercise or realization of such benefit; (ii) making
such adjustment to the outstanding  benefits as the Committee deems appropriate;
and/or (iii)  causing the  outstanding  benefits to be assumed,  or new benefits
substituted therefor, by the surviving  corporation.  "Change in Control" means:
(a) the  acquisition by any person or group,  other than the Company and certain
related  entities,  of more than 20% of the outstanding  shares of common stock;
(b) a change in the  majority  of the  members of the Board  during any two year
period which is not approved by at least  two-thirds of the members of the Board
who were  members  at the  beginning  of the two year  period;  (c) a merger  or
consolidation  involving  the Company in which the  shareholders  of the Company
prior to the effective date of the  transaction do not have more than 50% of the
voting power of the surviving entity immediately  following the transaction;  or
(d) the  liquidation  or  dissolution  of the  Company,  or (e) a sale or  other
disposition of all or substantially all of its assets.

Eligibility for Benefits

     Benefits may be awarded to individuals selected by the Committee.  Benefits
may be awarded only to employees,  members of the Board, employees and owners of
entities which are not affiliates but which have a direct or indirect  ownership
interest in an employer,  individuals  who, and employees and owners of entities
which, are customers or suppliers of an employer, individuals who, and employees
and owners of entities which,  render  services to an employer,  and individuals
who, and  employees  and owners of entities  which,  have  ownership or business
affiliations with any individual or entity previously described.

Types of Benefits

     Under the Plan,  the  Committee  may grant a number of  different  types of
Benefits.  A  summary  of the  principal  characteristics  of  various  types of
Benefits which may be granted is set forth below.

     Stock  Options.  Two types of stock  options may be granted under the Plan.
Stock options intended to qualify for special tax treatment under Section 422 of
the Code are referred to as "Incentive  Stock Options," and options not intended
to so qualify are referred to as  "Non-Qualified  Stock Options." In the case of
Non-Qualified  Stock  Options,  the  option  price  shall be  determined  by the
Committee  but shall be no less than 85% of the fair market  value of the shares
of common stock on the date the option is granted, and, in the case of Incentive

                                       26


Stock  Options,  the price shall be  determined by the Committee but shall be no
less than the fair  market  value of the shares of common  stock on the date the
option is granted.

     The other terms of options shall be determined by the  Committee.  However,
in the case of options  intended to qualify as  Incentive  Stock  Options,  such
terms must meet all  requirements  of Section 422 of the Code.  Currently,  such
requirements  are (i) the  option  must be  granted  within  10  years  from the
adoption of the Plan,  (ii) the option may not have a term longer than 10 years,
(iii) the  option  must be not  transferable  other  than by will or the laws of
descent  and  distribution  and may be  exercised  only by the  optionee  during
his/her  lifetime,  (iv) the maximum aggregate fair market value of common stock
with respect to which such options are first  exercisable  by an optionee in any
calendar year may not exceed $100,000;  and (v) the option must be granted to an
employee.  In  addition,  if the  optionee  owns more than 10% of the  Company's
common stock or more than 10% of the total combined  voting power of all classes
of stock of any  subsidiary,  the  option  price  must be at least  110% of fair
market  value of the shares of common  stock on the date the option is  granted,
and the option may not have a term longer than five years.

     SARs. An SAR is the right to receive an amount equal to the appreciation in
value of one share of common  stock from the time the SAR is  granted  until the
time the grantee elects to receive  payment.  Participants  who elect to receive
payment  of SARs  shall  receive  payment  in cash,  in  common  stock or in any
combination of cash and common stock, as determined by the Committee.  When SARs
are granted in tandem with an Incentive Stock Option, the SARs must contain such
terms and  conditions as are  necessary for the related  option to qualify as an
Incentive Stock Option. In addition,  if SARs are granted in tandem with a stock
option:  the exercise of the option shall cause a  correlative  reduction in the
SARs; and the payment of SARs shall cause a correlative  reduction in the shares
under the option.

     Restricted  Stock.  Restricted  Stock is common  stock  which is subject to
forfeiture  until a period of time has elapsed or certain  conditions  have been
fulfilled. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, shares of Restricted Stock
shall be  granted  at a cost  equal to par value  (presently  $.001 per  share).
Certificates  representing  shares  of  Restricted  Stock  shall  bear a  legend
referring to the Plan,  noting the risk of  forfeiture of the shares and stating
that such shares are non-transferable until all restrictions have been satisfied
and the legend has been removed. As of the date Restricted Stock is granted, the
grantee shall be entitled to full voting and dividend rights with respect to all
shares of such stock.

     Performance  Shares.  Performance  Shares are the right to  receive  common
stock or cash equal to the fair  market  value of the  common  stock at a future
date in accordance with the terms of the grant.  Generally,  such right shall be
based  upon  the  attainment  of  targeted   profit  and/or  other   performance
objectives.

     Cash Awards.  A Cash Award is a Benefit  payable in cash.  The maximum cash
award that an  individual  who is subject to Section 16 of the  Exchange Act may
receive in any calendar year in the aggregate is the greater of $100,000 or 100%
of his/her compensation (excluding any Cash Award) for such year.

     Other  Stock Based  Awards.  An Other Stock Based Award is an award that is
valued in whole or in part by  reference  to, or is otherwise  based on,  common
stock.

General Provisions Applicable to Benefits

     Under the Plan,  the  following  provisions  are  applicable to one or more
types of Benefits.

     Agreement and Terms of Benefits.  The grant of any Benefit may be evidenced
by an Agreement  which  describes  the specific  Benefit  granted and the terms,
conditions and provisions of, and  restrictions  relating to, such Benefit.  Any
Agreement  shall contain such  provisions as the Committee shall determine to be
necessary, desirable and appropriate.

     Transferability. Unless otherwise specified in an agreement or permitted by
the Committee,  each Benefit shall be non-transferable other than by will or the
laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during a participant's
lifetime only by him/her.



                                       27


     Tandem Awards.  Awards may be granted by the Committee in tandem.  However,
no Benefit may be granted in tandem with an Incentive Stock Option except SARs.

     Payment. Upon the exercise of an option or in the case of any other Benefit
that requires a payment to the Company,  payment may be made either (i) in cash,
including  a  so-called  "cashless  exercise,"  or (ii) with the  consent of the
Committee,  (a) by the tender of shares of common stock having an aggregate fair
market value equal to the amount due the Company, (b) in other property,  (c) by
the surrender of all or part of a Benefit (including the Benefit being exercised
or acquired), or (d) by any combination of the foregoing.

     Dividend  Equivalents.  Grants of Benefits in common  stock or common stock
equivalents may include dividend equivalent payments or dividend credit rights.

     Deferral.  The right to  receive a Benefit  may,  upon the  request  of the
request of the recipient,  be deferred for such period and upon such  conditions
as the Committee may determine.

     Withholding.  At the time any Benefit is  distributed  under the Plan,  the
Company  may  withhold,  in  cash  or in  shares  of  common  stock,  from  such
distribution  any amount  necessary to satisfy income  withholding  requirements
applicable to such distribution.

     Limitation  on Benefits.  Under the Plan,  the number of shares  covered by
options  where the purchase  price is no less than fair market value on the date
of grant plus SARs which may be granted to any one  individual  in any  calendar
year shall not exceed 5,000,000.

Restrictions on Shares

     The Committee may require each person  purchasing  common stock pursuant to
an option or receiving  common stock pursuant to any other form of Benefit under
the Plan to  represent to and agree with the Company in writing that such person
is acquiring the shares for  investment  and without a view to  distribution  or
resale. In addition,  shares issued under the Plan may be subject to restrictive
agreements  between  the  Company  or a  subsidiary  and  the  participant.  The
Committee may require that a legend  reflecting any restriction  described above
be placed on any certificate for shares.

                U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PLAN

     The following is a summary of the U.S.  federal income tax  consequences of
the Plan, based on current income tax laws, regulations and rulings.

Incentive Stock Options

     Subject to the effect of the Alternative  Minimum Tax,  discussed below, an
optionee does not recognize income on the grant of an Incentive Stock Option. If
an optionee  exercises an Incentive Stock Option in accordance with the terms of
the option and does not dispose of the shares acquired within two years from the
date of the grant of the option  nor within one year from the date of  exercise,
the  optionee  will not  realize any income by reason of the  exercise,  and the
Company will be allowed no  deduction  by reason of the grant or  exercise.  The
optionee's  basis in the shares  acquired  upon exercise will be the amount paid
upon  exercise.  (See  the  discussion  below  for the tax  consequences  of the
exercise of an option with stock  already owned by the  optionee.)  Provided the
optionee  holds  the  shares  as a  capital  asset  at the time of sale or other
disposition of the shares,  his/her gain or loss, if any, recognized on the sale
or other disposition will be capital gain or loss. The amount of his/her gain or
loss will be the difference  between the amount  realized on the  disposition of
the shares and his/her basis in the shares.

     If an  optionee  disposes  of the shares  within two years from the date of
grant of the  option  or  within  one year  from  the date of  exercise  ("Early
Disposition"),  the optionee  will realize  ordinary  income at the time of such
Early  Disposition which will equal the excess, if any, of the lesser of (i) the
amount realized on the Early  Disposition,  or (ii) the fair market value of the
shares on the date of exercise,  over the  optionee's  basis in the shares.  The
Company will be entitled to a deduction  in an amount equal to such income.  The
excess,  if any, of the amount realized on the Early  Disposition of such shares
over the  fair  market  value of the  shares  on the  date of  exercise  will be
long-term or short-term  capital gain,  depending upon the holding period of the
shares, provided the optionee holds the shares as a capital asset at the time of
Early Disposition.  If an optionee disposes of such shares for less than his/her

                                       28


basis in the shares,  the  difference  between the amount  realized  and his/her
basis will be a long-term or short-term capital loss, depending upon the holding
period of the shares,  provided the optionee holds the shares as a capital asset
at the time of disposition.

     The excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time the Incentive
Stock Option is exercised  over the exercise  price for the shares is an item of
tax preference ("Stock Option Preference").

Non-Qualified Stock Options

     Non-Qualified  Stock  Options do not qualify for the special tax  treatment
accorded to Incentive  Stock Options  under the Code.  Although an optionee does
not  recognize  income at the time of the  grant of the  option,  he  recognizes
ordinary income upon the exercise of a  Non-Qualified  Option in an amount equal
to the  difference  between  the fair  market  value of the stock on the date of
exercise of the option and the amount of cash paid for the stock.

     As a result of the optionee's exercise of a Non-Qualified Stock Option, the
Company will be entitled to deduct as compensation an amount equal to the amount
included in the optionee's gross income.  The Company's  deduction will be taken
in the Company's taxable year in which the option is exercised.

     The excess of the fair market value of the stock on the date of exercise of
a  Non-Qualified  Stock  Option over the  exercise  price is not a Stock  Option
Preference.

SARs

     Recipients of SARs do not  recognize  income upon the grant of such rights.
When a participant  elects to receive payment of an SAR, he recognizes  ordinary
income in an amount  equal to the cash and fair market value of shares of common
stock received, and the Company is entitled to a deduction equal to such amount.

Restricted Stock; Performance Shares

     Grantees of Restricted Stock and Performance Shares do not recognize income
at the time of the grant of such stock. However, when shares of Restricted Stock
become free from any restrictions or when Performance Shares are paid,  grantees
recognize  ordinary  income in an amount  equal to the fair market  value of the
stock  on the  date  all  restrictions  are  satisfied,  less,  in the  case  of
Restricted Stock, the amount paid for the Stock.  Alternatively,  the grantee of
Restricted  Stock may elect to recognize  income upon the grant of the stock and
not at the time the  restrictions  lapse,  in which  case the  amount  of income
recognized will be the fair market value of the stock on the date of grant.  The
Company will be entitled to deduct as compensation the amount  includible in the
grantee's income in its taxable year in which the grantee recognizes the income.

Cash Awards

     Cash Awards are taxable as ordinary income when received or  constructively
received  by a  participant.  The  Company is entitled to deduct the amount of a
Cash Award when the award is taxable to the recipient.

Taxation of Preference Items

     Section 55 of the Code  imposes  an  Alternative  Minimum  Tax equal to the
excess,  if  any,  of (i) 26% of the  optionee's  "alternative  minimum  taxable
income" up to $175,000  plus 28% of such income over  $175,000 over (ii) his/her
"regular"  U.S.  federal  income  tax.  Alternative  minimum  taxable  income is
determined by adding the optionee's Stock Option  Preference and any other items
of tax preference to the optionee's  adjusted gross income and then  subtracting
certain allowable  deductions and an exemption  amount.  The exemption amount is
$33,750 for single  taxpayers,  $45,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly and
$22,500  for married  taxpayers  filing  separately.  However,  these  exemption
amounts  are  phased out  beginning  at certain  levels of  alternative  minimum
taxable income.

Change of Control

     If there is an acceleration of the vesting or payment of Benefits and/or an
acceleration  of the  exercisability  of stock options upon a Change of Control,


                                       29


all or a portion of the accelerated  benefits may constitute  "Excess  Parachute
Payments"  under  Section  280G of the Code.  The  employee  receiving an Excess
Parachute  Payment  incurs an excise tax of 20% of the amount of the  payment in
excess of the  employee's  average  annual  compensation  over the five calendar
years  preceding  the year of the  Change of  Control,  and the  Company  is not
entitled to a deduction for such payment.

Limitation on Deduction

     Section  162(m) of the Code provides that no deduction  will be allowed for
certain  remuneration  with  respect to a covered  employee  to the extent  such
remuneration exceeds $1,000,000. Under the regulations interpreting Code Section
162(m), an employee is a covered employee if his/her compensation is required to
be reported under the SEC's  disclosure  rules and he is employed as of the last
day of the taxable year. Code Section 162(m) does not apply to: (a) compensation
payable solely on account of the attainment of one or more performance  goals if
(i) the goals are  determined  by a committee of two or more outside  directors,
(ii) the material terms under which the remuneration will be paid, including the
goals,  is  disclosed  to  shareholders  and  approved  by  a  majority  of  the
shareholders, and (iii) except in the case of SARs and certain stock options (as
described below), the committee  certifies that the goals have been met; and (b)
compensation  payable  under a binding  contract in effect on February  17, 1993
which is not thereafter modified in any material respect.  Compensation  arising
from  SARs and  stock  options  where  the  price  from  which  appreciation  is
calculated  or exercise  price,  as the case may be, is no less than fair market
value on the date of grant constitute  compensation on amount of attainment of a
performance  goal as long as the  committee  described  above grants the SARs or
options  and  the  shareholders   approve  the  maximum  number  of  shares  per
participant over a specific time period. The $1,000,000 limitation is reduced by
any remuneration  subject to such limitation for which a deduction is disallowed
under the Change of Control provisions set forth above.

Summary Only

     The foregoing  statement is only a summary of the U.S.  federal  income tax
consequences of the Plan and is based on the Company's  understanding of present
U.S. federal tax laws and regulations.

                    RATIFICATION OF OPTIONS GRANTED UNDER THE
                 COMPANY'S 1996 NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN

                                    (Item 4)

     Under  the  1996   Non-Qualified   Stock   Option  Plan   approved  by  the
shareholders,  options to acquire a total of 233,500 shares of common stock have
been granted in 2000 by the committee  designated  for such purpose.  No further
shareholder  approval is required  for the  issuance of such  options.  However,
shareholder  ratification  of such options at the Annual  Meeting will allow the
holders of these  options to have the benefit of Rule 16b-3  under the  Exchange
Act,  which,  among other things,  exempts certain grants of options to officers
and  directors  of the  Company  from the  provisions  of Section  16(b) of such
Exchange Act.

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

     The  Board of  Directors  recommends  a vote FOR  ratification  of  options
granted  under the  Company's  1996  Non-Qualified  Stock Option Plan.  Unless a
contrary choice is specified,  proxies  solicited by the Board of Directors will
be  voted  FOR   ratification  of  options  granted  under  the  Company's  1996
Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan.

                                       30


                    RATIFICATION OF OPTIONS GRANTED UNDER THE
                  COMPANY'S 1999 EMPLOYEES STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                                    (Item 5)

     Under the 1999 Employees Stock Purchase Plan approved by the  shareholders,
options to acquire a total of 207,853  shares of common  stock have been granted
in 2000 by the committee  designated  for such purpose.  No further  shareholder
approval is required  for the  issuance of such  options.  However,  shareholder
ratification  of such  options at the Annual  Meeting  will allow the holders of
these options to have the benefit of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange  Act,  which,
among other things,  exempts certain grants of options to officers and directors
of the Company from the provisions of Section 16(b) of such Exchange Act.

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

     The  Board of  Directors  recommends  a vote FOR  ratification  of  options
granted  under the  Company's  1999  Employees  Stock  Purchase  Plan.  Unless a
contrary choice is specified,  proxies  solicited by the Board of Directors will
be voted FOR  ratification of options granted under the Company's 1999 Employees
Stock Purchase Plan.

     APPROVAL OF THE POSSIBLE ISSUANCE OF MORE THAN 29,217,483 SHARES OF THE
  COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK UPON THE CONVERSION OF SHARES OF THE COMPANY'S SERIES
 C PREFERRED STOCK, OF WHICH 4,090,271 SHARES HAVE BEEN ISSUED, AND EXERCISE OF
  RELATED WARRANTS, WHICH SHARE AMOUNT OF 29,217,483 REPRESENTS AT LEAST 20% OF
                   THE OUTSTANDING COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY

                                    (Item 6)

     On  October  26,  2000,  the  Company  issued  26,000  shares  of  Series C
convertible  preferred stock to a select group of  institutional  investors in a
private placement.  The stated value of the preferred stock is $1,000 per share,
or an aggregate of $26 million,  and the purchase  price of the preferred  stock
and the related warrants was an aggregate of $20 million. The preferred stock is
convertible  into shares of the  Company's  common stock  initially at a rate of
$7.56 in stated value per share,  which is reduced to $5.672 in stated value per
share 91 days after issuance of the preferred  stock.  At the earlier of 90 days
after the  issuance of the  preferred  stock or upon the  effective  date of the
registration  statement relating to the common stock issuable upon conversion of
the  preferred  stock,  the  holders  also have the option to convert the stated
value of the preferred  stock to common stock at an alternative  conversion rate
starting at 140% and  declining to 110% of the average  closing price for the 10
trading days  preceding  the date of the notice of  conversion.  The  conversion
price and the alternative  conversion  price are subject to adjustment  based on
certain events,  including the Company's  issuance of shares of common stock, or
options or other rights to acquire common stock, at an issuance price lower than
the  conversion  price  of the  preferred  stock,  or  issuance  of  convertible
securities  that  have a more  favorable  price  adjustment  provision  than the
preferred  stock.  The Company  will be required to accrete the  discount on the
preferred stock through equity.  The accretion will reduce the income  available
to common  shareholders  and earnings per shares.  The holders of the  preferred
stock are  entitled to receive  annual  dividends  of 4% of the stated value (or
5.2% of the  purchase  price)  payable in either  cash or  additional  shares of
preferred stock.

     If certain  triggering  events occur in respect of the preferred stock, the
holders may require  the  Company to redeem the  preferred  stock at a price per
share equal to 130% of the stated value (or an aggregate of $27.3  million as of
May 9,  2001)  plus  accrued  dividends,  as  long  as  such  redemption  is not
prohibited  under the  Company's  credit  agreement.  In  addition,  during  the
occurrence  of a  triggering  event,  the  conversion  price  per  share  of the
preferred  stock  would be  reduced to 50% of the  lowest  closing  price of the


                                       31

Company's  common stock during such period.  The  triggering  events include (i)
failure to have the registration statement relating to the common stock issuable
on the conversion of the preferred  stock declared  effective on or prior to 180
days  after   issuance  of  the  preferred   stock  or  the  suspension  of  the
effectiveness of such registration statement,  (ii) suspensions in trading of or
failure to list the common stock issuable on conversion of the preferred  stock,
(iii) failure to obtain  shareholder  approval at least by June 30, 2001 for the
issuance of the common stock upon the conversion of the preferred stock and upon
the  exercise  of the  warrants,  and (iv)  certain  defaults  in  payment of or
acceleration of the Company's  payment  obligations  under its credit agreement.
The detailed  terms of the preferred  stock are set forth in the  Certificate of
Designation  relating  thereto,  which is an attachment to this proxy  statement
(Exhibit C).

     The conversion price is tied to the trading price of the common stock, with
no minimum or floor price per share.  Securities  such as the Series C preferred
stock that may be  converted  into common stock at a price lower than the future
market  price of the  common  stock  are  often  referred  to as  "Future-Priced
Securities."  The lower the price of the common stock,  the lower the conversion
price,  and  consequently the more shares of common stock that are issuable upon
conversion of the Series C preferred  stock.  Because the conversion rate cannot
be  determined  for  the  Series  C  preferred  stock,  if  the  issuance  of  a
future-priced  security is followed by a decline in the common stock price,  the
existing holders of the common stock will face additional dilution.  Because the
Series C preferred  stock are  "future-priced  securities",  the total number of
shares  actually  issuable  cannot  be  determined  since the  conversion  price
constantly  changes,  depending  on the stock  price of the common  stock on any
given day. For instance,  if the Series C preferred  stock were converted on May
9, 2001 when the closing price of the Company's common stock was $0.97, then the
aggregate  number of shares the Company  would issue would be  25,200,222.  As a
result,  the  Company is  seeking  shareholder  approval  to permit the Series C
preferred  stockholders to convert or exercise their securities in excess of 20%
of the outstanding  common stock, since the percentage of shares that may issued
upon conversion is constantly changing.

     Warrants.  The holders of the preferred  stock have also  received  800,000
warrants to purchase up to 800,000 shares of the Company's common stock over the
next five years.  The exercise  price is $4.73 per share,  subject to adjustment
for various events, including the issuance of shares of common stock, or options
or other rights to acquire  common  stock,  at an issuance  price lower than the
exercise  price under the warrants.  The exercise  price may be paid in cash, in
shares of common stock or by surrendering warrants.

     Option to Acquire Additional  Preferred Stock. The holders of the preferred
stock may provide  notice to purchase up to an additional  $26 million in stated
value of Series C preferred stock and warrants with an initial  conversion price
of $5.00 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $20 million,  at any time
up to ten months following the effective date of the registration statement. The
additional   Series  C   preferred   stock  will  have  the  same   preferences,
qualifications  and  rights as the  initial  Series C  preferred  stock.  If the
holders of the preferred stock exercise their option to purchase such additional
shares of Series C preferred stock and related warrants,  the Company has agreed
to  register  the  resale  of  shares  of its  common  stock  issuable  upon the
conversion of such Series C preferred stock and the exercise of such warrants.

     Use of Proceeds.  The Company intends to use the net proceeds received from
the Series C preferred stock financing for general corporate purposes.

     Consequences  If the  Company  Does Not Obtain  Shareholder  Approval.  The
Company  may be  required  to delist its shares of common  stock from the Nasdaq
National  Market if specific events occur.  The Nasdaq rules  generally  require
shareholder approval for the issuance of securities  representing 20% or more of
an issuer's  outstanding  listed  securities.  Under the terms of the agreements
governing the issuance of the Series C preferred  stock,  the Company has agreed
to seek your  approval  at the Meeting  for the  possible  issuance of more than
29,217,483  shares of common stock  issuable  upon  conversion  of the Company's
Series C  preferred  stock,  of which  4,090,271  shares have been  issued,  and
exercise of the related  warrants to eliminate  this  limitation  imposed by the
Nasdaq National Market. If the Company obtains shareholder approval,  the number
of shares  that could be issued  upon the  conversion  of the Series C preferred
stock would not be limited by the Nasdaq 20% limitation. If the Company does not


                                       32


obtain  shareholder  approval and is not  obligated  to issue shares  because of
restrictions  relating to the Nasdaq rules, the Company may be required to pay a
substantial  penalty,  the conversion price per share would be reduced to 50% of
the lowest closing price of the Company's  common stock during the occurrence of
such event and the Company may be required to  voluntarily  delist its shares of
common  stock from the Nasdaq  National  Market.  In that event,  trading in the
Company's shares of common stock could decrease substantially,  and the price of
its shares of common stock may decline.

     Effect of the Series C Preferred Stock and the Related Warrants on Existing
Shareholders.

     o    The conversion of the Series C preferred stock and the exercise of the
          related  warrants  could result in a substantial  number of additional
          shares being issued if the market price of the Company's  common stock
          declines.  The holders of the Series C preferred stock have the option
          to convert  the  Series C  Preferred  at a floating  rate based on the
          market price of the Company's  common stock,  but the conversion price
          may not exceed $5.672 per share,  subject to adjustment.  As a result,
          the  lower  the  price of the  Company's  common  stock at the time of
          conversion, the greater the number of shares the holders of the Series
          C preferred stock will receive.

     o    To the  extent  that  shares  of the  Series  C  preferred  stock  are
          converted,  a significant number of shares of common stock may be sold
          into the  market,  which  could  decrease  the price of the  Company's
          common stock.  In that case, the Company could be required to issue an
          increasingly  greater  number of shares of the Company's  common stock
          upon  future  conversions  of the Series C preferred  stock,  sales of
          which could further depress the price of the Company's common stock.

     o    Upon the  occurrence  of  certain  triggering  events set forth in the
          certificate of designation  relating to the Series C preferred  stock,
          the  Company  may be  required  to  redeem  the  preferred  stock at a
          redemption  price equal to 130% of the stated value (or $27.3  million
          as of May 9, 2001) plus accrued  dividends,  if such  redemption is
          not prohibited by the Company's credit agreement. In addition,  during
          the  occurrence of a triggering  event,  the  conversion  price of the
          preferred  stock may be reduced to 50% of the lowest  closing price of
          the Company's common stock during such period. The Company may also be
          required to redeem the preferred stock at a redemption  price equal to
          130% of the  stated  value  upon a change of  control  or other  major
          transactions.   If  the  Company  becomes  obligated  to  effect  such
          redemption,   it  could  adversely  affect  the  Company's   financial
          condition.  If such reduction in the conversion price occurs, it could
          more than  double the  number of shares of common  stock  issuable  on
          conversion.

     o    The Company will be required to accrete the discount on the  preferred
          stock through equity.

     o    The  Company may not pay  dividends  on its common  stock  without the
          consent of the holders of a majority of the shares of preferred stock.

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

     The Board of  Directors  recommends  a vote FOR  approval  of the  possible
issuance of more than 29,217,483  shares of the Company's  common stock upon the
conversion  of  shares  of the  Company's  Series C  Preferred  Stock,  of which
4,090,271 shares have been issued, and exercise of warrants,  which share amount
of  29,217,483  represents at least 20% of the  outstanding  common stock of the
Company.  Unless a contrary choice is specified,  proxies solicited by the Board
of Directors  will be voted FOR  approval of the possible  issuance of more than
29,217,483 shares of the Company's common stock upon the conversion of shares of
the Company's Series C Preferred Stock and exercise of related  warrants,  which
share amount of  29,217,483  represents at least 20% of the  outstanding  common
stock of the Company.


                                       33



                      APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO ARTICLES OF
                    INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF
                        AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

                                    (Item 7)

     The  Company's  shareholders  are asked to act upon a proposal to amend the
Company's Second Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, to increase the
number  of  authorized  shares  of  common  stock  from  245,000,000  shares  to
345,000,000  shares.  Pursuant to this  proposal,  the first sentence of Article
Three of the Company's Second Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, is
amended in its entirety to read as follows:

         The  aggregate  number  of  shares of all  classes  of stock  which the
         Corporation  shall  have  authority  to issue is Three  Hundred,  Fifty
         Million (350,000,000) shares, of which Five Million ($5,000,000) shares
         shall be  preferred  stock  ("Preferred  Stock")  having a par value of
         $10.00 per share and Three Hundred,  Forty-Five  Million  (345,000,000)
         shares shall be common  stock  ("Common  Stock")  having a par value of
         $.001 per share.

     The  Company's  Second  Restated  Articles  of  Incorporation,  as amended,
currently  authorizes  the Company to issue up to  245,000,000  shares of common
stock and 5,000,000  shares of preferred  stock.  As of May 9, 2001, the Company
had outstanding 146,087,416 shares of common stock and 20,990 shares of Series C
preferred  stock,  which  would be  convertible  into  25,200,222  shares of the
Company's  common stock if the Series C preferred stock were converted on May 9,
2001 when the closing price of the Company's  common stock was $0.97.  The Board
of Directors  believes the proposed  increase in the authorized number of shares
of common stock is necessary to provide the Company with the flexibility to meet
business needs as they arise, to take advantage of favorable  opportunities  and
to respond to a changing environment.

     The additional  shares of common stock would be available for issuance from
time to time and for such purposes as the Board of Directors may deem  advisable
without  further  action  by the  shareholders,  except  as may be  required  by
applicable  laws or  regulations.  These  purposes may include  acquisitions  of
property and securities, additional stock dividends, stock splits, retirement of
indebtedness,  employee benefit  programs,  corporate  business  combinations or
other  corporate  purposes.  The Board of Directors  has no  immediate  plans or
commitments  to issue any  additional  shares  of common  stock in excess of the
amount currently  authorized.  However,  the Board of Directors believes that an
increase in the number of  authorized  shares would provide the Company with the
ability  to issue  such  additional  new  shares  of  common  stock  should  the
opportunity be presented in the future.

     Each  additional  share of common stock  authorized by the amendment to the
Article  Three  of the  Amended  Articles  of  Incorporation  described  in this
proposal would have the same rights and privileges under the Amended Articles of
Incorporation as each share of common stock currently  authorized.  Shareholders
have no  preemptive  rights  with  respect to common  stock and the  issuance of
common  stock,  other than on a pro-rata  basis,  would  result in dilution of a
shareholder's interest.

     Recommendation of the Board of Directors

     The Board of Directors  recommends a vote FOR approval of the  amendment to
the Amended  Articles of  Incorporation  to  increase  the number of  authorized
shares of common stock from 245,000,000 shares to 345,000,000  shares.  Unless a
contrary choice is specified,  proxies  solicited by the Board of Directors will
be voted FOR approval of the amendment to the Amended  Articles of Incorporation
to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock.

                                       34


                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

Authorized Capital

     The Company's  authorized  capital stock consists of 245,000,000  shares of
common stock,  $.001 par value, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock,  $10.00
par value.  Holders of the  Company's  common stock have no  preemptive or other
subscription rights.

Common Stock

     As of May 9, 2001,  there were  146,087,416  shares of the Company's common
stock outstanding.

     The  holders of the  Company's  common  stock are  entitled to one vote per
share on all matters  submitted  to a vote of the  shareholders.  Holders of the
Company's common stock do not have cumulative voting rights. Therefore,  holders
of more than 50% of the shares of the  Company's  common stock are able to elect
all directors  eligible for election each year.  The holders of common stock are
entitled to dividends and other distributions out of assets legally available if
and when  declared  by the  Company's  Board of  Directors.  Upon the  Company's
liquidation,  dissolution  or winding  up, the holders of the  Company's  common
stock are entitled to share pro rata in the distribution of all of the Company's
assets  remaining   available  for  distribution   after   satisfaction  of  all
liabilities,  including  any prior  rights of any  preferred  stock which may be
outstanding.  There are no redemption or sinking fund  provisions  applicable to
the Company's common stock.

     The transfer  agent and  registrar  for the common  stock is Registrar  and
Transfer Company.

Preferred Stock

     On  October  26,  2000,  the  Company  issued  26,000  shares  of  Series C
convertible  preferred stock to a select group of  institutional  investors in a
private placement.  The stated value of the preferred stock is $1,000 per share,
or an aggregate of $26 million,  and the purchase  price of the preferred  stock
and the related warrants was an aggregate of $20 million. The preferred stock is
convertible  into shares of the  Company's  common stock  initially at a rate of
$7.56 in stated value per share,  which is reduced to $5.672 in stated value per
share 91 days after issuance of the preferred  stock.  At the earlier of 90 days
after the  issuance of the  preferred  stock or upon the  effective  date of the
Company's  registration  statement  relating to the common stock issuable on the
conversion of the preferred  stock,  the holders also have the option to convert
the  stated  value of the  preferred  stock to  common  stock at an  alternative
conversion  rate starting at 140% and  declining to 110% of the average  closing
price for the 10 trading days  preceding  the date of the notice of  conversion.
The  conversion  price  and the  alternative  conversion  price are  subject  to
adjustment based on certain events,  including the Company's  issuance of shares
of common  stock,  or options or other  rights to acquire  common  stock,  at an
issuance  price  lower than the  conversion  price of the  preferred  stock,  or
issuance of convertible  securities that have a more favorable price  adjustment
provision than the preferred  stock. The Company will be required to accrete the
discount on the preferred  stock through  equity.  However,  the accretion  will
reduce the income available to common  shareholders and earnings per shares. The
value  assigned to the warrants  will  increase  the  discount on the  preferred
stock.  The  holders of the  preferred  stock are  entitled  to  receive  annual
dividends of 4% of the stated value (or 5.2% of the purchase  price)  payable in
either cash or additional shares of preferred stock.

     If certain  triggering  events occur in respect of the preferred stock, the
holders may require  the  Company to redeem the  preferred  stock at a price per
share equal to 130% of the stated value (or an aggregate of $27.3  million) plus
accrued  dividends,  as long as such  redemption  is not  prohibited  under  the
Company's credit agreement.  In addition,  during the occurrence of a triggering
event, the conversion price per share of the preferred stock would be reduced to
50% of the lowest  closing  price of the  Company's  common  stock  during  such
period.  The  triggering  events  include (i)  failure to have the  registration
statement  relating  to the  common  stock  issuable  on the  conversion  of the
preferred stock declared effective on or prior to 180 days after issuance of the
preferred  stock or the  suspension of the  effectiveness  of such  registration
statement,  (ii)  suspensions  in trading of or failure to list the common stock
issuable  on  conversion  of  the  preferred  stock,  (iii)  failure  to  obtain
shareholder  approval at least by June 30,  2001 for the  issuance of the common
stock upon the  conversion of the  preferred  stock and upon the exercise of the
warrants,  and (iv)  certain  defaults  in  payment  of or  acceleration  of the


                                       35


Company's payment obligations under its credit agreement.  The detailed terms of
the preferred  stock are set forth in the  Certificate of  Designation  relating
thereto, which is an attachment to this proxy statement.

     Option to Acquire Additional  Preferred Stock. The holders of the preferred
stock may provide  notice to purchase up to an additional  $26 million in stated
value of Series C preferred stock and warrants with an initial  conversion price
of $5.00 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $20 million,  at any time
up to ten months following the effective date of the registration statement. The
additional   Series  C   preferred   stock  will  have  the  same   preferences,
qualifications  and  rights as the  initial  Series C  preferred  stock.  If the
holders of the preferred stock exercise their option to purchase such additional
shares of Series C preferred stock and related warrants,  the Company has agreed
to  register  the  resale  of  shares  of its  common  stock  issuable  upon the
conversion of such Series C preferred stock and the exercise of such warrants.

     Other Preferred Stock.  Additional series of preferred stock may be created
and issued  from time to time by the  Company's  Board of  Directors,  with such
rights and preferences as it may determine. Because of its broad discretion with
respect to the creation and  issuance of any series of preferred  stock  without
shareholder  approval,  the Company's Board of Directors could adversely  affect
the voting power of the Company's  common stock. The issuance of preferred stock
may also have the  effect  of  delaying,  deferring  or  preventing  a change in
control of the Company.

Options and Warrants

     As of May 9, 2001 there were:

     o    4,212,057  issued and  outstanding  warrants to purchase shares of the
          Company's  common stock at a weighted  average exercise price of $2.15
          per share;

     o    warrants  issued in  connection  with the sale of Series C convertible
          preferred  stock to  purchase  up to 800,000  shares of the  Company's
          common  stock at $4.73 per share over the next five years,  subject to
          adjustment; and

     o    options  held  by the  Company's  employees  and  others  to  purchase
          30,571,893  shares of the Company's common stock at a weighted average
          exercise  price of $2.28 per share.  All of the warrants are currently
          exercisable.   Of  the   outstanding   options,   12,310,992  are  now
          exercisable at a weighted  average  exercise price of $2.83 per share,
          and the rest become  exercisable  at various times over the next three
          years.

Indemnification

     The Company's bylaws require the Company to indemnify each of its directors
and  officers to the fullest  extent  permitted  by law.  An  amendment  to such
article  does not affect the  liability  of any director for any act or omission
occurring prior to the effective time of such amendment.


                                       36


                              SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

     Pursuant to the applicable  rules under the Exchange Act, some  shareholder
proposals may be eligible for inclusion in the Company's  2002 Proxy  Statement.
Proposals by  shareholders  intended to be included in the Company's  2002 Proxy
Statement  must be submitted in writing to the Secretary of the Company no later
than January 16, 2002. Shareholders interested in submitting such a proposal are
advised  to  contact   knowledgeable   counsel   with  regard  to  the  detailed
requirements of such securities rules. Proposals by shareholders to be presented
at the  Company's  2002 Annual  Meeting  (but not intended to be included in the
Company's 2002 Proxy Statement) must be submitted in writing to the Secretary of
the Company no earlier than  February 15, 2002 but no later than March 17, 2002,
in accordance  with the Company's  bylaws.  Otherwise,  the proxies named by the
Company's Board of Directors may exercise  discretionary  voting  authority with
respect to the shareholder  proposal,  without any discussion of the proposal in
the Company's proxy material.

                                  OTHER MATTERS

     Financial Statements.  The Company's  consolidated financial statements for
the year ended  December  31,  2000 are  included in the  Company's  2000 Annual
Report  to  Shareholders.  Copies of the  Annual  Report  are being  sent to the
Company's  shareholders  concurrently  with the mailing of this Proxy Statement.
The Annual Report does not form any part of the material for the solicitation of
proxies.

     Other  Matters.  At the date hereof,  there are no other  matters which the
Board of  Directors  intends to present  or has  reason to believe  others  will
present at the Meeting.  If other  matters come before the Meeting,  the persons
named in the accompanying  form of proxy will vote in accordance with their best
judgment with respect to such matters.

     Proxy Solicitation. The expense of solicitation of proxies will be borne by
the Company. The Company has retained ADP Investor Communication  Services, Inc.
to solicit  proxies.  ADP Investor  Communication  Services,  Inc. has agreed to
perform  this service for a fee which is not  expected to exceed  $10,000,  plus
out-of-pocket  expenses.  Proxies  may  also  be  solicited  by  certain  of the
Company's   directors,   officers  and  other  employees,   without   additional
compensation,  personally  or  by  written  communication,  telephone  or  other
electronic  means.  The Company is required to request  brokers and nominees who
hold stock in their name to furnish the Company's  proxy  material to beneficial
owners of the stock and will  reimburse  such  brokers  and  nominees  for their
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in so doing.

     The form of proxy and this Proxy  Statement have been approved by the Board
of  Directors  and  are  being  mailed  and  delivered  to  shareholders  by its
authority.


                                               /s/ RICHARD J. SULLIVAN

                                               RICHARD J. SULLIVAN
                                               Secretary

Palm Beach, Florida
May 16, 2001




                                       37


                                                                       Exhibit A

                         APPLIED DIGITAL SOLUTIONS, INC.
                             AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER


AUTHORITY and ORGANIZATION

The Audit  Committee is an integral  part of the  corporate  structure.  Applied
Digital  Solutions,  Inc.'s control  environment is influenced  significantly by
it's Board of Directors ("the Board") and Audit Committee.

Primary  responsibility  for the  Company's  financial  reporting  and  internal
operating controls is vested in senior operating management,  as overseen by the
Board. The Audit Committee is a standing committee of the Board,  established to
assist it in fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities.

The  Audit  Committee  shall  have  unrestricted  access  to  Company  personnel
documents,  and independent public accountants,  and will be given the resources
necessary to discharge its responsibilities.  The Audit Committee will meet on a
regular basis and call special meetings, as required.

The Audit  Committee  will consist of Directors  appointed by the Board,  all of
whom shall be independent of management and free from any relationship  that, in
the opinion of the Board,  would  interfere  with the  exercise  of  independent
judgment as an Audit Committee member.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Audit Committee's  responsibility  in the area of financial  reporting is to
provide  reasonable  assurance  that  financial  disclosures  made by management
present fairly the company's financial condition,  results of operations,  plans
and long-term commitments.

The Audit  Committee's  responsibility  in the area of  internal  controls is to
ensure that internal controls are designed to provide reasonable  assurance that
assets are safeguarded and  transactions  are authorized and properly  recorded.
Such controls permit the preparation of fairly presented  financial  reports and
help fulfill the responsibility for stewardship of corporate assets.

The Audit Committee's  responsibility in the area of corporate  governance is to
provide reasonable assurance that the Company is in substantial  compliance with
pertinent  laws and  regulations,  is conducting its affairs  ethically,  and is
maintaining effective controls against employee conflicts of interest and fraud.

To accomplish these responsibilities, the Audit Committee will:

o    Review significant accounting policies, policy decisions and changes, along
     with significant accounting, reporting or operational issues.

o    Review  different  aspects of the company on a regular basis,  to ensure an
     understanding   of  the   Company's   operations,   lines-of-business   and
     significant products.

o    Review  corporate  policies  and  significant  instances  of  the  lack  of
     compliance with laws and regulations,  ethics, conflict of interest and the
     investigation of misconduct or fraud.

o    The outside  auditors are ultimately  accountable to the board of directors
     and the audit  committee.  The board of directors  and the audit  committee
     have the ultimate  authority and  responsibility to select,  evaluate,  and
     where appropriate, replace the outside auditors.

o    Review the  annual  audit  plan and the  report of the  independent  public
     accountants.

o    Review the annual internal audit plan and the reports of the Internal Audit
     function.



o    Meet  privately  with and  have  unrestricted  access  to the  Director  of
     Internal Audit and the outside auditors.

o    The audit  committee is responsible  for ensuring  receipt from the outside
     auditors of formal communications  required by ISB Standard No. 1. They are
     also   responsible   for   discussing   with  the  auditor  any  disclosure
     relationships or services that may impact  objectivity and independence and
     taking,  or  recommending  the full board  taking  appropriate  action,  if
     necessary, to ensure independence of the outside auditors.

o    The outside  auditors are responsible for  communicating  the quality,  not
     just the acceptability,  and clarity of the company's accounting procedures
     and their  disclosures.  This will include the degree of  aggressiveness or
     conservatism of accounting  principles and underlining  estimates and other
     significant  financial  reporting decisions made by management and reviewed
     by the outside auditors.

o    The audit  committee will prepare an annual letter that will be included in
     the annual  report and the Form 10-K stating that  management  has reviewed
     the audited  financial  statements with the audit committee and the outside
     auditors  have  discussed  with  them  their  judgments  of  the  financial
     statements.  The letter will also  disclose  that the audit  committee  has
     discussed the above among themselves,  without others present.  As a result
     of these  discussions,  the audit  committee,  in  reliance  on review with
     management  and  discussions  with  the  outside  auditors,   believes  the
     financials are fairly stated in accordance with GAAP.

o    The outside  auditors  will review each  quarterly  report and report their
     opinions to the audit committee via a telephone  conference  call, prior to
     the company filing each quarterly Form 10Q.







                                                                       Exhibit B


                         APPLIED DIGITAL SOLUTIONS, INC.

                            1999 FLEXIBLE STOCK PLAN
                     (As Amended Through September 1, 2000)




                         APPLIED DIGITAL SOLUTIONS, INC.
                            1999 FLEXIBLE STOCK PLAN
                     (As Amended Through September 1, 2000)
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----

1. NAME AND PURPOSE..........................................................B-1
     1.1. Name...............................................................B-1
     1.2. Purpose............................................................B-1
2. DEFINITIONS OF TERMS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION............................B-1
     2.1. General Definitions................................................B-1
         2.1.1. Affiliate....................................................B-1
         2.1.2. Agreement....................................................B-1
         2.1.3. Benefit......................................................B-1
         2.1.4. Board........................................................B-1
         2.1.5. Cash Award...................................................B-1
         2.1.6. Change of Control............................................B-1
         2.1.7. Code.........................................................B-2
         2.1.8. Company......................................................B-2
         2.1.9. Committee....................................................B-2
         2.1.10. Common Stock................................................B-2
         2.1.11. Effective Date..............................................B-2
         2.1.12. Employee....................................................B-2
         2.1.13. Employer....................................................B-2
         2.1.14. Exchange Act................................................B-2
         2.1.15. Fair Market Value...........................................B-3
         2.1.16. Fiscal Year.................................................B-3
         2.1.17. ISO.........................................................B-3
         2.1.18. NQSO........................................................B-3
         2.1.19. Option......................................................B-3
         2.1.20. Other Stock Based Award.....................................B-3
         2.1.21. Parent......................................................B-3
         2.1.22. Participant.................................................B-3
         2.1.23. Performance Based Compensation..............................B-3
         2.1.24. Performance Share...........................................B-3
         2.1.25. Plan........................................................B-3
         2.1.26. Reload Option...............................................B-3
         2.1.27. Restricted Stock............................................B-3
         2.1.28. Rule 16b-3..................................................B-3
         2.1.29. SEC.........................................................B-3
         2.1.30. Share.......................................................B-3
         2.1.31. SAR.........................................................B-3
         2.1.32. Subsidiary..................................................B-4
     2.2. Other Definitions..................................................B-4
     2.3. Conflicts..........................................................B-4
3. COMMON STOCK .............................................................B-4
     3.1. Number of Shares...................................................B-4
     3.2. Reusage............................................................B-4
     3.3. Adjustments........................................................B-4
4. ELIGIBILITY    ...........................................................B-4
     4.1. Determined By Committee............................................B-4
5. ADMINISTRATION............................................................B-4
     5.1. Committee..........................................................B-4
     5.2. Authority..........................................................B-5
     5.3. Delegation.........................................................B-5
     5.4. Determination......................................................B-5
6. AMENDMENT.................................................................B-5
     6.1. Power of Board.....................................................B-5
     6.2. Limitation.........................................................B-5
7. TERM AND TERMINATION......................................................B-5

                                       i


     7.1. Term...............................................................B-5
     7.2. Termination........................................................B-5
8. MODIFICATION OR TERMINATION OF BENEFITS...................................B-6
     8.1. General............................................................B-6
     8.2. Committee's Right..................................................B-6
9. CHANGE OF CONTROL.........................................................B-6
     9.1. Vesting and Payment................................................B-6
     9.2. Other Action.......................................................B-6
10. AGREEMENTS AND CERTAIN BENEFITS..........................................B-6
     10.1. Grant Evidenced by Agreement......................................B-6
     10.2. Provisions of Agreement...........................................B-6
     10.3. Transferability...................................................B-7
11. REPLACEMENT AND TANDEM AWARDS............................................B-7
     11.1. Replacement.......................................................B-7
     11.2. Tandem Awards.....................................................B-7
12. PAYMENT, DIVIDENDS, DEFERRAL AND WITHHOLDING.............................B-7
     12.1. Payment...........................................................B-7
     12.2. Dividend Equivalents..............................................B-7
     12.3. Deferral..........................................................B-7
     12.4. Withholding.......................................................B-7
13. OPTIONS       ...........................................................B-7
     13.1. Types of Options..................................................B-7
     13.2. Grant of ISOs and Option Price....................................B-7
     13.3. Other Requirements for ISOs.......................................B-7
     13.4. NQSOs.............................................................B-8
     13.5. Determination by Committee........................................B-8
14. SARS          ...........................................................B-8
     14.1. Grant and Payment.................................................B-8
     14.2. Grant of Tandem Award.............................................B-8
     14.3. ISO Tandem Award..................................................B-8
     14.4. Payment of Award..................................................B-8
15. ANNUAL LIMITATIONS.......................................................B-8
     15.1. Limitation on Options and SARs....................................B-8
     15.2. Computations......................................................B-8
16. RESTRICTED STOCK AND PERFORMANCE SHARES..................................B-8
     16.1. Restricted Stock..................................................B-8
     16.2. Cost of Restricted Stock..........................................B-8
     16.3. Non-Transferability...............................................B-8
     16.4. Performance Shares................................................B-8
     16.5. Grant.............................................................B-9
17. CASH AWARDS..............................................................B-9
     17.1. Grant.............................................................B-9
     17.2. Rule 16b-3........................................................B-9
     17.3. Restrictions......................................................B-9
18. OTHER STOCK BASED AWARDS AND OTHER BENEFITS..............................B-9
     18.1. Other Stock Based Awards..........................................B-9
     18.2. Other Benefits....................................................B-9
19. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.................................................B-9
     19.1. Underscored References............................................B-9
     19.2. Number and Gender.................................................B-9
     19.3. Unfunded Status of Plan...........................................B-9
     19.4. Termination of Employment.........................................B-9
     19.5. Designation of Beneficiary........................................B-9
     19.6. Governing Law....................................................B-10
     19.7. Purchase for Investment..........................................B-10
     19.8. No Employment Contract...........................................B-10
     19.9. No Effect on Other Benefits......................................B-10


                                       ii


                         APPLIED DIGITAL SOLUTIONS, INC.

                            1999 FLEXIBLE STOCK PLAN
                     (As Amended Through September 1, 2000)


1.       NAME AND PURPOSE

     1.1.     Name.

         The name  of this  Plan is  the "Applied  Digital Solutions,  Inc. 1999
Flexible Stock Plan."

     1.2.     Purpose.

         The Company has established this Plan to attract,  retain, motivate and
reward Employees and other individuals,  to encourage ownership of the Company's
Common Stock by Employees and other individuals,  and to promote and further the
best  interests of the Company by granting cash and other  awards.  This Plan is
intended  to be  "Broadly  Based"  (as such term is used for  purposes  of rules
promulgated by The National Association of Securities Dealers).

2.       DEFINITIONS OF TERMS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

     2.1.     General Definitions.

         The  following  words  and  phrases,  when  used  in the  Plan,  unless
otherwise specifically defined or unless the context clearly otherwise requires,
shall have the following respective meanings:

     2.1.1.   Affiliate.

              A Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.

     2.1.2.   Agreement.

              The document  which  evidences  the grant of any Benefit under the
     Plan and which  sets  forth  the  Benefit  and the  terms,  conditions  and
     provisions of, and restrictions relating to, such Benefit.

     2.1.3.   Benefit.

              Any benefit granted to a Participant under the Plan.

     2.1.4.   Board.

              The Board of Directors of the Company.

     2.1.5.   Cash Award.

              A Benefit payable in the form of cash.

     2.1.6.   Change of Control.

              The occurrence of any of the following:

               (a) An acquisition of any Common Stock or other voting securities
          of the  Company  entitled  to  vote  generally  for  the  election  of
          directors  (the  "Voting  Securities")  by any "Person" or "Group" (as
          each such term is used for  purposes of Section  13(d) or 14(d) of the
          Exchange Act),  immediately  after which such Person or Group,  as the
          case may be, has  "Beneficial  Ownership"  (within the meaning of Rule
          13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of more than 20% of the then
          outstanding shares of Common Stock or the combined voting power of the
          Company's then outstanding Voting Securities;  provided, however, that
          in  determining  whether a Change of Control has  occurred,  shares of
          Common Stock or Voting  Securities  that are acquired in a Non-Control
          Acquisition  (as defined  below) shall not  constitute an  acquisition
          which  would cause a Change of Control.  A  "Non-Control  Acquisition"
          shall mean an acquisition  by (i) the Company,  (ii) any Subsidiary or
          (ii) any  employee  benefit  plan  maintained  by the  Company  or any
          Subsidiary,  including  a trust  forming  part of any  such  plan  (an
          "Employee Benefit Plan");

               (b) When,  during  any 2-year  period,  individuals  who,  at the
          beginning of the 2-year period,  constitute the Board (the  "Incumbent
          Board"),  cease  for any  reason  to  constitute  at least  50% of the
          members of the Board;  provided,  however, that (i) if the election or
          nomination  for  election  by the  Company's  shareholders  of any new
          director  was  approved  by a  vote  of at  least  two-thirds  of  the
          Incumbent  Board,  such new director shall,  for purposes  hereof,  be
          deemed to be a member of the Incumbent  Board;  and (ii) no individual
          shall  be  deemed  to be a  member  of the  Incumbent  Board  if  such
          individual initially assumed office as a result of either an actual or
          threatened "Election Contest" (as described in Rule 14a-11 promulgated
          under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened  solicitation of
          proxies or  consents  by or on behalf of a Person or Group  other than
          the Board (a "Proxy  Contest")  including  by reason of any  agreement
          intended to avoid or settle any Election Contest or Proxy Contest;

               (c) The consummation of:

                                      B-1


              (i)  a  merger,  consolidation  or  reorganization  involving  the
         Company  or  any  Subsidiary,   unless  the  merger,  consolidation  or
         reorganization   is   a   Non-Control   Transaction.   A   "Non-Control
         Transaction"  shall mean a merger,  consolidation or  reorganization of
         the Company or any Subsidiary where:

                  (A) the shareholders of the Company  immediately  prior to the
              merger,   consolidation  or   reorganization   own,   directly  or
              indirectly,  immediately  following such merger,  consolidation or
              reorganization,  at least 50% of the combined  voting power of the
              outstanding  voting  securities of the corporation  resulting from
              such  merger,  consolidation  or  reorganization  (the  "Surviving
              Corporation")  in  substantially  the  same  proportion  as  their
              ownership  of the Common Stock or Voting  Securities,  as the case
              may  be,  immediately  prior  to  the  merger,   consolidation  or
              reorganization,

                  (B) the  individuals  who were members of the Incumbent  Board
              immediately prior to the execution of the agreement  providing for
              the merger,  consolidation or  reorganization  constitute at least
              two-thirds  of  the  members  of the  board  of  directors  of the
              Surviving  Corporation,  or  a  corporation  beneficially  owning,
              directly or indirectly, a majority of the voting securities of the
              Surviving Corporation, and

                  (C) no Person or Group,  other than (1) the  Company,  (2) any
              Subsidiary,  (3) any Employee Benefit Plan or (4) any other Person
              or Group who,  immediately  prior to the merger,  consolidation or
              reorganization,  had Beneficial  Ownership of not less than 20% of
              the then  outstanding  Voting  Securities  or  Common  Stock,  has
              Beneficial  Ownership of 20% or more of the combined  voting power
              of the Surviving  Corporation's then outstanding voting securities
              or common stock;

              (ii)A complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

              (iii) The sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of
         the assets of the  Company to any Person  (other  than a transfer  to a
         Subsidiary).

         Notwithstanding the foregoing,  a Change of Control shall not be deemed
to have  occurred  solely  because  any Person or Group (the  "Subject  Person")
acquired  Beneficial  Ownership  of more than the  permitted  amount of the then
outstanding  Voting  Securities or Common Stock of the Company as a result of an
acquisition  of Voting  Securities  or Common  Stock by the  Company  which,  by
reducing  the  number  of  shares of Voting  Securities  or  Common  Stock  then
outstanding,  increases the proportional  number of shares beneficially owned by
the Subject Person;  provided,  however,  that if a Change of Control would have
occurred (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition
of Voting Securities or Common Stock by the Company,  and after such acquisition
by  the  Company,  the  Subject  Person  becomes  the  beneficial  owner  of any
additional  shares of Voting  Securities  or Common Stock,  which  increases the
percentage of the then outstanding  shares of Voting  Securities or Common Stock
beneficially  owned by the  Subject  Person,  then a Change of Control  shall be
deemed to have occurred.

     2.1.7.   Code.

              The Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended.  Any reference to
     the Code includes the regulations promulgated pursuant to the Code.

     2.1.8.   Company.

              Applied Digital Solutions, Inc.

     2.1.9.   Committee.

              The Committee described in Section 5.1.

     2.1.10.  Common Stock.

              The  Company's  common  stock which  presently  has a par value of
$.001 per Share.

     2.1.11.  Effective Date.

              The date  that the Plan is  approved  by the  shareholders  of the
     Company  which must occur  within one year before or after  approval by the
     Board.  Any grants of Benefits prior to the approval by the shareholders of
     the Company shall be void if such approval is not obtained.

     2.1.12.  Employee.

              Any person employed by the Employer.

     2.1.13.  Employer.

              The Company and all Affiliates.

     2.1.14.  Exchange Act.

              The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

                                      B-2


     2.1.15.  Fair Market Value.

              The  closing  price of Shares on the Nasdaq  National  Market on a
     given date,  or, in the absence of sales on a given date, the closing price
     on the  Nasdaq  National  Market  on the last day on which a sale  occurred
     prior to such date.

     2.1.16.  Fiscal Year.

              The taxable year of the Company which is the calendar year.

     2.1.17.  ISO.

              An Incentive Stock Option as defined in Section 422 of the Code.

     2.1.18.  NQSO.

              A  non-qualified  stock  Option,  which is an Option that does not
qualify as an ISO.

     2.1.19.  Option.

              An option to purchase Shares granted under the Plan.

     2.1.20.  Other Stock Based Award.

              An award  under  Section  18 that is valued in whole or in part by
     reference to, or otherwise based on, Common Stock.

     2.1.21.  Parent.

              Any  corporation  (other than the Company or a  Subsidiary)  in an
     unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company,  if, at the time of
     the grant of an Option or other Benefit,  each of the  corporations  (other
     than the Company) owns stock  possessing  50% or more of the total combined
     voting  power of all classes of stock in one of the other  corporations  in
     such chain.

     2.1.22.  Participant.

              An individual  who is granted a Benefit  under the Plan.  Benefits
     may be granted  only to  Employees,  members of the  Board,  employees  and
     owners of  entities  which are not  Affiliates  but which  have a direct or
     indirect  ownership  interest in an Employer or in which an Employer  has a
     direct or indirect ownership  interest,  individuals who, and employees and
     owners of entities  which,  are  customers  and  suppliers  of an Employer,
     individuals  who,  and  employees  and  owners of  entities  which,  render
     services to an Employer,  and individuals  who, and employees and owners of
     entities, which have ownership or business affiliations with any individual
     or entity previously described.

     2.1.23.  Performance Based Compensation.

              Compensation which meets the requirements of Section  162(m)(4)(C)
of the Code.

     2.1.24.  Performance Share.

              A Share awarded to a Participant under Section 16 of the Plan.

     2.1.25.  Plan.

               The Applied Digital Solutions,  Inc. 1999 Flexible Stock Plan and
     all amendments and supplements to it.

     2.1.26.  Reload Option.

              An Option to purchase  the number of Shares used by a  Participant
     to exercise an Option and to satisfy any withholding  requirement  incident
     to the exercise of such Option.

     2.1.27.  Restricted Stock.

              Shares issued under Section 15 of the Plan.

     2.1.28.  Rule 16b-3.

              Rule 16b-3  promulgated  by the SEC, as amended,  or any successor
rule in effect from time to time.

     2.1.29.  SEC.

              The Securities and Exchange Commission.

     2.1.30.  Share.

              A share of Common Stock.

     2.1.31.  SAR.

              A stock  appreciation  right,  which is the  right to  receive  an
     amount  equal to the  appreciation,  if any, in the Fair Market  Value of a
     Share from the date of the grant of the right to the date of its payment.

                                      B-3


     2.1.32.  Subsidiary.

              Any corporation,  other than the Company,  in an unbroken chain of
     corporations  beginning  with the  Company  if,  at the time of grant of an
     Option or other  Benefit,  each of the  corporations,  other  than the last
     corporation in the unbroken chain, owns stock possessing 50% or more of the
     total  combined  voting  power of all  classes of stock in one of the other
     corporations in such chain.

     2.2.     Other Definitions.

         In addition to the above definitions, certain words and phrases used in
the Plan and any  Agreement  may be defined in other  portions of the Plan or in
such Agreement.

     2.3.     Conflicts.

         In the case of any  conflict  in the  terms of the Plan  relating  to a
Benefit,  the  provisions in the section of the Plan which  specifically  grants
such Benefit  shall  control  those in a different  section.  In the case of any
conflict between the terms of the Plan relating to a Benefit and the terms of an
Agreement relating to a Benefit, the terms of the Plan shall control.

3.       COMMON STOCK

     3.1.     Number of Shares.

         The number of Shares which may be issued or sold or for which  Options,
SARs or  Performance  Shares may be granted  under the Plan shall be  17,000,000
Shares, plus an annual increase,  effective as of the first day of each calendar
year,  commencing with 2001, equal to 10% of the number of outstanding Shares as
of the first day of such  calendar  year,  but in no event more than  30,000,000
Shares in the  aggregate.  Such Shares may be  authorized  but unissued  Shares,
Shares held in the treasury, or both. The full number of Shares available may be
used for any type of Option or other Benefit; provided, however, that the number
of Shares that may be issued under ISOs shall not exceed 15,000,000.

     3.2.     Reusage.

         If an Option or SAR expires or is terminated,  surrendered, or canceled
without having been fully exercised,  if Restricted Shares or Performance Shares
are forfeited, or if any other grant results in any Shares not being issued, the
Shares  covered by such Option or SAR, grant of Restricted  Shares,  Performance
Shares or other  grant,  as the case may be,  shall again be  available  for use
under the Plan.  Any  Shares  which are used as full or  partial  payment to the
Company  upon  exercise of an Option or for any other  Benefit  that  requires a
payment to the Company shall be available for purposes of the Plan.

     3.3.     Adjustments.

         If there is any change in the Common  Stock of the Company by reason of
any stock dividend,  spin-off,  split-up,  spin-out,  recapitalization,  merger,
consolidation,  reorganization, combination or exchange of shares, or otherwise,
the number of SARs and  number and class of shares  available  for  Options  and
grants of Restricted Stock,  Performance Shares and Other Stock Based Awards and
the number of Shares subject to outstanding Options,  SARs, grants of Restricted
Stock which are not vested,  grants of Performance  Shares which are not vested,
and Other Stock Based Awards,  and the price thereof,  as  applicable,  shall be
appropriately adjusted by the Committee.

4.       ELIGIBILITY

     4.1.     Determined By Committee.

         The  Participants and the Benefits they receive under the Plan shall be
determined solely by the Committee. In making its determinations,  the Committee
shall consider past,  present and expected future  contributions of Participants
and potential Participants to the Employer,  including,  without limitation, the
performance  of, or the refraining from the  performance  of,  services.  Unless
specifically  provided  otherwise herein, all determinations of the Committee in
connection with the Plan or an Agreement shall be made in its sole discretion.

5.       ADMINISTRATION

     5.1.     Committee.

         The Plan shall be  administered  by the Committee.  The Committee shall
consist of the Board,  unless the Board  appoints a Committee of two or more but
less than all of the Board.  If the Committee does not include the entire Board,
it shall serve at the pleasure of the Board, which may from time to time appoint
members in  substitution  for members  previously  appointed and fill vacancies,
however caused, in the Committee. The Committee may select one of its members as
its  Chairman  and shall  hold its  meetings  at such times and places as it may
determine.   A  majority  of  its  members  shall   constitute  a  quorum.   All
determinations  of the Committee  made at a meeting at which a quorum is present
shall be made by a majority of its members present at the meeting.  Any decision
or  determination  reduced to writing  and signed by a majority  of the  members
shall be fully as  effective  as if it had  been  made by a  majority  vote at a
meeting duly called and held.

                                      B-4


     5.2.     Authority.

         Subject  to  the  terms  of  the  Plan,   the   Committee   shall  have
discretionary authority to:

               (a) determine the  individuals to whom Benefits are granted,  the
          type and  amounts of  Benefits  to be granted and the date of issuance
          and duration of all such grants;

               (b)  determine  the  terms,  conditions  and  provisions  of, and
          restrictions relating to, each Benefit granted;

               (c) interpret and construe the Plan and all Agreements;

               (d) prescribe,  amend and rescind rules and regulations  relating
          to the Plan;

               (e) determine the content and form of all Agreements;

               (f) determine all questions relating to Benefits under the Plan;

               (g) maintain accounts, records and ledgers relating to Benefits;

               (h) maintain records concerning its decisions and proceedings;

               (i) employ  agents,  attorneys,  accountants or other persons for
          such purposes as the Committee considers necessary or desirable;

               (j) take,  at any time,  any action  described  in Section 9.1 or
          permitted  by Section  9.2(a),  irrespective  of whether any Change of
          Control has occurred or is imminent;

               (k)  determine,  except to the extent  otherwise  provided in the
          Plan,  whether and the extent to which Benefits under the Plan will be
          structured   to   conform   to   the   requirements    applicable   to
          Performance-Based  Compensation,  and to take such  action,  establish
          such  procedures,  and  impose  such  restrictions  at the  time  such
          Benefits are granted as the  Committee  determines  to be necessary or
          appropriate to conform to such requirements; and

               (l) do and  perform  all  acts  which it may  deem  necessary  or
          appropriate  for the  administration  of the  Plan and  carry  out the
          purposes of the Plan.

     5.3.     Delegation.

         Except as  required  by Rule 16b-3 with  respect to grants of  Options,
Stock  Appreciation  Awards,  Performance  Shares,  Other Stock Based Awards, or
other Benefits to individuals  who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act
or as otherwise required for compliance with Rule 16b-3 or other applicable law,
the Committee  may delegate all or any part of its  authority  under the Plan to
any Employee, Employees or committee.

     5.4.     Determination.

         All determinations of the Committee shall be final.

6.       AMENDMENT

     6.1.     Power of Board.

         Except as hereinafter provided, the Board shall have the sole right and
power to amend the Plan at any time and from time to time.

     6.2.     Limitation.

         The Board may not amend the Plan,  without approval of the shareholders
of the Company:

               (a) in a manner which would cause  Options  which are intended to
          qualify as ISOs to fail to qualify;

               (b) in a manner  which  would  cause the Plan to fail to meet the
          requirements of Rule 16b-3; or

               (c) in a manner which would violate applicable law.

7.       TERM AND TERMINATION

     7.1.     Term.

         The Plan shall  commence as of the Effective  Date and,  subject to the
terms of the Plan, including those requiring approval by the shareholders of the
Company and those  limiting the period over which ISOs or any other Benefits may
be granted, shall continue in full force and effect until terminated.

     7.2.     Termination.

         The Plan may be terminated at any time by the Board.

                                      B-5



8.       MODIFICATION OR TERMINATION OF BENEFITS

     8.1.     General.

         Subject to the  provisions of Section 8.2, the amendment or termination
of the Plan shall not  adversely  affect a  Participant's  right to any  Benefit
granted prior to such amendment or termination.

     8.2.     Committee's Right.

         Any Benefit granted may be converted,  modified, forfeited or canceled,
in whole or in part, by the Committee if and to the extent permitted in the Plan
or  applicable  Agreement  or with the consent of the  Participant  to whom such
Benefit was granted.  Except as may be provided in an  Agreement,  the Committee
may, in its sole  discretion,  in whole or in part,  waive any  restrictions  or
conditions applicable to, or accelerate the vesting of, any Benefit.

9.       CHANGE OF CONTROL

     9.1.     Vesting and Payment.

         In the event of a Change of Control:

               (a) all  outstanding  Options  shall  become  fully  exercisable,
          except to the extent that the right to exercise  the Option is subject
          to  restrictions  established in connection with an SAR that is issued
          in tandem with the Option;

               (b) all outstanding SARs shall become immediately payable, except
          to the  extent  that  the  right to  exercise  the SAR is  subject  to
          restrictions  established in connection  with an Option that is issued
          in tandem with the SAR;

               (c) all Shares of Restricted Stock shall become fully vested;

               (d) all Performance Shares shall be deemed to be fully earned and
          shall be paid out in such manner as determined by the Committee; and

               (e) all Cash Awards,  Other Stock Based Awards and other Benefits
          shall become fully vested and/or earned and paid out in such manner as
          determined by the Committee.

     9.2.     Other Action.

         In the  event  of a  Change  of  Control,  the  Committee,  in its sole
discretion,  may, in addition to the  provisions of Section 9.1 above and to the
extent not inconsistent therewith:

               (a) provide for the purchase of any Benefit for an amount of cash
          equal to the amount which could have been  attained  upon the exercise
          or realization of such Benefit;

               (b) make such adjustment to the Benefits then  outstanding as the
          Committee  deems  appropriate  to reflect such  transaction or change;
          and/or

               (c) cause the Benefits  then  outstanding  to be assumed,  or new
          Benefits substituted  therefor,  by the surviving  corporation in such
          change.

10.      AGREEMENTS AND CERTAIN BENEFITS

     10.1.    Grant Evidenced by Agreement.

         The  grant  of any  Benefit  under  the  Plan  may be  evidenced  by an
Agreement  which shall describe the specific  Benefit  granted and the terms and
conditions of the Benefit.  The granting of any Benefit shall be subject to, and
conditioned  upon, the  recipient's  execution of any Agreement  required by the
Committee.  Except as otherwise provided in an Agreement,  all capitalized terms
used in the  Agreement  shall  have the same  meaning  as in the  Plan,  and the
Agreement shall be subject to all of the terms of the Plan.

     10.2.    Provisions of Agreement.

         Each Agreement  shall contain such  provisions that the Committee shall
determine to be necessary,  desirable and  appropriate  for the Benefit  granted
which may include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following with respect
to any Benefit:  description of the type of Benefit; the Benefit's duration; its
transferability;  if an Option,  the exercise price, the exercise period and the
person or persons who may exercise  the Option;  the effect upon such Benefit of
the  Participant's  death,  disability,  changes  of  duties or  termination  of
employment;  the  Benefit's  conditions;  when,  if, and how any  Benefit may be
forfeited,  converted  into another  Benefit,  modified,  exchanged  for another
Benefit,  or replaced;  and the  restrictions on any Shares purchased or granted
under the Plan.

                                      B-6


     10.3.    Transferability.

         Unless  otherwise  specified  in  an  Agreement  or  permitted  by  the
Committee,  each Benefit granted shall be not transferable other than by will or
the  laws of  descent  and  distribution  and  shall  be  exercisable  during  a
Participant's lifetime only by him.

11.      REPLACEMENT AND TANDEM AWARDS

     11.1.    Replacement.

         The Committee may permit a Participant  to elect to surrender a Benefit
in exchange for a new Benefit.

     11.2.    Tandem Awards.

         Awards may be granted by the Committee in tandem.  However,  no Benefit
may be granted in tandem with an ISO except SARs.

12.      PAYMENT, DIVIDENDS, DEFERRAL AND WITHHOLDING

     12.1.    Payment.

         Upon the exercise of an Option or in the case of any other Benefit that
requires a payment by a Participant  to the Company,  the amount due the Company
is to be paid:

               (a)  in  cash,  including  by  means  of  a  so-called  "cashless
          exercise" of an Option;

               (b) by the surrender of all or part of a Benefit  (including  the
          Benefit being exercised);

               (c) by the tender to the Company of Shares  owned by the optionee
          and  registered  in his name having a Fair  Market  Value equal to the
          amount due to the Company;

               (d) in other  property,  rights and credits deemed  acceptable by
          the Committee, including the Participant's promissory note;

               (e) by any combination of the payment  methods  specified in (a),
          (b), (c) and (d) above.

         Notwithstanding,  the  foregoing,  any method of payment other than (a)
may be used only with the  consent of the  Committee  or if and to the extent so
provided in an Agreement.  The proceeds of the sale of Shares purchased pursuant
to an Option and any payment to the Company for other Benefits shall be added to
the general funds of the Company or to the Shares held in treasury,  as the case
may be, and used for the  corporate  purposes  of the Company as the Board shall
determine.

     12.2.    Dividend Equivalents.

         Grants of Benefits in Shares or Share  equivalents may include dividend
equivalent payments or dividend credit rights.

     12.3.    Deferral.

         The right to receive any Benefit  under the Plan may, at the request of
the  Participant,  be  deferred  for  such  period  and upon  such  terms as the
Committee shall determine,  which may include crediting of interest on deferrals
of cash and crediting of dividends on deferrals denominated in Shares.

     12.4.    Withholding.

         The Company may, at the time any  distribution  is made under the Plan,
whether in cash or in Shares,  or at the time any Option is exercised,  withhold
from such  distribution or Shares  issuable upon the exercise of an Option,  any
amount  necessary to satisfy  federal,  state and local income  and/or other tax
withholding  requirements  with respect to such distribution or exercise of such
Options. The Committee or the Company may require a participant to tender to the
Company  cash  and/or  Shares in the amount  necessary  to comply  with any such
withholding requirements.

13.      OPTIONS

     13.1.    Types of Options.

         It is intended that both ISOs and NQSOs,  which may be Reload  Options,
may be granted by the Committee under the Plan.

     13.2.    Grant of ISOs and Option Price.

         Each ISO must be granted to an Employee  and  granted  within ten years
from the earlier of the date of adoption by the Board or the Effective Date. The
purchase  price for Shares  under any ISO shall be no less than the Fair  Market
Value of the Shares at the time the Option is granted.

     13.3.    Other Requirements for ISOs.

         The terms of each  Option  which is intended to qualify as an ISO shall
meet all requirements of Section 422 of the Code.


                                      B-7


     13.4.    NQSOs.

         The terms of each NQSO  shall  provide  that  such  Option  will not be
treated as an ISO. The purchase price for Shares under any NQSO shall be no less
than 85% of the  Fair  Market  Value of the  Shares  at the time the  Option  is
granted.

     13.5.    Determination by Committee.

         Except as otherwise  provided in Section 13.2 through Section 13.4, the
terms of all Options shall be determined by the Committee.

14.      SARS

     14.1.    Grant and Payment.

         The  Committee may grant SARs.  Upon  electing to receive  payment of a
SAR,  a  Participant  shall  receive  payment  in  cash,  in  Shares,  or in any
combination of cash and Shares, as the Committee shall determine.

     14.2.    Grant of Tandem Award.

         The Committee  may grant SARs in tandem with an Option,  in which case:
the exercise of the Option shall cause a correlative  reduction in SARs standing
to a Participant's  credit which were granted in tandem with the Option; and the
payment of SARs shall cause a  correlative  reduction  of the Shares  under such
Option.

     14.3.    ISO Tandem Award.

         When SARs are granted in tandem  with an ISO,  the SARs shall have such
terms and conditions as shall be required for the ISO to qualify as an ISO.

     14.4.    Payment of Award.

         SARs  shall be paid by the  Company  to a  Participant,  to the  extent
payment is elected by the  Participant  (and is otherwise due and  payable),  as
soon as practicable after the date on which such election is made.


15.      ANNUAL LIMITATIONS

     15.1.    Limitation on Options and SARs.

         The number of (a) Shares covered by Options where the purchase price is
no less than the Fair  Market  Value of the Shares on the date of grant plus (b)
SARs which may be granted to any Participant in any Fiscal Year shall not exceed
5,000,000.

     15.2.    Computations.

         For  purposes  of Section  15.1:  Shares  covered by an Option  that is
canceled  shall count against the maximum,  and, if the exercise  price under an
Option is reduced,  the  transaction  shall be treated as a cancellation  of the
Option and a grant of a new Option;  and SARs covered by a grant of SARs that is
canceled  shall count  against the  maximum,  and, if the Fair Market Value of a
Share on which  the  appreciation  under a grant of SARs will be  calculated  is
reduced,  the transaction  will be treated as a cancellation of the SARs and the
grant of a new grant of SARs.


16.      RESTRICTED STOCK AND PERFORMANCE SHARES

     16.1.    Restricted Stock.

         The Committee may grant Benefits in Shares available under Section 3 of
the Plan as Restricted  Stock.  Shares of  Restricted  Stock shall be issued and
delivered at the time of the grant or as otherwise  determined by the Committee,
but shall be subject to forfeiture  until  provided  otherwise in the applicable
Agreement or the Plan. Each certificate  representing Shares of Restricted Stock
shall  bear a legend  referring  to the Plan and the risk of  forfeiture  of the
Shares and stating that such Shares are  nontransferable  until all restrictions
have been  satisfied and the legend has been removed.  At the  discretion of the
Committee,  the grantee  may or may not be entitled to full voting and  dividend
rights with respect to all shares of Restricted Stock from the date of grant.

     16.2.    Cost of Restricted Stock.

         Unless  otherwise  determined  by the  Committee,  grants  of Shares of
Restricted  Stock shall be made at a per Share cost to the Participant  equal to
par value.

     16.3.    Non-Transferability.

         Shares of Restricted  Stock shall not be  transferable  until after the
removal of the legend with respect to such Shares.

     16.4.    Performance Shares.

         Performance  Shares are the right of an  individual  to whom a grant of
such Shares is made to receive  Shares or cash equal to the Fair Market Value of
such Shares at a future date in accordance with the terms and conditions of such


                                      B-8


grant.  The terms and conditions  shall be determined by the  Committee,  in its
sole discretion,  but generally are expected to be based  substantially upon the
attainment of targeted profit and/or performance objectives.

     16.5.    Grant.

         The Committee may grant an award of Performance  Shares.  The number of
Performance  Shares and the terms and conditions of the grant shall be set forth
in the applicable Agreement.


17.      CASH AWARDS

     17.1.    Grant.

         The  Committee  may grant  Cash  Awards at such times and  (subject  to
Section 17.2) in such amounts as it deems appropriate.

     17.2.    Rule 16b-3.

         The amount of any Cash Award in any Fiscal Year to any  Participant who
is subject to Section  16 of the  Exchange  Act shall not exceed the  greater of
$100,000 or 100% of his cash  compensation  (excluding any Cash Award under this
Section 17) for such Fiscal Year.

     17.3.    Restrictions.

         Cash  Awards may be subject or not  subject to  conditions  (such as an
investment  requirement),  restricted  or  nonrestricted,  vested or  subject to
forfeiture and may be payable currently or in the future or both.


18.      OTHER STOCK BASED AWARDS AND OTHER BENEFITS

     18.1.    Other Stock Based Awards.

         The  Committee  shall have the right to grant Other Stock Based  Awards
which may  include,  without  limitation,  the grant of Shares  based on certain
conditions,  the payment of cash based on the  performance  of the Common Stock,
and the grant of securities convertible into Shares.

     18.2.    Other Benefits.

         The Committee  shall have the right to provide types of Benefits  under
the Plan in addition to those  specifically  listed,  if the Committee  believes
that  such  Benefits   would  further  the  purposes  for  which  the  Plan  was
established.


19.      MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     19.1.    Underscored References.

         The underscored  references contained in the Plan are included only for
convenience,  and they  shall not be  construed  as a part of the Plan or in any
respect affecting or modifying its provisions.

     19.2.    Number and Gender.

         The  masculine and neuter,  wherever  used in the Plan,  shall refer to
either the  masculine,  neuter or feminine;  and,  unless the context  otherwise
requires, the singular shall include the plural and the plural the singular.

     19.3.    Unfunded Status of Plan.

         The Plan is intended to constitute an "unfunded" plan for incentive and
deferred compensation.  With respect to any payments or deliveries of Shares not
yet made to a Participant by the Company,  nothing  contained  herein shall give
any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company. The
Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the
obligations  created  under the Plan to  deliver  Shares or  payments  hereunder
consistent with the foregoing.

     19.4.    Termination of Employment.

         If the  employment of a Participant  by the Company  terminates for any
reason, except as otherwise provided in an Agreement, all unexercised, deferred,
and unpaid  Benefits may be  exercisable  or paid only in accordance  with rules
established by the Committee. These rules may provide, as the Committee may deem
appropriate, for the expiration,  forfeiture,  continuation,  or acceleration of
the vesting of all or part of the Benefits.

     19.5.    Designation of Beneficiary.

         A Participant  may file with the Committee a written  designation  of a
beneficiary or beneficiaries  (subject to such limitations as to the classes and
number of beneficiaries  and contingent  beneficiaries as the Committee may from
time  to  time  prescribe)  to  exercise,  in  the  event  of the  death  of the
Participant,  an  Option,  or to  receive,  in such  event,  any  Benefits.  The
Committee reserves the right to review and approve beneficiary  designations.  A
Participant  may from  time to time  revoke or change  any such  designation  of
beneficiary  and  any  designation  of  beneficiary  under  the  Plan  shall  be
controlling  over any other  disposition,  testamentary or otherwise;  provided,
however,  that if the  Committee  shall be in doubt as to the  right of any such
beneficiary to exercise any Option or to receive any Benefit,  the Committee may


                                      B-9


determine  to  recognize  only an  exercise by the legal  representative  of the
recipient,  in which case the Company,  the  Committee  and the members  thereof
shall not be under any further liability to anyone.

     19.6.    Governing Law.

         This Plan shall be construed and  administered  in accordance  with the
laws of the State of Missouri.

     19.7.    Purchase for Investment.

         The Committee may require each person  purchasing Shares pursuant to an
Option or other award under the Plan to  represent to and agree with the Company
in writing that such person is acquiring the Shares for investment and without a
view to distribution or resale. The certificates for such Shares may include any
legend which the Committee  deems  appropriate  to reflect any  restrictions  on
transfer.  All certificates for Shares delivered under the Plan shall be subject
to such  stock-transfer  orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem
advisable under all applicable laws,  rules and  regulations,  and the Committee
may  cause a  legend  or  legends  to be put on any  such  certificates  to make
appropriate references to such restrictions.

     19.8.    No Employment Contract.

         Neither  the  adoption of the Plan nor any  Benefit  granted  hereunder
shall confer upon any Employee any right to continued  employment  nor shall the
Plan or any  Benefit  interfere  in any way with the  right of the  Employer  to
terminate the employment of any of its Employees at any time.

     19.9.    No Effect on Other Benefits.

         The  receipt  of  Benefits  under the Plan  shall have no effect on any
benefits to which a Participant may be entitled from the Employer, under another
plan or otherwise, or preclude a Participant from receiving any such benefits.


                                      B-10

                                                                       Exhibit C

                  CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF PREFERENCES OF
                      SERIES C CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
                       OF APPLIED DIGITAL SOLUTIONS, INC.
                             a Missouri corporation

     Garrett A. Sullivan hereby certifies that:

     A.  He is the President of Applied Digital Solutions, Inc. (the "Company"),
a Missouri corporation.

     B.  Pursuant  to the  authority  vested  in the Board of  Directors  of the
Company  given by Article  Three of the Company's  Second  Restated  Articles of
Incorporation, as amended as of September 5, 2000, the Board of Directors of the
Company has duly adopted the following resolutions:

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  BE IT RESOLVED,  that the Board of Directors  does hereby
provide  for the  issue  of a  series  of  Preferred  Stock  of the  corporation
consisting  of one hundred  thousand  (100,000)  shares  designated as "Series C
Convertible   Preferred   Stock,"   and  does   hereby   fix  the   preferences,
qualifications,   limitations,  restrictions  and  special  or  relative  rights
relating to said Series C Convertible Preferred Stock as follows:

     (1) Designation; Voting Rights.

         (a)  The  series  of  preferred  stock  established   hereby  shall  be
designated the "Series C Convertible Preferred Stock," which series shall herein
be referred to as the "Series C-1 Preferred Shares" or the "Series C-2 Preferred
Shares", as the case may be, (collectively, the "Series C Preferred Shares") and
the authorized  number of Series C Preferred Shares shall be 100,000.  Except as
expressly  provided  herein,  each of the  Series C-1  Preferred  Shares and the
Series C-2  Preferred  Shares shall have the same  preferences,  qualifications,
limitations,  restrictions and special or relative rights.  The stated value per
Series C Preferred Share shall be $1,000 (the "Stated Value").

         (b)  The  holders  of  the  outstanding   Series  C  Preferred   Shares
(collectively,  the "Holders"  and each a "Holder")  shall have no voting rights
with  respect to the  Series C  Preferred  Shares,  except as  required  by law,
including  but not  limited  to The  General  and  Business  Corporation  Law of
Missouri, and as expressly provided in this Certificate of Designation.

     (2) Holder's  Conversion of Series C Preferred  Shares. A Holder shall have
the right,  at such Holder's  option,  to convert the Series C Preferred  Shares
into  shares of the  Company's  common  stock,  $.001  par value per share  (the
"Common Stock") (as converted,  the "Conversion Shares"), on the following terms
and conditions:

         (a)  Conversion  Right.  (i) Subject to the  provisions of Section 3(g)
below and the restrictions  identified  herein,  any Holder shall be entitled to
convert at any time or from time to time on or after the initial  date the first
Series C Preferred Shares are issued (the "Initial Issuance Date") any or all of
such Holder's Series C Preferred Shares into fully paid and nonassessable shares
(rounded to the nearest  whole share in  accordance  with Section 2(d) below) of
Common Stock, at the Conversion Rate (as defined below).

              (ii)In  addition  to the  conversion  rights  set forth in Section
2(a)(i),  at any time  beginning  at the earlier of (A) 90 days from the Initial
Issuance Date and (B) the  effectiveness of the Initial  Registration  Statement
(as defined below),  and if applicable,  (A) 90 days from the Additional Closing
Date  (as  defined  below),   and  (B)  the   effectiveness  of  the  Additional
Registration  Statement  (as  defined  below) any  Holder of Series C  Preferred
Shares  shall  be  entitled  to  convert  any or all of such  Holder's  Series C
Preferred  Shares  into  fully paid and  nonassessable  shares  (rounded  to the
nearest  whole share in  accordance  with Section 2(d) below) of Common Stock at
either the Conversion Rate or the Alternate  Conversion Rate (as defined below);
provided, however, that such Holder's right to convert:

              (x) any then  outstanding  Series C-1 Preferred Shares pursuant to
         this Section 2(a)(ii) at the Alternate  Conversion Rate shall not apply
         if, after the Initial Registration Statement is declared effective, the
         Closing Price (as defined below) of the Company's Common Stock is equal
         to or greater  than 200% of the  Conversion  Price for such  Series C-1
         Preferred Shares, for 20 out of any 30 consecutive trading days and the
         Initial  Registration  Statement  has  remained  effective at all times
         during and through the end of such 30  consecutive  trading day period;
         and

              (y) any then  outstanding  Series C-2 Preferred Shares pursuant to
         this Section 2(a)(ii) at the Alternate  Conversion Rate shall not apply
         if, after the Initial Registration Statement is declared effective, and



         if  applicable,  the  Additional  Registration  Statement  is  declared
         effective,  the Closing Price of the Company's Common Stock is equal to
         or  greater  than  200% of the  Conversion  Price for such  Series  C-2
         Preferred  Shares,  for 20 out of any 30  consecutive  trading days and
         such Registration  Statement has remained effective at all times during
         and  through  the end of such 30  consecutive  trading  day period (the
         events described in clause (x) and (y) each being hereinafter  referred
         to as an "Alternate Conversion Rate Elimination Event").

In the event that the Company  issues any Series C-2 Preferred  Shares after any
Alternate  Conversion Rate  Elimination  Event  (excluding  Series C-2 Preferred
Shares issued as part of a dividend payment  pursuant to Section 7 below),  each
newly  issued  Series C-2  Preferred  Share  shall once again be entitled to the
Alternate  Conversion  Rate  provision  until  such  time as  there  is  another
Alternate Conversion Rate Elimination Event relating  specifically to the Series
C-2 Preferred Shares.

      Notwithstanding  the provisions  hereof, a Holder shall not at any time be
entitled to elect to convert  Series C Preferred  Shares,  and the Company shall
not honor any request for such  conversion,  which,  upon giving  effect to such
conversion,  would  cause  the  aggregate  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock
beneficially  owned by such  Holder and its  affiliates  to exceed  4.99% of the
outstanding  shares of the Common Stock  following  such  conversion;  provided,
however,  that the Holder may elect to waive this restriction upon not less than
sixty-one  (61) days prior written notice to the Company.  For purposes  hereof,
beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company shall not be precluded from issuing any required  shares of Common Stock
pursuant to Section 2(c) hereof.

         For purposes of this  Certificate of  Designation,  the following terms
shall have the following meanings:

              (i)  "Additional  Closing  Date" shall have the  meaning  ascribed
thereto in the Purchase Agreement.

              (ii) "Additional Registration  Statement"  shall have the  meaning
ascribed  thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement.

              (iii)  "Additional  Shares of Common  Stock" shall mean all shares
(including  treasury  shares) of Common  Stock  issued or sold (or,  pursuant to
Section (2)(g),  deemed to be issued) by the Company after the Initial  Issuance
Date,  whether or not subsequently  reacquired or retired by the Company,  other
than (a) (i)  shares of Common  Stock  issued  upon  conversion  of the Series C
Preferred  Shares,  (ii)  shares of Common  Stock  issued  upon  exercise of the
Warrants,  or (iii)  such  number of  additional  shares of Common  Stock as may
become  issuable by conversion of the Series C Preferred  Shares and exercise of
the Warrants by reason of  adjustments  required  pursuant to the  anti-dilution
provisions  applicable to such Warrants or Series C Preferred Shares; (b) shares
of Common Stock issued pursuant to Approved Stock Plans (as defined herein); (c)
shares of Common Stock issued in connection  with  acquisitions of the assets or
stock  of an  unaffiliated  third-party  consummated  on an  arms  length  basis
(including  any brokerage  commissions  or finders fee relating  thereto and any
shares  issuable in respect of rights granted by an acquired  company which were
in existence at the time of  acquisition  of such company by the  Company);  (d)
shares of Common  Stock  issued in  connection  with joint  ventures,  licensing
arrangements or strategic  relationships,  provided that no more than 10 million
shares are so issued in the aggregate pursuant to clauses (c) and (d) during the
three (3) month period beginning on the Initial Issuance Date; and (e) shares of
Common Stock issued pursuant to any right  (contingent or otherwise) to purchase
such shares as set forth in Schedule 3(c)(i) to the Purchase Agreement.

              (iv)"Alternate Conversion Price" means:

                  (A) for the Series C-1  Preferred  Shares,  the product of (x)
         the average of the Closing  Price for the 10 trading  days  immediately
         preceding the  Conversion  Date and (y) (i) where the  Conversion  Date
         occurs  during the period  beginning on the Initial  Issuance  Date and
         expiring 149 days  thereafter,  140%;  (ii) where the  Conversion  Date
         occurs  during the period  beginning  on the 150th day from the Initial
         Issuance Date and ending on the 180th day thereafter, 125%; (iii) where
         the Conversion Date occurs during the period beginning on the 181st day
         after the Initial Issuance Date and ending on the 240th day thereafter,
         115%;  or (iv)  where the  Conversion  Date  occurs  during  the period
         beginning  on the  241st  day from the  Initial  Issuance  Date,  110%;
         provided,  however,  that during the period  commencing  on the Initial
         Issuance Date and ending 90 days thereafter,  the Alternate  Conversion
         Price  shall not be less than the Hard Floor  Price  pertaining  to the
         Series C-1 Preferred Shares;

                                      C-2


                  (B) for the Series C-2  Preferred  Shares,  the product of (x)
         the average of the Closing  Price for the 10 trading  days  immediately
         preceding the  Conversion  Date and (y) (i) where the  Conversion  Date
         occurs  during the period  beginning  on the  Additional  Closing  Date
         applicable  to the  issuance  of such Series C-2  Preferred  Shares and
         expiring 149 days  thereafter,  140%;  (ii) where the  Conversion  Date
         occurs during the period beginning on the 150th day from the applicable
         Additional  Closing Date and ending on the 180th day thereafter,  125%;
         (iii) where the Conversion  Date occurs during the period  beginning on
         the 181st day after the applicable  Additional  Closing Date and ending
         on the 240th day  thereafter,  115%; or (iv) where the Conversion  Date
         occurs during the period beginning on the 241st day from the applicable
         Additional  Closing  Date,  110%;  provided,  however,  that during the
         period commencing on the applicable  Additional Closing Date and ending
         90 days  thereafter,  the Alternate  Conversion Price shall not be less
         than the Hard Floor  Price  pertaining  to such  Series  C-2  Preferred
         Shares.

              (v) "Alternate Conversion Rate" shall be  determined  according to
 the following formula:

              Stated Value + amount of accrued but unpaid dividends
              -----------------------------------------------------
                           Alternate Conversion Price

              (vi)"Approved  Stock Plan" means any  contract,  plan or agreement
which has been or shall be approved by the Board of  Directors  of the  Company,
pursuant  to which the  Company's  securities  may be  issued  to any  employee,
officer,  director,  consultant or other  service  provider of the Company in an
aggregate  amount  that does not exceed 25% of the  Company's  then  outstanding
Common Stock.

              (vii) "Average Market Price" shall mean the average of the Closing
Price of the Common Stock for the ten (10) trading  days  immediately  preceding
the applicable date.

              (viii) "Closing Price" means, for any security as of any date, the
last closing trade price on the Nasdaq  National  Market at 4:00 p.m.,  New York
City Time as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Nasdaq National Market is not the
principal securities exchange for such security,  the last closing price at 4:00
p.m., New York City Time 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  closing  price at 4:00
p.m., New York City Time 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 price is reported for such  security by Bloomberg,  the last trade price
at 4:00 p.m., New York City Time of such security as reported by Bloomberg,  or,
if no last trade price is reported for such security by  Bloomberg,  the average
of the bid prices at 4:00 p.m., New York City Time of any market makers for such
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, as set
forth above,  the Closing Price of such security  shall be the fair market value
as determined in good faith by an  investment  banking firm jointly  selected by
the Company and the Holders,  with the fees and  expenses of such  determination
borne solely by the Company.

              (ix)"Conversion  Date" means the date of delivery of a  Conversion
Notice pursuant to Section (2)(b)(i) hereof.

              (x) "Conversion Price" means:

                  (a) as to the Series C-1 Preferred  Shares to be issued on the
         Initial Issuance Date, and any Series C-1 Preferred Shares to be issued
         as a dividend payment on such shares pursuant to Section 7 hereof:  (i)
         for the period  commencing  on the Initial  Issuance Date and ending on
         the 90th day thereafter,  $7.5626 and (ii) for the period commencing on
         the 91st day after the Initial Issuance Date, $5.6720;

                  (b) as to the Series C-2 Preferred  Shares to be issued at any
         Additional  Closing (as  defined in the  Purchase  Agreement),  and any
         Series C-2 Preferred Shares issued as a dividend payment on such shares
         pursuant to Section 7 hereof,  $5.00  (subject to adjustment  for stock
         splits, combinations and similar events).

              (xi)"Conversion   Rate"  shall  be  determined  according  to  the
following formula:

              Stated Value + amount of accrued but unpaid dividends
              -----------------------------------------------------
                                Conversion Price

              (xii)  "Hard  Floor  Price"  means,  in  respect of any Series C-1
Preferred  Shares  or  Series  C-2  Preferred  Shares,  the  lesser of (i) $6.00
(subject to adjustment  for stock splits,  combinations  and similar  events) or
(ii) the Conversion  Price pertaining to such Series C-1 Preferred Shares or the
Series C-2 Preferred Shares, as the case may be.

                                      C-3


              (xiii)  "Initial  Registration  Statement"  shall have the meaning
ascribed thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement.

              (xiv) "Principal  Market" means the Nasdaq National Market,  or if
the Common Stock is not traded on the Nasdaq National Market, then the principal
securities exchange or trading market for the Common Stock.

              (xv)"Purchase  Agreement" means the Securities  Purchase Agreement
dated as of October 24,  2000 by and among the Company and the Buyers  signatory
thereto.

              (xvi)  "Registration  Rights  Agreement"  means  the  Registration
Rights Agreement dated as the Initial Issuance Date by and among the Company and
the initial Holders.

              (xvii) "SEC" means  the  United  States  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission.

              (xviii) "Underlying Common Stock" means the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon  conversion of all the outstanding  Series C Preferred  Shares and
upon  exercise  of  all  the  outstanding   Warrants,   without  regard  to  any
restrictions on conversion or exercise.

              (xix)  "Warrants"  shall mean the common stock  purchase  warrants
(and any such warrants issued in substitution  therefor)  issued pursuant to the
terms of the Purchase Agreement.

         (b)  Mechanics of  Conversion.  Subject to the  Company's  inability to
fully satisfy its  obligations  under a Conversion  Notice (as defined below) as
provided for in Section 4 below:

              (i) Holder's Delivery Requirements.  To convert Series C Preferred
Shares  into full  shares of Common  Stock on any  Conversion  Date,  the Holder
thereof shall (A) deliver by courier or transmit by facsimile, for receipt on or
prior to 11:59  p.m.,  Eastern  Time on such  date,  a copy of a fully  executed
notice of  conversion  set forth in the form  attached  hereto as Exhibit I (the
"Conversion  Notice"),  to the Company and its  designated  transfer  agent (the
"Transfer  Agent"),  and (B) if required  by Section  2(b)(vi),  surrender  to a
common carrier for delivery to the Company as soon as practicable following such
date the original certificates  representing the Series C Preferred Shares being
converted (or an indemnification  undertaking with respect to such shares in the
case of their loss, theft or destruction) (the "Preferred Stock Certificates").

              (ii)Company's  Response.  Upon  receipt  by the  Company  and  the
Transfer  Agent of the  Conversion  Notice by courier or facsimile,  the Company
shall, (A) on the next business day following the date of receipt (or the second
business day  following the date of receipt if received  after 11:00 a.m.  local
time of the Company)  send, via  facsimile,  a  confirmation  of receipt of such
Conversion  Notice to such Holder and the  Transfer  Agent,  which  confirmation
shall constitute an instruction to the Transfer Agent to process such Conversion
Notice in accordance with the terms herein and (B) on or before the second (2nd)
business day following the date of receipt (or the third  business day following
the date of receipt if received after 11:00 am local time of the Company) by the
Company or the Transfer  Agent (as  applicable),  (I) provided that the Transfer
Agent is  participating  in The Depository  Trust Company ("DTC") Fast Automated
Securities  Transfer  Program,   and  if  such  shares  shall  not  require  any
restrictive  legend,  credit such aggregate  number of shares of Common Stock to
which the Holder  shall be entitled to the  Holder's or its  designee's  balance
account with DTC through its Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission System, or (II)
if the Transfer Agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated  Securities
Program,  the Holder requests or such shares require a restrictive legend, issue
and  surrender  to a common  carrier  for  overnight  delivery to the address as
specified in the Conversion Notice, a certificate, registered in the name of the
Holder or its  designee,  for the number of shares of Common  Stock to which the
Holder shall be entitled.

              (iii)  Dispute  Resolution.  In the  case of a  dispute  as to the
determination  of the Conversion  Price or the Alternate  Conversion  Price, the
Company shall  promptly issue to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock
that is not disputed and shall submit the disputed  determinations or arithmetic
calculations to the Holder via facsimile  within one (1) business day of receipt
of such Holder's Conversion Notice. If such Holder and the Company are unable to
agree upon the determination of the Conversion Price or the Alternate Conversion
Price within one (1) business day of such disputed  determination  or arithmetic
calculation being submitted to the Holder, then the Company shall within one (1)
business day submit via facsimile the disputed  determination  of the Conversion
Price or the Alternate Conversion Price to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or another
an independent, reputable accounting firm of national standing acceptable to the
Company and such Holder of Series C Preferred  Shares.  The Company  shall cause
such accounting firm to perform the  determinations  or calculations  and notify
the Company and the Holder of the results no later than  forty-eight  (48) hours
from the time it receives  the disputed  determinations  or  calculations.  Such
accounting  firm's  determination  shall  be  binding  upon all  parties  absent

                                      C-4


manifest error. The reasonable fees and expenses of the accounting firm shall be
borne by the party whose  calculation  is furthest  from the  accounting  firm's
determination. The Company shall not be required to pay damages or be subject to
other  remedies or penalties  pursuant to this  Certificate  of  Designation  or
otherwise in the event of a delay in the  delivery of Series C Preferred  Shares
for which there is a good faith dispute as to the Conversion  Price or Alternate
Conversion  Price which is being resolved in a timely manner in accordance  with
the terms of this Section 2(b)(iii).

              (iv)Record  Holder.  The person or persons entitled to receive the
shares of Common Stock  issuable upon a conversion of Series C Preferred  Shares
shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares
of Common Stock as of the close of business on the Conversion Date.

              (v) Company's Failure to Timely Convert.

                  (A) Cash  Damages.  If the  Company  shall fail (other than as
         contemplated  in Section  2(b)(iii)  above or other than as a result of
         the  situations  described  in Section  4(a) with  respect to which the
         Holder has  elected,  and the Company  has  satisfied  its  obligations
         under, one of the options set forth in  subparagraphs  (i) through (iv)
         of  Section  4(a)) to issue a  certificate  for or credit  via DTC to a
         Holder on a timely basis as described in this Section 2(b),  the number
         of shares of Common  Stock to which such Holder is  entitled  upon such
         Holder's conversion of Series C Preferred Shares, the Company shall pay
         damages to such  Holder  equal to the  greater  of (x)  actual  damages
         incurred  by such Holder as a result of such  Holder's  needing to "buy
         in"  shares  of  Common  Stock  to  satisfy  its  securities   delivery
         requirements ("Buy In Actual Damages") and (y) after the effective date
         of the Initial Registration  Statement, or if applicable the Additional
         Registration  Statement,  if the  Company  fails to  deliver  shares of
         Common  Stock within five days after the last  possible  date which the
         Company  could have  issued such  Common  Stock to such Holder  without
         violating this Section 2(b), on each date such conversion is not timely
         effected,  in an amount equal to 1% of the product of (i) the number of
         shares of Common  Stock not issued to the Holder on a timely  basis and
         to which such  Holder is  entitled  and (ii) the  Closing  Price of the
         Common  Stock on the last  possible  date which the Company  could have
         issued such Common Stock to such Holder without  violating this Section
         2(b).

                  (B) Void  Conversion  Notice.  If, for any  reason,  after the
         tenth (10th)  business day after  delivery of a  Conversion  Notice,  a
         Holder has not received all of the shares of Common Stock to which such
         Holder is entitled upon such Holder's  conversion of Series C Preferred
         Shares,  then the Holder,  upon written  notice to the Company,  with a
         copy to the Transfer Agent, may void its Conversion Notice with respect
         to,  and  retain or have  returned,  as the case may be,  any  Series C
         Preferred Shares that have not been converted pursuant to such Holder's
         Conversion  Notice;  provided  that the voiding of Holder's  Conversion
         Notice shall not affect the Company's  obligations to make any payments
         which have accrued prior to the date of such notice pursuant to Section
         2(b)(v)(A) or otherwise.

              (vi)Book-Entry. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth
herein,  upon conversion of the Series C Preferred Shares in accordance with the
terms hereof,  the Holder thereof shall not be required to physically  surrender
the certificate representing the Series C Preferred Shares to the Company unless
the full number of Series C Preferred Shares  represented by the certificate are
being  converted.  The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the
number  of  Series  C  Preferred  Shares  so  converted  and the  dates  of such
conversions  or shall use such  other  method,  reasonably  satisfactory  to the
Holder  and  the  Company,  so as  not  to  require  physical  surrender  of the
certificate   representing   the  Series  C  Preferred  Shares  upon  each  such
conversion.  The Company shall confirm to a Holder, within one business day of a
request  therefor,  the number of Series C  Preferred  Shares  represented  by a
certificate  held by such  Holder.  In the event of any dispute or  discrepancy,
such records of the Company establishing the number of Series C Preferred Shares
to which the record holder is entitled shall be controlling and determinative in
the  absence of  manifest  error.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  if Series C
Preferred  Shares  represented by a certificate are converted as aforesaid,  the
Holder may not  transfer  the  certificate  representing  the Series C Preferred
Shares  unless  the  Holder  first   physically   surrenders   the   certificate
representing the Series C Preferred Shares to the Company, whereupon the Company
will forthwith  issue and deliver upon the order of the Holder a new certificate
of like  tenor,  registered  as the  Holder  may  request,  representing  in the
aggregate the remaining number of Series C Preferred Shares  represented by such
certificate.  The Holder  and any  assignee,  by  acceptance  of a  certificate,
acknowledge  and agree  that,  by reason of the  provisions  of this  paragraph,
following  conversion of any Series C Preferred  Shares,  the number of Series C

                                      C-5


Preferred Shares  represented by such certificate may be less than the number of
Series C Preferred  Shares  stated on the face  thereof.  Each  certificate  for
Series C Preferred Shares shall bear the following legend:

                  ANY TRANSFEREE OF THIS CERTIFICATE SHOULD CAREFULLY REVIEW THE
         TERMS OF THE  COMPANY'S  CERTIFICATE  OF  DESIGNATION  RELATING  TO THE
         SERIES C PREFERRED SHARES  REPRESENTED BY THIS  CERTIFICATE,  INCLUDING
         SECTION  2(b)(vi)  THEREOF.  THE  NUMBER OF SERIES C  PREFERRED  SHARES
         REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY BE LESS THAN THE NUMBER OF SERIES C
         PREFERRED SHARES STATED ON THE FACE HEREOF PURSUANT TO SECTION 2(b)(vi)
         OF THE  CERTIFICATE OF  DESIGNATION  RELATING TO THE SERIES C PREFERRED
         SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE.

         (c)  Mandatory  Conversion.  If any Series C  Preferred  Shares  remain
outstanding on the Mandatory  Conversion Date (as defined below),  then all such
Series C Preferred  Shares shall be converted as of such date in accordance with
this  Section  2(c) as if the  Holders  had given the  Conversion  Notice on the
Mandatory  Conversion  Date,  and the  Conversion  Date had been fixed as of the
Mandatory Conversion Date, for all purposes of this Section 2. All Holders shall
thereupon  and within two (2) business days  thereafter  surrender all Preferred
Stock  Certificates,  duly  endorsed  for  cancellation,  to the  Company or the
Transfer  Agent.  No person shall after the Mandatory  Conversion  Date have any
rights in  respect  of Series C  Preferred  Shares,  except the right to receive
shares of Common  Stock on  conversion  thereof as provided  in this  Section 2.
"Mandatory Conversion Date" means October 23, 2003.

         (d)  Fractional  Shares.  The Company shall not issue any fraction of a
share of Common Stock upon any conversion. All shares of Common Stock (including
fractions  thereof) issuable upon conversion of more than one Series C Preferred
Share by a Holder shall be aggregated  for purposes of  determining  whether the
conversion  would  result in the  issuance  of a  fraction  of a share of Common
Stock. If, after the  aforementioned  aggregation,  the issuance would result in
the issuance of a fraction of a share of Common  Stock,  the Company shall round
such fraction of a share of Common Stock up or down to the nearest whole share.

         (e) Taxes. The Company shall pay any and all taxes which may be imposed
upon it with  respect to the  issuance  and  delivery  of Common  Stock upon the
conversion of the Series C Preferred Shares.

         (f)  Effect  of  Failure  to  Obtain  and  Maintain   Effectiveness  of
Registration  Statement.  (x) The Company  shall file the  Initial  Registration
Statement within 30 days of the Initial  Issuance Date and, if necessary,  shall
file the  Additional  Registration  Statement  within 30 days of the  applicable
Additional Closing Date.

              (y) (i) If the  Initial  Registration  Statement  is not  declared
effective by the SEC on or before the 120th  calendar day, or the 180th calendar
day in the event of an underwritten  offering elected by the Holders,  following
the Initial Issuance Date (the "Initial  Scheduled  Effective  Date"),  then for
each  consecutive  thirty  (30)  day  period  following  the  Initial  Scheduled
Effective Date, each Holder of Series C Preferred Shares shall,  until such time
as the Initial Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC (all such
payments to be made in cash or in kind, at the Company's  option),  on the first
day of each  thirty  (30) day  period,  be  entitled  to an amount  equal to the
product of (A) one and a half  percent  multiplied  by (B) the Stated Value plus
all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, multiplied by (C) the number of Series
C Preferred Shares held by such Holder.

                  (ii) If the Additional  Registration Statement is not declared
effective by the SEC on or before the 120th  calendar day, or the 180th calendar
day in the event of an underwritten  offering elected by the Holders,  following
the applicable  Additional  Closing Date (the  "Additional  Scheduled  Effective
Date"),  then  for  each  consecutive  thirty  (30)  day  period  following  the
Additional  Scheduled Effective Date, each Holder of Series C-2 Preferred Shares
shall,  until such time as the  Additional  Registration  Statement  is declared
effective  by the SEC (all such  payments to be made in cash or in kind,  at the
Company's option),  on the first day of each thirty (30) day period, be entitled
to an amount  equal to the product of (A) one and a half percent  multiplied  by
(B) the Stated Value plus all accrued and unpaid dividends  thereon,  multiplied
by (C) the number of Series C-2 Preferred Shares held by such Holder.

         (g)  Adjustment to  Conversion  Price and the Closing Price -- Dilution
and Other Events.  In order to prevent dilution of the rights granted under this
Certificate of  Designation,  the  Conversion  Price,  the Alternate  Conversion
Price,  the Hard Floor  Price,  and the  Closing  Price for any days  during any
measuring  period  prior to any of the  events set forth  below (the  "Adjusting
Closing Price", and the foregoing collectively, the "Adjusting Numbers") will be

                                      C-6

subject to adjustment  from time to time as provided in this Section  2(g).  Any
such  adjustments  to the  Adjusting  Numbers  will be  applicable  to  Series C
Preferred Shares not yet converted or redeemed.

              (i) Dividends and  Distributions.  If the Company shall declare or
pay to the holders of the Common Stock a dividend or other distribution  payable
in shares of Common Stock or any other security convertible into or exchangeable
for shares of Common Stock,  each Holder shall be entitled to receive the number
of shares of Common Stock or other  securities  convertible into or exchangeable
for shares of Common Stock, as applicable, which such Holder would have owned or
been entitled to receive after the  declaration  and payment of such dividend or
other  distribution as if the Series C Preferred Shares then held by such Holder
had been converted at the Conversion  Price or Alternate  Conversion  Price,  as
applicable, in effect immediately prior to the record date for the determination
of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or other distribution.

              (ii)Stock Splits and Combinations.  If the Company shall subdivide
(by means of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or otherwise) the
outstanding  shares of Common  Stock  into a greater  number of shares of Common
Stock,  or  combine  (by  means  of any  combination,  reverse  stock  split  or
otherwise)  the  outstanding  shares of  Common  Stock  into a lesser  number of
shares, or issue by reclassification of shares of Common Stock any shares of the
Company,  the Adjusting  Numbers,  each as in effect  immediately  prior thereto
shall be  adjusted  so that each  Holder  shall  receive the number of shares of
Common  Stock  which such  Holder  would have owned or been  entitled to receive
after the happening of any and each of the events described above if such Holder
had  converted  the Series C Preferred  Shares  held by such Holder  immediately
prior to the happening of each such event on the day upon which such subdivision
or  combination,  as the case may be, becomes  effective.  Additional  Shares of
Common Stock deemed to have been issued pursuant to this Section  2(g)(ii) shall
be deemed to have been issued for no consideration.

              (iii)  Adjustment Upon Issuance of Certain  Securities.  If at any
time during the one year period  following  the Initial  Closing  Date or at any
time  during the one year  period  following  an  Additional  Closing  Date,  as
applicable, the Company in any manner issues or sells (a "Subsequent Financing")
pursuant to Section 4(2) of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended (the "1933
Act"),  Regulation  D or  Regulation  S of the  1933  Act or any  other  private
placement  (other than  pursuant to Company  authorized  stock option plans with
employees,  consultants or directors of the Company) of any security convertible
into,  exchangeable  for or  exercisable  for Common Stock or any other right to
acquire Common Stock  ("Convertible  Securities") and such Subsequent  Financing
has a price per share for which  Common Stock is issuable  upon the  conversion,
exchange or exercise of such Convertible  Security that is determined based on a
formula  that  varies to the market  price or may vary  because of a reset other
than standard anti-dilution adjustments (the formulation for such variable price
being  herein  referred  to as the "New  Formula")  and such New  Formula is not
calculated  using the same formula used in determining  the Conversion  Price or
the Alternate Conversion Price hereunder,  then the Company shall within one (1)
business day provide written notice thereof via facsimile and overnight  courier
to each  affected  Holder  ("Variable  Notice")  on the date of issuance of such
Convertible  Securities.  From and after the date the  Company  issues  any such
Convertible  Securities  with a New  Formula,  a Holder of Series C-1  Preferred
Shares or Series C-2 Preferred Shares, as applicable,  shall have the right, but
not the obligation, in its sole discretion to substitute the New Formula for the
applicable Conversion Price or the Alternate Conversion Price upon conversion of
such Series C-1 or C-2 Preferred  Shares,  as applicable,  by designating in the
Conversion  Notice  delivered upon conversion of such Series C Preferred  Shares
that  solely for  purposes of such  conversion  the Holder is relying on the New
Formula  rather than the formula  relating to the  calculation of the Conversion
Price or the Alternate  Conversion Price then in effect. A Holder's  election to
rely on a New Formula for a particular  conversion of Series C Preferred  Shares
shall  not  obligate  the  Holder  to  rely  on a New  Formula  for  any  future
conversions of Series C Preferred Shares.

              (iv)Reorganization,  Reclassification,  Consideration,  Merger  or
Sale. Any  recapitalization,  reorganization,  reclassification,  consolidation,
merger,  sale of all or  substantially  all of the  Company's  assets to another
Person (as defined below) or other  transaction  which is effected in such a way
that holders of Common Stock are  entitled to receive  (either  directly or upon
subsequent  liquidation)  stock,  securities  or assets  with  respect  to or in
exchange for Common Stock is referred to herein as an "Organic Change." Provided
that the Company  has not  redeemed  shares  pursuant to Section 3, prior to the
consummation of any Organic Change, the Company will make appropriate  provision
(in form and substance reasonably  satisfactory to a majority of the Holders) to
insure that each of the Holders  will  thereafter  have the right to acquire and
receive in lieu of or in  addition  to (as the case may be) the shares of Common
Stock immediately  theretofore  acquirable and receivable upon the conversion of
such Holder's then outstanding Series C Preferred Shares,  such shares of stock,
securities  or assets as may be issued or payable with respect to or in exchange

                                      C-7


for the number of shares of Common Stock immediately  theretofore acquirable and
receivable  upon the conversion of such Holder's  Series C Preferred  Shares had
such  Organic  Change not taken place.  In any such case,  the Company will make
appropriate  provision  (in  form and  substance  reasonably  satisfactory  to a
majority of the Holders) with respect to such  Holders'  rights and interests to
insure that the provisions of Section 2(b) will  thereafter be applicable to the
Series C Preferred  Shares  (including,  in the case of any such  consolidation,
merger or sale in which the successor entity or purchasing  entity is other than
the Company,  an immediate  adjustment of the Conversion  Price to the value for
the Common Stock reflected by the terms of such Organic Change,  if the value so
reflected is less than the Conversion Price in effect  immediately prior to such
Organic  Change).  The Company will not effect any such Organic  Change,  unless
prior to the  consummation  thereof,  the  successor  entity  (if other than the
Company)  resulting from such Organic Change assumes,  by written instrument (in
form and  substance  reasonably  satisfactory  to a majority of the Holders) the
obligation to deliver to each Holder such shares of stock,  securities or assets
as, in accordance with the foregoing provisions,  such Holder may be entitled to
acquire or receive.  The provisions of this  subparagraph  (iii) shall similarly
apply to  successive  Organic  Changes.  "Person"  shall mean an  individual,  a
limited liability  company,  a partnership,  a joint venture,  a corporation,  a
trust,  an  unincorporated  organization  and a government or any  department or
agency thereof.

              (v)   Adjustment   upon   Issuance  of  Options  and   Convertible
Securities.  If the  Company  at any time or from  time to time  after  the date
hereof shall issue,  sell,  grant or assume,  or shall fix a record date for the
determination  of holders of any class of securities of the Company  entitled to
receive,  any rights or options to subscribe for,  purchase or otherwise acquire
Additional  Shares of Common Stock or any stock or other securities  convertible
into or exchangeable for Additional  Shares of Common Stock (other than warrants
issued as an ancillary part of any bank facility or borrowing from any financial
institution not undertaken to raise or raising,  directly or indirectly,  equity
capital  which shall not exceed  100,000  shares)  (such rights or options being
herein called "Options" and such convertible or exchangeable stock or securities
being  herein  called  "Convertible  Securities")  (whether  or not  the  rights
thereunder are immediately exercisable) and the price per share for which Common
Stock is  issuable  upon the  exercise  of such  Options or upon  conversion  or
exchange of such  Convertible  Securities (the "New Option  Issuance  Price") is
less than the Average Market Price  immediately prior to such time, then, and in
each such case, the maximum number of Additional  Shares of Common Stock (as set
forth in the  instrument  relating  thereto,  without  regard to any  provisions
contained therein for a subsequent  adjustment of such number) issuable upon the
exercise of such Options or, in the case of  Convertible  Securities and Options
therefor,  the conversion or exchange of such Convertible  Securities,  shall be
deemed to be  Additional  Shares of Common  Stock  issued as of the time of such
issue,  sale, grant or assumption or, in case such a record date shall have been
fixed,  as of the close of business on such record date (or, if the Common Stock
trades  on an  ex-dividend  basis,  on the  date  prior to the  commencement  of
ex-dividend trading).

              For  purposes of this  Section  2(g)(v),  the New Option  Issuance
Price shall mean the amount determined by dividing (A) the total amount, if any,
received and  receivable by the Company as  consideration  for the issue,  sale,
grant or assumption of the Options or Convertible  Securities in question,  plus
the minimum  aggregate amount of additional  consideration  (as set forth in the
instruments relating thereto,  without regard to any provision contained therein
for a subsequent  adjustment of such  consideration to protect against dilution)
payable  to the  Company  upon  the  exercise  in full of  such  Options  or the
conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities or, in the case of Options
for  Convertible  Securities,  the  exercise  of such  Options  for  Convertible
Securities and the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, by (B)
the  total  maximum  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock  (as set forth in the
instruments relating thereto,  without regard to any provision contained therein
for a subsequent  adjustment of such  consideration to protect against dilution)
issuable upon exercise of such Options or upon the conversion or exchange of all
such  Convertible  Securities  issuable  upon the exercise of such  Options.  No
further  adjustment  of the  Conversion  Price  shall be made  upon  the  actual
issuance  of such  Common  Stock  or of such  Convertible  Securities  upon  the
exercise of such  Options or upon the actual  issuance of such Common Stock upon
conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities.

              (vi)Change in Option Price or Rate of Conversion.  If the purchase
price provided for in any Options, the additional consideration, if any, payable
upon the issue,  conversion or exchange of any  Convertible  Securities,  or the
rate at which any Convertible  Securities are  convertible  into or exchangeable
for any class of Common Stock change at any time,  the  Conversion  Price at the
time of such change shall be readjusted, effective on and after the date of such
change,  to the Conversion  Price which would have been in effect on the date of
such  change  had such  Options  or  Convertible  Securities  still  outstanding
provided for such changed  purchase price,  additional  consideration or changed
conversion  rate, as the case may be, at the time initially  granted,  issued or

                                      C-8


sold;  provided that no adjustment shall be made if such adjustment would result
in an increase of the Conversion Price in excess of the amount of the adjustment
originally  made as a result  of the  issuance  of such  Option  or  Convertible
Securities.

              (vii) Issuance of Additional  Shares of Common Stock.  In case the
Company at any time or from time to time after the date  hereof  shall  issue or
sell Additional  Shares of Common Stock (including  Additional  Shares of Common
Stock deemed to be issued pursuant to other provisions of this Section 2(g), but
excluding any Additional Shares of Common Stock issued in a Subsequent Financing
in respect of which a Holder has elected to convert outstanding Preferred Shares
to a New Formula pursuant to Section 2(g)(iii) hereof), without consideration or
for a  consideration  per share less than either the Average Market Price or the
Conversion  Price in effect  immediately  prior to such issue or sale (the "Base
Price"),  then, and in each such case, the Conversion Price shall be reduced, to
a price determined by multiplying such Conversion Price by a fraction

                  (A) the  numerator of which shall be the sum of (i) the number
         of shares of Common Stock  outstanding  immediately prior to such issue
         or sale and (ii) the  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock  which  the
         aggregate consideration received by the Company for the total number of
         such Additional Shares of Common Stock so issued or sold would purchase
         at the Base Price, and

                  (B) the  denominator of which shall be the number of shares of
         Common Stock outstanding immediately after such issue or sale, provided
         that, for the purposes of this Section 2(g)(vii), (x) immediately after
         any  Additional  Shares of Common  Stock are deemed to have been issued
         pursuant to the other  provisions of this Section 2(g), such Additional
         Shares of Common  Stock  shall be  deemed  to be  outstanding,  and (y)
         treasury shares of Common Stock shall not be deemed to be outstanding.

              (viii)       Notices.

                  (A)  Immediately  upon any  adjustment  pursuant  hereto,  the
         Company  will give  immediate  written  notice  thereof to each Holder,
         setting forth in reasonable  detail and certifying  the  calculation of
         such adjustment.

                  (B) The  Company  will give  written  notice to each Holder at
         least  twenty (20) days prior to the date on which the  Company  closes
         its  books or  takes a  record  (I) with  respect  to any  dividend  or
         distribution  upon the Common Stock, or (II) for determining  rights to
         vote with respect to any Organic  Change,  dissolution or  liquidation;
         provided  that in no event shall such notice be provided to such Holder
         prior to such information being made known to the public.

                  (C) The Company will also give  written  notice to each Holder
         at least  twenty  (20) days prior to (i) the date on which any  Organic
         Change,  dissolution  or  liquidation  will  take  place  and  (ii) the
         anticipated closing date of any Subsequent Financing.

              (ix)Successive  adjustments pursuant hereto shall be made whenever
any event specified above shall occur. All calculations  under this Section 2(g)
shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one-hundredth of a share, as
the case may be. No  adjustment  in the  Conversion  Price  shall be made if the
amount of such adjustment would be less than $0.01, but any such amount shall be
carried forward and an adjustment with respect thereto shall be made at the time
of and together with any subsequent  adjustment which, together with such amount
and any other amount or amounts so carried  forward,  shall  aggregate  $0.01 or
more.

              (x) Other  Dilutive  Events.  In case any event  shall occur as to
which the  provisions  of this Section 2(g) are not  strictly  applicable  or if
strictly applicable would not fairly protect the conversion rights of the Holder
in  accordance  with the essential  intent and  principles of this Section 2(g),
then,  in each such case,  the Board of Directors  of the Company  shall make an
adjustment  in the  application  of such  provisions,  in  accordance  with such
essential  intent and  principles,  so as to  preserve,  without  dilution,  the
conversion rights represented by this Section 2.

              (xi)No Dilution or Impairment. The Company shall not, by amendment
of its certificate of  incorporation  or through any Organic Change or any other
voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of
the terms of this Certificate of Designation. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, the Company (A) shall take all such action as may be necessary or
appropriate  in order that the Company may validly and legally  issue fully paid
and nonassessable  shares of Common Stock, free from all taxes, liens,  security
interests, encumbrances,  preemptive rights and charges on the conversion of the
Series C Preferred  Shares,  (B) shall not take any action which  results in any
adjustment  pursuant  hereto  if the total  number  of  shares  of Common  Stock
issuable after the action upon the  conversion of the Series C Preferred  Shares
would exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock then  authorized  by the
Company's  articles of incorporation and available for the purpose of issue upon

                                      C-9


such  exercise,  and (C) shall not  permit  the par value of any shares of stock
receivable  upon the  conversion of the Series C Preferred  Shares to exceed the
amount payable therefor upon such exercise.

     (3) Conversion/Redemption   Upon  Major  Transaction;   Redemption   Option
Upon  Triggering  Event;   Company Redemption Option.

         (a) (i) Conversion/Redemption Upon Major Transaction. Upon (x) a public
announcement by the Company of a Major Transaction (the "Announcement  Date") or
(y) receipt by the Holders of a Notice of Major  Transaction (as defined below),
then each Holder shall have the right to elect to convert such Holder's Series C
Preferred  Shares  then  outstanding  by  delivering  a  Conversion   Notice  in
accordance  with Sections 2(b) and 3(e) hereof,  at the lesser of the Conversion
Price or the Alternate  Conversion Price in effect on the Conversion Date or the
Announcement  Date (as specified in such Conversion  Notice);  provided however,
that if such Major  Transaction  occurs within 180 days of the Initial  Issuance
Date,  then each  Holder  shall  have the right to  convert at the lesser of the
Conversion  Price or an Alternate  Conversion Price equal to 110% of the average
of the  Closing  Price of the  Company's  Common  Stock for the 10 trading  days
immediately preceding the Announcement Date or the Conversion Date, whichever is
lower; provided,  further, if the Company is unable to deliver Common Stock that
may be forthwith sold  (hereinafter,  "Freely Tradeable  Shares") pursuant to an
effective  Registration  Statement  or Rule  144(k)  under  the 1933 Act  ("Rule
144(k)") to the  Holders to satisfy  the  request  set forth in such  Conversion
Notice,  the Company  shall be  obligated  to (x) deliver to the Holders as many
shares  of  Common  Stock as may be  forthwith  sold  pursuant  to an  effective
Registration  Statement  or Rule 144(k) in exchange  for the  conversion  of the
appropriate  number of shares of  Preferred  Stock  covered by such a Conversion
Notice and then (y) immediately  prior to  consummation of the applicable  Major
Transaction  mandatorily  redeem the  balance of the such  outstanding  Series C
Preferred  Shares in cash at a price per Series C  Preferred  Share equal to the
product  of (A) the  aggregate  number of shares of Common  Stock for which each
such  Series  C  Preferred  Share  would  be  converted  into  pursuant  to such
Conversion  Notice (the "Mandatory  Transaction  Shares")  multiplied by (B) the
Closing  Price of the Common  Stock on the date of  delivery  of the  Conversion
Notice ("Major  Transaction  Redemption  Price").  In the event that the Company
fails to pay the Holders as provided in this Section 3(a), interest shall accrue
at the rate of 2% per  month  (or such  lesser  amount  allowed  by law) on such
outstanding  amounts  and be due and  payable in arrears on the last day of each
month  (the  "Mandatory  Interest").  If  conversion  does not occur  under this
Section 3(a) or the Company does not elect to  optionally  redeem the  Preferred
Stock in  connection  with a Merger  Transaction  pursuant  to Section  3(a)(ii)
below,  any Holder may, by delivery of a notice of election to put no later than
three (3)  business  days prior to the  consummation  of the Major  Transaction,
require  the Company to redeem,  immediately  prior to the  consummation  of the
Major Transaction, such Holder's Series C Preferred Shares at a price per Series
C Preferred  Share equal to the sum of (x) 120% of the Stated  Value,  or in the
event of the merger or  consolidation  of the Company into another  Person (or a
reverse  triangular  merger),  130% of the Stated  Value,  plus (y)  accrued but
unpaid  dividends  thereon.  In the  event  any such  Major  Transaction  is not
consummated  subsequent  to  delivery  to the Company of a notice of election to
redeem with respect to such failed Major  Transaction then any such put election
notice and any Conversion  Notice shall be deemed null and void and such Holders
shall be treated as though such failed Major  Transaction  was not  contemplated
and such conversion was not requested.

              (ii)Redemption at the Company's Election Upon Merger  Transaction.
At any time or times on or after  the  date the  Company  publicly  discloses  a
pending, proposed or intended Merger Transaction (as defined below), the Company
shall have the right in its sole  discretion,  to require that all, but not less
than  all,  of the  outstanding  Series C  Preferred  Shares  (and any  Series C
Preferred  Shares that may be issued pursuant to an Additional  Closing (as such
term  is  defined  in the  Purchase  Agreement)  prior  to the  Merger  Election
Redemption Date (as defined below)) be redeemed ("Merger  Redemption  Election")
at a price per Series C Preferred  Share  equal to (A) 130% of the Stated  Value
plus (B) accrued but unpaid dividends thereon (the "Merger  Redemption  Price");
provided that the Conditions to Merger Redemption  Election (as set forth below)
are satisfied or waived by all the Holders of the Series C Preferred Shares then
outstanding.  The Company shall  exercise its right to make a Merger  Redemption
Election by providing  each Holder of Series C Preferred  Shares  written notice
("Notice of Merger  Redemption")  by facsimile or overnight  courier,  after the
public disclosure of a proposed,  pending or intended Merger  Transaction and at
least twenty (20) trading days prior to the date of  consummation  of the Merger
Transaction. The Notice of Merger Redemption shall indicate the anticipated date
on which the Company  shall  redeem the  outstanding  Series C Preferred  Shares
("Merger  Election   Redemption  Date"),   which  date  shall  be  the  date  of
consummation of the Merger  Transaction.  If the Company has exercised its right
of Merger  Redemption  Election  and the  conditions  to such Merger  Redemption
Election have been satisfied then all Series C Preferred  Shares  outstanding at

                                      C-10


the time of the consummation of the Merger  Transaction  shall be redeemed as of
the Merger Election Redemption Date by payment by or on behalf of the Company to
each  Holder  of  Series C  Preferred  Shares  of the  Merger  Redemption  Price
concurrent with the closing of the Merger  Transaction.  All Holders of Series C
Preferred  Shares shall  thereupon  and within two (2)  business  days after the
Merger  Election  Redemption  Date, or such earlier date as the Company and each
Holder of Series C Preferred  Shares mutually  agree,  surrender all outstanding
Series C Preferred Share  certificates,  duly endorsed for cancellation,  to the
Company.  If the  Company  fails to pay the full  Merger  Redemption  Price with
respect to any Series C Preferred Shares on the Merger Election Redemption Date,
the  Merger  Redemption  Election  shall be null and void with  respect  to such
Series C Preferred Shares and the Holder of such Series C Preferred Shares shall
be  entitled  to all the rights of a Holder of  outstanding  Series C  Preferred
Shares  set forth in this  Certificate  of  Designation.  "Conditions  to Merger
Redemption Election" means the following conditions:  (i) on each day during the
period  beginning  on the  date  the  Company  delivers  its  Notice  of  Merger
Redemption  to each  Holder of the Series C  Preferred  Shares and ending on and
including the date  immediately  preceding the Merger Election  Redemption Date,
(A)  no  Permitted  Blackout  Period  (as  defined  in the  Registration  Rights
Agreement)  shall be in effect and the  Registration  Statement  shall have been
effective  and available  for the sale of all of the  Registrable  Securities on
each  such  date  or  (B)  all  Underlying  Common  Stock  may be  sold  without
restriction  under Rule 144(k)  (assuming  cashless  exercise  of the  Warrants)
during such period;  (ii) during the period  beginning  on the Initial  Issuance
Date and  ending on and  including  the date  immediately  preceding  the Merger
Election  Redemption  Date, the Company shall have delivered  Conversion  Shares
upon conversion of the Preferred  Shares and Warrant Shares upon exercise of the
Warrants  to the Buyers on a timely  basis as set forth in this  Certificate  of
Designation  and in the  Warrant;  (iii) the  Company  shall have  received  the
Stockholder  Approval  (as  defined  in the  Purchase  Agreement);  and (iv) the
Company shall not have failed to timely make any payments within 5 business days
of when such payment is due, whether as interest or penalty  payments,  pursuant
to this  Certificate of Designation,  the Purchase  Agreement,  the Registration
Rights  Agreement or the  Warrants,  including,  but not limited to,  Dividends,
whether in shares of Preferred Stock or cash, default interest and cash payments
due.  Notwithstanding  the above,  any Holder of Series C  Preferred  Shares may
convert  such  shares   (including   Series  C  Preferred  Shares  selected  for
redemption) into Common Stock pursuant to Section 2 on or prior to the date that
is the business day immediately  preceding the Merger Election  Redemption Date.
For  purposes  of  this  Section  3(a)(ii),   "Merger   Transaction"  means  the
consolidation,  merger or other business combination of the Company with or into
another  Person  (other  than (A) a  consolidation,  merger  or  other  business
combination in which holders of the Company's voting power  immediately prior to
the transaction  continue after the transaction to hold, directly or indirectly,
the  voting  power of the  surviving  entity or  entities  necessary  to elect a
majority of the members of the board of directors (or their  equivalent if other
than a corporation)  of such entity or entities,  or (B) pursuant to a migratory
merger  effected  solely  for  the  purpose  of  changing  the  jurisdiction  of
incorporation of the Company).

         (b) Redemption  Option Upon Triggering  Event. In addition to all other
rights of the Holders  contained  herein,  after a Triggering  Event (as defined
below), to the extent the Company is not prohibited pursuant to the terms of the
Credit  Facility  (as  defined  below),  each  Holder  shall  have the  right in
accordance with Section 3(f), at such Holder's option, to require the Company to
redeem all or a portion of such  Holder's  Series C Preferred  Shares at a price
per Series C Preferred  Share  equal to the sum of (i) 130% of the Stated  Value
plus (ii) accrued but unpaid dividends thereon (the "Triggering Event Redemption
Price" and,  collectively with the "Major  Transaction  Redemption  Price",  the
"Redemption Price").

         (c) "Major Transaction".  A "Major Transaction" shall be deemed to have
occurred  at such time as any of the following events:

              (i)  the  consolidation  or  merger  of the  Company  with or into
another Person (other than pursuant to a migratory  merger  effected  solely for
the purpose of changing  the  jurisdiction  of  incorporation  of the Company or
pursuant  to a merger  after  which the  holders  of the  Company's  outstanding
capital  stock  immediately  prior to the  merger  own a number of shares of the
resulting company's  outstanding capital stock sufficient to elect a majority of
the resulting company's board of directors) ;

              (ii)the sale, transfer, lease, disposal or abandonment (whether in
one transaction or in a series of transactions)  of all or substantially  all of
the Company's  assets  (other than a sale or transfer to an entity  controlling,
controlled by or under common control with the Company);

              (iii) a purchase,  tender or  exchange  offer for more than 50% of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock or other voting securities of the Company
is made and accepted by the holders thereof; or

                                      C-11


              (iv)any change of control or any other similarly  defined event in
the Credit  Facility which gives any lender under the Credit  Facility the right
to accelerate payment of the obligations under the Credit Facility.

         (d) "Triggering Event".  A  "Triggering  Event" shall be deemed to have
occurred at such time as any of the following events:

              (i) notice from the Company  that Common  Stock issued or issuable
upon  conversion  of the  outstanding  Series C Preferred  Shares cannot be sold
under the  Registration  Statement  covering such Common Stock (the  "Suspension
Period"), for any period of five (5) consecutive trading days or any thirty (30)
non-consecutive  trading  days in any  period of 365  consecutive  days due to a
suspension in trading  (other than by reason of a general  suspension of trading
of all  securities on the applicable  exchange or market) (a "Suspension  Period
Default");

              (ii)failure of the Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion
of the  outstanding  Series C Preferred  Shares to be saleable under the Initial
Registration Statement or the Additional Registration Statement, as the case may
be (the "Effectiveness  Suspension Period"),  for any period of five (5) trading
days (whether or not  consecutive) in any period of 365  consecutive  days after
the occurrence of any Permitted  Blackout Period (as defined in the Registration
Rights  Agreement)  following  the  effectiveness  of the  Initial  Registration
Statement or the Additional  Registration  Statement,  as  applicable,  due to a
suspension of the  effectiveness of the applicable  Registration  Statement or a
suspension of the use of the applicable Registration Statement by the Company by
delivery of a notice that the applicable  Registration  Statement  should not be
used ("Effectiveness Suspension Period Default") unless during the Effectiveness
Suspension  Period,  the  Holders of  Preferred  Stock  could have sold all such
Underlying  Common  Stock  without  registration  pursuant to Rule 144(k) of the
Securities Act (assuming cashless exercise of the Warrants);

              (iii) the  failure of the Common  Stock or the  Conversion  Shares
issuable upon conversion of outstanding  Series C Preferred  Shares to be listed
on the  American  Stock  Exchange,  The New York Stock  Exchange,  or the Nasdaq
National  Market (the "Delisting  Period") for a period of ten (10)  consecutive
trading  days or any 30  non-consecutive  trading  days during any period of 365
consecutive days (a "Delisting Period Default");

              (iv)subject to Section 2(b)(iii), the Company's failure to deliver
shares of Common Stock pursuant to a Conversion  Notice within five (5) business
days  or  the  Company's  notice  to any  Holder,  including  by  way of  public
announcement  or by failure to respond within three (3) days to a written demand
from such  Holder,  at any time,  of its  intention  not to comply  with  proper
requests for  conversion of any Series C Preferred  Shares into shares of Common
Stock, including due to any of the reasons set forth in Section 4(a) below other
than Section 4(a)(y);

              (v) the  Company's  failure  to obtain  Stockholder  Approval  (as
defined in the Purchase  Agreement) if such  Stockholder  Approval would then be
required to permit the conversion of then outstanding  shares of Preferred Stock
and the  exercise  of all  then  outstanding  Warrants,  without  regard  to any
limitations  on  conversion  or  exercise,  unless (x) within 6 months  from the
Initial  Issuance Date the Holders  exercise their right to purchase  Series C-2
Preferred Shares at an Additional  Closing pursuant to the terms of the Purchase
Agreement,  (y) the Closing Price of the  Company's  Common Stock is below $5.00
and (z) the Company is then in full  compliance  with its obligations in respect
of the calling of a stockholders' meeting which are set forth in Section 4(o) of
the Purchase Agreement;

              (vi)the  Company  shall have failed to make any  Triggering  Event
Daily Payment (as defined in Section 3(k)) in a timely manner in accordance with
Section 3(k);

              (vii)  either,  (A) an event of  default  has  occurred  under the
Credit  Facility  (as  defined in Section  3(k)  below) or other  senior  credit
facilities where the aggregate amount of all such other senior credit facilities
is equal to or exceeds $5,000,000 (the "Other Senior Credit Facilities"),  which
default has resulted in indebtedness thereunder becoming, whether by declaration
or  otherwise,  due and  payable  prior to the date on which it would  otherwise
become due and payable,  or (B) a default by the Company in any payment when due
at final maturity of any indebtedness  under the Credit Facility or Other Senior
Credit Facilities;

              (viii) the  Company's  failure to deliver  shares of Common  Stock
upon the  Company's  receipt of a Conversion  Notice,  due to the  provisions of
Section 11;

              (ix)the  failure  of  the  Initial  Registration  Statement  to be
declared  effective on or prior to the date that is 180 days, or 240 days in the
event of an  underwritten  offering  elected by the  Holders,  after the Initial
Issuance Date;

                                      C-12


              (x) the failure of the  Additional  Registration  Statement  to be
declared  effective on or prior to the date that is 180 days, or 240 days in the
event of an underwritten  offering elected by the Holders,  after the Additional
Closing Date;

              (xi)the   Company's  failure  to  retain  a  Transfer  Agent  that
participates in the DTC Fast Automated  Securities  Transfer Program on or prior
to the date that is 90 days after the Initial Issuance Date; or

              (xii)  the  Company's  failure  to file the  Initial  Registration
Statement  on Form S-3 by the  later of (A)  November  21,  2000 or (B) the time
specified in a waiver obtained by the Company from the SEC.

         (e)  Mechanics  of  Conversion/Redemption  Upon Major  Transaction.  No
sooner  than  thirty  (30)  days  nor  later  than ten  (10)  days  prior to the
consummation of a Major Transaction, but not prior to the public announcement of
such Major  Transaction,  the Company shall deliver  written  notice thereof via
facsimile and overnight courier ("Notice of Major  Transaction") to each Holder.
The Holders shall have the option to elect  redemption of the Series C Preferred
Shares as set forth in Section 3(a).

         (f) Mechanics of Redemption at Option of Holder Upon Triggering  Event.
Within one (1) business day after the  occurrence  of a  Triggering  Event,  the
Company shall deliver written notice thereof  (specifying the Triggering  Event)
via  facsimile  and overnight  courier  ("Notice of  Triggering  Event") to each
Holder. At any time after receipt by a Holder of a Notice of Triggering Event or
a Holder  becoming aware of the existence of a Triggering  Event,  any Holder of
Series C Preferred Shares then outstanding may require the Company to redeem, to
the extent the  Company is not  prohibited  pursuant  to the terms of the Credit
Facility,  all or any  portion of such  Holder's  Series C  Preferred  Shares by
delivering  written notice thereof via facsimile and overnight  courier ("Notice
of Redemption at Option of Holder Upon Triggering Event") to the Company,  which
Notice of Redemption at Option of Holder Upon  Triggering  Event shall  indicate
(i) the  number of Series C  Preferred  Shares  that such  Holder is  requesting
redemption for and (ii) the applicable  Triggering  Event  Redemption  Price, as
calculated  pursuant  to Section  3(b)  above.  Within one (1)  business  day of
receipt of a Notice of Redemption at Option of Holder Upon Triggering Event, the
Company shall deliver written notice via facsimile and overnight courier to such
Holder  of the  Company's  election  to either  redeem  such  Holder's  Series C
Preferred Shares in accordance with the Notice of Redemption at Option of Holder
Upon Triggering Event or to be subject to the provisions of Section 3(k) herein.

         (g)  Forced  Delisting.  After the  occurrence  of a  Triggering  Event
described  in Section  3(d)(viii),  each  Holder  shall  notify  the  Company by
facsimile within three (3) business days of receipt of the applicable  Notice of
Triggering  Event (a "Delisting  Notice") as to whether such Holder is requiring
the Company to delist the Common Stock from the Principal Market. If so directed
in one or more  Delisting  Notices by the  Holders of at least a majority of the
Series C Preferred  Shares then  outstanding,  the Company shall, as promptly as
practicable,  but in no event more than five (5) business  days after receipt of
such  Delisting  Notices,  delist the Common Stock from the Principal  Market so
that the Exchange Cap (as defined in Section 11) no longer  applies and is of no
force and effect  after such fifth  business day and have the Common  Stock,  at
such  Holders'  option,  traded on the  electronic  bulletin  board or the "pink
sheets."

         (h)  Conversion  Cap:  Redemption  at Option of the Company.  Except as
otherwise  provided  herein,  the Company  shall not be  obligated  to issue any
Conversion  Shares with respect to the Series C-1 Preferred  Shares in excess of
18,342,152 or Conversion  Shares with respect to the Series C-2 Preferred Shares
in excess of 20.8 million shares (subject to equitable  adjustment for any stock
split,  stock  dividend,  recapitalization,  exchange  or  similar  event)  (the
"Initial Conversion Cap"), subject to increase as described below (the "Adjusted
Conversion  Cap"  and,   collectively  with  the  Initial  Conversion  Cap,  the
"Conversion  Cap").  No Holder  of Series  C-1  Preferred  Shares or Series  C-2
Preferred Shares, as applicable, shall be issued, upon conversion of such Series
C Preferred  Shares,  Conversion Shares in an amount greater than the product of
(i) the  Conversion  Cap  then in  effect  multiplied  by (ii) a  fraction,  the
numerator of which is the original  principal amount of the Series C-1 Preferred
Shares or Series C-2  Preferred  Shares,  as  applicable,  issued to such Holder
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the denominator of which is the aggregate
original  principal  amount of all the Series C-1 Preferred Shares or Series C-2
Preferred Shares, as applicable,  issued to the Holders pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement (the  "Conversion  Allocation  Amount").  In the event that any Holder
shall sell or otherwise  transfer any or all of such Holder's Series C Preferred
Shares in accordance  with the terms of this  Certificate  of  Designation,  the
Purchase  Agreement,  the  Registration  Rights  Agreement and the Warrant,  the
transferee  shall be allocated a pro-rata  portion of such  Holder's  Conversion
Allocation Amount as at the time of such sale or transfer. In the event that any
Holder of the Series C  Preferred  Shares  shall  convert  all of such  Holder's
Series C  Preferred  Shares into a number of  Conversion  Shares  which,  in the

                                      C-13


aggregate,  is less than such Holder's  Conversion  Allocation Amount,  then the
difference between such Holder's Conversion  Allocation Amount and the number of
Conversion  Shares  actually  issued to such Holder  shall be  allocated  to the
respective  Conversion Allocation Amounts of the remaining Holders on a pro-rata
basis in proportion to the  outstanding  principal  amount of Series C Preferred
Shares  then  held by each  such  Holder.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the
conversion  restriction  set forth in this  Section  3(h) shall not apply at any
time on and after the date on which the Company  issues or  notifies  any Holder
that the  Company  has  elected to issue a number of  Conversion  Shares to such
Holder  in excess of such  Holder's  Conversion  Allocation  Amount  unless  the
Company gives such Holder a Notice of Change of Election (as defined below). The
Company  shall  confirm  to a  Holder,  within  one  business  day of a  request
therefor,  the number of  outstanding  Series C  Preferred  Shares  held by such
Holder.

         If any Holder of the Series C  Preferred  Shares  submits a  Conversion
Notice which would require the Company to issue  Conversion  Shares in excess of
such Holder's  Conversion  Allocation Amount ("Excess Conversion  Amount"),  the
Company  shall within five (5) business  days of the  Company's  receipt of such
Conversion  Notice,  send written  notice by  facsimile  and first class post or
airmail to all  Holders  stating  the  Company's  election  to either  waive the
Conversion  Cap or redeem  the  Excess  Conversion  Amount  ("Notice  of Company
Redemption")  at a price per Series C Preferred  Share equal to the Stated Value
plus accrued but unpaid  dividends  ("Conversion  Cap  Redemption  Price") which
election to waive or redeem  shall be binding on the Company with respect to all
subsequent  conversions  by all  Holders in respect of their  Excess  Conversion
Amounts  unless a notice of change of  election is given by the Company at least
30 days in advance (a  "Notice  of Change of  Election").  In the event that the
Company elects to redeem the Excess  Conversion  Amounts,  the Company shall pay
the  Conversion  Cap  Redemption  Price to the Holder within ten (10) days after
delivering  the Notice of Company  Redemption,  which notice  shall  specify the
mechanics of the delivery of such Holder's  Preferred Stock  Certificates to the
Company and such Holder shall thereafter  promptly send such Holder's  Preferred
Stock  Certificates  to be redeemed  to the  Company.  If the  Company  fails to
provide written notice within five (5) business days of the Company's receipt of
the applicable  Conversion Notice of the Company's election to redeem the Excess
Conversion  Amount then the Company shall be deemed to have  irrevocably  waived
the Conversion Cap with respect to all conversions  submitted  thereafter by any
of the Holders at any time prior to a Notice of Change of Election.

         (i) Payment of  Redemption  Price.  Upon (i) the  occurrence of a Major
Transaction,  (ii) the Company's  receipt of a Notice(s) of Redemption at Option
of Holder  Upon  Triggering  Event from any Holder or (iii) the  delivery by the
Company of a Notice of Company Redemption,  the Company shall immediately notify
each Holder by  facsimile  of the  mechanics  of the  delivery of each  Holder's
Preferred Stock  Certificates and each Holder shall  thereafter  promptly (or in
the case of a Notice of Company  Redemption,  prior to the specified  date) send
such Holder's  Preferred Stock  Certificates to be redeemed to the Company.  The
Company shall deliver the Major Transaction  Redemption Price,  Triggering Event
Redemption  Price or Conversion Cap  Redemption  Price,  as applicable,  to such
Holder (i) within ten (10) days after the Company's receipt of notices to affect
a  redemption  or (ii) in the  case of a Major  Transaction,  upon  consummation
thereof;  provided that a Holder's  Preferred Stock Certificates shall have been
so delivered to the Company;  provided  further that if the Company is unable to
redeem all of the Series C Preferred  Shares,  (i) in the case of the occurrence
of a Major  Transaction or receipt of a Notice of Redemption at Option of Holder
Upon Triggering Event, the Company shall redeem an amount from each Holder equal
to such  Holder's  pro-rata  amount  (based on the number of Series C  Preferred
Shares  to be  redeemed  by such  Holder  relative  to the  number  of  Series C
Preferred Shares to be redeemed by all Holders) of all Series C Preferred Shares
being  redeemed  and  (ii) in the case of the  Company  Redemption  Option,  the
Company's  redemption  election shall be null and void if it is unable to redeem
all shares submitted for redemption. If the Company has elected to redeem Series
C  Preferred  Shares  and does not  deliver  the  applicable  Major  Transaction
Redemption  Price,  Triggering  Event  Redemption  Price or the  Conversion  Cap
Redemption  Price to a Holder in accordance  with the provisions of this Section
3(i),  then the Company shall no longer be entitled to redeem Series C Preferred
Shares at its option pursuant to Section 3(h).

         (j) In the case of the occurrence of a Major Transaction or the receipt
of Notice(s) of Redemption  at Option of Holder Upon  Triggering  Event,  if the
Company shall fail to redeem all of the Series C Preferred  Shares submitted for
redemption (other than pursuant to a dispute as to the arithmetic calculation of
the Redemption Price), in addition to any remedy such Holder may have under this
Certificate  of Designation  and the Purchase  Agreement,  the Redemption  Price
payable in respect  of such  unredeemed  Series C  Preferred  Shares  shall bear
interest at the rate of 1.25% per month (prorated for partial months) until paid
in full. In the case of a Major Transaction, a Triggering Event or delivery of a
Notice  of  Company  Redemption,  until  the  Company  pays  such  unpaid  Major

                                      C-14


Transaction  Redemption  Price,  Triggering Event Redemption Price or Conversion
Cap  Redemption  Price,  as applicable,  in full to each Holder,  Holders of the
Series C Preferred  Shares  submitted for redemption  pursuant to this Section 3
and for which the applicable  Major  Transaction  Redemption  Price,  Triggering
Event  Redemption Price or Conversion Cap Redemption  Price, as applicable,  has
not been paid, shall have the option (the "Void Optional Redemption Option") to,
in lieu of redemption, require the Company to promptly return to each Holder all
of the Series C Preferred  Shares that were  submitted  for  redemption  by such
Holder  under  this  Section 3 and for which  the Major  Transaction  Redemption
Price,  Triggering Event Redemption Price or Conversion Cap Redemption Price, as
applicable,  has not been paid, by sending written notice thereof to the Company
via  facsimile  (the "Void  Optional  Redemption  Notice").  Upon the  Company's
receipt of such Void Optional  Redemption  Notice(s) and prior to payment of the
full Major Transaction  Redemption  Price,  Triggering Event Redemption Price or
Conversion Cap Redemption Price, as applicable,  to each Holder,  (i) redemption
elections relating to a Major Transaction, the Notice(s) of Redemption at Option
of Holder Upon Triggering  Event or Notice of Company  Redemption  shall be null
and  void  with  respect  to those  Series  C  Preferred  Shares  submitted  for
redemption  and for which the Major  Transaction  Redemption  Price,  Triggering
Event  Redemption Price or Conversion Cap Redemption  Price, as applicable,  has
not been  paid,  and (ii) the  Company  shall  immediately  return  any Series C
Preferred  Shares  submitted to the Company by each Holder for redemption  under
this  Section  3(j)  and for  which  the  Major  Transaction  Redemption  Price,
Triggering  Event  Redemption  Price or  Conversion  Cap  Redemption  Price,  as
applicable,  has not been paid. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a
dispute  as to the  determination  of the  arithmetic  calculation  of the Major
Transaction  Redemption Price,  Triggering Event Redemption Price, or Conversion
Cap Redemption Price, as applicable,  such dispute shall be resolved pursuant to
Section  2(b)(iii)  above.  Payments  provided  for in this Section 3 shall have
priority to payments in respect of any securities of the Company that are junior
in rank to the Series C Preferred Shares in connection with a Major Transaction.

         (k) Additional  Rights of the Holders of the Series C Preferred  Shares
upon the Occurrence of a Triggering Event.  Subject to Section 3(f), in addition
to any other  remedies the Holders of the Series C Preferred  Shares may have at
law or in equity or pursuant to this Certificate of Designation, if a Triggering
Event occurs then:

              (i) on each day during the period  beginning on and  including the
first day  following  the  occurrence  of a  Triggering  Event and ending on and
including  the  date  on  which  such  Triggering  Event  is  cured  or all  the
outstanding  Series C Preferred  Shares are  redeemed,  the Company shall pay to
each  Holder  of  Series C  Preferred  Shares  an  amount  in cash per  Series C
Preferred Share equal to two percent (2%) of the  Liquidation  Value (as defined
in Section 8) of such Series C Preferred Share (each such payment, a "Triggering
Event Daily Payment");

              (ii)immediately  upon the  occurrence  of a  Triggering  Event and
during  the  entire  Reset  Conversion  Price  Period (as  defined  below),  the
Conversion  Price of the  outstanding  Series C Preferred  Shares shall be reset
(subject to further  adjustment  pursuant  to this  Certificate  of  Designation
subsequent  to such  adjustment)  (the  "Reset  Conversion  Price") to equal the
lesser of (I) the Conversion  Price in effect for such Series C Preferred Shares
on the  date of the  initial  occurrence  of such  Triggering  Event;  (II)  the
Conversion  Price in effect for such Series C Preferred  Shares on the day prior
to the date of the initial  occurrence of such  Triggering  Event;  or (III) the
product of (a) 0.50  multiplied  by (b) the lowest  Closing  Price of the Common
Stock during the Reset Conversion Price Period. The Reset Conversion Price shall
apply on each day  during the  period  (the  "Reset  Conversion  Price  Period")
beginning on and including the date of the initial occurrence of such Triggering
Event  and  ending  on and  including  any date  prior to the date on which  the
Company cures such Triggering  Event and delivers  written notice to each Holder
stating that such Triggering  Event has been cured, the Conversion Date or other
date of determination with respect to which the determination is being made with
respect to this Section 3(k)(ii); and

              (iii) if the Triggering  Event is pursuant to Section  3(d)(viii),
and the Company has not yet obtained Stockholder Approval, then with the written
consent of the Holders of at least a majority  of the Series C Preferred  Shares
then outstanding,  the Company shall issue the Conversion Shares notwithstanding
that it might result in the de-listing of the Common Stock of the Company.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in clause (i) of this Section 3(k), the
Company shall not be required to make Triggering  Event Daily Payments in excess
of an amount (the  "Triggering  Event Payment  Maximum") equal to the greater of
$6,000,000,  or such  greater  amount that the Company may pay without  being in
breach of the Second  Amended and Restated Term and Revolving  Credit  Agreement
dated as of October  17, 2000 among the  Company,  IBM Credit  Corporation,  IBM
Financing  (a division  of IBM Canada  Limited)  and Ground  Effects  Ltd.  (the
"Credit  Facility").  The  Triggering  Event Daily Payments shall be made by the
Company in amounts up to the Triggering  Event Payment  Maximum on a daily basis
based  upon a  fraction,  the  numerator  of which  is the  number  of  Series C

                                      C-15


Preferred  Shares then held by such Holder and the  denominator  of which is the
aggregate number of all then  outstanding  Series C Preferred Shares held by all
Holders.

     (4) Inability to Fully Convert.

         (a)  Holder's  Option if Company  Cannot  Fully  Convert.  If, upon the
Company's  receipt of a Conversion  Notice,  the Company  cannot issue shares of
Common Stock either (i) registered for resale under the  Registration  Statement
or (ii) that may be sold under Rule 144(k) of the Securities Act for any reason,
including,  without  limitation,  because  the  Company  (x)  does  not  have  a
sufficient  number of shares of Common Stock  authorized and  available,  (y) is
otherwise  prohibited by applicable  law, the Nasdaq  National  Market or by the
rules or  regulations of any stock  exchange,  interdealer  quotation  system or
other  self-regulatory  organization  with  jurisdiction over the Company or its
securities  from  issuing all or any portion of the Common  Stock which is to be
issued  to a Holder  pursuant  to a  Conversion  Notice  or (z)  fails to have a
sufficient  number of shares of Common  Stock  registered  for resale  under the
Registration  Statement  or Rule  144(k),  then the Company  shall issue as many
registered shares of Common Stock as it is able to issue in accordance with such
Holder's  Conversion Notice and pursuant to Section 2(b) above and, with respect
to the  unconverted  Series C  Preferred  Shares,  the  Holder,  solely  at such
Holder's  option,  can elect to (unless  the  Company  issues and  delivers  the
Conversion Shares underlying the unconverted  Series C Preferred Shares prior to
the  Holder's  election  hereunder,  in which  case such  Holder  shall  only be
entitled to receive Buy In Actual Damages under Section 2(b)(v)):

              (i) if the Company's inability to fully convert Series C Preferred
Shares is  pursuant  to  Section  4(a)(z)  above,  subject to Section 11 hereof,
require the Company to issue  restricted  shares of Common  Stock in  accordance
with such Holder's Conversion Notice and pursuant to Section 2(b) above; or

              (ii)void its Conversion Notice and retain or have retained, as the
case  may be,  the  nonconverted  Series  C  Preferred  Shares  that  were to be
converted pursuant to such Holder's Conversion Notice.

         (b)  Mechanics  of  Fulfilling  Holder's  Election.  The Company  shall
forthwith send via facsimile to a Holder,  upon receipt of a facsimile copy of a
Conversion  Notice from such Holder which cannot be fully satisfied as described
in Section 4(a) above, a notice of the Company's inability to fully satisfy such
Holder's  Conversion  Notice (the  "Inability  to Fully Convert  Notice").  Such
Inability to Fully Convert  Notice shall indicate (i) the reason why the Company
is unable to fully satisfy such Holder's  Conversion Notice,  (ii) the number of
Series C Preferred  Shares which cannot be  converted  and (iii) the  applicable
Required  Redemption  Price.  Such Holder must within five (5) business  days of
receipt of such  Inability to Fully Convert  Notice  deliver  written notice via
facsimile  to the Company  ("Notice in Response to Inability to Convert") of its
election pursuant to Section 4(a) above. Failure to deliver a Notice in Response
to Inability to Convert shall be deemed an election pursuant to Section 4(a)(i).

         (c)  Pro-rata  Conversion  and  Redemption.  In the event  the  Company
receives a  Conversion  Notice from more than one Holder on the same day and the
Company  can  convert  and redeem  some,  but not all, of the Series C Preferred
Shares  pursuant to this  Section 4, the Company  shall  convert and redeem from
each Holder electing to have Series C Preferred Shares converted and redeemed at
such time an amount equal to such Holder's  pro-rata amount (based on the number
of Series C  Preferred  Shares  held by such  Holder  relative  to the number of
Series C Preferred  Shares  outstanding) of all Series C Preferred  Shares being
converted and redeemed at such time.

     (5) Reissuance of Certificates.  In the event of a conversion or redemption
pursuant to this  Certificate  of Designation of less than all of the Series C-1
Preferred  Shares  or the  Series  C-2  Preferred  Shares,  as the  case may be,
represented  by a particular  Preferred  Stock  Certificate,  the Company  shall
promptly  cause to be  issued  and  delivered  to the  Holder  of such  Series C
Preferred Shares a Preferred Stock Certificate representing the remaining Series
C-1  Preferred  Shares or the Series C-2 Preferred  Shares,  as the case may be,
which have not been so converted or redeemed.

     (6) Reservation of Shares. As of the date hereof,  the Company has reserved
out of its  authorized  and  unissued  Common  Stock,  solely for the purpose of
effecting the conversion of the Series C Preferred Shares, such number of shares
of Common Stock as shall be sufficient  to effect the  conversion of 200% of all
of the number of shares of Common  Stock  into  which the  Series C-1  Preferred
Shares  that are  issuable on the Initial  Issuance  Date are then  convertible,
without regard to restrictions on conversion. Subsequent to the date hereof, the
Company shall reserve out of its  authorized and unissued  Common Stock,  solely
for the purpose of effecting the  conversion  of the Series C Preferred  Shares,
such  number  of shares of Common  Stock as shall be  sufficient  to effect  the
conversion of 150% of all of the number of shares of Common Stock into which the
outstanding  Series C Preferred Shares are then  convertible,  without regard to
restrictions on conversion.

                                      C-16


     (7) Dividends.  The Holders of the  outstanding  Series C Preferred  Shares
shall be entitled to receive cumulative dividends at the rate of 4% per annum of
the Stated Value per Series C-1 Preferred  Share or Series C-2 Preferred  Share,
as the case may be, to the Holders to whom such  dividends are to be issued (the
"Dividend"). Such Dividend shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last day
of March, June, September and December of each year,  commencing on December 31,
2000 (each of such dates being a "Dividend  Payment Date").  Such Dividend shall
accrue on each Series C Preferred Share from the date of issuance of such Series
C Preferred Shares (with appropriate  proration for any partial dividend period)
and shall accrue from  day-to-day,  whether or not earned or declared.  Dividend
payments made with respect to Series C Preferred Shares may be made,  subject to
the terms hereof,  in cash when and as declared by the Board of Directors of the
Company out of funds legally available therefor, or, at the option of and in the
sole  discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company,  in whole or in part,
by issuing fully paid and non assessable  Series C-1 Preferred  Shares or Series
C-2 Preferred  Shares, as the case may be, to the Holders to whom such dividends
are to be issued  (with the  Stated  Value  thereof  equal to the cash  dividend
amount)  such  that  such  Series C  Preferred  Shares  plus the  amount of cash
dividend paid in part, if any, is equal to the amount of the cash dividend which
would otherwise be paid on such Dividend Payment Date if such Dividend were paid
entirely  in cash;  provided  that (i)  following  180 days  after  the  Initial
Issuance Date,  the Dividend may be paid in Series C-1 Preferred  Shares only if
shares of Common  Stock  issuable  upon  conversion  thereof  is  covered  by an
effective  Initial  Registration  Statement  or may  otherwise  be sold  without
limitation in accordance with Rule 144(k) under the 1933 Act, and (ii) following
180 days after the  Additional  Closing Date, the Dividend may be paid in Series
C-2 Preferred  Shares only if shares of Common Stock  issuable  upon  conversion
thereof  is  covered  by an  effective  Initial  Registration  Statement,  or if
necessary,  an effective Additional  Registration Statement, or may otherwise be
sold without  limitation in accordance with Rule 144(k) under the 1933 Act . The
issuance of such Series C Preferred Stock (plus the amount of cash dividend,  if
any, paid together therewith) shall constitute full payment of such Dividend. In
no event  shall an  election  by the Board of  Directors  of the  Company to pay
Dividends,  in whole or in part,  in cash on any Dividend  Payment Date preclude
the  Board of  Directors  of the  Company  from  electing  any  other  available
alternative in respect of all or any portion of any subsequent Dividend.  On the
Initial  Issuance Date, the Company shall provide  written notice to the Holders
specifying  whether  Dividends  shall be paid in the future in cash,  additional
Series C Preferred Shares or a specified  combination thereof. This notice shall
remain in effect unless the Company  delivers a notice  changing the  individual
payment method at least twenty (20) days prior to a Dividend Payment Date.

     (8) Liquidation,  Dissolution, Winding-Up. In the event of any voluntary or
involuntary  liquidation,  dissolution or winding up of the Company, the Holders
shall be entitled to receive in cash out of the assets of the  Company,  whether
from capital or from earnings  available for  distribution  to its  stockholders
(the "Preferred Funds"),  after payment to holders of indebtedness  specifically
senior in rank to the Series C Preferred  Shares but before any amount  shall be
paid to the  holders  of any of the  capital  stock of the  Company of any class
junior in rank to the Series C Preferred Shares in respect of the preferences as
to the distributions and payments on the liquidation, dissolution and winding up
of the Company,  an amount per Series C Preferred  Share equal to the sum of (i)
Stated Value and (ii) all accrued and unpaid  dividends (such sum being referred
to as the  "Liquidation  Value");  provided  that,  if the  Preferred  Funds are
insufficient  to pay the full amount due to the Holders and holders of shares of
other classes or series of preferred stock of the Company that are of equal rank
with the Series C Preferred  Shares as to payments of Preferred Funds (the "Pari
Passu  Shares"),  then each  Holder and each holder of Pari Passu  Shares  shall
receive  a  percentage  of the  Preferred  Funds  equal  to the full  amount  of
Preferred  Funds  payable  to  such  holder  as  a  liquidation  preference,  in
accordance with their respective Certificate of Designation,  as a percentage of
the full amount of  Preferred  Funds  payable to all Holders and holders of Pari
Passu  Shares.  The purchase or redemption by the Company of stock of any class,
in any manner permitted by law, shall not, for the purposes hereof,  be regarded
as a  liquidation,  dissolution  or  winding  up of  the  Company.  Neither  the
consolidation  or merger of the Company with or into any other  Person,  nor the
sale or transfer by the  Company of less than  substantially  all of its assets,
shall,  for the purposes hereof,  be deemed to be a liquidation,  dissolution or
winding up of the Company.

     (9) Preferred  Rank.  All shares of Common Stock of the Company shall be of
junior rank to all Series C Preferred Shares in respect to the preferences as to
distributions  and payments upon the liquidation,  dissolution and winding up of
the Company.  All other shares of preferred stock shall not be of senior rank to
all Series C Preferred  Shares in respect to the preferences as to distributions
and payments upon the liquidation, dissolution and winding up of the Company. As
long as the Series C Preferred Shares initially issued remain outstanding,  then
without  the prior  express  written  consent of the  Holders of not less than a
majority of the then outstanding  Series C Preferred  Shares,  the Company shall
not  hereafter  authorize or issue  additional or other capital stock that is of

                                      C-17


senior rank or that is pari passu with the Series C Preferred  Shares in respect
of the  preferences  as to  distributions  and  payments  upon the  liquidation,
dissolution  and winding up of the Company.  Without the prior  express  written
consent  of the  Holders  of not less than a  majority  of the then  outstanding
Series C Preferred Shares, the Company shall not hereafter authorize or make any
amendment to the  Company's  Articles of  Incorporation  or bylaws,  or file any
resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company with the Missouri  Secretary
of State  containing any provisions,  which would adversely  affect or otherwise
impair the rights or relative priority of the Holders relative to the holders of
the Common  Stock or the  holders of any other  class of capital  stock.  In the
event of the  merger  or  consolidation  of the  Company,  with or into  another
Corporation,  if the Series C Preferred  Shares are not converted or redeemed in
accordance  with the terms hereof,  such shares shall  maintain  their  relative
powers,  designations  and  preferences  provided  for herein and no such merger
shall result inconsistent therewith.

     (10)Restriction  on  Redemption  and Cash  Dividends  With Respect to Other
Capital Stock.  Until all of the outstanding Series C Preferred Shares have been
converted or redeemed as provided  herein,  the Company  shall not,  directly or
indirectly,  redeem or declare or pay any cash dividend or  distribution  on its
Common  Stock or any other  capital  stock  without  the prior  express  written
consent  of the  Holders  of not less than a  majority  of the then  outstanding
Series C Preferred Shares.

     (11)Limitation  on Number of  Conversion  Shares.  The Company shall not be
obligated to issue, in the aggregate,  more than that number of shares of Common
Stock (such amount to be  proportionately  and  equitably  adjusted from time to
time in the event of stock splits, stock dividends,  combinations, reverse stock
splits, reclassification, capital reorganizations and similar events relating to
the Common  Stock) (the  "Exchange  Cap") that upon  conversion  of the Series C
Preferred Shares and the exercise of the Warrants,  would constitute a breach of
the Company's obligations under the rules or regulations of the Principal Market
or any other  principal  securities  exchange  or trading  market upon which the
Common Stock becomes traded;  except that such limitation shall not apply in the
event that the required  number of the Holders of the Series C Preferred  Shares
have exercised  their rights pursuant to Section 3(g) to have the Company remove
the Common Stock from the Principal Market.  The Exchange Cap shall be allocated
among the  Series C  Preferred  Shares  pro rata  based on the  total  number of
outstanding Series C Preferred Shares.

     (12)Vote to Change the Terms of Series C Preferred Shares.  The affirmative
vote at a meeting duly called for such purpose or the written  consent without a
meeting,  of the  Holders  of not less than a majority  of the then  outstanding
Series C Preferred Shares,  shall be required for any change to this Certificate
of Designation or the Company's Second Restated Articles of Incorporation  which
would  amend,  alter,   change  or  repeal  any  of  the  rights,   preferences,
qualifications,  limitations, restrictions and special or relative rights of the
Series C Preferred Shares.

     (13)Lost or Stolen  Certificates.  Upon  receipt by the Company of evidence
satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of any
Preferred Stock Certificates representing the Series C Preferred Shares, and, in
the case of loss, theft or destruction,  of any  indemnification  undertaking by
the Holder to the Company and, in the case of  mutilation,  upon  surrender  and
cancellation  of the Preferred Stock  Certificate(s),  the Company shall execute
and deliver new Preferred Stock Certificate(s) of like tenor and date; provided,
however,  the  Company  shall  not be  obligated  to  re-issue  Preferred  Stock
Certificates  if the Holder  contemporaneously  requests  the Company to convert
such Series C Preferred Shares into Common Stock.

     C.  The authorized number of shares of Preferred Stock of said  corporation
is five million,  of which one share has been issued.  The authorized  number of
shares of Series C Convertible  Preferred Stock of said  corporation is 100,000,
none of which has been issued.

     I further  declare  under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of
Missouri that the matters set forth in this  Certificate are true and correct of
our own knowledge.

DATED: October 21, 2000

                                      /s/ Garrett A. Sullivan
                                  -------------------------------------
                                  Garrett A. Sullivan
                                  President

Attest:

     /s/ Richard J. Sullivan
- -------------------------------------
Secretary


                                      C-18





                                    EXHIBIT I

                         APPLIED DIGITAL SOLUTIONS, INC.
                                CONVERSION NOTICE

Reference  is  made  to the  Certificate  of  Designation  of  Preferences  (the
"Certificate  of  Designation")  of the Series C Convertible  Preferred Stock of
Applied Digital  Solutions,  Inc., a Missouri  Corporation (the  "Company").  In
accordance with and pursuant to the Certificate of Designations, the undersigned
hereby  elects  to  convert  the  number  of shares  and  subseries  of Series C
Convertible  Preferred  Stock (the  "Series C Preferred  Shares") of the Company
indicated  below into  shares of Common  Stock,  par value  $.001 per share (the
"Common  Stock"),  of  the  Company,  by  tendering  the  stock   certificate(s)
representing  the  Series  C  Preferred  Shares  specified  below as of the date
specified below.




   Date of Conversion:
                                                --------------------------------
   Subseries of Series C Preferred
   Shares to be converted:
   (Series C-1 Preferred Shares or
   Series C-2 Preferred Shares, as
   the case may be)
                                                --------------------------------
   Number of Series C Preferred Shares
   to be converted:
                                                --------------------------------
   Stock certificate no(s). of Series
   C Preferred Shares to be converted:
                                                --------------------------------
   Please confirm the following
   information:

   Circle one:  Conversion Price or
   Alternate Conversion Price; and
   state price
                                                --------------------------------
   Number of shares of Common Stock
   to be issued:
                                                --------------------------------

The  holder  of the  Series  C  Preferred  Shares  hereby  represents  that  the
conversion  of such  shares will not  require  any filing or  expiration  of any
waiting period under the Hart-Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvement Act of 1976, as
amended. Please issue and deliver the Common Stock and, if applicable, any check
drawn on an account of the Company into which the Series C Preferred  Shares are
being converted in the following name and to the following address:




     Issue to:
     Facsimile Number:
                                                --------------------------------
     Authorization:
     (To be made by record holder of
     Series C Preferred Shares)
                                                --------------------------------
                                                  By:
                                                      --------------------------
                                                  Title:
                                                        ------------------------
     Dated:

     Account Number:
     (if electronic book entry transfer)
                                                --------------------------------
     Transaction Code Number:
     (if electronic book entry transfer)
                                                --------------------------------