EXHIBIT 10


                                DST SYSTEMS, INC.

                     4.125% Series A Convertible Senior Debentures due 2023

                     3.625% Series B Convertible Senior Debentures due 2023

                               Purchase Agreement

                                                                  August 6, 2003



Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Banc of America Securities LLC
As Representatives of the Initial Purchasers
c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
       388 Greenwich Street
       New York, New York  10013

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     DST Systems,  Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (the
"Company"),  proposes to issue and sell to the several parties named in Schedule
I hereto (the "Initial  Purchasers"),  for whom you (the  "Representatives") are
acting as representatives,  $450,000,000  aggregate original principal amount of
its  4.125%  Series A  Convertible  Senior  Debentures  due 2023 (the  "Series A
Securities") and $250,000,000  aggregate original principal amount of its 3.625%
Series B Convertible  Senior Debentures due 2023 (the "Series B Securities" and,
together with the Series A Securities, the "Firm Securities").  The Company also
proposes to grant to the Representatives an option to purchase up to $90,000,000
additional  original  principal amount of the Series A Securities (the "Series A
Option  Securities")  and/or up to  $50,000,000  additional  original  principal
amount  of the  Series B  Securities  (the  "Series  B Option  Securities"  and,
together  with the Series A Option  Securities,  the  "Option  Securities"  and,
together  with  the Firm  Securities,  the  "Securities").  The  Securities  are
convertible  into shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common
Stock"), of the Company. The Series A Securities and the Series B Securities are
to be issued under the indenture (the "Indenture") to be dated as of the Closing
Date between the Company and JPMorgan  Chase Bank,  as trustee (the  "Trustee").
The  Securities  will have the benefit of a registration  rights  agreement (the
"Registration  Rights Agreement") to be dated as of the Closing Date between the
Company and the Initial Purchasers,  pursuant to which the Company will agree to
use its reasonable  best efforts to register the resale of the Securities  under
the Act subject to the terms and  conditions  therein  specified.  To the extent
there are no  additional  parties  listed on Schedule I other than you, the term
Representatives as used herein shall mean you as the Initial Purchasers, and the
terms  Representatives  and Initial Purchasers shall mean either the singular or
plural as the context  requires.  The use of the neuter in this Agreement  shall
include the feminine and  masculine  wherever  appropriate.  Certain  terms used
herein are defined in Section 18 hereof.

     The sale of the Securities to the Initial  Purchasers  will be made without
registration  of the  Securities,  or the Common Stock issuable upon  conversion
thereof,  under  the Act in  reliance  upon  exemptions  from  the  registration
requirements of the Act.

     In connection with the sale of the  Securities,  the Company has prepared a
preliminary offering memorandum dated August 5, 2003 (as amended or supplemented
at the date thereof,  including any and all exhibits thereto and any information
incorporated by reference therein,  the "Preliminary  Memorandum"),  and a final
offering  memorandum  dated  August 6, 2003 (as amended or  supplemented  at the
Execution  Time,  including  any and all  exhibits  thereto and any  information
incorporated  by  reference  therein,  the  "Final  Memorandum").  Each  of  the
Preliminary  Memorandum and the Final Memorandum sets forth certain  information
concerning  the  Company,  the  Securities  and the Common Stock  issuable  upon
conversion  thereof.  The Company hereby confirms that it has authorized the use
of the  Preliminary  Memorandum and the Final  Memorandum,  and any amendment or
supplement  thereto,  in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities by
the Initial Purchasers.  Unless stated to the contrary, any references herein to
the  terms  "amend",  "amendment"  or  "supplement"  with  respect  to the Final
Memorandum  shall be deemed to refer to and include any information  filed under
the  Exchange Act  subsequent  to the  Execution  Time that is  incorporated  by
reference therein.

     1.  Representations and Warranties.  The Company represents and warrants to
each Initial Purchaser as set forth below in this Section 1.

     (a) The Preliminary  Memorandum,  at the date thereof,  did not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary
to make the statements  therein,  in the light of the circumstances  under which
they were made, not  misleading.  At the Execution Time, on the Closing Date and
on any  settlement  date,  the  Final  Memorandum  did not and will not (and any
amendment or supplement thereto, at the date thereof, at the Closing Date and on
any settlement  date, will not) contain any untrue  statement of a material fact
or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements  therein, in
the light of the  circumstances  under  which  they were made,  not  misleading;
provided,  however,  that the Company makes no  representation or warranty as to
the information  contained in or omitted from the Preliminary  Memorandum or the
Final Memorandum,  or any amendment or supplement  thereto, in reliance upon and
in  conformity  with  information  furnished  in writing to the Company by or on
behalf of the Initial  Purchasers through the  Representatives  specifically for
inclusion therein.

     (b) None of the Company,  its  Affiliates,  or any person  acting on its or
their behalf has, directly or indirectly,  made offers or sales of any security,
or solicited offers to buy, any security under  circumstances that would require
the  registration of the Securities or the Common Stock issuable upon conversion
thereof under the Act.

     (c) None of the Company,  its  Affiliates,  or any person  acting on its or
their  behalf  has  engaged  in any  form of  general  solicitation  or  general
advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in connection with any offer or
sale of the Securities.

     (d) The Securities satisfy the eligibility  requirements of Rule 144A(d)(3)
under the Act.

     (e) The  Company  has been  advised by the NASD's  PORTAL  Market  that the
Securities  have been designated  PORTAL-eligible  securities in accordance with
the rules and regulations of the NASD.

     (f) No  registration  under the Act of the  Securities  is required for the
offer and sale of the  Securities to or by the Initial  Purchasers in the manner
contemplated herein and in the Final Memorandum.

     (g) The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of
the Securities and the  application of the proceeds  thereof as described in the
Final  Memorandum  will  not be,  an  "investment  company"  as  defined  in the
Investment  Company Act, without taking account of any exemption  arising out of
the number of holders of the Company's securities.

     (h) The  Company is subject to and in full  compliance  with the  reporting
requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

     (i)  The  Company  has  not  paid  or  agreed  to  pay to  any  person  any
compensation  for  soliciting  another to purchase any securities of the Company
(except as contemplated in this Agreement).

     (j) The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly,  any action designed
to or that has  constituted  or that might  reasonably  be  expected to cause or
result, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, in stabilization or manipulation of
the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the
Securities.

     (k) Each of the Company and its significant  subsidiaries listed on Annex A
hereto (individually,  a "Subsidiary" and collectively,  the "Subsidiaries") has
been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing
under the laws of the  jurisdiction  in which it is chartered or organized  with
full corporate  power and authority to own or lease,  as the case may be, and to
operate  its  properties  and conduct its  business  as  described  in the Final
Memorandum, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is
in good  standing  under  the  laws  of each  jurisdiction  that  requires  such
qualification.

     (l) All the  outstanding  shares of capital stock of each  Subsidiary  have
been duly  authorized and validly  issued and are fully paid and  nonassessable,
and,  except as otherwise  set forth in the Final  Memorandum,  all  outstanding
shares of capital  stock of the  Subsidiaries  are owned by the  Company  either
directly or through  wholly  owned  subsidiaries  free and clear of any security
interest, claim, lien or encumbrance.

     (m) The Company's  authorized equity  capitalization is as set forth in the
Final  Memorandum;  the capital stock of the Company conforms to the description
thereof  contained in the Final  Memorandum;  the  outstanding  shares of Common
Stock  have been duly  authorized  and  validly  issued  and are fully  paid and
nonassessable;  the  shares of Common  Stock  issuable  upon  conversion  of the
Securities  have been duly  authorized  and, when issued upon  conversion of the
Securities,  will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable;  the Board of
Directors of the Company has duly and validly adopted resolutions reserving such
shares of Common Stock for  issuance  upon  conversion  of the  Securities;  the
holders of  outstanding  shares of capital stock of the Company are not entitled
to preemptive  or other rights to subscribe for the  Securities or the shares of
Common Stock issuable upon conversion  thereof;  and, except as set forth in the
Final Memorandum, no options,  warrants or other rights to purchase,  agreements
or other  obligations  to issue,  or rights to convert any  obligations  into or
exchange any securities for,  shares of capital stock of or ownership  interests
in the Company are outstanding.

     (n) The statements in the Final Memorandum set forth (i) under the headings
"Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations",  "Description of the Series A
Debentures",  "Description of the Series B Debentures",  "Description of Capital
Stock" and "Registration Rights" and (ii) in the thirteenth risk factor relating
to certain regulatory matters under the heading "Risk  Factors-Risks  Related to
DST" fairly summarize the matters therein described.

     (o) This Agreement has been duly authorized,  executed and delivered by the
Company; the Indenture has been duly authorized and, assuming due authorization,
execution  and delivery  thereof by the Trustee,  when executed and delivered by
the Company,  will constitute a legal,  valid,  binding  instrument  enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms (subject, as to the enforcement
of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or
other laws affecting creditors' rights generally from time to time in effect and
to general principles of equity); the Securities have been duly authorized, and,
when  executed  and  authenticated  in  accordance  with the  provisions  of the
Indenture  and  delivered to and paid for by the Initial  Purchasers,  will have
been duly executed and delivered by the Company and will  constitute  the legal,
valid and binding  obligations  of the Company  entitled to the  benefits of the
Indenture (subject, as to the enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy,
reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors' rights
generally  from time to time in effect and to general  principles of equity) and
will be convertible  into Common Stock in accordance  with their terms;  and the
Registration  Rights Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company and, when
executed and delivered by the Company, will constitute the legal, valid, binding
and  enforceable  instrument of the Company  (subject,  as to the enforcement of
remedies, to applicable bankruptcy,  reorganization,  insolvency,  moratorium or
other laws affecting creditors' rights generally from time to time in effect and
to general  principles of equity),  provided that no representation is made with
respect to the indemnification provisions thereof.

     (p) No consent, approval, authorization,  filing with or order of any court
or governmental  agency or body is required in connection with the  transactions
contemplated  herein, in the Indenture or in the Registration  Rights Agreement,
except such as may be required  under the blue sky laws of any  jurisdiction  in
which the Securities  are offered and sold and, in the case of the  Registration
Rights Agreement, such as will be obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture
Act.

     (q) None of the execution and delivery of the Indenture,  this Agreement or
the Registration  Rights  Agreement,  the issuance and sale of the Securities or
the issuance of the Common Stock upon conversion thereof, or the consummation of
any other of the transactions herein or therein contemplated, or the fulfillment
of the  terms  hereof  or  thereof  will  conflict  with,  result in a breach or
violation or imposition of any lien,  charge or encumbrance upon any property or
assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to, (i) the charter or
by-laws  of the  Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries;  (ii)  the  terms  of any
indenture,  contract,  lease,  mortgage,  deed of trust,  note  agreement,  loan
agreement or other agreement,  obligation,  condition, covenant or instrument to
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its
or their  property is subject;  or (iii) any  statute,  law,  rule,  regulation,
judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body,  administrative agency,
governmental  body,  arbitrator or other authority having  jurisdiction over the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of its or their properties; except for
such violation or default, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, as would
not,  either  individually  or in the aggregate  with all other  violations  and
defaults  referred to in this  paragraph (if any),  have (x) a Material  Adverse
Effect (as defined below) or (y) a material adverse effect upon the transactions
contemplated herein or by any Initial Purchaser.

     (r) The consolidated  historical  financial statements and schedules of the
Company and its consolidated  subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference
in the Final  Memorandum  present  fairly the  financial  condition,  results of
operations  and cash flows of the  Company  as of the dates and for the  periods
indicated,  comply as to form with the  applicable  accounting  requirements  of
Regulation  S-X and have been prepared in  conformity  with  generally  accepted
accounting  principles  applied on a  consistent  basis  throughout  the periods
involved  (except as otherwise  noted therein);  the summary  financial data set
forth under the caption "Summary-Summary  Consolidated Financial Information" in
the  Final  Memorandum  fairly  present,  on  the  basis  stated  in  the  Final
Memorandum, the information included therein.

     (s) No action,  suit or proceeding  by or before any court or  governmental
agency,  authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries  or its or their  property is pending or, to the best  knowledge of
the Company, threatened that (i) could reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse  effect on the  performance  of this  Agreement,  the  Indenture  or the
Registration  Rights  Agreement,  or the consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated  hereby or (ii) could  reasonably  be  expected  to have a material
adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise),  prospects,  earnings,
business or  properties of the Company and its  subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,
whether or not arising from  transactions  in the ordinary course of business (a
"Material Adverse Effect"),  except as set forth in or contemplated in the Final
Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

     (t)  Each of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  owns or  leases  all such
properties  as are  necessary  to the  conduct of its  operations  as  presently
conducted.

     (u)  Neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is in  violation  or
default of (i) any  provision  of its  charter or bylaws;  (ii) the terms of any
indenture,  contract,  lease,  mortgage,  deed of trust,  note  agreement,  loan
agreement or other agreement,  obligation,  condition, covenant or instrument to
which it is a party or bound or to which its  property is subject;  or (iii) any
statute,  law, rule,  regulation,  judgment,  order or decree  applicable to the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative
agency,  governmental  body,  arbitrator or other authority having  jurisdiction
over the Company or such  Subsidiary or any of its  properties,  as  applicable;
except for such  violation  or  default,  in the case of clauses  (ii) and (iii)
above,  as would not,  either  individually  or in the aggregate  with all other
violations  and  defaults  referred to in this  paragraph  (if any),  have (x) a
Material  Adverse Effect or (y) a material  adverse effect upon the transactions
contemplated herein or by any Initial Purchaser.

     (v)  PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP,  who  have  certified  certain  financial
statements of the Company and its consolidated  subsidiaries and delivered their
report  with  respect  to the  audited  consolidated  financial  statements  and
schedules  included or  incorporated by reference in the Final  Memorandum,  are
independent public accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of
the Act.

     (w) There are no stamp or other  issuance  or  transfer  taxes or duties or
other  similar  fees or  charges  required  to be paid in  connection  with  the
execution and delivery of this  Agreement or the issuance or sale by the Company
of the  Securities  or upon the  issuance  of Common  Stock upon the  conversion
thereof.

     (x) The Company has filed all non-U.S.,  U.S. federal,  state and local tax
returns  that  are  required  to be filed or has  requested  extensions  thereof
(except  in any case in which the  failure  so to file would not have a Material
Adverse  Effect  and  except  as set  forth  in or  contemplated  in  the  Final
Memorandum  (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto)) and has paid all
taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied
against it, to the extent that any of the  foregoing is due and payable,  except
for any such  assessment,  fine or penalty that is currently  being contested in
good  faith or as would not have a  Material  Adverse  Effect  and except as set
forth in or contemplated in the Final Memorandum  (exclusive of any amendment or
supplement thereto).

     (y) No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of
its  Subsidiaries  exists or, to the knowledge of the Company,  is threatened or
imminent,  and the  Company  is not  aware of any  existing  or  imminent  labor
disturbance  by the  employees  of any  of  its or its  Subsidiaries'  principal
suppliers, contractors or customers, except as would not have a Material Adverse
Effect,  and  except as set  forth in or  contemplated  in the Final  Memorandum
(exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

     (z) The  Company  and each of its  Subsidiaries  are insured by insurers of
recognized  financial  responsibility  against such losses and risks and in such
amounts  as are  prudent  and  customary  in the  businesses  in which  they are
engaged;  all  policies of insurance  and fidelity or surety bonds  insuring the
Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries  or their  respective  businesses,  assets,
employees,  officers and directors are in full force and effect; the Company and
its  Subsidiaries  are in  compliance  with  the  terms  of  such  policies  and
instruments; there are no claims by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under
any such  policy or  instrument  as to which any  insurance  company  is denying
liability or defending  under a reservation  of rights  clause;  and neither the
Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has any reason to believe that it will not
be able to renew its  existing  insurance  coverage  as and when  such  coverage
expires or to obtain similar  coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary
to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect
except as set forth in or contemplated in the Final Memorandum (exclusive of any
amendment or supplement thereto).

     (aa) No  Subsidiary  of the Company is  currently  prohibited,  directly or
indirectly,  from paying any  dividends  to the  Company,  from making any other
distribution on such  Subsidiary's  capital stock,  from repaying to the Company
any loans or advances to such Subsidiary  from the Company or from  transferring
any of  such  Subsidiary's  property  or  assets  to the  Company  or any  other
Subsidiary of the Company,  except as described in or  contemplated in the Final
Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

     (bb) The Company and its Subsidiaries  possess all licenses,  certificates,
permits and other authorizations  issued by the appropriate U.S. federal,  state
or  non-U.S.  regulatory  authorities  necessary  to  conduct  their  respective
businesses, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any
notice of  proceedings  relating to the revocation or  modification  of any such
certificate,  authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate,  if the
subject of an  unfavorable  decision,  ruling or finding,  would have a Material
Adverse Effect,  except as set forth in or contemplated in the Final  Memorandum
(exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

     (cc) The Company and its Subsidiaries own,  possess,  license or have other
rights to use on reasonable terms, all patents,  trade and service marks,  trade
names,  copyrights,  domain names (in each case including all  registrations and
applications to register same), inventions, trade secrets, technology,  know-how
and other intellectual  property,  (collectively,  the "Intellectual  Property")
necessary  for the  conduct of the  Company's  business as now  conducted  or as
proposed in the Final  Memorandum  to be conducted;  except for those  instances
where the  failure to own,  possess,  license  or have other  rights to use such
Intellectual Property could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected  to have a Material  Adverse  Effect.  Except as set forth in the Final
Memorandum,  (i) the Company owns, or has rights to use under license,  all such
Intellectual  Property  free and clear in all  material  respects of all adverse
claims, liens or other encumbrances; (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, there
is no material infringement by third parties of any such Intellectual  Property;
(iii) there is no pending or, to the  Company's  knowledge,  threatened  action,
suit,  proceeding or claim by any third party  challenging  the Company's or its
Subsidiaries' rights in or to any such Intellectual Property, and the Company is
unaware of any facts  which  would form a  reasonable  basis for any such claim;
(iv) there is no pending  or, to the  Company's  knowledge,  threatened  action,
suit, proceeding or claim by any third party challenging the validity,  scope or
enforceability of any such Intellectual  Property, and the Company is unaware of
any facts that would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; (v) there is no
pending or, to the Company's knowledge,  threatened action, suit,  proceeding or
claim by any  third  party  that the  Company  or any  Subsidiary  infringes  or
otherwise  violates  any patent,  trademark,  copyright,  trade  secret or other
proprietary  rights of any third party,  and the Company is unaware of any other
fact which would form a  reasonable  basis for any such  claim;  and (vi) to the
knowledge of the Company,  there is no valid and subsisting  patent or published
patent  application  that would preclude the Company,  in any material  respect,
from practicing any such Intellectual Property.

     (dd)  The  Company  maintains  a system  of  internal  accounting  controls
sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in
accordance  with   management's   general  or  specific   authorizations;   (ii)
transactions  are  recorded as  necessary  to permit  preparation  of  financial
statements in conformity with generally  accepted  accounting  principles and to
maintain  asset  accountability;  (iii)  access to assets is  permitted  only in
accordance with  management's  general or specific  authorization;  and (iv) the
recorded  accountability  for assets is  compared  with the  existing  assets at
reasonable  intervals  and  appropriate  action  is taken  with  respect  to any
differences.

     (ee) The Company and its  Subsidiaries  are (i) in compliance  with any and
all applicable  non-U.S.,  U.S.  federal,  state and local laws and  regulations
relating to the  protection  of human  health and  safety,  the  environment  or
hazardous  or  toxic   substances   or  wastes,   pollutants   or   contaminants
("Environmental  Laws");  (ii)  have  received  and are in  compliance  with all
permits,   licenses  or  other  approvals  required  of  them  under  applicable
Environmental  Laws to conduct their respective  businesses;  and (iii) have not
received  notice of any actual or potential  liability  under any  Environmental
Law,  except  where such  non-compliance  with  Environmental  Laws,  failure to
receive required permits,  licenses or other approvals,  or liability would not,
individually or in the aggregate,  have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set
forth in or contemplated in the Final Memorandum  (exclusive of any amendment or
supplement  thereto).  Except as set forth in the Final Memorandum,  neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been named as a "potentially responsible
party"  under  the  Comprehensive  Environmental  Response,   Compensation,  and
Liability Act of 1980, as amended.

     (ff)  The  minimum  funding  standard  under  Section  302 of the  Employee
Retirement  Income  Security Act of 1974, as amended,  and the  regulations  and
published  interpretations  thereunder  ("ERISA"),  has been  satisfied  by each
"pension plan" (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) which has been  established
or maintained  by the Company  and/or one or more of its  Subsidiaries,  and the
trust  forming  part of each such plan which is intended to be  qualified  under
Section  401  of  the  Code  is so  qualified;  each  of  the  Company  and  its
Subsidiaries has fulfilled its obligations,  if any, under Section 515 of ERISA;
neither  the  Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  maintains  or is required to
contribute  to a "welfare  plan" (as  defined in  Section  3(1) of ERISA)  which
provides retiree or other post-employment welfare benefits or insurance coverage
(other than "continuation coverage" (as defined in Section 602 of ERISA)), other
than life  insurance  provided to certain  retirees  of  EquiServe,  Inc.;  each
pension plan and welfare plan  established  or maintained by the Company  and/or
one or more of its  Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material  respects with
the currently applicable provisions of ERISA; and neither the Company nor any of
its  Subsidiaries  has  incurred  or could  reasonably  be expected to incur any
withdrawal  liability  under Section 4201 of ERISA,  any liability under Section
4062, 4063, or 4064 of ERISA, or any other liability under Title IV of ERISA.

     (gg) The  subsidiaries  listed  on  Annex A  attached  hereto  are the only
"significant subsidiaries" of the Company (as defined in Rule l-02 of Regulation
S-X under the Act).

     (hh) None of the  Company,  its  Subsidiaries  or, to the  knowledge of the
Company, any director,  officer,  agent, employee or Affiliate of the Company or
any of its  Subsidiaries  is aware  of or has  taken  any  action,  directly  or
indirectly,  that would result in a violation by such Persons of Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the
"FCPA"), including, without limitation,  making use of the mails or any means or
instrumentality  of interstate  commerce  corruptly in  furtherance of an offer,
payment,  promise to pay or  authorization of the payment of any money, or other
property,  gift,  promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of
value to any  "foreign  official"  (as such term is  defined in the FCPA) or any
foreign  political  party or  official  thereof  or any  candidate  for  foreign
political  office,   in  contravention  of  the  FCPA;  and  the  Company,   its
Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, its Affiliates have conducted
their  businesses in compliance  with the FCPA and have  instituted and maintain
policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to
continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

     (ii) The operations of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  are and have been
conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and
reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of
1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions,  the rules
and  regulations  thereunder  and any related or similar  rules,  regulations or
guidelines,   issued,  administered  or  enforced  by  any  governmental  agency
(collectively, the "Money Laundering Laws") and no action, suit or proceeding by
or before any court or governmental agency,  authority or body or any arbitrator
involving  the  Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries  with  respect to the Money
Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.

     (jj) None of the Company,  any of its  Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of
the Company, any director,  officer, agent, employee or Affiliate of the Company
or  any  of  its  Subsidiaries  is  currently  subject  to  any  U.S.  sanctions
administered  by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S.  Department of
the Treasury  ("OFAC");  and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the
proceeds of the offering of the  Securities  hereunder,  or lend,  contribute or
otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary,  joint venture partner
or other person or entity,  for the purpose of financing  the  activities of any
person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

     (kk) There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company and any of
the Company's directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with
any  provision of the Sarbanes  Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and  regulations
promulgated  in  connection  therewith  (the  "Sarbanes  Oxley Act"),  including
Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

     (ll)  Prior  to  the  date  hereof,   the  Company  has  furnished  to  the
Representatives  letters,  each  substantially  in the form of Exhibit A hereto,
duly executed by each  executive  officer and director of the Company  listed in
Schedule II hereto and addressed to the Representatives.

     Any  certificate  signed  by  any  executive  officer  of the  Company  and
delivered  to the  Representatives  or counsel  for the  Initial  Purchasers  in
connection with the offering of the Securities  shall be deemed a representation
and  warranty by the Company,  as to matters  covered  thereby,  to each Initial
Purchaser.

     2.  Purchase  and Sale.  (a)  Subject  to the terms and  conditions  and in
reliance upon the  representations  and warranties herein set forth, the Company
agrees to sell to each Initial  Purchaser,  and each Initial  Purchaser  agrees,
severally and not jointly,  to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of
97.5% of the original principal amount thereof,  plus accrued interest,  if any,
to the Closing Date,  the original  principal  amount of Series A Securities and
the original  principal  amount of Series B Securities  set forth  opposite such
Initial Purchaser's name in Schedule I hereto.

     (b)  Subject  to  the  terms  and  conditions  and  in  reliance  upon  the
representations  and warranties  herein set forth,  the Company hereby grants an
option to the several  Representatives  to purchase,  severally and not jointly,
the Series A Option Securities and/or the Series B Option Securities at the same
purchase price as the  Representatives  shall pay for the Firm Securities,  plus
accrued  interest,  if any,  to the  settlement  date  for the  Series  A Option
Securities and/or the Series B Option Securities. The option may be exercised in
whole or in part at any time (but not more than once) prior to the 13th day from
and  including  the Closing  Date,  upon  written or  telegraphic  notice by the
Representatives  to the Company setting forth the original  principal  amount of
the Series A Option  Securities  and/or  the  original  principal  amount of the
Series  B  Option  Securities  as  to  which  the  several  Representatives  are
exercising the option and the settlement date; provided that the settlement date
for such Option  Securities is no later than the 13th day from and including the
Closing  Date.  Delivery of the Series A Option  Securities  and/or the Series B
Option Securities,  and payment therefor, shall be made as provided in Section 3
hereof. Each Representative  shall purchase 50% of the original principal amount
of the Series A Option Securities and/or 50% of the original principal amount of
the Series B Option  Securities to be purchased,  subject to such adjustments as
you  in  your  absolute  discretion  shall  make  to  eliminate  any  fractional
Securities.

     3.  Delivery  and  Payment.  (a)  Delivery  of and  payment  for  the  Firm
Securities  and the  Series  A  Option  Securities  and/or  the  Series B Option
Securities  (if the option  provided  for in Section 2(b) hereof shall have been
exercised on or before the Business Day prior to the Closing Date) shall be made
at 10:00 A.M.,  New York City time,  on August 12, 2003, or at such time on such
later date not more than three  Business  Days after the  foregoing  date as the
Representatives  shall  designate,  which  date  and time  may be  postponed  by
agreement between the  Representatives and the Company or as provided in Section
9 hereof  (such date and time of delivery and payment for the  Securities  being
herein called the "Closing  Date").  Delivery of the Securities shall be made to
the   Representatives  for  the  respective  accounts  of  the  several  Initial
Purchasers  against  payment  by the  several  Initial  Purchasers  through  the
Representatives  of the  purchase  price  thereof  to or upon  the  order of the
Company by wire transfer  payable in same-day funds to the account  specified by
the Company.  Delivery of the Securities shall be made through the facilities of
The  Depository  Trust  Company  unless  the  Representatives   shall  otherwise
instruct.

     (b) If the option  provided for in Section  2(b) hereof is exercised  after
the third  Business Day prior to the Closing Date,  the Company will deliver the
Series A Option Securities and/or the Series B Option Securities (at the expense
of  the  Company)  to  the   Representatives   on  the  date  specified  by  the
Representatives  (which shall be within three  Business  Days after  exercise of
said option) for the respective accounts of the several Representatives, against
payment by the several  Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or upon
the order of the  Company  by wire  transfer  payable in  same-day  funds to the
account  specified  by the  Company.  If  settlement  for the  Series  A  Option
Securities  and/or the Series B Option Securities occurs after the Closing Date,
the Company will deliver to the  Representatives  on the settlement date for the
Series A Option  Securities  and/or  the  Series  B Option  Securities,  and the
obligation of the  Representatives  to purchase such Option  Securities shall be
conditioned  upon receipt of,  supplemental  opinions,  certificates and letters
confirming as of such date the opinions,  certificates and letters  delivered on
the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6 hereof.

     4. Offering by Initial Purchasers.  (a) Each Initial Purchaser acknowledges
that the Securities and the Common Stock issuable upon  conversion  thereof have
not been and will not be  registered  under  the Act and may not be  offered  or
sold,  except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to,
the registration requirements of the Act.

     (b) Each  Initial  Purchaser,  severally  and not jointly,  represents  and
warrants to and agrees with the Company that:

     (i) it has not offered or sold,  and will not offer or sell, any Securities
except to those it reasonably  believes to be "qualified  institutional  buyers"
(as defined in Rule 144A);

     (ii)  neither it nor any person  acting on its behalf has made or will make
offers or sales of the  Securities by means of any form of general  solicitation
or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D);

     (iii) in connection with each sale of Securities, it has taken or will take
reasonable  steps to ensure that the purchaser of such  Securities is aware that
such sale is being made in reliance on Rule 144A;

     (iv) any  information  provided by the Initial  Purchasers to publishers of
publicly  available  databases about the terms of the Securities shall include a
statement that the  Securities  have not been  registered  under the Act and are
subject to restrictions under Rule 144A;

     (v) it acknowledges  that additional  restrictions on the offer and sale of
the  Securities  and the Common  Stock  issuable  upon  conversion  thereof  are
described in the Final Memorandum; and

     (vi)  it  is an  "accredited  investor"  (as  defined  in  Rule  501(a)  of
Regulation D).

     5. Agreements. The Company agrees with each Initial Purchaser that:

     (a) The Company will furnish to each Initial  Purchaser  and to counsel for
the  Initial  Purchasers,  without  charge,  during  the period  referred  to in
paragraph (c) below,  as many copies of the Final  Memorandum and any amendments
and supplements thereto as they may reasonably request.

     (b) The Company will not amend or supplement  the Final  Memorandum,  other
than by  filing  documents  under  the  Exchange  Act that are  incorporated  by
reference  therein,  without the prior written  consent of the  Representatives;
provided,  however,  that,  prior to the completion of the  distribution  of the
Securities by the Initial Purchasers (as determined by the Initial  Purchasers),
the  Company  will  not  file  any  document  under  the  Exchange  Act  that is
incorporated by reference in the Final Memorandum unless, prior to such proposed
filing,  the  Company  has  furnished  the  Representatives  with a copy of such
document for their review and the  Representatives  have not reasonably objected
to  the  filing  of  such  document.   The  Company  will  promptly  advise  the
Representatives  when  any  document  filed  under  the  Exchange  Act  that  is
incorporated by reference in the Final Memorandum shall have been filed with the
Commission.

     (c) If at any time prior to the completion of the sale of the Securities by
the Initial Purchasers (as determined by the Representatives),  any event occurs
as a result of which the Final  Memorandum,  as then  amended  or  supplemented,
would  include  any untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or omit to state any
material  fact  necessary to make the  statements  therein,  in the light of the
circumstances  under which they were made,  not  misleading,  or if it should be
necessary to amend or supplement the Final  Memorandum to comply with applicable
law, the Company will promptly (i) notify the Representatives of any such event;
(ii) subject to the requirements of Section 5(b) hereof, prepare an amendment or
supplement  that  will  correct  such  statement  or  omission  or  effect  such
compliance; and (iii) supply any supplemented or amended Final Memorandum to the
several Initial Purchasers and counsel for the Initial Purchasers without charge
in such quantities as they may reasonably request.

     (d) The Company will arrange,  if necessary,  for the  qualification of the
Securities  for  sale  by  the  Initial   Purchasers  under  the  laws  of  such
jurisdictions  as the  Representatives  may  designate  and will  maintain  such
qualifications  in effect so long as  required  for the sale of the  Securities;
provided  that in no event  shall the  Company  be  obligated  to  qualify to do
business in any  jurisdiction  where it is not now so  qualified  or to take any
action  that would  subject it to service of process in suits,  other than those
arising out of the offering or sale of the Securities, in any jurisdiction where
it is not now so subject.  The Company will promptly advise the  Representatives
of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension
of the  qualification  of the  Securities  for sale in any  jurisdiction  or the
initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.

     (e) The Company  will not,  and will not permit any of its  Affiliates  to,
resell any Securities or shares of Common Stock issued upon  conversion  thereof
that have been acquired by any of them.

     (f) None of the Company,  its  Affiliates,  or any person  acting on its or
their behalf will, directly or indirectly, make offers or sales of any security,
or solicit offers to buy any security,  under  circumstances  that would require
the  registration  of the  Securities or Common Stock  issuable upon  conversion
thereof under the Act.

     (g) None of the Company,  its  Affiliates,  or any person  acting on its or
their  behalf  will  engage  in any  form of  general  solicitation  or  general
advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D).

     (h) So long as any of the  Securities or the Common Stock issuable upon the
conversion  thereof  are  "restricted  securities"  within  the  meaning of Rule
144(a)(3) under the Act, the Company will,  during any period in which it is not
subject  to and in  compliance  with  Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Exchange  Act,
provide to each holder of such  restricted  securities  and to each  prospective
purchaser (as designated by such holder) of such restricted securities, upon the
request of such holder or prospective purchaser,  any information required to be
provided by Rule  144A(d)(4)  under the Act. This covenant is intended to be for
the benefit of the holders,  and the prospective  purchasers  designated by such
holders, from time to time of such restricted securities.

     (i) Any  information  provided  by the  Company to  publishers  of publicly
available  databases about the terms of the Securities shall include a statement
that the Securities  have not been  registered  under the Act and are subject to
restrictions under Rule 144A.

     (j)  The  Company  will  cooperate  with  the  Representatives  and use its
reasonable  best efforts to permit the  Securities  to be eligible for clearance
and settlement through The Depository Trust Company.

     (k) The Company  will  reserve  and keep  available  at all times,  free of
pre-emptive  rights,  the full number of shares of Common  Stock  issuable  upon
conversion of the Securities.

     (l) The Company will not for a period of 90 days  following  the  Execution
Time,  without the prior  written  consent of the  Representatives,  directly or
indirectly,  offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge,  otherwise dispose of, enter
into any transaction  which is designed to, or might  reasonably be expected to,
result in the disposition  (whether by actual  disposition or effective economic
disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Company or any Affiliate
of the Company or any person in privity with the Company or any Affiliate of the
Company,  file (or  participate in the filing of) a registration  statement with
the Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position
or  liquidate  or  decrease a call  equivalent  position  within the  meaning of
Section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of, any shares of capital stock of the
Company or any securities  convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for,
shares of capital stock of the Company (other than the Securities),  or publicly
announce an intention to effect any such transaction;  provided,  however,  that
the Company may issue and sell Common Stock or  securities  convertible  into or
exchangeable  for Common Stock pursuant to any employee stock option plan, stock
ownership plan, dividend  reinvestment plan, qualified retirement plan, employee
stock purchase plan or any other employee benefit plan of the Company  described
in the Final Memorandum and in effect at the Execution Time, and the Company may
issue Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of securities or the exercise of
warrants   outstanding  at  the  Execution  Time  and  described  in  the  Final
Memorandum.

     (m) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly,  any action designed
to or which has  constituted  or which might  reasonably be expected to cause or
result, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, in stabilization or manipulation of
the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the
Securities.

     (n) Between the date hereof and the Closing  Date,  the Company will not do
or  authorize  any act or  thing  that  would  result  in an  adjustment  of the
conversion price.

     (o) The  Company  agrees  to pay the  costs and  expenses  relating  to the
following  matters:  (i) the  preparation of the Indenture and the  Registration
Rights  Agreement,  the issuance of the Securities,  the fees of the Trustee and
the issuance of the Common Stock upon  conversion  of the  Securities;  (ii) the
preparation,  printing or  reproduction  of the  Preliminary  Memorandum and the
Final  Memorandum and each amendment or supplement to either of them;  (iii) the
printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage,  air freight charges
and charges  for  counting  and  packaging)  of such  copies of the  Preliminary
Memorandum and the Final Memorandum, and all amendments or supplements to either
of them,  as may, in each case,  be  reasonably  requested for use in connection
with the offering and sale of the Securities;  (iv) the  preparation,  printing,
authentication,  issuance and delivery of certificates  for the Securities;  (v)
any stamp or transfer taxes in connection with the original issuance and sale of
the  Securities;  (vi) the  printing  (or  reproduction)  and  delivery  of this
Agreement, any blue sky memorandum and all other agreements or documents printed
(or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Securities;
(vii) any  registration  or  qualification  of the Securities for offer and sale
under  the  securities  or blue sky laws of the  several  states  and any  other
jurisdictions  specified  pursuant to Section 5(d) hereof (including filing fees
and the  reasonable  fees and  expenses of counsel  for the  Initial  Purchasers
relating  to  such  registration  and   qualification);   (viii)  admitting  the
Securities for trading in the PORTAL market;  (ix) the  transportation and other
expenses incurred by or on behalf of Company  representatives in connection with
presentations  to  prospective  purchasers of the  Securities;  (x) the fees and
expenses  of the  Company's  accountants  and the fees and  expenses  of counsel
(including local and special counsel) for the Company;  and (xi) all other costs
and  expenses  incident to the  performance  by the  Company of its  obligations
hereunder.

     (p) The Company will, for a period of twelve months following the Execution
Time,  furnish to the  Representatives  (i) all reports or other  communications
(financial or other) generally made available to stockholders,  and deliver such
reports and communications to the Representatives as soon as they are available,
unless such  documents  are  furnished  to or filed with the  Commission  or any
securities  exchange on which any class of  securities  of the Company is listed
and generally made available to the public and (ii) such additional  information
concerning  the  business  and  financial   condition  of  the  Company  as  the
Representatives  may from time to time reasonably request (such statements to be
on a  consolidated  basis to the  extent the  accounts  of the  Company  and its
subsidiaries are consolidated in reports furnished to stockholders).

     (q) The Company will comply with all applicable  securities and other laws,
rules and regulations,  including,  without limitation,  the Sarbanes Oxley Act,
and use its  reasonable  best  efforts  to cause  the  Company's  directors  and
officers,  in their  capacities  as such,  to comply  with such laws,  rules and
regulations, including, without limitation, the provisions of the Sarbanes Oxley
Act.

     6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Initial Purchasers. The obligations
of the Initial Purchasers or the Representatives to purchase the Firm Securities
or the Series A Option Securities and/or the Series B Option Securities,  as the
case  may be,  shall be  subject  to the  accuracy  of the  representations  and
warranties of the Company  contained  herein at the Execution  Time, the Closing
Date and any settlement date pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof, to the accuracy of
the  statements  of  the  Company  made  in  any  certificates  pursuant  to the
provisions  hereof,  to the  performance  by  the  Company  of  its  obligations
hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

     (a) The  Company  shall  have  requested  and  caused  Sonnenschein  Nath &
Rosenthal,  counsel  for the  Company,  to  furnish to the  Representatives  its
opinion,  dated the Closing Date and  addressed to the  Representatives,  to the
effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto.

     (b) The  Representatives  shall have  received  from Davis Polk & Wardwell,
counsel for the Initial  Purchasers,  such  opinion,  dated the Closing Date and
addressed to the  Representatives,  with respect to the issuance and sale of the
Securities,   the  Indenture,  the  Registration  Rights  Agreement,  the  Final
Memorandum  (as amended or  supplemented  at the Closing Date) and other related
matters as the  Representatives  may reasonably  require,  and the Company shall
have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of
enabling them to pass upon such matters.

     (c) The Company shall have furnished to the  Representatives  a certificate
of the Company,  signed by (x) the Chief Executive Officer and President and (y)
the principal financial or accounting officer of the Company,  dated the Closing
Date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully examined
the Final  Memorandum,  any amendment or supplement to the Final  Memorandum and
this Agreement and that:

          (i)  the  representations  and  warranties  of  the  Company  in  this
     Agreement  are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same
     effect as if made on the Closing  Date,  and the Company has complied  with
     all the  agreements  and  satisfied  all the  conditions  on its part to be
     performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date; and

          (ii) since the date of the most recent financial  statements  included
     or  incorporated  by reference in the Final  Memorandum  (exclusive  of any
     amendment or supplement thereto), there has been no material adverse change
     in the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or
     properties of the Company and its subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,  whether
     or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except
     as set forth in or contemplated in the Final  Memorandum  (exclusive of any
     amendment or supplement thereto).

     (d) At the Execution  Time and at the Closing Date,  the Company shall have
requested   and   caused   PricewaterhouseCoopers   LLP   to   furnish   to  the
Representatives  letters,  dated respectively as of the Execution Time and as of
the Closing  Date, in form and substance  satisfactory  to the  Representatives,
confirming  that they are  independent  accountants  within  the  meaning of the
Exchange Act and the applicable  published rules and regulations  thereunder and
stating in effect that:

          (i) in their opinion the audited  financial  statements  and financial
     statement  schedules  included or  incorporated  by  reference in the Final
     Memorandum  and  reported on by them comply as to form with the  applicable
     accounting requirements of Regulation S-X;

          (ii) on the  basis of a  reading  of the  latest  unaudited  financial
     statements  made  available  by the  Company  and its  subsidiaries;  their
     limited review in accordance with the standards established under Statement
     on  Auditing   Standards  No.  100  of  the  unaudited   interim  financial
     information  for the six-month  period ended June 30, 2003,  and as at June
     30, 2003; carrying out certain specified procedures (but not an examination
     in accordance with generally  accepted auditing  standards) which would not
     necessarily reveal matters of significance with respect to the comments set
     forth in such  letter;  a reading  of the  minutes of the  meetings  of the
     stockholders,  directors and any executive, finance, compensation and audit
     committees  of the Company and its  subsidiaries;  and inquiries of certain
     officials  of  the  Company  who  have  responsibility  for  financial  and
     accounting  matters of the Company and its  subsidiaries as to transactions
     and events subsequent to December 31, 2002, nothing came to their attention
     which caused them to believe that:

               (A) any unaudited  financial  statements included or incorporated
          by  reference  in the Final  Memorandum  do not comply as to form with
          applicable  accounting  requirements  of  Regulation  S-X and with the
          published  rules and  regulations  of the  Commission  with respect to
          financial   statements   included  or  incorporated  by  reference  in
          quarterly  reports  on Form 10-Q  under  the  Exchange  Act;  and said
          unaudited  financial  statements are not in conformity  with generally
          accepted  accounting  principles  applied  on  a  basis  substantially
          consistent with that of the audited financial  statements  included or
          incorporated by reference in the Final Memorandum; or

               (B) with respect to the period subsequent to June 30, 2003, there
          was any change,  at a specified  date not more than five days prior to
          the  date of the  letter,  in the  common  stock  of the  Company,  as
          compared  with the  amounts  shown on the June 30,  2003  consolidated
          balance  sheet  included or  incorporated  by  reference  in the Final
          Memorandum,  except in all  instances  for  changes  set forth in such
          letter,   in  which  case  the  letter  shall  be  accompanied  by  an
          explanation by the Company as to the significance  thereof unless said
          explanation is not deemed necessary by the Representatives; and

          (iii) they have  performed  certain  other  specified  procedures as a
     result of which they determined that certain  information of an accounting,
     financial or statistical nature (which is limited to accounting,  financial
     or statistical  information  derived from the general accounting records of
     the Company and its subsidiaries)  set forth in the Final  Memorandum,  the
     information  included or incorporated by reference in the Company's  Annual
     Report on Form 10-K, incorporated by reference in the Final Memorandum, and
     the information  included in the  "Management's  Discussion and Analysis of
     Financial Condition and Results of Operations"  included or incorporated by
     reference in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q,  incorporated by
     reference in the Final  Memorandum,  agrees with the accounting  records of
     the  Company  and  its  subsidiaries,  excluding  any  questions  of  legal
     interpretation.

     All  references  in this Section 6(d) to the Final  Memorandum  include any
amendment or supplement thereto at the date of the applicable letter.

     (e) Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier,  the dates as of which
information  is given in the Final  Memorandum  (exclusive  of any  amendment or
supplement  thereto),  there shall not have been (i) any change specified in the
letter or letters  referred to in  paragraph  (d) of this Section 6; or (ii) any
change, or any development  involving a prospective  change, in or affecting the
condition (financial or otherwise),  prospects, earnings, business or properties
of the Company  and its  subsidiaries  taken as a whole,  whether or not arising
from transactions in the ordinary course of business,  except as set forth in or
contemplated in the Final  Memorandum  (exclusive of any amendment or supplement
thereto),  the effect of which,  in any case  referred  to in clause (i) or (ii)
above, is, in the sole judgment of the Representatives,  so material and adverse
as to make it  impractical  or  inadvisable  to  proceed  with the  offering  or
delivery of the Securities as contemplated in the Final Memorandum (exclusive of
any amendment or supplement thereto).

     (f) The Securities shall have been designated as PORTAL-eligible securities
in  accordance  with the rules and  regulations  of the NASD and the  Securities
shall be eligible for  clearance and  settlement  through The  Depository  Trust
Company.

     (g) Prior to the Execution  Time,  the Company shall have  furnished to the
Representatives a letter substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto from each
executive  officer  and  director  of the  Company  listed in Schedule II hereto
addressed to the Representatives.

     (h) The  Company  shall have  caused the shares of Common  Stock  initially
issuable upon  conversion of the Securities to be approved for listing,  subject
to issuance, on the New York Stock Exchange.

     (i) The  conditions  precedent  set forth in  Sections  3(a) and (b) of the
Second  Amendment dated as of August 4, 2003 to the Credit Agreement dated as of
December 19, 2001 among the Company,  the lenders identified therein and Bank of
America,  N.A., as administrative  agent, shall have been satisfied.  The Letter
Agreement  dated as of August 4, 2003 relating to the Loan Agreement dated as of
June 30, 2003 between the Company and Citibank N.A.  shall have been executed by
the parties thereto.

     (j) Prior to the Closing  Date,  the Company  shall have  furnished  to the
Representatives  such further  information,  certificates  and  documents as the
Representatives may reasonably request.

     If any of the  conditions  specified  in this Section 6 shall not have been
fulfilled when and as provided in this Agreement,  or if any of the opinions and
certificates  mentioned  above  or  elsewhere  in this  Agreement  shall  not be
reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel
for the Initial  Purchasers,  this Agreement and all  obligations of the Initial
Purchasers  hereunder  may be cancelled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing
Date by the  Representatives.  Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the
Company in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.

     The documents  required to be delivered by this Section 6 will be delivered
at the office of Davis Polk & Wardwell at 450 Lexington  Avenue,  New York,  New
York, on the Closing Date.

     7.  Reimbursement of Expenses.  If the sale of the Securities  provided for
herein is not  consummated  because  any  condition  to the  obligations  of the
Initial  Purchasers set forth in Section 6 hereof is not  satisfied,  because of
any  termination  pursuant  to  Section  10 hereof or  because  of any  refusal,
inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement  herein
or comply with any provision  hereof other than by reason of a default by any of
the  Initial  Purchasers,  the Company  will  reimburse  the Initial  Purchasers
severally  through  Citigroup on demand for all reasonable  expenses  (including
fees and  disbursements  of  counsel)  that shall have been  incurred by them in
connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Securities.

     8.  Indemnification  and Contribution.  (a) The Company agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser,  the directors,  officers,  employees,
Affiliates and agents of each Initial Purchaser and each person who controls any
Initial  Purchaser  within the  meaning of either  the Act or the  Exchange  Act
against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to
which they or any of them may become  subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or
other  U.S.  federal  or state  statutory  law or  regulation,  at common law or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect  thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Preliminary Memorandum, the
Final Memorandum or in any amendment or supplement  thereto,  or arise out of or
are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the statements  therein,  in
the light of the circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading,  and
agrees to reimburse each such indemnified  party, as incurred,  for any legal or
other expenses  reasonably  incurred by it in connection with  investigating  or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided,  however,
that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such
loss, claim,  damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue
statement or alleged  untrue  statement or omission or alleged  omission made in
the Preliminary Memorandum, the Final Memorandum, or in any amendment thereof or
supplement  thereto, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished  to the Company by or on behalf of any Initial  Purchaser  through the
Representatives  specifically for inclusion  therein.  This indemnity  agreement
will be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have.

     (b) Each Initial Purchaser severally,  and not jointly, agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors,  each of its officers, and
each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the
Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing  indemnity from the Company to
each Initial Purchaser,  but only with reference to written information relating
to such  Initial  Purchaser  furnished  to the  Company  by or on behalf of such
Initial Purchaser through the Representatives  specifically for inclusion in the
Preliminary  Memorandum,  the Final Memorandum or in any amendment or supplement
thereto.  This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that any
Initial  Purchaser  may  otherwise  have.  The  Company  acknowledges  that  the
statements  set forth in (i) the last  paragraph  of the cover page and (ii) the
sixth,  seventh,  eighth  and  ninth  paragraphs  under  the  heading  "Plan  of
Distribution" in the Preliminary  Memorandum and the Final Memorandum constitute
the only  information  furnished  in  writing  by or on  behalf  of the  Initial
Purchasers for inclusion in the Preliminary Memorandum,  the Final Memorandum or
in any amendment or supplement thereto.

     (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified  party under this Section 8 of
notice of the  commencement  of any action,  such  indemnified  party will, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this
Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof;
but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from
liability  under  paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not
otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the
indemnifying  party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any
event,  relieve the  indemnifying  party from any obligations to any indemnified
party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b)
above.  The indemnifying  party shall be entitled to appoint counsel  (including
local counsel) of the indemnifying  party's choice at the  indemnifying  party's
expense  to   represent   the   indemnified   party  in  any  action  for  which
indemnification  is  sought  (in which  case the  indemnifying  party  shall not
thereafter  be  responsible  for the fees and expenses of any separate  counsel,
other than local counsel if not appointed by the indemnifying party, retained by
the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided,  however,
that  such   counsel   shall  be   satisfactory   to  the   indemnified   party.
Notwithstanding the indemnifying  party's election to appoint counsel (including
local counsel) to represent the indemnified party in an action,  the indemnified
party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel),
and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of
such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party
to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of
interest;  (ii) the actual or potential  defendants  in, or targets of, any such
action include both the  indemnified  party and the  indemnifying  party and the
indemnified  party  shall  have  reasonably  concluded  that  there may be legal
defenses  available to it and/or other  indemnified  parties that are  different
from or  additional  to those  available to the  indemnifying  party;  (iii) the
indemnifying  party  shall  not  have  employed  counsel   satisfactory  to  the
indemnified  party to represent the  indemnified  party within a reasonable time
after notice of the institution of such action;  or (iv) the indemnifying  party
shall authorize the indemnified  party to employ separate counsel at the expense
of the  indemnifying  party. An indemnifying  party will not,  without the prior
written consent of the indemnified  parties,  settle or compromise or consent to
the entry of any  judgment  with  respect to any  pending or  threatened  claim,
action,  suit or proceeding in respect of which  indemnification or contribution
may be sought  hereunder  (whether or not the indemnified  parties are actual or
potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or
consent  includes an unconditional  release of each  indemnified  party from all
liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.

     (d) In the event that the  indemnity  provided in  paragraph  (a) or (b) of
this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified
party for any reason, the Company and the Initial Purchasers  severally agree to
contribute to the aggregate losses,  claims,  damages and liabilities (including
legal or other expenses  reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or
defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action) (collectively, "Losses")
to which the Company and one or more of the Initial Purchasers may be subject in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative  benefits  received by
the Company on the one hand and by the Initial  Purchasers on the other from the
offering of the Securities; provided, however, that in no case shall any Initial
Purchaser be  responsible  for any amount in excess of the purchase  discount or
commission  applicable  to the  Securities  purchased by such Initial  Purchaser
hereunder.  If the allocation provided by the immediately  preceding sentence is
unavailable  for any reason,  the Company and the Initial  Purchasers  severally
shall  contribute in such  proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such
relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and
the  Initial  Purchasers  on the  other in  connection  with the  statements  or
omissions that resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant  equitable
considerations.  Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to
the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by
it, and benefits received by the Initial  Purchasers shall be deemed to be equal
to the  total  purchase  discounts  and  commissions.  Relative  fault  shall be
determined by reference  to, among other  things,  whether any untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact relates to  information  provided by the Company on the one hand
or the  Initial  Purchasers  on the other,  the intent of the  parties and their
relative knowledge,  access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such untrue statement or omission.  The Company and the Initial Purchasers agree
that it would not be just and equitable if  contribution  were determined by pro
rata  allocation or any other method of allocation that does not take account of
the equitable  considerations referred to above.  Notwithstanding the provisions
of this paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent  misrepresentation (within
the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution  from
any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes
of this  Section 8, each  person who  controls an Initial  Purchaser  within the
meaning  of  either  the Act or the  Exchange  Act and each  director,  officer,
employee, Affiliate and agent of an Initial Purchaser shall have the same rights
to  contribution  as such  Initial  Purchaser,  and each person who controls the
Company  within  the  meaning  of either  the Act or the  Exchange  Act and each
officer and director of the Company  shall have the same rights to  contribution
as the Company,  subject in each case to the applicable  terms and conditions of
this paragraph (d).

     9. Default by an Initial  Purchaser.  If any one or more Initial Purchasers
shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities  agreed to be purchased
by  such  Initial  Purchaser  hereunder  and  such  failure  to  purchase  shall
constitute a default in the performance of its or their  obligations  under this
Agreement, the remaining Initial Purchasers shall be obligated severally to take
up and pay for (in the  respective  proportions  which  the  original  principal
amount of Series A  Securities  and the  original  principal  amount of Series B
Securities  set forth  opposite  their names in  Schedule I hereto  bears to the
aggregate  original  principal  amount of Series A Securities  and the aggregate
original principal amount of Series B Securities set forth opposite the names of
all the  remaining  Initial  Purchasers)  the  Securities  which the  defaulting
Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed to purchase; provided,
however,  that in the event  that the  aggregate  original  principal  amount of
Securities which the defaulting  Initial Purchaser or Initial  Purchasers agreed
but failed to purchase  shall  exceed 10% of the  aggregate  original  principal
amount of Series A Securities  and the aggregate  original  principal  amount of
Series B  Securities  set forth in  Schedule  I hereto,  the  remaining  Initial
Purchasers  shall  have the right to  purchase  all,  but shall not be under any
obligation to purchase any, of the Securities, and if such nondefaulting Initial
Purchasers do not purchase all the  Securities,  this  Agreement  will terminate
without liability to any nondefaulting  Initial Purchaser or the Company. In the
event of a default by any Initial  Purchaser as set forth in this Section 9, the
Closing Date shall be postponed  for such period,  not  exceeding  five Business
Days, as the Representatives  shall determine in order that the required changes
in the  Final  Memorandum  or in any  other  documents  or  arrangements  may be
effected.  Nothing  contained in this  Agreement  shall  relieve any  defaulting
Initial Purchaser of its liability,  if any, to the Company or any nondefaulting
Initial Purchaser for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

     10.  Termination.  This  Agreement  shall be subject to  termination in the
absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the Company prior
to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if at any time prior to such time
(i)  trading in the  Company's  Common  Stock shall have been  suspended  by the
Commission or the New York Stock Exchange or trading in securities  generally on
the New York  Stock  Exchange  shall have been  suspended  or limited or minimum
prices shall have been established on such exchange;  (ii) a banking  moratorium
shall have been declared either by U.S.  federal or New York State  authorities;
or (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or  escalation  of  hostilities,
declaration  by the  United  States  of a  national  emergency  or war or  other
calamity or crisis the effect of which on  financial  markets is such as to make
it, in the sole judgment of the  Representatives,  impractical or inadvisable to
proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as  contemplated  in the
Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

     11.  Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements,
representations,  warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company or
its officers and of the Initial Purchasers set forth in or made pursuant to this
Agreement will remain in full force and effect,  regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of the  Initial  Purchasers  or the  Company  or any of the
indemnified  persons referred to in Section 8 hereof,  and will survive delivery
of and payment for the  Securities.  The  provisions  of Sections 7 and 8 hereof
shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

     12. Notices. All communications  hereunder will be in writing and effective
only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representatives,  will be mailed, delivered
or telefaxed to the  Citigroup  General  Counsel (fax no.:  (212)  816-7912) and
confirmed  to  Citigroup  at 388  Greenwich  Street,  New York,  New York 10013,
Attention:  General  Counsel;  or,  if sent  to the  Company,  will  be  mailed,
delivered  or telefaxed  to (816)  435-8630 and  confirmed to it at DST Systems,
Inc.,  333 West 11th  Street,  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  attention  of the Legal
Department.

     13. Successors.  This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the parties  hereto and their  respective  successors  and the  indemnified
persons  referred to in Section 8 hereof and their respective  successors,  and,
except as expressly set forth in Section 5(h) hereof,  no other person will have
any right or obligation hereunder.

     14.  Applicable  Law. This  Agreement  will be governed by and construed in
accordance  with the laws of the State of New York  applicable to contracts made
and to be performed within the State of New York. The parties hereto each hereby
waive  any  right to trial by jury in any  action,  proceeding  or  counterclaim
arising out of or relating to this Agreement.

     15. Waiver of Tax Confidentiality. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained  herein or in any document  related to the offering of the Securities,
purchasers of the Securities (and each employee,  representative  or other agent
of the Company) may disclose to any and all persons,  without  limitation of any
kind,  the  U.S.  tax  treatment  and  U.S.  tax  structure  of any  transaction
contemplated  herein and all materials of any kind (including  opinions or other
tax analyses) that are provided to the purchasers of the Securities  relating to
such U.S. tax treatment and U.S tax structure,  other than any  information  for
which  nondisclosure is reasonably  necessary in order to comply with applicable
securities laws.

     16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts,
each of which shall  constitute  an  original  and all of which  together  shall
constitute one and the same agreement.

     17. Headings. The section headings used herein are for convenience only and
shall not affect the construction hereof.

     18. Definitions.  The terms that follow, when used in this Agreement, shall
have the meanings indicated.

     "Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  and the rules and
regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

     "Affiliate"  shall have the meaning  specified in Rule 501(b) of Regulation
D.

     "Business  Day"  shall mean any day other  than a  Saturday,  a Sunday or a
legal  holiday or a day on which  banking  institutions  or trust  companies are
authorized or obligated by law to close in The City of New York.

     "Citigroup" shall mean Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

     "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

     "Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

     "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

     "Execution  Time"  shall  mean the date and time  that  this  Agreement  is
executed and delivered by the parties hereto.

     "Investment  Company Act" shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

     "NASD" shall mean the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

     "PORTAL"  shall mean the Private  Offerings,  Resales  and Trading  through
Automated Linkages system of the NASD.

     "Regulation D" shall mean Regulation D under the Act.

     "Rule 144A" shall mean Rule 144A under the Act.

     "Trust  Indenture  Act"  shall  mean the Trust  Indenture  Act of 1939,  as
amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.





     If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement,
please  sign and return to us the  enclosed  duplicate  hereof,  whereupon  this
letter and your  acceptance  shall  represent  a binding  agreement  between the
Company and the several Initial Purchasers.

                        Very truly yours,

                       DST SYSTEMS, INC.
                       By:       /s/ Gregg Wm. Givens
                                 --------------------------------------------
                              Name:    Gregg Wm. Givens
                              Title:   Vice President and Chief Accounting
                                       Officer






The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first
above written.



CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

Acting as Representatives of the
several Initial Purchasers named in
Schedule I to this Agreement.

By:  Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

By:       /s/ Guy Seebohm
          ----------------------------------
       Name:    Guy Seebohm
       Title:   Vice President






                                                     SCHEDULE I


                                                                 Original Principal
                                                                       Amount             Original Principal
                                                                    of Series A           Amount of Series B
                                                                  Securities to be         Securities to be
                       Initial Purchasers                            Purchased                 Purchased
                       ------------------                        -----------------        ------------------

                                                                                        
Citigroup Global Markets Inc............................          $135,000,000                $75,000,000
Banc of America Securities LLC..........................           135,000,000                75,000,000
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated.......................            31,500,000                17,250,000
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated......            31,500,000                17,250,000
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC...........................            21,000,000                11,500,000
Fleet Securities, Inc. .................................            16,000,000                 9,000,000
U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc. ........................            16,000,000                 9,000,000
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. ..........................            16,000,000                 9,000,000
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. ...............................            16,000,000                 9,000,000
Legg Mason Walker Wood, Incorporated....................            16,000,000                 9,000,000
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC ............................            16,000,000                 9,000,000

                  Total.................................          $450,000,000              $250,000,000




                                 SCHEDULE II


                  A. Edward Allinson

                  Michael G. Fitt

                  Donald J. Kenney

                  Thomas A. McCullough

                  Thomas A. McDonnell

                  William C. Nelson

                  Travis E. Reed

                  Charles W. Schellhorn

                  M. Jeannine Strandjord

                  J. Michael Winn





                                    EXHIBIT A



                                                  August 5, 2003

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Banc of America Securities LLC
As Representatives of the Initial Purchasers
c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
      388 Greenwich Street
      New York, New York  10013

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     This  letter  is  being  delivered  to you in  connection  with a  proposed
Purchase  Agreement  (the  "Purchase  Agreement")  between DST Systems,  Inc., a
corporation  organized under the laws of Delaware (the  "Company"),  and you, as
representatives of a group of Initial  Purchasers named therein,  relating to an
offering of one or more series of Convertible  Senior  Debentures due 2023, each
of which will be convertible  into common stock,  par value $0.01 per share (the
"Common Stock"), of the Company.

     In order to induce you and the other  Initial  Purchasers to enter into the
Purchase Agreement,  the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent
of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., directly or indirectly,  offer, sell, contract
to sell,  pledge or otherwise  dispose of, enter into any  transaction  which is
designed  to, or might  reasonably  be expected  to,  result in the  disposition
(whether by actual  disposition or effective  economic  disposition  due to cash
settlement  or  otherwise)  by  the   undersigned,   or  any  affiliate  of  the
undersigned,  or any person in privity with the  undersigned or any affiliate of
the undersigned, file (or participate in the filing of) a registration statement
with the U.S.  Securities and Exchange Commission in respect of, or establish or
increase a put  equivalent  position or liquidate or decrease a call  equivalent
position  within the  meaning of Section 16 of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934,  as amended,  and the rules and  regulations  of the U.S.  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission  promulgated  thereunder,  with  respect  to, any shares of
capital stock of the Company or any securities  convertible into, or exercisable
or  exchangeable  for such capital stock,  or publicly  announce an intention to
effect  any such  transaction,  for a period  of 90 days  after  the date of the
Purchase Agreement; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not restrict (i)
transfers of shares of common stock in the form of charitable  contributions  to
an organization exempted under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended,  provided,  further,  that the donee agrees to be bound by the
provisions of this letter  agreement,  or (ii) the payment of the exercise price
for any employee  stock option with shares of common stock,  the exchange of any
employee stock option for shares of restricted  common stock or the  withholding
of shares of common stock in satisfaction of applicable taxes in connection with
the exercise of employee stock options.

     If for any reason the Purchase  Agreement shall be terminated  prior to the
Closing Date (as defined in the Purchase  Agreement),  the  agreement  set forth
above shall likewise be terminated.

                               Very truly yours,


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






                                    EXHIBIT B

                   Form of Opinion of Counsel for the Company

     (a)  Each of the  Company  and the  subsidiaries  listed  on Annex A hereto
(individually,  a "Subsidiary" and collectively,  the  "Subsidiaries")  has been
duly  incorporated  and is validly  existing as a  corporation  in good standing
under the laws of the  jurisdiction in which it is chartered or organized,  with
full corporate  power and authority to own or lease,  as the case may be, and to
operate  its  properties  and conduct its  business  as  described  in the Final
Memorandum, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is
in good  standing  under  the  laws of each  jurisdiction  which  requires  such
qualification.

     (b) All the  outstanding  shares of capital stock of each  Subsidiary  have
been duly  authorized and validly  issued and are fully paid and  nonassessable,
and,  except as otherwise  set forth in the Final  Memorandum,  all  outstanding
shares of capital  stock of the  Subsidiaries  are owned by the  Company  either
directly or through  wholly owned  subsidiaries  free and clear of any perfected
security interest and, to the knowledge of such counsel,  after due inquiry, any
other security interest, claim, lien or encumbrance.

     (c) The Company's  authorized equity  capitalization is as set forth in the
Final  Memorandum  and  the  capital  stock  of  the  Company  conforms  to  the
description thereof contained in the Final Memorandum and the Securities conform
to the description  thereof contained in the Final  Memorandum;  the outstanding
shares of Common  Stock have been duly  authorized  and  validly  issued and are
fully  paid  and  nonassessable;  the  shares  of  Common  Stock  issuable  upon
conversion of the  Securities  have been duly  authorized  and, when issued upon
conversion  of  the  Securities,   will  be  validly  issued,   fully  paid  and
nonassessable;  the  Board of  Directors  of the  Company  has duly and  validly
adopted  resolutions  reserving  such shares of Common Stock for  issuance  upon
conversion of the Securities;  the holders of the outstanding  shares of capital
stock of the Company are not entitled to any  preemptive or, to the knowledge of
such counsel, after due inquiry, other rights to subscribe for the Securities or
the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof;  and, except as set
forth in the Final  Memorandum,  to the  knowledge  of such  counsel,  after due
inquiry, no options,  warrants or other rights to purchase,  agreements or other
obligations to issue, or rights to convert any obligations  into or exchange any
securities for, shares of capital stock of or ownership interests in the Company
are outstanding.

     (d) The Indenture has been duly  authorized,  executed and  delivered,  and
constitutes  a legal,  valid and  binding  instrument  enforceable  against  the
Company  in  accordance  with  its  terms  (subject,  as to the  enforcement  of
remedies,  to applicable  bankruptcy,  reorganization,  insolvency moratorium or
other laws affecting creditors' rights generally from time to time in effect and
to general principles of equity);  the Securities have been duly authorized and,
when  executed  and  authenticated  in  accordance  with the  provisions  of the
Indenture  and  delivered to and paid for by the Initial  Purchasers  under this
Agreement,  will constitute legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations of
the  Company  entitled  to the  benefits of the  Indenture  (subject,  as to the
enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy,  reorganization,  insolvency,
moratorium or other laws affecting creditors' rights generally from time to time
in effect and to general  principles  of equity)  and will be  convertible  into
Common Stock in accordance with their terms; the  Registration  Rights Agreement
has been duly  authorized,  executed and  delivered and  constitutes  the legal,
valid,  binding and enforceable  instrument of the Company  (subject,  as to the
enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy,  reorganization,  insolvency,
moratorium or other laws affecting creditors' rights generally from time to time
in effect and to general principles of equity),  provided that no representation
is  made  with  respect  to the  indemnification  provisions  thereof;  and  the
statements  set  forth  (i)  under the  headings  "Description  of the  Series A
Debentures,"  "Description of the Series B Debentures,"  "Description of Capital
Stock" and "Registration Rights" and (ii) in the thirteenth risk factor relating
to certain regulatory matters under the heading "Risk  Factors-Risks  Related to
DST" in the Final  Memorandum,  insofar as such statements  purport to summarize
certain  provisions of the  Securities,  the  Indenture,  the Common Stock,  the
Registration  Rights  Agreement  and such  regulatory  matters,  provide  a fair
summary of such provisions.

     (e) To the  knowledge of such  counsel,  there is no pending or  threatened
action,  suit or  proceeding  by or  before  any court or  governmental  agency,
authority  or  body  or  any  arbitrator  involving  the  Company  or any of its
Subsidiaries  or its or their property that is not  adequately  disclosed in the
Final Memorandum,  except in each case for such proceedings that, if the subject
of an  unfavorable  decision,  ruling  or  finding  would  not  singly or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (f) Such counsel has no reason to believe that, at the Execution Time or on
the  Closing  Date,  the Final  Memorandum  contained  or  contains  any  untrue
statement  of a material  fact or omitted  or omits to state any  material  fact
necessary  to make the  statements  therein,  in the light of the  circumstances
under  which  they were  made,  not  misleading  (in each  case,  other than the
financial  statements and other financial  information  contained therein, as to
which such counsel need express no opinion).

     (g) This Agreement has been duly authorized,  executed and delivered by the
Company.

     (h) No consent, approval, authorization,  filing with or order of any court
or governmental  agency or body is required in connection with the  transactions
contemplated in this Agreement,  in the Indenture or in the Registration  Rights
Agreement,  except such as may be required under the blue sky or securities laws
of any  jurisdiction  in which the  Securities  are offered or sold (as to which
such  counsel need  express no opinion  beyond that set forth in  paragraph  (j)
below)  and such  other  approvals  (specified  in such  opinion)  as have  been
obtained.

     (i) Neither the execution and delivery of the Indenture,  this Agreement or
the Registration Rights Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Securities,  nor
the   consummation  of  any  other  of  the   transactions   herein  or  therein
contemplated,  nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof or thereof, including the
issuance  of the  Common  Stock  upon the  conversion  of the  Securities,  will
conflict  with,  result in a breach or violation  of, or imposition of any lien,
charge or encumbrance upon any property or asset of the Company or of any of its
Subsidiaries  pursuant  to, (i) the  charter or by-laws of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries;  (ii) the terms of any indenture,  contract,  lease, mortgage,
deed of trust,  note agreement,  loan agreement or other agreement,  obligation,
condition,   covenant  or  instrument  to  which  the  Company  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  is a party or bound or to which its or their  property  is subject
which is known to such counsel;  or (iii) any statute,  law,  rule,  regulation,
judgment,  order or decree  applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
of  any  court,  regulatory  body,  administrative  agency,  governmental  body,
arbitrator or other authority having  jurisdiction over the Company,  any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties; except for such violation or
default,  in the case of clauses  (ii) and (iii)  above,  as would  not,  either
individually or in the aggregate with all other violations and defaults referred
to in this  paragraph  (if any),  have (x) a  Material  Adverse  Effect or (y) a
material adverse effect upon the transactions contemplated herein.

     (j)  Assuming  the  accuracy  of the  representations  and  warranties  and
compliance  with the  agreements  contained  in this  Agreement  by the  Initial
Purchasers (without regard to the representation  found in Section 1(f) hereof),
no  registration  under the Act of the  Securities or the Common Stock  issuable
upon conversion  thereof,  and no qualification of the Indenture under the Trust
Indenture  Act, are required for the sale and delivery of the  Securities by the
Company  to the  Initial  Purchasers  or  the  offer  and  sale  by the  Initial
Purchasers of the  Securities in the manner  contemplated  in this Agreement and
the Final Memorandum.

     (k) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of
the Securities and the  application of the proceeds  thereof as described in the
Final  Memorandum,  will  not  be an  "investment  company"  as  defined  in the
Investment  Company Act, without taking account of any exemption  arising out of
the number of holders of the Company's securities.

(l) Subject to the limitations set forth therein, the statements made in the
Final Memorandum under the heading "Material U.S. Federal Income Tax
Considerations" fairly summarize the matters described therein.

     In  rendering  such  opinion,  such  counsel  may  rely  (A) as to  matters
involving  the  application  of  laws  of  any   jurisdiction   other  than  the
jurisdiction  of  incorporation  of the  Company,  the  State of New York or the
federal laws of the United States, to the extent they deem proper and specify in
such  opinion,  upon the  opinion of other  counsel of good  standing  whom they
believe to be  reliable  and who are  satisfactory  to counsel  for the  Initial
Purchasers;  and (B) as to matters of fact,  to the extent they deem proper,  on
certificates  of  responsible  officers  of the  Company  and public  officials.
References  to the Final  Memorandum  in this Exhibit B include any amendment or
supplement thereto at the Closing Date.





                                     ANNEX A

                            Significant Subsidiaries


                  DST International Limited

                  DST Realty, Inc.

                  DST Systems of California, Inc.

                  EquiServe, Inc.

                  West Side Investments, Inc.