SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

EXHIBIT 10.1

SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of April 29, 2005, by and among The Wet Seal, Inc., a Delaware corporation, with headquarters located at 26972 Burbank, Foothill Ranch, California 92610 (the ” Company ”), and the investors listed on the Schedule of Buyers attached hereto (individually, a “ Buyer ” and collectively, the “ Buyers ”).

WHEREAS:

A. The Company and certain Buyers (the “ Original Buyers ”) entered into that certain Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of November 9, 2004 (as amended and restated and further amended prior to the date hereof, the “ Existing SPA ”), whereby the Company, among other things, issued Series A Warrants (the “ Series A Warrants ”) and Series B Warrants (the “ Series B Warrants ”) (collectively, the “ Existing Warrants ”), which Existing Warrants are exercisable to acquire up to specified numbers of shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, $0.10 par value per share (the “ Class A Common Stock ”). In connection therewith, the Company and the Original Buyers entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with respect to, among other things, the shares of Class A Common Stock to be received upon exercise of the Existing Warrants (as amended prior to the date hereof, the “ Existing RRA ”).

B. The Company and each Buyer is executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ 1933 Act ”), and Rule 506 of Regulation D (“ Regulation D ”) as promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) under the 1933 Act.

C. The Company has authorized a new series of convertible preferred stock of the Company designated as Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, the terms of which are set forth in the certificate of designations for such series of preferred stock (the “ Certificate of Designations ”) in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “ Preferred Shares ”), which Preferred Shares shall be convertible into shares of the Class A Common Stock (as converted, the “ Conversion Shares ”), in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Designations.

D. Each Buyer wishes to purchase, and the Company wishes to sell, upon the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement, (i) that aggregate number of Preferred Shares set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (3) on the Schedule of Buyers (which aggregate number for all Buyers shall be 24,600 Preferred Shares and (ii) Series E Warrants, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “ Warrants ”), to acquire up to that number of additional shares of Class A Common Stock set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (4) on the Schedule of Buyers attached hereto (which aggregate number for all Buyers shall be 7,500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock) (as exercised, collectively, the ” Warrant Shares ”).

E. Each Buyer wishes to exercise (i) its Series A Warrants for that aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (2) on the Schedule of Closing Exercise Shares attached hereto (which aggregate number for all Buyers

shall be 2,300,000 shares of Class A Common Stock) on the terms and conditions of the Series A Warrants and (ii) a portion of its Series B Warrants for that aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (3) on the Schedule of Closing Exercise Shares attached hereto (which aggregate number for all Buyers shall be 1,059,997 shares of Class A Common Stock) on the terms and conditions of the Series B Warrants (the shares received upon the exercises referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) are collectively referred to herein as the “ Closing Exercise Shares ”).

F. On or prior to the Closing, the parties hereto shall execute and deliver a Registration Rights Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (as amended or modified from time to time in accordance with its terms, the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), pursuant to which the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights with respect to the Preferred Shares, Warrants, Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares under the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and applicable state securities laws.

G. In connection with the transactions contemplated by the Existing SPA, the Company entered into the following agreements: (i) a credit agreement by and among the Company and certain of its Subsidiaries, S.A.C. Capital Associates, LLC, as administrative agent and collateral agent (in such capacity the “ Bridge Agent ”), and certain of the Buyers, as lenders, as amended prior to the date hereof (the “ Bridge Facility ”); (ii) an intercreditor and lien subordination agreement by and among the Bridge Agent, Fleet Retail Group, Inc., as administrative agent and collateral agent (the “ Senior Agent ”) for certain lenders (the “ Senior Lenders ”) and the Company and certain of its Subsidiaries, as amended prior to the date hereof (the “ Intercreditor Agreement ”); (iii) an Amended and Restated Subordination Agreement, by and among the Senior Lenders, the Buyers, The Bank of New York, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”) and the Company (the “ Amended and Restated Subordination Agreement ”).

H. On the Escrow Date (as defined below), the parties hereto shall execute and deliver the following documents: (i) a second amendment to the Bridge Facility, (ii) a first amendment to the Amended and Restated Subordination Agreement, (iii) a third amendment to the Senior Credit Facility (as defined below) and (iv) a second amendment to the Intercreditor Agreement, (collectively, the “ Security Amendments ”). Certain obligations under the Warrants, the Certificate of Designations and the Registration Rights Agreement shall also be fully subordinated to the debt and liens in favor of the Senior Agent and the Senior Lenders pursuant to a Subordination Agreement, to be dated as of the Closing Date, among the Senior Lenders, the Buyers and the Company (the “ Subordination Agreement ”, and together with the Security Amendments, the “ Security Document s”).

I. The Preferred Shares, the Conversion Shares, the Warrants and the Warrant Shares collectively are referred to herein as the “ Securities ”.

NOW, THEREFORE , the Company and each Buyer hereby agree as follows:

1. PURCHASE AND SALE OF PREFERRED SHARES AND WARRANTS; EXERCISE OF EXISTING WARRANTS.

(a) Purchase of Preferred Shares and Warrants .

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(i) Preferred Shares and Warrants . Subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions set forth in Sections 6 and 7 below, the Company shall issue and sell to each Buyer, and each Buyer severally, but not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company on the Closing Date (as defined below), (A) that number of Preferred Shares as is set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (3) on the Schedule of Buyers and (B) one or more Series E Warrants to acquire up to that number of Warrant Shares as is set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (4) on the Schedule of Buyers.

(ii) Purchase Price . The aggregate purchase price for the Preferred Shares and the Warrants to be purchased by each Buyer at the Closing (the “ Purchase Price ”) shall be the amount set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (6) of the Schedule of Buyers less: (A) such principal amount, if any, as is set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (5) on the Schedule of Buyers, together with any accrued, but unpaid interest thereon, with respect to the Bridge Facility reduction in accordance with Section 4(x) hereof and (B) in the case of S.A.C. Capital Associates, LLC (“ SAC ”) (a Buyer), a withholding amount with respect to certain expenses in accordance with Section 4(g)(ii) (collectively, the “ Price Reduction Amounts ”); provided, however, that if SAC’s Purchase Price has been reduced to zero as a result of the application of the Price Reduction Amounts, SAC may apply any remaining Price Reduction Amounts to its Closing Exercise Price (as defined below).

(b) Purchase of Closing Exercise Shares . Subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions set forth in Sections 6 and 7 below, each Buyer shall exercise its Series A Warrants and Series B Warrants pursuant to the respective terms and conditions thereof for such number of shares Class A Common Stock with respect thereto as set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in columns (2) and (3) on the Schedule of Closing Exercise Shares, respectively. The aggregate purchase price for the Closing Exercise Shares to be purchased by each Buyer at the Closing (the “ Closing Exercise Price ,” together with the Purchase Price, the “ Total Purchase Price ”) shall be the amount set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (7) of the Schedule of Closing Exercise Shares.

(c) Form of Payment . On the Closing Date, (i) each Buyer shall pay its Total Purchase Price to the Company for the Preferred Shares, the Warrants and the Closing Exercise Shares to be issued and sold to such Buyer at the Closing, by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the Company’s written wire instructions, and (ii) the Company shall deliver to each Buyer (A) the Preferred Shares (represented by one or more certificates in the number and denominations as such Buyer shall request) which such Buyer is then purchasing, (B) the Warrants (allocated in the amounts as such Buyer shall request) such Buyer is purchasing, in each case duly executed on behalf of the Company and registered in the name of such Buyer or its designee and (C) the Closing Exercise Shares (represented by one or more certificates in the number and denominations as such Buyer shall request) such Buyer is purchasing, in each case duly executed on behalf of the Company and registered in the name of such Buyer or its designee.

(d) Closing . The date and time (the “ Closing Date ”) of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by Section 1(a)(ii) above (the “ Closing ”) shall be on or before May 3, 2005, after notification of satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions to the Closing set forth in Sections 6 and 7 below (or such other date as is mutually agreed to by the Company and holders of at least a majority of the Preferred Shares issued and, prior to the Closing, issuable hereunder (the “ Majority Buyers ”)) at the offices of Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, 919 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Business Day ” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in the City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

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2. BUYERS’ REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES .

Each Buyer represents and warrants with respect to only itself that:

(a) No Sale or Distribution . Such Buyer is acquiring the Preferred Shares, the Warrants and the Closing Exercise Shares and, upon conversion of the Preferred Shares, will acquire the Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Shares and, upon exercise of the Warrants, will acquire the Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants for its own account, not as nominee or agent, and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, the sale or distribution thereof, except pursuant to sales registered or exempted under the 1933 Act; provided , however , that by making the representations herein, such Buyer does not agree to hold any of the Securities for any minimum or other specific term and reserves the right to dispose of the Securities at any time in accordance with or pursuant to a registration statement or an exemption under the 1933 Act. Such Buyer is acquiring the Securities hereunder in the ordinary course of its business. Such Buyer does not presently have any agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any Person to distribute any of the Securities. For the purpose of this Agreement, “ Person ” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership (general or limited), limited liability company, firm, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, estate, unincorporated organization or government or any department or agency thereof.

(b) Accredited Investor Status . Such Buyer is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D.

(c) Reliance on Exemptions . Such Buyer understands that the Securities are being offered and sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying in part upon the truth and accuracy of, and such Buyer’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of such Buyer set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of such Buyer to acquire the Securities.

(d) Information . Such Buyer and its advisors, if any, have been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Securities, which have been requested by such Buyer. Such Buyer and its advisors, if any, have been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company. Neither such inquiries nor any other due diligence investigations conducted by such Buyer or its advisors, if any, or its representatives shall modify, amend or affect such Buyer’s right to rely on the Company’s representations and warranties contained herein. Such Buyer understands that its investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk. Such Buyer has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to its acquisition of the Securities.

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(e) No Governmental Review . Such Buyer understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities.

(f) Transfer or Resale . Such Buyer understands that except as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement: (i) the Securities have not been and are not being registered under the 1933 Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (A) offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred to an affiliate of such Buyer, (B) subsequently registered thereunder, (C) such Buyer shall have delivered to the Company an opinion of counsel, in a generally acceptable form, to the effect that such Securities to be sold, assigned or transferred may be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to an exemption from such registration, or (D) such Buyer provides the Company with reasonable assurance that such Securities can be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A promulgated under the 1933 Act, as amended, (or a successor rule thereto) (collectively, “ Rule 144 ”); (ii) any sale of the Securities made in reliance on Rule 144 may be made only in accordance with the terms of Rule 144 and further, if Rule 144 is not applicable, any resale of the Securities under circumstances in which the seller (or the Person through whom the sale is made) may be deemed to be an underwriter (as that term is defined in the 1933 Act) may require compliance with some other exemption under the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder; and (iii) neither the Company nor any other Person is under any obligation to register the Securities under the 1933 Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder.

(g) Legends . Such Buyer understands that, until such time as the resale of the Securities have been registered under the 1933 Act as contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement, the certificates or other instruments representing the Securities, except as set forth below, shall bear any legend as required by the “blue sky” laws of any state and a restrictive legend in substantially the following form (and a stop-transfer order may be placed against transfer of such instruments):

[ NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE [ CONVERTIBLE ] [ EXERCISABLE ] HAVE BEEN ] [ THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN ] REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, IN A GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE FORM, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY

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BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.

The legend set forth above shall be removed and the Company shall issue a certificate without such legend to the holder of the Securities upon which it is stamped, if, unless otherwise required by state securities laws, (i) such Securities are registered for resale under the 1933 Act, (ii) in connection with a sale, assignment or other transfer, such holder provides the Company with an opinion of counsel, in a generally acceptable form, to the effect that such sale, assignment or transfer of the Securities may be made without registration under the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, or (iii) such holder provides the Company with reasonable assurance that the Securities can be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A.

(h) Validity; Enforcement . This Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement have been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of such Buyer and shall constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of such Buyer enforceable against such Buyer in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation and other similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors’ rights and remedies.

(i) No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance by such Buyer of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and the consummation by such Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (i) result in a violation of the organizational documents of such Buyer or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which such Buyer is a party, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws) applicable to such Buyer, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for such conflicts, defaults, rights or violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of such Buyer to perform its obligations hereunder.

(j) Residency . Such Buyer is a resident of that jurisdiction specified below its address on the Schedule of Buyers.

(k) Transfers to Company Employees . As of the date hereof, such Buyer does not have any agreement or arrangement to transfer any of the Securities to any of the Company’s officers, directors, employees or consultants or any affiliate entities of such Person.

3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY .

The Company represents and warrants to each of the Buyers that:

(a) Organization and Qualification .

(i) The Company and its “ Subsidiaries ” (which for purposes of this Agreement means any entity in which the Company, directly or indirectly, owns outstanding

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capital stock or holds an equity or similar interest representing the outstanding equity or similar interest of such entity) are entities duly organized and validly existing in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which they are formed, and have the requisite power and authorization to own their properties and to carry on their business as now being conducted. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign entity to do business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has no Subsidiaries except as set forth on Schedule 3(a) . Schedule 3(a) sets forth the nature and percentage ownership of the Company in each Subsidiary. As used in this Agreement, “ Material Adverse Effect ” means any material adverse effect on the business, properties, assets, operations, results of operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or on the transactions contemplated hereby and in the Transaction Documents (as defined below) or by the agreements and instruments to be entered into in connection herewith or therewith, or on the authority or ability of the Company to perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents.

(b) Authorization; Enforcement; Validity . The Company has the requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Certificate of Designations, the Warrants, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Security Documents, the Existing Warrants to be exercised for the Closing Exercise Shares, the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions (as defined in Section 5(b)) and any other certificate, instrument or document contemplated hereby or thereby (collectively, the “ Transaction Documents ”) and to issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including, without limitation, the issuance of the Preferred Shares, the Warrants and the Closing Exercise Shares, the reservation for issuance and the issuance of the Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Shares, and the reservation for issuance and issuance of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants have been duly authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors and, other than the filings specified in Section 3(e) and the filing of the Certificate of Designations with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, no further filing, consent, or authorization is required by the Company, its Board of Directors or its stockholders. This Agreement and the other Transaction Documents of even date herewith have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors’ rights and remedies. Any other Transaction Documents dated after the date herewith upon execution shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors’ rights and remedies. As of the Closing, each of the Series A Warrants and the Series B Warrants shall be in full force and effect, enforceable against the Company in with its terms and shall not have been amended, except in accordance

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with their respective terms. As of the Closing, the Certificate of Designations in the form attached as Exhibit A shall have previously been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and shall be in full force and effect, enforceable against the Company in with its terms and shall not have been amended.

(c) Issuance of Securities . The issuance of the Preferred Shares, the Warrants and the Closing Exercise Shares are duly authorized and are free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof and, as of the Closing Date, the Preferred Shares shall be entitled to the rights and preferences set forth in the Certificate of Designations. As of the Closing, a number of shares of Class A Common Stock shall have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance which equals or exceeds 130% of the aggregate of the maximum number of shares Class A Common Stock: (i) issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Shares as of the trading day immediately preceding the Closing Date and (ii) issuable upon exercise of the Warrants as of the trading day immediately preceding the Closing Date. Upon issuance or conversion in accordance with the Certificate of Designations or exercise in accordance with the Warrants, as the case may be, the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares, respectively, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all preemptive or similar rights, taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof, with the holders being entitled to all rights accorded to a holder of shares of Class A Common Stock. Assuming the accuracy of each of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement, the offer and issuance by the Company of the Preferred Shares, Warrants and Closing Exercise Shares is exempt from registration under the 1933 Act.

(d) No Conflicts . Except as set forth in Schedule 3(d), the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Preferred Shares, the Warrants and Closing Exercise Shares, and reservation for issuance and issuance of the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares, without regard to the limitation on issuance thereof) will not (i) result in a violation of any certificate of incorporation, certificate of formation, any certificate of designations or other constituent documents of the Company or any of is Subsidiaries, any capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or bylaws of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws and regulations and the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq National Market (the “ Principal Market ”)) applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by which any property or asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or affected, except in the case of (ii) and (iii) to the extent that such violation, conflict, default or right would not have a Material Adverse Effect. As of the Closing Date, after giving effect to any consents or waivers obtained by the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby to effect the pay-off of the Bridge Facility will not conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, acceleration or cancellation of the Senior Credit Facility (as defined below).

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(e) Consents . Except as set forth in Schedule 3(e) , the Company is not required to obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with, any court, governmental agency or any regulatory or self-regulatory agency or any other Person in order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations under or contemplated by the Transaction Documents, in each case in accordance with the terms thereof. All consents, authorizations, orders, filings and registrations which the Company is required to obtain pursuant to the preceding sentence shall have been obtained or effected on or prior to the Closing Date, and the Company and its Subsidiaries are unaware of any facts or circumstances which might prevent the Company from obtaining or effecting any of the registration, application or filings pursuant to the preceding sentence. Except as set forth in Schedule 3(e) , the Company is not in violation of the listing requirements of the Principal Market and has no knowledge of any facts which would reasonably lead to delisting or suspension of the Class A Common Stock in the foreseeable future.

(f) Acknowledgment Regarding Buyer’s Purchase of Securities . The Company acknowledges and agrees that each Buyer is acting individually and solely in the capacity of an arm’s length purchaser with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and that no Buyer is: (i) an officer or director of the Company, (ii) an “affiliate” of the Company (as defined in Rule 144) or (iii) to the knowledge of the Company, a “beneficial owner” of more than 10% of the shares of Class A Common Stock (as defined for purposes of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ 1934 Act ”)). The Company further acknowledges that no Buyer is acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and any advice given by a Buyer or any of its representatives or agents in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby is merely incidental to such Buyer’s purchase of the Securities. The Company further represents to each Buyer that the Company’s decision to enter into the Transaction Documents has been based solely on the independent evaluation by the Company and its representatives.

(g) No General Solicitation; Agent’s Fees . Neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates, nor 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 the offer or sale of the Securities. The Company shall be responsible for the payment of any placement agent’s fees, financial advisory fees, or brokers’ commissions (other than for Persons engaged by any Buyer or its investment advisor) relating to or arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby. Except as set forth on Schedule 3(g) hereto, the Company has not engaged any investment advisor, placement agent or other agent in connection with the sale of the Securities.

(h) No Integrated Offering . None of the Company, its Subsidiaries, any of their affiliates, and any Person acting on their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would require registration of any of the Securities under the 1933 Act or cause this offering of the Securities to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of the 1933 Act or any applicable stockholder approval provisions, including, without limitation, under the rules and regulations of any exchange or automated quotation system on which any of the securities of

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the Company are listed or designated. None of the Company, its Subsidiaries, their affiliates and any Person acting on their behalf will take any action or steps referred to in the preceding sentence that would require registration of any of the Securities under the 1933 Act or cause the offering of the Securities to be integrated with other offerings.

(i) Dilutive Effect . The Company understands and acknowledges that the number of Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Shares may increase in certain circumstances. The Company further acknowledges that its obligation to issue Conversion Shares upon conversion of the Preferred Shares in accordance with this Agreement and the Certificate of Designations is absolute and unconditional regardless of the dilutive effect that such issuance may have on the ownership interests of other stockholders of the Company.

(j) Application of Takeover Protections; Rights Agreement . The Company and its Board of Directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Certificate of Incorporation or the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation which is or could become applicable to any Buyer as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Company’s issuance of the Securities and any Buyer’s ownership of the Securities. Except as set forth on Schedule 3(j)(a) , the Company has not adopted a stockholder rights plan or similar arrangement relating to accumulations of beneficial ownership of Class A Common Stock or a change in control of the Company (each “ Rights Plan ”). The Board of Directors of the Company has, prior to the execution of this Agreement, adopted a resolution exempting the issuance of the Securities from any Rights Plan of the Company and from any control share acquisition statute applicable to the Company, which is attached hereto as Schedule 3(j)(b) .

(k) SEC Documents; Financial Statements . During the two (2) years prior to the date hereof, the Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by it with the SEC pursuant to the reporting requirements of the 1934 Act (all of the foregoing filed prior to the date hereof and all exhibits included therein and financial statements, notes and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein being hereinafter referred to as the “ SEC Documents ”). The Company has delivered to the Buyers or their respective representatives true, correct and complete copies of the SEC Documents not available on the EDGAR system. As of their respective dates, the SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to the SEC Documents, and none of the SEC Documents, at the time they were filed with the SEC, or as of the date of the last amendment thereof, if amended after filing, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Except as set forth on Schedule 3(k), as of their respective dates, the financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Documents complied as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, during the periods involved (except (i) as may be otherwise indicated in such financial statements or the notes thereto, or (ii) in the case of unaudited interim statements, to the extent they may exclude footnotes or may be condensed or summary

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statements) and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company as of the dates thereof and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments).

(l) Absence of Certain Changes . Other than as set forth in the SEC Documents or as set forth in Schedule 3(l), since the date of the Company’s most recent SEC Documents, there has been no material adverse change and no material adverse development, which constitutes a Material Adverse Effect. Since January 31, 2004, the Company has not (i) declared or paid any dividends, (ii) sold any assets, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $100,000 outside of the ordinary course of business or (iii) had capital expenditures, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $100,000 outside of the ordinary course of business. The Company has not taken any steps to seek protection pursuant to any bankruptcy law nor does the Company have any knowledge or reason to believe that its creditors intend to initiate involuntary bankruptcy proceedings or any actual knowledge of any fact which would reasonably lead a creditor to do so. The Company and its Subsidiaries, individually and on a consolidated basis, are not as of the date hereof, and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby to occur at the Closing, will not be Insolvent. For purposes of this Section 3(l), “ Insolvent ” means, with respect to any Person, (i) the present fair saleable value of such Person’s assets is less than the amount required to pay such Person’s total Indebtedness (as defined in Section 3(s)) (other than any future lease liabilities as such exist on the date hereof), (ii) the Person is unable to pay its debts and liabilities (other than any future lease liabilities as such exist on the date hereof), subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured, (iii) such Person intends to incur or believes that it will incur debts (other than any future lease liabilities as such exist on the date hereof) that would be beyond its ability to pay as such debts mature or (iv) such Person has unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the business in which it is engaged as such business is now conducted and is proposed to be conducted.

(m) No Undisclosed Events, Liabilities, Developments or Circumstances . No event, liability, development or circumstance has occurred or exists, or is contemplated to occur with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or their respective business, properties, prospects operations or financial condition, that would be required to be disclosed by the Company under applicable securities laws on a registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC relating to an issuance and sale by the Company of its Class A Common Stock and which has not been publicly announced.

(n) Conduct of Business; Regulatory Permits . Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries is in violation of any term of or in default under its Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws or their organizational charter or certificate of incorporation or bylaws, respectively. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any judgment, decree or order or any statute, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or its Subsidiaries, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will conduct its business in violation of any of the foregoing, except for possible violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in Schedule 3(n), without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company is not in violation of any of the rules, regulations or requirements of the Principal Market and has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances which would reasonably lead to delisting or suspension of the Class A Common Stock by the Principal Market in the foreseeable future. Since January 31, 2004, (i) the Class A Common Stock has

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been designated for quotation on the Principal Market, (ii) trading in the Class A Common Stock has not been suspended by the SEC or the Principal Market and (iii) the Company has received no communication, written or oral, from the SEC or the Principal Market regarding the suspension or delisting of the Class A Common Stock from the Principal Market. The Company and its Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, as presently operated, except where the failure to possess such certificates, authorizations or permits would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit.

(o) Foreign Corrupt Practices . Neither the Company, nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any director, officer, agent, employee or other Person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has, in the course of its actions for, or on behalf of, the Company (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; or (iv) made any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee.

(p) Sarbanes-Oxley Act . Except as set forth in Schedule 3(p), the Company is in compliance with any and all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that are effective as of the date hereof, and any and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder that are effective as of the date hereof, except where such noncompliance would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(q) Transactions With Affiliates . Except as set forth in the SEC Documents filed at least ten days prior to the date hereof and other than the grant of stock options or restricted stock disclosed on Schedule 3(q) , none of the officers, directors or employees of the Company is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than for ordinary course services as employees, officers or directors), including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal property to or from, or otherwise requiring payments to or from any such officer, director or employee or, to the knowledge of the Company, any corporation, partnership, trust or other entity in which any such officer, director, or employee has a substantial interest or is an officer, director, trustee or partner.

(r) Equity Capitalization . As of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (i) 150,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, of which as of the date hereof, 41,250,582 are issued and outstanding, 10,302,540 shares are reserved for issuance pursuant to the Company’s stock option and purchase plans and 67,903,332 shares are reserved for issuance prior to the exercise by the Buyers of the Closing Exercise Shares pursuant to securities (other than the aforementioned options and shares, the Preferred Shares and the Warrants) exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, shares of Class A Common Stock, (ii) 10,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, $0.10 par value per share (the “ Class B Common Stock ”), of which as of the date hereof, none are issued and outstanding and

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(iii) 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, of which as of the date hereof none of which is issued and outstanding and 1,000,000 of which are reserved for issuance under the Company’s Rights Plan. Immediately prior to the Closing Date, 24,600 shares of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock shall be designated, none of which shall be issued and outstanding. All of such outstanding shares have been, or upon issuance will be, validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(r) : (i) none of the Company’s share capital is subject to preemptive rights or any other similar rights or any liens or encumbrances suffered or permitted by the Company; (ii) there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any share capital of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound to issue additional share capital of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any share capital of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (iii) there are no outstanding debt securities, notes, credit agreements, credit facilities or other agreements, documents or instruments evidencing Indebtedness (as defined in Section 3(s)) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound; (iv) there are no financing statements securing obligations in any material amounts, either singly or in the aggregate, filed in connection with the Company; (v) there are no agreements or arrangements under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is obligated to register the sale of any of their securities under the 1933 Act (except the Existing RRA and the Registration Rights Agreement); (vi) there are no outstanding securities or instruments of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which contain any redemption or similar provisions, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound to redeem a security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (vii) there are no securities or instruments containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by the issuance of the Securities; (viii) the Company does not have any stock appreciation rights or “phantom stock” plans or agreements or any similar plan or agreement; and (ix) the Company and its Subsidiaries have no liabilities or obligations required to be disclosed in the SEC Documents but not so disclosed in the SEC Documents, other than those incurred in the ordinary course of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ respective businesses and which, individually or in the aggregate, do not or would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has furnished to the Buyer true, correct and complete copies of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”), and the Company’s Bylaws, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof (the “ Bylaws ”), and the terms of all securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, shares of Class A Common Stock and the material rights of the holders thereof in respect thereto to the extent not available on the Edgar System.

(s) Indebtedness and Other Contracts . Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(s) , neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has any outstanding Indebtedness (as defined below), (ii) is a party to any contract, agreement or instrument, the violation of which, or default under which, by the other party(ies) to such contract, agreement or instrument would result in a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) is in violation of any term of or in default under any contract, agreement or instrument relating to any Indebtedness, except where such violations and defaults would not result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect, or (iv) is a party

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to any contract, agreement or instrument relating to any Indebtedness, the performance of which, in the judgment of the Company’s officers, has or is expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Schedule 3(s) provides a detailed description of the material terms of any such outstanding Indebtedness. For purposes of this Agreement: (x) “ Indebtedness ” of any Person means, without duplication (A) all indebtedness for borrowed money, (B) all obligations issued, undertaken or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables entered into in the ordinary course of business), (C) all reimbursement or payment obligations with respect to letters of credit, surety bonds and other similar instruments, (D) all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, including obligations so evidenced incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses, (E) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, or incurred as financing, in either case with respect to any property or assets acquired with the proceeds of such indebtedness (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or bank under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (F) all monetary obligations under any leasing or similar arrangement which, in connection with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied for the periods covered thereby, is classified as a capital lease, (G) all indebtedness referred to in clauses (A) through (F) above secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance upon or in any property or assets (including accounts and contract rights) owned by any Person, even though the Person which owns such assets or property has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such indebtedness, and (H) all Contingent Obligations in respect of indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in clauses (A) through (G) above; and (y) “ Contingent Obligation ” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect liability, contingent or otherwise, of that Person with respect to any indebtedness, lease, dividend or other obligation of another Person if the primary purpose or intent of the Person incurring such liability, or the primary effect thereof, is to provide assurance to the obligee of such liability that such liability will be paid or discharged, or that any agreements relating thereto will be complied with, or that the holders of such liability will be protected (in whole or in part) against loss with respect thereto.

(t) Absence of Litigation . Except as set forth in Schedule 3(t) , there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or by the Principal Market, any court, public board, government agency, self-regulatory organization or body pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company, the Class A Common Stock or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or any of the Company’s or the Company’s Subsidiaries’ officers or directors. Schedule 3(t) sets forth the details of any such litigation.

(u) Insurance . 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 management of the Company believes to be prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and its Subsidiaries are engaged. Neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for and neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary 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.

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(v) Employee Relations . (i) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or employs any member of a union. Except as set forth on Schedule 3(v) , the Company and its Subsidiaries believe that their relations with their employees are good. Except as set forth on Schedule 3(v) , no executive officer of the Company (as defined in Rule 501(f) promulgated under the 1933 Act) has notified the Company that such officer intends to leave the Company or otherwise terminate such officer’s employment with the Company. No executive officer of the Company, to the knowledge of the Company, is, or is now expected to be, in violation of any material term of any employment contract, confidentiality, disclosure or proprietary information agreement, non-competition agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive covenant, and the continued employment of each such executive officer does not subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any liability with respect to any of the foregoing matters except a would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(ii) The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations respecting labor, employment and employment practices and benefits, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, except where failure to be in compliance would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(w) Title . Except as set forth in Schedule 3(w) , the Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real property and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them which is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and material defects except such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(x) Intellectual Property Rights . Except as set forth in Schedule 3(x) , the Company and its Subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights or licenses to use (A) patents (and any renewals and extensions thereof), patent rights (and any applications therefor), rights of priority and other rights in inventions; (B) trademarks, service marks, trade names and trade dress, and all registrations and applications therefor and all legal and common-law equivalents of any of the foregoing; (C) copyrights and rights in mask works (and any applications or registrations for the foregoing, and all renewals and extensions thereof), common-law copyrights and rights of authorship including all rights to exploit any of the foregoing in any media and by any manner and means now known or hereafter devised; (D) industrial design rights, and all registrations and applications therefor; (E) rights in data, collections of data and databases, and all legal or common-law equivalents thereof; (F) rights in domain names and domain name reservations; (G) rights in trade secrets, proprietary information and know-how (collectively, “ Intellectual Property Rights ”), collectively with all licenses and other agreements providing the Company or its Subsidiaries the Intellectual Property Rights material to the operation of their businesses as now conducted and as described in the SEC Documents. Except as set forth in Schedule 3(x) , none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has knowledge that any of them

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has infringed on any of the Intellectual Property Rights of any Person and none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is infringing on any of the Intellectual Property Rights of any Person. There is no action, suit, hearing, claim, notice of violation, arbitration or other proceeding, hearing or investigation that is pending, or to the Company’s knowledge, is threatened against, the Company regarding the infringement of any of the Intellectual Property Rights. The Company is not, to its knowledge, making unauthorized use of any confidential information or trade secrets of any third party, and the Company has not received any notice of any asserted infringement (nor is the Company aware of any reasonable basis for any third party asserting an infringement) by the Company of, any rights of a third party with respect to any Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of their Intellectual Property Rights.

(y) Environmental Laws . Except as set forth in Schedule 3(y) , the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and all Environmental Laws (as hereinafter defined), (ii) have received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval where, in each of the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the failure to so comply could be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. The term “ Environmental Laws ” means all federal, state, local or foreign laws relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata), including, without limitation, laws relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, or toxic or hazardous substances or wastes (collectively, “ Hazardous Materials ”) into the environment, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials, as well as all authorizations, codes, decrees, demands or demand letters, injunctions, judgments, licenses, notices or notice letters, orders, permits, plans or regulations issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder.

(z) Subsidiary Rights . The Company or one of its Subsidiaries has the unrestricted right to vote, and (subject to limitations imposed by applicable law) to receive dividends and distributions on, all capital securities of its Subsidiaries as owned by the Company or such Subsidiary.

(aa) Tax Status . The Company and each of its Subsidiaries (i) has made or filed all foreign, federal and state income and all other tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject when and as due, (ii) has paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges that are material in amount, shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations, except those being contested in good faith and (iii) has set aside on its books provision reasonably adequate for the payment of all taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports or declarations apply. There are no unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed to be due by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction, and the officers of the Company know of no basis for any such claim.

(bb) Internal Accounting and Disclosure Controls . Except as set forth in Schedule 3(bb), the Company and each of its Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed

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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 and liability accountability, (iii) access to assets or incurrence of liabilities is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets and liabilities is compared with the existing assets and liabilities at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any difference. Except as set forth in Schedule 3